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Fundy always knew he didn’t fit in is his family.
How could he not?
His uncle is the feared Blood God, his other uncle is the golden child of the family, his grandpa is The Angel of Death, his grandmother is Death herself, and his father can get anything he wants with a few clever words and misdirection. Hell, even the nonrelated people in the family (i.e. the children Phil has adopted) are incredible in their own right! Ranboo can teleport and Tubbo can make nukes!
All Fundy can do is transform into a fox and talk to other foxes.
So going to family events is...less than fun for Fundy.
He’s currently sitting in the corner waiting for it to be an appropriate time for him to leave and hoping no one in his family needs him before then.
Taking a sip out of the water he had grabbed when he entered the cozy cabin Fundy watches the clock intensely. The minutes are passing agonizingly slow with no sign of speeding up.
The cabin is suddenly filled with joyful laughter after a joke was told and it makes Fundy’s ear pin back onto his head.
It’s too loud, too bright, too much .
The only thought in Fundy’s head is that he needs to get the fuck out of here.
Hurriedly scurrying up the stairs Fundy finds his way to the guest bedroom and puts his head in between his knees to try and make it all stop.
Stop, stop, stop,stopstopstopstopstopstopmakeit stop.
Fundy whips his head up when he hears the door lightly creak open.
With soft golden light highlighting one side of her, his grandmother stands in the doorway with an air of mystic.
“Foxling?” She whispers into the mostly silent room. The open door lets in some sound from downstairs, where Fundy can hear more laughing coming from.
The laughing never ends.
Did anyone even notice he was gone? Well of course besides his grandma.
He lets out a high-pitched whine without meaning to and immediately goes to cover his mouth.
“Oh, sweetie.” Kristin slowly walks over and sits down a few feet away from him with a kind expression on her face.
Fundy shrinks into himself and looks anywhere but her face.
“Why aren’t you at the party with everyone?” Her voice stays soft and sweet and she doesn’t rush him for an answer.
They sit there for a minute as Fundy tries to gain the courage to explain what was happening.
She doesn’t seem to mind though and only moves around to get more comfortable.
Finally, Fundy manages to say, “Too much.” It’s said very quietly but he knows she hears it.
She hums thoughtfully for a moment before nodding. “It is too much,” She then scoots forward and stage whispers,” They’re all a bit much if you ask me.”
Fundy lets out a small airy laugh and her smile widens.
She goes to stand and Fundy lets out another involuntary whine.
“Don’t worry love, I’m just shutting the door.” She gives him a soft smile, closes the door, and sits back down.
“Sorry.” Fundy whispers.
“Nothing to be sorry about. It’s ok if you’re stressed out. It happens.”
“No, it’s just- you should be having fun and not having to waste your time up here with me.” Fundy looks down at his paws and tries to stop the tears that threaten to fall.
“Fundy look at me sweetie,” He lifts his head slightly and meets her kind eyes,” I pick being up here keeping you company over being downstairs anytime. I care about you and as long as you need my help or companionship I will never be wasting my time being with you.”
It takes Fundy a moment to process everything that was just said to him but when he does he can’t stop the tsunami that occurs.
Kristin opens her arms and he all but leaps into them.
Fundy doesn’t know how long they sit there with him sobbing into her chest while she cards her fingers through his hair. She hums a sweet melody and it helps calm him.
They sit there even after his tears cease and he’s just sniffling. She doesn’t stop her ministration and Fundy snuggles into her.
“Do you think I will ever be as good as everyone else?” Fundy asks quietly keeping his head down so he can’t see her expression.
“What do you mean foxling?” She asks with genuine confusion.
“Well everyone else is so amazing and they can all do incredible things. Meanwhile, I’m just a fox.” Fundy feels more tears start to well to up and it takes a lot more effort than he’d like for him to push them down.
“I want you to listen to me very carefully Fundy,” Fundy stiffens at her serious tone, “ You are so amazing and incredible in your own right. I never want you to compare yourself to anyone ever. You are not ‘just a fox’ you are an amazing redstone engineer, an incredible friend, and a loyal loving person. You are more than good enough and you always have been.”
That’s all it takes for Fundy to break down again.
This time as she cards her fingers she whispers reassurances and kind words.
This one lasts longer than the last one and when he stops crying Kristin suggests they play cards.
That’s how Phil finds them twenty minutes later. Sitting on the floor in the middle of one of the most intense battles of go fish ever known to man.
Kristin shoos him away before he can say anything and her and Fundy go back to their game while Phil goes downstairs with a bewildered laugh.
When everyone else asks what they were doing Phil just waves them off and says they won’t be coming back anytime soon.