Small, short drabble. Fundy coming back to SMP Lands, and still uncaring over everything because he maintained the mindset of ‘nothing he does ever mattered’.
Not gonna say much except, future Fundy and Sapnap friendship, Fundy and Eret parental relationship.
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One year, just one year he had been away from this place.
He did not miss it at all.
The smell of gunpowder still wafted through the air, tensions high strung, like a drawn back bow. The new addition of those... disgusting red things (vines, he remembered Puffy calling them, vines) made it all the more painful to return. The hole (his home! His home that his own grandfather blew up!) where New L'manburg used to stand was covered in glass, so no one could fall down and hurt (or kill) themselves.
It was painful just to see it, the realization that what he and Niki had said during pre-battle Doomsday all that time ago, was true. L'manburg no longer exists.
Their L'manburg, was gone the day of the election.
Was gone, the day Wilbur was gone.
He strolled through the streets of SMP, feeling rather uncomfortable being there. He remembered the main reason he had burnt their supplies, nothing he did ever mattered.
That didn't matter too, after all, they had never stood a chance.
But he also remembered, the one person who kept supporting him through tough times and more. He held back a choked laughter, how ironic, the only person that he could rely on, was Eret, the first traitor.
He walked past his ice cream shop (he shared it with his brother, but- oh right, his brother left him too. Just like everyone else), and noticed a vine seed about to drop onto it from Purpled's (he left somewhere, he was smart) abandoned UFO home. He contemplated removing it, destroying it so his (their) ice cream shop would remain clean, untouched and safe, even if it was for a short while.
But he couldn't bring himself to do so.
He continued walking along the Prime path, heading towards Eret's castle, casting a side glance towards the still ruined community house. As far as he knew, it was Sapnap who tried to restore it. Sapnap, the infamous pet killer, the arsonist, was the one who tried restoring the house. The first building, the building that acted as a hospital for a younger, clumsier and more reckless him.
How ironic, he couldn't help but think.
He spotted said arsonist walk past and they connected eyes, Fundy tensed a bit, remembering their fight during the first pet war, but was taken aback when Sapnap was the one who offered a tentative smile and small nod. An olive branch, a peace offering, a truce, a request to fix things between them.
Fundy nodded back, though a bit hesitant, but it was apparently enough for the arsonist who smiled a bit wider. (How long had it been since he saw Sapnap smile, of genuine happiness, at someone else other than his small circle of friends? Before L’manburg, it seemed like centuries ago...)
If he had been paying attention, he would’ve noticed how tense Sapnap had been with the other residents here, just like everyone else. He would’ve noticed how paranoid he became, he would’ve seen the grieving looks Sapnap shot the community house, he would’ve noticed how the betrayal of Dream affected him, how the loss of the house of memories affected him.
Ironic, that Sapnap was the one who didn’t immediately treat him with animosity.
He approached the castle with the rainbow windows, the mingos were all gone, and Fundy felt a small pang in his chest at their loss. Though it was a prank, it was a prank he had been sure that Eret would like, and he did, but it was taken down by Dream.
For George...
He felt bitter, as the void came back to enclose his emotions, when had he become completely uncaring of everything? Was it right after Ranboo left him, after expressing his desire to remain with Ranboo, his brother? After everything? After all their promises? Was it after finding out how Niki talked negatively about him behind his back to Hbomb, someone who may be annoying but he truly liked being around? Was it after seeing how his own grandfather seemed to protect Ranboo from him? Was it when he finally realized that no one actually cared about him?
"Fungi?" That nickname.... two people used to call him that, and one turned her back on him. That voice.... "FUNGI!! It's really you!!!"
He felt impact upon his back as someone rushed to envelop him in a deep hug. Fundy felt himself relax into the hug and turned to look at the figure. Tall, kind, glasses, crown, Eret.
"Eret?" Fundy whispered. Eret still cared for him? Someone in this godforsaken kingdom still cared?
"Fungi, I thought you were gone!! You left without telling us anything after the failed resurrection!! Oh Fungi, please never scare me like that again." Eret kept hugging Fundy, softly whispering, reminding Fundy of a father.
He was supposed to be adopted by Eret, and even after the first failed attempt, Eret still kept coming back for him.
"I care about you, Fundy."
And Fundy burst into tears, silently sobbing as all the pent up emotions from his return burst out, letting Eret slowly hold him. They stood there for quite some time, by the gates of Eret's empty castle. Eret felt it drain of 'life' after Fundy left, and now that Fundy was back, Eret felt life come back.
Fundy looked up at Eret, mischief shining in his teary eyes, Eret was only so glad to see hints of emotion return to the young fox's eyes, after seeing him becoming so uncaring about everything, after seeing the grief and agony when he snapped during Doomsday. It felt good to see Fundy be himself again, even if it was for a short while.
And if it was only in his presence? Then Eret would gladly take it, and protect that spark of Fundy forever so no one could snuff it out.
"So is the adoption still a thing?"
Eret laughed, genuinely laughed, genuinely smiling ever since he learnt that Fundy disappeared.
