FAU continued

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"Quackity you can't run off like that!" Karl shouted, though it was more of a concerned warble. He had been terrified for Quackity, and currently was half hidden under Sapnap's arm. The taller had a blank face, and hadn't said anything in a while.

The short assassin couldn't deny he felt a little guilty, "Listen I'm sorry, but what reason have you given me to stay anyway? I went where I felt at home, it's not my fault that it wasn't with you."

He regretted it the moment the words left his mouth, seeing the tears come to Karl's eyes. Sapnap said nothing.

Then he pulled his brother in, chin resting on top of the smooth black hair, "I'm just glad you're alright."

For the arson lover this was a highly unusual response, and it left Quackity without words when he turned and walked away.

"Karl-"

The brunette sniffled, clicking a watch against his wrist, "I don't wanna hear it."

And then the Mexican stood alone, feeling himself like he wanted to cry.

The nightmares didn't help. Thoughts of his old city didn't help. The missing people didn't help.

He remembered that night, back at Schlatt's house. When he had a nightmare, and Schlatt was there to comfort him.

God dammit, now isn't the time brain...

"Hey Quackity?" A soft voice called, before a hand took his.

"Oh hey Nikki," He joked, "Just having the daily mental breakdown."

She pulled him to the waterfront, and down onto the sand. In the sunlight she looked rather angelic.

"Sure does feel like that doesn't it?" Nikki added, drawing circles in the sand, "We picked complicated people to love."

"Yeah, kinda fucking stupid on our part." He said, before letting himself flop into the sand, the sun warming his face. Nikki did the same, her blonde hair blending in with the sand.

"It was, but be honest, would you be the same person without him?" She asked, kicking off her shoes. Water lapped at her ankles as she smiled into the sun.

"No I wouldn't, in fact I would have killed your brother. Probably would have ended up right back at the outpost too."

They were silent for a minute, and then Nikki spoke again.

"I've known Wilbur forever, but the first time I noticed him was when I was refused archery training. Back before the king finally got the law reversed so all noble children male or female could be trained. The whole activity was in a camp for a week." She smiled, "I was very sad."

"Sounds shitty, though Mexican L'manburg wasn't sexist we were all at work by six years old. What did Wil do, stay back with you?"

Nikki grinned wider, looking at Quackity, "Don't let his doe eyes fool you, Wilbur snuck me in and hid me the entire week. He'd go to a lesson and then reteach it to me right after. He also got his mother to cover for me, my dad still doesn't know."

Quackity let out a audible laugh, "That's wicked!"

They giggled over stories for an hour, and Quackity told her of the little quirk Schlatt did when you ran a hand down one of his horns.

"OH MY GOD IMA TOTALLY USE THAT!" Nikki chuckled, "You know we are going to go back for him soon right? Schlatt isn't just gone."

"Yeah I know, it's just a tough idea to get behind. This helps though."

Nikki took his hand again, and squeezed it, "They are both too fucking stubborn to die. What we gotta worry about is living long enough to see them."

The sun was making them both sleepy, like cats on a windowsill. Before he knew it, they were curled together asleep.

———————————————————————-

Sam had gone quiet, before turning down the path and walking towards the lake. Techno followed after his brother in arms, leaving Philza, Wilbur, Eret, Jack, and Purpled standing there. The young blonde held the note, his hands still as rock.

Purpled I can't hear- ♊︎♈︎♊︎♌︎♎︎♈︎

The shadow shut him out, clenching the note into a ball before throwing it aside. Philza caught his hand, "You can let it out Purpled. We are your friends, it's okay to cry."

"You guys aren't my friends," The shadow said softly, "You're family."

Wilbur's brother radar homed in on the blonde, before pulling him against his chest. It was similar to they way they'd been underground so long ago at house Blade.

"I mean I loved Ponk, but clearly that's one sided. All he's ever done is throw me into a crime gang, get me nearly killed by a crime gang, get himself killed by a demon, and then leave for a crime gang. Hell I'd even consider Eret better even though currently I want to pop his head off."

"I'm touched," Eret fumbled, caught off guard, "So you aren't going after him?"

"Oh I'm going after him, he can bet his ass I'm not done with him. Also the horse tracks are in the direction of the league, so it looks like I might kill two bitches with one stone." Purpled shrugged, still feeling Wil's lungs expand against his back. It was a comfortable presence.

"When do you think we can amass people to go after Fundy and Skeppy?" Philza asked, Jack nodded in agreement. Eret let out a sigh.

"That's gonna be a lot of planning, Dream destroyed a lot of our resources, the best plan would probably be to send a few capable people who can travel light. Gimme two days tops to get my shit together."

Hell, it was all going to kingdom come, but at least they were going into chaos organized.

———————————————————————

Sam wanted to bash in skulls, but he'd settle for a lay down in the sand.

"Is this the 'My boyfriend is a fucking problem' club?" He asked, Nikki stretched and yawned. She patted the sand next to her and Sam followed directions.

"So he booked it eh?" Quackity asked as the three stared at the water. Sam let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"Yeah, he fucking booked it."