Pandemonium | Dream SMP

46. It's called stamina, my dear.

The country is quiet. Too quiet. For the past week I've been patrolling the borders with extra scrutiny, and yet I've not seen a peep of Dream or Techno. It's suspicious. You'd think that as a member of Wilbur's newly announced rebellion he'd get straight to work causing trouble. Yet there's been nothing. Not even a glimpse of Tommy, who I was certain would be the first to cause mayhem in whatever way he could. Both sides are biding their time, and it worries me. How am I to defend the country against an unseen enemy?

There's a creek of floorboards and a huffing of breath as Fundy appears behind me, out of breath and slumped against the doorframe of the tower's top floor.

"Good morning." I greet him with a smile, pushing myself back from the railings and the sprawling view of L'Manburg. I have Dream to thank for this perfect vantage point. If he hadn't hidden up here during the last speech I wouldn't know of its amazing view.

"Good - huff - good morning," Fundy greets back, wiping a paw across his brow, his bushy tail drooped between his legs. "How do you...how do you climb this thing every day?" He wheezes.

"It's called stamina, my dear." I take his head in my hands and plant a kiss to his nose. "and you do know you don't have to climb this tower every day, right? You can always wait for me to start my patrol."

"But then I'd have to wait to see you." He pouts, looping his arms around my waist and locking them behind my back. "Schlatt's been running us all into the ground lately. Seeing you helps me through the day."

"Mm, he has been in a foul mood since Techno turned up, hasn't he?" I agree, returning the hug. "Every time I enter the office he'll shoo me out again to go check the borders. I think he's getting nervous."

"That's an understatement," Fundy scoffs, "I'd be terrified if I had two of the scariest, most powerful men trying to destroy my country."

He's started smoking, too. I want to say, but I keep myself quiet. I don't know if any of the Cabinet have noticed yet, too busy with their work, but Schlatt's started to smell of cigarette smoke. I think he's been smoking in his room, where there's nobody to pester him about his health. Because if it weren't for the great amount of stress on his shoulders right now, I would be pestering him. His breathing is bad enough as it is without adding a smokers cough to the mix. But if it takes smoking to keep him calm and happy, who am I to tell him he's wrong? All I want is for him to be happy...

"How's your stitches?" Fundy asks, pulling away just enough to get a view of my throat.

"Getting better every day," I smile, running a finger lightly across the healing skin. "That health potion you got me really helped speed up the process."

"I was hoping it would heal completely," he mumbles.

"Don't look so glum. Health potions can only do so much. Besides, now I have a cool little scar to show off." I comfort him. "It also means I can do this," pushing up onto my toes I kiss the underside of Fundy's fuzzy chin, then slowly make my way down his throat, peppering the white of his neck with small, light kisses. My hands secure a hold of his jacket collar, keeping him still as I work.

His clawed hands on my back tighten, pulling at the dark material of my suit jacket before slipping up and under to tug at my dress shirt. I want his hands to roam higher, to trace the scars on my back. But I already know that fantasy isn't going to get fulfilled. He doesn't even know about my scars yet. Heck, Fundy has yet to even see me without a suit on. Though to be fair we've only been dating a week. We're still in what some would call our honeymoon phase, all hugs and kisses as we test the waters of what we feel comfortable doing around each other. As expected, I'm the instigator of most of our interactions, and Fundy so far has shown no issue with it, always melting into my affections with a wag of his tail and a happy sigh.

"You're so soft," I mumble, continuing my kisses right down to his collar and tie. "I want to cuddle with you all the time, even when I'm on patrol."

Fundy lets out a noise between a purr and a whine, too lost in the feeling of my lips on his neck to respond. His tail wags wildly behind him, a bushy blur of orange and white.

I loosen his tie an inch, and when he doesn't protest I pull it even looser, continuing my butterfly kisses down and along his collarbone. I want to keep going, to see how far the white streak of his underbelly stretches, and also how far he'll let me venture.

But of course, I get interrupted before I can even begin my exploration. It's probably for the best, honestly. I don't want to scare away my cute new fox.

"I think that was Tubbo," Fundy mumbles above me, his words slurred and sleepy. He's referring to the soft yell we'd both just clearly heard from the base of the tower. Tubbo is down there somewhere, looking for us.

"One more minute," I hum, and nip lightly at a spot on his neck. He jolts beneath me but doesn't move away.

Tubbo's voice calls again, only this time louder. It sounds as though he's climbing the stairs.

"A-Ares," Fundy warns breathlessly, growing worried.

"Mhm, I know."

Disappointed, I lift my lips from his neck and straighten out his shirt, fixing his collar and readjusting his tie. The fox's hands are still gripping at my shirt, and I ease them out from under my jacket with a small laugh. He still looks pretty dazed. It's cute.

Right on cue Tubbo appears at the open door, just as I'm patting down my jacket.

"Oh, Fundy, you're here too?" Tubbo says, looking between us with surprise.

"Is everything okay?" I question, giving Fundy a discrete nudge to try and wake him up.

Tubbo's face immediately turns grim and I wish I hadn't asked that question.

"It's Schlatt. He...He wants to make another speech. Today."

I exchange a look with Fundy and then nod. There's an uneasy feeling in my stomach already. The last time Schlatt made a speech he split the country in two, then got threatened by two of the most powerful men in the SMP, and even tried to imprison a king. I can only hope this one goes down smoother.

"I see, we'll both be down. Thank you for telling us."

Tubbo nods, casts us one final look, and heads back down the stairs.

"I heard that right, right?" Fundy questions.

"Yeah, Schlatt has something he wants to say," I mumble, "he hasn't mentioned a speech to you at all, has he?"

"No, nothing. This is all news to me." Fundy says, shaking his head.

"Ah, well, I suppose we'd better go find out then."

With Tubbo out of sight, I slip my hand into Fundy's, linking our fingers, and set off down the tower with him.

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Legit just wanted to write fluff so I did, next chapter will be more plot-related though :P