Pandemonium | Dream SMP

47. Schlatt tells me I overthink things too much.

"The flowers are dying," I mutter, pausing in the hall of the White House to stare at a vase of flowers. What was once a china vase of vibrantly coloured flora is now a sad, wilting collection of desaturated flowerheads, soft and droopy.

"They haven't been replaced in a while," Fundy says over my shoulder. "If you like, we can go and get some fresh ones together?"

"Like a flower picking date?" I muse, tipping my head back to beam at him.

"Y-yeah! It can be our first date!" He nods, giving a hopeful grin. His tail gives a little wag.

There's a crash overhead and we both flinch, Fundy's ears going flat.

"That...didn't sound good," I say slowly, glancing up at the ceiling and where Schlatt's office is.

"We should go check it out." Fundy agrees, already leading the way to the stairs.

Fundy opens the office door in time for us to see Schlatt stood behind his desk, his face creased with rage, as he openly yells at a trembling Tubbo.

"You're a whiny little brat, Tubbo! And I see it with my own eyes - they work, mind you - so if I hear one more peep out of you, if I put my ear up to you like a conch shell, and I'm not hearing all those whiny little voices singing praises for me and the great things I'm doing - then we're gonna have another talk, Tubbo. You got that?"

"Y-yes, sir. I...I understand." Tubbo whispers, his hands bunched at his sides and shaking.

I stare, stunned, as Tubbo ducks his head and turns quickly, marching straight out of the office, past me and Fundy without even glancing our way.

"Uhhh," Fundy says, sidling awkwardly in. "What was...that about?"

"Fundy. Ares. Finally, some people who understand." Schlatt remarks, dropping back into his chair and pushing a hand through his dark locks.

Quackity and George exchange unhappy looks but say nothing. Does Schlatt already know they disagree with his methods of ruling? Should I tell him? I haven't even told the goat-man about my encounter with Dream yet. There hasn't been a chance, what with him sending me out of his sight every time we come in contact. I don't even know if I want to tell him, honestly. He's been in such a bad, stressy mood lately that piling on more bad news could make things worse, for him and us.

"I simply suggested that we tear down that crappy drug van outside and Tubbo, out of nowhere, started freaking out," Schlatt explains with a shrug of his shoulders, as if Tubbo were the unreasonable one and not him. "That kid seriously needs to get his priorities straight, or I might just have to cut him loose."

Of course Tubbo freaked out, I think with a frown, that 'drug van' used to be the home he shared with his friends!

"He is just a child, sir," Fundy reasons, "give him some time to cool down and I'm sure he'll come around."

I feel like hugging Fundy. He's so clever with his words when it comes to Schlatt. The others may not be able to tell, but he's both appeasing to Schlatt's ego and protecting Tubbo at the same time. He does a far better job of it than me.

Quackity clears his throat, redirecting the attention to him.

"Now that everyone important is accounted for, why don't we discuss this new speech you have planned, Mr President?"

"Well said, Quackity," Schlatt grins, "As the generous president I am, I wanted to inform you all beforehand that I am officially renaming the country. I hope to address the public later today of this news."

"What will the new name be?" George asks, readjusting his glasses.

"That you'll have to wait to find out. But lemme tell you, it's a thousand times better than the shitty old name of L'Manburg."

We talk for a short while after that, discussing the setup for the podium and advertisement for the speech, and each peel away to perform our regular duties alongside our new jobs.

Except for me. I've been assigned no task to help with the podium setup. Schlatt didn't even request I guard him. And when I asked, he simply said "I trust you to take care of things, hot stuff."

It had made me feel...disappointed.

Fundy pauses in the hallway, a fresh binder clutched in his arms, and backtracks to where I'm slowly wandering along.

"Hey, are you okay?" He questions with a concerned tilt of his head.

I blink.

"Hm? Oh, yeah, I'm-"

I'm about to say that I'm fine out of habit, but then I remember that it's Fundy asking me. My boyfriend. My sweet, fuzzy, loyal partner. I can tell him the truth.

"Well, I guess I'm kind of disappointed," I say awkwardly, rubbing at an arm. "Schlatt didn't seem to care what I do during the speech."

"Oh, really? I thought the opposite."

"You...did?"

Fundy scratches an ear, thinking, "well, okay, I agree his instructions for you weren't very specific compared to ours, but isn't that just because he trusts you to get it exactly right? It's like he's saying that he knows you'll do him proud or something, because you guys already know each other so well."

"I...suppose that's true." I concede, a soft smile slowly making its way onto my lips. "I probably just overthought it. Schlatt tells me I overthink things too much. I guess I'm just paranoid what with a potential war looming over our shoulders. Thanks, Fundy." I give his tie a soft tug, bringing him down to my level, and plant a kiss between his eyes.

"Uh-buh- y-you're welcome!" He says, flustered. "You know I'm always around to talk. Or...or to cuddle..." He trails off on that last bit and I give a soft laugh.

"Mhm, to cuddle. Actually, I wanted to ask since we haven't discussed it at all, but would you like to sleep in my room sometimes? Or maybe I could go to yours? I don't think I've seen your house before." I suggest, watching the fox closely.

"You mean like a sleepover, right? Where we...sleep?" He asks suspiciously.

I laugh, placing a hand to my mouth.

"Yes, where we sleep. Goodness, we've only been dating a week, Fundy."

"Well you made it sound suggestive!" The fox whines, flustered and embarrassed. "Don't laugh at meee."

"But you're too cute," I say, hooking an arm through his and patting him on the head. "Why don't you walk me outside?"

"Mmkay." He mumbles sulkily.

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Next chapter is the 400k Special ;)