Thus Always to Tyrants

there's a wind alive in the valley

Kristin was waiting at the door when Phil came back with Ranboo and Tubbo. Tubbo was clinging to Ranboo's arm, while the tall boy was completely silent, hanging his head. She knew that this mission was helmed by Ranboo, that all of the planning was Ranboo. She couldn't imagine the guilt he must feel if anyone was seriously injured.

"Eret went back to Niki's place. They hate hospitals." Phil explained quietly. "How're Tommy and Techno?" Kristin smiled.

"Tommy's out like a light. Techno passed out too. We're okay, Phil. We're okay." She whispered, pulling Phil into a gentle hug. Tubbo dragged Ranboo past them to collapse on the couch, Tubbo's head in Ranboo's lap.

"Be a father to them, Phil. I'll go be with Wilbur." She said softly, kissing his forehead and grabbing her jacket. She went out to the car, gripping the wheel and steeling her nerves. She should've been out on that mission, Wilbur should've stayed home, or Niki or Eret should've stayed with Techno and Tommy.

She shoved the thoughts out of her mind. Those weren't productive. Those weren't helpful. What was helpful was paying attention and getting to the hospital quickly.

The storm grew worse as she parked. Kristin hoped that that wasn't a omen for the future. She fought through the storm to the door, closing it behind her tightly.

"Ma'am, we're going to be closed-" A man at the front desk began but Kristin shot him a withering look.

"I am here to look after my son. To make sure he doesn't have any nightmares. So please, be a dear and tell me where Mr. Wilbur Soot Watson's room is." She said, kindness in her voice but there was something dangerous behind her eyes.

"I'll see what I can do for you ma'am." He said. Kristin waited for a while until she was escorted to Wilbur's room. She sat by his bedside, taking his hand as he slept and cried.

***

Wilbur woke up to a woman's soft singing voice singing a lullaby he hadn't heard in years. Kristin was there, holding his hand, dried tear tracks on her face, just watching him. A mother watching carefully over her baby.

"Hey Mom..." He croaked. She seemed to snap out of her trance, smiling, holding his hand and rocking gently.

"My baby..." She whispered, pressing a kiss into his hand. "You scared me, Wil. Don't you dare do that again or..." Kristin trailed off again. Wilbur put his hand on her cheek, her hand still on his.

"Mom I had to..." Wilbur whispered, "I couldn't let Dream win. I can't let him win..." Kristin nodded, smiling softly.

"I know dear, I know..." She said, "You're gonna be let out soon I promise."

"How're Eret and Niki?" He rasped as he set his hand back onto the cot. Kristen pursed her lips, her eyebrows knitting together in thought.

"Eret's fine, Eret's gone home. He put on the headphones as soon as you dropped out. Niki... well she'll be fine, her eardrums will be fixed I promise. Just a few broken bones."

"B-Broken bones?" He stammered, shocked that the little box had done so much damage to the building. Kristin nodded, confirming his worst fears.

"She was closer to you than we suspected. But she'll recover, Niki's always been resilient." She said softly. "I'm gonna to talk to the nurses, okay?" Kristin whispers, kissing his hand before standing up and walking out of the room.

***

Wilbur was happy to be in a house and not a hospital. It wasn't his home, it was fairly barren, but they were hanging the remaining paintings of Kristin's, just trying to make things more homey. He grinned when he saw his guitar resting in a corner. Technoblade was out in the living room, reading something with a red cover. He looked up from his book, relief washing over his face as he stood up, limping over to Wilbur and pulling him into a hug.