there is only us | wilbur soot x reader

Chapter 20 - Mercy

(Y/n) POV

CW: Blood and descriptions of injuries

I could say I fell asleep the moment I was left alone in the house, but I'd be lying.

In reality, I stayed up until I heard knocking on the door. I rushed to open it, swinging open the door to find a boy I could only assume was Fundy.

His hair was orange and windswept under his hat, curling just below his ears. A small splatter of freckles dotted his pale cheeks beneath his eyes, the same chocolate brown as Wilbur's.

But other than his resemblance, there were key features Will had spoken of. The way he carried himself, with his chin up and his shoulders back. His jacket, with the patches of color on his lapel, that he rarely took off. His expressions, tight and far too serious for someone so young.

I opened my mouth to speak, but words failed me. Had all this fighting and rivalry done this to him? Was I to blame for him growing up too fast? He was barely eight, and he was guarded and cautious. Were there more children like this, forced to mature in the face of violence?

This, I thought to myself, to Dream, this is why your war is not worth fighting for.

Before I could say anything, Fundy shoved past me and into the house. "Where does he keep the key?" he demanded, searching through random drawers.

I stared, dumbfounded. "What?"

"The key? To the cellar out back?" he asked, almost impatiently.

"He never told me," I muttered. "Why?"

"All the healing shit is down there in the arena. You've never seen it? Silver, tiny, never lets it out of his sight?"

I was reeling, unable to keep up. "An arena? Like- a dueling arena? That's what's down there?"

It was his turn to stare at me. "Yes. Seriously? What did you think was down there?"

"I don't know! Storage? Dead bodies? Literally anything?" I exclaimed. He was stressing out and it was making me stress out and we were both just a big, panicky mess.

"Well, no. There's an arena down there with all of the healing supplies and bandages and whatnot and you need the key to get down there," Fundy said, deliberately slow.

This, I thought to myself, this is why I hate children.

"You are awfully sassy for an eight-year-old," I huffed.

"And you sound too much like my dad. Where is the key?"

"He keeps it on the chain around his neck, doesn't he?" I said, the key clear in my memory.

Fundy pursed his lips. "Great. Yeah, that checks out. Now I have to go all the way back to Niki's to get the key and then come all the way back. Yippee."

"If Will knew you were coming to get the supplies, wouldn't he have given you the key?" I asked.

"Yeah, except Wilbur passed out cold the second we opened the door," Fundy deadpanned.

"What?"

"Yeah. He's fine though, or he was when I left. Bleeding out and snoring but fine," Fundy reassured me.

"Okay, well, there's a few bandages and stuff in the kitchen that I've been using for my shoulder, so I can bring those back and get the key," I offered.

"While I stay here and what, sit on my ass? I don't fucking think so. I'll come with," Fundy argued.

"With that mouth?"