We're All Monsters, Now

Part Eight

Wilbur was moving for Eret before he knew it, but when he should've barreled right into him, he stepped to the side lazily. Wilbur scrambled back to his feet, lunging for Eret again. One more, he moved away with ease. "What the hell?" Wibur huffed.

"Though I know I've never actually told you, I honestly assumed with all our past time together you would have figured this out," said Eret, catching Wilbur's fist in the air and forcing him to stop.

Wilbur shook out his hand in pain, wincing slightly. "Figured out what?"

"I know what's coming. My blindness here gives me sight into the future and beyond. You didn't honestly assume I was just a good fighter in the war, right? I confess to being hurt."

Surprisingly, Wilbur found himself believing the traitor, a pang of guilt stabbing at his heart. He stood up straight, just barely an inch above Eret, and looked him in the eye. "We can't trust you."

"Maybe," Eret pondered, gazing at the stormy sky. He turned back to Wilbur, eyes pleading, "Listen, I'm... I'm sorry. I made a mistake, if I could take it back I would without another thought, but I can't so I just have to try and make it up to you."

Wilbur wanted to believe him, but he did not relax. It'd take more than an apology to mend the wounds and scars he'd inflicted on them all, and not just the physical ones.

"Wilbur, if I'd known that XD and Dream—"

"Don't." Wilbur cut a stopping hand through the air, Eret went silent. Wilbur pinched the bridge of his nose. "Listen," he sighed, as if the words were poison, "you can stay and travel with us."

Eret lit up, a grin spreading across his face.

"But," Wilbur noted, "you will help us with what we're doing— though I do suspect that you want to get revenge on XD just as much as we do— and you'll follow what Techno asks of you, if he tells you to gather wood, you do it. Is that understood?"

Eret's smile flattered slightly, probably feeling like a scolded animal, but he nodded. "Of course." When Wilbur turned to grab his pack again, Eret stopped him, hand clasped around his sleeve. "And Wilbur, I'll try to make it up to you. To all of you."

Wilbur cast him a disapproving glance, raising a brow. "We don't do that here."

To Wilbur's surprise, Tommy and Tubbo nodded quite solemnly. Tommy stepped forward, blue eyes pure as crystal against his dirty face and messy blonde hair. He held out his hand, Eret shook it. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to, Tommy didn't need to speak to tell forgiveness. Wilbur had to admit he was jealous of the kid's easy-flowing kindness. Phil spoke, "You're all good, mate."

Techno and Ranboo were standing with their backs to the group as Eret made his way through, offering apologies and eventually settling with standing next to Niki. Techno turned to them, the newly setting sun casting a red-gold highlight on his face. "Eret, you and Niki will walk with me ahead of our troop. I want to get to the valley before nightfall, our path is easy and straight, we can rest when we die."

Eret gave him a weak smile, Technoblade did not return it. Niki took him by the arm and pulled him along with a kind and reassuring grin. Ahead of them, Techno tapped Ranboo's shoulder twice and the hybrid made his way back to Phil without another word. Wilbur heaved his pack over his shoulder and settled in the middle of everyone, right beside Tommy and Tubbo with Techno in front of him and Jack behind him. He quickly grabbed his guitar from their pack horse and they set off, his quiet playing floating through the air like a serenade to the dead.

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They reached the entrance to the valley just as the sun had sunk deep into the night, the moon near full. They settled quickly, laying out their beds and starting a fire but not setting up tents. They tied the horses to a wayward tree and fell into their beds, most of them asleep before their heads even hit the pillows. But not Wilbur. He joined Technoblade beside the fire, unable to rest. Techno was watching the flames with dark intensity, brows knit in something akin to rage. His face was set into stubborn lines, hands clasped together so tightly that they were bright white. Wilbur took his seat next to him and rubbed his hands over his face, curls falling like a veil over his tired eyes.