The wind howled engulfing the small child in another wave of cold air. They tugged their jacket closer in hopes of staying warm for a little while longer. It did not help. And the dull gray facade of the apartment building that loomed behind them only made them feel even colder. Frisk didn't hate the cold but they didn't love it either. But as another cold wind scaled up the side of the building Frisk started to question just why they didn't hate the cold weather.
Now Frisk was not dumb, they knew that right then and there that they should be bundled up inside with a cup of Golden Flower Tea warming them-self from the inside out. But their mom wasn't home yet and forgotten to leave a key for Frisk to use. Lately their mother had been returning home later and later every night mumbling promises Frisk knows she will never keep. Actions like this use to bother Frisk. Not anymore. After their move to the city Frisk had given up completely. They spent nearly every night wrapped up in their own thoughts and everyday avoiding the taunts of their fellow classmates.
Frisk sighed while running their hands through their hair. They glimpsed at the call panel screwed into the wall by the door and knew there would be no other option at this point. They scampered up the steps and glared at the names below each button. They quietly sounded out each name. Only one seemed slightly familiar. Dreemurr.
Frisk had seen the name before. was a teacher who taught one of the fifth grade classes down the hall. Everyone always said she was nice for a monster. In fact she was one of three monster who taught at the elementary school which was odd considering the school was one of the few integrated human/monster schools in the city. Even with the schools integration there was still tensions between the two races. It was rare to see a human with a monster or a monster with a human during school. It was rare to see such interaction anywhere really. Frisk thought for a quick second before pushing at the call button.
A buzzing cried out into the quiet, bleak, winter afternoon. It buzzed again. And again. Again. Again.
"Howdy!" The kind voice caught Frisk off guard. They hadn't expected anyone to actually pick up. They swallowed. "H-hi." Frisk coughed down the sound of their voice. They had always hated it and usually chose to keep quiet as much as they could. This made for great teasing material that the kids at school were willing to use at the drop of a hat.
"Who's this? Do ya wanna talk to my mom?" Mom? So this wasn't Ms. Dreemurr. Anxiety churned the contents of Frisk's stomach. "I'm locked out." Silence from the other side. There was a sharp clicking sound which made Frisk's stomach drop like a stone. Whoever had been on the other end had just hung up.
The cold bit away at Frisk's skin while anger burned across their face. They bit roughly at the inside of their cheeks trying to hold back the rage bubbling up. "Why would anyone help someone like you?"
"Stop." Frisk rubbed their temples to sooth the on coming headache."Just go away."
"But I ran all the way down here?" The voice was different now. Lighter. Kinder. Frisk turned around and was met with a white fuzzy face. "Oh! No. Not-not you..." Frisk felt cold. The monster smiled. "Okay. You were the one locked out right?" The monster's voice was light and joyful. Frisk nodded briskly before staring down at their worn shoes. They noticed the monster boy didn't wear any shoes when they saw his fuzzy white feet in front of their own. The monster tried to find a face behind a mop of shaggy brown hair before continuing their conversation but he had no such luck. He continued anyway. "Well we should get you inside then." He reached out and took the small human's hand. The warmth of the monsters hand around their own caught Frisk off guard for a moment, they did not pull away once they noticed just how warm the monsters soft paws were.
"Are your parents home yet?" The monster boy asked as the duo trudged up another tall flight of stares. The human murmured something that sounded like a no. "That stinks..." He went quiet and stopped the pursuit upstairs. Frisk did the same as they finally managed to pry their hand out of the small monster's surprisingly gentle grip. The two stood their. Frisk watching the monster. The monster grinding his gears trying to come up with a solution.
"Oh! Oh!" He smiled brightly. "Whats say you come to my house for awhile? Not many people come over, but, but Mom likes the company and, and, she could make us pie. Or cake! Whichever you prefer!" The boy rambled on excitedly. Frisk blinked. Visiting a monsters house had not been on their schedule for the day. Or ever really. Humans and monsters always seemed to dance circles around each other to avoid conflict but here was this tiny monster who seemed to be all smiles and hand holding. Frisk was so lost in thought they hadn't realized the monster had stopped talking. "Well?"
Frisk let the word slip out before they could even process. "Okay."
The boys mouth spread into another wide grin. "Mom will be so excited!" The boy reached out and grabbed Frisk's hand for the second time that day ,and for the second time that day Frisk did not pull away from the usually unwelcome contact. "I'm so happy."
Together they marched down a familiar, yet for Frisk entirely new, floor of their shared apartment building. They stopped in front of a door decorated with paper flowers and other small trinkets Frisk found oddly charming. Most monster doors were decorated with interesting tokens that Frisk always admired. With his free hand, the other still grasped around Frisk's, the monster reach for the door. "Oh," He backed away from the door. Frisk stepped back a little which broke apart their hold on each other's hand. The mister turned around, facing Frisk with a smile. "Guess I should tell you my name before we go into my house." Frisk had been to caught up in not freezing their rump off and running up stairs that they had completely forgotten that names were even a thing.
"My name is Frisk." The monster blinked absently before smiling again.
"Frisk, huh? That's a nice name." He rocked back on his heals. Smiling. Frisk assumed the smiling would be something they would have to get used to. "My name is Asriel."