Opening Night


Warning:

The following fanfiction contains foul language, referenced nudity, violence, physical and substance abuse as well as death.

Reader discretion is advised


Hundreds of years ago monsters and humans lived side by side in peace. They worked the fields, tended the herds, and raised children together. Yet, war descended upon the two races and the harmony was gone. Thou they fought bravely and had magic on their side the humans defeated the monsters driving them underground.

Fearing the monsters would return and destroy them the humans; with what little magic they had sealed the monsters behind a barrier. Time moved forward and the peace, war, and even the existence of monsters was forgotten. The tales fell back into myths and stories.

Until two years ago when the monsters emerged from Mt. Ebott.

Madison shook her head clearing out the silence from the warehouse. Shuffling boxes and arranging orders was a long, boring, and back breaking job but the silence when she forgot her headphones always hung with her too long after she left. It made all the sounds outside too loud, distorting them so she wasn't sure all the time what she was hearing leaving the young woman on edge. Pulling her hoodie on she approached the security door.

"Heading home?"

Tensing she fought back the urge to swing and turned carefully to face the voice. A clean cut man in a half tucked security uniform leaned against one of the shelving units.

"Fuck Joe! You nearly gave me a heart attack." She gasped clutching at her heart.

He laughed deep and gravelly. "Forgot the headphones again?"

"Yeah you know me absent minded as hell." Running a hand through her hair she straightened the rest of her dingy clothing. "So want to grab a bite after your shift?"

"Can't." He said shrugging. "Lucy is so close to popping I…." He shifted to hold his hands over his stomach. "I really want to be there when it happens."

"Ah." She smiled at the man. He was soft hearted but stern, had a good laugh, and wasn't obsessed with anything other than his wife. "You'll make a great dad." And suddenly it looked like he was in heaven from the comment. "You should get a different job thou." She added voice darkening.

Joe's face dropped green eyes looking at her noticing the darkness in her eyes and the tightness of her stance. Two years he had been working with her and this wasn't the first time he saw that look. Fists clenched and eyes lowered; she was warning him. He knew it was dangerous but the job paid well still…. "I need this job at least till Lucy has the baby."

"You have paid vacation days." Madison reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Take them. Find a new job." Her hand tightened and the darkness in her eyes softened. "This part of town is too dangerous for a new father."

"I…"

"Trust me, don't get stuck here." She patted his shoulder.

"Yeah…I'll talk it over with Lucy." He conceded with a nod.

"Good but sadly I have to go." Madison added before swiping her card.

"Bye Maddie." Joe called as she stepped out into the biting air disappearing in to the dark.

She slipped her hands into to the pockets of her red hoodie and bunched up her shoulders trying to stay warm. Winter was slowly settling in for the long haul and with it Madison decided she needed to invest in a heaver coat. Her eyes scanned the path watching for danger. As usual, when she got out of work in the middle of the night she was one of the only few on the streets. Thou there had been more since the monsters had returned if she left her neighborhood.

They seemed to like being out at night. Not for any notorious reason but to look up. It fascinated her that so many of them just wanted to stare at the sky. It was likely from living underground and just hearing stories about it that had so many staring up into the dark of space. Glancing up at the dark sky she sighed. It had been years since she had seen the stars clearly herself maybe she should head back up the mountain, just to check on things. She turned her head to see the very top of the mountain rising over the city. The wind cut through Madison and she buried herself further into her hoodie; maybe after winter was over.

That was when she heard it. Mixed in with the wind that made her hackles rise. Someone laughing. Someone crying. Her head snapped around trying to focus in on the sound. Shadows danced on an alley wall as someone cried out again. She shouldn't get involved. The world was a horrible place and she didn't want to get a target on her back. Still the cry came again and Madison felt her stomach twist and her decision wavered.

It wasn't her fight. If someone was stupid enough to get caught then it was their fault. She watched the shadows in her peripheral. Large shadows towered and arched over a smaller one that kept trying to scurry back. Her stomach twisted tighter as a heaviness settled in it. One more pain filled cry attached to a weak; "Help me" Had her turning down the alley.

"Fuck this shit." She grumbled low nuzzling her cold nose into her hood. Like she didn't have enough trouble all ready.

Reaching where the sounds came from Madison could make out a small yellowish monster with spikes huddled near the wall. Was…was that a striped shirt? It was. That meant it was a kid. The guilt in her stomach grew ten times at that moment. Hands flexing into fists she stuffed them deeper in her pockets and stopped short of three rather tall men.

"Yo." The word came out lazy and relaxed. Yet she could feel the anger burning at her spine, her fists, her skull but she had to keep it under control keep the burn back. Don't let it show.

Everything in the alley had stopped when she spoke. The pause in time didn't seem to last as the first man turned towards her. A towering mass of black leather and metal tipped his head looking over at her. The two flanking him didn't release their hold on the kid but she could see their dark eyes on her. All three were dressed differently but all displayed a matching tattoo that made her the skin on her left arm crawl.

"What's this?" The first said a sick smile splitting his face. "A tasty little bit wants some action."

Madison's lip twitched fighting back a snarl. Little? Screw that she almost reached his height of five eight. "Didn't know The Greater Humanity Federation picked on kids now." She said keeping her voice low and her face shadowed. She didn't need them to identify her.

"Kids?" The leader laughed. "I don't see any kids. I see a freak and a little slut who wants to have play time."

She laughed low. "Yeah because that's all you can do with it is play."

The man snarled stalking forward. He brought his hand around to slap her but Madison ducked and slipped right under his arm. Before it registered that he missed she brought her knee up into his groin. The gang member doubled over grabbing at himself. Taking her left hand out of her pocket she brought the elbow down onto his neck. The mass of leather and metal fell limp to the ground.

The other two openly gawked at the fallen man only lifting their eyes when Madison stepped over him. Metal weighted black boots echoed as each slowly hit the pavement. The red hood casting shadows on her face leaving the only clear thing, a white smile made of too much teeth to be friendly. "So you boys play too?" She cooed her red tongue running across a jagged canine.

One man moved back while the other moved forward letting go of the little monster. The yellow stripped monster shuffled back against the wall looking up at the humans. Madison tipped her head looking towards him and he flinched back closing his eyes. She felt her anger dim and her threatening demeanor hollowed.

"Hey Kid it'll…" She was interrupted by a click and a flash of silver.

Her head jerked back as a sliver blade just swiped by the end of her nose. Madison slipped left dogging a direct stab and she brought her right elbow into the man's temple. He staggered and turned in time to catch the toe of her boot crashing into his teeth. The blade spun away towards the last man as he fell to the ground. Setting down her foot she looked at the last. He held his hands up defensively as he backed away. It was only seconds before he had turned and fled.

Madison pulled her hood down after making sure he was gone. "Come on kid they're gone." The words were rougher than she wanted. She stepped towards the kid who cowered back. Sighing she knelt down in front of him. He was hiding his bruised face the best he could in his torn shirt. "Hey. I'm Madison." Her tone softened and a smile twitched across her face.

"M...Monster Kid." The whisper came from the little monster.

"Really?"

He nodded.

"Well it's a nice name."

He nodded again.

Resisting the urge to snap at how frightened he was she gave into a sigh and scrubbed her face. "Kid where are your parents?"

"Home." He deadpanned.

"Alright, where is home?"

The sounds of the city invaded their conversation when Kid looked up and glanced around. "I…I don't remember."

"I can take you to the cops. They would…"

"No!" He yelled cutting her off tears forming at his eyes again. "Please, I… I don't want to be alone with strangers."

She eyed him carefully before standing up. "Geez kid I'm a stranger." She scrubbed her hands over her face again then looked at him. "I can't leave you out here and I can't let you stay at my place." With a low groan making a decision she scratched at her hair. "Do you know anybody's address?"

He nodded.

Thirty minutes later found Madison and Monster Kid in her rusted blue pickup heading out of town. She had on clean jeans while the kid was snuggled into one of her smaller sweaters. It wasn't ideal having to drive an hour out of the city but she couldn't exactly have kept the little monster; who was now not as frightened in her home for the night. Kid or MK as he had informed her was talking a bit telling her about the Underground; someone called Undyne, a couple of skeletons, and a human kid named Frisk that saved them all.

Sipping at her coffee as she drove she nodded here and there so he knew she was listening. This was only partly true. Sure she was getting the high points; names, places, things like that but her mind was wandering over to who let him wander off on his own or what would have happened if she had decided to just walk by. The coffee didn't help the knot of guilt she still had in her stomach but it kept her awake. Madison couldn't believe what she had almost done. She almost let her humanity slip through her fingers after she fought so hard for it.

Turning a corner she moved her arm just enough that the black ink of a tattoo on her left wrist caught her attention and she shivered. Just beyond her head lights and on the side of the road she could see it. Fire flickering and feeding on an imaginary building. Shadows ran disrupting the fire and smoke. Some turned towards the tuck and opened their mouths fire erupted from them burning the shadows from the inside out. Madison's grip tightened on the steering wheel with the heat of the fire licking at her face. Pops and snaps rang over the roar of the fire. It was all drowned out when a shadow staggered through the fires.

She tried not to look tried to watch the road but she glanced. Falling to its knees it buried its hands against the flesh of the skull and threw its head back to release an ear piercing scream. Madison shook and some of her coffee fell onto her leg. The reality of heat and liquid banished the images. Putting her cup down she rubbed her eyes finally noticing the only noise was the grumbling of her pick up. Sniffing she wiped away the tears that had started. She promptly tugged down her sleeve trying to forget.

Sparing a glance from the road to the little monster next curled up next to her on the bench a small smile worked its way across her face. He was asleep against her side, curled up tight making small frightened noises. Carefully not to wake him she lowered her hand to his head. He made a small noise of comfort and fell silent. Gods be damned was the kid innocent and she almost…. Madison focused on the road again trying to push what could have happened out of her mind. Idly she stroked Kid's head keeping him and her calm as he slept.

Finally finding the right street she parked and slid out from under Kid. Madison looked up at the old house that loomed over head. The small fence was in need of repairs as was a lot of the siding but the lawn was manicured and looked well taken care of. Smoke rose lazily out of the chimney from most likely a dying fire. Glancing at the radio of her truck she sighed and reached in to gather Kid in her arms; sweater and all.

Really at one in the morning she was wondering if knocking would wake anyone up at all. Pushing through the unlocked gate she made her way up the steps on the long wooden porch. The door was blue with a stained glass mosaic of a rose as the focal point. Running her hand that wasn't holding the sleeping monster around the frame she looked for a bell. Nothing. Madison knocked, three times each slightly a little louder than the last. Kid stirred but didn't wake.

She sighed and stepped back to look at the upper windows hoping to see a light in a window. There was no luck on the upper windows but around the corner of the house she could make out the flickering glow of a television. Her hands were getting slightly numb and she had to keep readjusting Kid so she didn't drop him. Glancing at the bundled up monster in her arms Madison banged loud on the door.

Something fell inside and Kid made a partial sound of waking up. She hushed him calmly as someone yelled from inside. Snapping her head towards the door she backed up as loud angry footsteps approached. They stopped inform of the door and there was a long pause. Madison could feel eyes on her watching, studying and she hated it. Raising her fist again the door was almost jerked off its hinges when Kid's head was visible.

A blue female monster with scales and red hair stood handle nearly crushed in her hand. Two jagged rows of yellowed teeth snarled down at her. About to speak she was interrupted by the woman.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MK!?" She roared and lunged to grab the small monster.

In that moment Madison felt Kid fully wake up. Keeping him close she snapped back and slipped right dogging the attack. Bringing her free arm around she pushed the woman. With both of their momentums the monster went off the porch and hit the snow along the side walk. Two muffled yells echoed at the same time causing Madison to look down. Kid pulled back and propped his chin up on her shoulder to look at the woman.

"Yo! Undyne! Why are you in the snow?" He asked tipping his head slightly against Madison's hair as she gazed carefully over her shoulder at the woman. A smile cracked at how calm this kid was with her. It faltered when the blue monster stood.

"This…this is Undyne, Kid?" She asked low keeping an eye on the rising woman.

"Yeah! She's awesome!" He was quite for a moment as they both observed the angry look on the fish woman's face. "Oh I forgot she doesn't like humans, too much."

Madison chuckled nervously. "Now you remember this?"