Chapter six:
"No." Edge admits to the other. "There's another reason that I pushed you away. I'd have to start from before we officially met though." He informs him. "It was five years ago. I was getting pretty far rising to power with my gang. A gang of monsters who respected me and were willing to follow me." He sighs. "I made a huge mistake. When an rival came up I tried to protect Red... Then one day the rival got us... They bashed his skull in where he already had a crack on his skull. The crack he got back before the two worlds came together. From how harsh our underground was. I blacked out and killed all those there. I barely managed to save Red. But the crack on his skull is now bigger. I couldn't heal it completely... Just like the other time..."
Stretch feels a pang in his soul at hearing this.
"After that I swore to myself that I would never make the same mistake again. So when Muffet appeared I found her more tricky to take down. I felt like the best thing I could do for you to protect you... Was to push you away. Not let it be known that I care about you. That you are one monster who is my weakness. Though I kept up with using my monsters to do a secret guarding of Blues store. To make sure nothing happened to it or Blue. However I noticed something was wrong with you. So I had someone dig into it. I got upset at how long it took for me to get results. All because I couldn't get a spy in her ranks. When I got the results it told me that she was mistreating you. And even just now hearing her words come out of your mouth hurt. Badly. I couldn't stand that she was hurting you. I realized she must have had you for longer than I realized. I thought you wore you're baggier sweater when you were busy. Then I realized it was to hide your bruises."
Stretch almost flinches as Edge is right about that.
"I was so pissed off. But I knew I had to handle things carefully. So why not make her think she won? She'd be more willing to let go of you. I planned everything. I made sure those of my gang that needed to know knew. I let Red know and I gave him some explosives in case Muffet came for him." Edge glances to Stretch meeting his wife eyes. "I couldn't tell you. I trust you. I just don't trust her. I wanted to make sure she wouldn't find out. It'd be all for nothing after all. I worked to try to find a way to get you as fast as possible. After she thought Red was dead I knew I had to move fast. So I sent a member of mine to retrieve you."
"But all that money... Just in order to get me?" Stretch questions. "Having to pretend to be dead." He looks away. "I'm not worth all that. I'm just-" He is cut off by Edge.
"Stop it." Edge reaches over and gently cups Stretch's cheek. He gets him to turn to him. "You're worth a lot more than that. So stop saying her words. Start saying your own."
Stretch has to pause in silence for a bit. His words? What are his words? Wasn't what he said his words? No... Edge didn't want to hear those... What did he want to hear? "You're amazing. You sacrificed so much."
"Try again." Edge tells him.
Stretch thinks for a few minutes until he finally decides to try to talk without thinking. "I was always hoping you'd realize and save me. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. She had me good. I... I want you to be my partner... You were an escape for me from the pain she brought on me... I overlooked so much that could have helped me stand against her... Like I should have... I was a fool. I'm sorry. I lost my skull for a bit there." He is pulled into a hug.
"That's better. That's my Stretch. Just remember I don't blame you for anything that happened." Edge slips something into Stretch's hands.
Stretch looks down to see a bottle of honey. His favourite, the bear shaped one. He looks back to Edge who leans in kissing him softly. He returns the kiss bringing one arm around Edges neck.
They pull away from the kiss after a bit. They stare into each other's eyes.
"I love you."
Stretch feels his soul light up bringing back some life back to him.
That's the first time Edge has ever said those words.
"I love you too." Stretch admits and hugs Edge.
They cuddle for a little.
"I have a favour to ask of you."
Meanwhile...
Blue makes it to Muffets house. He had asked someone who Stretch said he worked with where he was. He was pointed this way. He knocks and Muffet answers it. "Hi. I'm looking for my brother. Stretch." He explains. "I was hoping to get him to have a day off. He could really use it."
"He no longer works for me." Muffet informs him making Blue blink in surprise.
"What? What do you mean? Did he quit? Did you fire him?"
"Not really either of those." Muffet tells him. "I sold him to another group. They paid a good amount for him."
"S-Sold!?" Blue gasps staring at her in shock.
"Yup. Earlier today." Muffet confirms.
"Who! Who did you sell him off to!?" Blue demands now fuming in anger.
"Im sure he's fine. They are a group that is highly unlikely to hurt him." Muffet slams the door after that.
Blue is about to knock the door down to get more answers. He however stops as he gets a text notification. He checks hoping that it's his brother.
I know about your brother. Come to this address. I will explain everything.
Feeling like this is the best lead he has Blue does so. He arrives at a mansion and looks at it. He takes a breath then heads to the front door. He knocks and waits for a reply.
Edge opens the door. "Come." He lets Blue in closing the door behind him. He leads Blue to the living room where there is no one there. "Sit and lets talk."
Blue sits and Edge sits across from him. "I'm here. Tell me about my brother."
"I'm a crime lord." Edge begins. "I run the highest ranking gang in town. I have a massive empire. Your brother was my best informant on matters I would assign him." He tells Blue who blinks in surprise. "He didn't want to disappoint you. He told me how he lied to you to try to keep you from getting mixed up in it. To keep from disappointing you for being a part of criminal activity. Though we ended up growing close. It started as just using each other to get off. But turned into something more. I was cautious. A new enemy emerged. Someone else had gotten hurt before in a similar situation. So I pushed him away so he wouldn't fall the same fate. I didn't know that same enemy was abusing him."
Blues eyes glance down. It clicks in his mind that it all makes sense.
Stretch's behaviour and how tired and weak he seemed. Him supposedly being sold off.
Blue looks back to Edge.
"So I came up with a plan to get him away from there. It worked and now." Edge clears his throat.
Stretch walks in causing Blue to turn seeing movement.
"Brother!" Blue leaps into his arms as Stretch hugs him close. "I heard you got sold. And I... I..."
"Edge bought me." Stretch tells Blue looking at Edge and Blue follows his gaze. "To save me from Muffet."
Blue smiles tearfully at Edge. "Thank you."
Edge nods with a soft smile and moves closer. "And with your permission I'd like to date him."
Blue looks to Stretch curiously who blushes and he smiles. "You're okay in my books." He tells Edge. "Just remember. Everything you do is for him."
"It has been for awhile now." Edge assures Blue only to be pulled into the hug by said short skeleton.
"What about Muffet?" Stretch asks after a moment of hugging.
"Don't worry." Blue smiles. "I'm sure we'll have enough evidence to arrest her." He pulls out his phone calling Underswap Alphys.
Edge and Stretch look to each other sharing a smile of love. When they pay attention again Blue is hanging up.
"She is going to be arrested." Blue informs them. "For abuse, and crimes."
"Thanks bud." Stretch pats Blues head as the other beams. He knew recovery isn't going to be easy... But at least he has two monsters, probably three when Red joins them again, that are caring and ready to help him move on.
The end.
