Chapter two:

Blue and Error have come out about them to everyone they care about.

Of course everyone supported them as to be expected.

Ink continues to hold his tongue about his feelings. He sips from a red cup at a small get together with some other skeletons in this city. He is sitting at a table watching as others happily interact.

"Not feeling up to joining them?" The voice of Dream gathers Inks attention. He recently came to this city after his brother, along with his brothers followers, came here. He became quick friends with Blue and Ink.

"Looks a bit too busy." Ink mentions turning to look at the bigger group talking. "I'll wait until things calm down a little." He takes another sip of his drink which is a simple punch. He turns to look to Dream, after lowering his cup to the table, as the other joins him in another chair. "You're not going to go talk?"

"I think you're right. Looks a bit busy. My voice might just get drowned out by the noise." Dream informs Ink flashing him a smile in which Ink nods.

"Yeah they are a bit loud." Ink looks into his cup finding that he is almost out. He knows he isn't wrong about the group being a little loud, as they can hear them excitedly talking from here. He contemplates getting up to get more punch.

"I'm happy for the two. They look really happy." Dream mentions and Ink holds back from crushing the cup in his hand.

"They sure do. I'm glad that they found happiness. I have known Error for a long time. So it's good to see him happy." Ink speaks in agreement keeping the last thing to his thoughts. Even if it means sacrificing my own happiness.

"Oh yeah I almost forgot how long you and Error have known each other." Dream turns to Ink though the other is just watching the couple. "Did you think he was ever going to find a mate?"

"I thought it'd happen eventually." Ink shrugs and turns his gaze to inspect how much of his drink is left. "With who I couldn't tell you back then. Now it seems that question has been answered."

Dream turns away from Ink to look at the couple once more. His gaze is soon brought back to the other skeleton next to him as he gets up.

"I'm going to get some more of this nice drink." Ink turns to look to Dream wondering if the other was going to come.

"Go ahead." Dream let's him go. "I want to sit."

Ink nods then heads off in the direction to get what he said he would. He makes it to the table with the snacks and choices of drink. He spots Fresh leaning back against the wall beside the table. He remembers that some consider him to be the younger brother of Geno and Error as they all had the same creator. He found with his closeness that he came to see Fresh as kind of a part of what could be considered his family. As if he was also the others brother. He walks to his chosen drink and gets some more though is aware of Freshs gaze.

"Sup?" Fresh greets casually in which Ink turns to look to him.

"Not much." Ink gives a small shrug then takes a sip of his drink. He finishes it before adding to that. "What about you?" He keeps his calm as best as he can as he waits for Fresh's response.

"Not much either." Fresh tells Ink in agreement shrugging as well. He glances around at the others before looking back to Ink. "Can I tell you something? But you can't share it with anyone."

"Sure." Ink blinks curious wondering what young Fresh could be wanting to say. He keeps his eyes on the other as he listens to what he has to say.

"You know. The two I consider my brothers both have mates. Perfect for them." Fresh glances away at the same time Ink does so Inks action wasn't noticed. "Yet I haven't found anyone. There isn't anyone that I have met that I could think of life as a mate with. Sometimes I wonder if somethings wrong. Like that I'll never find a mate for some reason. I can't explain it. I just feel it. Like for realzy." His glasses read I'm really worried.

Ink looks back to Fresh. "I'm sure you'll find someone. You're still young." He reminds the other. "I think you're worrying yourself a bit too much. These things can just take time."

"I suppose your right. I'm probably worrying about nothing." Fresh nods his head and seems to drop it.

Ink takes a drink of his punch then after he lowers his cup he hears Fresh speak again.

"You know I look up to you as if you are one of my brothers." Fresh begins as the two of them meet each other's eyes. "Though I couldn't help noticing that you haven't a mate."

Ink glances around to try to make Fresh seem like he's looking at the others to pick from. "I'm not really sure that I want a mate." His chosen mate has been taken from him. "I don't feel ready." He is at least glad that that part is true. He doesn't feel ready to try to just leave his feelings as if they'd never been there, to move to another. He'd feel like he is wasting their time and just forcing the whole thing. He doesn't want to hurt someone else. He spots Dream in the arms of his mate Cross, X-tale Sans, and thinks that he can't take that happiness away from another skeleton; just so he can try to leave his feelings in the past.

"Well whenever you do feel ready I'm sure you'll find someone good for you." Fresh assures him bringing Inks attention back to him.

"Yeah. Thanks." Ink nods to the other. "You enjoy yourself." He starts to turn away. He doesn't want to get into a conversation about it further. He also doesn't want to end up cracking by talking to Fresh too long, and telling him the truth.

"You as well. Good talking to ya bro." Fresh then head off to probably talk to some of the others.

A few days later Ink is staring a canvas though it remains blank. He had meant to start on a new painting however he just can't bring himself to do it. He hasn't been able to do much art. He keeps thinking about his conversation with Fresh. He knew surely Fresh will find someone... But would Ink himself? He had always thought that he would get together with Error. Now he's found that to be out of the option. He wouldn't dare try to break up Error and his mate. He'd never forgive himself if he acted that selfishly. He does care about Error after all. He thinks about the other skeletons that he knows both Sans and Papyrus. He doesn't see anyone else he likes in that way, or he could imagine himself having a life with. He feels like the others couldn't develop the connection he has with Error. He comes up with reasons why he think it wouldn't work, not to mention that a lot of them already have mates leaving very little in options. He clenches his hand into a fist and swings forward without thinking in frustration. He pauses realizing that he has punched right through the canvas in front of him. He pulls his fist back through the broken canvas. He sighs heavily and drops his head closing his eyes.

Everything just suddenly doesn't seem worth it anymore.

Everyday just goes by longer and longer. Keeping the secret of his feelings to himself not wanting something to happen if word reaches Error or Blue.

Blue is the kind that, if he heard then realized Ink was depressed, he would break up with Error if he thought it was for the twos happiness.

Ink doesn't want him to end up doing that. So he keeps his pain and reason why silent from the others. He just isn't sure how much longer he can keep this up. He rips off his sash as he's done a few times over the past few days. He tosses it to the side and takes a deep breath. He tries to regain his composure and after a few deep breaths his feelings are gone. His mind knows that he can't just live without his sash. He knows it'd be too obvious. So what is he supposed to do?

No one seems aware that anything is happening.

A part of Ink is starting to want to talk though he refuses and pushes that thought away. He can't possibly cause anything bad like how he imagined things would go. He knows there's so many ways it could go wrong if he spoke up. He has to continue to live hiding this pain behind a mask. He swears that while he may not have a soul it feels broken beyond repair.

Things feel like they just keep getting worse.

Ink has been spending more private time without his sash over the past week. He only wears it around others like his friends or when out in public. He feels like his life has just fallen apart. He feels like he has fallen so far that there is just no way to repair his life anymore.

The voices that have started to surface scream at him most in his own voice.

' You don't belong.'

'You're worthless.'

'You have nothing to look forward to other than pain knowing what you could have had.'

'The world is working against you. It always has.'

'They don't actually care about you. They'll just keep rubbing their relationships in your face. Never asking how you're actually doing.'

'You'll have no one. You will always be alone. Everyone you are around will always leave you one day. So why bother with them? All you are is someone who helps them find a reason to leave you.'

Ink had lost his first friend Blizzard cat before he had even met Error. He was forced to watch the other slip away losing the ability to speak or recognize anyone.

Until Blizzard cat faded away to nothing. Leaving behind a snowy tundra.

Now it feels like Error is slipping away from him. He seems so busy with his mate that he had chosen. He probably won't have really much time for Ink when they start a family. He might even just leave Ink all together, to just look at a new life not some old dusty life of his past. He would put Ink away with those times and they might never talk again.

Then maybe the others really will start to leave him. Starting their own families and living their own lives.

Error seems to be leaving him. His closest friend and the one he's known the longest.

So what's stopping everyone else? It seems no one is safe on the idea of leaving Ink behind.

It hurts Ink inside as if he is being ripped apart. It's starting to become too much to bear.

It just hurts so much.

Ink crosses his arms over his chest gripping his arms with his hands. His body trying to not start shaking to not make his bones rattle. "Can someone tell me how do I block out these voices?" He pleads with no one since no one is around here anyways. He hangs his head letting out a few sobs as the voices continue to scream in his head. He manages to push away his tears and uncrosses his arms.

Anyone could end up coming by the area and see him.

Ink heads further along his walk starting to think about heading back. He wants to get rid of his sash and all of his feelings. He pauses at seeing a bridge that crosses over a river. He remembers hearing about a monster committing suicide this way.

Though it wasn't a skeleton as they can drown.

Ink finds his thoughts bringing up images; of what probably would happen if skeletons could drown... Seeing how things have just never gotten better. He has lost sight of anything important in his life that used to keep him going. He hasn't even been able to do any art. He can't bring himself to do it. He also is starting to worry that others might soon start to notice. He wishes that if only skeletons could drown then everything could end right here. He'd be free of his suffering.

However that doesn't mean it has to be the only way.