S11-1
Moving in

Despite their adventures in the Darkner World under their school, Kris and Susie had completed their monthly school project, the subject of which was to create any form of little device that the students believed would be a big help in the days to come.
Kris and Susie's project was a transport system that spanned the entire school, with these little drones hanging from rails that would be fixated upon the ceiling, and they would have access to every room through a hole made around the rails. It was Kris's idea, which was no surprise, but the real surprise was that Susie was highly intrigued in the concept. Sending off a little drone to the supply closet in the back of the school to get chalk instead of sending a student was efficient and reliable, since the drones would move faster. Not only did this project submission result in an A+, but Ms Alphys actually put in a request to make it real.

Today was a rainy day, and school was over for the weekend, which gave Kris ample time to think about Susie's occasional aggression. He had so many theories going through his head, but the most prominent one was that Susie just had a very unpleasant childhood. That's when Kris decided to call Susie.

The phone rang for about twenty seconds before there was an answer. "Yo, Kris. What's up?"

"You're not busy right now, are you?" Kris asked.

"Nope. Got nothin' to do all weekend."

"You're not spending time with your family?"

Kris could hear Susie's mood drop as she answered. "I... I don't... have a..."

He interrupted her. "You don't have a family?!"

"They... passed away... when I was a kid..."

"Susie. Over here. Now." Before Susie could make any kind of argument, Kris hung up.

Downstairs, Toriel was baking another one of her locally famous pies, unaware that Kris was coming down."Mom, I just got off the phone with a friend, and-"

"Your friend wouldn't happen to be Susie, would it? The school bully?"

"I don't think she's that way on purpose."

"Is that so? Care to explain why you think this?"

Almost half an hour later, Susie had arrived at the Dreemurr residence. She pressed the doorbell, hearing a jingle similar to a grandfather clock. The door opened, but it wasn't Kris who greeted her. "You must be Susie, right? Kris has told me a lot about you. Come in, we don't want you wandering around in the rain." Susie walked inside uncomfortably.

Once Susie had entered the living room, an enticing aroma found its way to her nostrils. "Mmm. Something smells good." She then heard a light clatter nearby. Toriel had just set out three plates in the kitchen, and was now cutting the freshly baked pie into nine slices.

Susie sat at the table, being mindful of her manners around Toriel, having noticed a book of hymns near the door.

She used a fork to get a small piece of the slice of pie she was given, then took a bite. The taste of the pie was unbelievable. Susie's eyes widened as her grip on the fork faded, causing the utensil to drop onto the table.

"How is it, Susie?" Toriel asked. Susie was unresponsive.

"I've never seen her like this." Kris stated, looking at Susie in concern.

Susie blinked, returning to her senses as she shook her head. "Sorry, I zoned out there. It's just... The taste of this pie... It's so... I'm at a loss for words."

"I'm glad you like it, Susie." Toriel said.

"'Like' it? That's the understatement of the century!" At Susie's words, Toriel couldn't help but smile. Susie then proceeded to pick her fork back up and finish the pie, all the while savoring the sweet flavor and wearing a happily satisfied grin.

After dinner was over, Toriel told Kris to head on up to bed while she had a talk with Susie. "Ms Toriel, I-"

"Don't worry. Kris told me everything. If you like, you can stay with us. You're not alone, and you shouldn't be alone, not when there is at least one person who cares about you. I'm sorry about your family. I'm sure they were good people."

"I... I miss them... so much..."

"If it's not too much trouble, may I ask what happened to them?"

"My dad died in the hospital... My mom was killed in a traffic accident... I was only 7 years old..." Toriel was in shock that Susie lost her family at such a young age.

"Susie, where do you live?"

"An old cabin in the woods. Why?"

"Show me."

With Susie's directions, Toriel had driven to a forest on the outskirts of town. From there, they arrived at an old log cabin, and it was in poor condition.

"Well, here we are. My 'humble' abode." Susie announced, opening the rotting door.

Toriel stepped inside, looking over the decrepit den of decay. From this sight alone, she made up her mind. "Susie, pack your bags. I'm taking you in. This is no place for someone like you."

That morning, Kris woke up to a familiar voice, but it wasn't his mother. "Rise and shine, Kris!"

He looked to the side of his bed, seeing none other than... "Susie, what're you doing here...?"

"Your mother took me in. You two won't be alone anymore." Kris's eyes widened at Susie's words. She was living with them now!

With that, Susie headed back to the door, looking at Kris with a genuine smile. "You look happy."

"Yes, I am. Your mom turned the unused guest room into my bedroom. She's got a good heart. Now, c'mon. Breakfast is almost done." Susie left the room, leaving Kris to contemplate how this could've happened.

Getting out of bed, Kris realized he never got to talk to Susie about her parents like he wanted to ever since finding out that she had been living alone. He headed downstairs, seeing Susie at the kitchen table. "Susie, I wanted to talk to you about your parents yesterday."

"Toriel already talked it over with me after you went off to bed last night. You don't need to worry. I've just been trying to not let my grief get the better of me, which is why I've always seemed so... aggressive. You called me here, and she gave me the chance to open up, to let it all out. I should be thanking the both of you. You never gave up on me, no matter how badly I treated you. Even now, I don't think I deserve that kindness."

"Susie, the fact that you've managed as long as you have proves that you were not only deserving of a better life, but you were in need of one. It wasn't your fault. The 'school bully' thing? That's not who you really are."

Without warning, Susie enveloped Kris in a great big hug. "Thank you..."

Kris returned the embrace. "I only did what I felt was right."

My head is going places.

However, I'll be seeing you next time.