A Hostile Visit

Kris was seated awkwardly on the end of the couch opposite the recliner Susie's father was sitting in. Susie, for her part, was seated at the other end of the couch, smiling in an entertained fashion at Kris. They had been silent for a few minutes now, Kris unable to come up with anything to break the silence and Susie seeming more entertained by Kris's discomfort. Susie's father finally cleared his throat.

"So, you're Asgore's adopted son, right?" Kris nodded and Mr. Dillon grunted. "He's a good man. Broke my heart to hear about him and your mother breaking up." Kris shrugged and said it had been a crappy situation to live in. Mr. Dillon scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I uh, I know what that's like. My own folks had a rough marriage, too."

"My grandparents used to yell and scream at each other if you left them alone in the same room long enough." Susie said with a smirk. "They're a hell of a couple. Never divorced though."

"Should've." Mr. Dillon said in a dismissive tone. "Would've gotten better sleep if they did."

The two of them chuckled as Kris sat there awkwardly. Finally Susie tapped him on the leg with her foot. "You ok there, nerd? You look like you're gonna piss yourself."

"Language, buddy." Her father said, smirking at her. She grumbled and leaned against the arm of the couch. After another short silence, Mr. Dillon adjusted himself in his seat and softly glared at Kris. "So, we should probably get to the elephant in the room."

"Only if you don't shred him to pieces." Susie said with a smile as she glanced at her father.

"You're the one who lied to me about it, buddy. By rights, I should be shredding him to pieces." He glared at Kris again, who did his best not to shrink in his seat. "Anyway, like I told you, Susie was sick last night and this morning. After a lot of prodding..." He glared at his daughter, who stuck her tongue out at him. "She told me about what was bothering her. Apparently, under the noses of both me and your parents, you two have been getting rather close."

"Oh, like you didn't guess!" Susie exclaimed with a tinge of annoyance in her tone. "The moment you heard I was bringing a friend over you immediately started questioning me like I had stolen them or something."

"I wanted to make sure you're not getting involved with the wrong people, buddy." His tone was placating, but then he turned to glare at Kris. "Moreover, you didn't tell me you were dating this 'friend' you were bringing over." Kris suddenly felt very small. Why had she told him? Wasn't she worried about his reaction? How'd he get it out of her? "So, you think you can sneak over for a fun time alone with my daughter and get away with it?" He flared his pointed teeth in a way that reminded Kris of Susie when she pulled that trick, and his glare was quite intense.

A part of Kris wanted to run out that door and hide in his room until the world ended. Just go, get out of range of her father, and just disappear into the woods. But he knew that'd only kill his chances. It was all out in the open now, anyway. May as well face it. He responded, while having a hard time looking Mr. Dillon in the face, that he hadn't planned to do anything more than hang out with Susie and play video games.

"You expect me to believe that?" He snarled before one of the couch's pillows smacked him dead in the face.

"Lay off him." Susie said a little loudly as Mr. Dillon quickly pulled the pillow off his face. "Nothing even happened. We just sat around and played games."

"Buddy, you're killing the mood here." He said disapprovingly, his face instantly losing any aggression or hardness he had before. "How am I supposed to scare him off if you keep interrupting?"

"You're not supposed to!" She yelled in a frustrated tone as her father laughed. Kris smiled a small smile to himself. To a degree, this is kind of nicer than what he pictured. He imagined getting cornered in an alley somewhere and end up shredded to pieces by a gigantic dragon. Granted, her father was still huge, but definitely a more realistic size than what he imagined. He also seemed to be an alright monster, if a little dramatic.

"You finding something entertaining about all this, Kris?" Kris tuned back into reality to the glare of Mr. Dillon, who was no longer distracted by his daughter.

"Yeah, you laughing at us or something?" Susie said with a smirk as Kris turned to her. Kris put up his hands and said he wasn't laughing or anything, he just enjoyed watching them talk. It was nice.

Mr. Dillon huffed, and Kris swore he saw smoke come out of his nostrils. "Well, it ain't a show. You normally gotta pay for those."

Susie chuckled and tapped Kris on the leg again. "How you gonna pay for the show, nerd?"

Kris tried his best to keep a serious face, then said he'd cut the lawn but they live in an apartment, so unless they have plants to trim he's out of ideas. Susie started laughing as Mr. Dillon tried to keep a serious face, but soon started chuckling himself. Satisfied with his success, Kris smiled and waited for them to settle down.

Mr. Dillon settled first. "Not a bad one, kid." His tone was more friendly than it had been. "You can certainly crack good ones."

"Told ya." Susie said with a small smile. After a moment of comfortable silence, she glanced at Kris and cleared her throat. "Thanks for coming by, Kris. I figured you would, with you always worrying about sh- stuff, but I wasn't sure if you'd... you know... actually show." Kris shrugged and responded that he wasn't the only one worried about her. "You're talking about Noelle, right?" He nodded and she sighed. "I was almost hoping she'd come too, but that might not have been the best. Don't wanna give her the wrong idea."

He gave her a look, and she glanced at him. "What?" She asked, a slight lilt of concern in her voice. He asked what Noelle had written to her, and Susie pushed out a breath. "She'd basically put all her feelings into a note and gave it to me. It was a little cringey to read but she does have a way with words..." Kris asked how she felt about it. She sputtered and started gesticulating. "I don't know! God, it's like I finally have a good thing going, everything's looking up, and the Angel suckerpunches me in the kidney with this crap! It's like the universe at large doesn't want me to have an easy time!"

"Settle down, buddy." Mr. Dillon said reassuringly. "It's not the end of the world."

"Not for you it isn't..." She grumbled as her frustration began to ease.

He turned to Kris. "Sometimes when Susie can't decide on something, she overthinks and makes herself sick. That's why she wasn't at school today."

"Dad!" She yelped as Kris began to chuckle. "Don't go spilling my shit to my boy-... to my friend!"

Kris let his smile sit on his face as his mind wandered. Faintly, distantly, he heard Susie and her father talking. She'd almost called him her boyfriend. That was... a step, he thought. But why did she stop short? To not upset her father, right?

Or maybe it's because you're not her boyfriend anymore.

'Maybe.' He considered. 'But I don't think her mind's made up yet.'

Maybe. The voice was mocking him. Maybe she chose an outcast as her boyfriend. Maybe she chose not to pursue the clearly better option. Maybe she's borderline mentally crippled.

'I'm staying hopeful.' Kris responded, his smile beginning to droop. 'If she chooses Noelle, all I can do is support them.'

And if she chooses you?

Kris considered the question. 'I guess I'd have a new problem on my hands.'

Damn right you would. You and Noelle are still friends, for now. But if she finds out her first crush is dating you, that might be a blow she won't recover from.

Kris considered this problem when he felt a strong nudge on his arm.

"You ok there, Kris?" Mr Dillon asked, concern evident in his voice. Kris nodded and assured the dragon that he was just lost in thought.

"You sure?" Susie said, and he noticed she was now much closer to him. "You had a look on your face like that yesterday and you never told me what that was all about."

He looked between the two dragons and assured them, again, he was fine. He was just thinking about things, that's all.

"What things?" Mr. Dillon asked, curiosity getting the better of him. Kris had to consider his next words carefully. If he clued these two in on what goes on in his head, it was likely there would be consequences. Maybe not horrible ones, but consequences to be sure. He thought for a moment before finally answering that he was wondering what Susie was going to do about Noelle's note. Not necessarily a lie, but not the truth either.

Susie, for her part, blushed and leaned against the back of the couch. "I, uh, I guess I don't really know what I'm gonna do." She reached across her body and rubbed her opposite arm. "It's a lot to think about and I can't say for sure. I've never been in a situation like this before. It's fu-... it's weird."

Kris patted her shoulder gently and told her that whatever she decided, he'd support it. "And if she chooses to drop you?" Mr. Dillon asked bluntly. Kris shrugged and responded it would be something he'd have to deal with.

Externally, he was trying his best to give off the impression of a compassionate, caring friend. Internally though, he was rather conflicted. He would put in the effort to support Susie and Noelle if the situation played out that way, but he'd be lying if he said he wouldn't be heartbroken. Having his first love stolen... lost, would be a real confidence shaker. The fear he'd shut down again was there; going back to being the class zombie and barely interacting with anyone. But he couldn't bring himself to tell her his actual feelings on the situation. It wouldn't be fair, and it wouldn't help her figure this all out. All he could offer was his support.

Susie gave him a look, which he returned with a patient smile. She then looked to the floor, her conflicted feelings evident on her face. "Thanks, I'm glad I have you around."

"You're certainly not what I expected, Kris." Mr. Dillon said plainly. "Maybe having you around wouldn't be so bad. But..." His glare returned. "If you pull anything funny with my daughter, I'll turn you into a fine paste and eat you with a plate of noodles. Capiche?" Kris gulped and nodded, expressing his understanding of the situation.

Susie's smirk returned and she glared playfully at her father. "And if you eat my friend, I'll steal your credit card and get a tattoo on my ass."

Mr. Dillon frowned. "Now that's not funny." Susie chuckled and Kris smiled, satisfied to have his friend sticking up for him.

Mr. Dillon checked his watch, which sat on his wrist snugly. It was a cheap plastic affair, like he bought it on sale at a strip mall. "Well Kirs, this has been an enlightening conversation, but I need the excuse that Susie's still sick, so having you hang around when Ms. Alphys gets home is a no go. Susie, why don't you show your friend out."

"Yeah yeah, keep your shirt on." Susie said as she and Kris got off the couch.

Kris thanked Mr. Dillon for letting him stay awhile. "Yeah, well, you're the one dating my daughter. Had to see if you left a good impression." Kris asked how he did. "Well, you didn't leave a bad one, let's just say that." Mr. Dillon smirked at him. "Shit, in a couple years and after a few good drinks I might actually grow to like you."

"Language, dad." Susie said sarcastically as Mr. Dillon grumbled. "C'mon dork, I'll show you the door." Kris followed Susie the short distance to the door, where she opened it for him to let him out. Kris stepped through and turned to bid Susie farewell, when she suddenly pushed him further into the hallway and stepped forward herself. She closed the door to a point where it was slightly ajar, and satisfied there was no one around, addressed Kris.

"Alright, nerd. No more acting tough, no more dad, no more bullshit." Her tone was serious, perhaps accusatory. "Would you really support me going with Noelle? How can you even say that? After that shit in the graveyard and when we were hanging out here, I thought we had something going." She looked to the floor, her voice becoming quiet. "Do you not... like me like that?"

Kris was caught a little off guard by the outburst. She had seemed a little off near the end of his visit, but he didn't think she was that upset about what he said. He composed himself and explained that he was trying to be supportive. Of course he liked her, that's why he visited, but if she decided to drop him for Noelle he'd get it. He wasn't exactly a catch.

"Bullshit you aren't!" Susie said a little too loudly as she got in his face and jabbed a finger into his chest. "You think anyone we know would've even tried getting along with me? You think they would've followed me through town? Hell, do you think anyone else would've tried to save me from that dog guy?" She leaned back to her original position. "Kris, no one besides my dad has ever tried to help me like that. Noelle is nice to me and all, but she'd never put herself in danger for me." Her voice started to get lower, and quieter. "I don't want to lose you Kris, but Noelle's note dug up some things I'd put behind me a long time ago. I'm conflicted here, man. I don't know what to do."

Kris placed a hand on her shoulder and told her that she had to make that decision, he couldn't make it for her, but he'd be there for her no matter what. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that." She sighed as she hid her eyes behind her hair. "Well, just give me some time. I'm sure I'll come to a decision." He wanted to reassure her, but he didn't know how. On a whim, he opened his arms out.

She just stared at him for a second. "The hell are you doing?" She asked, amusement in her voice. He responded that he wasn't too good with words, but he could offer a hug at least. "That's not really my thing." She said plainly, smiling a small smile. He shrugged and said he could offer to give his hug to someone else if she didn't want it. "Psh, yeah? You gonna go slinging your hugs around town?" He smirked and said his hugs were some of the best in town, next to perhaps his father's all encompassing hair-tombs. He could get a good price for them. "Yeah?" She remarked, moving a little closer to him. "You sure about that?"

Kris shrugged and told her if she had better hugs, she better prove it. Otherwise he'll take his business elsewhere. "Oh, you think you're hot shit, huh?" She said, rolling up her sleeves. "Well, let's see about that." Susie grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into a rough, hard embrace. Kris did his best not to struggle as an intense heat filled his face. Soon, the hardness began to soften, and seemed to relax. Kris, for his part, wrapped his arms around Susie and gently held her. They stood there for a moment in an intimate silence before Susie broke it. "Thanks. I didn't know I needed this." Kris nodded and said whenever she needed it, all she had to do was ask. "Ha! Fat chance that's happening." She said with a chuckle. After a moment, she quietly muttered, "Well, maybe not right away."

The tender moment was shattered by the soft clicking of a camera. Both turned to the crack in the door, where a camera lens was poking through. From behind the lens, an entertained dragon muttered loudly, "Oh, your grandma is gonna love this."

"Dad!" Susie shouted, breaking free from the hug and hurrying back to the door. She forced it open to reveal her father, standing there with a digital camera in hand and smiling goofily. "The hell do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, just taking a sentimental picture of my daughter with her first boyfriend." He said casually, tossing the camera up and down lazily in his hand. "Won't it look good up on the wall in my room? Oh, or perhaps sent to our entire family?" He smirked down at her. "I'm sure they'd love it."

"You delete that right now!" She bellowed. She made a jump for the camera, but her father swiftly pulled it out of reach. "I swear to god, if you send that to anyone..."

"What, think you can take on your old man?" He asked innocently. "Oh no, my cruel daughter is gonna beat me up. Whatever will I do?" He chuckled as she made another go for the camera, only to be denied.

Susie huffed, placed both hands out in front of her, and pushed her father into the apartment. She then turned to close the door. "I'll talk to you later, Kris. I have some important business to take care of."

Kris nodded and as she was closing the door, he looked over her head to her father, who mouthed the words "be careful" before the door shut. As he was working out what he should be careful of, the sounds of bodies and body parts slamming into walls and floors sounded through the apartment door. Not wanting to get dragged into it himself, Kris turned to leave when he spotted an old, gentle looking cat lady standing in the doorway to the neighboring apartment. She gently waved him over, and he obliged her. Smiling at him, she said quietly, "They are rather loud, aren't they."

He nodded and she tilted her head slightly at him. "You must be the young human who visited Susie yesterday." He nodded again and she smiled wider. "It's good to see people visiting their apartment again. They're so closed off, those two. You'd think they were on an island by themselves." She laughed softly as Kris smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm Mrs. Allenbee. It's nice to meet you, young man." She held out a hand, and Kris took it to shake. The grip that met him caught him off guard. It was a strong one, like she was still in her prime.

He went to let go, but she seemed to refuse. He felt a little awkward being held in place by a smiling old lady. Then the look in her eyes changed. The kind, gentle look gave way to a harsh glare, though the smile remained. The tone she spoke in next was quite unexpected of a kind old lady. "I've been watching over that girl since she was a baby. She's as much my daughter as my own daughter is. If you break that girl's heart, I'll gouge out your eyes and serve them with cream gravy and a side of fava beans. Are we clear?" Thoroughly deciding that this whole apartment building was a hostile environment, Kris nodded and responded that he would do his best to not hurt her feelings.

"Oh you'll do better than that, little man. Me and her father will ensure it." Then her kind demeanor returned. "Now you run along, dear. You must have homework waiting for you." She released his hand and he smiled awkwardly, bidding her farewell. He turned and made his way down the stairway at a suspiciously quick rate. He glanced up the stairwell as he turned to continue down, and he saw her waving at him politely. He decided it was best to just continue down the steps and make his way out of the building. If he was going to survive this place, he better come back wearing battle armor and carrying a sword.