[[ I'm back, you guys! Sorry this took so long. I was having a bit of trouble with some writer's block, anxiety, . blah blah on to the fic! I really enjoyed writing this, so I hope that you all enjoy reading it.
Summary for this chapter: Things get dark.
Enjoy! ]]
Time passes as it always does, neverending and passive. The school gains new human students almost every week, although there are also several that have been removed. Lena has to comfort an upset Monster Kid when one of their particular classmates, a shy little girl with adorably bouncy pigtails, doesn't show up for class. She hates having to tell him that his friend won't be returning, and the inevitable question of 'why' makes her heart ache painfully within her chest. An uncertain answer about her parents wanting her to attend a school closer to their parents' work seemed like it made him feel a bit better at first, but the next day he had come in, downtrodden, saying that she no longer lived in the apartment she used to. It's hard seeing any of her students so upset, and though she tries her best to keep a smile and a positive attitude, by the time she arrives home, she's feeling a little blue herself.
"Little Susie got pulled from the school yesterday, and, according to MK, they've already moved..." she sighed, glancing at Sans across the couch as he absentmindedly toyed with her toes through the plush fabric of her socks. He gave a thoughtful hum, his smile lessening the slightest bit, but otherwise said nothing. She knew how he felt about it, what he'd have to say. She also knew that he didn't like voicing those kinds of opinions. It's not fair to say negative things about humans when you're dating one, after all.
That particular aspect of her life has been...well, great. Wonderful. Ever since the night where Sans 'made up' after their fight, their relationship had taken an obvious turn. After she'd recovered from it all, she'd asked him about reciprocating, and he'd sounded slightly guilty and shameful when he told her that she didn't have to worry about it. "I don't have the same needs, babe," he'd muttered, pressing a series of toothy kisses to her cheeks. It had felt wrong, at first, accepting those sorts of affections when she wasn't giving anything in return. She hadn't been in a large amount of relationships, but all of the ones she had been in were different. They'd been with humans; humans like herself that did have those needs. For a while, she started trying to shift away from those sorts of things. She'd scoot away when Sans held on for too long, or she'd get up and get a drink when he pressed a rather lengthy kiss against the back of her neck when she laid back against him while they sat together on the couch watching TV. He'd respectfully backed off, as well, until, eventually, he held fast when she tried to move away. There had been misunderstanding, and after she'd blurted out that she felt guilty for taking so much and not giving, he'd looked at her as if she'd just said something crazy.
"You give me so much more than you realize, babe... 'sides, gettin' to see ya like that is just as fulfilling for me."
She still tried to keep a hold over herself, but she was far more comfortable with being so physically intimate with Sans. And Sans liked being able to help, being trusted with taking care of his human in such a vulnerable state. The thought that he put her in such a state certainly helped him feel better, too. Even if it ended up with Papyrus shooting them sly smiles at the breakfast table the next morning.
Such a morning as the one Lena currently found herself, her face flushed as she shoved forkfull after forkfull of pancakes into her mouth. Papyrus had asked an innocent question, asking how their night had been, but the way the ridges of his browbones practically danced over his eyesockets left her speechless and Sans snorting with mirth and embarrassment beside her. "It was fine," he answered easily enough once he'd reigned in his chuckles, glancing at his girlfriend, a browbone raised. His grin shifted to positively devious, though she didn't see it, and Papyrus narrowed his eyesockets at him across the table. "Geez, babe, these pancakes are pretty good, huh?" His voice was a lazy drawl as he gestured down at his untouched stack, eyelights darting over to the corners of his sockets to peer at her. "Could even say they're orgasmic-" Lena gasped through a mouthful of pancake, which led to an immediate fit of coughing. Sans practically howled with laughter at the watery glare she sent him, her green eyes standing out beautifully from her flushed face.
"BROTHER, STOP IT NOW!" Snickering noisily, Sans glanced up at his brother with the most shit-eating grin yet.
"Aw, Paps, come on-"
"I DO NOT WISH TO HEAR ANY MORE ABOUT YOU CANOODLING WITH YOUR HUMAN THAN I ALREADY HAVE TO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" The taller skeleton stood upright from the table and picked up his plate, turning on his heel quickly to try and hide his grin as he made for the kitchen. Sans guffawed loudly and smacked a bony hand on the table, leaning over to rest on it as his shoulders shook with laughter. He felt a small slap to his scapula and didn't even have to look over to see Lena glaring at him, hissing his name in that 'angry' way she got when she was embarrassed.
"Sorry! I'm so sorry-"
"No you're not!" she hissed, crossing her arms over her chest and sinking down further into her chair. After a while he finally managed to regain control over his laughter and, leaning over, he threw an arm around her shoulder to pull her in for a kiss.
"Nah, 'm not. You're cute when you blush," he cooed, watching with absolute delight as she flushed a shade darker and pushed him away playfully. When he saw her check the time he raised a brow. "Wassup, baby cakes?" Stars, he loved how she'd flush whenever he called her that. It was one of his favorite nicknames for her...and one that frequented the bedroom. Maybe that's why she liked it so much. "Got somewhere to be today?"
"Mhm, I have to run into Tristin today to pick up some documents. Something about a training seminar I'll need to have over the course of the summer... Toriel said that I can start learning Monster History along with the kids." She looked positively excited at this, her lips curling into a bright smile and her eyes practically aglow with that little special spark she got when she was talking about something she loved. Teaching. Learning. Those were the things she was born for. After a pause as she finished her last bite of pancakes, she swallowed down the last of her glass of milk and scooted her chair back. "I'm gonna spend a little time hanging out with Brit today, too. It's been a while, and she's been getting bitchy about her 'girlfriend' abandoning her..." She tries to sound annoyed by this, but it's undone by the fond smile on her face. Sans chuckles and glances down at his uneaten plate, poking at the dry pancakes with his fork before reaching for the bottle of syrup, upending it over the entire plate.
"Trouble in paradise?" She snorts and gives him an amused look.
"Something like that. She's been really stressing out lately, and it's overdue for us to hang out..." She trails off slightly, glancing back at him. "You don't mind, do you? I know we didn't exactly have any plans for today, but still."
"Nah, go hang with Brit. Just save some kisses for me when you get back." He was teasing, and she knew that, but that doesn't stop the pleased swell of affection in his soul when she leans over to press a kiss to his teeth. He nuzzles against her lips slightly, chuckling softly.
"I think I can arrange for that. Brit's not much of a kisser, anyway." He felt stupid for feeling relieved at hearing that. Lena followed the younger skeleton brother into the kitchen, finding him standing at the sink, his gloves swapped instead for a pair of pink floral dish gloves. He was wrist-deep in a sink full of bubbles, obviously already quick at work washing the dishes. Frowning slightly, the human sidled up to the counter next to him, casually trying to step sideways until he was left no other option but to move. ...Of course, her little five-foot something frame was no match for his towering seven feet of solid bone, and the skeleton returned her efforts with a gentle hip-check. She huffed and tried to reach into the sink past him, but Papyrus merely flicked a bit of soapy water at her with a smile, giving a soft "Nyeh" of triumph when she relented, crossing her arms and walking out of the kitchen. It had been difficult for her to get used to sharing the chores. It was safe to say that she was still trying to get used to it.
"GO AND PREPARE YOURSELF FOR YOUR FRIEND-DATE WITH OUR VULGAR HUMAN FRIEND!" She snorted as a surprised laugh left her and she hurried to cover it.
"Alright, alright, you're right. She's not exactly patient..." As if on cue, the human felt her phone vibrate incessantly in her pocket. She pulled it out and immediately started giggling as she read over the messages.
| Brit: I don't think I can last much longer, babe, I need you so bad /3 |
| Brit: Okay but realtalk my friendship-balls are SO blue rn, okay? I need some of your healing love |
| Brit: Also Jordan has the kids and we are going to get up to so much shit today. |
| Brit: Soooo many shenanigans and you best believe I'mma cuddle the shit out of you. |
| Lena: That sounds like a crappy idea if you ask me. |
| Brit: Your bonefriend has been rubbing off on you too much. |
| Brit: Orrrr maybe... |
| Lena: do not |
| Brit: He's been rubbing you off too much. That's prolly more likely. ;) *winkwonk* |
Groaning, the human quickly went into her room to dress in a simple pair of dark jeans and a short-sleeved t-shirt (it was one she'd stolen from Brit, saying "It's too AM for Me" on the front). She slipped on her shoes at the door and called out a farewell as she closed the door behind her, taking the steps down two at a time as she hurried to her car. She had a friend-date to get to, and errands to run, and it was with a lightness in her heart and a bounce in her step that heads out into the unseasonably warm February morning.
"Ahuhuhu~" Delicate fingertips brushed against the thin strands of magic, laid out before her like threads in a loom. Her index finger touched one as it reverberated faintly, her eyes falling closed as images came before her mind's eye. A modest forest-colored SUV, pulling out of an apartment complex parking lot. A human was behind the wheel, not one she had met before, but one that she recognized easily enough. 'That's the dear human Papyrus was going on about... Hmmmm... She looks even more exquisite in person!' A pleased smile curled up the corners of her lips, the faintest gleam of her fangs showing from between her dark-painted lips. 'Oh? What's this?' Another human, she assumed a male, from his broad shoulders and shaven hair. He was dressed in a heavy black leather biker's jacket with scuffs and tears on the elbows, like they'd come into heavy contact with abrasive surfaces. He was peeking out from the car he was ducked behind, a lit cigarette hanging loosely between his chapped lips. The smoke curled delicately in the cool morning air, and Muffet didn't have to glance too hard to see that he was following Papyrus' friend. The way he scowled and glared after her vehicle told her that well enough.
Eyes still closed, Muffet allowed her fingertips to brush against another thread, the scene in her mind blinking from one to another, as if she'd just changed the channel on the television using the remote. Perhaps that was a good enough analogy, she mused, as the inside of the human's SUV came into view. Peeking just over the edge of the human's purse, her tiny little set of 'eyes' clung tightly, their own excitement from going somewhere strange and new carrying over to Muffet, herself. She'd need to be sure and scold Sprinkle more appropriately when they returned. The little spider monster was always sneaking off to go home with Papyrus after his shifts. She'd need to remind them that not all people were as kind to spiders as they were.
"Yeah, I'm on my way," the human said, a phone held carefully to her ear as her eyes stayed focused on the road. "...Yes, yes, I'll tell you all about it as soon as I get there." She rolled her eyes, obviously being sarcastic with her words, but Muffet could still hear the faintest of laughs from the other end of the receiver. Soon, the human was laughing, too, and were talking about something frivolous and of little worth to her. Another thread, another picture coming into view. The inside of the car faded out slowly, back to the human man.
"She left her apartment." He, too, had a phone held to his ear, his shoulders hunched protectively around himself as he walked brusquely down the sidewalk. A group of young monsters approached, she guessed teenaged from the way they gossiped and blathered on and on about Mettaton. The human scowled and ducked out of sight into an alleyway, his free hand coming up to cup around his mouth as he lowered his voice. "She was alone. None of them freaks with her. ...No, but she's headed into Tristin. To visit her friend." Her little arachnid sight skittered down the alley closer to the human, and she watched as he stopped to crouch on the filthy ground. Moving closer, she could see what looked like the glint of a silver blade shoved beneath a dumpster up against the brick wall of a building. "Yeah, I'll keep an eye on her." They reached underneath the large industrial garbage container and pulled out a worn dagger. The edges were blunted with dried blood and caked layers of dust, a disgusting mixture that made even Muffet's stomach churn slightly. The little arachnid crept backward a bit, their vision trembling with fear, and the spideress longed to reach out, caress their short fur and soothe them.
A small flash of red caught her attention, though, and pulled her from her thoughts. As soon as she refocused, however, it was gone, leaving only the human, knelt in the alleyway holding a knife close to their chest. Their mouth spread into a wide grin, looking far too sharp for it to be natural. They got to their feet, dirt scuffed on the knees of their torn jeans. The knife was slid into their belt loop and they chuckled, a deep, unsettling sound. "Don't worry, he won't give us any trouble once we have what we're after." They hung up the phone and slid it easily back into the human's jeans pocket. Their eyes leveled with the spider and their expression turned almost gleeful, lips curling cruelly as they walked forward, lifted their foot, and brought it down heavily-
Her vision dipped instantly into inky blackness. The thread beneath her fingers snapped, the recoil of it stinging her very soul, though it was quickly washed over by her anger. 'Humans who stomp on spiders are despicable...' The corners of her eyes crinkled slightly as she smiled, her own lips curling to mimic the cruel smile she'd just seen upon the human's face. 'I'll simply have to stop him in return.' She hesitated only for a moment before she ran her fingertip almost lovingly across the thickest of her threads, feeling the heavy but comfortable buzz of magic flowing through it. Her vision bloomed with warmth and light, the little spider dropping down from the top shelf over a smooth wood bartop. A familiar flame was there, dressed in a button up and vest polishing glasses. He looked up, the white spots of flame that were his eyes flickering up slightly to look at the tiny arachnid. She could hear the adorable chirping sounds her precious darling made, reminding her of her recent loss, but she pushed that aside. There was no time for that now.
Grillby's hands moved steadily, forming words, phrases, sentences as he used sign language to communicate. Her smile widened and she dismissed the threads, the sound of a small bell chiming alerting her to customers. She'd have to deal with all this new information later.
For now, she had customers to serve, and there was money to be earned. She stepped out from the doorway to stand behind the front counter, two sets of hands resting on her hips as the other reached for a notepad and pen. "Welcome, dearies! What can I get you~?"
"Hey! Hey, Lena! Does this remind you of anythiiiiiing?" The short-haired woman wiggled her eyebrows wildly as she held up a blue-raspberry flavored popsicle, her face screaming suggestion and amusement. Lena huffed a breath as she felt her face burn, tossing her own empty popsicle stick in the trash can.
"I never should have told you about that dream..." Her friend cackled and threw an arm around her shoulder, pressing a sloppy kiss to her cheek, to which she groaned and pushed at her face. "Briiiiit, please!"
"Ahhh, you're just too much fun to tease. It's been so long since I've gotten to mess with you, I'm gonna be sure to make up for lost time." Lena sighed and pulled her knees up to her chest, shooting her friend a pouting frown. "Hey, c'mon, I don't think it's that bad! I mean, how the fuck else is he supposed to do you?" The shorter woman whined and covered her face with her hands. Brit snickered to herself, withdrawing her arm and finishing up her popsicle. "No, but seriously. Is that something you want from your relationship?" Peeking out from between her fingers, Lena gave a meek little shrug. "Not judging. You know that. I'm just curious."
"I... I mean, I guess? He said that he doesn't have those same, uh...'needs'..." Her cheeks flushed an even darker shade of crimson, much to Brit's delight. "B-but he's seemed more than willing to do...'stuff'...whenever I get in a 'mood.'" Brit hummed quietly to herself, brows furrowed slightly in thought. A wide smirk spread across her lips and she tossed her popsicle stick into the trash.
"Y'know, for someone without much of an 'appetite'-"
"Brit, please-"
"He sure does like to eat out!"
"Why am I friends with you again?!" she wailed, but, despite her embarrassment, she couldn't help but smile.
"Because you love me, duh."
"You're right, I do love you...you're lucky I do," Lena mumbled, wrapping her arms around her friend in a hug. The thinner woman immediately latched onto her, returning the hug and nuzzling her face into her friend's breasts (to which Lena heaved a sigh).
"Woah dude, that's hella gay." Brit's voice was muffled, but even still, Lena could hear the affection and fondness in her words. She rolled her eyes and pressed a kiss to the top of her friend's head.
"Yeah, I know, sorry." The two of them laughed and cuddled in closer, sitting in the warmth of the sun and relaxing. The peace was broken, however, by a loud buzzing from Lena's pocket. They both jumped slightly, startled, and pulled away with a sigh. "That's the alarm I set. I have to get going to pick up those documents from the Board of Education's main office..." The arms around her middle tightened briefly and she reached up to pat Brit on the head, brushing her fingers through her short hair. "I know. I'll text you as soon as I get home, okay? We'll plan something for next weekend so we can spend more time together." Seemingly appeased by this, Brit released her hold, allowing Lena to get to her feet.
"Sounds good. Go home and bone your boyfriend." The redhead's cheeks flushed deeply and she sighed, turning and heading back toward her car. "Wait wait wait, just tell me. Is he ribbed for your pleasure?" The loud snorting laughter prompted Lena to walk faster, climbing into her little SUV and shouting a quick "Goodbye, Brit" before closing the door. Despite all the teasing, she really did miss spending more time with her. She wondered if 'platonic soulmates' were a thing and briefly considered asking Sans or Toriel. 'He gets all weird when the word soulmates comes up, though... Maybe I shouldn't.' It was with these thoughts that she pulled out of her friend's driveway and out onto the main road, headed toward her destination.
So busy with these frivolous, happy thoughts that she didn't notice the car following closely behind her.
Darkness.
Dark, darker, yet darker, still.
There was something about lacking a technical existence that made the soul grow weary. Even though it was scattered to the edges of time and space, he could feel the weariness and fatigue in the shattered remains In most instances, he didn't exist at all. He floated between the planes of reality and hypothetical perception, in the space between that also 'didn't exist.'
At times, though, when all the proper variables aligned properly, perfectly in sync with one another, he was able to become tangible, to exist, even if only for a few moments. One of the hundreds of thousands of fragments of his being would become real.
He opened his eyes and looked out, seeing a city he recognized but had never actually seen. There was much that he had been witness to, caught in between realms. He'd seen so many different timelines, so many different theoretical happenings, so many realities. They were all so similar but, to his long trained eyes, so vastly different. Even the tiniest little difference would change the outcome in the most major of ways. It was...interesting.
Existing was such a chore, and it was something he no longer had the pleasure of, save for these few moments...yet he still found himself utterly enamored and fascinated with observing. He always had been a scientist. Checking variables, testing theories, influencing changes. Those were the things he 'lived' for.
Even watching that abomination walking around wearing humans and monsters like suits.
They were intriguing. He knew what their desires were, had seen the outcome several times of what they were capable of, yet he made no move to stop it. After all, there were different sets of variables in play now. This was a set-up that he had not yet gotten to see play out, and he had no intention of interrupting the experiment before it reached its conclusion.
The paperwork had been simple enough to obtain. Though she'd felt slightly off-put by the fact that the receptionist had stared at her so blatantly, the older woman behind the desk had been polite enough, and, when asked about the documents, had been quick to hand them over. Lena tried to ignore how the woman had retracted her hand when she accidentally brushed against them when she took the papers, wiping it off on her flowery blouse as if she'd gotten dirty. She simply smiled and bid her farewell, quickly heading out of the building so she could walk the short distance back to her car. The street-side parking spaces were all full of nice-looking cars and news vans of people who were attending the large meeting and debate at city hall just down the road, so she'd been forced to park in a little lot back behind a few buildings. 'I need the exercise anyway,' she told herself, giving a quick look both ways down the road before crossing.
It wasn't often that she found herself looking over her shoulder. She was usually far too invested in what she was doing to worry about it. Something, however, was pulling at her consciousness, tugging incessantly to get her attention, and she did so simply to appease it.
She wasn't expecting to see a small group of hooded figures following her.
'They just happen to be going the same way...' she reasoned with herself. 'Don't be paranoid.' Yet the closer she got to the parking lot, the closer the group got to her, and her steps slowly began to pick up speed. She turned the corner leading down the alleyway that led to the lot and she broke into a run, folder of paperwork clutched tightly to her chest. She just needed to get to her car. She needed to get to her car, then she'd be safe.
Her feet slid to a halt just a few yards away from her vehicle, a heaviness settling in the bottom of her chest. The forest green paint had been scratched off in places, the revealed tracks of silver underneath spelling out something. It was crudely drawn and difficult to read, but after a moment, she gathered what it said.
"Monster Fucker"
The sound of heavy footfall from behind her made her turn around, just in time for something wet to splash against her shoulder and neck. It was cold and reeked heavily of...something; something pungent, like chemicals. The fumes made her eyes water and she reached behind her, blindly groping for the door handle. The instant she felt it she jerked hard, falling backwards into her car. The group of people made no move to stop her, simply stood there, glaring at her, save for one. The one standing in the very center had an eerily misplaced smile spread wide across their lips, and she couldn't place what it was, but something about it chilled her to her very core. Her finger slammed down on the button to lock her doors and she sat, staring them down, her chest heaving with uneven breaths as she started to grow lightheaded.
It felt like an eternity later that they finally left, one by one. The smiling one was the last to depart, dropping a glass bottle to the ground before they disappeared around the corner again.
She didn't wait to calm down before she started driving back home, the skin on her neck and arm burning.
Papyrus had known something was amiss when Muffet had dismissed him from his job after only a couple hours of being there. He'd insisted he stay, but that woman had a strange way of...influencing people to do her bidding. He wondered if influence or intimidate was the proper word to use. She had said very little, simply saying that she didn't need his help. The shop had been full, though, and she and her little spiders were bustling about, all arms and legs busy as she took orders, took money, handed out pastries, and made casual chatter with the customers. "Go home, dearie. You're not needed here." That comment had stung a bit; Papyrus liked the idea of being needed, of being able to do good for someone.
He understood immediately as soon as he'd gotten home what she meant.
He didn't recognize it at first, what with the filth smeared across the doors and trunk and the cracked windows. Foul language was scratched into the paint: 'Monster Fucker', 'Whore', 'Traitorous Tramp'. It wasn't totally unfamiliar to him, sadly enough. There had been a few instances where a car that had been parked innocently enough in town got the same treatment. Monster-haters were usually too cowardly to come so far into the center of Taobh, though, instead preying on those on the outskirts.
It was only when his brother suddenly appeared that he seemed to finally piece together what he was seeing. His long legs carried him across the parking lot in a few short bounds, and Sans was already pulling on the handle to the driver's side door, growling in frustration as it clunked noisily, refusing to open. A flash of blue and the lock shot up, and he wasted no time in opening the door. The smell of chemicals assaulted their senses but Sans dove past it, skull swimming as he reached out to grab Lena by the shoulders. She was awake, her eyes open, but they were staring without focus at the steering wheel. Her head drooped slightly as he shook her, trying to get her attention. "Babe? Babe?!"
"SANS, GET HER TO HER MAJESTY!" Papyrus watched his brother's skull whip up to look at him (had he really not noticed his presence until just then?), expressions of anger and confusion flitting across his face. With a sigh, the younger brother reached in and unclipped the human's seatbelt, and that seemed to be enough to spur Sans into action. He grunted slightly as he lifted her out of her seat, and then they were gone, without a trace.
'Why would someone do this...?' he asked himself, but, naturally, no answer came. He could never understand the cruelty of people, especially to someone so kind. Was it really so terrible that she and his brother were in love? Why did that deem it acceptable for them to harm her?
He didn't notice that his gloved hands were shaking until he heard his bones beginning to rattle faintly, and, when he opened his eyesockets, his vision was painted in orange glow. He was...angry. Papyrus felt angry, but also conflicted. He wanted to believe that everyone had some good in them, that there was a good reason for everything that everyone did. He was not so naive, however, to know that everyone had good intentions. These people...they were misguided in their beliefs, but there were no positive intentions behind this. Looking at his beloved friend's car, covered in filth and hatred, he could only mourn the fact that his brother would lose even more faith in humanity than he already had.
It was overwhelming, a feeling white-hot that left him feeling chilled to the very marrow. Contradictory and conflicting. His skull buzzed with thoughts and raced as magic fizzed angrily within his bones, looking for an outlet, begging for an outlet. He wanted to cut a hole into the Void, large enough to swallow up everyone who'd ever so much as looked at her the wrong way. That's what those people deserved, to float through emptiness for the rest of their miserable lives. The sight of the Void would drive them mad, he knew. It had been an accident, but he had seen what happened to humans who gazed upon it. They screamed until they vomited, until blood gurgled up their throats and foamed in their mouths and nose, and they clawed at their eyes until nothing was left but gaping, bleeding holes. That had been a long while ago, back in one of the few resets where they actually reached the surface... He'd woken up the next morning back in Snowdin, wondering if that was his punishment for showing something so dark to a human.
Dark, darker, yet darker... That was how this felt. This overwhelming feeling of...something. It burned within him, like flames licking against the insides of his ribs in an intimate gesture, so hot that he feared his bones would melt.
Rage.
How dare anyone, anyone, even lay so much as a finger on her? Such a beautiful soul didn't deserve to be treated this way. She had no LOVE, but instead, so much love that it threatened to do her in. It would, too. Her kindness would be her downfall, he knew. That's why he tried so hard to protect her, because she, just like Papyrus, would give someone holding a knife to their throat a second chance.
Naive or stupid, he didn't know which one it was, yet he still admired them for it.
He sat on the floor in front of Toriel's couch, staring unseeingly at the human laid out across it. Their skin and shirt was stained a deep black, and his non-existent stomach lurched at it, at that lack of color that was all too familiar yet so foreign. Frisk had recognized the smell immediately, that sharp, pungent stench that reminded him so much of rubbing alcohol. 'Permanent marker ink.' It wasn't acid, wasn't deadly, so why? Why was she splashed with ink, of all things? They could have splashed her with gasoline, kerosene, stabbed her with the same amount of effort...
A bony hand reached out to grasp tightly at one of hers as he shoved those thoughts far, far away. He was suddenly grateful it was ink.
"She will be fine, Sans." A gentle voice came from just behind him, and he didn't have to look to know that it was Toriel. The ex-Queen moved to sit in the armchair next to the couch, reaching a massive paw out to smooth across the human's hair. A part of her longer locks that had draped past her shoulders had also gotten stained, and she now had a chunk of hair that was the same inky black.
"Why, Tori...?" he mumbled, not really expecting an answer, and he wasn't surprised when he didn't receive one. "Why this? Why her? Why- ..." His voice began to raise as he spoke, so he fell silent, running his thumb across the back of her hand in soothing motions. He wasn't sure who he was trying to soothe- her, or himself.
"She is not the only one this has happened to... It has been on the news, though they seem reluctant to say much about it." Sans knew that, knew what she was going to say, but he made no move to stop her. "It is usually after being 'marked' that they..." She trailed off, not wanting to voice it.
"They die."
"Yes, they..." Sighing softly, she withdrew her hand to land on her friend's shoulder. "Perhaps it would be best for us to drive her to work from now on... That way she is not alone for too long." Sans sat unmoving, his sockets empty voids, the smile on his face unnatural, too tense.
"Gimme a job, Tor. I don't gotta teach. Hell, I'll clean bathrooms." She frowned as she felt the bones beneath her paw beginning to shake, rattling together noisily. "Lemme be close to 'er. Keep an eye on 'er."
"Sans...what of your other jobs? Surely you cannot just-"
"I'll quit 'em." She opened her mouth to speak, but the sound of a soft sigh and fabric against fabric made her close it again. The human stirred slightly, eyes slipping open drowsily as she came to. Toriel got to her feet and gently padded into the kitchen, mumbling a quiet 'excuse me', though it went unheard. Sans was already up on his knees, holding onto Lena's hand tightly and staring down into her face. "Babe...?" A slow blink, and the human's eyes focused on him blearily.
"...Sans?" He chuckled and released a sigh, leaning over her to rest against her. "Sans, something happened-"
"I know. 'nd I intend to get every last detail out of ya, but right now, just give yer bonefriend a hug, would ya?" He felt arms sliding around his shoulders, pulling him down into her softness, and he felt himself relax. 'She's okay. She's safe,' he told himself. '...for now.'
"I'm sorry... I didn't think- I-I mean, I didn't know... I honestly don't know why..." He nudged his nasal aperture against her jaw, nuzzling slightly before leaning down to rest his skull between her shoulder and neck.
"Don't worry 'bout it, baby cakes. Yer safe now. We'll figure this out later." He sensed the apprehension and the uncertainty emanating from her soul in cold waves, but she said nothing of it, so he didn't draw attention to it. They sat and ate some butterscotch cinnamon pie and some sea tea before Sans picked her up. She tried to resist, insisting that she could walk, but the almost possessive way he gripped her made her fall quiet. She couldn't tell what exactly was said between the short look he and Toriel shared, and though she was dying to know, she was also very, very tired. After a short trip back to their apartment, Sans had taken it upon himself to carefully tend to the mess the humans had left on her. He peeled off her ink-soaked shirt and threw it in the trash, her bra shortly following it. Once he saw the extent of the 'damage', he ground his teeth together, the sound noisy but not enough so to drown out his gentle order to get in the tub. She did as she was told, kicking off her jeans and underwear as he ran her a bath. It was a little too hot, but she wasn't about to complain; it felt heavenly, easing the tension and stress in her muscles.
Papyrus came in at some point, and Sans got up, leaving her in the tub for a few moments. She could hear them talking quietly just outside the door, but the sound of the running water drowned out whatever conversation she might've tried to hear. By the time he returned the tub was full, so he shut it off, grabbing the wash rag on the bathroom counter and wetting it. He even took off his jacket, dressed in a plain black t-shirt, and her mind wandered as she watched him go through the motions of gently scrubbing at her arm. The bones in his own arms were far thicker than hers were, more closely spaced together to make it look like an actual limb, She reached out and ran her fingertips along his ulna and was startled to hear the pleased rumble that rose from his chest. His cheekbones held a dusting of blue and he chuckled, shrugging his shoulders at her questioning glance as he continued his work.
The ink didn't fade. She was fortunate that it missed her face, the highest splatter of ink resting just an inch or so below her ear. It covered the entire left side of her neck and shoulder. She'd have to start wearing long sleeves and turtle necks again just to hide it.
Once the bath water had gone cool he pulled the plug to drain it, grabbing the large, fluffy towel hanging on the rack and immediately wrapped her up in it. She wasn't used to this, being treated like she was fragile, and, though she could appreciate the gentleness and affection, she didn't feel quite right with it. It was as if Sans thought she was going to disappear at any given moment. 'He's just freaked out... I'll let him coddle me for a little while.' That was her last thought as she dozed off, cuddled up on the couch between two skeletons and a mess of blankets.
Blackness...
That is what your eye perceives when there is no light.
White, on the other hand, is what you see when there is the presence of light. It reflects light. Light, a representation and culmination of all colors.
A spectrum versus a specter.
Monsters are made of love, compassion, and hope. Monster souls are white. So, then, would it be safe to say that love, compassion, and hope are all representations of light?
So, then...what would that make a soul that did not appear white?
One that did not reflect or display love, compassion, or hope?
One that did not reflect any light.
One that was black.
Dark, darker, yet darker...
The specter's grin glints sharply in the moonlight, their eyes crimson moons on the rise. The splattering of blood stood out in vast contrast to the darkness of their soul as they stood, knife in hand, over the gasping, writhing body at their feet.
Dark, darker, yet darker...
What happens when a soul with determination loses its light?
Just as their victim's vision fades into black, the Void within their soul turns just a little bit darker.
Dark, darker, yet darker...
[[ AYYYYYY thank you all so much for reading! Leave me a comment (they encourage me and give me life uwu) or go bug me on Tumblr! (life-sans-sin dot tumblr dot com) I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I ended up enjoying writing it! Look forward to the next installment! ]]