A/N: Hi everyone, I hope you are all doing well. This was actually done a couple of days ago and I forgot to upload it. Uh, I don't know what to say here, so I'll just say please read and review. And thanks for sticking with me.
Blue eyes lingered on the leafless tree; the large plant standing out amongst the bare stone halls. Red leaves formed a ring at its base adding a splotch color to the plain purple of the Ruins. Kendall asked the boss monster guiding her about the tree.
"My...The King planted this tree during the first anniversary of all monsterkind being sealed. It was intended to symbolize that life could continue Underground," Toriel said a small sad smile. "He is a talented gardener."
Kendall looked up at the bare branches reaching to the ceiling. The wooden appendages longing for sun. "He must be a magical one. There isn't even sun down here," she replied.
"Yes, we must go inside. You must be tired from your journey," Toriel said cutting off the path the conversation was going. Kendall was a little confused, but nodded. The teen followed to the plain door of the small brick home. Toriel opened the door and the human stepped through the threshold.
The teen smiled at the warm atmosphere of the small house the pair entered. It reminded her of her own home during Christmas. There was a quiet calm and peace that seemed to contrast the cold and barren Ruins. She looked to Toriel with a small smile. "Welcome, my child. Please make yourself at home," she said sweetly clasping her hands in front of her. "I will begin cooking a meal. You must be starved." The boss monster was so kind that Kendall regretted the last time she was here.
"Can I help?" Kendall asked as the tall monster walked away. It seemed like the right thing to do. Another thought crossed the human's mind: she could even show off her cooking skills. She smirked to herself as she thought about how Searifa would be proud.
"Of course, my dear," Toriel answered, "That is very thoughtful of you." The white monster padded to the room to the left. Kendall followed her own footsteps a quiet as the home's owner. The boss monster passed through a cozy dining room. The pot of dead flower stems caught Kendall's eyes. She didn't ask why the woman had them and followed Toriel to the next room.
"It is not much, my child." Kendall looked at the small kitchen. The appliances were out of date, but it was clear that the monster cared about this room. "Do you like snail pie?" Toriel asked pulling a pie tin from a cabinet.
Mentally, Kendall cringed at the idea and wanted to tell the goat woman that snail pie sounded gross. The ruin's caretaker looked hopeful, her brown eyes searching the teen for a response. "I never tried it before. It sounds...interesting. My mom always told me I needed to broaden my diet."
Toriel smiled a little, "My son was such a picky eater. If you want to eat another dish, I will not be offended."
Kendall caught the past tense and the hidden tears. "Why don't we make chicken pot pie and snail pie? I can try something new and have something I am familiar with." She smiled trying to bite down the questions about the monster's son.
"I do not have any chicken, but we can make a broccoli cheese soup," Toriel suggested.
"That sounds great. Just tell me what to do. I, uh, don't really cook much. Or at all," Kendall said with a laugh.
"Could you cut the broccoli?" Toriel said pointing to the fridge. "I will begin shelling the snails." Kendall nodded and started the task.
"So, you have a kid?" Kendall asked. The goat-like monster stopped her motions and started to chuckle sadly.
"Was that a pun?" Toriel asked looking at the girl with a smile.
"I didn't mean to tease," Kendall apologized worried that somehow she offended the monster.
"That is quite alright. I enjoy a good pun," Toriel admitted. Kendall nearly laughed at the sentence; this classy monster liking puns was just a strange image. The boss monster returned to her work not answering the question. The kitchen became quiet, the air heavy and thick. The two finished their tasks and completed the meal in quiet.
Kendall stirred the pot of soup, looking over her shoulder to see Toriel in the dining room setting the table. The boss monster was so quiet after her question about having kids and it hurt the teen to know that she caused it. She laughed humorlessly to herself; before she fell she didn't put much thought about how others felt. The teen looked back at the kind motherly monster. "I think this is done," she called out looking at the small fire that was started with magic.
Toriel's brown eyes darted to the girl and with a small wave of her hand, the fire disappeared. Kendall picked up the pot and carried it to the table. "Do you need any assistance, my child?" the monster asked already reaching for the pot.
"Nah, I got it," Kendall replied as she reached the table. The pot landed a little heavily on the table and was soon accompanied by the snail pie that Toriel pulled from the oven.
The teen took her seat as Toriel served a slice of pie and soup. The boss monster still seemed a little distant. "Is everything okay, Toriel?" Kendall asked.
"Yes, my child. I am feeling well," Toriel answered.
Kendall nodded deciding to ask later. The teen braced herself as she took a bit of the snail pie. The texture made her gag a little, but she schooled her face not wanting to offend the boss monster. "This is pretty good," Kendall lied.
"Thank you. You did very well with the soup. I am surprised that you haven't cooked before," Toriel responded as she set down her spoon.
"You did most of it. So are you a chef or something?" Kendall asked finishing the pie and digging into the soup.
"I am afraid not. There are not many monsters in the Ruins. Though I love cooking, my heart has been set on teaching," Toriel admitted with a small smile, the previous tension fading.
"Wow, my mom is a teacher. A professor at the local college," Kendall added, "I think you are better at teaching."
"You must not think so little of your mother. I am sure she is a great teacher," Toriel admonished.
Kendall shrugged, "Sure. I don't think so. You seem more supportive⦠She always seemed so disappointed in me."
Toriel set down her utensils. "Your mother simply knows your potential is limitless. If she is disappointed, it is only temporary. She loves you and there is nothing you can do that would change that. I can guarantee that she is searching for you frantically."
Kendall tried not to get choked up. "Yeah, moms are great like that," she replied under her breath.
"Let me show you to the washroom and your bedroom," Toriel responded, getting to her feet. "I will wash the dishes."
Kendall thanked the monster as she got to her feet. The caretaker pointed to a small hidden door that was the washroom before leading the teen down the hall. Toriel opened the first door.
Kendall was greeted with a familiar pair of beds and box of toys. "I don't want to take anyone's bed. I can sit in the arm chair."
"These beds have no owners. They have been gone for many years," Toriel admitted.
"Were they your children?" Kendall asked softly.
"Yes. My little Asriel was the kindest monster one could have the pleasure of meeting. And Chara, my strong and willful child," Toriel reminisced.
"I am sorry. They sound like great. I wish I got to meet them," Kendall admitted putting a hand on the boss monster's sleeve.
"Thank you for your kind words," Toriel said running her hand past her eyes. "I am going to return to the dishes. Sleep well, my child." Kendall wished the other a good night before getting ready to bed.
Laying on one of the beds, she stared at the ceiling. It should feel strange to sleep in a dead child's bed, but all Kendall felt was sad. She tried to wrap her mind around Toriel. The boss monster must be so lonely. Losing her children and now living along with barely sentient monsters, Kendall was surprised that she hadn't gone insane. Although the teen wanted to leave to the snowy town outside of the ruins, she didn't want to rudely abandon the boss monster. Kendall sighed closing her eyes. She'll come up with something later.
