Chapter 6

"Ouch!" I hiss, clenching my left hand. A deep throbbing pricks the palm, spazzing the nerves below. A faint glow emits from the gloved hand, creeping steadily up the wrist. I tuck it into my pocket, wincing as another onslaught of pain hits.

"…AND YOU WILL MOST CERTANLY ENJOY THE SURPRISE HUMANS! I CANNOT BELIEVE I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, DID NOT COME UP WITH THIS IDEA!" Papyrus leads on, swinging Frisk around like a sack of potatoes. The child does not seem to mind, his laughter echoing off the forest. A few creatures greet us along the way, their bodies bundled in light attire despite the frigid temperatures. I pull my borrowed jacket closer, wincing as a somewhat foul odor hits my senses. Mothballs and something else mix together, like eating broccoli with chocolate sauce. It is Papyrus's old jacket from when he was 'a little bag of bones' as he puts it. The sleeves stretch just a little too far, the cotton padding within is over worn, yet still retaining my body warmth. Once vibrant orange fades to a muddle rotting pumpkin.

'Still…it is better than running around with no jacket…' I sigh, shifting my arms into the main hub of the jacket.

"Paps are we almost there?" Frisk wines for the seventeenth time, his arms failing the extra-long blue sleeves of his jacket. His furry hood resting against his back due to their antics, exposing his reddening ears to the cold. I pull my right arm back into the sleeve, pulling the hood over his head. He sticks his tongue out playfully, pulling on the skeleton's arm once more.

"SOON HUMAN FRISK! A GOOD SURPRISE SHOULD NOT BE RUINED!" The skeleton hums in approval, stopping dead in his tracks. "AND HERE WE ARE!" A familiar stone building stands within our path. Purple bricks shimmer with bits of sun bouncing off the outside, the snow dripping rhythmically off the roof. A sinking feeling permeates my stomach; my steps begin to fall back. The imposing door stares back, hiding secrets behind the stone.

"Are we visiting mom?!" Frisk shouts excitedly, practically bolting to the door. A faint blue aura surrounds the child, holding him in place as he struggles. Sans walks forward, his left eye glowing a faint blue color. His eye glances over momentarily in my direction, searching for something. He extends his hand, the radius and ulna glowing an eerily bright white, whiter than the snow surrounding it. Frisk hovers a few feet in the air, raising higher as Sans extends his bones. I move my other arm into the sleeve, watching in awe and fear of his magic.

'This will not end well.'

"Kid it's best to let me start things off." Sans looks up at Frisk, his eye light dancing with amusement. "You need to chill kid. We are just dropping by." The aura dissipates, Frisk begins to plummet to the ground. They let out a shrill squeak of surprise as their body begins its quick descent. My body acts on instinct, running under the child as he makes impact. I clutch him close as we roll across the ground, the snow cushioning the blow. I peak an eye open from below, sighing with relief as Frisk smiles above, his head blocking out the sun.

"Again!" He giggles, his eyes dancing with amusement. I pat the child on his head, giving him my best angry parent glare. He giggles more, making a crude imitation of my face. I stifle a giggle, watching as his eyes squint in mock anger. His flushed cheeks puff out accentuating the dimple frown on his face. We giggle quietly, breaking the silly face.

"Not again." He pouts, ready to protest. I shake my head, allowing my worry to bleed through. Frisk reluctantly gets off my body with a small sigh, extending his hand out. I carefully grab it, pulling myself up into a sitting position. Frisk runs back to Papyrus who, much to Frisk's disappointment will not 'allow the child to fly again as children do not fly.' I shoot a glare in Sans direction, receiving a mere shrug of his shoulders. I stand, watching his form walk noisily over to the door creating a snow path in his wake. The tap of the end of his phalanges making up his knuckles echo through the forest, their sound carrying a heavy weight. Frisk and Papyrus make their way closer to the door, each making shushing noises at the other.

"Knock knock." Sans smiles, awaiting an answer. Papyrus looks as though he is frowning at the jest of a joke, but remains silent. There is a shifting behind the door, a weight leaning heavily on the other side causing the door to moan.

"Who is there?" My stomach knots further, bile struggling to rise. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, ants race through my veins.

"Bear."

"Bear who?"

"I can't bear another bad knock knock joke." There is a beat of silence, Papyrus wrings his gloves to hold off his scream. His face scrunches up in his best lemon face, his boney teeth grinding against each other with a faint 'hrmmm!' under his breath. A feminine laughter booms through the door, rich with mirth and happiness.

"That is a good one my friend." She stifles between giggles, her body shifting against the door. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"Heh. Well you see friend I have some people that are just dying to meet you." Sans nods in Frisk's' direction, gesturing the child forward. He takes a steady foot forward; his hands remain clutched at his chest. Snow crunches under his boots, the sound louder against the fear permeating the air. He hesitates, a hand hovering slightly over the stone. Frisk appears to be struggling within himself for a few moments, trying to find the right words.

"Mom?" Frisk whispers, placing a gloved hand onto the stone.

"My child?" Her breathy response is louder than intended, shock coating her vocals. "It is…so good to hear from you." Her voice trails to a whisper, relief in her voice. "Is my friend talking care of you? Are they treating you well? Are you eating?" Mom mode activates as she rambles off, causing the child to giggle. Despite seeing the back of his head, I imagine Frisk is rolling his eyes.

"Yes mom they are taking very good care of me." He shifts slightly, his body slightly turns toward me. One of his eyes glance in my general direction, a smile pushing his cheeks up. "I even made a new friend."

"That is wonderful news my child! Are they here with you?" I shake my head 'no'. The child refuses to humor the thought, grinning widely as he all but ignores the request.

"Yes they are here with us. Would you like to meet them?"

'Frisk no please don't.' My body begins to back up, the anxiety wrecking my thoughts. My back hits a figure, a skeletal appendage carefully resting on my shoulder.

"Yes of course my child! Any friend of yours will surely be welcomed with open arms!" The skeletal hand tightens, the phalanges digging into the coat. I glance to my side coming face to face with a sleeveless radius and ulna. My eyes travel up the radius to the hummerus, skimming over the ball and socket joint. The clavicle connects around the two, racing toward the sternum. Just above the sternum, the slightly squared mandible identifies the skeleton in question. Sans crooks a curious brow, as if awaiting an answer. When I refuse to answer, his hand giving a harsh push toward the door. I nearly stumble, tripping over unforeseen things within the ground. I glare back at him, whipping my gaze to the small child. He smiles sheepishly, tears lining the corner of his eyes. With a soft touch, Frisk gives a small push of his own.

Blood pumps within my ears, the words stalling within my throat. 'How do I approach her? Will she hate me? Will she be understanding? What if…'

I raise a hand as though to knock, lowering it with a scowl. This repeats a few more times, the aggravation in my cowardice fueling the determination within.

"H…hey…mom…" My voice comes out nervous, breaking up in some places.

"N…Nix?" Her voice whispers, the sound softer than the breeze. I carefully place my hand on the door, leaning my forehead onto the cool stone.

"Hey mom…" I whisper, feeling the tears threaten to fall. "I'm…"

"I know…my child…" She breathes back, her words tinted with understanding. "I do understand you have…things you must pursue but know that I will always have a home for you." I smile, pushing into the door until it creaks ever so slightly.

"Thank you…mom… I have…another request." Toriel remains quiet. I glance over my shoulder, noting the location of the party. Frisk, giving some privacy wandered over to Papyrus to do something. They appear to be in a close combat battle of snowballs, the little orbs flying haphazardly across the small playing field. Sans stands not too far from them, his face settling into apathy. Feeling my gaze his head swivels around, his eye socket raising in silent questioning. I shake my own, returning my gaze to the door. "I have a…problem. A wound I sustained pulsates with a color. Human wounds do not pulsate with any color." I mumble, hissing as a small reminder of pain flairs.

"I don't know what to do mom." The door creeks slowly, a small shadow of a gap glancing into the outside world. A furry paw slides out, its color the same as the freshly brewed snow. I slip the glove off, resting the chilled digits into her hand immediately. There is a tense silence as she pokes and prods with her other hand, small hums of disapproval vibrating in the small space.

"I am afraid I do not know what this is my child." She concludes, her green magic smoothing over the surface. The throb slowly lessens until nothing more than a dull pain remains. As her magic withdraws it leaves a warm chill of magic residue over top. I flex the fingers, feeling the muscle respond beneath the skin. She slides her hand back in, closing the door. I slide my glove back on, gesturing everyone over.

"Thank you mom." I smile.

"HELLO HUMAN NIX! IS IT MY TURN TO TALK TO THE DOOR LADY?" I nod gesturing to the stone panel. Papyrus moves quickly to stand directly in front of it, his palm resting against part of the door.

"HELLO DOOR LADY MA'M! I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS!" He begins, earning a much-relieved chuckle form the other side. The visit goes without any more distractions, everyone saying their goodbyes with promises to return in the future. The sun begins to set in the distance, covering the forest in a dark, ominous tone.

"DID YOU SEE THAT HUMANS?! EVEN A GUY AS COOL AS I CAN MAKE FRIENDS WITHOUT SEEING THEM!"

"It truly is a talent Paps." Frisk giggles, grabbing my arm and the skeletons to swing between. "So what did you and mom talk about Nix? It seemed important." My body stiffens slightly, a smile smoothly covers the action.

"Nothing in particular. I was trying to get her secret pie recipe." Frisk groans, absentmindedly rubbing his stomach.

"What I wouldn't give for some of mom's pie right now." I hum in agreement, ruffling the top of the child's head.

We arrive at the skeleton brother's place, Papyrus, Sans, and Frisk entering the unlocked door. I stand hesitantly in the doorway, feeling like a stranger intruding on their perfect family.

"I should get going." I smile to the group, feeling their eyes burn into me.

"Where will you go?" Frisk demands, walking up to the door sans the coat.

"The Inn Frisk. I do believe I am overstaying my welcome." I move to ruffle the child's head. Their arm slaps my hand out of the way, their golden eyes glowering.

"NONSENSE HUMAN! WE WOULD BE BAD HOSTS IF WE LET YOU OUT IN THE COLD THIS LATE!" Papyrus booms, his body standing behind Frisk. He rests a reassuring arm on the child's shoulder.

"BESIDES I NEED TO MAKE YOU MY WORLD FAMOUS SPAGHETTI SINCE THE LAST BATCH WENT TO WASTE!"

"I thank you for the offer Papyrus, but it would be rude to impede another night. I will be fine, the Inn is only a few houses down." The skeleton makes a similar face to the child's, his normally smiley skull frowning.

"I INSIST!"

"Paps I…"

"You heard my brother." I whip my head to the sound of the voice. A squeal escaping my lips before I could catch it. Sans stands next to Frisk, his hands shoved into his coat pockets. His eye lights are dim, the white flecks nearly invisible against their background. "Papyrus always gets what he wants. Better to let him win." I huff, crossing my arms as I give a nod to the duo.

"Fine, I will stay the night." Both faces immediately brighten, smiles shining brighter than any star in the night sky.

"YES!" The two shout, giving each other a high five. One boney arm and one pudgy arm latch onto my arms, pulling my nearly frozen body in.

"Just this one night," I mumble, watching the two set up the living room for something called a Mettaton special. I glance at the shorter brother, raising an eyebrow skeptically. He somehow winks, sauntering off to the kitchen without another word.


The darkness covers everything within the room, lulling the objects to a comfortable silence. There is a faint snore escaping from a door above, though it is hard to distinguish who it comes from. It has been a few underground days since the inedible celebration spaghetti, or at least I think it has only been a few days. Monster time for all I know could be different than human time. Despite the eager attempts to get out, Papyrus remains sturdy in his decision.

"NONSENSE HUMAN! YOU ARE STILL UNWELL YET! HERE! LET US WATCH THE NEW EPISODE OF METTATON!"

"HUMAN! NO, YOU ARE NOT READY TO LEAVE YET! NOT WHEN THERE IS A SNOWMAN OF THEE GREAT PAPYRUS TO BE BUILT!"

"IF YOU LEAVE NOW HUMAN, YOU WILL SURELY MISS MY FAMOUS SPAGHETTI!"

'It is almost as though he wishes for me to stay with them.' I chuckle, shifting my arm under the couch pillow. The other drapes across the top of my forehead, applying a steady pressure.

'But… it cannot last. Even if I wish to stay, it is unwise. Especially with….him.' Sans has not caused any extreme damage in the following days. Every now and again I catch a curious gaze scanning my backside, but it dispels when I glance over at him. The occasional pun flies into my court, the occasional prank setting my face ablaze in embarrassment. It is as though the skeleton is making the home a comfort than a warzone.

'But that could be my imagination. He holds an exuberant power behind the lazy smile.' My eyes shut, my lips puffing out a sigh. As my brain mulls through various thoughts, it slips my body into a familiar falling darkness.


'Daddy? Will the boys be okay?' I ask, tugging at his black pantlegs. His golden eyes peer over from the television, the show holding none of his attention. Anger radiates off his body, the usually timid flame flares to life. His fingers tighten over the arm chair, squishing the fabric uncomfortably tight. He is not angry at me I reason, but rather our friend.

'I…do not know my child…I…do truly hope…_ is treating them well.' Unsatisfied, my body grabs hold of the worn maroon chair, climbing up it with a bit of struggle. Dad chuckles under his breath, helping me the rest of the way. He perches me on the end of his knee cap, holding my waist carefully. The familiar smell of his cologne sets some of my nerves at ease.

'You won't do that to me will you daddy?'

'Never.' I frown, looking up at him.

'So then why is _ doing that to the boys? Aren't daddies supposed to protect us?'

Dad opens his mouth. I never get to hear his answer over the sound of an explosion somewhere nearby.


I gasp, flailing as my body impacts the cold living room floor. The floor shakes under my weight, disrupting the house. A faint glow illuminates part of my peripheral, stretching across the carpet. Beads of sweat trickle into the carpet, doing little good at keeping my body levels normal. The pillow flops uselessly above my head, the blanket tangling my feet in a knotted mess. I resituate myself, back pressing against the sofa seats for support. My fingers thread through the greasy strands, yanking against the scalp.

'It is…just a dream.' I shiver, feeling the weight of the dream press heavily against my mind. 'Or is it…?' Images flicker through my mind, their meanings disjointed as the dream presented.

'If only I could…'

"Hey…" I gasp, whipping my head around to the noise. A blue eye penetrates the darkness, bouncing forward as the owner walks closer. "I would say you are falling for me, but this might not be the situation for it." He chuckles, the sound dry and rough with the lack of sleep.

"It is…nothing." I sigh at last, pulling my hand from my hair. Eyes finally adjusting to the dark, the skeleton's frame is more than a shadow. He shrugs his bony shoulders, taking up residence on the couch. With a lazy flick of his hand, the television blares to life, the light illuminating the room. I huff, refusing to meet his gaze.

"What if I wanted to go back to bed?"

"I know you won't be." I cock an eyebrow, giving him a sideways glance.

"Oh? How do you know this?" He shrugs his shoulders once more, the smile forced on his face.

"Dunno. Just do." Mettaton's brightly coated figure bounces around on stage, a rerun running on the station. There is no sound, only the faint hum of the television rendering in the transmitted particles. It appears in this episode, Mettaton brings in his assistant Napstablook or Blookie for a cooking segment. The ghost appears nervous, glancing between Mettaton and the camera as he is issued the job of supply bringer.

"What time is it?"

"Time for you to get a watch." Sans replies with a bit of a chuckle under his breath. I roll my eyes, tapping his patella with my head.

"Ha ha. Very original. Did you just think of that now?" I reply sarcastically.

"Nah but I bet the person who did wouldn't mind if I used it just this once."

"Are you just full of puns Sans?"

"You could say I am very punny." I groan silently, smacking his tibia. He makes a fake wince, giving my arm a slight nudge with his foot. A comfortable silence passes between us as Napstablook makes a blunder on television, his face igniting into a shade of blue. Sans makes a shifting sound above, getting comfortable on the couch. I move my head slightly as his legs disappear from my line of sight. The episode continues with Mettaton patting the little ghost, promoting more of their brands with fancy labels and lots of glitter.

"You wana talk bout it kid?" I snort, pivoting my torso towards the skeleton. His body lays sprawled out on the couch, nearly taking up the whole thing. Bony arms hold his head up, the carpels pressing against his temporal bone. A bit of his spinal column peaks out from under his white t-shirt, enforcing the monster fact. His femurs protrude out from under black basketball shorts, the following bones prop up onto the other arm of the couch.

"Why would I share it with someone who thinks I am a defect?" I growl, wrapping my arms protectively over my ribcage. His eye sockets close, his breaths coming out evenly. As they reopen, a hint of remorse flickers within his eye lights.

"Heh. Could say I have had a change of heart."

"A formulated plan more like it." Sans' ribcage rumbles with laughter.

"Same thing isn' it?"

"No. Not really." Silence passes for a moment, awaiting his answer.

"Look," He begins, all tones of playfulness gone. "The kid seems to trust you a fair amount. I think you shouldn't be down here to begin with but well, can't fix that now."

"You could say I fell into the situation. Now I have to help with the mountain of work." I wince at the puns, mentally scolding myself for their horridness.

"Heh. You could say there's snow place like Snowdin to get started with the mountain of work. Could almost say it is a skeleton worth." I laugh, covering my mouth with a hand to muddle the noise. Sans hides his breathy laughter behind his hand. It stops almost immediately, his eye lights dimming into the sockets.

"What is…that?" His tone turns to steel, a bony hand grasping at my wrist. My eyes widen as he pulls the injured hand forward, the glow illuminating his face with a soft orange glow.

"What is it to you?" I hiss, wrenching it out of his grasp.

"Humans do not pulse with magic." He hisses back, the sockets darkening blacker than the night. "Unless they are a fuckin mage." A vice grip constricts the ribcage, squeezing it like a stress ball. My body leaves the floor, a faint blue tint coating the edges of my body. His figure looms beneath, the sinister smile revealing a darker side to the skeleton. I involuntarily shiver, coughing as a rush of air makes it way past my windpipe.

"What…the fuck!" I gasp between each breath, giving my own hellish glare at the skeleton. His smile widens, his free hand summons pointed bone projectiles.

"I could kill ya now. Save us monsters from the threat." His voice resounds in the small space. "Or I can spare ya if ya reveal your plans human. Maybe even let Asgore take you out."

"I. Am. Not. A. Mage!" I spit. Something within vibrates with a power, the power appearing to be locked away from the rest. As if a switch clicks, something floods my system, rushing like a held back dam. My vision blurs for a second, the orange and yellow swirls cascading over my vision. There is a gasp, the crackling of energy in the air intensifying. Small electrical currents vibrate over the top of my skin, releasing into the air with the familiar crackle of Sans' magic.

"Oof!" I stare up at the ceiling, stars twirling within my sight. The air feels slightly warm, the shivering presence of Sans completely gone within the space. I push myself up, wincing as a few parts scream out. Darkness covers the room, the light of the television absent.

"Was that…?" I glance at my hand, the mark creeping up past the wrist. Two smaller tendrils branch off the main thread, curling off to the side like a fictitious flower. I sigh, running my fingers through my hair.

"Shows over." I chuckle, standing. Despite the darkness, my vision appears to have improved, allowing objects to appear as silhouettes against the stillness of the grey. I grab the hand me down jacket, slipping it on with the matching gloves. 'Oh…can't forget my phone no matter how defectively broken it is.' I roll my eyes, grabbing the broken device. It illuminates the room with a brilliant light, the faint chime of my ringtone going off as the device vibrates. 'What…?'

The name display is covered by the various cracks, disorienting the text below. No visible number flashes across the screen leaving the chibi anime background the only thing slightly visible.

I slide my finger over the answer key, lifting the device to my ear.

"Hello?" Television static vibrates through the speaker, the sound of someone shuffling on the other side faintly audible.

"Hello? Is someone there?" There is a crash, glass shattering against something. A strange noise sounds as though it is cursing, the person too far away to be heard.

"I am hanging up now." I huff, waiting a beat longer. Footsteps appear to scramble on the other side, the person hopefully realizing they called someone. The phone clicks off, the screen dimming back to black.

"Weird." I mumble, attempting to turn on the device. It does not respond, its limp form resting uselessly within my palm. I cram it into the jacket pocket, muttering a curse under my breath as I head out the front door. The door shuts quietly behind me, pressing reassuringly against my back. A few monsters are out this late, chatting among buddies as they all appear to be heading in the same direction. I toss my hood up, concealing my face from prying eyes. I keep my head down, walking in the street light in the same general direction of the townsfolk.

"Are you coming in or what?" One townsfolk huffs impatiently, their voice shrill and obnoxiously high. I glance up, looking sheepishly at the tan bunny girl holding the door. She looks a tad tipsy as is with the faint flush across her face and the unsteadiness of her legs as she uses the door as a support.

"Thank you." I mumble, grabbing the door from her. I risk a look at the sign, my eyes widening at the familiarity of the name. The same name on the bag of food Sans brought back a few days prior.

'Grillbys'.