Trigger warning: mentions of blood, murder, panic attacks, and strong language.
Thank you MelanaAdara for the review last chapter! Again, in case you've forgotten, I welcome feedback of all kinds! If you hate it, please say why you hate this! If you love it, please share! Thank you for reading!
"I hate this."
The hissed confession echoed around the chamber, mocking Lynn as she panted and whimpered on the cold and sticky floor. A shiver ran up her spine as the last of her transformation completed and she groaned. It took her a few minutes to muster up the energy to sit up and another few before she completed the task. Her stomach lurched and she swallowed down bile before wearily crawling towards the ladder.
She used a wall to help her stand when she got to the entrance and peeled the protective covering off the icy rungs. Lynn steadfastly ignored the fresh claw marks and bloodstains on both the metal and her hands as she pulled herself back up to civilization. She fumbled a bit with the locking mechanism but ultimately succeeded in freeing herself from the self-constructed hellhole.
The morning light blinded her and she hissed in pain. When her eyes finally adjusted she tugged the rug over the metal hatch and allowed herself to take stock of her new wounds.
"Ow," she muttered, prodding a particularly long scratch and reached for her pack. "Note to self: put fuckin' caps on my claws next time."
She cleaned and bandaged her wounds the best she could and pulled clean clothes over her nude body. Lynn sighed and welcomed the weight of the clothes, feeling a little bit more human before sinking into the rickety chair. Exhaustion hit her like a truck and she allowed her eyes to drift closed.
A sudden knock startled her out of a light doze and she found herself falling out of the chair. Groaning, Lynn picked herself back up and reluctantly shuffled towards the door.
"Hey, I'm not really up to compa—Toriel? What are you doing here?"
Toriel smiled, though it did not ease the worry in her eyes. "I-I wanted to make sure you were alright, my child. May I come in?"
"Err..." Lynn glanced back into the cabin and wrinkled her nose at the bloodstains still visible. "I was going to come home anyway. Fell asleep before I could though. Lemmie get my things real quick."
Toriel nodded and Lynn left the door ajar while she quickly stuffed her things back into her bag. Within a few minutes she had her shoes on, bag slung over her shoulder, and was out the door.
At Toriel's astonished stare she shrugged and stated, "I'm very used to packing quickly."
Toriel hummed and led the two back down the path to the developing town. Lynn fell into old training and kept the pace despite her exhaustion. If Toriel noticed the change in her demeanor she didn't say anything, choosing to admire the environment instead.
Toriel paused on the outskirts of New Ebott and gently touched Lynn's arm. Lynn stopped and gave the old monster a quizzical look, to which Toriel smiled slightly.
"Before we continue in, I wanted to share an observation with you," Toriel said and Lynn cocked her head to one side. "Do you remember one month ago, when we first met?"
The woman flinched and bowed her head in shame. "Yeah... When I..."
"Yes..." Toriel cleared her throat and gently placed a hand on the woman's shoulder, letting her lift her head when she regained her self control. "In the last few weeks I have seen such a transformation in you. You have gone from a remorseful, fragile person to a more confident, lively young woman and I cannot be more proud of you. I have a feeling that you have not completely healed from whatever happened before this, but you are off to a wonderful start."
Lynn was silent for a long moment, head lowered in thought. When she finally lifted her head again, gratitude shown in her dark eyes.
"Thank you for that," she whispered, wiping her tears away before they could fall. "I couldn't have done this if it wasn't for meeting you and Papyrus. I think if I had stayed with... with Tommy... I would probably be dead by now. So I thank you for saving my life."
Toriel returned her smile. "I am happy to know that I was a part of your life change, Lynn. Come, let us break fast; Frisk is anxious to see you."
Lynn's smile softened at the mention of the child. "Yeah. I do hope you two got some sleep."
"Frisk was too worried for your welfare to sleep."
"Ah. Poor kid. That one needs sleep more than I do."
Toriel hummed her agreement and the two continued, a companionable silence stretching between them. As they passed through town Lynn stared in pride at all the completed structures, most of them she helped with. Her biggest accomplishment was the almost finished New Grilby's restaurant and bar; all they needed was furniture and the kitchen equipment and it would be completely done. The entire town was talking about it.
"Have you already cooked breakfast?" Lynn asked as their shared house came into view. Toriel shook her head.
"No. I wanted you to have something fresh. You had a long night, my child."
"So did you," Lynn shot back, "I insist on helping you today."
A small smile graced the monster's lips. "Alright, since you're so adamant about it."
Lynn stifled her smile and mentally cheered; she'd been trying to get Toriel let her take on more of the household chores, including cooking. This is the first time the strict motherly monster had conceded to her on this.
Lynn let Toriel open the door and, at Toriel's insistence, stepped through first. She jumped as an explosion of noise erupted and yelped as she was swept up by a pair of bony arms.
"I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU!"
Lynn relaxed when she realized it was Papyrus and giggled tiredly at his antics.
"I'm fine Pap, really! Also, can't breathe!"
"OH!" The skeleton hastily set her back on her feet and she gasped for air. "I'M SORRY! BUT WE WERE SO WORRIED ABOUT HOW YOU WERE DOING AND IF YOU NEEDED HELP!"
"'M fine, Pap. Just tired."
Papyrus smiled down at her and pulled her in for a gentler hug. Lynn smiled and patted her best friend's ribs, allowing herself to relax now that she was home.
"'ey," Lynn pulled away at the familiar deep voice, eyes searching the other brother out. He was leaning against the hallway wall and watched her with guarded eyes. "you okay kid?"
Lynn made a face at the nickname but nodded. "Other than being bone tired, I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for asking."
His eyes lightened and his grin widened in amusement. "you certainly have a punny sense of humour."
"Why, did I tickle your funny bone?" Now a grin was starting to stretch across her face.
Sans chuckled as Papyrus groaned in disgust. "yeah, you're okay kid. take care of yourself, a'right?"
"Of course."
"Lynn..?" A very drowsy Frisk appeared in the hallway and the woman smiled softly down at her.
"Yeah, it's me. I'm okay, just a little banged up and tired. You up to breakfast soon?"
Frisk rubbed tired eyes and nodded. Sans took her hand and led the kid to the couch where they curled up against the skeleton and fell back asleep. Lynn chuckled at the sight, shook her head, and retreated into the kitchen where Toriel was already starting breakfast.
"Lynn, would you mind making the eggs? I know how you and Frisk like them scrambled."
"Sure. Are the skelebros staying for breakfast."
"It seems like it."
It was another half hour before the food was served and everyone crowded around the table. Toriel allowed Lynn to give Frisk a sip of her coffee to help her wake up and not fifteen minutes later the kid was bouncing off the walls. The minute that Frisk was excused she zoomed across the living room and turned on the TV. The channel was set on the local news and Frisk was about to change it when a developing story caught their attention.
"-rly this morning a mutilated body was found on the outskirts of town. Police are saying that this is a likely case of an animal attack but there is an investigation in progress."
The scene cut to an image of a cop's face and Lynn's face went white. Her hands started to shake and her food felt like lead in her stomach.
"Officer Thomas Brent was the first on the scene this morning. Officer Brent, could you describe what you saw when the call was made?"
The sandy-haired man looked grim as he started telling his story. "I got a call at around eight o'clock this morning about someone finding a body. I was one of the first officers on the scene. The man, from his wounds, looked like he'd been mauled by something like a very large wolf or small bear. I cannot comment further until our investigation is complete."
"Do you think the culprit is among the Mt. Ebott monsters that have settled several miles north?"
Lynn felt anger replace her fear as the officer's face changed subtly. She knew that look in his eye and knew that it did not bode well for them.
"All I can say is that we are not dismissing the possibility, as slim as it is. I'm sorry but I have to cut this short."
"That's alright. Thank you for serving our community, Officer."
"Shut it off," Toriel commanded weakly and Frisk did so immediately.
Lynn dropped her head into her shaking hands and swallowed down uneasy bile. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, demanding an explanation to her reactions.
"I," she started hoarsely and she cleared her throat. "I swear to God and everything holy that I did not do it. I couldn't have! I was locked up all night!"
"Lynn," Toriel started softly but Lynn's head shot up and she stared at her with pleading eyes.
"You have to believe me Toriel! I-I couldn't have! You saw me earlier; I was in my cabin all night! I-I-I can't risk being thrown out by you too! Oh God, please don't make me go back to Him!"
"lynn!" Sans's voice cut through her panic and she shakily turned to face him. The anger and disgust that she feared would be in his eyesockets weren't there, much to her relief. Instead there was confusion and no small amount of worry.
"we believe you." Those three words had her practically melting in relief.
"Oh God, thank you."
Before another word could be spoken a loud ringing had everyone jumping in their seats. Toriel rummaged in her pockets and withdrew her phone, excusing herself from the table to answer it.
"Hello? This is Toriel speaking."
A human's voice came out of the tiny device, unintelligible to no one except Toriel.
"Yes, we saw the news report this morning."
"I can assure you that none of my people have to do with it."
"I—alright. Fine. Goodbye."
Toriel flipped her phone shut and turned back to them with a stern and slightly angry look on her face.
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation is coming down to talk with us. They seem to suspect that we had something to do with this."
Lynn remained silent as the others shouted in protest.
"that is really unfair. we did nothing worthy of suspicion other than exist."
"LYNN DIDN'T DO ANYTHING THOUGH!"
Toriel held up a hand and the skeletons fell silent. She turned to Lynn, who had her head cradled in her hands, and said, "We will do everything we can to protect you, Lynn. You are family and you will be treated as such."
Lynn exhaled shakily and lifted her head, scared eyes meeting the monster's gentle ones. "Toriel, you guys are being investigated by the FBI. I can and will not let you risk everything you guys have worked for just to save my sorry ass. I-I figured that I would have to r-reveal myself to the government sooner or later..."
Lynn gulped and supported her chin with her hands, fingers covering her mouth as she stared at the blank TV screen.
"It doesn't help that I saw my ex in that interview..."
"that woman beater is a freakin' cop?!"
Lynn flinched and clenched her eyes shut. That was the answer that they needed.
"no wonder you refuse to go into the human town..."
Lynn abruptly shoved herself away from the table, silently took her half-eaten breakfast to the fridge and dipped her head to Toriel.
"Thank you for the breakfast Tori; it was good as always. I'm gonna lay down for a bit. Thank you all for your concern."
With that, Lynn stiffly walked past all of them and down the hall. They heard a door open with a soft click, footsteps shuffling, and then a very purposeful thunk of the door shutting again. When Lynn was safely in her room the remaining people turned to each other, serious looks on all of their faces.
"what do we do now? let them take lynn when they come?"
"That is out of the question! Lynn has proven herself a trustworthy and hardworking individual. She has done nothing but help us to make up for what she did to Papyrus."
"SANS, I HAVE FORGIVEN HER FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE. WHY CAN'T YOU GIVE HER A CHANCE?"
Sans ran a hand down his face, frustration clear in every line of his posture. "thats not th' point im trying to make here."
"Then what point are you trying to make, Sans?"
They all turned to Frisk, who had remained silent up until this point. The skeleton heaved a sigh from the very depths of his soul and rubbed his skull tiredly.
"point is, we cant go through another war with the humans. they'd kill us in a heartbeat. lynn said herself that she wouldnt hide what she is if it would hurt us. Now, im beginning to like the girl, but we cant hide her if it means another war with the humans. what do we do if they demanded her arrest?"
His question was met with silence as everyone present thought on his words.
"That is something we would need to discuss with her."
The monsters had agreed to spread the news with the other monsters and they would meet at Asgore's house when the FBI came. Lynn remained asleep during most of the preparations and woke shortly before Toriel came home to rouse her again.
She was just coming out of the shower when the monster walked through the door and got a full view of her newest injuries. Toriel remained silent as Lynn slipped back into her room and busied herself with cleaning the already clean house. The woman walked back out a few minutes later fully dressed, still grim, and watched Toriel flitter around the house.
"Tori," Lynn started softly, leaning against the wall and grasping her arms, "I just wanted to say that it was wonderful getting to know you and everyone else here."
Toriel spun on her heel, a stern look on her face. "You are not going with those people if we can help it, Lynn. You have a family here and we will fight to keep you."
Lynn stared at the ground and dug her nails into the flesh of her arms. "I will not endanger anyone here, Tori. If they want me then I will go without a fight."
"But—"
"Toriel." Lynn pushed herself off the wall and faced her fully. "Sans was right earlier; you guys can't afford to go to war again. I will not be the one who brings it upon your people, Toriel. You guys deserve better then what you guys are getting."
Lynn's stare softened, now more introspective than firm. "If it's my head that they want in exchange for leaving your people in peace then who am I to deny them? Whatever they do, I wanted to say that I will never forget your generosity and your part in making my life bearable. I will see you at Asgore's when the time comes."
With that Lynn spun on her heel and walked out of the house, leaving a stunned Toriel. The monster squeezed her eyes shut, cursed humanity's need to discriminate, and sat in the nearest chair. Yet again humans were trying to tear her small family apart.
It was nearing sunset when a sleek black car pulled into the small town. Two men dressed in identical black suits and sunglasses stepped out of the car and walked towards the assembled group of the leading monsters. Asgore stepped forward and offered a giant furry hand to them.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," he rumbled amiably. The man closest to them with pale blonde hair took his hand first and gave it a firm shake.
"I am Agent Wallace and this is my partner, Agent Abbott. We are here to speak with the leaders of this... community."
"That would be myself and several of my kinsfolk behind me."
"Excellent. Do you have anywhere private to discuss this?"
"Yes... If you would follow me."
The agents and the other notable monsters followed Asgore to his house on the other end of town. Lynn was among them, purposefully placed on the other side of Toriel and on the outside of the group. She made it appear that she was strolling casually but in reality she was carefully watching the agents out of the corner of her eye.
Asgore allowed the agents to enter his house first and the rest of the monsters filed in, taking seats around the large dining table. The agents set their briefcases down beside their chairs and waited until everyone is settled before beginning.
"I'm sure you are all aware of the circumstances that has brought us to you," Agent Wallace began, folding his hands onto the table. "There has been a brutal murder on the outskirts of the human city a few miles south of here."
Several of them nodded.
"Now, we normally don't investigate murders like this; we let the local police deal with it. However, the location of this specific one, the manner of death, and the fact that there has been several monsters seen in the city caught our attention."
"I can guarantee," Toriel started coolly, "that none of our people had anything to do with this. We have no ill will towards the humans, especially since there is still so much distrust between our civilizations."
"Are you sure, Mrs. Dreemurr?"
"Please do not call me that; Toriel is fine. I am positive of this fact."
"My apologies Toriel, let me rephrase. How can you be so sure all of your people don't have any intentions, ill or otherwise, towards humans?"
"It is how monsters work," Asgore inserted, giving the agents a wary look. "We are made up of kindness and magic. No monster will attack unless it is to defend themselves."
Agent Wallace merely lifted an eyebrow but said nothing more on the subject. He and his partner exchanged glances and the dark-haired man took up the conversation.
"Are you all aware that this took place on the night of the full moon? Are there any monsters that become violent on the full moon?"
At this everyone shifted uncomfortably, some shooting nervous glances at each other. The agents picked up on this and swept the amassed monsters with suspicious eyes.
"You do realize it is a federal offense to lie to a federal agent, Miss. Toriel?" Agent Wallace demanded coolly, expression utterly serious as she nodded. "Now, who is it?"
Lynn lifted her chin slightly in challenge. "I am. Toriel didn't lie to you; I'm not one of the monsters that migrated from the Underground and so I am not one of her people."
"But you're a monster?" Agent Wallace's voice was dubious and Lynn's lips twitched in humour.
"I am a werewolf, sir. I was bitten close to ten years ago."
Agent Wallace seemed suspicious but Agent Abbott's eyes flashed in recognition.
"Sargent Lynn Otaktay. Served in the Marine Corps from 2009 and honorably discharged in 2011. Well, well, I never would've thought you'd turn up here."
Now it was Lynn's turn to be suspicious. "How in the hell do you know about me?"
"That is classified information Miss. Otaktay."
"Bullshit!" she snarled, fisting her hands on the table. She felt the other monsters shift around her but her focus was trained upon the dark-haired man across from her. "What the hell do you have on me? I have a right as a United States citizen to know what you people have on me!"
"You don't have a right to shit." Agent Abbott countered, leveling a glare of his own onto her. "However, I will tell you what I can. We know that you served with three people of your 'kind', all of whom will remain anonymous. We also know that you four got blown up by an IED and that you were the only one to survive."
"Don't you fuckin' dare speak of them that way!" Lynn snarled, the notes sounding canine despite coming out of a human throat. "They were three of the best fuckin' soldiers the fuckin' military had to offer and the best friends I could've asked for! They gave their lives in defense of our country and you speak like they were nothing more than dogs!"
"lynn..."
"Sit down Lynn!"
Lynn blinked and realized that she'd flown her her feet and was leaning on the table over the agents. She squeezed her eyes shut, choked down as much of her anger as she possibly could, and sat back down. When she opened her eyes again she found that the agents had a victorious gleam in their eyes.
"So," Agent Wallace started, leaning forward and staring at Toriel, a smug smirk on his face, "What were you saying about the monsters being, ah, 'made of magic and kindness'?"
"'unless in self defense'," Sans finished icily, glaring at the humans, "you were verbally attacking lynn and she had every right to defend herself and her... dead friends."
"She clearly shows hostile intentions. I would imagine it would be worse when she transforms into a werewolf."
"Correction, buddy," Lynn inserted, voice just above a growl, "I'm a werewolf 24/7. I don't get to choose when I am and when I'm not. Also, I have a place where I can lock myself up on the full moon. I've had it for years."
"Oh? Would you mind showing us where this is and how secure it is?"
Lynn snorted, crossing her arms. "I'd rather not but I suppose I have no choice with you."
The smile Agent Wallace gave her sent prickles down her spine. "No, you don't. After you, Miss Otaktay."
The walk there was tense. The agents talked among themselves as they followed the monsters back across town and up the path to Lynn's cabin. If they noticed that they were heading back the way they came they didn't say anything. It was when they arrive at the clearing did they speak up.
"This thing?" Agent Wallace snorted, staring at the shabby structure dubiously, "Please, this thing couldn't hold an angry cat much less an angry werewolf."
Lynn rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "No shit, Sherlock. It's underneath the cabin. I converted the old root cellar into a sturdy hiding place a few years ago."
"And where did you get these materials?" Agent Abbott asked. "I doubt you could afford much making minimum wage at the local coffee joint."
At this Lynn remained stubbornly silent, averting her eyes. That was all the answer they needed.
"You realize I could arrest you for theft of construction materials, Miss. Otaktay?" a stubborn nod and the blonde agent sighed. "However, that's not why we're here. Believe it or not we're not here to harass you but to help solve a murder that could possibly be linked to you."
More silence, save for the sound of the other monsters shifting their weight, and Agent Wallace sighed once again. "Can we at least take a look around? Take some blood samples and such."
Lynn shrugged a shoulder. "Don't matter to me. You will find blood in there though. It's mine."
"You realize we'll still have to collect it and send it to the lab, right?"
"Yes, yes, I've seen CSI and NCIS. Go do your thing."
Disclaimer: I'm well aware that the FBI probably doesn't work like that. I'm taking an artistic license with this.