"Ms. Dreemurr, you really don't have to do this," Susie began muttering, thoroughly embarrassed.
"No! It's not a problem at all! And remember, call me Toriel. Did you know that I used to sew all kinds of outfits for Kris and Asriel? Though I'm more skilled when it comes to crocheting if I am being perfectly honest. But you said that you wanted this jacket to be part of your ensemble tonight, and I intend to make it presentable!" Toriel said sweetly, almost breathlessly as she tugged the frayed, black jacket from Susie's hands.
"Yes, I think it will do nicely to help cover those shoulders and keep you from catching a cold. I just wish I knew about the addition sooner, I could have stitched and hemmed in some lovely designs to match the dress!"
Susie felt herself turning magenta. When she and Kris had made their plans for the evening, she had not expected to be spending so much time with their mom! The kindly mother had a way about her to make you feel like a kid. And while Susie appreciated being doted on, at least a little, she did not want to feel too young tonight.
It was going to be a special night.
Kris had asked her to the Sadie Hawkman's. Hell, it made her flush even more to think about how they had done it! She caught Kris trying to sneakily slide an envelope into her pocket. After shoving them aside and asking roughly what the hell they were getting up to, Kris indicated that she should open and read.
Grumbling to herself that she didn't necessarily like to read, she came across a silly poem. With a little encouragement from Kris, she learned that it was a kind of map. Berating them for making her exercise her brain too much, she followed the poem's clumsy rhyme scheme to different places throughout the school.
In the Classroom where we begrudgingly meet
There is a wonderful, tasty treat!
Candy in a box of chalk.
Down the hall of horrors, where late monsters wait to strike
My mom's room is worth the hike!
A perfect recreation of the city they had visited in the Dark World.
Beyond the portal to another world we prance
Where many new friends have played us a new rhythm
The only place we haven't gone is the gym
To get there, will you go with me to the dance?
There in the storage closet, their favorite portal to the Dark World, Susie found the toys and games arranged to depict a grand ball. An ancient, stuffed cat held a balloon tied to its paw. Kris handed her a pin to pop the balloon. POP! From the rupturing rubber fell two silver tickets to the Sadie Hawkman's Dance.
The disappointment of not going back to hang out with Ralsie and Lancer to kick some bad guy butt quickly evaporated as she thought about just what Kris was asking. She almost slapped her face right then and there in front of Toriel, trying to get the sappy image out of her head of them goofily grinning and hugging. She recovered with the subsequent memory of her playfully socking Kris in the gut for being so round-about to ask her; Susie did not embarrass herself further in front of Toriel.
If only this damned blushing would stop!
Toriel's sewing machine whirled to life as she got to work on Susie's black jacket.
"It's very sweet of you, Toriel. Thank you," she managed to say.
"Once again, it isn't a problem," Toriel said to the jacket.
Susie went over to a chair by the unplugged television. There her red dress sparkled in the light of the setting sun. She had found it in a heap at the bottom of a closet back at home. It had been all grimy and torn, but it was just her size now that she was larger and older. She half wanted to show up in a tuxedo and have a good laugh alongside Kris. But it felt like tonight should be special.
That at least felt like the understanding that they had shared.
"The dress is beautiful," Susie rasped, picking it up. Had it always been this silky?
"I haven't seen that style in ages! Not since I went to school! But what is really good never goes out of fashion, right?"
Susie shook her head. "I wouldn't know…"
"Well, tonight you are going to look splendid!" Toriel glanced at her watch and gasped. "It's getting late! Aren't you going to do your makeup and hair?"
The teenage dragon went stiff as a board, her hair puffing out in fear. "M-M-Makeup?"
"Yes, just take what you brought and use the bathroom. I'll be done before you're even out!"
"I, um, well…" Susie walked like a corpse come freshly back to life. The bathroom seemed so far away! "Yes, I'll just get myself ready…"
Why is the door getting farther and farther away from me!?
Just as she finally reached for the doorknob, a warm, fuzzy hand rested on her shoulder. Toriel gave her a look of shock, inspecting her hands before glancing back at the table.
"You don't have anything else to pretty yourself up with, do you?" she asked sadly.
"No! It's okay! Seriously, Kris will like me just as I am! With the dress on of course," Susie said rather fast and nervously. "I think I can do without the makeup! They asked me for the dance when I wasn't wearing any, none should be just fine now!"
Toriel's face became stern. "The jacket can wait. This takes precedence."
Oh crap! What am I getting myself into now?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
If Asgore was any happier, the entire flower shop was going to come tumbling down. He ran about ecstatically, as if he were the one getting ready for the dance tonight. Kris' dad had agreed to help them get ready for the dance. Kris had fished his old church clothes out of the closet, but they no longer fit. But Asgore had boxed up some things from both them and Asriel. There was an old tuxedo that Asriel had used when he went to school dances.
It took a lot of time to remove all the fur left behind.
Without a lint roller or anything of the nature, Asgore had taken a hose and sprayed the entire thing down. He then stretched it outside to dry in the sun before Kris came over. The entire outfit was now scratchy, lanky, and somewhat crispy. But Kris managed the embarrassment and discomfort.
Tonight was going to be an amazing and special night with Susie, their closest friend outside of the Dark World. Perhaps even in both worlds.
"Everything okay son?" Asgore asked, as he hurriedly arranged two massive bouquets.
Kris gave a sharp nod, but they were smiling. Asgore returned the smile and brushed past his son. As he did so, he attempted to comb their hair with his gigantic paw. Water and potting soil caked Kris' hair back out of their red eyes. Kris looked at his reflection in a nearby window and set to arranging his hair in a messy, but stylish fashion.
"I'm almost done! Just need to get a few more flowers!" Asgore sang.
Kris felt a pain in his stomach. There were two bouquets there, one for Susie and one for Toriel. Their poor father was still unbelievably hopeful that against all the odds, he and Toriel would get back together. But Kris knew what that kind of hope felt like. It was the hope that drove them to seek control of themselves, to wrest away the power that some unknown hand had over their life.
It had been that hope, that drive, that had moved Kris to protect Susie from King. It had been that same power and hope that drove him to write that terrible poem, complete with drawings and all the trappings around the school. It was nerve wracking!
I'll make sure those flowers don't go to waste.
Kris helped his father gather up the massive, amazing smelling bouquets and trapezed out to the truck. Toriel had been loath to do it, but she lent Asgore enough money to have gas in his truck, that way he could drop off Kris at the house on time.
"Is it hot out here, or is that just me?" Asgore asked, his nervous blush coming through his fur.
It was freezing outside. The sun had not yet set, but fall was rapidly transitioning to winter. Kris gave his dad a knowing grin and shivered.
"Hey Asgore! What are you doing out of the shop?" Undyne asked, sauntering up to Asgore.
"Hey there, Dyne, just helpin' my son get ready for the dance tonight!" Asgore said hurriedly.
Kris snapped his fingers and gave Undyne a wink.
"You don't say! It's the Sadie Hawkman's Dance right? I never got asked to one, so I just usually arrived and crashed the whole thing!" she said with a snort.
Kris understood why others wouldn't ask her out. The police officer was all over the place in town and just as erratic as their father was right now acting, only that was all the time. It was her way to liven things up in the sleepy town.
"Don't worry, kid, I won't crash your big party! Especially if the little kid has grown up and gotten themselves a date!"
It was now Kris' turn to blush.
"Oh! Tell me all about it," Undyne began saying.
"Sorry! But we're running late," Asgore interrupted. "Kris, get into the truck. And buckle up!"
"I expect a full report on my desk Monday," Undyne hollered after Kris.
There was no need to speed, but Asgore was anxious to get to the old house. He bustled out of the truck, a ball of nerves. Kris took the moment to snatch up both bouquets and quickly arrange them together. It was not the same job as what his father was capable of, but it did the trick.
Asgore rang the bell. He barely had to wait before the door flew open. A frazzled but smiling Toriel stood on the threshold. Her expression quickly slid to one of cold, suppressed anger.
"You…"
"Sorry we're late! But there was somethin' that needed preparin'," Asgore apologized.
"Don't tell me it's another- Oh!"
Kris rescued the situation by sweeping between them dramatically, carrying the super bouquet. They pointed inside, curious if Susie was ready and held the bouquet close to their chest. Toriel got the message instantly.
"Oh, my goodness! This is lovely!"
"Yes, they are! Wait, what-" Asgore looked around for the flowers he had arranged for his ex-wife. An embarrassing moment later he realized that his kid had scooped them all up and blended them together. "Well, it'll make them all happy," he told himself quietly.
Kris invited him inside and Toriel slowly made way for Asgore to enter. The house smelled of work. The sewing machine was out, fabric was here and there. Perfume practically created a haze in the living room and dining room. There was a hacking cough from upstairs.
Toriel gasped and scrambled into the kitchen, gently pushing Kris back.
"Everyone, please allow me to introduce the woman of the evening, Susie!"
Susie stumbled down the stairs and into the kitchen. She looked even taller than normal. Heels combined with that slimming red dress turned Susie into an imposing but gorgeous figure. But there was still a trace of her; the old black jacket marked Susie true. Her hair was done up with pins. There was little lipstick and some other makeup touching up her features nothing too heavy, but just enough to accent her features ever so slightly.
"Um… Your mom had to remove a lot of comb teeth from my hair," she said, looking to the side.
Kris was speechless. He walked over and handed the overlarge bouquet to the dragon. Realizing his mouth had fallen open, Kris closed it. The two friends just stared at each other, unable to believe that they were standing in such a situation. Crazy thoughts running through their heads and making them feel hot under the collar.
"Is that mud in his hair? What were you doing? And you rolled up his pant legs!" Toriel hissed to Asgore. "Did you spend all your time arranging those flowers?"
Overhearing this, Kris stepped in to prevent an argument and indicated that his parents should take a picture of them and Susie. Toriel bustled away to find her camera. Asgore mouthed "Thank you!" to his son.
Susie sniffed the flowers. They were wonderful!
"Thanks for the flowers… dork! Your mom is right, you have mud in your hair."
Kris corrected her, stating that it was potting soil.
"Doesn't make it any better, dude."
Kris winked and snapped at her.
"Not falling for those charms," Susie said stiffly. Kris was not so sure.
"You two are certainly one of the, uh, sweetest couples I have seen," Toriel grinned, getting the camera ready.
"They grow up so fast," Asgore said proudly.
The teens took a few awkward photos before they got into the rhythm. Kris was soon striking poses and Susie was trying to act like she didn't care. She finally swept Kris off his feet and made as if to carry him right out the front door. This got some good laughs from everyone.
"Alright! Now for some food," Asgore said happily.
"Not too much, or you'll feel sick while dancing," Toriel warned.
In two vehicles, they made off for the diner. Kris and Susie were just as much the talk of the place as were Toriel and Asgore. Not only were the famous ex-couple in public and not fighting, but the town's two losers were together on a date! Others from school were there, giving Kris and Susie odd looks. But Kris didn't mind. His red eyes only saw Susie from the moment they entered together.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Susie shivered as they walked up to the school. She couldn't tell if it was the cold or her nerves. Kris waved goodbye to their parents, but Susie glared at the doors. The music echoed from behind those swinging barriers. All the kids who looked down at her and were afraid of her. She hadn't let that bother her too much. She had enjoyed leaning into their perceptions of her.
But that was all before she and Kris became friends.
Fighting their way to freedom in another world did a lot for a monster and a human.
Let's just get this over with, she thought baring her teeth. She hauled Kris after her.
Together, they threw open the doors and made their way to the gym. The halls were covered with banners proclaiming the dance and adults in hawk masks screeched at them. Susie snarled back at them, brandishing her bouquet like it was her axe. Eventually they walked into the gym. There were three couples trying to dance to the music, and the rest huddled around the snack bar.
Kris and Susie resolutely slunk over to the opposite wall.
They leaned next to each other and stared back at the dance floor. Whatever nervousness or anticipation they had felt on their way here was now gone as they looked out at the social minefield. They were both outcasts, but even outcasts were not inherently suicidal.
Kris undid his tie and Susie kicked off her shoes. Oddly enough, it felt like the time to impress had largely passed. They had seen each other, gotten through the photoshoot, had some food, and made it to the dance. Decorum be damned for the rest of the night!
The music switched from modern and fast to something slow. It was like a jolt of lightning zapped through Susie. She stood up straighter. Her mind raced with sweaty thoughts of what Kris might expect. Were they going to ask her out to the dance floor? Was she ready for that? And what if they didn't? Would she feel disappointed? It aggravated her that she felt this way.
Teachers streaked across the court squawking at the students who were dancing.
Susie shook her head, but then felt a light touch on her wrist. Kris indicated that they wanted to dance. Her stomach bottomed out. There was no way she was doing this!
However, Kris was firm, and he led her in a dance. Right by the wall.
Oh… This is much better.
She wasn't sure where to put her hands, so she rested them lamely on Kris' shoulders. Her massive bouquet obscured half of Kris' face. They weren't quite nearly as broad as they were in the Dark World, she noted. But her friend was patient, and just like with flirting, led her through the steps. He even threw in a few compliments.
"Your mother was awesome, Kris," she told him. "I mean, she can be a real chatterbox!"
Kris nodded in agreement.
"But she was super sweet to make this dress look great! Better than what your dad did at any rate," she laughed. Kris couldn't argue with that. "And she even patched up my jacket! She said that it would look better with embroidery, but I don't see that. And… Well, does your mom have a thing against shoulders?"
Kris gave her a curious look.
They danced and talked and before either of them knew it, the song was done, and it was like a spell had been broken. Even despite themselves, they began inching closer and closer to the dance floor with each song. But then an older song, the Alligator Swing, came on. The smooth voice of the singer blended perfectly with the rock music.
"This is my jam!" Susie roared, pulling the pins out of her hair and letting it flow free.
Susie shrugged off the jacket and threw it on a nearby chair with her bouquet. Noelle jumped with surprise as the couple passed. Other monsters all stopped dancing and quickly made room as the two teens took to the floor. They began spinning and kicking out their legs. Susie took Kris and made a top out of him before dipping him so low that their head crashed against the floor.
Kris just laughed and she pulled up roughly. He crashed into her and the dragon began blushing again. But the music ruled over them and they didn't stop. Hell, they had fought Jevil, this was nothing to them!
Kicking, spinning, twisting, and throwing strange expressions back at one another they ended up in the middle of the dance floor. Kris took the lead once again and jumped up to put Susie into a good spin, but this time they led the dip. Kris struggled but managed to keep the larger dragon from crashing. The music faded to silence and the two suddenly realized with a panic where they were. Sweat dripped from their faces as they looked around feverishly. Every monster was staring agape at them. Not even Berdly could muster any words to throw at them.
The dreadful silence was shattered with someone shouting at them. "Woohoo! You go you two! That was amazing!"
It was Noelle. She was blushing furiously but plastered on a large grin and applauded them. The tension began defusing and the teacher rushed them, screeching. The students however laughed and applauded. Susie and Kris stood rooted to the spot. The music blessedly started up again and, like awkward robots, the two danced their way back to the wall. Susie retrieved her jacket and bouquet from Noelle, mumbling an apology.
But once they were back at the wall, the two looked at each other and laughed. It wasn't long before they were back on the dance floor, joined by all of their classmates and having a genuinely good time.
The night ticked away, and eventually Susie and Kris' eyes connected, a meaningful question passing between them. Quietly extracting themselves from the group, the two slid out of the gym and made their way for the stairs. Kris indicated that he had some keys that they had snuck out of their mother's purse earlier. They made their way up to the second landing and the music room.
Locking the door behind them for a little privacy, Kris undid a button on his shirt, waving a hand in front of his face. Susie nodded, throwing her jacket to the side. "I agree buddy, that was close! And I am sweaty! Whew! And a little smelly too!"
They grinned roguishly at each other and laughed. But then the moment turned strange.
This had been the agreement. Go to the dance. Have a fun time if that were possible. Sneak away and have some "real"(?) fun together. They had at first thought about going to the storage room and back to the Dark World but feared someone following them. And on the first level there were teachers everywhere.
Why not just stay home?
They would have been under Toriel's watchful eye.
They just wanted some time to be alone. It had been a topic they had both beaten around the bush. What to do after a date? Kris had heard stories from Asriel and felt a little frightened. Now Susie watched her friend slide onto the piano bench and lay their fingers across the keys.
Kris shot a half-hearted flirt her way and then began playing music. He was so skilled with the piano and Susie felt herself drawn that way. She rested her elbows on the top and looked down at Kris. Red eyes stared intently at the piano, almost too afraid to look her in the face. But she liked it this way; after the dance it was nice to have something peaceful to listen to.
Susie started as Kris stopped playing and looked up.
"You're beautiful," he whispered.
Yellow eyes locked onto red eyes as Susie came around the piano.
What am I doing? she thought. From Kris's expression she could tell he was thinking the same thing.
They sat on the bench, looking at each other and getting slowly closer together. Susie could smell potting soil on her friend. Kris breathed in his mother's perfume and the smell of Susie's sweat. Both their lips twitched into half smiles.
Neither really knew who began the kiss first. It was soft and anxious, both friends fearing the other would dislike it and pull back. But when neither did, they leaned into it more. Susie was careful not to eat Kris's face. A far cry from when she had threatened to bite it clean off. But that was before their journey to the Dark World. This was now.
Sharing so many experiences that no one outside of this room would understand, it was as if Kris and Susie were the only real things, the only real people right then. Kris ran his fingers through Susie's thick hair. Susie pulled him up onto her lap so she didn't have to lean over so much.
Breaking for some air, she giggled at the sight of her lipstick being smeared across one side of Kris' face. It sparked the girlish thought that she should do it some more. She almost squashed it right then and there before she realized that they were all alone.
"Kris, if you tell anyone about this, I will bury you so deep that they will never find your body."
Kris zipped his lips shut and grinned.
"Good."
Susie pulled Kris in again. Soon they were not just exploring one another's mouths and faces, but their necks. A new kind of bewitchment fell over the teens. Hands and claws fumbled clumsily to undo buttons and zippers. Susie let the straps on her sparkling red dress fall. In the little moonlight that came through the window, it had turned maroon. Kris saw that she wore a black bra and wasn't sure if that meant something or not.
Susie tore his tux a little, ripping it free of his arms. The baggy shirt came off next. Curiously, some white fur clung to his torso. She laughed and joked that they really were becoming a Dreemurr. Kris blushed and laughed too. Then they weren't sure what to do; their hearts beat fast but all they could do was stare.
Breathing harder than usual, Kris nervously reached around Susie. She sighed as he tried to undo her bra. Kris always hated having to do laundry when Toriel did her under garments. The bras got caught on anything and were a pain to untangle! This bra was likewise tricky.
"Virgin," Susie snorted.
Kris shut her up with a sharp kiss. Susie headbutted Kris into the ground. He yelped with pain and then she got on top of him. Sighing again, she finally undid the bra and let it fall. And again, they had no idea what they should do, both nearly naked and hesitant.
Susie leaned in and kissed Kris again. With most of her body exposed, Kris could now feel the strange texture of her skin. It was rough, but not in a way that was painful to the touch. Their fingers interlocked before Susie complained about having to be the one who kept bending over. She rolled over, which halfway flipped Kris right on top of her.
Both were flushed and sweating.
Trembling, Kris leaned in and kissed one of Susie's exposed nipples. She grunted and they sat up straight, afraid they had done something wrong. The dragon shrugged and gave him the go to do it again, but the teen was not certain. Instead, Kris rested their head between her breasts, savoring the rough texture.
"You're getting lipstick in strange places," Susie finally teased.
They climbed back up and the friends kissed again.
Awkwardness finally melted away and Kris felt themselves getting stiff. The last vestiges of clothing came off. Red and yellow eyes locked again as Kris thrusted. It was unexpected, an exhilarating and foreign sensation all at once. Up until this point, they had been on a rollercoaster riding up to the zenith, waiting to take the plunge. The brakes came off.
The two swayed and bumped uncomfortably into each other, unable to find a decent rhythm. Their hands clenched hard and Kris placed his head again in Susie's chest as they worked. Susie muttered unintelligible words; she wasn't even sure what she wanted to say.
And then it ended. Both were surprised at how quickly the moment had passed.
"Um… Was that right?"
Kris shrugged.
Susie held her friend close, pressing him deeper into her chest. "I guess we could try again? I mean if you want to! It felt, I mean, I don't know… Awesome? And strange?"
Kris agreed, unable to find the right words either.
They lay together in a sweaty, smelly, awkward heap. Completely exposed to the world should anyone walk in, what would they say? Kris at least knew that either Toriel or Alphys would have a heart attack.
The dance music made its way up through the floor. A slow song this time. Kris and Susie began trying again and eventually they got it. This time, they synchronized. Like with battle, it took some time and communication to find the right groove. Claws slowly raked down Kris' back as he rocked with Susie.
They finally collapsed back onto one another. The classroom clock said that it was nearly time for everything to wrap up. Maybe they could just spend the night here? Toriel would murder them for sure!
"Damn, I left my shoes down there," Susie finally muttered.
Kris murmured that they should get them soon. It felt like a sacred moment had passed between them. Two outcasts, bully and the bullied, who swiftly became friends and nearly as quickly became something more. Was it an accident? Or was this something deeper?
They waited until the last possible moment to get up and get dressed before going back down.
"Hey Kris," Susie said.
He looked up at her with a question on their lips. Her tongue snaked out and cleaned off the lipstick smears.
"Hmm, doesn't taste as good as chalk."
Kris stood there stunned, his shirt only halfway buttoned up, before bending over with laughter.
"And one more thing. Remember… Tell a soul about this, even Ralsie, and there won't even be a body to bury," she threatened.
Kris happily agreed and together, hand in hand, they returned to the gym just as the last song ended.