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“Miss Lilly, did you hear me?” The words the man sitting before her said finally reached her ears, and Lilly blinked a few times. Her chest was tight and she felt her face getting flush as she tried to process his words properly. The guy had suddenly shown up a few minutes ago on her doorstep, claiming he just needed to have a quick chat, but with everything he had just told her, it seemed like this conversation would be anything but quick.  “You're telling me...that the characters of the Undertale universe and many of its AU counterparts will...all be staying here…due to some sort of accident?” She spoke slowly, knowing exactly what he was saying, but not able to believe a word of it.  Undertale is a popular game here in her world, but the characters are just that, characters, not real. The underground and its story are not real, and the characters are all created by the wonderful Toby Fox. To summarize it best, the game was based around a human child named frisk falling into the underground and making his way through, where the player could choose to fight monsters and kill them, or spare them. If you fought, you became filled with LV or “level of violence” and developed into the character Chara. If you stayed passive, you would have no LV, but become great friends with everyone and get the true happy ending, or “pacifist” ending. The underground had been collecting human souls to break out of a barrier that was keeping them trapped. Hence the name “underground”. The pacifist ending grants all the monsters free, while the others...well it wasn’t great. When the game came out, a flurry of fans flocked to a handful of specific characters, specifically Sans and his brother Papyrus. Sans had become a fan favorite, drawing in millions of followers. The idea of resets and other universes gave fangirls and guys plenty to work with and AU’s were born. Alternative Universes where characters were reversed, swapped, aggressive, horrifying, and hundreds if not thousands of AU's flourished online; as well as massive amounts of fan art. As it turns out, the Government had been working on dealing with Multiverse theories for a while, and when one of their scientists turned out to be a fan of the game, he used the Undertale universe as a joke test base for pulling in people from other worlds. What they didn't count on happening was the theories working. The Government was now stuck with a large number of monsters and characters from the game, as well as the same characters but from other universes. Now the government had to figure out what to do with everyone without releasing the idea of monsters to the public. “So, where exactly do I come into play with all of this?” Lilly leaned over, rubbing the bridge of her nose aggressively. She understood the situation, she wasn't naive and sure as hell wasn’t stupid. She just couldn't understand why they had come to her specifically. She was a double job working loner, 20-years-old on the cusp of legal drinking age just trying to get by in her one-bedroom apartment. Lilly had decent grades in high school but had put college off due to mental health issues. She knew a little about computer programming and building, but that was it. Nothing that made her stand out that she could think of. She stood around 5’8” and had scattered piercings. Her long black hair was slightly unkempt and fell below her ass as it was too bothersome to go get it cut and waste the money.Her scars, however, were the most pressing issue she had. In turn, it had caused her to become a bit of a recluse. The worst one was the nasty jagged scar that stretched across her face, it made it easy for roaming eyes to make nasty comments. The Indoors were safe, secure, void of bigots and judgemental eyes. Most people were kind, but as soon as the topic of religion or appearances came up many people were hostile about it. Not only that but of all the places to put monsters they seriously chose the middle of the bible belt. Humans could barely stand other people with different skin colors, political views, hell even something like music taste here could start a huge argument. Add monsters into the mix? Not gonna happen, at least not without riots and a war on their hands. “We have bought out all surrounding 120 apartments here at this complex. Our goal is to create a large facility where we can keep some of the Boss Monster located until a full community can be built, or they can be sent home. Construction will take roughly 2 to 3 years, and we settled on something that was more towards the country where there was much more land to work with. They are very confused, just as much as we are as to how this happened, but as it stands it doesn't appear that they will be able to return to their universes, at least not anytime soon.” The man stated plainly. “Alright, that's completely understandable, but you didn't answer my question. How do I specifically come into all of this? You could have an expert or something dealing with all of this, why a random 20-year-old chick that just happens to be at these apartments?” Lilly leaned back in her dining room chair staring at the guy. He wouldn't give his name and had 3 even scarier guys standing behind him looking just like classic CIA agents. It was intimidating; no, just straight-up terrifying. What a way to make a girl feel at home.Lilly shook the thoughts from her head, trying to focus and not laugh. Was she suppressing trauma or the ridiculousness of this situation? Both?Yeah, probably both. “You, Miss Lilly, will be our guests’ Overseer.” He leaned over, his tinted glasses falling slightly down his nose, giving her a look at his bright green eyes. 
Wow, what an anime moment. I think he’s just being extra for dramatic effect.
Lilly paused before letting out a loud laugh. It was caused by a mix between processing what he had said and now imagining him as an anime character. Seriously? This man was here telling her that not only did the characters of one of her favorite games come to life, but she’d be looking after them? When she finally caught her breath, she leaned back over, holding her face in her hands. Lilly stayed quiet for a moment, then wiping her face and groaning she looked back at him. It was so much to take in, she honestly began questioning if she had finally had a mental breakdown and was hallucinating. “I assure you, Miss Lilly, we are quite serious. You seem to be the only reasonable candidate within quite some distance, we were even luckier that you happen to be living at the apartments we were interested in. There are, of course, conditions that will need to be agreed to.” He snapped his fingers and the men behind him pulled a few suitcases onto the table, and suddenly her apartment door flew open. Several doctors ushered inside with a large metal crate and equipment, and she nervously glanced back and forth between the man sitting in front of her and the many people now crowding her small apartment. “Okay, so I assume this next bit is where you explain why these people are here so I don’t have to assume I’m gonna get sent off to a mental ward for the psychotic break I’ve suffered. What does being their overseer even mean, aside from general caretaker I’m guessing?” She glanced over nervously at all the equipment and people now in her home. She wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of medical equipment given her history of having to deal with them. He opened one of three suitcases and began to explain.“You are type O-Negative blood, is this correct?” He stated while continuing to mess with the suitcase.“Uhhh...yeah?” Lilly looked at him puzzled. 
Oh, what a drama queen.
“Essentially, as the situation stands now, we can't exactly expect just a regular human to be able to control groups of powerful magic-wielding monsters. The scientist who was in charge of the project had been a fan, but as it turns out, not everything in the game was 100% accurate. Their magic is extremely powerful and can do a multitude of things we weren’t anticipating. Getting them to calm down after the first interaction was absolute chaos. The monsters you will be handling for the time being are much bigger than we anticipated as well, the smallest standing at 6’6, the rest only growing from that size up. This has also made it harder for us to deal with them.”Wait, 6’6? Lilly couldn’t think of anyone that would have stood at that height, then again he did just say it wasn't 100%. She kept her eyes on him, feeling her anxiety bubble in the back of her throat.“We have found that O-negative blood types are the only people receptive to this control method we have developed. It's a powerful piece of technology that will be implanted all along your spine and well as in your wrists, chest, and thighs. It will allow you to access a large interface that will give you details on each monster, communication access, as well as...defense protocols installed within the base of your spine and head.” He grinned slightly and Lilly shivered.  “We need to be able to contain the monsters in some way that will allow them freedom but to also have something strong enough to keep them all in check. Something powerful enough to beat an elite team of Boss monsters if the need arises. The system we will be implanting into you will take roughly a few days to heal and we’ll give you the required training. It will not be easy to get it under control but currently, it’s the most effective method we have.” Suddenly, a tiny click was heard, and while she was trying to shift through the information he had just given her, he had unlocked all 3 suitcases to reveal…money. Lots and lots of money. Lilly gaped, not caring that her mouth hung open. It was a sight to fucking see.“You will, of course, be heavily compensated for your cooperation. This operation is not...pleasant. Side effects can be extremely aggressive and painful, but they will give you a lot of power you wouldn't have had before. A small sacrifice to make, yes?” His face stayed neutral as he spoke.Lilly’s head was racing a mile a minute. She glanced over at all the medical staff, and then back to the cases. She hadn't spoken in a while, not entirely sure what to say. There were neatly stacked 100’s in all 3 cases, it looked like well over a few hundred thousand. Well shit.“Okay, I guess I can give it a shot, but I'm just not sure if I'm the best fit for all of this, emotionally that is.” She looked away, brushing her fingertips over one of the nastier scars across her arm. The trauma from the events in her life lingered in the back of her mind. While she’d been able to function daily, it was because she had moved away, disconnected from her family and the environment that festered her trauma.“We don’t worry about appearances. Your family won’t be a problem either as you will all be placed under government-level security protection. Anyone who decides they want to become ‘involved in your life again will simply..ahhh the right word for that is “ Disappear ”.” Lilly blinked, processing the threat and reassurance at the same time.“The benefit of choosing you, Miss Lilly, is that you are not only a blood match, but you are already well versed in the world of Undertale and its fandoms.” She glanced back up at him, and he grinned for a moment before pulling his phone out and scrolling through it. “Based on your browsing history as well, it would seem you shouldn't have any problem with the few skeletons we've selected to join you in this building.”  Lilly felt her body go rigid and her face get hot as if she were going to explode. Oh no .They had seriously seen all of her dirty porn searches and r34 lists, which happen to include under tail . She knew it was bad, she could admit that much to herself but damn did this feel more and more awkward by the minute.
How much had they seen?
Now they had planned to put her favorite skeleton characters here with her too? What exactly was there to gain from this, die of embarrassment? More than likely it seemed.She had been in the fandom for some time, so like any other adult in a well-known fandom they look up the more...NSFW parts of it. There was nothing wrong with that, it was normal!I am not a degenerate, the bible app is free and so is church. Call me the next mother Mary, I’ll see you fuckers Sunday. Lilly’s face grew red as she sat unmoving, trying to imagine that she was somewhere else. The man only laughed at her expression, making it a lot worse.“On a more serious note, I can take it you are okay with this setup? We will have some paperwork to go through, but it won't take long. We are aware that your family is no longer involved with your life, and that you are in financial need. You will, of course, receive a lump sum of $5 Million for collateral damages and for preparation costs to meet the monsters who will be staying with you. You will also be responsible for all financial duties and will be receiving a BlackCard. This is to ensure you can fully care for each monster’s needs and wants, as well as furnishings, construction, employees, food, and other household necessities. All bills and utilities will be taken care of, of course.” Lilly choked for a second, looking at him. “Wait wait wait, are you serious? This can't be real, this can't be a serious offer! That's an insane amount of money! Not to mention, a BlackCard? Do you mean the one where you just swipe and don't ask questions? Like, fuck you kind of money?!” She stood, slamming her hands on the table as her anxiety and heart rate reached their peak. This was getting to be too much, tooperfect.  The man went silent for a moment, glancing at the equipment before looking back at her.“This procedure...well, the consequences and long-lasting effects that will develop once you've received and taken to the implant, could be devastating. The pain could leave you eventually crippled. The body modifications could fail at any time and will require constant monitoring and check-ups with our team to ensure that it's all going smoothly. There is always a price for happiness Miss Lilly.” He looked back at her with the same stern face.
Ah, there we go, the fine print problems you tell me after shoving a shit ton of money in my face.
“More of the terms and responsibilities will be explained after the treatment. We will get you into the operation at our treatment center but brought this setup to sedate you and make transportation easier. We are aware of your fears of hospitals and took that into account.” Lilly stayed ridged, looking over her scarred hands. This situation was beyond ridiculous. Being offered a chance to start over, more money than she knew what to do with, and a chance to meet the very characters she fell in love with at some of the harder times of her life. How was it even believable?She felt something in her shift, and suddenly she no longer cared. It was a chance to restart. Something people dreamed of and shamelessly fantasized about at night or while scrolling through their favorite fanfiction and self-inserts.How many people really could ever be given this opportunity? The answer was almost zero.Lilly didn't have her family, and she sure as hell didn't have friends to worry about. The only thing keeping her alive was her cat, ButterBean. She looked back up, staring at the man before leaning over on the cold table.“Let's do it.” The man behind the glasses grinned.. . .After signing a mountain of paperwork and doing her best to read through as much as she could, Lilly didn't see much that would have stood out as dangerous or risky. Hell, the whole situation was dangerous, not to mention downright crazy.Signing the last paper she sighed and stretched her arms, deciding to run through the papers one more time from the beginning. Not that it mattered now since they’d all been signed.As she was sifting through them, the medical team had opened a large hospital bed out of the crate with some basic equipment for vitals and what she assumed to be the stuff to help knock her out.To say she was nervous was an understatement. She had done it, from here on out nothing was going to be the same.They eventually led her to the table, getting her blood sample, blood pressure, heart rate, weight, temperature, as well as measurements. The nurses were nice enough, but they all had surgical masks that gave an eerie look.  “Alright Miss Lilly, please switch into this gown. We will be sedating you, and once we reach the lab, you will not wake up for quite some time. We will begin the procedure as soon as we arrive.” One of the brown-haired nurses stated. Lilly suddenly became nervous, looking around for ButterBean.“Wait! What about my cat! Will he be okay?” She said unnerved. The idea of him being alone for 2 weeks was terrifying. Mr. Green's eyes finally spoke up, startling her.“Not to worry, your cat will be taken care of by one of the members of our team. He's a major cat lover, so nothing to worry about. Although, I can't promise he won’t come back unspoiled.” He chuckled lightly. “Just don’t let him get fat, Lil fucker already has it hard enough with his legs.” She sighed in relief and went off to change, coming back feeling extremely vulnerable.Her arms, back, and legs were all exposed showing the deep scars that littered her body. Lilly felt as if they were burning from the shame she felt because not all of them had been inflicted by others. The marks of those few years would be forever seared into her skin. She shivered as she tried to shake off the vulnerable feeling.Crawling back onto the bed, she leaned back and kept her eyes on the ceiling.She tried to calm down, but something in her gut just would not let her rest. Was she making the right call? Sure, she'd be set for life and meeting her favorite characters of all time, but what was going to happen to her body? Would she even be able to handle meeting the Undertale crew and its AU counterparts? What if they hated her? What if something went wrong? Her mind kept racing before she felt the sharp pinprick in her forearm. It was all happening so fast.“You should begin to feel sleepy fairly quickly Miss Lilly, please just relax.” The nurses looked over at her calmly. Her anxiety spiked, and she tried to sit up, suddenly regretting making the call so quickly and absentmindedly.She was definitely panicking.Lilly jerked for a moment, realizing she was about to undergo a life-changing procedure that could kill her. The nurses quickly restrained her, pushing her back onto the cold bed.“I think I changed my mind! I don't know-... About….” She struggled to let the words flow, her head felt light and her body tingled. Her arms loosely lay next to her and she stopped struggling, glancing over, trying to remain conscious. As her thoughts became more muddled, the last thing she heard before slipping into a medicated coma was Mr. Green's eyes chuckling.. . .Sans shivered slightly at the cold air hitting his face from their early morning arrival for the apartment complex. Stepping out of the large luxury bus, he glanced around at the foggy parking lot. Sans and some others were being relocated to a safe house until this world’s government could figure out what to do with them, or build the monsters a community. To say it was a shock would be an understatement. When he and his universe had been pulled over it had been a rough way to start the morning. Not to mention the other versions of him and his brother showing up all in a large room by themselves. Chaos shortly ensued as fights immediately broke out. A few unlucky monsters had been dusted by his opposites, but everyone had quickly been detained with some kind of field or imitation magic. Sans could tell it was off, but he couldn't place a finger on exactly why. It had put him on edge ever since.Not that he trusted humans anyway.Sans looked off to the side, seeing the other four buses pull in behind, some carrying his other versions while the rest carried belongings and extras they had been allowed to pick out. The apartments were not bad, luxurious even. They were two-story, with enclosed entrances and gates. The buildings were blue and white wood of some kind, beautiful balconies stretching off some of them. Tall windows were adorned on a select few, as well as built-in garages. There were a few other buildings littered around, and a large dome shape behind the main building that resembled a giant greenhouse. Not something they had in his world, but it was a better site than what he had imagined. When the people behind the multiverse collision had finally come to speak with everyone, it took a few days for everyone to come to a decent understanding of the situation. Frisk had surprisingly been a major help in getting most of the monsters to calm down. The small child a beacon of hope and determination, calming most of the fears and helping even he come to an understanding that this was, in all seriousness, just an accident. Only the Sans’, Papyrus’, his AU's Toriel, Asgore, and some of the scientists that were pulled through were allowed to weigh in and understand more heavily on the matter. It turns out that not everyone from each alternate universe or AU had their entire group pulled with them as they did. They had a few extra undynes’ and alphys’ but that was it. It was mostly duplicates of him and Papyrus that managed to slip through. In this world it seems like they don't even exist, just simply a game for humans to enjoy and play with. It pissed Sans off to no end. The lives of all their friends and family, subjected to nothing but a fun pixelated game for humans to murder them or spare them, and suddenly the resets all made sense to him. It's because they weren’t real, they were toys.  They were always just meant to be played with.  The very thought sent his magic into a rage. Yet, they were surprisingly friendly and almost treated them like royalty at first, but he knew it was only because they were scared of them. They didn’t understand them and they were much bigger, not to mention more powerful. The scientist in charge of the whole project turned out to know everything about them and this 'game', so asking questions wasn't needed. He did, however, need to ask Paps and his counterparts plenty of questions, as they didn’t have as much on the other universes like theirs. They were something called, “Cannon”. The originals of this universe, but it still didn’t sit well in Sans’s stomach. They had informed everyone that they would be given the freedom to do what they wanted, under the supervision of a being called the “Overseer”. Financial issues did not exist, and if they wanted it, they could have it. It seemed like a dream come true until they put the bands on their wrists. Turns out, this “Overseer” had the power to keep tabs on all of them, monitor their health, status, location, and had the same ability that they used back when they first arrived. Magic nullification is what they had called it. It didn't interact with their souls, but something in it prevented magic from being able to be activated, and that was a huge threat. They didn't trust the monsters, and Sans didn't trust them. They were keeping them on leashes, even if the collars and shackles couldn't be seen. The bangles were embedded into their wrists, a small and plain silver strip the width of less than half an inch. Waterproof and magic proof. It wouldn’t cause harm, but the “Overseer” needed to be able to keep an eye on them all.He would need to tread carefully around whoever they were.“SANS! LOOK AT HOW COOL THIS PLACE IS! THE HUMANS CARE ABOUT KEEPING US ALL SAFE HUH? THEY SAID THIS WHOLE PLACE WILL JUST BE US AND THE OVERSEER. I HEARD WE HAVE A POOL, WORKOUT ROOMS, AND HUGE GRILLING DECKS! IT’S SO EXCITING!” His brother’s energetic voice almost echoed through the parking lot. Sans glanced at him and kept his usual grin as he stepped off the bus with one of his bags.“Heh, yeah bro, looks like it’ll be a skele ton  of fun.” He chuckled as Paps rolled his eyes.“MY GOODNESS SANS NOT THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING, PLEASE! WE HAVE TO MEET IN THE LARGE LOUNGE ROOM AND GET READY TO MEET THE OVERSEER. I DON'T THINK THEY WILL TOLERATE ANY OF YOUR PUNS!” Paps strolled past him, and Sans just shrugged. Sans wasn't exactly sure what he was going to do when he met this overseer person. They had lived at this complex when it was bought out, but they wouldn't tell him anything more than that. He wondered if they were the mastermind behind this whole shit show.Glancing over to the other buses he watched as their semi-doppelgangers poured out. Edge and Red as they went by, The UnderFell brothers. A much rougher version of his world where violence was the answer, it unnerved him. Edge was what was supposed to be Papyrus, but much harsher. He had a nasty temper and a huge ego. He was just as tall, but his bones and features were sharp and deadly-looking. Three nasty claw marks went over his left eye and his pupils were blood-red points in his dark eye sockets. His armor was black save for the red scarf, boots, and belt. It was all the same as Papy just...sharper. Then there was Red, his other self. Red had a single gold tooth along his row of sharp white teeth. His pupils were red, unlike Sans's white ones. He wore the same outfit, but his jacket was black with red fur, and his sweater a deep maroon. He had sneakers on and the laces were undone haphazardly. What stood out the most though, was his large black and gold spiked collar, with a short chain that was connected to the front. It fell to just below where his ribs would be.Red had an accent Sans couldn't place as he spoke and seemed to call Edge “boss”. Edge’s voice was a few octaves deeper compared to Papyrus’s, and much scratchier. They seemed to be arguing with each other as they walked to the building, as in, Red was sweating bullets as Edge yelled at him about the colors of the buildings.Sans saw The UnderSwap brothers file in behind them, the two that were kind of the odd ones out, but there honestly wasn’t too much of a difference between him and Paps. The Papyrus for their world was similar to Sans in almost every way, lazy, laid back, dealt with the resets like he and Red had, only he was a Papyrus. They called him Stretch, and he wore a large orange hoodie with black sweatpants and converse. He liked to smoke cigarettes but that wasn’t really Sans’ thing. His brother, a Sans, was named Blue. He had all the mannerisms of Papyrus but just looked more like himself. He wore body armor similar to Papyrus but the colors were white and blue instead. He was much more energetic than Papyrus but had similar traits.Sans followed behind, not listening as a few humans caught his eye. They were carrying his belongings out of the bus. They were dressed in maid outfits and seemed to have metal collars on similar to what they had on their wrists.
Guess we aren’t the only ones here being watched.
The ride had been quiet. He had known the other versions of themselves selves for almost 3 years now, but it was still a bit awkward on occasion. They had gotten to know each other, and discussed each of their worlds and what they each experienced there. It seemed everyone had their own horror story involving the resets, which took Sans by no surprise. Red, Stretch, and Sans all spoke of the events that occurred, but they had all seemed to have been freed, just making life a bit easier on the surface as they adjusted. However, It just made the feeling of being ripped away hurt a little bit more in Sans’s chest. The building they were approaching was the main lodge. It was huge, two stories high, and had a triangle brick front, decorated in dark wood and glass windows with lots of trees and ferns. The place was well kept, to say the least. As they all piled in, there was a single man in a suit standing at the entrance. Sans assumed it was to keep track of them all and make sure they got where they needed to go. The rooms were dark brown with roughly 20 ft. ceilings. A large glass chandelier hung at the entrance and the hall split into two open sections of the lobby. Wide rounded archways led into several different rooms, the wood floor was grey and black with large decorated carpets and rugs placed in several areas. Sans took note of the pool he could see from the front, as well as a large garden to the right of it and some grilling areas that disappeared off with the garden. He stood and made a note of each exit when the man beside him spoke.“If everyone will follow me, we will now be meeting the Overseer to give you a rundown of what will be happening with your stay here. Refreshments have been provided for everyone as well.”“I DOUBT ANY HUMAN GARBAGE CAN EVEN COME CLOSE TO MEETING MY STANDARDS OR COMPARE TO MY MAGNIFICENT LASAGNA!” Edge piped up, crossing his arms and scoffing at the very idea of being fed something other than his cooking.“I WONDER IF THEY HAVE TACOS? DO YOU THINK THEY REMEMBERED WHAT I TOLD THEM WE LIKED PAPY?” Blue eagerly jumped beside his brother, stars decorating his eye sockets. Stretch nodded at him, taking a drag from his cigarette.“Of course bro, I made sure to remind them too, just to be safe.” He said tiredly. Blue jumped a bit more, letting out an excited noise.“BAH! TACOS ARE RUBBISH, WHY WOULD ANYONE PICK THAT OVER LASAGNA? MINES PERFECT AND THE ONLY THING NEEDED, AN OBVIOUS FLAW IN THE HUMANS DECISION MAKING.” Edge scowled at Blue, and Stretch eyed him sharply.“NONSENSE! IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SPAGHETTI IS THE ONLY PROPER FOOD TO SERVE TO NEW GUESTS AT A MEETING!” His brother spoke up, stepping closer to Edge and Blue. They soon began arguing louder, Red, Stretch and he all began rubbing their skulls. No one had been in the mood for puns surprisingly since the journey had begun, but they still sprinkled it in when they could. It was just a lot to take in, so no one could relax. The arguing, however, was a bit much this early in the morning, and he could tell his counterparts both felt the same. The man standing off in one of the doorways coughed loudly and signaled with his hand into the next room.“This way, please.”They followed in suit, everyone still arguing behind them. As he walked down a long empty hallway, they came to a set of double doors. They opened up automatically, swinging open gently as everyone piled in. What they found though, Sans had had not expected. It was a type of large ballroom. It had a massive ceiling, stretching even farther than the original entrance. A staircase widened out at the bottom, growing smaller as it went up. At the top was a hallway leading to what looked like a second floor. Grey marbled pillars were lining the room, and Sans got an eerie deja-vu moment from it. Almost like how the castle judgment hall was made, minus the stairs. There were no windows, however, just large paintings of random people along the walls and some fruit portraits. The ceiling adorned overhead had dim lights and 3 large and gaudy chandeliers, similar to the one he'd seen at the entrance.In the middle, a long wooden curved table was placed with everyone's favorites, and a ridiculous amount of it too. There had to be at least 30 or 40 giant ketchup bottles, with a few different flavors mixed in as well. Next to it lay a massive pile of burgers and fries, and then massive dishes of spaghetti for Papyrus. Different sauces and meats in some, while others looked plain. The same layout was set for each pair of brothers, Red had Mustard and Edge lasagna, while Blue had tacos and Stretch had honey, each spread just as extravagant as their own. There were regular drinks and water as well, and large extravagant chairs curved along with the table, six exactly. They all eyed the food for a moment, wearily staring at it, but Blue and Papyrus made no effort digging in.“P-Pap I think we should wai-” He cut Sans off, looking at him confused while scooping mounds of different types of spaghetti onto his plate.“NONSENSE BROTHER! LOOK AT HOW MUCH LOVELY FOOD THEY HAVE PREPARED FOR US, WE CANNOT BE RUDE GUESTS AND NOT HAVE SOME!” Before Sans could stop him he had already had a bite. Sans stared nervously and began shaking, afraid any moment he would dust right before his eyes like some sick joke. After he continued to eat and was seemingly fine, Sans sighed heavily and walked over to the spread, looking it all over up close.“NOT LIKE THIS HUMAN GARBAGE WOULD EVEN COMPARE TO MY LASAGNA! I SHOULDN’T EVEN WASTE MY TIME TRYING THIS PITIFUL SPREAD.” Edge’s face betrayed his words, however, as he seemed to be smelling and eyeing the food left for him as well. Red had already begun drinking a mustard bottle and sifting through the other exotic flavors, and Edge was rolling his eyes at him.“SA-RED! HOW DARE YOU DRINK THAT LOWLY HUMAN GARBAGE! ESPECIALLY THAT NASTY LIQUID YOU CALL A DRINK!” Edge scowls, while simultaneously fixing a plate, trying to keep the eyes off his actions. It made Sans roll his eyes.Your actions are betraying you, Edgy man.  Sans thought to himself.“S-sorry boss, I just wanted to givem a try is all…” He sputtered slightly. Sans grimace at how he sounded towards his brother. Their relationship always gave him an uneasy feeling in his stomach, especially since the collar Red wore seemed to be given to him by Edge himself.“PAPYRUS AND RED ARE RIGHT! I’VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY TACOS OF THIS CALIBER BEFORE! WE SHOULD AT LEAST TRY IT, THEY EVEN HAVE GLITTER ON SOME OF THEM!” Blue stated excitedly. Stretch was eyeing a glittery taco suspiciously, and honestly Sans couldn't blame him.
Why the hell would they add glitter to his food knowing it would only encourage him?
“The glitter is edible food-grade glitter, there will be no harm in your brother eating some Stretch, I promise.” It was a soft, feminine voice that sounded carried across the ballroom. They all collectively whipped their heads upwards to the large staircase where the voice echoed. He and several others sucked a breath at the sight.A woman stood at the top, slowly making her way down. She had long black hair, falling in a gradient style around her face and back. She wore a white button-up with a pentagram harness squeezed around her large chest, the sleeves rolled halfway up her arms with black gloves that started halfway on her palm on her hands. Her black pants had straps at her hips falling loosely behind her in an X shape, with black combat boots. She had several facial piercings, one between her eyes and two on her lips. Her skin was tanned and her eyes were a striking green, but there was a bright ring of blue surrounding her pupil that made them stick out even more. She had noticeable bright blue lines running down her forearms that connected to blue rings around her wrist in an intricate pattern of circle cuffs.She was a looker, her skin looked flawless. It almost sparkled in the light as she made her way towards them.She continued forward, stopping behind the table looking over them. Before Sans had a chance to ask, she spoke up.“It's nice to finally meet all of you, I’m your Overseer  .”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lilly couldn't help it, she was staring hardcore at each of the skeleton brothers. She kept the blush off her face, but it was beginning to get more and more difficult with the longer she stared at the group in silence. From a distance, they were just how she had pictured them, but once Lilly had reached the ground floor and had gotten closer, it took everything she had not to scream.They were fucking huge.  The Sans' body types were usually quite small from what she had read, but she couldn't believe how tall they really were even after G.E. warned her. Sans, Red, and Blue all stood at 6’6 at least, almost a whole foot taller than her and while it was intimidating, it was also really cool to see. Papy, Edge, and Stretch, of course, being almost a full foot taller than them, were towering over her. The thought of them standing over her made her head spin, she was gonna have a much harder time than she had originally thought. They each adorned their signature outfits. Edge, Blue, and Papyrus in their respective battle suits. They looked wonderful on them, and their bones peeking out from the sides as well as their spines showing, gave her dirty thoughts to the fanart her brain suddenly decided it needed to remember. Right now. While she was trying to talk to them like a professional.Just being this close to them was sending her heart into overdrive. She knew their personalities well enough and had read plenty of fanfictions to know what they would be like, for the most part.Sans and Stretch were dangerous and might get under her skin, in a good way. In terms of how they acted around women, they were either timid or bold, sometimes a mix. Edge was up there on the list with them, but he was still a little bit of a softie at heart whether he liked admitting it or not. But Red? Oh, Red was going to be a problem because she was a sucker for flirting. It had been years since she had interacted with anyone who was even mildly interested in her, which didn't happen often before her surgery.She had a thing for big rough guys, but at this point, she was scared she’d need a new pair of panties. She knew Red was a softie if played right, he just couldn’t take what he dished out and it was really cute. She looked over and caught him staring, his face sweating slightly and flushed light red. Lilly recognized that look he was giving her, and she nearly froze in panic. She couldn't let it show on her face given her professional standpoint but damn was he making it hard. However, it was really strange to know almost everything about the people standing in front of her, yet they knew nothing of her. That was probably what had them so uneasy.Their eyes were hard on Lilly, except for Blue and Paps of course. Little Blueberry and cinnamon roll Papyrus, she adored them both. They had such gentle souls, but she wanted to be careful just in case. Just because they were sweet didn't make them innocent or naïve.Her smile faltered for a moment, knowing that none of them knew how she felt. They had no idea how much she cared for all of them, how much she wanted to help and take care of them but couldn’t due to the uneasiness in the air currently. Lilly was starting from the bottom and working her way up with people she had, in her head at least, portrayed as her friends. Yet here they stood, giving her death glares like at any moment she would strike them down and dust them. She would endure the looks especially if it meant building a better relationship with them all. This was the moment she’d waited for, to get to meet them and take care of them, yet some of them looked at Lilly with the hatred of a thousand suns. As she sat in silence for a moment thinking about it, Stretch finally spoke up from his end of the large table.“Heh, didn't think we'd be   overseein’  ya so soon.” He said, his smile tight and eyes sharp on her form. Lilly was happy to hear him make a pun, but she knew he wasn’t doing it to be funny. He slowly put back the taco from his hand, glancing over the rest of the large spread of food and condiments. Lilly shook her head slightly, shaking off the threatening pun. She knew he wouldn’t believe a single word that came out of her mouth, and that’s probably what stung the most about the situation. 
It's like finally seeing old friends from a long-distance friendship, and none of them know who you are.
“Yeah, can't say’m disappointed though, cause darlin’ you are the only   snack   in this room I’m interested in…” Red purred, his face becoming slightly flush as he let his eyes wander over her body. Oh hell, he was smooth. “You  rattled our bones   here Miss Overseer, but I think we all agree that we have a   bone to pick with you  .” Sans said sharply from his end, standing closer to Papyrus. Lilly heard the other brothers groan in protest, rolling their eyes at the punning exchange between them, not realizing the malice his words held. Her chest was aching again. “SANS, DON'T BOTHER MISS OVERSEER WITH YOUR TERRIBLE PUNS! WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD GUESTS NOT OBNOXIOUS ONES!” Papyrus exclaimed, shaking his skull in his hand. Lilly took a moment to appreciate Papyrus’s words, it was nice to hear kind words every once in a while.“THE CREAM PUFF IS RIGHT! I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANY FUCKING MANNERS TOWARDS A HUMAN OR WHAT HAVE YOU BUT QUIT MAKING PUNS AND BEING A DISGUSTING PERVERT IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. IT'S BEYOND DISGRACEFUL!” Edge hollered down at his brother, smacking him roughly in the back of the head. Lilly mentally winced, she didn’t like it when Edge got physical with Red but she kept her mouth shut. “M ‘sorry boss…” Red grumbled for a moment, rubbing and letting his head fall a bit, but she could see him taking glances at her every so often, the red still dusted across his cheekbones. He wasn’t trying to hide it, and it made her ego swell even if only a little. “THEY'RE RIGHT PAPY, YOU SHOULDN'T BE MEAN EITHER, SHE'S PREPARED SO MUCH FOOD FOR US AND ITS GLITTER IS EVEN MORE EDIBLE THAN THE STUFF I USE, THAT'S AMAZING!” Blue gushed excitedly, picking up two more tacos and eating them at the same time. Stretch sighed and leaned against the table, keeping his eyes trained on her.
Okay, so it looks like I hit the mark with the glitter. Thank god that the maids and I make the meals. 
Lilly couldn't help but chuckle at their bickering, and the puns of course. She was a sucker for it and they wasted no time firing them at her, even if it was because they didn't trust her. They glanced at Lilly, the younger brothers staring at her shocked that she would laugh at their puns.“Well,   tibia  honest, I am a sucker for puns, always have been.” Lilly grinned, and the three collectively groaned. While Red and Stretch chuckled, Sans said nothing, but the way he kept his gaze on her…This is what she was afraid of.She knew they were only being lighthearted to keep their brothers less worried, but it broke her heart a little bit. Not to mention she wasn’t so sure that the younger brothers were as naïve as they wanted everyone to believe. However, she couldn’t describe it in any other way. She wanted to hug them all and laugh and cry about getting to finally meet them, reminiscing on their past adventures with Frisk and the others AU’s, she wanted it so, so much. She wasn’t stupid though. This...would take a lot of time and trust to get to where she wanted with them. 
Where is my fanfiction trope where I just get teleported to THEIR world and have fun sexy times?? WHERE IS IT?? 
Blue huffed and puffed his cheeks out. “MISS OVERSEER NOT YOU TOO!” Lilly couldn’t help but giggle at his puffed-up face, it was too darn cute and helped lighten the heavy feeling she had.“I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU WOULD PARTAKE IN SUCH TRIVIAL THINGS, ESPECIALLY AS A SUPPOSED FIGURE OF AUTHORITY. HOW DISGUSTING, BUT AS EXPECTED FROM A   HUMAN  .” Edge scoffed and sat in one of the luxury chairs lined up behind the table, crossing his arms and looking at the room. His sour attitude was something she had been dying to hear, and their voices were just about how she had pictured them. From the tons of comic dubs on the internet, there were one or two that matched their tones, and it was nice to hear them speak. Lilly kept her gaze on him, speaking up.“While I am in a position of...Authority...I prefer to not look at it like that if I can help it. I’ve been very excited to meet all of you.” Lilly had meant every word of what she said, but being put into the position of Overseer was not what she had expected. The implants along her body hummed lightly and she put her hands on her hips, glancing at Edge as he kept his gaze plastered somewhere else. Before she could speak again, Papyrus spoke up from across the room.“WELL MISS OVERSEER, WE ARE HAPPY TO MEET YOU TOO! I AM PAPYRUS, AND THIS IS MY BROTHER SANS! ALTHOUGH, YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN MADE AWARE THAT WE ARE ALL...PAPYRUS’ AND SANS’...?” As Papyrus's sentence trailed off, she saw Sans go rigid beside him. Lilly guessed they hadn't been sure if she knew the circumstances or not, but we're trying to keep it hidden for now. Papyrus was just too sweet to lie and he seemed to already trust her. “Actually yeah Papyrus, I am well aware and informed of how this situation started. Sans, Papyrus, Blue, Stretch, Edge, and Red,” Lilly said, waving at each skeleton as she called their nicknames, “You are all the same pairs of brothers but each adoring from a different AU. I won’t claim to know everything about all of you since you’re still living beings after all and that would be rude as hell, but I have a general idea of your universes and what went on. It was one of the reasons I was chosen to become the Overseer, I was a fan of the game and had spent a lot of time in the...fandom, so to say. You and your brother Sans are from the game that is canon or “current” in this world. You guys are the building block for the other AU's that were created. For us at least, this is how it all started here.” She stated calmly. Lilly noted how Sans’s hands shook slightly, and the brothers seemed uncomfortable. She knew the topic of the game aspect of this world made their blood boil. Lilly felt terrible thinking about what it must have been like to learn their entire existence was in the hands of millions of humans who wanted to get a sick kick of tormenting their life, family, and friends with twisted choices. To choose to give Mercy or to Murder, all for the sake of a game. Some of them are technically not even supposed to exist at all. Damn, that would have fucked with her head too.Undertale had been, to put it bluntly, a milestone for PC games. The in-depth character design and how the game remembered their choices had been phenomenal. The game interacting with someone on a personal level is what gave it a fantastic leg up from others. It also hit people hard emotionally due to the consequences of their actions becoming very apparent to have affected other characters and their mannerisms towards them after it was all said and done. If they took the genocide route, that is. Lilly had never played it personally nor did she ever want to. She just couldn’t bring herself to do it. She had only ever watched playthroughs of the genocide route and admittedly cried like a baby as she watched her favorite companions dusted one after another at the hands of Chara, no...Humans. Players. The people were willing to choose to be cruel just for the sake of seeing the different endings or fighting the most powerful bosses. Once they played the genocide route and reset the game, going through the game innocently and trying a pacifist route Sans would remember, as well as flowey. Relentlessly being hostile about their sick choices before the reset. It was...horrifying, and yet players  ate it up .Before she could speak again to apologize, several sharp blue, red, and orange bones appeared in a ring around Lilly, floating dangerously close to her neck. They were larger than she expected, roughly 3 or 4 feet long, and as thick as coke cans. The jagged edges of a blue bone pressed her chin upwards and toward Sans. Lilly didn’t move, just letting the bone guide her chin as she reached his gaze across the table. The magic radiating off of it tingled against her skin, but the coolant strips on her arms seemed to burn from the magic. A bad reaction to hostile magic no doubt. Magic was all about intent, and this had ‘cut a bitch up’ written all over it. His eye glowed the striking blue and yellow fire that she had seen in online fanart, and while it was meant to be a threat, she couldn't help the little bit inside of her that got excited seeing it in person. The crackle of magic tense in the air made her skin slightly burn but her mind was racing at all the possibilities.“You better watch that tongue of yours, Miss Overseer… One mistake and ya might just be   marrowly  escaping death today…” His words were sharp, his pun holding nothing but what he thought was a good threat to scare her. She, of course, knew what would happen if they did try, but she wouldn’t let it come to that.
Bold of you to assume I would pass up an opportunity to off myself skeleton man.
Papyrus and Blue were staring at the rest, nervously glancing between the brothers and other skeletons, while Edge just seemed to be grinning. He didn’t act on it like the others did but he wasn’t going to stop them either, he just seemed to be enjoying the show. She sighed, and suddenly one of the orange bones began pressing into her neck just enough to prick the skin. A small bead of blood ran down her neck, and she sighed harder. “You know I think it’s considered rude to stab people on the first date.” She looked over to Stretch with just her eyes. He stiffened at her words but said nothing.“T-THIS IS NOT HOW THE FIRST MEETING WAS MEANT TO GO, PAPY, PLEASE STOP HURTING HER! IT’S NOT DATE ETIQUETTE!” Blue grabbed Stretch by the sleeve of his jacket but refused to break eye contact.“SANS. I KNOW YOU’RE ANGRY AND UPSET, BUT PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS DOES NOT FALL ON THE SHOULDER OF MISS OVERSEER. SHE WAS NOT THE ONE THAT DRAGGED US HERE OR PUT THESE BANDS ON OUR WRIST.” Papyrus was loud, but his tone had completely changed as a serious look fell on his face. It caught Lilly off guard, but she appreciated his words nonetheless.“Paps, this chick could dust us within seconds, don’t you think I’d want to act on that? Knowing what we’ve all been through?” Sans stated seriously, his magic flaring and adding pressure to the air. The raw power of a Boss Monster. While Lilly was confident in her abilities, if this did get out of hand there would be a hell of a fight.“You seriously think the government would go through everything they have, just to send you to a luxury home and property so I could  dust  you? I   adore  you guys. I loved learning about you all and seeing the art, happiness, and stories you all created.   You  are all that got me through some of the shittiest times of my life. You don’t have to believe me, but you are more family to me than mine ever was.” She stared Sans down, glancing at a few of the others as she spoke. She meant every word, it didn’t matter if they didn’t believe her, they would at least be stuck listening to her fangirl ramble about it. “FANGIRLS DO NOT KEEP US PRISONERS AND ON LEASHES YOU MANGEY BITCH!” Edge finally stood, angrily shouting at her. Lilly’s eyes widened at his sudden outburst, however, the statement held anger and Lilly sympathized with him.“I didn’t ask for that to happen. I was only told to look after you and given the resources to do so. I didn’t even know half of what my full-time job would be until a year after you’d all been dragged over here! I don’t want you guys to feel like slaves or like you’re walking through a minefield, so I did my damndest to make sure you could have the most comfortable experience while being thrown into this place. It's not ideal, but we can only do so much." She sighed, wanting to explain further but waiting until they had said their peace.
They're angry, hurt, and scared, you can't blame them for feeling like they've been backed into a corner Lilly. 
“Then why th’hell are ya even ‘ere?! We’re fuckin’ trapped if ya couldn’t already fuckin’ tell!” Red hollered.“I’m trapped here too! Do you think they’ll just let some cyborg human freak with superpowers   wander   the streets like a regular citizen on a shopping trip?”“So, ya do have some shit ya ain’t tellin’ us.” He growled.“You didn’t ask before you shoved a bone in my throat, besides we’re supposed to save that for third base.” Lilly grinned slightly as she watched his face grow red.“MISS OVERSEER I AM SORRY FOR MY BROTHERS AND EVERYONE ELSE’S ACTIONS. THEY’RE JUST SCARED AND ANGRY, HONESTLY, I WAS AS WELL WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED. WE MAY JUST NEED SOME TIME TO ADJUST, BUT SOMEONE WHO GOES TO THIS LEVEL OF KINDNESS TO SET UP OUR FAVORITE FOODS AND BEVERAGES DESERVES A CHANCE IN MY BOOK! SO SANS, PUT THE BONES AWAY. NOW.” Papyrus stared down at his brother, and Sans seemed to tense as he kept his eyes locked with hers. Lilly smiled sadly at his words.“I know Paps. Every one of you has every reason to be hurt, upset, angry, and any other thing you feel right now. I’m not going to tell you to just suck it up and move on and start living like some happy-go-lucky family. What I   do  want to ask is you at least give this all a chance while HQ tries to find a way to get you guys home. It’s all we   can   do while we’re stuck here.”“WHY DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD ALLOW YOU TO HAVE THAT CHANCE? TRUST LIKE THAT IS WHAT GETS YOU FUCKING KILLED!” Edge angrily spat.“Because if I wanted you dead I wouldn’t be here, or you’d be dust by now for even thinking of pointing these bones at me.” Lilly poked one of the blue bones in front of her face, feeling the magic rush over her skin. Sans recoiled at her touch against it, and she took note of it.Everyone seemed to go silent after the statement. Finally, she was getting somewhere. She took a calming breath and looked at them with new seriousness in her eyes.“Your Magic, and even the powers I have, is all about intent. I could give the command right now and have you all kneeling in front of me like it was nothing, erasing your magic from you and making you helpless. However, do you know why I would  never  do something like that? Because it’s  wrong.   I’m the Overseer, not a dictator. You’re still people, alive and have your own opinions, emotions, and thoughts.” Lilly started, stepping a bit more into the Overseer role. “Then why? Why would you  choose  to do this? You must’ve known what you’d be getting into.” Stretch asked. Lilly sighed but figured she’d do her best to explain, even if it was slightly embarrassing and difficult to admit. “Yes and no, I was given only the bare minimum of what would be happening to me before I was sent off for my implants. Only after that and a year’s worth of training was I told what I was supposed to do. I can’t explain everything, but as someone who’s been dragged through hell and back to be where I am today, I sure as   fuck   am not going to waste it by treating the only good people in my life like dog shit. I LIKE you guys. You’re the coolest, most badass people to ever exist, even before you existed in this world. I   wanted  to help take care of you so I took the offer when it was given to me. I didn’t know at the time what all HQ was expecting of me, but now that I do know that doesn’t mean I’m gonna play by their rules.” Lilly smirked at the last statement and they still seemed tense, but with new curiosity in their eyes.“Guys, I’m just a lonely stupid 23-year-old that has spent the last   3 years  waiting and getting ready to meet you all. To tell you how excited I was,   honored  even, to even be able to speak with any of you. It’s like getting to meet your heroes that you’ve only read about in stories because for me that’s  exactly what it’s like . I know the circumstances are shit, I’m not gonna sugar coat it, none of you want to be stuck here especially in a world this terrible with someone you don’t even know, but I’m here to make it just a little LESS terrible. Someone you can at least talk to and not go crazy while staying here.”Before Lilly had realized it Papyrus and Blue were crying softly, their eyes huge as fat tears streaked down their face. She froze, wondering what the hell she had said that would have made them cry that hard.
Oh god, I’m going to fandom hell. 
“M-MISS OVERSEER...YOU’RE THAT BIG OF A FAN OF US? AND YOU’VE BEEN ALONE ALL THIS TIME?” Blue sniffled, and Stretch looked back at his brother with a mix of confusion and concern.“I HAD NO IDEA YOU FELT THIS STRONGLY MISS OVERSEER! TO STAY HERE AND BE WAITING FOR US LIKE THIS, I DIDN’T KNOW SOMEONE COULD BE SO DEDICATED AND SUCH A HUGE FAN OF THE AMAZING PAPYRUS!” Papyrus wiped his eyes as he cried. Looking at Edge, Lilly noted he had red dusting his cheeks but refused to look at her. “I didn’t mean to make you guys cry I just-” Sans, however, cut her off as he looked at her with such hatred she thought she would drop dead.“You think this is a joke?”She scoffed at his comment, getting slightly irritated.“Yeah Sans, I just pour my stupid human heart out about how   devoted   I am and admit I’m an embarrassment to all functioning adults in the world to you and I think it’s   funny  .” Lilly rolled her eyes but felt a blue bone press into her neck. Sans, Red, and Stretch were all now sweating as they held their magic out for what was probably longer than they could handle, the bands on their wrist restricting their magic use.“Flattery ain’t gonna work sweetheart,” Red mumbled.“Exactly, so watch your damn mouth-” Stretch was cut off however as Papyrus and Blue both spoke up, running around the table and grabbing her into a tight hug. All three brothers stepped back at the suddenness of it, their bones fizzing out of existence.  “SANS DON’T YOU   DARE   HURT MY BIGGEST FAN!”“STRETCH PUT YOUR GODDAMN BONES AWAY RIGHT NOW BEFORE I FIGHT YOU MYSELF!”With a rough tackle. Lilly was squished between the two massive skeletons, blinking trying to process what had happened.“B-blue..?!” Stretch seemed flabbergasted at either Blue’s foul mouth or his barrage of hugging, but Lilly only grinned as she soaked up the nice hug coming from both of them. How long since she’d last been hugged, Been touched at all that wasn’t meant to inflict harm? She couldn’t remember, so she was gonna enjoy every moment of this. She knew it wouldn't last long though. The initial reactions of everyone here are fueled by adrenaline and panic would eventually leave them contemplating just exactly what they'd been dragged into. Not that she'd blame them either.Lilly hugged them both back wrapping her arms as best she could around both. She didn’t know when, but she could feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She didn’t care. They were hugging  her  and protecting  her . Why couldn't she be allowed to enjoy the short moment she had with them?“YOU’RE A DISGUSTING HUMAN, BUT I GUESS I CAN’T EXACTLY LET ANYONE KILL MY BIGGEST FAN, EVEN IF THEY ARE A HUMAN! NYEH HEH HEH!” Edge chuckled as he sat back down into his chair. Lilly only grinned at his words.“Paps-.. alright. Fine. But I at least want to know more about our situation and your...magic…before we get anywhere else.” Sans sighed as he rubbed the back of his skull, shoving his free hand into his jacket pocket. “Hmm, well I heard It feels like you get hit by a bus afterward. Sucks ass so I’d rather not use it since I’m not gonna be the one to wipe all of your asses when you shit yourselves.   That   sure as hell wasn’t in my job description.” Lilly chuckled as Blue and Papyrus pulled away. She wiped her face quickly, smiling at both the skeletons next to her.“W-Wait, will we  really  shit ourselves…? I didn’t think we did that…” Red whispered, and it made her laugh.“We can find out, but I’d rather not. I’m not looking for a   shit   show here.” Lilly grinned goofily. She saw Red crack a smile, and even heard Stretch wheeze slightly.“NO MISS OVERSEER! YOU CANNOT BE MY BIGGEST FAN AND SUBJECT YOURSELF TO TERRIBLE PUNNING!” Papyrus exclaimed, but it only made her grin more.When she had learned what the implants were really for and what they were capable of, she had been so distraught. The idea of having to restrain or nullify their magic and threaten them was not the way she wanted to begin her friendship with everyone. Lilly could do it, but it would be a high price to pay for asserting her dominance. She would never want to hurt them, let alone allow anyone to even  think  of hurting them in her presence. That was the entire reason she agreed to the job in the first place.“Goddammit really? We’re trying to be intimidating here and you’re making puns about   shit  of all things?” Sans sounded exasperated as he smacked his hand to his face, but Lilly could see the grin he had forming.“Oh really? Well   shit,   I had no idea!” Lilly tried to stop herself from laughing, her cheeks puffing out and eyes wide as she tried to keep it in.“MISS OVERSEER YOU’RE KILLING ME.” Blue shook his head and walked back behind the table, sitting down in his chair.Red and Stretch busted out laughing. Red was keeled over, coughing with tears in his eyes, and Stretch was leaning over the table holding his stomach. “WHY ARE ANY OF YOU SURPRISED THE LOWLY HUMAN WOULD SAY SUCH TERRIBLE PUNS? IT'S DISGUSTING AND JUST LIKE THEIR SPECIES.” Edge huffed, but she kept going.“Looks like you guys are  losing your shit  over there huh?” Sans finally began laughing along with the other two, while Blue, Paps, and Edge just huffed and Nyeh’d angrily at her.“Goddammit, you -...fine. I give up. You’re ridiculous, even if you do have good puns.” Sans said between chuckles and it felt  fantastic  . He plopped down in a seat, shaking his head with his eyes closed.“MISS OVERSEER WHY!” Blue reached up to the sky dramatically with his arms and it only caused her to laugh harder. She could hear Papyrus and Edge bickering off to the side about stupid puns and poor mannerisms. “God  damn.  Okay sweetheart, ya really got us wit those.” Red wiped his tears away, sitting back in his chair.“You fucken bet I would, you think I’d let myself lose to you guys in a pun war knowing you  love  puns? I’ll bet my fucking   bones   we could go   toe to toe   and I’d keep up.” Lilly grinned confidently. “MISS OVERSEER, I APPRECIATE THIS AMAZING SPAGHETTI,(NOT AS GOOD AS MINE BUT STILL GOOD), BUT YOU ARE METAPHORICALLY KILLING ME WITH YOUR PUNNING.” Papyrus shook his head with his arms crossed.“I’m sorry I’m sorry, I’ll stop now.” She rubbed her face, giggling a little as she walked over to the front of the table.“You are just something else. Well, how about we actually sit down and talk then, I’d like to get filled in on everything we’ll be doing here since we don’t have much choice anyway.” Stretch half laughed and sighed, taking a chair on his end of the table. “Oh definitely! So, I have a few things that I’ll need to give you guys but I’ll do that after I talk.” She excitedly clapped her hands together, walking closer to the table as she overlooked all of them sitting together.Everyone finally sat down, grabbing food and drinks waiting for the conversation to begin. Edge, however, decided to speak first.“I'LL GO AHEAD AND LAY THE RULES OUT HUMAN, I DON'T TAKE ORDERS FROM YOU NOR WILL I EVER. YOU ARE HERE TO SERVE US, MORE SO MYSELF, AND I WILL MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR PLACE. I DON'T CARE ABOUT THIS MAGIC NULLING WHATEVER.” Edge grinned wickedly, smirking at her since he was above eye level with her, even when he sat.“Okay.” Lilly shrugged her shoulders and hands, staring at him.Edge blinked at her, not saying anything as he sat there seemingly confused by her  response.“WHAT?”“I can’t make you do shit Edge. You’re a person, not a slave. I don’t care what you do as long as you don’t try and kill me, anyone here, or blow up a building.”“I-...OF COURSE! I AM NO ONE’S SLAVE AND YOU ARE GOOD TO KNOW YOUR PLACE HUMAN!” He leaned back into his chair with his arms crossed and Lilly just chuckled.She caught Red’s surprised look that he quickly tried to wipe away as her eyes passed over him. “So! Down to the general house rules. Number one, don’t hurt or kill each other. Number two, if you need something cleaned you can just call a maid with your wrist bands, tap it and say “Maid Request” and they’ll head to your location. Number three, don’t kill the maids. Number four, if you need something that maids can’t handle, do the same thing with your armband but say my name instead and I’ll show up. Number five, don’t blow up buildings, but if you do damage property just let me know and I can have it fixed. Number six, no masturbating in weird places because you’ll scar the maids for life.”A few of the skeletons choked at rule number six, making Lilly grin.“Number seven, no serious fighting unless it’s done on the training grounds and I can supervise. Number eight, I have a cat named butterbean that runs around, don’t hurt him or I will get very, very pissed and we will all have a    b a d f u c k i n g t i m e.   ” Lilly’s eyes flashed for a moment and most of them flinched. Just as they had their brothers, she had butterbean. She would defend him with her life even if it meant fighting. That was essentially all she had in terms of family and friends combined.
Sorry dudes, butterbean is just too precious for this world. Givem the old fucken uno reverse card. 
“Number nine, don’t pee outside you fucking degenerates I built like 12 bathrooms and that lawn is too well kept to get pissed on.” Lilly huffed as she crosses her arms finally done with the rules. Stretch and Red snorted at the last one. “Wait, there’s no tenth rule?” Sans asked.“Uhhh, nope, I could only think of nine. I don’t know, you want a number ten?”“Oh nope, I’m good.” Sans had blue sweat form on his bone brow at that comment.“Cool. Alright, any questions?”Most of the skeletons shook their heads, and Lilly grinned. This was finally getting somewhere!“Alright, now to discuss your monthly deposits and cell phones. The phones are on the larger side so you guys won’t struggle with the normal, smaller size of cells. You’ll each be able to download anything including shopping apps to buy what you’d like. My phone number and everyone here has each other’s numbers, but I’m still waiting on the approval to get everyone else like toriel, frisk, asgore, alphys and undyne’s phone numbers for you. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out though.”“Wait we can have social media? Wouldn’t that be bad for exposing us?” Stretch asked looking at her questioningly.“Yeah, but that’s why most of your social media will be filtered to an extent. You can still post and have accounts, HQ thinks it will be a good way to build a bit of a fan base up and to have you guys exposed in small amounts at a time. I have no doubt you guys will become internet famous pretty quickly. Most people will think it's either CGI or animation of some kind depending on what you post. It could be a good way to build up more awesome fans.” Lilly grinned at Edge, Paps, and Blue. “WE’LL GET EVEN MORE FANS?!?!” Blue exclaimed excitedly from his chair. “I WONDER HOW LONG BEFORE THEY COME FLOCKING TO US BEGGING FOR OUR AUTOGRAPHS AND WORSHIPING US!” Edge laughed.“IT’D BE SO COOL TO GET TO MEET SOME AND SAY HI!” Paps said happily.“I promise it won’t be as long as you think.” Lilly chuckled, she should have seen that one coming.She internally sighed, she knew they’d have plenty of fans and eventually become quite the sensation around the world if they were going to be integrated into society. Yet, they’d still have to go back home someday. There would be stories and only a history of the skeletons online left behind. More than likely years down the line people would even begin to question if they were ever here in the first place. Not to mention there would be more than likely handfuls of people who would try and fiddle with multiverse theory and try to bring them back over or move to different timelines. Not that she was sure that there were any regular civilians out of government control that could do it, but she knew human determination was a crazy thing. “You’ll each get an allowance of 500k a month and it will be deposited into an account linked to the cards I’ll give you. Each month you’ll get it in the first and it does roll over and accumulate.” Most of the skeletons choked when they heard the amount. She had the same reaction to her salary so she didn’t blame them.“W-what in th’ fuck?? We’ll be multi-millionaires by th’ time th’ end of th’ year comes!” Red sputtered.“Yup.” Lilly popped the 'P' at the end of the word, smiling innocently.“Alright, I’m gonna grab the cellphones real quick and then I’ll be back, feel free to stuff your faces cause whatever you don’t eat will be leftovers!” Lilly smiles and flicked her wrist, popping open a small, holographic blue message board. Lilly didn’t have to do this to teleport but hey, what harm was there in showing off a bit.She selected teleport and imagined her room where she had left the bag of goodies, quickly feeling her skin tingle. Looking back to the brothers, she noticed their looks of confusion and nervousness.She quickly finger gunned at them, winking before disappearing from her spot.
Oh yeah. This is gonna be fucking fun. 
. . .-Red- Red blinked and the next thing he knew she was gone. This ‘Overseer’ chick had been something when she walked down those stairs. None of them had suspected it would’ve been a girl, but as she got closer he knew from the air alone that something was off about her. It just made him want to know more though. But what caught his eye was her body. The bitch was  stacked.  Red had gotten his fair share of human women to look at during his time at the labs and once he had all gotten to the surface back in his timeline, hell he’d fucked plenty! He just hadn't expected how out of touch and irrational he'd be. 3 years in what was practically solitary confinement will do that to a guy. Her face had well-defined cheekbones, and her eyes were sharp green with that catching ring of bright blue in them. He didn’t know humans could have those colored eyes without contacts. If her piercings were any indication as to how kinky she could be, this girl was gonna be fun to mess with. Red couldn’t help but wonder if she was pierced anywhere else too. He hadn’t seen many humans with piercings but knew it was generally frowned upon. The blue tattoos she had didn’t seem like actual tattoos and more like mods of some kind, and they glowed slightly when she was talking. Something must have been done to her for her to be an Overseer of high Boss Monsters, and he assumed they were related. Red wouldn’t let his guard down around her until he knew what she was capable of, even if she was nice eye candy, hell, eye  cocaine  at this point.“Well, guess she can fuckin teleport!” Red grumbled from his chair. Looking around at the spread of food he used his magic and grabbed a bottle of mustard floating it in his hand. May as well indulge himself more if it was here for all of them anyway. Taking a long swig of the spicy liquid, his brother scowled at him and he shrunk back down into the chair smiling at him nervously.“Yeah, not exactly how I saw this happening…” Sans mumbled, grabbing a ketchup bottle from the table, flopping back into an available chair.Red sat up for a moment, looking at him seriously. “Do ya think what she did there is th’same as our magic? It looked the same but it feels...wrong.” He said putting his hand under his chin. It was the same trick, but with different causes.“It was probably some kind of tech they developed for her. Did you catch that thing on her wrist? Looked like some kind of hologram. More than likely the blue stripes on her are a part of some technology embedded in her skin. It’s more than likely the same tech they used when we first got here, and those blue strips are probably the source. Doesn’t look like it would come off too easily either...” Stretch spoke up, pulling out another cig from his pocket. As hit lit it, he sighed and looked back at us. Damn, a cig sounds good right now honestly...  Red thought to himself, but he knew the boss wasn't a fan of it so he only did it on the down-low.“Whatever it is, we have to be careful. We aren’t in any specific timeline of our own, so we are completely out of our element here. Nothing magical, monster or the like around here to help us.” Classic calmly stated.He wasn’t wrong. This is was the first time something like this had happened, and while they were familiar with timelines similar to their own this one didn't match anything like the others. They technically shouldn't even exist in this world, and it gave him chills. A few of the scientists back at the lab they had met had mentioned that more monsters may eventually come through the gate they had accidentally created, but they couldn’t be sure. They just couldn’t rely on it being helpful.“WELL, I THINK SHE IS A VERY LOVELY PERSON WHO IS TRYING TO HELP US! THERE WAS NOTHING MALICIOUS IN HER INTENT, AND I THINK SHE DOES CARE ABOUT HELPING US IN ANY WAY SHE CAN!” Papyrus spoke up from over by Classic, he was leaning against a chair and looked surprisingly serious for his normal goofy stature. Red couldn’t help but recall the look in her eyes as she admitted to liking everyone, but somehow it was still off-putting. She knew a lot more than she was letting on about all of them. He could see it, the way she looked at them like old friends. It made his stomach lurch slightly with guilt even though he had no reason to feel that way. The worst position to be in was one without information. “We can’t just assume she’s a good person just because of a few sweet words. We’re going to have to keep an eye out. She has the same ability that was able to trap us way too easily when we first got here. I don't trust it.” Classic shook his head, the first time he openly disagreed with his brother since they had met him. Creampuff looked dejected, and he felt sorry for him.“BUT WE SHOULD AT LEAST GIVE HER A CHANCE! SEE HOW IT GOES! IF SHE HAD WANTED TO HURT ANYONE OR SHOW US HOW DANGEROUS SHE WAS, WHY DIDN’T SHE DO IT WHEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BEST TO CRUSH US AND PUT US IN OUR PLACE IF SHE WAS REALLY LIKE THAT?” Blue had looked over towards Classic and had his hands on his hip, his choice of words made him raise his eyebrow. Berry was right, she could have easily just squashed them and told them all to fuck off. Beat em’ around a bit with the nullification and been done with them. Yet she had pleaded to be listened to, the anger in her eyes when speaking to Boss, given them a massive spread of food and taken into account everyone's favorite, even giving Blue’s food edible glitter. The consideration was there, but the trust unfortunately was not. Not yet, at least.Classic sucked in a breath and paused for a moment, he appeared to be considering Blue’s words seriously and Stretch had kept his eyes on his brother, grinning slightly with a proud look. “I DON'T CARE HOW NICE YOU SAY SHE IS, EVERYONE IS NICE IN YOUR EYES BABY BONES! SHE IS TRYING TO LULL US INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY TO STRIKE US DOWN AT OUR MOST VULNERABLE. THAT OF COURSE WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO SOMEONE AS SMART AND MAGNIFICENT AS MYSELF! NYEH HEH HEH!” Red’s brother Edge boasted from the food table. Earlier, while he had claimed the food was garbage, he had eaten almost two full plates of nothing but lasagna from the spread. He had seen Boss’s face light up and bit and then turn back into a scowl as he ate it, giving away that it was delicious.“SHE WOULDN'T DO THAT! IT WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE IF SHE HAS THE NULLIFICATION TECHNOLOGY! NONE OF OUR ATTACKS WILL WORK AND CAN EASILY BE DISMISSED BY HER. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD ALREADY IF THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTED!” Blue huffed towards Edge looking over at him. He was much smarter than he let on, all of the Papyrus's were. The traps they made were extremely intricate and required a lot of planning, mathematics, and physics, so it was not much of a surprise. They were getting more agitated with each other. Edge scowled at Blue, but he didn’t back down giving him a stern look.“Then what happens when she decides she   does   want us dead…?” Stretch spoke up, causing everyone to glance in his direction and tense up. He was right. She could kill them if she had the power to disarm magic. They would be sitting ducks and with 1 HP on two of them, it was a massive threat. If she suddenly no longer liked them, or they pissed her off, it could spell disaster. Blueberry huffed getting more heated by his brother's words, as well as Papyrus. “THAT STILL DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. WHY WOULD ANYONE BE SO KIND AND GENEROUS IF THEY HAD THE POWER TO RULE OVER OTHERS SO EASILY, AND MONSTERS NO LESS! SHE KNOWS MORE THAN SHE LETS ON, I COULD SEE IT. SHE SAID SHE WAS A PART OF OUR FANCOM RIGHT? MAYBE SHE JUST WANTS FRIENDS...” Papyrus leaned over at his brother, who turned and looked at him puzzled.“Uhhh, a Fandom I think is what she said. A person who is a fan of a particular group, team.. etc...” Sans last words trailed off as he spoke and they all came to a sudden realization that seem utterly ridiculous, but plausible. Red was thinking the same thing and Classic knew it.“There were girls like this back on th’surface when we broke free. Girls n’ dudes who adored monster n’ some shit, couldn’t keep’em off of us for the life of me.’” He piped up, grinning. They were typical fangirls who eventually became obnoxious, but he had recognized the words Classic used. They were all a part of the Underground Fandom, people who essentially worshiped monsters.“OH, MY STARS! SHE   LIKES   US!! SHE KNOWS A BUNCH ABOUT US BECAUSE SHE JUST NEEDS FRIENDS! BESIDES, I HAVE TO BE FRIENDS WITH MY BIGGEST FAN! MWEH HEH HEH!” Blueberry's eyes lit up with stars and he could practically feel the ego boost rolling off of him, Papyrus, and Boss’s bodies. This wouldn't be good, now that he was thinking about it.“Soooo, she likes all of us, is that it? She’s just a fan of the game and liked our characters? Kinda creepy if ya ask me…” Stretch leaned back, looking off to the side. “He has a point, but we can also use this to our advantage. If she was interested in us, then she would be easy to manipulate and get the info or stuff we need.” Sans said, taking a drink from his bottle absentmindedly.“Ehhhh, I don't know bout trickin’ the poor girl and playin’ on her feelins’. Seems kinda fucked up.” He said, feeling that guilt crawl back into his throat.“That’s almost hilarious coming from you Red.” Stretch looked at him and rolled his eyes. Fucken bastard. He flicked him off.“RED IS RIGHT! IT JUST MEANS THAT SHE REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO HURT US, SHE JUST WANTS TO BE OUR FRIEND!” Papyrus's eyes were lit with happiness, but he looked at Red with understanding. The last thing they needed was a girl with a broken heart who could probably dust them.“Not to mention, if she finds out we're playin’ her heart, it would probably wreck her n’ she could lose her shit on us for it.” He chimed in. Boss had stayed quiet, he could tell he was conflicted between having a fan that was also a human, not to mention dangerous. Red didn't blame him“Alright. Let's just keep an eye on her and listen to what she has to say. We gather what information we can and we start rebuilding   that  .” Sans said quietly. They all knew what he had meant. It was a machine that each of their universe's had that allowed them to communicate occasionally with each other before this happened. Red had worked on it with alphys when he could and they had made great progress. If he could manage to recreate it, then there was a possibility that they all could go home, but it was still far-fetched. They had only ever been able to poorly speak between universes when the machine was working. Getting it to take them all home, not to mention a whole city population of monsters? Red wanted to laugh at Classic for even thinking bout it.Right as he was about to speak up again, something popped into existence in front of him, scaring all of them half to  death.  It was a little bag filled with what looked like small boxes that had dropped a few feet in front of his chair onto the table.“What th’...?” He was staring at it curiously when his vision was suddenly blocked by a massively gorgeous ass in his face. When he leaned back, it was their lovely Overseer. Red whistled, takin in the view. Her ass was just as fat as her rack, and he couldn’t believe he didn’t see her turn around sooner. Her hips were wide and her as was sculpted nicely and well rounded. Her cheeks popping out near the bottom giving it a nice giggle and flare to her hips. She suddenly whipped around at the sound of someone so close behind her. She looked at Red before realizing how close her ass was to his face and quickly turned a cute red. She jumped away, stumbling around his chair and sputtering, not making any words just funny noises.“I-.!” She stuttered, her face growing brighter.Red laughed hard as did Stretch, Sans even chuckled. “Well darlin’ ya certainly do know how to make an entrance doncha?” He grinned slyly making her face burn brighter.“Shit, sorry! My GPS said you guys were another three feet backward but I didn't think it would have teleported me so close!!” She spoke quickly in a panicked tone. Oh yeah.A fangirl.Red loved teasing her and she made it way too easy. She had come back in an even better shirt this go-round too. The same pants, but now she had a tight black pentagram crop top on, with a long black cardigan sweater pulled up to her elbows. There was a little of her stomach exposed which showed a few blue lines running up her stomach and down into her pants. He made sure to look her over, keeping his eyes on the blue lines trailing into her pants. “Should I be callin’ ya miss   big booty   from now on?” Red laughed as she nearly choked and began coughing. “SA-..RED! QUIT WITH YOUR INCESSANT PERVERSION THIS INSTANT! WE HAVE INFORMATION TO GATHER AND YOU CANNOT BE DISTRACTING THE ALREADY FEEBLE-MINDED HUMAN!” Boss bellowed from the table and he hunched back, nodding obediently. She coughed a little into her hand pink covering her cheeks, drawing attention back to herself.“I-... Grabbed the phones for you guys.” She squeezed her arm nervously. Now that she was closer to everyone, she didn't seem as dangerous. She just kinda seemed...normal. Red chuckled at her sputtering.Classic grinned too, more relaxed. Red couldn’t tell if he was doing it for the manipulation ideas running through his head or if he was genuinely entertained.“Uh, anyways! I was going to give you guys a tour and go ahead and get you all set up in your rooms. This way you’ll at least know a little bit about the grounds.” She said much more calm and more Overseer.“Well can we at least get a real name outta ya dollface?” Red asked curiously, winking at her. She paused for a moment before the realization pooped onto her face and she smiled.“Oh! I didn’t realize I forgot to introduce myself earlier, my name is Lilly! You don't have to call me the Overseer or anything and no ‘miss’ added on either, I mean I am only 23.” She grinned and he raised an eyebrow in surprise.“Oh, only twenty-three huh? Lil   flower child   over here is just a baby!” Stretch spoke up from Red’s left, smirking a bit. “I am not!” She puffed her cheeks, a small smile playing on her lips.“WELL, I THINK LILLY IS A LOVELY NAME! YOU OF COURSE ALREADY KNOW OURS THOUGH, SO I GUESS THAT WOULD CONCLUDE INTRODUCTIONS!” Blueberry said cheerfully, putting a hand on his chin.“YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF HUMAN! FANDOM OR NOT, WHY AND HOW DO YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT US? IT’S RIDICULOUS THAT WE HAVE NO WAY OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS FANDOM NONSENSE IS ABOUT, AND I DEMAND YOU ANSWER!!” Edge leaned over, his hand on his chin while glaring daggers at her.“That sounds like a great idea boss, I’d be a   fan   to know what’s going on in ya mind doll...” He had a sly look on his face and she blushed to glance in their direction. She suddenly seemed much more nervous.“Weeeelllll…” She rubbed the back of her head, looking away from all of them as she handed out the phones from her bag.“SPIT IT OUT, HUMAN! HAVE YOU NOW FORGOTTEN THE BARE MINIMUM OF YOUR LANGUAGE?!” Edge scoffed at her.“No! I mean it’s just. Okay look, you can google Undertale and its Fandom but seriously please just remember what happens when there is a fan base of something. People make stories and art and-...and…” Lilly was now trying to look at anything but them as she rubbed her fingers over her hands.“And…?” Stretch dragged out, now curious as well.“...p…n” She mumbled. That was all Red needed to know what she was trying to say. He busted out laughing, his face going red from embarrassment too. Porn. They had made porn of everyone and she was trying to warn them.“What’s so funny?” Stretch asked annoyed.“Yeah, I think something’s gone over my head here.” Classic chipped in. He only laughed harder.“DAMMIT WOMAN WHAT IS IT!” Edge was getting angrier as time went by and Paps and Blue looked between them both.“I’M CONFUSED.”“IT BETTER NOT BE ANOTHER PUN!”“W-why Dontcha help em out sweet cheeks!” He roared over his laughing fit.“P-PORN. It’s porn. People made porn of you guys.” Lilly slapped her face with both hands and Red fell from his chair. Now he felt bad.There was a collective “oh” from all the others as Red struggles to breathe. “AhahahHAHAHA WOW look at these stairs how lovely, I didn’t even know I made them this nice wellweshoulsgetgoingwehavetotakethetour-!” Lilly spun around and began taking the stairs two at a time, and it caused Stretch to join in on Red's laughing fit.“WELL...that's not what I was expecting.” Papyrus said softly with a yellow-orange hue on his face. Damn right creampuff, but that just meant this was gonna be a lot more interesting.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lilly had taken the steps two at a time, looking around the long hallway as she tried to stop the blood flowing aggressively into her cheeks. Dammit, why did they have to ask all the difficult questions? She knew they’d find out one way or another, but she didn’t think it would be so awkward and...embarrassing. Normally she had no problems gushing about the skeletons on the internet and different forums she frequented, but telling the people who the porn was made of, that there's porn of themselves?Hell no.She heard shuffling behind her as everyone followed up the long staircase and smiled looking down at them, her cheeks still feeling warm. She noticed how white their bones seemed in the light, almost reflecting off of the shining marble stairs.Now that they were here, she felt like she couldn’t stop grinning. However, her stomach was still turning uneasily.She'd figure it out later.Lilly shook the thoughts from her mind, it was time to have some fun and show them around! She could have an existential crisis later. She’d been preparing for this moment for quite some time, she definitely couldn’t waste it by freaking out on them.While Lilly had put literal blood, sweat, and tears into this place, she was grateful she finally had some other people to show it off to. Possibly a conceited thought, but she knew every bit of the grounds deserved any of the praise it received, especially her Gala and Ballroom. The white marble staircase had been beautifully crafted, with black and gold rails along the sides. The second-floor hallway was dark with black marble flooring instead of white, streaks of gold littering throughout the purposeful cracks in the marble. There were gold and black wood trimmings along the tops and bottoms of the hallway, blending well with the deep grey walls. Lilly traced her fingertips along the smooth and cold railing as she listened to the murmur of the skeletons conversing while they made their way up. She hadn’t taken time to admire everything even with how long she’d been here. When was the last time she’d gone somewhere else on the grounds besides The Garden and her room?However, time seemed to waver around her, almost like she'd been floating around a fog. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she no longer aged. Stuck forever in the appearance of a twenty-three-year-old, and while her body had gained some  assets  ...The scars would stay too.It was a blessing and a curse.
Big titties with big depression lol 
Glancing upwards, she noticed the dimmer mood the hallway cast over her, however that didn’t make it a bad thing. The in-ceiling lights gave a soft, warm glow to everything compared to the large chandeliers in the ballroom. There were no windows but there were lots of small tables and an occasional fountain on the walls with real plants to accent them. Lilly loved the fresh feel of running water and live plants that gave a home, so she may have gone overboard and added some in almost every room, in  all  the buildings.Some tables were larger than others, made of cedar with well-detailed legs supporting them. The smell that loitered around the halls made it feel so calming. She had always wanted a Victorian-style home and even if the outside didn’t match, she’d make sure the inside would put any historian into hysterics.Lilly was snapped from her thoughts when most of them had followed into the entryway.“IT SEEMS YOUR TASTE FOR DECOR IS NOT AS TERRIBLE AS I HAD EXPECTED HUMAN. FOR THAT, I COMMEND YOU.” Edge ran his hand across one of the darkened marble pillars on the left side of the hallway entrance, admiring it with a soft look of satisfaction.Lilly felt her face heat up lightly at the genuine compliment and the look Edge gave his surroundings. Damn, that felt  good  to hear.“Shit sweetheart, going after a guy’s heart wit how ya designed this place.” Red winked at her. She smiled happily, proud to show off her hard work.“I love Victorian-era style homes. While I didn’t get to design the outside how I would have liked, the interior was free reign so I milked that budget for all its worth.” Lilly smiled as she looked at everyone. She caught Edge grinning just a little bit wider until his face fell neutral again. 
Oh man, that was nice to see. Hopefully, I can get more smiles from them all in the future. 
“So what’s all up here kid? While we’d love to keep   marbling  in how nice everything is, we still need a tour.” Sans grinned. She chuckled while some of the others groaned.“I gotta say though, it  paint  too bad up here.” Stretch smiled as he walked along the wall, looking over some of the plants on an end table.“  Hue   gotta admit, she did a good job classic, ya can  teal  .” Red snickered as he spoke.“THERE ISN’T EVEN ANY TEAL HERE YOU IMBECILE!” Edge scoffed.“PLEASE DON'T RUIN THE NICE NEW HOME WITH SO MANY TERRIBLE PUNS BROTHER.” Papyrus rubbed his face, shaking his head.“PAPY I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU ARE ENCOURAGING TOO MANY BAD BEHAVIORS!” Blue scolded.The trio of punners only snickered as the other three brothers talked over each other, all equally angry over the ‘tom foolery’.“Alright, alright, let's get moving and hold the puns for later. This floor is mostly lots of storage, our maintenance and server room, and where a lot of the controls for the ground’s electricity is stored. Most of you won’t need to be in any of these rooms as the maids will restock and take care of things. Trash, recycling, toiletries, and general supplies are also kept up here but we have a few other rooms scattered around that carry the same items for easier access. Any questions so far?” Lilly slowly made her way down the hall, turning around backward as she looked at everyone.Some seemed startled with how quickly and easily she skipped around while still maintaining her walking pace. When she was finally well enough to walk again after the surgery, they had immediately begun a vicious training program specifically for her stamina and agility. Why it came as a surprise to anyone here confused her. The skeleton brothers were all smart enough to recognize her strength if she was the only one left in charge. She knew a few of them would question her abilities at some point and her training regimen. She didn't get the muscled physique by fucking around all day.The process had been beyond  brutal .Sometimes she forgot she was now classified as a tool, used and owned by the Government.   Property   .She only smiled at the group, overlooking their features again in admiration. It was honestly really hard not to stare, they were all so handsome in person. It was a surreal feeling to be able to look at them in real life, watching how their bones moved and shifted. Lilly always thought they’d look like actual skeletons instead of having such smooth features like a human face, not that she’d complain. She really, really wanted to run her hands over their bone structure but chose not to so she could keep her hand attached to her wrist.“N-Nah I think we’re good. Seems like a lotta important stuff up here though, why all the same floor?” Sans asked. Most of them seemed to raise a brow and perk up at the question. Lilly paused, stopping in the hallway.She felt a mischievous grin roll over her lips as she spoke.“Cause   my   room is up here.” She saw how some of them tensed at the information and she laughed, turning back around and skipping a bit down the hall as they neared the next set of doors.”But ya know, you guys are more than welcome to go into any of the rooms. I don’t care, I trust all of you and if you feel like checking it out you don’t need my permission. You’re adults, super smart too. Call it blind ‘fangirl faith’, but I believe in all of you to  not  try something crazy like...I don’t know, knocking all of our power out for fun. The only thing I   do   ask of you guys though is if you need to go in my room, just give me a heads up.” She turned her head, glancing as some of the boys relaxed at her response.“Hmmm, an open invitation ta come ‘n when we wanna? Ya playin a dangerous game kitten…” Red purred, looking over her form again.“I don’t fuck on the first interdimensional meeting, sorry.” Lilly rolled her eyes listening to a few of them snicker or gasp while Red’s face lit up, however his grin only grew bigger on his face.“Alright, this next hallway leads to our recreational building! I’m super proud of how this one came out, the hallway connecting the two buildings is made completely of glass so you can overlook most of the grounds out back.” A large grin spread across her face as she stood in front of the large, dark brown doors. Her cheeks were beginning to hurt from the constant smiling, but she couldn’t help it. When was the last time she’d smiled like this? 5 or 6 years ago?
That’s a little depressing when you think about it. 
Lilly stepped forward, the doors automatically swinging open from the censor at the top of the doorframe. The light from the early morning rushed in, some of the skeletons flinching from the sudden shift in brightness. The glass hallway was roughly 40ft in length, wide enough to fit most of them side by side comfortably. It was around 20ft tall as the top rounded out into a dome shape similar to the hallways seen in aquariums. The architecture of the entire grounds was intricate, yet kept modern enough to blend in well with each set of buildings. She didn’t want anything to appear tacky or gaudy, opting with a dark and sleek theme for the interior. The glass hallway was something she had added a bit last minute but she had no regrets about it considering the view.She walked forward, her eyes picking up the small droplets of dew littering the glass. She blinked a few times to try and refocus her vision. Even after all the training, she’d been through, her vision would still hyper-focus on movement or items occasionally. When she initially had no control of how quickly she focused on things, she had seen what her hair looked like at an almost microscopic level and it freaked her out for days. She attempted to shave her head while crying back at the facility. G.E. had laughed at her since her hair grew back almost instantly with her healing abilities.
Damn that snarky heartless bastard...No more haircuts for me I guess. 
“Damn, the place is bigger than I thought.” Stretch whistled.“NOT BAD, NOT BAD AT ALL! IS THAT A POOL AND GRILLING AREA MISS LILLY?” Blue asked.“Yup! There are two different grilling areas with fully stocked bars and refrigerators. The pool is 20 feet deep on the largest end with two separate diving boards, in-pool lounge chairs, hot tub area, waterfall, and the entire pool can be heated during the winter for full year-round use. There are plenty of chairs, tables, and even pool toys like floaties, goggles, games, and pool noodles.” Lilly kept her eyes on the dome shape off to the left of the pool area, the giant glass panels reflecting the sunlight.“OH MY GOODNESS I CANNOT WAIT TO GO SWIMMING! WE COULDN'T SWIM VERY OFTEN IN THE WATERFALLS BACK IN THE UNDERGROUND DUE TO HOW COLD IT WAS TO GET BACK HOME!” Papyrus exclaimed happily. Oh lord, she wanted to give that little cinnamon roll everything and  anything  he asked for. God knows he deserves it.“BAH, SWIMMING IS A FRIVOLOUS AND MENIAL ACTIVITY!” Edge scoffed.“Swimming is one of the most effective workouts there is. It helps you work all of the muscles in your body as well as teach you breathing control and discipline. I recommend it if you want to build your stamina up. For humans at least, it’s an extremely important activity to help keep your body in shape.” Lilly kept her face neutral as she glanced at Edge out of the corner of her eye. He had a slight tint to his face from embarrassment, oops. He didn’t have muscles though so she felt bad for teasing him, of course, he wouldn’t know.“WELL, I THINK IT WILL BE QUITE THE FUN EXPERIENCE TO TRY OUT MANY DIFFERENT HUMAN ACTIVITIES WHILE WE’RE HERE!” Blue cheered happily.“Course bro, m’ sure you’ll be   swimmin’   in stuff to do.” Stretch grinned.“PAPY NOOO!” Blue huffed angrily. Blue continued to bicker with Stretch while Papyrus stood between the two trying to calm Blue down. Lilly just smiled at the antics. Everything felt as if it were falling into place, her chest fluttered with excitement. She needed to keep calm though, the excitement of being around them was completely one-sided. They didn't know her at all, they had no choice but to hope that she wouldn't dust them in their sleep. Of course, she would never want to hurt them in any way, but they didn't know that. They felt trapped again, with another unknown human who was considered extremely dangerous. She didn't blame them at all.“Heya doll, what’s wit tha large dome back there?” Red tapped his boney finger against the glass twice, pointing to the garden. Ah,    The Garden Perditus,    her pride, and joy.Lilly often went there to lose herself in the vast wilderness on her bad days. The chirps of the birds and the call of the waterfall made her want to sink into the water and never return. She’d spent plenty of nights there with butterbean just looking up at the stars, curled up together and forgetting the world. Sometimes it still seemed so strange that this is what her life had become. Did she make the right decision? Was this the right path that fate was giving her? Was there a wrong path? Too many questions and not enough time to find the answers.“Uhhhh, ya okay kid?” Sans asked.Lilly snapped from the trance realizing she’d been staring off into the distance of the dome. All of the skeletons had their eye lights on her in confusion, frustration. She just chuckled nervously, her cheeks tinted pink with embarrassment.“Ah-...haha oops, sorry. I got some nostalgia for a second. To answer your question Red, that's The Garden Perditus. That was the one thing on the grounds I kinda made for myself for a multitude of reasons, but in the back area of the garden, there's an observatory area set up for you guys. I know you guys love the stars so I figured it’d be a nice area to have since we don't get a lot of light pollution out here anymore.”“That’s Latin isn’t it?” Sans questioned, walking closer to the glass wall. It seemed his interest had been piqued at the sound of an observatory.“Yeah. Wild, abandoned, or lost. There are a few definitions for it but it felt right when I named it. It's beautiful inside there, I highly recommend taking a look when you all get the chance.”Sans hummed softly, glancing at her face before quickly looking away. “WHAT TYPE OF THINGS HAVE YOU GROWN IN THE GARDEN SO FAR?” Papyrus got excited at the idea of having a garden it seemed. Lilly remembered a few fanfictions talking about his interest in gardening, however, Papyrus all around enjoyed maintaining the appearance of his home so it didn’t come to much of a surprise. “Well, there's a separate area and garden for food-related items. The Garden Perditus mainly has flowers, trees, and wildlife. A large waterfall is the main centerpiece of the entire thing, but I’m also quite proud of the fountain we had created for the entrance area. It's a replica of The Fountain Of The Gods that's located in Las Vegas. It’s quite the sight, a shame it's located in Vegas as a sideshow attraction.” Lilly felt her face relax a bit as she pressed her hand against the glass.Maybe she’d take a dip in the waterfall later to help ease her mind a bit. Man, she was getting slightly fuzzy-headed, was it because she hadn’t processed that the Skeletons from Undertale and its AU’s were just a few feet apart from her?Probably.She blew some air from her nose, turning to keep walking through the long glass tunnel. “We have a separate garden out behind this building to the right. We grow most of our food and get fresh meats delivered every 3 days to ensure quality. Almost everything you’ll have here will be made directly from the fresh vegetables and fruits from our garden. We have a massive winery selection from all across the world and receive imports once a month to give the inventory variety. There is a vineyard out in one of the sections of the garden so if making wine interests you, you’ll have access to it. The garden is free reign as well, all I ask is that you don't take more than you need so that you do not waste food.” Lilly paused, getting a strange feeling as she thought of Horrortale Sans. She stopped before the next set of dark brown doors, turning her head a bit to glance at the group behind her.“By the way, another one of the main rules is that we do not waste food here. Guess that would make it technically number 10. Leftovers are always saved and what isn't eaten from that is used as compost for the garden. Do not throw food away here under any circumstance, no matter how small the portion is. There are compost chutes in every apartment and some of the rooms across the grounds. Please remember that.” Lilly felt a slight shift in the air as the inflection in her voice grew stern. She didn’t mean to come across as cold but she wanted to ensure they took what she said seriously. She prayed one of the few AU’s that may get dragged here were going to be Horrortale Sans and Paps. While she didn’t play favorites, she knew some of them needed more help than others. “Y-yeah, got it.” Stretch mumbled.“Sure thing kid…” Sans said quietly. 
Oof, maybe I’d been too harsh?  
“WHY DOES IT MATTER IF WE DO OR DON'T WASTE FOOD? TRASH IS TRASH AND I’LL THROW AWAY WHATEVER I PLEASE!” Edge huffed, smirking as he tried to act defiantly.Lilly felt her face twitch slightly in irritation. 
Nope, I wasn’t harsh enough it seemed. 
“B-boss please…” Red began sweating, reaching out to try and convince Edge to shut it.“IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO WASTE ANYTHING EDGE! BEING WASTEFUL IS BAD AND LAZY!” Blue interjected, hopefully convincing him to drop the subject.Lilly was staring at the door handle, just listening to the conversation behind her. She knew when she’d have to step in, deciding to listen to how things played out between the group first.“I WILL NOT KEEP TRASH AS ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT CONSUME LATER, THAT'S ABHORRENT AND DISGUSTING, ESPECIALLY IF IT COMES FROM A HUMAN!” “EDGE! THAT'S NO WAY TO TALK ABOUT MISS LILLY’S FOOD! YOU ATE TWO PLATES EARLIER!” Blue scolded.“B-boss c’mon…”“M’ bro’s right. Sides, it's all getting reused for stuff you would use to make food too.” “I ONLY DID SO BECAUSE I HAD TO FILL MYSELF TO ENSURE THIS CRETIN WOULDN'T SECRETLY TRY TO  STARVE US  !” The air shifted slightly, and before the skeletons could react, Lilly was now standing in front of Edge.
  “Papyrus.”  
The air was icy.Edge looked as if he had seen a ghost when she used his real name.Time stilled around everyone as they grew nervous. Hostile magic flickered through the air and for a brief moment, a few strange scents filled her nose.Lilly knew this was all it would take to get her point across.
  .  
 
  .  
 
  .  
 
 Edge froze as his breathing seemed to be still. The shorter woman, supposed Overseer, was now standing in front of him. While her height was dwarfed next to him, at this moment he felt...small.

The superior and authoritative tone she took when speaking his name struck a nerve deep within his soul that he wasn’t sure how to process. His throat felt as if he tried to swallow a handful of needles. It made the air crawl across his bones uncomfortably, his nerves peaking with a flight or fight response.

Everything in his soul screamed flight.

There were not many that could stand before him and make him question his ability to defend himself or the people he cared for.

He felt beads of nervous magic begin to form on his cracked brow as he met her gaze. Her eyes were eerily bright and radiant, but the message behind them made his fingers twitch in nervous panic. 
Watch… your… tongue.          
  .  
 
  .  
 
  .  
“That wasn’t very nice!” Lilly shifted on her feet before tapping the tip of his nasal bridge, giggling and running around him. He flinched, attempting to pull back from her touch.“Now, let’s go check out the kick-ass GAME ROOOOOOOM!” Lilly stuck a funny pose, both her hands in the air and her legs spread out, screeching the last part of her sentence.Lilly paused, her eyes focusing on her hands as she grasped the wooden handles. She had to catch herself and remember that she had to be nice, no matter how much they tested her patience. Snapping on them so easily wasn’t appropriate, especially given her position. She had a job to do after all and friends to make. She didn't want to be mean or feel like a threat. Maybe the training she had been through and the classes she took had affected her more than she thought.She glanced at the floor, thinking of Horrortale.
They didn’t know.
“Y-YOU HAVE A GAME ROOM?!” Papyrus was the first one to speak up. Lilly perked up, nodding excitedly as she yanked the doors open with excessive force, running down the dim hallway.“YOU BET YOUR CUTE BONEY ASS I DO!” “M-MY ASS IS NOT CUTE..!” Papyrus stuttered, his face lighting up a soft orange.“IT IS TO ME AND A MILLION OTHER FANGIRLS!”“We aint even got an ass…” Red mumbled confusedly.“Humans are fucking weird, you know that.” Sans head fell to the side as he replied to Red. A few others however still seemed frozen in place with the subtle killer intent still lingering in the air.“ARE WE JUST NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT ENTIRE FUCKED UP AND TERRIFYING INTERACTION?” Blue questioned, his face contorted into a stressed expression.Stretch gawked at his brother's language, seemingly not understanding that while Blue was a sweetheart, it didn’t mean his kindness meant ignorance or innocence.Lilly merely snickered from down the hall, running around in a little circle to get her sudden burst of energy out. She could overhear them with her modifications and decided to see how they were all reacting.As she skipped about in circles, she knew she looked like a petulant child but decided it didn't matter... She had to get some of this energy out and bring back the relaxed demeanor she set earlier. Ever since they were made aware that Undertale was real she’d been doing more and more extensive research on the different AU’s, trying to prepare for any pair of skeletons that may come through. There was a chance there would be some pairs of characters she wasn’t familiar with. Horror tale was just one of the few she was hoping, even praying to be pulled in. “Blue?!” “SORRY BROTHER BUT, COME ON.” Blue rolled his eye lights. It seemed he was still a bit concerned about her little stunt with Edge.That was fair. “NO I AGREE WITH BLUE, I MEAN, FUCK. THAT WAS...A LOT. I HAVEN’T FELT THAT SORT OF HOSTILITY IN MANY, MANY YEARS. I COULDN’T...I  DIDN’T  SEE HER MOVE.” Edge ran his hands over his face, holding them over his cheeks while looking at the top of the glass dome. His face was flush and the others seemed to take that as a sign to tread carefully.While everyone remained eerily silent at Edge’s words, they all seemed to agree on one thing.
It was a warning. 
“To be fair Edge, you really shouldn’t be insulting the one person we’re trapped with...and can probably dust us.” Sans shook his head, glancing at his brother down the hall as he was trying to corral Lilly in.“OORRR YALL CAN GET YOUR CUTE BUTTS DOWN HERE AND HAVE AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS LATER TONIGHT?! THAT'S WHAT I DOOOO!” Lilly giggled like a maniac while Papyrus trailed after her, shaking his head as they ran around in circles. The group left standing in the hallway collectively looked at each other, nervous about what to do.“COME ON SHE’S RIGHT! WE HAVE A TOUR TO FINISH EVERYONE!” Papyrus shouted from down the dim hallway. Sans and Blue sighed together. They decided following her was the only way to get the rest of the tour over with. Sans stopped to turn and look and the others while Lilly continued to run in circles, listening to Blue mumble to himself as he walked over to join papyrus.“We can talk more later, for now, just don’t do anything to piss her off. She’s called the Overseer for a reason. I don't think anyone here should try testing out why she’s the   only   personnel or guard here, capiche?” Sans narrowed his eyes at the others, turning around to wearily view Lilly's antics with his brother. Meanwhile, Papyrus had caught her in his arms, Lilly squealing all the while.Lilly's heart fluttered as Papyrus grabbed her by the waist, lifting her effortlessly and her cardigan fluttering around her. Due to her implants, she weighed much more than a normal human, considering she’s mostly metal. Just how strong were these guys?“Paps, I was having fun!” She grumbled.“YES YES, THAT’S ALL FINE AND WELL BUT WE HAVE A TOUR TO FINISH! I’D VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE THIS GAME ROOM!” He grinned happily down at her.
He smells like fresh linen and an early spring day... 
Lilly kept her eyes on him as she felt herself get set gently on the ground and nodded. She finally turned her gaze away, a tint on her cheeks, looking around while waiting for the rest of the brothers to make their way down the hall. A few of them were glancing around nervously, probably checking for any signs of danger. She may have gone overboard with her little show off with Edge earlier, and...she also knew that he didn’t understand the implications of what he had said. After being at the facility for so long and staying here by herself, she wasn't sure how to react to people anymore. She’d have to work on herself a lot more so that she didn’t step out of line again. Maybe she’d apologize to Edge and explain more to them about different AU’s, but she wasn’t sure how well that would go over, given their circumstances. Shaking her head a bit, Lilly turned to the rest of them and pointed at a large deep brown door to her right.“This,” She grinned happily in anticipation, “Is your custom-built game room, for all your gaming needs of any kind or console! We won't be going into any of them yet, but it has every console known to exist inside, more games than you can fathom, and even an arcade section. The strongest PCs, VR rigs, and even massive libraries of online games to pick from as well if consoles aren’t your thing! There are couches, a small refreshment bar, mood lights, and even electronic tinted windows inside if you prefer to game in the dark.” Lilly was bouncing on her heels, in all honesty, this was one of her favorite rooms. She hadn’t touched or played anything yet, she was too excited to get to play with the others.It didn’t seem fair to use anything here without them.“Ya gotta be shittin’ me…” Red breathed, reaching for the door handle.“Ah, ah, ah! We still have plenty to tour first, then you guys can come and dig through all the rooms. I promise if you go in there now, you’re not gonna wanna come out.” Lilly chuckled, walking down towards the next door.“Oh come on, you can’t expect us to not wanna take a lil peak…” Stretch huffed, clearly irritated he couldn’t see what was behind glorious door number one.“MISS LILLY PLEEAASSEEEEE THAT SOUNDS SO COOL OH MY GOOOOOODDDD…!” Blue bounced on his heels as he whined in protest. Seems his attitude of nervousness about her had diminished, for the time being, either that or he was a damn good actor.Lilly opted for the second option.“Sorry guys, gotta at least get through this building before I let you all run around like a bunch of hooligans.” Lilly raised her eyebrows with a playful grin, skipping forward towards the next set of doors. She could hear the huffs and hilarious groans behind her as most of them audibly whined about the mysterious game room.“WE ARE NOT HOOLIGANS, AT LEAST NOT ANY OF THE COMPETENT ONES.” Edge finally spoke up, his harsh tone and demeanor flooding back into his voice.Well, at least he was still speaking. That's progress? She wondered.This might be a long day.  . . .After 2 hours, Lilly and the group had finally made it through the entertainment building without any more interruptions. Other than Papyrus and Blue getting extremely excited for several of the rooms, she’d been surprised at some of the others being as interested in her other additions.On the middle floor, several other interesting rooms had now snagged the attention of every skeleton in the group. Next to the game room was a full casino, with slots, poker tables, and even silly crane games. There was a bar for drinks and two maids, as they were the only others that kept the machines up and running. Lilly made sure to explain that this was, in fact, a real casino. If they wanted to play they'd have to bet their own money, but they could walk out with even more profit. Red had nearly busted the door down trying to get a look inside, and you could see Stretch restraining himself from wanting to take a peak. What she hadn't told them was that it was almost completely funded by her reserve, not that it would make a dent in her earnings regardless.Three years of a multi-million dollar salary would do that to a bank account. Capitalism, am I right, kids? Across from the casino was the home theater, with a snack bar, refreshments, and a projector connected to every streaming service Lilly could find. Anything the brothers felt like watching they could do in style and luxury. Instead of normal theater seating, she used massage chairs with heat and cooling settings, as well as a storage unit for blankets and pillows for cuddly nights.The top floor was next, although they hadn't gone up there. The top floor was only 1 room, a karaoke club, and a bar. It had a massive dance floor, private rooms with soundproofing, and even an exclusive room with stripper poles. However, she may not have mentioned the last part. What she wouldn’t pay to see some of them shit-faced and pole dancing. Each of the entertainment rooms she had built was fully stocked with a massive bar, and Lilly was sure they had enough alcohol to beat every liquor store within 500 miles. They had finally reached the bottom and main floor which consisted of rec rooms for the more athletic bunch. A full gymnasium, workout room, and sauna finished out the last of the tour, and Lilly could tell that Papyrus, Blue, and Edge were itching to get a chance to go in and give it a test run. "Well, I think this just about concludes it for the recreational building!" She clapped her hands together, whipping around to look at the group. The bottom floor entrance was designed like an open recreational center lobby. There were plenty of comfortable, large sofa chairs spread about as well as some tables, a vending machine, and plants of course.The front of the room had floor-to-ceiling windows with a large set of glass swinging doors, and Lilly leaned her back against the cool glass as she looked over them all. They were chatting with each other, some louder than the others. Watching them just mingle, speak among each other, and look so...alive in front of her was an indescribable feeling. She wondered how long she would be riding the high for.“Well, last on the list is to get you all into your apartments and settled, then you’re free to roam wherever you’d like after that!” “I know for a fact that's a lie.” Classic huffed in her direction, narrowing his eyes.Lilly tensed, knowing what he meant. Along with the wristbands they’d been given there was also a protective barrier surrounding the entire grounds preventing any of them from leaving. It went up last year.She knew what it was like to be trapped, but she wasn’t naive or selfish enough to say it to them. After all, they had been trapped for longer than she had and under far worse circumstances.“I know it's not ideal but we’ve been over this, not much we can do now except just try to ride this out together.” She rubbed her face, trying to remain calm. She wasn’t angry with them, it was G.E. and H.Q. she was pissed with. They had the nerve to put up a barrier after all this? The boys would have tried to escape if there wasn’t, and she would have helped.Didn’t mean she or the boys had to like it.“IDEAL? BEING TRAPPED IN A SHIT HOLE WITH MULTIPLE HUMANS DOES NOT EXACTLY FIT MY DEFINITION FOR IDEAL, HUMAN.” Edge spat, scoffing as he walked towards her.“NOW EDGE, WHAT HAVE WE SAID ABOUT MANNERS TOWARDS THE HUMANS?” Papyrus shook his head, a small ‘tsk’ coming from his mouth as he shook his finger at Edge.“MANNERS? TOWARDS THIS CRETIN? LIKE HELL BABY BONES.” Okay, ouch, but understandable.  Lilly thought to herself.“IT WON’T BE AS TERRIBLE AS YOU’RE MAKING IT OUT TO BE EDGE. TO BE HONEST I DIDN’T EXPECT YOU TO BE THIS MUCH OF A WHINY CHILD AND YET HERE YOU ARE.” Papyrus had a frown on his face as everyone watched Edge visibility bristle.Oh, shit, Paps can be a sassy bitch and I’m here for it.  She covered her mouth to avoid laughing at Edge’s agape mouth.“I-I AM NOT A CHILD, YOU PRETENTIOUS LITTLE FUCKER!” Edge stormed back towards Papyrus, but Sans had teleported between them before he could get close.“Hey, now bud, how about we all calm down and take a breather. This is a lot for all of us to adjust to, none of us like it, we just gotta work with what we got.” He was sweating but remained stern with Edge.“THE ONLY FREAK HERE THAT LIKES THIS IS THAT DISGUSTING WRETCH OVER THERE!” Edge turned around quickly, pointing at Lilly aggressively. She stiffened but remained silent. The others were staring at her uneasily, which made her want to speak. What the hell was she even supposed to say?“I...I don’t know how I feel Edge.” Moving her gaze to the floor, Lilly folded her arms uncomfortably.What was she supposed to say? Not everything had been peachy in the past, but it would be a lie to say she wasn’t somewhat happy or excited. She had spent 3 long years waiting for them, how could she not be? Even if the circumstances weren't...the best. “Yeah, yeah, fucking weirdo.” Red scoffed. Lilly almost winced at how that one seemed to sting.“YOU GET OFF ON THE VERY IDEA OF JUST BEING IN OUR PRESENCE, WHICH SHOULDN’T EVEN BE ALLOWED FOR SOMETHING AS LOW AS A CRETIN LIKE YOU. THE FACT THAT YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE HERE MAKES IT EVEN MORE GLARINGLY OBVIOUS HOW FUCKED UP IN THE HEAD YOU ARE TO EVEN WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS!” Edge was growing louder and stepping forward, his finger still raised at her.No one was saying anything, and Lilly felt sweat forming on the back of her neck. Was he in the right, the wrong, coping, or just venting? Fuck, this was getting a lot harder than she imagined. The words hurt, they always hurt more.“I don’t know what you want me to say to you Edge.” She kept her voice soft and avoided looking at him.“HOW ABOUT A FUCKING APOLOGY, AND STAYING THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!” He was practically seething as he now stood in front of her.“Okay Edge, that’s enough.” Stretch didn’t look worried but seemed fairly indifferent to the situation.He agreed with Edge.“C’mon bro, let's just get outta here…” Red wandered up behind him, resting his hand on his brother's shoulders.Edge was breathing heavily, looking over Lilly almost frantically as he stepped past her. He stopped as he stood next to her, right in front of the doors.“YOU WILL NEVER, AND I MEAN   NEVER , GET ANY PITY, WORRY, OR FRIENDSHIP FROM ME. YOU DESERVE NOTHING, AND YOU   ARE NOTHING.  ” Edge spat venomously.With that, Edge pushed the doors open and walked out. Red glanced at Lilly, his face holding no expression as he followed behind his brother. Lilly didn’t move, only keeping her gaze to the floor. The two other pairs seemed to sit in uncomfortable silence as she remained unmoving.“Miss Lilly, I Am Very Sorry For What Edge Has Said To You. He’s Just Having A Very Hard Time Coping WIth This, As We All Are.” Papyrus was gentle with his words, but she knew better.They didn't necessarily disagree with Edge’s words, no matter how crude they came across.“HE’S NOT ENTIRELY WRONG, THIS SITUATION WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE IN MY OPINION, AND IT’S NOT ANYONE’S RIGHT TO TELL EDGE HOW TO COPE WITH THIS. WE DON’T KNOW YOU OR OWE YOU ANYTHING.” Blue had sat down, resting his hand against his face. His blank tone almost came as a shock, but Lilly remained still.“Ya got anything to say?” Stretch let his head fall back on his chair, his eye lights flicking to her. Lilly brushed her clothes off but continued to avoid saying anything to the brothers.“M’not surprised…” Sans huffed. This irritated her, and she finally looked at them.“What do you want from me then? A sob story? Apologizing for something I had nothing to do with? Pledging my life to all of you? Killing myself? I couldn’t do that last one even if I wanted to. I don’t have all the answers, I can’t make this all go away and I can’t change where we are now, so I’ll ask again,   what exactly do you want from me.”  Lilly felt her skin crawling, she had no idea how to proceed here. The only thing that would fix this is finding them a way home, which she had no idea it was even possible at that point. The silence that permeated the room was deafening.Lilly let her eyes fall back to the floor, tensing as memories of her sisters flashed through her mind. The facility was so far mentally, yet she was always carrying it and her sisters with her.
They have no idea, they have absolutely no idea of the horrid things that could have been waiting for them if it hadn’t been me who was picked for their Overseer. They just don’t know Lilly. Breathe, and make it clear where they stand with you. 
After collecting herself, Lilly looked back to the group, sighing. That caught their attention, and she allowed her face to fall hard and cold.“You all have no idea how lucky you are that I’m the one who was chosen to be here, not someone else. I have put literal blood, sweat, and tears into preparing for your arrival here and done everything in my power to give you a comfortable experience. I waited 3 years for this and have been put through hell and back to get where I am. You don’t have to like me but remember one thing...If I hadn’t been picked, you would have faced an experience that would have left you begging for death.” Her eyes made contact with every one of the skeletons, watching as their eye lights seemed to faze out.With that, Lilly made her way across the room, avoiding eye contact with any of them. She could feel the nervousness in the air as the boys processed the little information she had given them.They had no idea, and if Lilly had anything to do about it, they would never know.. . .Lilly made her way over to the Garden. She was going to need some time alone to process how...eventful the day so far had been. She truly had no idea how to handle this, having been caught up in the excitement and completely forgetting how serious this matter was. These were people who were scared, angry, and thrown into an unimaginable situation and she couldn't afford to waste any time by pretending the power of friendship was going to save themAs she got closer to the Garden, she looked up, taking note of just how intimidating the dome was. Pushing open the double doors, the rush of cool misty air fluttered across her skin nicely. She was going to take a nice long break at the waterfall, and hopefully catch sight of ButterBean while she was out here. Damn cat was always chasing some of the birds even though the poor bastard could barely walk right. She loved him with every bit of her soul and could use the cat cuddles after dealing with today.The doors closed behind her with a soft click, and the area around her darkened with the trees and flora consuming much of the entrance light. The Garden Perditus entrance was quite grand, an eye-catcher by all means. The Fountain Of The Gods was one of the best main centerpieces of the entire thing. It was softly illuminated by gold lights, the intricately carved marble pegasi, pillars, and greek gods all gave an almost eerie effect to the dimly lit, dense forest surroundings. Walking past the beautiful marble spectacle, Lilly made her way to the front of the waterfall, one of her favorite spots to come to visit. The waterfall was around 60 feet tall and around 30 feet wide, with a lake-like bottom that was crystal clear. It reached a max depth of around 40 feet and had several types of freshwater fish swimming about. Harmless of course, so that she could freely swim and enjoy her time in the water. Sitting on the soft grass edge, she allowed herself to become lost in the roar of the falls. The white noise of rushing water soothed her shot nerves, and she began to think of a plan to try and help the brothers as best she could. How was she supposed to help them heal when they were constantly stuck in a place that reminded them so much of their past? How was someone supposed to move forward if they didn’t want the help in the first place, especially if that help comes from a stranger?A threatening one, at that.Sighing, Lilly leaned back on her arms, letting the mist of the falls litter her skin. What the hell was she supposed to do now? Lunch and dinner were sure going to be awkward as fuck since they’d all be eating together, not to mention she’d need to plan out the meals accordingly for the week. She needed to do her rounds in the produce garden, get ready for her training, all the while dealing with the new skeletons roaming the place.Lilly had been so used to doing things on her own that she had forgotten what it was like to be around others. It felt..awkward? Weird? She wasn’t sure. While she adored the brothers, it now made her stomach flutter nervously with the idea of them being here. Watching her while she trained, interacting with them, fuck she was not prepared at all for this shift in routine. Her daily life was comfortable, she avoided the maids and just did whatever she wanted, while of course still sticking to the training she was required to complete for HQ.Without warning, Lilly felt a sudden shift of killing intent in the air. Flipping backward, Lilly activated one of the transfigurations on her arm to turn it onto a blade. Before she could stop herself she now stood facing Stretch, holding the blade at his neck with an empty expression.His eyes widened and he stepped back a bit, smiling and putting his hands up.“Woah Woah, didn’t mean to startle you there, just wanted to come and talk to ya for a bit.” He chuckled.Lilly blinked a few times before retracting her arm, realizing that she allowed him to not only sneak up on her but seemingly   Judge  her. That was the killing intent she had sensed, however, she wasn’t surprised he reacted that way.Maybe he finally realized just how dangerous she was considered by monster  and  human standards. He probably got a good look at her information, which she could only assume was simultaneously a horrific sight and an amazing feat to have gained in such a short time of her life. “Sorry, it's a habit I’ve unfortunately developed. I’m guessing you wanna talk about what went down in the rec building?” Lilly sighed, relaxing completely and sitting back by the edge of the lake.“Care to join? The mist feels awesome.” She smiled, patting the grass beside her. Stretch raised a brow but followed suit next to her.“Yeah. I also wanted to say sorry on behalf of all of us, but also I figure you’re right. We don’t have a choice, and we’re going to be stuck together for possibly a long time. Why not make the best of it, ya know?” Stretch plopped back onto the grass, resting his arms behind his head.“I’d like that Stretch. Also, don’t feel the need to apologize. While some of the things your brother and Edge said were pretty hurtful, they weren’t entirely wrong. You don’t know me, you don’t owe me anything. You’re being forced into a situation where you have almost no choice but to try your best to be civil with me, it's not a fair power balance.” Lilly kept her eyes on the falls, keeping her hands in her lap. “Well, while that is true, it doesn’t mean we should treat you like shit. You’ve got your reasons for being here and no one should fight you on that. Not to mention you’ve done a lot for us. I can see a lot of love has been poured into this place for everyone. The fact that you even took into consideration how many of us were feeling or what we wanted is a pretty good starter.” He chuckled.Lilly only nodded in response, staying quiet. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Stretch sat back up, looking over at her.“What...what did you mean when you said we were lucky you were picked? The others… they aren't in danger, are they?” Stretch was now tense waiting for a reply he wasn’t going to like. “Just know, the other Overseers aren’t as nice as me. I can’t really give you any information outside of that. Just remember I will do everything in my power to eventually either move them here or get them out and home.” She looked at him, seeing his face contort slightly. He wasn’t happy with the answer, but Lilly wasn’t happy that it was all she could give.“I tried hard, ya know?” She leaned back onto her arms, looking up at the tangled forest tops.“I wanted everyone to be here, I didn’t like the idea that they were separating you all into groups and different facilities. HQ wanted to ensure that they could monitor each of the different types of boss monsters separately like…”“Like a controlled group study.” He stated.“Yeah...I was briefed almost immediately when I had woken up from surgery about who I would be monitoring, what you guys were like, and why we were each going to separate grounds. We were given free rein on design and layout but they never explained why, although I have a few theories of my own as to why they allowed it.” Stretch remained silent, just soaking up the information she was giving to him. Should she be saying so much? Lilly wasn’t sure, but at least he would hopefully feel as though he could trust her, even if it was just a minuscule amount bigger than before. “I went through a lot to be here, the training was hell.” Lilly chuckled at the last part.“Like boot camp hell?” Stretch grinned a bit and she smiled back.“Like boot camp on crack and meth hell.” She laughed.“Damn, you need a break sugar snap.” He laughed with her, and Lilly perked at the nickname. That was the first she’d heard one of them give her one seriously, other than Red's classic kitten remarks. “A break? This is my break, and I couldn’t be more thankful for it. Call me selfish but hey, I feel like I can be selfish, even if it's just a little bit.” “I wouldn’t call it selfish, weird? Maybe,” Lilly laughed at the word choice and he continued, "but who isn’t selfish you know? That's how I am with my bro. I always feel like I have to be on guard to do something to help or protect him, and in a way, it's kind of backfired. I’ve smothered him and been in denial about how well he’s grown up. I gotta let him be his own monster, no matter how scared it makes me, thinking about him going off and doing his own thing.” Lilly tilted her head and was surprised to see how open Stretch was being with her.Was this what it’s supposed to be like? Friendship? She had no idea, but she wasn’t going to waste the moment thinking too much about it.“Sometimes the hardest thing we can do as siblings is let them make their own mistakes, their progress, and watch as they spread their wings. They're going to stumble and fall, but the real reward is watching them get back up and try again.   That  is how we know we did our best.” Lilly had a look of fondness on her face as she spoke.“You have siblings?” Stretch asked, now curious.Shit .  Lilly grimaced a bit, and Stretch immediately tried to back peddle.“H-Hey if you’re not ready to talk about it we don’t have to go into that.” He stuttered, raising his hands a bit.“No no, it's good. I had an older sister. She’s still alive, we just don’t speak.” Lilly stated. She kept her eyes locked on the ground again, feeling Stretch relax a bit next to her.“Family is just wack as shit, you know?” She laughed, releasing some of the tension in her shoulders. Stretch laughed with her, leaning over a bit to catch his breath.“You got that right, sugar snap.” “What's with the nickname, by the way?” Lilly teased a bit, she was quite interested to hear his reasons.He grinned a bit, a small orange tint on his cheeks.“Well, you’re sweet like sugar, but you’re also kinda scary and can snap at any moment, so I figured it was a fitting combo.” He winked.Lilly feigned hurt, gasping and holding her chest.“I'm simultaneously honored AND offended!” “Hey now, this just means you gotta give me a better one then.” he smirked.“You technically already have a nickname you goober.” Lilly rolled her eyes.“Damn, you got me.” They both giggled, sitting in comfortable silence by the falls.“Thank you, Stretch. For coming to me and trusting me a bit more, even if it was just a little. It means a lot to me.” Lilly spoke softly, looking over at him. “Hey, it’s no problem, and thank you for giving us a chance, even if we are a bit rough around the   Edges  .” He smiled.“Was that a pun you nerd?!” Lilly laughed, looking back up to the trees and flora. For such a rough day it seemed to have a pretty good outcome. Maybe she would talk to the others later today as well.Things were ramping up around here, and it was only going to get more exciting and crazy as it went on.However, Lilly would be ready for it.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Blue sat motionless in his chair after Lilly had left the room, his bones felt uncomfortable from all the interaction he had with her today.While he was usually more eager to use his cuteness to get what he needed from people, watching the events with Edge occur in the glass hallway had put him in a constant state of unease, ruining what he had been building in less than just a few hours.He was letting his mask slip, a bit too much really. He wanted to keep up the act but it was much harder now that he had seen just a sliver of what she was capable of. The initial confession of ‘friendship and love’ that had come from her was the perfect time to use his persona to his advantage, but now he felt like he was treading on dangerous territory. The girl did seem quite sweet, but he had played this game far longer than she had. Using sickly sweet words and dangling treats in front of any hurt animal was the simplest way to get what you wanted from them.Blue was not so naive. 
“You don’t have to like me, but remember one thing...If I hadn’t been picked, you would have faced an experience that would leave you begging for death.”
The expression on her face when she spoke so arrogantly made him want to scream. Did she think they’d be grateful? Kissing her feet and thanking her for keeping them here? “Stupid Fucking Bitch…” He huffed angrily, leaning over and putting his face in his hands.“Bro, you gotta breathe, you’re taking it too far this time.” His brother, Stretch, spoke up from across the room. Papy had always seen through his sickly sweet facade, but still played along whenever he needed him to.“TOO FAR? WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY STRETCH? SHE ACTS ALL FRIENDLY ONE SECOND AND THEN NEARLY DUSTS HALF OF YOU IN THAT HALLWAY WITH THAT STUNT. THEN SHE HAS THE AUDACITY TO THREATEN US WITH THE MERE IDEA WE COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE OFF, THAN THIS ?” He stood angrily, motioning around the room with his hands.“She wasn’t lying, Blue. She wasn’t threatening us either, it was a warning. I told you all we have to be careful moving forward with her. She is the only connection we have right now to anything that’s going on outside of here. You may not like it, but we need her.” Classic spoke up from his chair, a look of exhaustion on his face.“Classics right, so far she’s told the truth. You know we’re taking extra precautions for that bro. Not to mention she isn’t going anywhere, so what happens if we pick a fight we can’t win, or worse, we do get someone else that isn’t like her? We’ve got the advantage right now and we can’t risk fucking it up.” Stretch stood up, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and stepping towards the front doors.“YOU ALL CAN’T BE THIS NAIVE, RIGHT? YOU THINK FOR ONE SECOND ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF HER MOUTH WOULD BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF US?” Blue was almost seething as much as Edge was earlier, why couldn’t they understand how much danger they were in?!“BLUE. THAT’S ENOUGH. YOU CAN HATE HUMANS ALL YOU WANT, BUT DO NOT SIT HERE AND ACT AS THOUGH YOU SPEAK FOR EVERYONE. SHE IS OUR ONLY OPTION, OUR ONLY CHANCE, AND OUR ONLY HOPE HERE.” Creampuff now stood, angrily walking over towards him. Blue was taken back by his tone, watching as his face contorted into anger.“YOU ALL THINK THIS IS HELL? THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE MISERABLE HERE? TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND YOU AND QUIT BEING SUCH BABY BONES! WE HAVE MORE THAN WE COULD EVER NEED HERE, AND YOU ALL KNOW DAMN WELL THAT THE OTHER FACILITIES ARE NOTHING LIKE THIS. WE SPENT ALMOST 3 YEARS STUCK IN THOSE CELLS, STARING AT BLANK WALLS WITH NOTHING TO GAIN. LILLY NOT ONLY CONSIDERED OUR INTERESTS BUT WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR OUR SAKE TO MAKE THIS EXPERIENCE A LITTLE LESS HORRIFIC. YET YOU ALL WANT TO SIT AROUND AND ACT LIKE THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO BEING STUCK IN THE UNDERGROUND OR TRAPPED IN THE RESETS? I AM TRULY DISAPPOINTED IN ALL OF YOU .” Creampuff shook his head while Blue, Stretch, and Classic sat stunned at his words. He...he was right, to an extent.After everything they had just seen, a game room, casino, movie theatre, workout rooms, and everything they could want to keep themselves entertained and happy were all provided for them to lessen the burden of being stuck here.Thanks to her.“I-... YOU’RE NOT ENTIRELY WRONG….” He kept his eyes on the floor, not wanting to meet Creampuff’s gaze.He may or may not be feeling some guilt over how he’s been acting, and he may or may not have felt as though he needed to apologize...“OF COURSE I’M NOT WRONG! ANY SIMPLETON COULD SEE THAT, THROUGH HER MOVEMENTS, WORDS, AND ACTIONS, SHE MAY BE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES BUT WHO ISN’T? TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF US AND FOR ONE SECOND STOP WALLOWING IN YOUR SELF-PITY AND LEARN TO ADAPT. I SURE AS HELL DIDN’T TAKE YOU FOR A QUITTER BLUE.” He crossed his arms and glanced at Classic and Stretch. Damn, that wasn’t something he thought he’d hear. When did he allow himself to be so worked up over a human? He had to be cautious, but so far, she hadn’t given them any reason to lash out at her specifically. His anger was misplaced. It wasn’t her that was the problem, it was the damn humans that dragged them over here in the first place.“We’re just trying to be cautious bro...Things like that don’t heal overnight.” Classic shook his head, sweat forming on his forehead.“I NEVER SAID YOU HAD TO SUDDENLY BE CURED OF THE TRAUMA WE’VE BEEN THROUGH, BUT THIS IS THE ONE CHANCE WE HAVE TO KEEP SOME NORMALCY IN OUR LIVES WHILE WE FIGURE OUT WHERE TO MOVE FORWARD. IF WE THROW THIS CHANCE AWAY WITH HER, WHO KNOWS WHERE WE’LL BE SENT OFF TOO, OR WHAT HELL COULD WAIT FOR US OUTSIDE OF HERE. SHE DIDN’T SAY THAT TO THREATEN OR INTIMIDATE US, SHE WAS WARNING US FOR WHAT MIGHT LIE BEYOND THESE GROUNDS FOR US IF WE MESS THIS UP.” Creampuff sighed, sitting in one of the chairs next to his brother. Damn, when he was right, he was right. “THAT’S...A DAMN GOOD POINT.” Blue kept his eyes in his lap while nervously running his thumb over his hand. “We may not be leaving here for a long time, and that little show of power she gave Edge was enough for us to know that, while she’s dangerous, she can be a lot of help to us if we do this right. She’s made it clear she’s willing to help us, and she hasn’t lied to us yet so...I’m gonna go talk with her.” Stretch blew some smoke from his nose, a new grin plastered on his face.“WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN WE COULD EVER NEED, FRESH MEALS, MAIDS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEEDS, AND ENOUGH ENTERTAINMENT THAT IT’S ALMOST OVERKILL. I-...SHOULD PROBABLY ALSO APOLOGIZE TO HER, WHEN GIVEN THE CHANCE. THE DRASTIC CHANGE IN MY BEHAVIOR WILL PROBABLY HAVE HER WARY OF SPEAKING WITH ME.” Blue rubbed his arm a bit sheepishly. It had been a long time since he had let his guard fall that quickly and allowed him to lash out so irrationally.He didn’t exactly like her, but he found himself unable to hate her either. She was just as stuck here with them as they were with her, regardless of how nervous he was, they would be interacting quite a lot from now on. He would have no choice to at least test the waters with her and hopefully find a way to mend his image of himself with her. “Don’t worry about it bro, I’ll apologize on behalf of everyone. Creampuff is right, it’s not her we need to be angry at, it’s HQ. They’re the ones who fucked up and got us here in the first place. Compared to those damn cells I’d take this place any day.” Stretch smiled, cracking the door open and tossing his cigarette into a smoking bin.Lilly had gotten every detail down to a tee. Knowing some of them may smoke, adding smoking bins and vending machines here and there with each of their favorites. Little things that he was picking up on that he was a bit too stubborn and nervous to notice sooner. Now that Blue was taking a step back to analyze everything, it was easier to see just how much consideration she had put into the place for them. It was strange to see such passion from a human, but he felt a twinge of admiration at her efforts.“YOU’RE RIGHT, THANK YOU PAPS. I THINK I’M GOING TO HEAD TO THE APARTMENTS TO CHECK THINGS OUT. WE HAVE EACH OTHER'S NUMBERS SO MAYBE FROM HERE ON OUT, WE JUST KEEP EACH OTHER UPDATED ON OUR INTERACTIONS WITH HER? SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT THE LONGER WE’RE HERE.” Blue pulled his phone from his pocket and quickly created a group chat between the 6 of them. Their names in their phones already matched the ones they gave each other, but Blue knew the nicknames would eventually be changed. Blue - Hey, this is just a heads up that we’re going to keep this group chat to discuss our interactions with Lilly, and to check in with everyone.  Edge - Fine by me, but keep her away from me for now. I cannot deal with her after that interaction and I need some time before I speak with her again. Damn cretin. Red - anything big happen after we left? Stretch - we all kinda agree we gotta make the best of what we can while we’re here. She ain't lied to us yet so we got a lot to work with. Imma go talk with her Classic - we just gotta play it safe, but so far we’re realizing she isn’t the one we need to be angry at, it's the damn humans that dragged us here in the first place. She’s the only connection we got to that right now Creampuff - I made it very clear that this is not the end of the world for us. Compared to where we’ve been before and what our own experiences were like? There isn’t much to complain about given the circumstances. Hopefully you both @Edge @Red can calm down a bit and try your best to interact with her more peacefully from here on out. We may not have a choice in where we are, but we do have a choice to make the best of it. Red - damn creampuff gettin all big brain on us lol Edge - I will do my best but I will need space, I’ll figure it out. Blue - That's fair @Edge I’m in the same boat. Let me know if you wanna talk Stretch - alright now that THAT’S settled, I'm gonna go talk with her, I'll let you all know how the convo goes  Red - sounds gucci Blue slid his phone into his pocket with a sigh, he’d be lying to himself if he said he wasn’t worried about his brother speaking with Lilly, but he trusted Stretch to hold his own. Not to mention her interaction with him would determine how Blue was going to move forward. Humans usually showed more of their true nature when speaking with someone alone, and this would probably determine if any of them were going to trust her from here on out. Edge was fully in his right to feel weary, that little stunt Lilly had pulled was enough to set off every alarm in his body. They weren’t given an estimate on how long they’d be staying here with Lilly, for all they knew it could be years before the dumb bastards could get them home. Blue had to admit, the idea of avoiding and fighting with that human for so long didn’t exactly seem...appealing.“ALRIGHT, SPEAK WITH HER AND JUST MEET ME AT THE APARTMENT WHEN YOU'RE DONE. I’M ASSUMING IT'S THE SEPARATE BLUE BUILDING NEXT TO THIS ONE.”Stretch nodded in reply and began wandering off in the direction Lilly had gone.“THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD HAVE FINISHED THE TOUR BEFORE ANTAGONIZING HER.” Creampuff huffed, rubbing the bridge of his nasal bone.“Not much we can do now bro, but hey, if everything goes well with Stretch maybe she’ll be down to help us out again.” Classic stood, stretching a bit before heading to the front to follow Blue.This wasn’t going exactly how he had hoped, but maybe living here for a bit wouldn't be as terrible as he had anticipated. 
To be fair, that game room did sound pretty damn cool. 
As they stepped outside, Blue felt a small grin creep its way onto his face.. . .An hour or two had passed since Lilly had spoken with Stretch, and she found herself with a new pep in her step as she wandered off towards the produce garden. She was hoping a few of the other skeletons were going to be as open-minded as Stretch, but she wasn’t holding any high expectations. She wanted to give them space though, especially how that lsat interaction ended. It wasn’t her place to expect anything from them, especially not with it being only the first day. Humming lightly, Lilly followed the grey fence line until she reached the gates of the garden. Opening it with a loud creak, she stepped off to the right towards a small shed. The little shed kept most of the supplies she needed to maintain the garden and for picking out the best produce of the day. Grabbing a large basket from inside, she turned to overlook just how massive the garden truly was now that it had been maintained for over three years. An assortment of vegetables, fruit, trees, and bushes littered the 5 acres of land that she and a few other maids had diligently taken care of throughout her time here. Her goal for today's lunch was to provide leftovers for any who wanted it, as well as smoked salmon, mixed vegetables, and possibly a fruit tart or platter of some kind. She wasn’t the best with matching dishes but was a damn good cook. Lilly rolled up her cardigan sleeves and flexed her hands a bit, allowing them to harden like metal. She wanted to be able to rip anything from their roots or branches with ease without tearing her hand up too much. Not that it would matter since any wounds she got would heal nearly instantly. That didn’t mean she didn’t want to at least feel properly equipped when picking items. Plus, her hands looked fucking dope. Who doesn’t want cool metal robot arms? She glanced over the smooth dark grey metal. Blue streaks of coolant flowed between her joints and she couldn’t help but admire how it seemed to sparkle when she eyed it up close. Making her way down the first row, she looked over the cucumbers, green beans, squash, and other various easily reached vegetables.
I don't care if cucumbers are technically a fruit, so are tomatoes but you don’t see me tossing that shit in my smoothies. 
She pouted at the idea as she reached the cabbages and leafy greens. “Heya kiddo, kale to tell me whatcha doing?” Sans’s voice startled her, and she immediately crushed the head of cabbage in her hand out of panic, sending juice and chunks in all sorts of directions.“Oh holy hell Sans, I nearly shit myself, Jesus Christ.” She grimaced and looked at the poor sacrificial cabbage, shaking her hand to the ground to get off the last of the carnage. Sans’s laughter rang out behind her as she turned to look at him, he leaned over a bit with his hand on his thigh as he wiped away a non-existent tear. Laughing at her pain, of course.“Dammit, that was a perfectly good cabbage, Sans!” She sulked.“S-Sorry kiddo but that was just too good. That poor thing just exploded in your hands.” He chuckled as he made his way over.“Well I’ll have you know that cabbage was meant to go along with lunch or dinner tonight, now I gotta find another good one…” She leaned over again on her knees, digging through the brush as she began her search again. Snagging a hold of another plump-looking one, she ripped it from the stem and plopped it into her basket. “So this was the food garden you were tellin’ paps ‘bout earlier. Looks good, kid. You could give Asgore a run for his money twice over with this much stuff.” He stood next to her as he surveyed the land around both of them. “Well we put a lotta work into it, I wanted to make sure you guys could eat whatever you wanted and have it fresh. I come to grab stuff every day for meals, then once a week the maids come through and do a full pick of everything here and either can it or dry it for storage. It’s done well this year so we should have plenty!” Lilly grinned at the idea of getting to teach a few of them how to can their food or make their pasta. She was sure Paps would have a blast.“Sounds like you’ve been working hard kiddo.” Lilly couldn’t see his face at the moment but knew he had a weird look on it based on how she could feel his eye lights on her.“It’s my job, so you best your boney ass I’m gonna work hard.” She grinned.He was silent for a moment, and Lilly took the chance to stand up and make her way to the fruit trees towards the back. It was a bit of a walk considering there were 5 acres, but she didn’t mind. “So, I know Stretch went to talk to ya earlier, bout what happened in the rec lobby…”“Sans, if you came here to ask what we talked about, I’m afraid you’ll have to ask Stretch. I’m not gonna spill the beans when they aren’t technically mine.” Lilly kicked some of the extra dirt from her feet, keeping her eyes on her basket as she walked.“No no, I wanted to know if, well...You were prepared for what’s gonna happen from here on out, especially if you’re dead set on becoming friends with us. It ain’t exactly gonna be easy considering everything that’s happened to all of us.” Sans had no real emotion in his tone, but she had an idea of where he was going with this. He probably was hinting at her little encounter with Edge earlier, which she did feel guilty for.“Sans, my job is just to take care of you and see how well you interact with humans. It’s not my job to be friends with all of you.” Sans stiffened at the similar treatment in the tone he was getting.“However, just because it’s not in my job description doesn’t mean I don’t want to. I also... want to apologize to Edge. He didn’t know the severity of what he was saying and I’ll explain my reaction to all of you at some point, maybe at dinner. ‘Sides, it would be kinda awkward to not be friends considering we don’t know how long we’re going to be stuck here for, so fuck it.” Lilly shrugged her shoulders. Sans raised his brow but continued to keep next to her as they walked.“Also, you should know by now that if I wanted to hurt any of you, I would have done it. I don’t expect that to change your idea of me immediately, but I also know you guys were on the surface for a while before arriving here. You’ve all dealt with enough humans to know how to distinguish shitty ones from good ones, mostly, I would hope.” Lilly could see the apple trees coming into view as she kept her walking pace. Sans was silent, but she could tell he was thinking about what he wanted to say next.“We’d been on the surface for 5 years. 5 damn years, only to have it ripped out from under our feet because of some stupid humans that didn’t know when to stop fucking with things they shouldn't.” Sans practically growled, but Lilly let out a soft chuckle in response.She could feel Sans’ animosity at her laughter, and she quickly raised her hand as she stopped in front of a beautiful apple tree. “I’m not laughing at the atrocities you’ve experienced Sans, I’m laughing because you have no idea how many other universes there are where you’ve done the same thing. Messed with that machine more than you should have and gotten alternates of yourself pulled into your world. I know you were working on the machine in your world, weren’t you?” She raised a brow, and Sans tore his gaze from her with a frown.She turned, setting the basket on the ground as she locked her hands behind her back.“That was my right as the succsessor of W.D. Gaster! That power is not meant to be mocked and trampled over by some humans! What you are dealing with and what I was dealing with is not the same thing and you know it!” He hissed.“You’re right, I don't know. I don’t know shit about multiverse theory or mathematics, or any of the crazy science that would have to go into creating something as amazing as that.” She kept her back turned, rubbing her fingers together gently.“Then you-!” Lilly cut him off, turned slightly, looking at him with a fondness that she hoped conveyed just how strongly she felt about them at that moment.“Sans, the universe is filled with unpredictable, scary, and downright awful things. I can never even begin to understand or say that I know what it’s been like to go through the resets, meet alternates of yourself, and be thrown into a glorified prison cell. However…” Sans finally locked eyes with her, not moving as he watched her intently.“I want to do everything physically and mentally within my power to ensure you get to go home. That you get to see that exact sunrise again. We’re trapped, but we’re trapped together. I’ve been through hell and back Sans, you may never know or equate it to what you went through, and I won’t try and pretend two evils can be placed on the same scale, but I would hope that one day you can trust me enough to know that hardships come in all shapes and sizes. We’ve suffered enough.” Lilly turned again, facing the tree.“I-... I don’t know what to do or who to trust. I know you’re not lying but god it's just so hard .” Lilly could hear his hands rubbing over his face as he sighed.“Time and work are the only things that heal wounds, Sans. As horrible as it sounds, it seems like we’re going to have a lot of the first one. I can only tell you so many times that I want to help, but actions speak louder than words. If you don’t know what decision to make then just allow me to show you through my actions that you can put at least some faith in me.”There was a pause in the conversation, only the soft rustling of the leaves around them could be heard.“You can’t give me what I want.” He spoke so softly it was almost inaudible.He sounded so sad, so tired. “I know, and I’m sorry.” She had been there before.Reaching up with her hand, Lilly plucked a ripe green apple from its branches. The trees were low enough she could reach most of them without using her powers.“Were you ever religious Sans?” She questioned, reaching for another apple.Sans sighed, walking over and sitting at the base of the apple tree.“Nah, it wasn't a thing in the Underground and it just seemed unappealing to most of us when we got to the surface.” “Hm, that makes sense. My father…” Lilly paused, gripping the second apple harshly in her hand as she questioned if she should go into this much detail so soon. It wouldn’t hurt to say a little, maybe she’d feel better afterward. Building trust was a two-way street, and she’d have to give a little to get a little.“He was extremely religious, up until I turned 17 I never knew anything outside of God and what it meant to live by his word. I soon came to realize that everything I had ever known wasn’t based on the bible, but rather how my father chose to interpret what he read. My entire childhood was dictated through an alcoholic’s fears and ego.”Lilly crushed the apple in her hand, letting the juice fall between her fingers as she continued. Sans flinched but otherwise remained quiet.“My life stayed in a closed bubble, away from any reason or change. Once I left and built a life for myself, I began to realize just how much I had allowed myself to fall into that mindset. I didn’t want to, but old habits die hard, ya know?” She grinned but there was no happiness behind it.“I don’t really-”“I only realized once I arrived at the grounds and saw everything here just how much I had been limiting myself mentally, and even physically, by other people's words and actions. I had allowed myself to believe I had changed when in reality, I had never even scratched the surface of what real freedom was. I had left and built what I thought was a good life, but realistically I wasn’t living, I was just surviving. Sometimes, Sans, we let ourselves fall into our comfort zone, not realizing that comfort is what hurt us in the first place. Comfort is something you’re accustomed to and feels like home, so what happens when that comfort is something that holds power over us? When we settle back into that familiarity, even though it's what hurt us in the first place?” Lilly finally turned to look at him, staring intently into his eye lights.“Sans, your comfort place has unintentionally been the resets, being trapped and reliving a hellish experience. It was something you were accustomed to and grew to know as your reality. Here? You have a chance to disconnect from that, even if it's only for a little while. I’m not saying this to make you believe we dropped you into paradise, but for once you have an opportunity to move on from that environment and routine. That’s why I was so energetic earlier. For me, this is a much-needed change and I hope that maybe it can be one for you too. If you’ll let it be.” Sans had said nothing, his sockets wide at the miniature lecture. He didn’t seem sure of himself as Lilly continued to stare at him.“Wow kid, uh...That was a lot.” He finally broke eye contact, rubbing the back of his skull nervously. Lilly stiffened, realizing just how much she had rambled on.
Did that count as trauma dumping or trauma bonding? The world may never know.
“Fuck I’m sorry I just...I know this has been hard on you guys and I just wanted to let you know you aren’t alone and-” “No no you’re good, that was some really solid and wise shit ya just said.” He chuckled, standing up and brushing his legs off lightly. He looked up towards the tree, grabbing an apple and plucking it from its branch.“I think...this talk helped so thanks kiddo. It’s been a long time since any of the resets have happened but it always lingers in the back of my mind ya know? It doesn’t mean my healing process is over, but maybe I can take the time to gradually get rid of it once and for all.” He grinned as he took a massive bite from the apple, juice dribbling down his chin. Lilly watched in awe as he opened up a bit and put his trust in her.“You ain’t a bad apple like I initially thought, I can see why Paps was so determined to talk things out with you.” He winked, and Lilly felt a small blush crawl its way across her face.
Damn, that was smooth. 
“Thank you, Sans, and thank you and Paps for putting some of your trust in me. I know you don’t like promises but-”“I’m gonna stop you right there kid. Like ya said, actions speak louder than words. Just show me what you can do and I’ll do my best to believe in you.” He reached out with his right hand, and Lilly flinched back just slightly. However, what she got was not what she was expecting.Sans gently rubbed the top of her head back and forth, ruffling her hair a bit as he did so. She didn’t move, the tension in her shoulders leaving at the gesture. It felt so relaxing, and goosebumps formed over her arms at the sensation. He...was comforting her? Showing affection? What was happening?“I-...okay. Thank you, Sans.” She spoke quietly, keeping her eyes locked to the ground. That damned blush seemed to be spreading the longer he patted her head. She wasn’t used to so much affection in one day after Paps and Blue hugged her, and now this? She was going to have a hard time in the future it seemed. He finally removed his hand and finished the apple off with the second bite, core and all. Lilly giggled as the apple completely disappeared behind his maw. “Damn, maybe it's a good thing I cooked in such big portions huh?” She laughed nervously. She needed to brush off some of that embarrassment. “Yeah, shit was pretty good not gonna lie…” He winked again, and Lilly physically turned away to avoid looking at him. “Well...let’s go ahead and grab a few more apples and then we can head back.” Yeah her face was a weird shade of red, no doubt.“Hey uh, is that supposed to be happening? With your arms?” Sans reached out, tapping her on the shoulder. She glanced down, panicked for a moment something was wrong with her coolant only to realize the blue had turned a lighter shade, almost like a light lavender. Oh, she had forgotten it could do that.“Oh, fucking hell...Yeah, It’s fine, just changing colors a bit based on my body temperature if I remember correctly.” She shook her arms out a bit, rolling her neck around to try and appear as though she was stretching. Maybe he’d buy it?“What exactly is it?” He moved around to her side again, reaching out and taking her hand gently in his very large ones. He turned and looked over her forearms, his eyes scanning the glass before dropping her arm.“It’s coolant. It helps regulate the metal in my body-”“You got metal in ya?!” He seemed startled, his sockets going wide.“Whoa whoa, okay, let me explain a bit more. So these-” She pointed to the coolant strips on her arms, “are coolant chambers that help filter my blood and regulate the temperature of the metal that’s inside me. Think of the coolant as my pseudo-blood. Yes, I’m mostly made of metal, the device they put inside me is what mostly gives me my abilities. It wasn’t...Well, let’s just say something went wrong during the surgery and now I have these coolant chambers to help regulate everything. It’s like oil, coolant, and blood all mixed into one essentially.” Lilly tapped her arm a few times with her nails, a satisfying clink coming from the flexible glass material. “So then, it changes color depending on your body temperature?” Sans was lost in thought for a moment before a small grin played on his lips.“Uh...yeah?” She couldn’t figure out what he was smiling about, but there was a feeling of nervousness crawling around in her stomach.“Alright, guess it checks out. Logistically it’s a bit strange but I can’t dispute something I’m seeing with my own eyes. Although I’d like to test something.” He leaned in, and Lilly took a step back, raising her hands up to him.“Ooookay, well I can run a few laps or I can even do some sit-ups-”“Nah, I’m thinking of something better.”Sans stepped forward, and she stepped back. 
Haha, oh no.
Sans snagged her arm and attempted to yank her forward, but she was ready and kept her feet locked in place, adding weight to her legs. She snickered at his expression when he realized just how heavy she was. He didn’t let go, only looking at her confused.“Sorry my guy, gonna take a lot more than that to move me.” She grinned.“But...Paps picked ya up like ya weighed nothing earlier.” He furrowed his brows, stepping towards her again so that he was practically pressed against her.“Yeah I let him, I just added weight to my legs so you couldn’t move me.”Wow, he was close. He leaned his head over next to her ear, his breath brushing against her skin and she tensed.“Well, I can find other ways to get those pretty colors out of ya.” His voice was husky and the baritone of his voice made her skin tingle.“Oh.” She stood still, her eyes widening at his statement. She could feel the coolant rushing fast under her skin, and Sans took the opportunity to lift her arm to his face and eye the coolant. It added a soft lavender glow to the sides of his skull and she couldn’t seem to pull her eyes away.“See? Told ya.” He winked, letting go of her arm before quickly walking back towards the front of the garden.“See ya at lunch kid!” He hollered back, one hand raised in the air to say bye.Lilly stood frozen, looking over her arm as she processed what he had just done. His hand was so much bigger than hers, her arm was practically dwarfed in his hand when he held it. They were warm, and she remembered the rough texture of his phalanges. Her face flushed as she remembered his words, and she angrily whipped her head in his direction.“IT’S WEIRD TO CALL ME KID IF YOU’RE GONNA FLIRT WITH ME!” She shouted as he got farther away, which was only met with a burst of baritone laughter fading into the distance.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Edge sat on the end of his new and overly comfortable bed, his head resting in his hands as he took a deep breath. The apartment was more than fitted to his standards, if not even a bit overdone. They had their access codes to their rooms, control panels for AC, music, and even a damned Alexa to control the lights in the rooms. Edge’s was a three-bedroom, with an incredible master bath and walk-in closet. The Overseer had altered everything to fit his height, considering he towered over humans at his staggering 7’4”.  The kitchen and living room were more than spacious, and he had a large balcony to overlook the untouched forest behind the buildings. It was bitter-sweet. A reminder of something Edge couldn’t experience anymore. The thoughts that rushed through his head made him feel ungrateful. This was overkill. If it weren’t for being trapped here, it was almost as if he was at a 5-star resort. That woman had gone above and beyond for them, and Edge couldn’t help but feel slight remorse at how harsh he had been on her. He had gone too far; however, she was too much of an enigma for him to feel at ease. He had badgered her too much, thinking back to how she snapped at his comments earlier.It made him wonder if she had experienced something similar, which only made him cringe in regret.However, this Overseer had been a lot to deal with in one day. She had quickly put Edge in his place before he had even realized it, which was not something he was entirely comfortable admitting. She had her job for a reason, and he wasn’t looking to push her buttons to find out more. However, it did make him a bit curious about her workout routine. He sat his hands on his knees, keeping his gaze to the floor.He felt a tug on his soul, remembering his time on his own universe’s surface. It almost felt like grief, mourning what he had now lost. Edge had spent the last few years on the surface in his universe, then suddenly trapped in a cage full of versions of himself that made him question everything he knew. He didn’t enjoy overthinking on the matter. He just couldn’t shake his unease, an old habit that occurred when he was introduced to new places from what his senior therapist had told him.Lilly was an exciting yet terrifying addition to their situation, and while he had come a long way in the recovery of his past, he had slipped back into the Underground mindset. Edge let out a loud groan, falling backward onto the bed. Damn that woman for getting into his head so quickly. He thought back to just a few hours prior, the harsh demeanor he had used when he arrived, and cringed at the thought of his actions. How could he have slipped up so easily? He had spent the last five years on the surface improving and being more comfortable with himself, and yet in less than a few years here, he had deteriorated back into his defensive nature.Thoughts of how he had been treating the others rushed through his mind as well as his brother, and he rolled over, curling up slightly as he stared at the adjacent wall. Why was it so difficult to keep himself grounded? He had been through worse before; his brother and the alternates had as well. While they came from a much softer version of their world, learning more about the resets and what they had gone through only made his face contort.It took a lot more than that to usually set Edge off, but it seemed that being dragged here was enough to send his emotions into overdrive. Years of therapy and self-help were all down the drain because he couldn’t compose himself. Who the hell even complains that much about lasagna or talks like that? Ridiculous. He scoffed at himself, scowling at his behavior.Edge sat unmoving for some time before he could hear faint knocking at the front of his apartment. Sighing, he sat up and rubbed his face, leaving his room to see who was there. He took a deep breath, quickly checking the doorbell camera.Oh, Blue and Stretch.He raised a brow but opened the door for them. Blue waved with a sad smile, and Stretch had a slight grin on his face as he looked him over.“SO-...So, I Assumed You’ve Spoken With The Overseer Then?” Edge coughed into his hand while lowering his voice. Stretch nodded“Care if we come in for a bit?” Stretch raised a brow.Edge merely stepped to the side and allowed them in. After closing the door, he reached for his phone while looking at both of them.“Care If My Brother Joins Us? He May Want To Hear This.” He waited for their approval before quickly sending a text to Red, letting him know to head to his apartment for some more information on Lilly.After a few minutes, Red quickly joined them as they sat in the living room. It was furnished with only the bare minimum as Lilly had explained that they could decorate later with whatever they liked. Sitting down on an oversized sofa chair, Edge crossed his legs and leaned his head against his fist in anticipation of how Stretch’s conversation had gone. “So...I think we can trust her. Not to say we shouldn’t be wary of her, but for now, she’s good in my book.” Stretch leaned back, eyeing the reactions of each of them. “Alright, But You’ll Need To Elaborate Further If You Want Me To Believe You.” He sighed.“I Know Your Interaction With Her Wasn’t Great, And To Be Honest I Was Having Trouble As Well. That Stunt She Pulled In The Hall Was…” Blue rubbed his arm, looking away.“Terrifying.” Edge finished.“Yeah.”They remained quiet, keeping their gazes to the floor.“Well then, out with it, ya bastard. What are we workin’ with.” Red huffed, leaning against the kitchen bar.“She hasn’t lied to us once yet, and she’s being genuine when she says she wants to help us. She opened up a bit to me when we spoke. She has a sister she doesn’t speak to anymore, so I have a feeling her home situation may be one of the reasons she agreed to take the job.” Stretch paused, and Edge squinted his eyes in thought.She had family, and yet she willingly chose to do this? Whatever had happened with them was more than likely heavily tied to her decision to work here. The thought only made him feel worse for what he had said.“But...I ended up sneaking up on her in the Garden Perditus. I tried to Judge her, but before I could, I guess I startled her because she ended up holding a blade to my neck.” Stretch looked nonchalant, but Edge and Red tensed at his words. Blue sat with his arms crossed, remaining silent throughout the exchange.“She Was Carrying A Weapon?” He asked incredulously. “That’s not exactly trustworthy, ashtray.” Red growled.“She wasn’t carrying it; the blade was her arm. She did something to it, too fast for me to see, but when I caught a glimpse of it, her entire forearm was this long blade. It was gray and blue. The scarier part was the way she looked at me. She wasn’t even really looking at me, and it was like she was looking through me. Her face was stone cold, empty. Whatever training they put her through, well, it did the job. She’s a soldier through and through.” Stretch sighed, leaning back on the couch.  Edge’s face scrunched in confusion.“She immediately back-peddled when she realized it was me, and apologized saying it was an old habit. I have a feeling she can sense when we Judge her, or even sense when we use any kind of magic within a certain radius of her.” The more Stretch continued to explain, the more uneasy the room became. This was getting more and more complicated the longer he listened. “Dammit…” Edge huffed, leaning over in the chair.“Then why in the actual shit would we trust her after what ya just said?!” Red slammed his fist onto the bar top, angrily looking at Stretch.“Because, while I said we should be wary of her, we had a good chat. She didn’t take the opportunity to threaten me or hurt me, and she gave me some solid advice about how I felt with Blue. She made it abundantly clear what her plan was while we’re here.”“Which Is?” Edge asked.“She just wants friends.” Edge stared at him for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief. “That’s It? That’s Really All There Is To It?” Edge said, exasperated. “Yup.” Stretch popped the ‘p’ of the simple answer, closing his eyes.“I don’t fucking believe this….” Red shook his head, rubbing his face as he paced about the room.“Think About It Red. Realistically-” Blue started, but Red had cut him off.“I AM thinkin’ about it! It’s all fun and games with her until we do something she don’t like, and she dusts us for it!” He hollered.“Yes, She’s Dangerous And Has The Ability To Hurt Us If She Wanted, But At The End Of The Day We Are Technically Just As Dangerous As She Is. We Have Enough Boss Monsters Here That We Wouldn’t Go Down That Easily. Not To Mention, You All Technically Attacked Her First, And She Still Hadn’t Tried Anything Even When She Had Stretch Alone.” Blue held a worried expression on his face as Red stopped pacing.Edge stiffened at his words, realizing he was right. They hadn’t been here for more than thirty minutes and had attacked her out of panic and anger. Edge let out a groan of frustration and realization at how stupid that had been.“If She Had Been Someone Different, Some Of You Might Not Be Standing Here Right Now For What You Did In The Ball Room.” Blue spoke softly, looking down at his feet.“He’s Right, Brother. While It Was An Interesting Spectacle To See At The Time, That Was A Dangerous And Stupid Move. We Need To Think And Discuss What To Do Next.” Edge sighed. He had let his brother put himself at death’s door because he allowed himself to fall back into his arrogant mindset. He could have been dust right now if it wasn’t Lilly, who was their Overseer. He wasn’t a fan of her, nor her behavior, but she was better than an alternative human.“What Do You Want Us To Do Then? We’re Having A Hard Enough Time As It Is, Being In This Foreign World. Add Her Into The Mix, And It’s Not Exactly What I’d Call An Ideal Situation.” Edge leaned back in the chair, looking at the ceiling. Would he have to apologize? He had a feeling it was his best option, although he wasn’t happy about it. “Well, given the circumstances, I’d say starting tomorrow, we try our best to get along with her. Just act casual, like co-workers, then see where it goes from there. The longer we stay distant from her, the more complicated things will be down the road.” Stretch shrugged his shoulders, resting his arm on the back of the couch. Red shifted his feet nervously, looking over at Edge. “I don’ fucking know man. While she’s pretty to look at, that bitch screams psycho.” Red sighed and closed his sockets.“Weren’t You The One Who Wanted To Get Along With Her In The First Place? Or Do You Not Remember With How Much You Were Drooling Over Her In A Stupor?” Blue raised a brow, grinning at him.“You would do the same shit after being locked up for three years with no pussy, you little shit.” Red growled.“Or Maybe I Just Have More Self Control When It Comes To My Dick.” Blue laughed while Red continued to sneer at him.“Come on, she’s a ten out of ten, even baby bones like you can see that. Girls who are that hot always come with crazy.”“Why Else Would She Volunteer To Work Here?” Edge rubbed his nasal bridge in irritation. They weren’t…wrong. She was quite the looker. It was always the pretty ones that were dangerous, though.  Little vixen. Edge thought with a slight smirk.“Well, regardless of how hot we all think she is,” Blue and Red tried talking over Stretch, arguing about their feelings for their very alluring Overseer, “REGARDLESS! We can’t let it get to our heads. Let’s just take things slow and do our best to be friendly. It more or less feels like she’s been dragged along with us. Even if she volunteered, they probably weren’t going to give her a choice either way. You know how humans are. Once they want something, they don’t stop until they get it.” Stretch huffed.Edge nodded in response. Several theories were swirling around in his skull, but none seemed to quite fit. It felt like he was missing several puzzle pieces to this massive endeavor. “It’s About Time For Lunch, Although I Assume None Of Us Have Any Appetite Considering Today’s Events. Regardless, Let’s Get Together Again With Her And Just Observe. We May Be Able To Get More Information From Just Interacting With Her. Not To Mention She May Be Willing To Spill More If It’s All Of Us.” Blue stood and made his way to the door, and they all collectively followed without a word.If they were going to have any chance of making it out of here in one piece, they were going to have to play nice. Edge wasn’t as concerned with befriending the Overseer, but he liked the information that may come along with it. For now, he’d do his best to fix his reputation. He had a job to do, after all.He wasn’t the captain of the royal guard for nothing.With a slight smirk, Edge closed his door behind him. Things would turn out in his favor. They always did.. . .“What the fuck even is a squash? Whoever made it needs to be punched in the face.” Lilly huffed, dicing the aggravating vegetable. She could hear Sans laughing behind her, which caused her to chop more aggressively.“I’m fairly certain the earth did, kid. Take it up with mother nature, not the veggie.” He chuckled. “Fuck mother nature and the vegetables she rode in on.” She scoffed, tossing a handful of squash into a large mixing bowl.“I don’t even like squash! Do you? Does ANYONE even like squash?!” Lilly moved around the counter towards a large industrial sink, scrubbing her hands of any grime. Sans had a concerned yet amused look on his face as he eyed her movements from the bar, leaning his face against one of his hands.“I-I don’t know? Isn’t it just a different colored cucumber?” He laughed between his words.“This Is A Bit Ridiculous, Even For You Sans.”Lilly’s eyes snapped towards the voice. Papyrus was walking into the entrance of the kitchen from behind Sans, eyeing the mess she had created from mutilating the poor veggie.The rest of the group had followed in behind him, all pairs of brothers now making their way around the bar to get into the kitchen and spacious dining area. Realizing she never finished the tour due to the awkward circumstances, she moved back towards her place at the counter.“Welcome one and all to the GLORIOUS decked-out kitchen! Where we butcher shitty vegetables and argue about seasonings!” She grinned, slapping her hand onto the counter for added effect, the water dripping from her hands sending droplets everywhere. She noticed Edge and Blue were initially observing the massive kitchen in awe, but their body language showed just how tense they were being near her again.“Wow, I had a feeling ya went a bit overkill with the place, but this is nuts seeing it in person.” Red whistled, running his hand along with the dark marbled countertops. “They gave me a budget, and you bet your ass I MILKED that bitch. If they wanna be uppity about all the rules and regulations, then we’re gonna live in not only luxury but a ‘fuck you’ kind of luxury. Not on our dime of course.” Lilly smirked as she began tossing some mutilated squash into a mason jar. Snapping the lid on, she placed it with several other rows of vegetables on the counter. “Well, You Can Certainly Tell There Was A Lot Of Love Put Into This Place, Good Job Miss Lilly!” Blue smiled, his sockets crinkling at the sides. She merely smiled back, scooping up the now sealed jars and placing them into one of the storage fridges. There were five in total, four fridge and freezer combos, and a glass front fridge for drinks or snacks, not including the massive pantry room.“Welp, is there any chance we can ask you a few questions while we’re all here hun?” Stretch leaned back against the secondary island, between the stove countertops. Lilly paused for a moment, watching as the group’s body language seemed to stiffen at Stretch’s boldness. Though, many of them continued to meander throughout the kitchen and dining area, taking a look at the very expensive equipment. She merely sighed, crossing her arms.“I really didn't want to say anything on your first day, but realistically I don’t see why not. I’ll tell you everything I’m allowed to. Although it may end up leaving you with more questions than answers if I’m being real.”Stretch only nodded at the answer.“So, what made ya take the job?” Red piped up from the far end of the bar. They were fitted for their bigger sizes, although the smaller bar stools still looked quite funny with his massive form sitting atop them. “I thought I already explained that one, but to sum it up, I didn’t have anything else I was doing. My life was kind of at a dead end, I was working two jobs and just taking care of ButterBean. Not very exciting. So, when G.E-” Lilly was cut off by Stretch speaking up.“Who’s G.E.?” “Oh, I don’t know his real name, but that’s the guy who came to talk to me that day. He was the one who made the offer and who I technically serve under. He’s the Overseer Director. Gave him the nickname G.E. because the only thing notable about him is his green eyes and shit attitude.” She huffed, leaning her head to the side.“So he’s ya boss? Is he the one running this shit show?” Red was grinning, but it was very obviously forced based on how strained he looked. The others perked up at Red’s question as well. Lilly drummed her fingers along her forearm, thinking for a moment.“Well, yes and no? He serves another group of higher-ups that I’ve only met when I had my evaluations done. From my understanding, G.E. is the one who has been placed in charge of the Overseer program, manages us, the locations, but he’s doing so under direct order from them. So in terms of our situation, yes. As a whole? No.” “These Other Locations, This Is Where Everyone Else Is Being Kept, Correct? And How Do We Contact This G.E.?” Edge had his hand on his chin as he leaned over inspecting the wall of spices.“Yeah, every group has been assigned a different Overseer. I’m number and location eight. Each group of monsters was picked and sent to an Overseer that fit their personality types or knowledge of their groups, however, there were only two others that knew about Undertale, and it wasn’t nearly as much as me. As for getting a hold of G.E. , he never picks up his fucking phone, so unless he calls me first I don’t know the best way to get a hold of him.” Lilly sighed.She could feel how some of their eye lights were burning into her skin.“How many of you are there…?” Sans leaned over the bar, staring at her.“Eight-...Well, only seven of us now. I was the last one to be added to the program, but I’m effectively second in command to G.E.” She squeezed her forearm, knowing exactly where this conversation was going. She saw a few of them send questioning looks to one another. Before anyone could ask more, she held her hand up.“Before you go asking about them, I don’t have any way to contact the other facilities at the moment. I only get an overview of their reports sent to me at the end of each month. I can give you updates then, but I can’t guarantee it’s anything worth hearing. The others aren’t…They aren’t exactly…I don’t know, they’re just bad news, save one or two.” Sans only nodded.“Well, What Can You Tell Us About Them? I’m Assuming We Will Meet Them At One Point Or Another, So It’s Better We Are Prepared Now Rather Than Later.” Papyrus smiled cheerily.Damn Papyrus and his happy attitude. Lilly knew it was going to end up biting her in the ass. She wasn’t entirely sure how much of their pasts she was allowed to spill, considering the nature of their origins. “Fine, fine, but just know I warned you. I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say, but my programming will stop me if I hit a topic I’m not allowed to discuss anyways.” She sighed.“What Do You Mean?” Blue piped up from behind her.“One of the security protocols within my programming will forcibly stop my vocal cords if I attempt to give any classified information. I literally cannot tell you if they don’t want you to know. Same with writing, although I know less about how that works, my hands will lock up if I try writing anything down that I’m not supposed to.” Blue hummed in response, and Stretch whistled in awe. “They really got that shit under lock and key, huh?” He said wide-eyed.“Yup, took about two weeks of testing for them to get it right, which sucked. I ended up losing my voice on and off while they figured out how to make it work.” She spat angrily.“Well, then how about we start from number one then, if there are seven of you in total. I guess just some names and a basic understanding of their jobs would help out.” Sans said, pulling out his phone.“Ooh taking notes, huh? Just remember, they monitor those so be careful with what you write.” Lilly smiled.“I know, I know…” He huffed, rolling his eyes.Lilly laughed at his expression, he was acting like a pouting kid and it cracked her up.“Well, number one is Eris. Twenty-six years old, originally from Arkansas in the United States. One of the requirements for the tech is that you have O-Negative blood. She was the first of the program but is considered the most outdated. Her body is mostly metal since she’s built to resemble a tank. She’s extremely timid and a big cry baby, which in turn affected how well she did her job. She’s a big pushover, but she’s also prone to going on rampages, which makes her very dangerous to anyone who likes pushing buttons. I believe she was put with all the Toriels’ due to their motherly nature, but she’s decommissioned for other work.” The only sound Lilly could hear was a few of them tapping away at their phones, so she continued.“She is considered the mother to all of our technology, her nickname is Tank, given her build and program.”“So, she’s actually…a tank??” Stretch asked flabbergasted. “I mean, yeah. She doesn’t have legs, which makes her really slow, but she’s also really huge because of it. Her base is built like a tank, and she’s got different artillery shells and weapons. She usually wears hoodies to keep her face hidden, since one of her eyes is mechanical as well. She’s very self-conscious about her appearance, so if you ever meet her do NOT comment on it. Just avoid speaking with her altogether if you can.”“Jesus Christ…” Edge huffed under his breath.She merely nodded her head. If they were shocked by Tank, there was no telling how they were going to react to the others.“Alright, number two is Hanna. She's responsible for the Muffets’ and Grillbys’. She was eight years old when they found her dumped by Baikal Lake in Siberia. She had extreme frostbite on her legs, so she ended up losing them. Her lower body was replaced and resembled a giant mechanical spider. She had never spoken from the time the researchers found her to the time they trained her. She remained mute until they gave her a computer embedded on the front of her mech to speak. She still only says a few words and phrases. Once she was given it, she kept repeating ‘Hanna’ so that’s just what everyone calls her. She’s extremely good with stealth and anything involving code.” “Wait, you’re telling me they were experimentin’ on children too?!” Red slammed his fist on the bar top, staring at her angrily.“Of course, you think the government gives a shit? She was left to die by either her family or was kidnapped and dropped off, no one knows because she’s never talked about it. Anytime they tried asking her what happened the only answer they got from her was ‘Cold’. The government doesn’t give two shits about our well-being, just what they get out of it. I figured you all would be smart enough to know that by now.” Lilly hissed. Hanna was the only one she truly liked out of the group of sisters. She was a kid, she didn’t ask to be dragged into any of this, and Lilly would usually spend her spare time sitting and drawing with the girl. Hanna spoke more often with her, and the researchers had tried numerous times to take advantage of it.Not that Lilly let them, of course.She could see how several of them grimaced at her words, but she continued.“Hanna is extremely docile and doesn’t seem to express many emotions, whether it was due to her trauma or not remembering, no one knows, but she likes to draw a lot. If you draw her something, it’s the quickest way to get her to like you. She’ll follow you around and mostly just watch, but she’s sweet. Probably the nicest of the entire group. She’s the only one I like, but she can creep up on you if you’re not careful. While her lower body is metal, she hardly makes any noise while she moves around. I love that kid, so do your best to be kind to her.” She said sternly.“Of Course…” Papyrus nodded, along with the others as they continued to listen.“So, Are All The Overseers Just Random People They Grabbed From The Street? Not To Mention, How Long Has This Program Been Going On? We’ve Only Been Here For Around Four Years…If They’ve Been Doing This Long Before We Got Here, Something Doesn’t Add Up.” Blue crossed his arms, tense at the realization.The others locked eyes with him, shock rolling over their faces.“If they’ve been creating human soldiers for years, specifically for fighting monsters or ‘containing’ them, then something fucked up is going on.” Sans spat.“I’ll stop you there, only Overseers Five through Eight were created for the purpose of containment. What had they planned for us originally? A Special OP’s team, basically. Human soldiers, think of how easy it would be to gain military power over other countries, although America is already considered a superpower given how much military force we already have. You know how it goes though, in America, the bigger, the better.” She shrugged. They weren’t far off, which made her pause for a moment…
How did they already have the technology to stop monster magic if this event was just an accident?
Lilly tensed as she felt sweat gather on the back of her neck. How? How did they already have the tech ready if they didn’t even know monsters existed? When G.E. first met her, they already had the X0 rigs ready to go, she just had to be implanted with them. At that point, monsters had only been over here for a month or so.
Something was wrong.
She shook her head, looking back at the group. She’d have to do more research before she came out and said something like that to the boys. Not to mention they were already getting a lot of information for today, they were going to be extremely overstimulated by the end of this conversation. She had to take things slow, then as time went on maybe talk to Sans, Stretch, and Red about her theories.It probably wouldn’t end well. The group seemed to be in thought, pondering over their own theories, so she decided to change the subject quickly. They wanted information, so hopefully, it would be a good deterrent for now. “Anyway, next up is one of the more dangerous ones, so pay attention. Number three is Annie. A Brazilian cartel member that was going to be executed when they found her. She’s completely unhinged and considered the first of the newer implants. She has this transfigurative tech and is a melee user, her arms morph into these large appendages with extremely deadly claws on the end. She’s batshit crazy and tries to fight me every time she sees me, so if we ever get into an area she might be in, do not stand close to me. She’s willing to kill whatever gets in her way so she can fight.” Lilly pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation, scowling as she remembered all the shit Annie had put her through at the facility.“What do you mean she’s crazy? Aren’t most of you?” Red snickered while Edge sent a glare over to him from across the kitchen.“I mean, she’s obsessed with trying to kill me. I’m second in command for a reason. I was the last to be added to the program and the other girls didn’t like that some newbie came in and was able to kick all their asses. Annie has a vendetta against me and has made it her life’s goal to kill me in the most brutal way she can. She would always make passing remarks about wanting to peel my skin off and wear it, making party favors out of my intestines, and much worse. I usually end up having to incapacitate her every time I see her; otherwise she destroys everything and anything in her path.” Lilly had a frustrated look on her face, scrunching her nose in irritation. “What…the fuck. Why is a fucking psycho like that in charge of a location!?” Sans hollered. Most of them looked like they were going to be sick upon hearing just how unhinged Annie was.“She oversees the Undynes’ and Alphys’, mostly the more aggressive ones. Surprisingly, she gets along great with them and really likes them. She loves sparring and fighting, so they usually all practice together. She only becomes a problem when I’m in the room, or with anyone involved with me, so that’s why I’m telling you to be careful. I know exactly how far she’s willing to go to piss me off and fuck with me. There is a reason there are only seven of us now instead of eight. Annie was involved with what happened to number seven.” She tipped her head back, running her hands over her face. Were they ready to hear this? There was no way in hell they’d trust her or anyone else if they found out everything that went on at the facility.“You’re telling me Annie killed one of the other Overseers? What’s to stop her from dusting one of us or our friends!?” Stretch shouted, waving his hands around the room.“No, she didn’t. She was involved in what number seven was doing, which got seven killed.” Lilly kept her eyes locked on Stretch’s, squinting her eyes. “What the fuck is the DIFFERENCE!” He hollered.“B-Brother…” Blue held his hand out, trying to calm him down. Stretch was pacing back and forth now, chewing on his fingers.“The Reason She Wants You Dead…You Killed Number Seven, Didn’t You?” Edge crossed his arms, eyeing her as he slowly walked around the kitchen island.The silence that fell over the room almost made her ears ring. She wasn’t entirely surprised he had figured it out so quickly, given his background. Although it wasn’t exactly the ideal scenario she had played in her head when they began this conversation. “I’ll Take The Silence As A Yes. I Am Not Judging You As You Might Assume, With Your Feebly Human Brain And What Not, However, I Feel It Is Only Right We Are Made Aware Of What Happened If You’d Like Us To Trust You At Any Point.” He sighed.“Sides’, we ain’t got the right to judge ya. Boss and I have killed plenty of people. If you had to do it, you had to do it.” Red had a weird look on his face that Lilly couldn’t make out, but the weight on her shoulders seemed to lighten at his statement.“Alright, alright. Before I explain though, there is some background information that you’re going to need for context. Does it justify what I did? Who knows, but maybe this will help you see it from my perspective.” She rubbed her arm nervously. “I’m not gonna lie, we weren’t supposed to get into all this heavy shit so soon, haha.” Lilly chuckled, keeping her gaze to the floor.“If You Want Us To Respect You, Trust You Even, You’ll Have To Tell Us A Lot More Than You Think. You Know Much More About Us Than We Know About You. We Will Not Push You On Anything You Aren’t Comfortable With, But It Will Help Us A Lot To Know You’re Willing To Tell Us These Things.” Blue piped up from behind her with a smile on his face, and she slowly nodded in return.“That’s fair…” She hummed. She sighed before making her way over to the drink cooler, grabbing an iced coffee, and sitting at one of the tables in the dining area.“This is gonna be a fucking wild ride, so grab a seat and a drink if you’re ready to hear some of it.” She smiled sadly.“Just Begin From Wherever You Are Comfortable.” Papyrus grinned, walking over to sit next to her.“So, I was at that facility for a little under three years. Like I said earlier, the only thing keeping me going and not offing myself was ButterBean, my cat. Think of him the way you see your siblings. You’d do anything for them, right? It’s the only thing that matters to you in this world, especially after living through hell and back. That’s how much Butterbean means to me. I would give my life for him at any time, and given how my mental state was at the facility, I wasn’t really the…most approachable person.” Lilly circled her finger around the rim of her drink, keeping her eyes on the bottle. She chugged some of the sweet coffee before continuing. “It may seem silly since he’s just a cat, but he really helped me get through the worst of the aftermath of my life. I didn’t have anyone else, I could only rely on him. I used to think, what if I really did die? What would happen to him? If he found my body, then he wouldn’t understand why I was gone, he would just sit and meow at me until I got up again. I could never do that to him.” She felt her lip quiver, taking a deep breath at the memories.“It’s Not…Silly. You Had Your Reasons, And It’s Obvious He is Very Special To You. Do Not Undermine A Bond Such As That.” Edge had a small tint to his cheeks, which took her by surprise.“Thank you, Edge.” She meant that with every bit of her soul, and so she continued.“So, when I got to the facility, I was in recovery for about six months trying to learn how to walk again and getting used to the implants. ButterBean was there every step of the way. The staff loved him and spoiled the shit out of him. He was a little menace, but at some point, everyone in the facility knew who he was and adored him. However, around a year and a half in, my performance had shot up exponentially due to some new programming they gave me. I was eventually able to meet the others, and we got along okay…at first.” She grimaced but carried on.“Number Seven hated my guts. She couldn’t stand how well I was doing when I’d been there for such a short time. I was given all the nicer tech, the nicer facilities, the nicer treatment, it drove her mad because she was the second newest, and she felt forgotten. I was quickly becoming the Higher-ups’ favorite little toy, and she despised that. Until I got there, she was considered the strongest Overseer, and having that position ripped from her changed her.”“So she was just jealous cause you were stronger? Sounds like a cunt to me.” Red rolled his eyes and she chuckled. “Basically. Annie and Number Seven were very close with each other, but that’s because they were both fucking crazy. At some point, they started asking questions about me, about ButterBean, and they came up with a plan.” Lilly’s grip tightened on her bottle, a small crack running up the side from the pressure. A few of them flinched but remained silent.“They took ButterBean…and beat him within an inch of his life. They left his body in the front of my room. He had to have three different surgeries and has lost most of the vision in his left eye. He was on life support for almost a week. I don’t know why they chose not to kill him, maybe they thought he would die, and I’d be there to see it, but that little fucker is stronger than anyone thinks, and he survived. As soon as I found his body that morning…” She paused, shaking with rage. The glass in her hand quickly shattered, the rest of the coffee and shards spilling over the table. She heard Edge hiss through his teeth, while Papyrus looked as if he was going to be sick. The horrified looks of the other skeletons kept her grounded. “I’ll grab some paper towels…” Stretch wandered back into the kitchen to help clean up the mess she had made, while the rest remained silent.“Imagine, someone just dumps your brother’s body on the foot of your doorstep, all because they were jealous? They almost kill someone you love just because they didn’t get what they wanted?”She could see the others tense at what she had implied. Good, at least they seemed to recognize what it meant to her.“I teleported all around the facility until I found her. She was laughing away, having a drink with Annie and a few others in the common room. I don’t know how it happened, but I was just walking up to her slowly, so calm. I had never felt so calm and yet so enraged in all my life .”
“Ahahahah! Well if it isn’t G’s little pet! How did you like the gift we got you huh? I have to say, it’s much funnier the way animals scream compared to humans! AHAHAHAHAH!” Seven cackled, her face contorted into a wicked grin.
“Holy hell…” Red whispered.Lilly shut her eyes, leaned back into the chair, and put her hands over her face. She could feel the corners of her eyes stinging.“I tore her to pieces. I held her down while I just ripped chunks and chunks of her apart. She was conscious almost the entire time. By the time staff got there, there was only a pool of viscera left. I held her crushed spinal implant in my hand, with her head still attached. Annie tried stopping me, screaming the whole time, so I just kept beating her until she stopped moving. I want to say I don’t remember any of it, that I blacked out in a rage, but I’d be lying. I enjoyed every second of it, and I don’t regret it. She brought out the most visceral, raw anger from me that I had ever experienced. I was willingly sedated by staff because at that point, I had gotten what I wanted. Seeing Annie cry and what was left of Number Seven was all I needed. I was then left in solitary for around two months.”Lilly took a deep breath, grabbing some of the paper towels Stretch had brought over. She wiped down the table, collecting the glass shards in her hands.“I-...I’m So Sorry.” Papyrus said slowly, resting his hand against her shoulder.“That’s…A Lot.” Blue frowned, keeping his eyes to the floor. She just shook her head, wiping up the coffee.“It’s alright. I deserve every bit of hell that comes my way, but ButterBean? He’s just a cat, he’s innocent. He loves unconditionally and just sits around all day eating, playing with people, and having a good time. He didn’t deserve that. He already has a deformity on his legs, which was why I adopted him. He was already struggling, and they went and made it so much worse. He limps even more than he did before, and he gets scared easily now. He…is the only family I have left, and they wanted to take that from me.” Lilly leaned back in her chair, clutching the glass shards in her hands.“I was reprimanded and punished severely for what I had done. There was no way to recover Number Seven, as I had crushed her implants, her brain, and every bit of tech they had put in her. Annie had to have extensive work done to fix the damage I had caused to her implants as well. I had cost them millions of dollars in tech and labor, and they made sure I knew it.” She huffed.“What Did They Do With You?” Edge questioned with an uncomfortable look on his face, and Lilly tensed again.“My security protocols were upgraded to a point where I could never ‘lose control’ like that ever again. I’m no longer a pet, I’m a servant.” She got up, walking to dump the shards into one of the trash cans.“What do you mean?” Sans asked cautiously. She could tell that none of them were comfortable with the information she’d given them so far, but it was only going to get worse.“I have several combat protocols in my system, as well as many different abilities. I’m considered the most dangerous by the company’s standards. My nickname at the facility was ‘The Mimic’. I’m not bragging or saying this just for shits and giggles, it’s the main reason I was picked to be the overseer of the Judges and their brothers. You are all considered the most dangerous by far, which is one of the reasons I was assigned here.” “Well, I Don’t Know Whether To Take That As A Compliment Or An Insult.” Edge huffed, crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair.“Wait, so you can copy abilities? And I thought you were already assigned our Overseer before you even got the surgery.” Stretch asked, pondering her statement.“Mn, yes and no. I can mimic just about anything I need to, as long as I know how it’s made. Even then, I don’t really have to know, the blueprints can be uploaded into my memory and I can make it. I can mimic just about any gun, ammunition type, weapon, as well as the abilities of the other girls. I usually make a few alterations to the design to fit my fighting style and then run with it. So, long story short, as long as it’s in my brain I can make it.” Lilly shrugged.“Yeah, I’m not buyin’ that shit.” Red laughed before shaking his head.“You can’t just make something outta nothing, there’s a give and take. Did you ever watch full metal alchemist? Like that.” Sans chuckled. Lilly sighed, before lifting her arm out across the table. Papyrus and Edge both gave her a look, and she nodded her head for them to get back. They quickly stepped away from the table, and Lilly tried thinking of the most intimidating gun she had on file.“Well, are any of you familiar with the Mk44 Minigun? This 6-barrelled, electrically operated weapon can shoot 7.62mm x 51mm NATO rounds up to 6000 rpm.” While she explained her oversized weapon of choice, reading from the blueprints that appeared in her vision, her arm slowly began shifting in color and shape. Her arm morphed, the muscles and glass embedded in her right arm shifted strangely into dark black metal. Slowly taking the shape of the classic Mk44. Holding out her other hand with her palm to the floor, she looked back up at the group.The only sound that could fill the room was the sound of metal clinking to the floor, as giasnt, thick bullets spilled over at her feet. She was feeding the command to her hand, creating an endless flow of large ammunition. “It’s not hard, and in terms of how it works? Not entirely sure, but hey, I can do it.” The expressions on the group said enough, so she shifted her arm back and leaned down to scoop up the extra ammo she had created, allowing the bullets to melt into her palm.“As for getting the job, I still had to be up to company standards before they’d allowed me to be the Overseer of all of you. I have the most advanced tech out of them, which is why I am considered the most dangerous; however, it does have drawbacks. These glass panels all over my body? They’re coolant chambers to help regulate the heat of the metal inside me. It’s why my rig is so much more versatile than the others. I can keep multiple abilities regulated rather than being stuck with just one. Again, it has its drawbacks, but it was the best they could do last minute.” She tapped the glass on her left arm, small ‘plinks’ coming from the material as her nails clicked along the top.“I-...I Think I Need A Drink.” Papyrus looked pale as he made his way over to the fridge to grab something, anything from the coolers.“Holy Asgore, Grab Me One While You’re Over There…” Blue leaned over, putting his head in his hands.“Kid that…that shouldn’t be possible. There isn’t any logistical way for you to have enough metal or material in your body to create all the inner workings of any gun, let alone something like that! ” Sans said dumbfounded.“Like I said, I don’t fully know either, but here we are. They never fully explained why I can do everything, just how to do it and what to use it for.” She shrugged again, leaning back into the chair. She did a trunk twist, cracking her back before sighing.“Look, I know this is a lot, and I’m not expecting you to just accept it all in one go. However, I’m just telling you what I know. Maybe we should stop here for today, and we can continue talking about it all some other time?” A few of them shuffled uncomfortably, but most of them nodded in agreement. “We can order you guys some notebooks so that you can keep physical copies of the notes, as well as some safes so no one can access them if you’re worried about the maids or me. I can also just give you detailed reports if you’d like, I may be able to get them to you as soon as the end of the month, depending on what you need. I’m willing to help, you just may need to take it slow since this isn’t your universe, and it’s out of your element, ya know?” Lilly smiled gently, looking over to Sans.“I…Yeah, I think for now that’s enough. Plus, we haven’t even gotten through even half of the Overseers.” He sighed, shaking his head.“Plus The Matter Of Our Living Arrangements Is Still In Need Of Order. I Think The Next Few Days We Should Spend Ordering Items And Getting Ourselves Settled In Before We Jump Head First Into An Existential Crisis.” Edge said, pulling out his phone.“Oh Yes, That’s A Great Idea! I Haven’t Even Begun Planning Out The Inside Of My Apartment, This Is A Travesty! How Am I, The Magnificent Papyrus Supposed To Sleep In Such Mediocre Looking Environments!” Papyrus flung his cape back, flipping his nonexistent hair in the wind. Lilly laughed, leaning backward at his antics.“Man, I will say it’s a lot nicer seeing you guys excited rather than stressed as hell. Take the next few days just to relax. We have a lot of time here, you may as well get comfortable and take it a day at a time. If you do get curious though, we can set up a day each week to sit down and talk, The rest of your time should be spent enjoying yourselves.” She smiled. “Holy shit.” Red jumped from his seat, frantically looking at Stretch, which caused Lilly to jump.“What? What?!” She panicked, getting up from her own seat. Stretch looked at him and suddenly grew the same shocked look on his face, which only caused her more stress.“Holy fuck. Holy FUCKING SHIT DUDE!” Stretch yelled back.“WHAT?! WHY ARE WE FREAKING OUT??” Blue hollered, sending the others into a panic.“WHY ARE WE YELLINNGGG!!” Papyrus screamed back, and Lilly covered her ears.“THE MOTHER FUCKIN’ GAME ROOM, THAT’S WHAT!” A grin crawled across Red’s face as he teleported instantly from the kitchen, with Stretch following suit. “Holy shit…they’re gonna give me a fucking heart attack…” Lilly slumped back into the chair rubbing her face, but a small set of giggles escaped her from the interaction.“Well, So Much For Getting Them To Actually Work On Something For Once…” Edge huffed, rubbing his face.“I’ll check up on them around dinner time, although I’m gonna warn you. With all the shit I put in there we may not see them for a few days…My bad?” Lilly had a goofy and very unapologetic look on her face and Edge merely rolled his eyes.“Well, Before We All Depart, I Would Like To…Apologize…For My Behavior Earlier, Lilly. I Understand Now That You Are Not The One My Anger Should Be Directed Towards, And For That, I Am Sorry.” Edge bowed his head slightly, and before Lilly could even think of a response he stiffly walked out of the kitchen. Lilly just sat there with a stunned expression, as well as Sans. However, Papyrus had an absolute massive grin on his face and looked over to Blue.Edge had just...given her a genuine apology and used her actual name.She instantly felt the blush crawl over her cheeks.Shit.“I Would Also Like To Apologize…If You’ll Accept it. You Treated My Brother With Kindness And Showed Me That I Was Wrong To Judge A Book By Its Cover. Just Because You Are Involved With This Program And A Human, Does Not Make You Evil. I Do Hope We Can Be Good Friends In The Future, So…Thank You, Lilly!” Blue had a grin spread from cheek to cheek as he chuckled, and it only confused her further. He and Papyrus had made their way out of the kitchen talking among themselves, while Sans got up to stretch.She was sure that her face was as red as a tomato by now, and could only muster a few ’mhm’s’ in return.“Well, with that, I guess we’ll see ya for dinner kiddo, we really did mis-red ya, if you know what I mean.” Sans winked before teleporting out of the room, and it took her a second to process that he had made a pun out of her embarrassment before leaving.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“How long do you think brass will keep making her do this before they replace her with another toy, haha!?”

“Man, I don’t get paid enough to overthink about the freak show they’ve got running in there. Did you see that bitch? She-Hulk in there could snap any of us in half like a twig, do your best not to piss her off.”

“Shut the fuck up, both of you! Or did you forget she can hear every bit of the shit you’re saying, huh?! Are you trying to get us killed? Talking like that is a one-way ticket to the training ground with her.”

“F-fuck..”

She strode past, wiping some blood from her cheek, stopping just after the three guards. They visibly tensed, gripping their guns until their knuckles were white.

She turned back, looking them all up and down, slowly taking in their tiny figures.
“There wouldn’t be enough meat on all three of you together to make it worth my while. Get the fuck out of my sight, or I’ll paint you blue, slit your throat and watch you make purple.” She sneered, baring her already exposed lip further. 
“You’re threatening us now?” One of them asked, still trembling.

“I don’t make threats; I make promises.”

Thirty minutes later, one of the training room technicians walked past, gasping at the sight.
Number Eight always kept her promises. . . .Lilly awoke with a start, her chest heaving as her blurred eyes tried focusing on her ceiling. She blinked a few times, trying to get rid of the heavy feeling on her lids as she rolled over with a groan. Stretching her body out, she reached for her phone and squinted as she tried to make out the time.Almost six-thirty in the fucking morning. Wonderful.She whined, rolled back over, and placed her arm over her eyes. It was too early to be alive, too early to think, and too early to remember things like that. Was it a nightmare or just karma coming to kick her in the ass? Maybe both. The last time she had a dream about the facility was when she had first arrived here at the grounds. It had taken her months to get back into a regular schedule. Of course, she didn’t mind waking up early; the stress of not knowing where she was made things difficult. The first few weeks after she arrived on the grounds were spent wandering around, looking for staff and G.E... She felt like she was floating around aimlessly, her head foggy and unfocused.When she finally stepped foot into the Garden Perditus, she could feel just how heavy the weight on her shoulders had been.The crisp air, the rushing water, the gentle mist from the falls, every bit of that garden had dragged her back into reality. She wasn’t sure how long she had spent crying in there with ButterBean, but it felt right. She felt grounded, alive .Huffing, she sat up and hunched over, looking at her thighs. She kept her gaze down, running her fingertips over the ghostly bumps of scarring. The skin was soft but still had a strange texture. She could pinch it and pull at the wrinkled marks, but it gave her goosebumps.She never had to worry about it much anymore, thanks to the skin sheer she kept on. No one had stared at her strangely or asked questions, so she assumed it was doing its job.It wasn’t like she was afraid or ashamed of them, but it caused extra hassle when people couldn’t look her in the eyes. She hummed to herself, rolling her head around in circles, a few pops ringing out. Placing a hand on the crook of her neck, she swung her legs over the bed and stretched her them out, feeling the muscles shift under her skin.She recalled how casual dinner had been, thinking back to how the boys were civil with her and even cracked some jokes while they ate. She ended up having to drag Stretch and Red out of the game room with the help of Blue and Edge. Although, she could see both brothers sweating as they got a look inside the glorious game room, their fingers occasionally twitching with anticipation of wanting to get ahold of some of the consoles. The designs for the rooms had focused on comfort and over-the-top equipment, a stark contrast to her bedroom, which seemed quite plain in comparison. Her bedroom wasn’t overly luxurious; in fact, one could say staying at the facility had affected how she kept her belongings. Being filthy rich had its perks, but she had kept things simple rather than blowing her money on materialistic items. The room was a simple square, with beige carpet, some shelves, wardrobes, a desk, and two chandeliers to dim the lighting. She preferred to keep the lighting low in the rooms she visited the most, given how her vision was more sensitive than others. The door to the bathroom was just across from her bed, which was her absolute pride and joy. The luxurious styled bath was equipped with a large Cyprus soaking tub, a seated showering area, and a separate dual sink and smart mirror for her to get ready. She stepped in and flipped the lights on, walking over to brush her teeth and check her morning reports. As she grabbed her toothpaste, she tapped the mirror to turn it on and pulled up the logs of the boys. It showed a simple mug shot of each of them, with simple charts of their magic and activity levels. She cringed at how unhappy they looked in their photos, noting the dark circles under their eyes. Even Papyrus seemed to be worn out in the images, his smile not quite reaching the edges of his cheekbones. She felt her chest clench as she remembered how they got into this situation and became more aware of just how underqualified she was for this position. The boys all desperately needed therapy, not to mention herself. There was a lot to unpack from this dilemma, from their resets, universes, and then being dragged over into a new one where you weren’t even real? Jesus, what a mind fuck.She couldn’t change that she was happy or excited to see what the future held, but the boys were suffering. Edge and Blue had both apologized, but did they need to? They were the victims in this situation, not her. She had yelled at Edge without explaining why she had gotten angry, and they were stuck in a little box with a strange and dangerous human. Who had any right to tell them how to feel? What right did she have to tell them what to do? She leaned over and spit out her toothpaste, gripping the counter edges harshly. 
Who’s the victim here, and who deserves to take the blame?
She relaxed and sighed, cleaning off her toothbrush and looking over their charts again. It seemed Edge and Papyrus were awake, and Blue seemed to be stirring a bit in his room. Sans, Stretch, and Red were all still passed out, not unexpectedly. Edge and Papyrus seemed to be jogging around the front of the facility, doing laps as she watched their trackers move across the map of the grounds. She debated meeting them over at the entrance. However, she decided it would be better to head to the kitchen to start breakfast. She tapped the mirror again, shutting off the screen, and brushed out her hair. She put it up in a high ponytail to keep it out of the food, huffing as she pulled stray hairs from her nightshirt. She may never be able to cut her hair again, but it seemed like she was shedding more often now, stress-based, maybe? She didn’t want to overthink it.After breakfast, she’d probably do some simple training exercises since it had felt like ages since she’d last been inside the area. She turned over to her wardrobe, shutting the bathroom door behind her.Wanting to go with something more form-fitting, she picked out a simple blue mock neck tank top with black biker shorts. A small heart was sewn into the bottom corner of the shorts, and she grabbed a pair of black tennis shoes to match. Looking herself over in her wall-length mirror, she nodded approvingly before moving toward the kitchen.Lilly strode past a few maids, ignoring their nervous glances in her direction. None of the maids were important and rarely interacted with her, not that she was complaining. They were dusting tables, refilling the water fountains, and staying out of her way, which was all that mattered. She kept polite with them, but most of the girls had made it clear they weren’t interested in getting to know her. She took long strides, quickly making her way down the ballroom stairs. Her building consisted of mostly storage, the kitchen, and the pantry. While she didn’t necessarily care for walking so far all the time, it did give her an excuse to intimidate the maids. They didn’t like her, and she didn’t like them, end of story. She hummed through the main lounge, startling a brown-haired girl. She was off to the side by the main living room, mopping a section of the floor. Lilly couldn’t remember her name and didn’t care, noting how her heart rate picked up, and her hands trembled around the mop handle. Most of the girls were shorter than five and a half feet tall, so Lilly naturally towered over them. Her presence was enough to give off the vibes ‘one wrong move, and you’re dead’.They had seen enough of the training grounds to know it was true.She merely sent a side-eye glance at the woman before continuing to the kitchen, not stopping at her pace. She was around five feet and eight inches in height before the surgery. Whether it was due to no longer being entirely human, the implants, or her strange new powers, she was almost six feet in height. Lilly swung open the kitchen doors, making her way to the fridges to see what she had to work with for breakfast. She noted two maids cleaning the tables in the dining area and sent them a glare, signaling they were no longer needed. The maids quickly hurried from the room, muttering simple good mornings as they passed and rushed out the doors.“Good fucking riddance.” Lilly muttered under her breath. She paused at the counter, thinking about just how tall the skeleton brothers were. Even after the growth spurt, they still towered over her; she couldn’t even imagine how intimidating they would have been if she was even shorter. In a way, she understood some of the maids’ apprehension about the brothers, considering they were so small and weak. She shook the thought from her head as quickly as it came. Humans got no pity from her anymore, and in a way, she knew it wasn’t a healthy mindset. She didn’t claim to be some mother mary, but she had enough bad experiences to give warranted hate towards the people she’d known to be her species.If she had any guilt for her feelings, it didn’t show in her expression.Lilly grabbed a carton of eggs from the fridge and a bag of potatoes, milk, and a fresh pork belly cut for bacon. She enjoyed cooking a lot, although she didn’t always know how to. Initially, learning how to cook her meals was a bit of an endeavor, but she had plenty of free time to learn, which has helped wonders. Setting everything along the counter, Lilly unwrapped the large cut of meat, grabbed a knife, and worked on cutting decent proportions for the bacon. While slicing it, she reminisced on just how bad her living situation was before meeting G.E.Getting take-out almost every night, drank sodas and hardly any water, and just laze around her apartment when she did have a day off. At the time, it seemed okay; living that way had no real consequences other than feeling like shit. Not like it had changed much since then.She wasn’t living, not in an absolute sense. Then again, she wouldn’t have considered her last three years ‘living’ either. Training, the facility, more training, her ‘sisters’, more fucking training …Lilly flinched as she carelessly slit the side of her pointer finger with the blade, immediately pulling it away from the meat so the blood wouldn’t contaminate it. She watched as the threads of flesh quickly closed, leaving behind only a few droplets of blood where it had been. She paused as she watched the skin shift slightly around her finger and cringed. Could she even call herself human anymore? Not that she necessarily wanted to be associated with the species, but it made her wonder what category she fell in line with. A hybrid, perhaps? Cyborg was what she had told the brothers, but she wasn’t sure that was correct. She filed those thoughts away, putting them in the corner of her mind that she didn’t like to touch. Walking over and washing her finger and the knife, she made quick work of the rest of the meat and began cubing the potatoes for homestyle hash browns. There would be two types of eggs, sunny side up and scrambled, and some toast. She readied the espresso machine and Keurig for an assortment of coffee options. Making herself a cup, the only sound in the kitchen now was her soft humming and sizzle of bacon and potatoes. “Well, I Won’t Lie By Saying I Didn’t Have My Doubts That You Would Be An Early Riser, Even Given Your Position, But I Am Pleasantly Surprised.” She could hear Edge’s footsteps before he began talking and turned to him with a smile.“I didn’t used to be; I usually slept until two or three in the afternoon on my days off. I guess it’s one of the few good things the facility taught me.” She chuckled, stirring her cup of caramel espresso.“Now, If Only We Could Get Our Brothers To Do The Same, Sigh.” Papyrus had followed in behind him, still in his morning workout clothes. Lilly did a double-take and took in their appearances, realizing she hadn’t seen them in casual clothes since they had arrived. The maids had brought what little luggage the boys could purchase from the facility. However, she would still need to eventually get a tailor here to help them get appropriately fitted clothes. Papyrus had a ‘Cool Dude’ tank top with yellow shorts to match the font. He had white tennis shoes and his signature red gloves. Edge was in a full black long sleeve, but it appeared to be a breathable material, paired with matching black shorts and shoes. What had caught her off guard was just how muscular they seemed to be. She wasn’t sure if it was their bones or possibly a type of ecto, but they were similar to her build. She admired just how in shape they looked, and it made her cheeks flush. She never expected to be admiring the skeletons in person rather than on a screen. Still, god damn, she was grateful she could.“Maybe A Month Or Two Under That Training Would Do Them Good.” Edge huffed, making his way around the bar towards the Keurig. “Mm, more like make them crazy. I mean, look how I turned out; you really wanna send them there?” She laughed, taking a sip from her warm mug before stirring the potatoes. “You’ve Got An Amazing Physique And Obviously Take Care Of Yourself, Of Course I Would!” Papyrus beamed, making his way to the espresso machine. Two things at that moment shocked her, Papyrus getting espresso while Edge went for the Keurig and the fact that Paps said she had a nice body. She felt her face growing warmer at the simple compliment, and she shifted uncomfortably. Now, this was something she wasn’t used to. A small ‘thanks’ was all she could manage to mumble out as she plated the golden-brown hash. Moving onto the eggs, she moved her way around the large stovetop island towards the flat top grill. She had worked enough fast food to prefer flat-tops over a standard stovetop and pan. “I’ll Be Damned It Smells Great In Here, Whatcha Cooking Lilly?” Lilly was startled by Blue’s voice, realizing that she didn’t notice when he had walked in. It surprised her again once she heard him use her name rather than her title. She was the one who told them not to add any honorifics, yet she was acting like a flustered mess. Not to mention how natural the flow of his question was. It seemed there was a lot she would have to adjust to in order to survive here.  Wow, I gotta breathe, if I’m getting this worked up overhearing them say my name, I’m either a narcissist with an ego the size of Texas, or I’m just down that bad. Probably the latter.  She tried to shake her nervousness by merely smiling and brushing out the thoughts plaguing her mind. She would end up burning the scrambled eggs if she wasn’t careful.“We’ve got homemade cubed hash, fresh-cut pork belly, sunny side up and scrambled eggs, and some fresh toast. There are lots of options for drinks and coffee, so help yourself to anything you’d like.” This time she saw a small tint roll across his cheeks. For once, it seemed she wasn’t the only one having trouble thinking, but with Blue, she wasn’t sure she understood why he seemed flustered over breakfast.She glanced around subtly and noted that Papyrus and Edge also had a tint rolled over their faces. She grabbed the salt and pepper grinders to avoid looking too suspicious and quickly finished the scrambled eggs.Was breakfast a taboo thing? Was this like the whole sock thing she read about in other fanfics? Maybe she’d ask Sans later about what was considered taboo in Monster culture so she could avoid any misunderstandings in the future…“Do You…Always Cook The Meals? Or Is This Just Special Treatment For Us?” Papyrus kept his gaze to the side, sipping from his mug. Lilly raised a brow in confusion but cracked another egg onto the hot plate and replied.“Well, I don’t cook for the maids if that’s what you’re asking. I usually cook my meals because it became a fun hobby once I got here. I didn’t have anything to do until yall arrived, but…I do like cooking for you guys.” She smiled slightly, placing some of the finished eggs onto a sizable grey platter next to the scrambled eggs. She watched Papyrus’s face shift, and he covered his mouth with his hand while looking anywhere but at her. The soft orange glow on his face said everything she needed to know about how he felt.“Uh…can I ask what’s got you guys riled up? Did I hit a weird taboo monster topic by cooking breakfast? I don’t wanna offend anyone, so you can be honest with me cause I’m not gonna lie; I’m getting a little freaked out.” She placed the last eggs on the plate, looking between the three of them. “You don’t have to be embarrassed; I just want to know so I don’t cause any misunderstandings in the future. At least we aren’t having like…the birds and the bees talk.” She laughed, watching as they grew more flustered. Edge waved his hands around, looking away. “Alright, Alright! Asgore’s Beard You Are Persistent, Just Stop With The Talking. It’s Fairly Simple, It Roots Back To Monster’s First Few Instincts, Although I Believe That The Same Can Be Said About Humans. Potential Mates That Show Exceptional Signs Of Hunting Prowess, The Ability To Take Care Of Their Family, Etc. Cooking Is One Of The Many Important Love Languages To Monsters, Hence Why Cooking Is Considered Special To Us.” He huffed, pinching the bridge of his nasal bone. Edge almost seemed like he was rambling. Was this topic complex for him to discuss? She was alerted that their magic levels were elevated, the notification popping into her vision; she blinked it away quickly and continued to listen.“It’s Like, Well, Flirting In A Sense? Maybe More Like Signs That You’d Make A Good Partner Is A Better Way To Put It. Monsters Have Extreme Appreciation For The Culinary Arts, As Well As Home Design, Fashion Sense, And Of Course Caring Natures and Sensibility.” Blue nodded, grabbing his cup of coffee as he brushed past her.“Oh, so like in humans, if you like the way someone naturally smells, there’s a chance you’re more compatible with having kids; that makes sense. It’s just like an instinct sort of thing. Does that mean…I’m flirting with you all because I made breakfast? What about dinner last night?” Lilly chuckled a bit, picking up the giant platters of food and moving them to the bar. There shouldn’t be any harm in teasing them a bit, right? “Not-! I Mean, In A Way, Yes, But No. It Just Shows Us That You Have The Qualities Of A Good Date-Mate Is All.” Papyrus choked on his coffee a bit, wiping the corner of his mouth with his thumb. “Ahhh, so I’m good wife material, is what you’re telling me?” She laughed, walking over to the rounded doorway of the pantry. She would grab a large loaf of fluffy milk bread for the toast; the thick bread seemed like it would be better for the large brothers. “No! W-Well, Yes, But…” Both Blue and Papyrus stumbled over their words while she chuckled at their responses.“I’m just teasing you, don’t worry!” She hollered from inside the pantry. The room was just as significant, if not bigger, than the kitchen. The floor-to-ceiling shelves were organized neatly, with rows of vegetables, loaves of bread, cheeses, canned goods, and drinks stacked everywhere. The aroma that flooded her nose was almost euphoric as she grabbed three loaves of the fluffy bread and made her way back. She giggled at how flustered they all looked, enjoying every second.“Sides, I don’t think I’m looking to settle down anytime soon. Not to mention I can’t have kids, which is a pretty big deal-breaker for a lot of people. Plus, who wants to wipe baby butts all day for like three years.” She laughed but noted how a few of them did a double-take at her statement.“You…Cannot Have Children? I’m So Sorry.” Papyrus set his cup down on the bar, leaning back against it and crossing his arms. He had a solemn look fall over his face as he looked at her.“That Is Very Unfortunate; I Apologize.” Edge also looked sad while Blue kept his gaze to the floor.“Hey, Hey, it’s not that big of a deal. I never really wanted kids, and I don’t see myself any less of a person because of it. It was just one of the side effects of the surgery I had.” Lilly shrugged, slicing the loaves into sizable pieces of toast. “You Mean, H.Q. Took Your Ability To Have Children From You?! That Seems Inhumane!” Blue huffed, visibly angry at the revelation. She raised a brow, buttering another one of the pieces of bread in her hand as she looked over at him. “I mean, as I said, I never wanted kids Blue, just not something I saw myself doing. I can barely take care of myself, let alone raise an entire child. Not to mention I don’t age, so my kid would outlive me, and that’s a little fucked up.” She blew a loose strand of hair from her face and placed the buttered bread onto the grill, lining up the pieces.Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything.“But They Still Took That Choice From You! What If You Had Changed Your Mind Later Or Never Had The Surgery!” Blue seemed flustered at this point, and she grew slightly irritated. “I Have To Agree, You May Be Content With The Decision Now, But There Is No Way To Predict The Future. They Didn’t Take Your Ability To Have Children From You; They Robbed You Of Your Choice.” Edge took another sip from his mug, keeping his gaze cast down. Alright, she was growing impatient. She had given them enough information yesterday; digging into her past was not on the agenda for day two. “Look, I don’t want to debate this, but there were other reasons I was okay with what they did-” Papyrus cut her off, and she was again growing more agitated.“Everyone Should Have The Right To Choose, Even If That Choice Is No.” He shook his head, eyeing her sadly.
Stop fucking looking at me like that, I’m not some kicked puppy!
She swung her fist down on the counter, the platters and cookware clattering loudly. She clenched her teeth and tried to remain calm, hissing out of her teeth.“I said. It’s okay. Please stop pressing the issue. I respect what you’re saying, so I hope you respect mine. I decided a long time ago never to have kids. Nothing was taken from me….”She went wide-eyed at her choice of words.  Something was taken from me. She paused, letting her hand fall back to her side. She knew she didn’t want kids, but something about the idea of her choice being taken from her did rub her the wrong way.Not like it mattered now.She sighed, setting the last of the toast on the final platter. She couldn’t look at the three, knowing they were probably scared by her reaction.Fuck, this sucked. She was awful at making friends.“I’m sorry—some of what you said is right. That choice was taken from me. I still don’t want kids, and I can’t go back now; you don’t have H.Q. to blame. You can blame-" She paused, shaking her head.Not yet."Breakfast is ready; please help yourselves.” She teleported back into her bedroom, flopping onto the bed, keeping her face in her mess of blankets and groaning loudly. Welp, she fucked up…yet again. How often would she lose her temper with them before they got sick of it and hated her for it? She rolled over, staring at the ceiling intently. It wasn’t like she could just dump twenty years of trauma onto them and be fine afterward. Hell, she could barely discuss the events with her therapist at the facility. Then again, a therapist given to her by the same people that owned her wasn’t the safest or most trustworthy. What was she supposed to do, just casually mention her years’ worth of abuse? Talk about an uncomfortable sob story no one wanted? However, she couldn’t give any solid answers every time they asked questions. She was supposed to bond with them, but she didn’t have anything outside of trauma to provide them with.She grabbed a pillow from behind her, smothering it over her face and screaming into it. One minute she’s having a good time, flirting and joking, and the next, she’s losing her temper. How the hell were they supposed to trust her if they couldn’t even hold a conversation with her? She was the one who told them they could come to her and talk to her, and yet she was being abrasive and blocked off emotionally from them. At the same time, she couldn’t just unload on them.When did things get so complicated? She rolled onto her side, draping her arm off the side of the bed. How was she supposed to do this healthily and simply? She felt a headache coming on, shutting her eyes tightly. Maybe she would just be lazy and take a nap for now. She can’t think about how she fucked up if she’s sleeping. She smiled uncomfortably, clutching her pillow with her other arm.Without warning, there was an aggressive knock on her door, and she quickly sat up, startled.“Uh, come in?” It was more of a question than an answer, but the door opened to show Papyrus sheepishly, with two plates of food in his hands. “Sorry To Intrude, But I Realized You Made Breakfast And Did Not Take Any With You. Mind If I Eat With You?” He smiled, walking over to the side of her bed. She felt a hot flash of guilt crawl its way up her back. He had made her a plate of food and brought it to her, even though she was the one who lashed out.Some Overseer she was being, Jesus. “I-...yeah, thank you, Paps. You didn’t have to go through all this trouble since I’m the one who left in a hurry.” She took the plate graciously, noting he had given her a decent portion of everything but added extra bacon. A slight grin played across her lips, and she set it on her lap. “Here, feel free to make yourself comfortable.” She patted the bed and moved over, making room for his giant form. He sat on the edge of her bed, looking around the room for a moment.“Thank You! I Have To Say I Did Expect Your Room To Be Much More Extravagant If I Am Being Honest.” He glanced around the room, eyeing the few belongings she did have. She merely shrugged, digging into the well-seasoned hash browns while keeping her gaze down. Swallowing the large bite, she leaned back onto her pillows and examined Papyrus’s back. It was interesting to see his bone structure up close, watching as his shoulder blades shifted underneath his tank top and how his collar bones moved. “I wasn’t allowed to keep a lot at the facility. Other than a few interests, I didn’t see a need for materialistic items. Shocking how you can go from dirt poor to beyond wealthy in such a short amount of time and still never spend a dime of what you have.” She chuckled bitterly. He turned to her, finishing his bite of eggs.“Well, It Doesn’t Hurt To Spoil Yourself Once In A While! Maybe You Should Shop With Us While We Furnish Our Apartments, Could Do You Some Good.” He nodded, leaning back with her. The bed she had opted for was a California king, probably the most significant piece of furniture she owned. However, his form still seemed to dwarf her as he got comfortable, his back resting against the headboard. She felt a slight twinge of embarrassment as he was so close, smelling the same fresh linen and grass from when he had picked her up yesterday. However, the mix of fresh breakfast and his presence alone was enough to ease her tense muscles.“So…I’m guessing you came to talk about what happened in the kitchen, huh?” She wiped the corner of her mouth, deciding to get straight to the point. Lilly was sure she was in for a comforting talk from him.Not that she had earned it.“Of Course, You Made Quite The Exit After All! However, I Wanted To Make Sure You Ate, Considering You Were The One Who Cooked The Meal In The First Place. It’s Delicious, By The Way, You Did Wonderfully On The Potatoes.” He smiled, resting his now empty plate on the bedside table to his left. She was happy the food turned out nicely, but didn’t have much time to revel in the compliment as guilt ate at her skin.“Look, I didn’t mean to snap. I just…” She grimaced, setting her plate off to the side.“You’ve Never Had Anyone To Confide In, Have You?” Papyrus cut her off while raising a brow, and Lilly had to stop herself from physically flinching away from his question. However, it felt more like an observation of her person.
Ouch.
“Unless you count a short-stacked cat as a therapist, then yeah.” She huffed, shifting so she could lay back against the head board.“Well, We Could Always Change That You Know, If You’d Be Willing To. You Know A Lot About Us, So It Would Only Be Fair If You Opened Up A Bit To Us As Well. Trust Is A Two Way Street, My Dear.” He reached over, patting her head gently, and she froze. This was the second time Papyrus touched her, and she wasn’t used to it. She playfully swatted his hand away, smiling a bit.“I know, I know. It just doesn’t seem fair in a way, you know? Dumping trauma onto you guys after you’ve only been here a little over a day. Doesn’t that seem a bit fast?” She questioned, and he seemed shocked by her statement.“You Don’t Have To Discuss Your Trauma To Open Up To Us, You Know That, Right?” He raised a brow, tilting his head at her. This time, she was the one with the shocked expression, her face growing a bit red.“I-I know that! It’s just that a lot of my behavior is derived from the things I’ve experienced, which, to be fair, was about ninety-five percent of my shit childhood and then most of my adulthood. I don't have any sense of self to talk to you guys about, I never had time to develop one. I didn’t exactly get a break between everything.” She sighed, grabbing one of her pillows and hugging it.“Do You Want To Elaborate More On It?” Papyrus crossed his arms, keeping his eyelights on her.“What do you mean?” She eyed him from the top of her pillow, hiding most of her face with only her eyes peeking from behind it.“What Made You Feel Like You Didn’t Get A Break? Did You Not Spend Some Time By Yourself Before Coming Here?” She pondered on his statement for a bit. There hadn’t been a time she could remember that she had got the break she needed. After the brutal facility experience, then arriving here and spending her time a nervous wreck waiting for the brothers, the only break she was getting was now. “I was in and out of court for about two years, and by that time, I was 19. I only got about one year’s worth of ‘recovery’ time, and I spent it working, sleeping, and sitting at my computer. I couldn’t afford a therapist and sure as hell didn’t know how to live independently. So in a way, this is my break.” She shrugged.“Why Did You Spend So Long In The Court System? Are You Usually In Trouble With The Law?” Papyrus almost seemed panicked but not too shocked. Well, a step forward was better than taking none at all. She sucked a breath in and kept her eyes on her lap.“Nah, my dad tried to kill me and did a bunch of other crazy shit, which got him locked up. I had to go back and forth for testimonies and applied to be emancipated since I was still underage. I won, and now he’s got life in prison with no parole. So when I say I didn’t catch a break, I mean it.” Lilly laughed, ignoring whatever expression was on Papyrus’s face.“Well, That’s Something We Both Seem To Have In Common. Our Fathers Wanted Us Dead, But We Made It Out In One Piece, Mostly.” He laughed back.She went wide eyed, startled at his statement and reaction. “Gaster tried to kill you?!” She said flabbergasted. Now, this was something she didn’t know.Papyrus nodded, shifting his gaze away from her. He didn't seem tense, but the heaviness of the topic seemed to weigh on his shoulders.“He Did Terrible Things To Sans, And Gaster Disapproved Of How Slow My Magical Growth Was Compared To His. I Ended Up With These As A Reminder. I Keep My Gloves On Because I’ve Seen How Uncomfortable Sans Gets When I Don’t Wear Them. He Feels As Though He Failed Me When We Were Younger.” Papyrus slowly slid his bright red gloves off, revealing that his hands had holes in the palm, similar to Gasters. Lilly didn't react, but instead was curious. She had never heard of this before, would it be okay to ask questions?“May I?” She held her hand out, looking from his hands to his eyes for approval. “Of Course!” He nodded, adjusting his sitting position to face her, his hands out in front of him. The bed creaked, and she tensed slightly as he faced her. His form was intimidating even as they sat together.Lilly gently reached out to take hold of his right hand, her's relatively small in comparison. She traced its outline gently with her fingers, noting how some of the areas were chipped or had bits of dust around them. His hands were warm, similar to Sans'. They were solid at the palm, save for the holes. The bone structure was intricate and stark white, a beautiful contrast to her own darker skin. She didn't feel as though he was glass, but rather a piece of art she was afraid of ruining. She let go of Papyrus’s hand, and he held it up towards the ceiling as he looked through it.“I Know Sans Regrets A Lot Of What Happened While We Were Children, But I See My Marks As A Symbol Of Survival. Did I Deserve It? Of Course Not, But I Use It To Remind Myself That I Am Still Alive, While Gaster Suffered The Consequences Of His Curiosity.” Papyrus smiled, placing his hands in his lap. His expression was so…warm. Like walking into a small Cafe on a warm summer night. The tension slowly left her shoulders, and she found herself smiling along with him.Lilly looked to her own hands, flipping them over as she looked between the coolant strips and flesh.“We…aren’t so different, in actuality. It seems we have a lot more in common than I thought.” She hummed. She shifted towards him a bit more before letting the skin sheer fade away. Light blue particles floated away from her, and she looked to him.“I’m not…embarrassed by my scars, and it's very similar to your reason. People get uncomfortable looking at me, so I requested H.Q. make me a cover for my skin to make it easier for people to talk to me. Sometimes it bothers me, but I think they’re pretty cool most of the time.” She smiled happily as she felt the skin around her exposed teeth tighten.Even if the steps she took were mere inches, she would still take them nonetheless.Papyrus went wide-eyed, but kept looking over the different parts of her body that weren’t covered by her clothes. His mouth opened for a moment, but he paused and closed it again.She didn't move. Flesh and bone were two very different forms, would this be too much for him? Before she could overthink, he finally spoke up again.“May I?” He asked, and she nodded her head, outstretching her arms.However, she was startled by him tenderly placing his hand against her face. He managed to cup the entire side of it, and he gently ran his thumb over the side of her scarred lip. He traced the scar back, right above her ear. His fingertips danced over the grooves of flesh, and she felt goosebumps raise over her arms and shoulders. His touch was tender, gentle and yet so sure in its actions.“Your Father Did This?” He questioned, keeping his gaze on the scarring. He didn’t seem to hold any particular expression, but his eyelights seemed fuzzy around the edges. “Yeah, he attacked me with a liquor bottle. This was the worst damage. They tried to give me a skin graft to help replace some lip I lost, but it failed, so now some of my teeth show. It's a bit off putting to humans since we don't usually see our teeth all the time."She couldn’t bring herself to move even an inch. He wasn’t looking at her with pity, but something in his gaze made her want to look away.As if she didn't deserve it.His hand was so soft, and she could feel the groves of the different bones against her skin. He hadn't said a word, but he didn't need to.Soft, everything about it was so peaceful. His touch, his gaze, his presence.She felt herself relax against his touch, her eyes slightly lidded. 
Kind.  
She felt a tear roll over her cheek, a small sigh passing between her lips.
Gentle.
He wiped it away, wrapping his arm behind her.
Loving.
He embraced her, and she leaned against him slowly.He felt liike Love. She had found Home.He wrapped his other arm behind her head, cradling it against his chest. She leaned further in, holding her arms against her own as she relaxed. Tears fell from her cheeks as she realized she wasn't hurt or angered by his actions.Lilly felt loved and safe for the first time in many years. His embrace gave her hope. Hope that one day, she will have the strength to take another step.Just like she had done today.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Do You Want To Talk More About It?” Papyrus questioned, his breath rolling over her ears.Lilly couldn't tell how long they'd been sitting together in her bed, but she was starting to feel a bit too warm. She wondered if the heat emanating from Papyrus had something to do with his magic, but she decided not to think about it for now.“I'm all right. Thank you for… whatever this is. It's nice.” Lilly pulled away, but noted that Papyrus's arms seemed to linger behind her for an extra moment before he drew them back as well. His eye lights had fuzzy edges, like they were fogged up, and she worried that maybe they had gone too far. Had she made him uncomfortable? They were still practically strangers after all.“I Do Hope That You Can Eventually Discard That Skin Sheer And Feel Comfortable Enough Around Us To Be Yourself. No One Should Have To Hide Themselves For Others.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back so he could look at her directly. Lilly merely raised an eyebrow in amusement before giving him a sly smile.“Seems a bit hypocritical of you, mister gloves.” She chuckled, playfully poking at his discarded gloves on the bed. Papyrus’s cheeks dusted light orange, and he looked away aggressively. Lilly laughed, and it seemed like he was almost pouting. “THE GREAT PAPYRUS ONLY DOES SO-…FOR THE-… Well, Dammit.” He sighed, looking ultimately defeated in his argument, putting his gloves back on slowly. Lilly only laughed again, rubbing her cheeks from how much she had been smiling.“I don’t blame you, though; I know what you’re trying to say. I’m sure the others wouldn’t have too much of a problem, but it can still be hard to look at, given how gruesome it seems.” She traced her fingers over her face, feeling the bumps of smooth scarring on her cheek. A shiver ran down her spine, and she clenched her fist.
“John 11:26, And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She refocused on Papyrus’s face.“Well, Take It At Your Pace, Although I’m Sure Everyone Will Be Happy To Have You Open Up More About Yourself. I’m Glad We’re Able To Have This Talk! Honestly, It’s Made Me Much More Certain As To Why We Were Brought Here, In Any Case. It Feels As Though We’ve Grown A Bit Closer!” Papyrus got up from his place on the bed, stretching out a bit. Lilly paused for a moment, considering his words carefully.Did he know something she didn’t?“You…know why you guys got dragged over here? To this universe?” Her brows furrowed together as she looked at him confused. Did she say something she wasn’t supposed to? Maybe he was just speculating and needed more background information on her; however, Lilly was currently lost at his statements. Papyrus turned to her, a bit shocked, with a sly grin rolling across his face. She paused, seeing the look in his eyes, something about it felt almost predatory. “Well, I Wouldn’t Be Able To Give You The Scientific Explanation, But I’ve Gathered Enough From This To Be Certain That I Trust You, Utterly And Completely!” He grinned happily, turning to her fully with a hand on his hip.Lilly didn’t move, keeping her eyes on his expression and pulling up his stats in her eyes.He wasn’t lying.“Okay…but why ?” She sputtered, shaking her head a bit. Where did this attitude come from?“Well, Telling You Outright Would Ruin The Fun, So Instead I Will Leave You With A Piece Of Advice.” He leaned over the bed, holding himself up with his arms against the headboard. Papyrus was now a few inches from her face and had her trapped between his arms. She instinctively leaned back a bit.“Monsters Can Smell Plenty Of Things Humans Cannot, Such As Magic. Your Scent Is Slightly Different. You Smell Like Fresh Apples, Oil, And A Hint Of Bourbon. So, Lesson Number One-And-Only…” He was speaking slower as he leaned closer to her ear, and Lilly found herself tensing up. Did she have a smell? She knew some stories had this trait, but hadn’t expected it here, of all places. There was a lingering silence before Lilly picked it up again, sniffing the air slightly. Her eyes widened for a moment as she realized.
Fresh Linen.

Early Spring.

Dew and Pollen.

This was Papyrus’s scent. 
She could smell his magic! She could smell him! “This… This is what I smelled earlier! When you picked me up in the hallway!” She confirmed happily. Grabbing his arms that were stretched past her head, she shook back and forth, giggling with excitement.  His grin widened as she laughed, and he finally pulled back. Straightening himself out, a small tint of orange dusted his cheeks. Lilly then began to sniff her arms and shoulders, trying to pinpoint her scent. Papyrus only chuckled at her as he spoke.“I’m Happily Surprised You Can Recognize My Scent! Boss Monsters Each Have Their Own Unique Smell To Their Magic, So It Will Help You To Learn The Scents of Everyone Here If You Can. Although, It Does Usually Require Close Contact Or Being Near Magical Usage To Pick It Up.” “Hm, okay, but how come I can’t smell my scent?” Lilly tilted her head a bit in defeat, giving up on profusely sniffing her arms. “Cause that wouldn’t make much scents now, would it?” A baritone chuckle echoed through the room, startling Lilly from the conversation as her gear registered a presence in her room.There was Red, standing in her doorway with a sly grin on his face. She assumed he had heard at least a chunk of the conversation to rip a ridiculous pun. “Red, While It Is Quite Refreshing To See You Up At Such An Hour, Please Do Not Spoil The Good Mood With Punnery.” Papyrus shook his head, crossing his arm in disapproval. Lilly could hear the both of them continuing in slight banter over the puns, however, she had turned her face quickly away from Red. She hadn’t turned her skin sheer back on.  She gripped one of her forearms tightly, keeping her gaze down. While fairly certain that, out of all the household members, Red and Edge were the least likely to judge her, the creeping burn of shame somehow still made it around her neck and ears. What did she have to hide? Was she feeling guilty for lying about her appearance? She literally just had this conversation with Papyrus. 
Oh, the irony of it all. 
“Ayo, earth to cyborg, anyone home?” Red sat down roughly on the right side of her bed, opposite to where Papyrus had previously been. The bed shook, and out of a startled reflex, she quickly looked at him. “Oh, shit, where’d ya get those sick ass scars?” He merely cocked a brow as Lilly stiffened. She noted how Papyrus had taken the plates, and was slowly making his way out of the room with a thumbs up and a grin on his face. She made a pleading looking in his direction, and he merely made a mischievous grin, winked, and closed the door. 
Ah, shit. Paps, you sly bastard. 
“How come we didn’ notice ‘em before? You wearin’ make up usually?” He questioned, leaning in a bit too close for her comfort. She leaned back a bit, watching as his eye lights ran over her face. “I- uh… Well…” She stuttered a bit, gripping her arm harshly. Was she really going to have to run through this a second time in one day? Red took note of her uneasiness and backed up slightly, looking at her with a raised brow. He reached his hand out, similarly to how Papyrus had done earlier, and she glanced down at it.“Ya ain’t gotta talk about it, if ya don’ wanna. I’m mostly just curious ‘bout how ya hid it for the last few days if that’s whatcha’ wonderin’.” He had a neutral expression, just keeping his gaze locked onto her.Lilly sat unmoving for a moment, before putting her hand into his. His hand was a bit smaller than Papyrus’s, yet had more cracks and roughness to them. Her hand was still dwarfed in his palm and he brought her arm closer to his face, looking at her with a gentle demeanor. She let out a long sigh, letting the tension out of her shoulders. There was no other choice, she’d need to be fairly transparent with them and honest if she wanted them to feel more comfortable with her.What was the point in trying to hide her past or history with any of them if it meant to only drive a wedge between how they saw her? There were numerous gray areas regarding their relationships currently, while she was technically the ‘boss’, Lilly didn’t want to be. She knew they didn’t want her to be one, either.
Time to rip that band-aid off… Again?
“It’s called Skin Sheer, it covers my body in a thin layer of fake skin to give the appearance that I have normal, healthy skin.” She took in a deep breath, recognizing that there was an unfamiliar scent in the air.Pine, campfires, and pomegranates. 
Red’s scent.
She grinned a bit before falling back into a neutral expression. Red, however, looked focused, pulling her hand close to his face as he analyzed her markings. His touch was, surprisingly, very gentle. “Hm, did ya get these at the facility, or wit’ the other Overseers?” He questioned, looking at her with what seemed to be concern. She raised a brow at how he’d come to theorize HQ’s involvement in her injuries, but shook her head nonetheless.“Nah, this was from my father. I’ve had these since I was about eighteen. After a few successful surgeries and a few failed ones, this was the result. Not the greatest work, but I’d take it over anything worse.” She shrugged with a slight grin, allowing him to continue to trail his hands along her skin. She shivered slightly, they were all so delicate with her. It was almost shocking how careful Red was being, but she deeply appreciated it. “So it’s part of ya tech huh…Ya father still ‘round ta cause problems?” He said, curiously tapping the glass panel. She felt a tingle run through her arm, and decided to just keep her gaze down for the moment. Her coolant flushed under her skin, and the color changed slightly. Red’s eyes widened for a split second before it relaxed again.He was very close.“Nah, fucker got what he deserved, life in prison and no parole. With a little help from G.E. He’s having a pretty hard time in prison from what I hear.” She chuckled and watched as Red developed an ear-splitting grin, chuckling with her.“Good. However, might wanna call the others for a talk, though we technically did just get one yesterday, it’ll be good to go over just what this tech in ya’ does. Plus we can actually schedule a permanent day for us all to sit and talk in the future, to take notes ‘n shit.” He finally let her arm go, letting it fall into her lap. He pulled out his phone, presumably shooting the other two a quick text. She paused, her nerves spiking with anxiety about the upcoming situation.What was the point in playing coy, In hiding anything? She knew so much about them, it was only fair she was as honest as possible with them.She merely sighed, getting up from the bed and making her way to the door. She paused, clenching her fist a bit. Sighing, Lilly ran her fingers through her hair, shaking her head a bit in frustration. She wanted to ramble a bit, the words pushing in the back of her throat uncomfortably.“I'm just used to hiding the scars, I guess. Or even talking much with anyone. I think that might be why I’m so reluctant to say anything. I already explained some of it to Paps, but I think it’ll just take me a bit of getting used to. More of a habit for others instead of myself. Don't you think I look scary, or something?” She asked, glancing back at him. She was feeling jittery, with conflicting emotions running through her head. It had been a while since she's felt so relaxed and simultaneously stressed. The nervous tension from the last two days seemed to linger under her skin, but the boys’ presence just did something to her.“I don’t think it’s a bad thing, Y’know, I think it’s just as natural as anything. Well, as natural as a damn cyborg can get.” He got up from the bed, making his way behind her.“Not even just your scars though, but the whole of ya’. You don’t need ta be scared of bein’ natural. Sides, you’re not the only one wit scars dove” He tapped his gold tooth before he reached out, gently grabbing the door handle to open it.“But, I guess it’s natural to be scared of how others will see ya, huh?” He mused, opening it with more force than required. She made a small shrug and nodded. “I mean, you guys might be used to seeing bone, but for humans, scarring and missing lip isn't exactly 'appealing' to the normal populace.” She put up exaggerated air quotes, making her way out to the hallway. Lilly turned and watched Red shut the door behind them. “Eh, not like it matters what some other damn turd-wipin' humans think anyway. Not like they’re smart 'nough to know ya could kick their ass if they wanna start shit.” Red rolled his eyes, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. Lilly let out a loud laugh, shaking her head as they walked together. The hallways were dim and free of prying maids, so she shook some stress from her shoulders.“Now THAT is something I agree with you on.” She laughed, before they fell into a nice lull in the conversation. Honesty was something that had been a double edge and forceful sword, her entire life . First with her family, then with the facility, and now here. She knew the boys could tell if she was lying about certain things, but she could detect the same with them. Red hadn’t said anything untruthful to her yet…none of the boys had, now that she though back on it.
Guess I’m overthinking this way too much. Plus, maybe this will mean we get fun bonding time, or I’ll be scarring them for life.
She tensed as they rounded the corner, brushing her fingertips against the marble pillars Edge had touched yesterday. They stopped just before the top of the ballroom stairs, overlooking the entire area. The chandeliers looked too bright, and she almost wanted to close her eyes. She could feel a slight headache coming on and knew it would only end up getting worse at some point. She sighed, preparing herself mentally for the conversation that was going to happen. Even if Papyrus had been right, she was definitely going to chew his ass out for leaving her earlier.“So I'm guessing this conversation will be about you, Sans, and Stretch wanting to know more about my rig?” She asked, making her way down the ballroom steps.“I mean, duh, but also wanna check out that teleportin' shit ya did. Can ya take people with ya?” Red inquired as he followed behind a bit. He was having a harder time keeping with her slower pace, considering he was so much bigger. Lilly’s face contorted uncomfortably at an old memory of testing her teleportation back at the facility. Teleporting was useful, but it had taken a long time to get it right.
So much viscera.
She shivered.“No. They tried to make it that way at first, more convenient or whatever, but it never…ended well.” She cringed, jumping off the last two steps with a thud.Red caught up with her, looking a bit concerned.“Why not? How’d it not end well'?” He questioned, his eyes looking up to scan the area. She was about to answer when she heard the side doors swing open at the back of the room. Out walked Stretch and Sans, making small talk with each other before they noticed her and Red standing together.“Might wanna hold off on going into any details until we all get a good spot to sit first. It's gonna be another long ass talk.” She groaned dramatically, hunching over and almost touching her toes.Lilly could hear all three of the skeletons chuckle at her slight antics, but she had a reason for hunching over. This was round three of the scar introductions.
Paps, I swear to god you better be right about all of this, or I’m stealing your gloves.
“Before you say anything, the scars are old, I had them covered with a skin sheer made by my tech, my dad did it, yes he's in jail, no it doesn't hurt, and no, they won't ever go away. There we go, all done.” She leaned as far back as she could, resting her arms on her hips as she cracked her back.Red laughed, and she finally stood straight. Stretch and Sans looked at her in shock and confusion, their mouths opening and then quickly closing. Their eye lights ran over multiple parts of her body, but eventually lingered on her face. She gave a little smile, and neither of them flinched, merely keeping their eyes on her lips.
Okay, good enough.
She turned the skin sheer back on, sending the command in her head. Light blue particles rolled over her skin, and all three of the skeletons watched with interest.“Well, we can talk more about that shit later, you got the notepads?” Red rolled his eyes, walking up to Stretch with his hand out. “Y-yeah, here ya go, but I have a lot of questions…” Stretch pulled a few notepads and pens from his hoodie pocket, handing them out to everyone besides Lilly. “Same here…Moreover, I'm feeling the Garden Perditus. You said it was your favorite, so maybe it'll help you relax a bit if we're there.” Sans said, rubbing the back of his skull sheepishly.“That big ass dome out in the backyard? Th' fuck so special about that?” Red cocked a brow bone as he looked over at her.“It's not just a dome, it's a bubble that blocks out the entire world. I designed it to be a sort of mini Garden of Eden. All the plants were hand-picked by me, and aren't affected by the outside temperature thanks to the temperature control. The whole thing is a nice, calm oasis right in the middle of our little hell.” She responded, shrugging at him. Red merely grunted in response. She assumed that meant he was fine with it.“We could use some nice scenery if we’re gonna go over all this anyway.” Sans sighed, rubbing his face a bit. She could tell they were probably just as tired, if not more so, than herself. “Yeah.” She nodded in agreement, “Just don’t get too comfy. It’s just a mini Eden, so it won’t help when we have to have 'the talk'.” She joked, though her tone was semi-serious. The others stopped their chattering and looked at her with concern. She rolled her eye a bit, shaking her head.“Look, you guys wanted answers, so I'm gonna give it everything I've got with being honest. That means emotional, and informational overload is about to happen, for everyone. Better to just bite the bullet and get it out of the way, and the sooner, the better.” She waved her hand to motion them to follow, walking back to the side of the large staircase. There was a small door that led out to the back of the main building, right into one of the lounging and grilling areas.“I mean, we're kinda asking for it, so don't blame yourself. Sides, it'll be nice to have even just a few answers.” Sans hummed, following easily next to her.“Even if you end up with more questions?” She raised an eyebrow, glancing up at him.“Yup.” Stretch said from her left, giving her a slight side eye.She kept silent at his response, pushing open the last door and blinking at the rush of light from the earlier morning. It looked like it was around nine or ten in the morning based on how harsh the glare was. The section they were in had one of the bigger bars, with a glass display case behind it stacked with hundreds of different types of alcohol. She took note of the looks of awe from the skeletons, and flashed a quick grin.“Don’t worry, there's more where that came from. I intend to get wasted at some point today, and you’re all more than welcome to join.” She walked a bit closer to the dark marble bar top, running her hand across it as she continued out to a pathway leading to the right.“Trying to give us alcohol poising or something? Stars…” Stretch sighed, but he sounded a bit interested nonetheless. “Damn, I would love to see Grillby’s reaction to all of this. Bet he’d have the time of his life.” Sans chuckled.“Either that or the poor bastard would wanna die by the enda’ his shift puttin’ up wit’ all of us.” Red cackled, watching as Sans rolled his eye lights. “With the money we’re making now I don’t think he’d care even if you stripped down bone ass naked and danced on the counter.” Stretch snorted, earning a laugh from Lilly as she watched them from the end of the bar.“Hell, I would pay good fucking money to see that happen.” She cackled with laughter, imagining Red dancing and singing on top of the counter with no shirt on, shitface wasted. “Well I wouldn’t, that’s for sure.” Sans had a look of confusion and sickness as he eyed Red up and down, which only made her and Stretch laugh more. Red sneered at him before walking over to her, leaning on the bar top with one arm.“Kitten if ya wanted me naked ya ain’t gotta pay for it ya know…” Red purred, his tongue running over his gold tooth as he eyed her.“Firstly, please , for the love of god, find a new pet name besides kitten. Discord memes have ruined that. Secondly, I know, sex and horniness, boobies and ass, yadda yadda yadda Red. Let’s just get on to the garden bone man.” Lilly rolled her eyes and waved her hand around, and she watched Red’s face flush. Sans cackled from behind him and Stretch wheezed, walking over to join them.“You are really just something else sugar snap.” Stretch huffed, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it.“I think it's just because my pussy has been dry for the last 3 years. I think if I spread my legs a cloud of dust would come out.” She rolled her eyes, grinning all the while.“I can fix that!” Red shouted from behind, keeping his distance with Sans.“Only when you can tell me what a clit is Red!” She hollered back, watching as Stretch choked on his cigarette smoke, coughing almost violently. His cheeks dusted orange from her vulgarity. He wheezed again, his shoulder bouncing as he covered his mouth to try to stop from laughing more.“S-Sugar, you can’t just drop that on a man, stars above!” Stretch wheezed as he caught his breath.“Why not?!! He can dish it out all he wants, but he can’t take it. Makes it all the more fun.” She teased, leaning back a bit as they continued to make their way down the winding stone path towards the dome.“That's cause you're a cunt!” Red shouted again, earning a smack from Sans as he laughed at his frustration.“No, I HAVE a cunt! I'm getting really worried about how you are in bed if you're getting this much confused Red!” She grinned wickedly, turning back to face him. Red was, well, as red as a tomato at this point. Stretch and Sans had both had enough, and we're leaned over in different directions losing it over her retorts to his attempts at picking a fight and flirting with her."THAT'S IT YA’ SMART ASS!” Red hollered, starting to run in their direction. Lilly gasped in a fake panic, before grinning at him. Stretch looked at her with a raised brow as he laughed, and she just shrugged. She turned back around just as Red was about to reach her, and took off running towards the Dome. She could hear Red's frustrated shouts as he gave chase, and Sans and Stretch laughing.“Damn broad, don’t start running now! This is all on ya' and ya' know it!” He shouted as they continued to run.“You can do better Red, and don’t blame me for your problems!” Lilly shouted back laughing, turning to see him bounding after her.“Bitch I can run all day !” He hollered, and she was surprised to see he was almost catching up to her. She felt a spike of adrenaline rush through her, as well as slight arousal. Seeing him chase after her and feeling his presence behind made her heart race, and a small blush crept across her face. Her coolant changed into another form of light lavender, and she tried shaking it from her head.  Haha, oh no .  “Oh yeah? I bet a shot of tequila then!” Lilly hollered back, turning back to face him. She had reached the entrance doors to the garden, watching him from across the pathways. He grinned, red beads of magic forming on his skull, while Stretch and Sans had teleported next to her. They both looked at her coolant, Sans with a cheeky knowing grin, while Stretch seemed interested in knowing the cause of the color change. They both paused, sniffing the air a bit, but Lilly looked back to Red with narrowed eyes, realizing what was about to happen. She hadn’t caught how Sans and Stretch’s eye lights went fuzzy as they looked down at her.“You're on!” He shouted, before vanishing from sight in a small puff of red magic.“Bastard! You fuckers shouldn't have reminded him about that, it's cheating!” She huffed and pointed to the two standing next to her. Before she could say anything more, she recognized a familiar presence behind her. She went rigid, feeling Red’s breath on her neck as he sat his hand on her shoulder.She looked at Sans with pleading eyes, and he just laughed and turned to walk into the Garden, Stretch following suit with a smile and shrug."S'not cheatin' if you's can do it too, spitfire.” He growled in her ear. Lilly felt a shiver run down her spine, her legs tingling a bit from the close contact. His baritone voice and Brooklyn accent was going to ruin her. She subconsciously squeezed her thighs and tensed, trying to shake any remote perverse feeling she had away.Red took a short breath and pulled back for a split second, his grin stretching wider. Before he could say anything regarding it, Lilly took in a shallow breath before turning to look at him, her body almost pressed against his larger one. “Hey, you're right. I forgot about that.” Red looked at her confused, before he realized what she meant.Before he could wrap his arms around her, she winked and teleported inside the Garden, right in front of the fountain.She could hear Red’s shouts of frustration from right outside the door. Letting out a laugh, she glanced back at the grand entryway of the Garden. A spike of anxiety shot through her, and she took a few deep breaths. The crisp air passed through her lungs, and she felt herself relaxing once again. A few habits hadn’t gone from before she had entered the facility, such as her anxiety. Although, she often wondered if she was only so nervous all the time given who she was interacting with now. The skeletons were only the first of many Undertale characters she’d be meeting, but there was a much…deeper emotional connection regarding the few she was looking after that had made things a bit more difficult. She shook off the thoughts, hearing Red enter the doors behind her and mumble as he made his way over. It was showtime.Questions would be asked, and she would answer them as best she could. She could only imagine what their reactions were going to be, since she was basically dumping years worth of information onto them. She wouldn’t blame them for whatever their reactions would be, considering she had been through it all before. The absolutely insane situation they all found themselves in seemed like something out of a fairy tale, or a really fucked up sci-fi book. They would all need to take it one step at a time, giving them only the information they asked for until they were ready to stop and try again another day.While she didn't understand much of the tech jargon they team at the facility had explained to her, she could follow some conversation. Hopefully, the three could work out more from her information than she ever could, regarding everything that was herself and the X0-Rig.The four of them were now in the Garden of Perditus, the home of her little get away. She heard Red whistle, and Sans sucked in a breath. Stretch was the only one who had been here before, the other two were getting their first look from the sounds of it.She glanced around for a moment to keep an eye out for her cat, Butter Bean, but caught no sight of his little legs. She ran a scan throughout the area and recognized he was up on the second level, messing with some birds from the looks of it.She leaned against the edge of the fountain, letting the three walk around her. Red and Sans both made their way over to the statue of the gods, and admired the marbled sculpture. Stretch stood back this time, looking over some plants and metal label stands for different flora.“Damn, musta' spent a fortune on this fucken' place!” Red hollered, and his voice echoed, making his way around the massive fountain sculpture.“This…is this real marble?!” Sans turned around to look at her, his eye sockets wide.“Damn right, I wasn't gonna half ass anything with this place.” Lilly smirked, walking up towards them.“Don't worry, I had the same reaction when I came out here yesterday.” Stretch stated, making his way down one of the stone pathways. Looks like he was headed straight to the waterfall again.“Ya ever get sick of seeing this place every time ya come out here?” Red asked her, and she shrugged.“Nah, but it's also cause I don't get to do it too often. I still technically have plenty of responsibilities as an Overseer, shit keeps you busy.” She huffed, pushing off the stone and following Stretch. If they thought the fountain was good, wait until they saw the waterfall.Lilly felt a slight pride swell in her chest again, and a little grin pulled at her lips.“C'mon, we have a LOT to go over!” She shouted behind her, continuing to make her way down the path.Red and Sans were both marveling at the size of the damn fountain, not even noticing her call. She sighed and shook her head, turning around to make her way over to them again. Once she did, she lightly smacked both their backs. They both jumped and looked over at her.“Did you hear me calling you?” She put her hand on her hip with a smirk at their reactions.“Uh…no?” Red looked like the wind had been knocked out of him.“Sorry, I was distracted, what did you say?” Sans cocked a brow bone, giving her a smirk. She rolled her eyes, waving her arm.“You heard me, we got shit to discuss, and I'm not gonna repeat myself. So, you better get your notepads ready.” She grinned and pushed both their backs again. They stumbled a bit, but Lilly only laughed as she ran forwards. She noticed Stretch peeking from the pathway, looking on with a lax grin.They walked down the stone path, easing down towards the waterfall. As they made their way down, the small pond below the waterfall came into vision. She let Red and Sans take in the waterfall, watching as they littered around the edge of the water. They didn't say much, merely trying to take it all in before walking back over to where she stood“I have a lot to talk about, so I need you to be patient. A lot of this will be a lot to take in, so don't be rude and interrupt me once I start answering your questions.” She said, looking at each of them in turn. They merely nodded, albeit a bit nervously. The three of them sat on the stone surrounding the pond, while she stood a few paces back from them.Lilly took a deep breath, her hands clasping behind her back. She released the breath and took another, letting out a soft sigh.“Alright, ask away. You remember the rules from yesterday, but I'll still do my best to tell you what I can about the facility and about my tech.” They each nodded, and Sans spoke up first.“So, you can teleport, but how does it function? When we teleport, we basically 'void hop'. We enter the void for a split second before reappearing in another location. Yours doesn't seem to be the same.” Sans flipped his pen through his phalanges, looking at her with a more hardened expression.“Welp, I have no fucking clue to be honest.” She shrugged her shoulders. The three immediately let out groans and a slew of curses.“Hey, hey! Don't be mad at me, I can still explain some of it, you dicks.” She huffed before continuing.“I can teleport to places I haven't been, but I can only teleport a certain amount in a single day before I'll start to, uh, glitch is the best word.” She kicked the grass a bit with her foot, keeping her gaze down.“So what happens when you do 'glitch'?” Stretch asked.“Uh, I'll get stuck in walls, objects, and occasionally, I've even glitched into…people. It's messy.” She cringed, remembering the few scientists who had been caught up in the horrific experiment.“Stars…alright, so do you have a limited range?” Sans scribbled a few notes down, looking back at her.“Yeah, I think it's only got a radius as far as 10 miles, but once I teleport to a new location it resets.”“How many times can you do it in a single day before it starts causing problems?” Stretch spoke up, also scribbling away on his pad.“I'd say…thirty or forty times? Then we start to get minor problems, after fifty or sixty we get into more serious issues.” Lilly finally decided to sit on the grass, looking off towards the waterfall as she answered.“Is the glitching the only issue with teleporting too many times?” Sans spoke again, and she huffed a bit.“Well, I have another issue I can run into which is OverHeat. However, that's a bit more complex because a lot of my tech can cause it to happen if I'm not careful.”“Th' hell's an OverHeat?” Red had a frustrated look on his face as he spoke, and she raised her arm to shush him.“Well, when I over use any ability, my body temperature can spike dangerously high, to the point any of my fleshy bits I have left will start to melt. I'll basically cook from the inside out because the coolant can't keep up with the amount of energy I'm exerting.” Her brows furrowed.“Holy shit.” Stretch breathed, and she merely nodded.“If I have to give it a lot of energy, it'll pull it from me. The more I use, the hotter I get, the hotter I get, the more I HAVE to use.” She kept her gaze on the water to avoid meeting any of their gazes. She knew it wasn't off to a good start.“So you'll literally…burn to death if you use anything too much? Does that include all of your abilities?” San's voice sounded strained as he spoke, and she continued.“I mean yeah, but I won’t die. I'll just have to immediately go in for a coolant change if it ever happens, but occasionally, I can get away with an ice bath for a few hours. I'm usually conscious throughout the entire process. And yeah, it includes all of my abilities. It's a side effect of the experimental tech and why I ended up with coolant chambers in the first place.” She paused for a moment, watching their reactions carefully before continuing.“And that's not even the worst of it. There's a chance I could have a catastrophic system failure if I push myself too far. It's happened before, and it's not pretty.” She shuddered at the memory, feeling a chill run down her spine.“Shit, an' what happens then?” Red asked, looking at her with concern.She didn’t know whether it was for her or them.“Well, let's just say it ends up being a big ol' explosion. Not pretty at all, and definitely not something you want to be around for either.” She bit her lip, a feeling of dread settling in her gut.The last time they'd pushed her limits she'd, literally, exploded into a mound of guts and gore. That was one of the few times she had truly wished she could have died.The three of them sat in silence for a moment, letting the weight of her revelations sink in. She could see the shock and horror on their faces, but also a hint of curiosity. Lilly didn't blame them one bit, and allowed them to process the information in silence. There were only the sounds of the water and wildlife, giving an eerie peacefulness to the gross information she'd just given."So none of this can kill you? Even if your brain or heart are destroyed…You can't…die?" Stretch spoke slowly, attempting to be careful with his wording.She knew what he was trying to ask, underneath it.   "Nope. Even after a full system failure, I stayed conscious all the while. Whatever is in my head, even just pieces of my brain, stays functioning and active. I don't even need sleep. I enter a sort of stasis mode, and I can even dream, but I'm still aware of my surroundings. Unless I'm forced into a shutdown, then I'm always awake and conscious of what's going on around me.The silence settled back in, each of them lost in their thoughts. Lilly couldn't blame them for being a bit overwhelmed with the information she'd given them. She'd been dealing with it for years, and even she was still learning the full extent of her abilities."That's…I don't even have words for it. Half of what you just said shouldn’t be possible, and the other half is borderline torture." Sans breathed out, looking at her in disbelief.She merely shrugged, feeling a bit numb as she remembered all the times she'd been experimented on and tested. Sure, it was a lot to take in, but that was the risk that came with being a superhuman cyborg. "It's not all bad. It's like being in a coma, but not really. It's hard to explain, but I'm always aware of everything. I can feel pain, I can feel heat, I can feel cold. It's just that, well, my body doesn't really respond to it the same way as a normal person's body would." She explained, her voice trailing off as she looked at her hands."Alright, moving on cause that's a shitshow for anotha' day." Red huffed, rubbing his face with his hands."Lay it on me bone man." She smiled, picking at the grass by her sides."How does your coolant change work? What exactly is your coolant made of?" Stretch mumbled, giving the same grim expression as the others.“Well, the first question is long as hell. The second? I don’t know. All I know is that it's like blood, oil, and car coolant mixed in one. It’s just there to keep everything from making me melt like an ice cream left in the sun.” She grinned a little, watching the boys grimace at the analogy. She quickly wiped the grin from her face.“Alright, this one is gonna require some show and tell. See these little holes between the coolant points on my thighs and wrists?” She got up from her spot, walking forward to point out the spots to them as she leaned over their sitting forms. “I’ve got the same thing on my back. There are sixty-six points on my back, with three extra on my tailbone for coolant changing. It's completely integrated with my nervous system and spine.” Lilly turned around, lifting her tank top and pulling it over her back and head. She kept her front covered, pulling her ponytail out of the way to show off the multiple metal points running along her spine. The three couldn't help but stare at the intricate metalwork that was embedded along Lilly's spine. It was almost beautiful, in a strange, twisted way. They could see the coolant circlets that ran through the metal, each one leading to one of the small holes that dotted Lilly's vertebrae. The blue of the coolant gave some of her skin an eerie glow, her scars a light pink tone contrasting with it."So, how does it work?" Stretch asked, breaking the silence.Lilly turned back around, pulling her tank top back down and readjusting her ponytail as she sat on the grass. "It's simple, really. I just need to change out the coolant once every month. I use a special set-up to extract the old coolant, and then I get injected with the new stuff. It takes a little while for it to circulate through my system, but once it's in, I'm good to go for another few weeks."Sans nodded, a look of understanding on his face. "And if you don't change it out?"Her expression darkened. "Let's just say things start to get a little…gruesome. Remember how I said I can experience OverHeat? Well, when the coolant gets replaced I have to be in shutdown during that time, otherwise if the X0-Rig is turned on I'll melt. If the coolant gets too hot or too old, it can't do its job effectively, and boom, human soup." Lilly grinned a bit at her wording, while the others just looked on at her in mild disgust and interest.Good, maybe now they would get a bit desensitized to all the information."Okay, okay, good lord…" Sans rubbed his eye sockets, clearly a bit uncomfortable."Well, whata'bout these bracelets we got? How much info does it actually give ya?" Red tapped on his little silver bracelet, looking at her.She sighed, looking down at her lap. "It's supposed to give me basic vitals, like heart rate and temperature. It also gives me a notification on your magic levels and your activity around the facility. But honestly, it's not very accurate. It's more like a general guideline. I can't keep tabs on it all the time, but I will get these annoying ass pop-ups in my vision if you guys teleport a lot or enter a room I'm in. Wish I could install a fucking ad blocker because that's what it feels like."Red scowled, clearly frustrated with the lack of helpful information. "So, what's the point of these damn things then? It's just a glorified fit-bit."Lilly shrugged. "I think they're more for tracking purposes. The company wants to keep tabs on us and make sure we're where we're supposed to be."Stretch raised an eyebrow. "You don't think they're monitoring us for other reasons?""I wouldn't put it past them."The four sat in silence for a moment, mulling over the implications of being monitored by H.Q. It was a sobering thought, and one that made them all feel a little uneasy."You said you get notifications when we use our magic, right? How often does it happen?" Sans asked."Just about every damn hour! It's so frustrating. It's like I've got those shitty Google glasses on, and I get pop up ads, only I'm not getting to look for hot single milf's in my area, just when you guys run off to different areas." Lilly huffed, while San's looked slightly concerned."Is there any way to disable the notifications?" Stretch asked, trying to find a solution.Lilly shook her head. "Not that I know of. I think it's hardwired into the bracelets and my Rig directly. Besides, even if there was a way, I don't think H.Q. would let us disable it. My entire job is to monitor you all and get you acclimated to this world, so disabling it would be completely against my contract."The group fell into another uncomfortable silence, the weight of their situation sinking in. They were being monitored, watched like lab rats. And even worse, Lilly was the one who had to bear the burden of being constantly aware of their movements and magic usage.Red spoke up, breaking the silence in frustration. "Well, fuck. I guess we're really just pawns in their little game, huh?""Pft…duh." Lilly rolled her eyes a bit, flopping back onto the grass."Well, regardless, we need to be more careful with our magic usage." Sans stated, looking at Red and Stretch. "We want to avoid attracting too much attention than we already have."The others nodded in agreement, but Lilly shrugged her shoulders."I mean, it's not like they don't already know you use your magic, teleporting won't be a big deal. What they're looking for are large spikes in activity." "Like fights breaking out…" Stretch sighed, rubbing his face."Yup." She popped the 'p' at the end, looking up at the top of the dome. She didn’t blame them for being cautious, but there wasn’t really any point in doing so regarding their magic usage.“Still, it's better to be on the safe side for now. We haven't been here very long and don’t want to risk starting anything with them.” Sans flopped back onto the grass with a sigh.Stretch leaned over, resting his elbows on his crossed legs, “Well, I, for one, want to consider that it for today. I don’t think I can handle any more of this right now.” “Same ‘ere. But I got one more question…” Red said with a small smile, looking at her cooling lines. While still seated, he shuffled closer to her seated form and took hold of her arm from her lap without resistance from her. Sans seemed to understand the implication, as he sat up again, his face displaying a sly smirk.Lilly sent him a stern look in response, silently telling him not to say anything else.“Why did it switch colors earlier? Your coolant, I mean.” Red tilted his head inquisitively as he directed an intense stare at her through his bright eye lights. She fought back the urge to shiver under his gaze.“It changes with my body temperature…it does that if I'm exercising or if I'm doing something strenuous. Also, very rarely, my emotions can cause it to change too.” Her eyes darted away from the three as soon as she finished speaking; she sensed where this was going, especially with Sans glancing at her in amusement. She tried to stand, but Red still had ahold of her arm, so now she was bent over slightly towards him.“It's gorgeous when it's purple.” Sans chortled, causing Lilly to shoot him another harsh glance. Red let out an interested noise in response before getting up while still holding on to her arm."I thought I saw that earlier…" Stretch murmured, standing and moving next to her and taking her other arm in hand. Now she found herself trapped between them, both rolling her arms around their large hands—making Lilly's already pink face flush even more—and a multitude of chaotic thoughts swirled through her mind. Red and Stretch continued to examine her arms, their boney fingers tracing over the coolant strips. She felt a mix of embarrassment and arousal wash over her, knowing that it was a strange reaction to have but unable to help it. She wasn’t used to being touched, let alone by fictional fucking characters she was thirsty for.  Sans, meanwhile, stayed seated on the grass, watching the scene play out with amusement. He had a few theories regarding her coolant, and this was only helping to confirm it.Suddenly, Red leaned in closer to Lilly, his breath hot against her neck as he whispered, "I’d love ta’ see it change colors again, dove." “Hahaha okay cool, that’s crazy and welp I think that's all we had to talk about and I really gotta go train, so I’m just gonna leave now because this is a little weird, and I am not coping well-” The words poured out of her mouth in a jumbled mess, slight sweat building on the back of her neck in panic. The coolant on her arms swirled, the bright blue now shifting completely to a bright lavender as she pulled away from them roughly. She ran her hands over her forearms, looking away from them as she mumbled on in a state of pure panic and embarrassment. “Wow, you uh, are really easy to tease sugar snap.” Stretch interjected, raising a brow at her as he crossed her arms.She stuttered in a slightly higher pitch, “Well, you know, I just don’t think that’s relevant to what-” “Oh, I think it’s hella relevant sweetheart.” Red took a step closer to her with a knowing grin on his face as he did so. She watched as Sans stood up, her eyes flicking between the three of them as her body stiffened. “I-...uh…” She fumbled the words, completely lost on what to say or do. If any human had even tried to speak to her that way, they’d be dead before they could finish their sentence. Yet, here were these giant, handsome skeletons from a stupid fucking video game making her feel as though her heart was going to explode out of her chest. How do people cope with this, I feel like I’m going to die . It seems so much easier in fan fiction.“Well, you do seem to wear your heart on your arm there, kid.” Sans joked, stepping forward as well. She stepped back this time, attempting to keep distance between all of them. She looked down at the grass, feeling a slight twinge of fear trickle into her veins as a sudden thought crossed her mind.Why were they teasing her? Were they doing it because they wanted to manipulate her, or because they genuinely enjoyed it? After all, she had basically confessed to a myriad of things on their first day here, one of those things being quite…perverted.“I uh, appreciate the flirting, but you don’t have to do that to, you know…get anything from me. I’m willing to help you guys in any way I can, so this is, uh…well, you know. It's not…you don’t have to.” She stumbled over the words, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the thought that things could possibly develop between them. Anxiety gnawed at her skin; was she overthinking everything here?She held power over them — it was hard to deny —and something about this made her uneasy. It felt wrong to play into this situation, like she was doing something taboo. She knew they were all in a weird situation, but it didn’t mean she could take advantage of them. She realized that was why she had so much unease regarding their behavior. She felt as though she was using them for her fantasies. They were no longer characters on a screen, they were very, very real. Whether they realized it themselves or not, she felt this wouldn’t end well.“I think you’re really overthinking this, Lilly.” San's deep voice reverberated in her ears as his hand rested on her shoulder. She snapped her head up quickly, not realizing just how long she had been spacing out and stuck in her racing thoughts. She didn’t know when he had closed the distance between them both, but it made her nervous.He had a stern look on his face, mirrored by Stretch and Red’s faces. They seemed almost…angry at what she had said.“We’re not doing this cause we want something from ya. Although, we’d be lying if we said we hadn’t considered it,” he tilted his head to the side, and she tensed at his confession, “but, we do it because it’s fun. If it makes you uncomfortable though, we’ll stop. We haven't had a lot of interaction with anyone for a long time. Being stuck at that facility was pretty hellish, and this is a nice change of pace.”“We’re probably gonna be stuck here for a long time, and we figured it was just a good way to break the ice a little. Not to mention the coolant stuff is pretty rad, and makes it a little hard not to point out when you’re feeling a type of way.” Stretch smiled a little, but he still seemed slightly hurt by what she had said.Lilly looked down, processing their words. They were extremely transparent, and that had caught her off guard.
Wow, actual honesty and communication? Men, take some fucking notes.
She laughed in her head, shaking away some of the fears she had been wrapping herself in.“It’s not that I think you guys are being…weird or manipulative. It’s the opposite. It feels…wrong of me . Like I shouldn’t indulge in it given my position. I don’t want to make you guys feel like it's something you have to do, if that even makes any sense.” She muttered, rubbing her face in frustration, unable to explain exactly how she felt.“It makes sense, but like I said, we’re having fun. There’s nothing forced here. But, if you’re not okay with it, then we won’t do it.” Sans looked at her with complete seriousness as he removed his hand from her shoulder.She looked over him, checking his stats.He wasn't lying, just like Papyrus hadn’t lied earlier about trusting her completely. “I uh…appreciate it. I know I’m probably getting way ahead of myself but, I just didn’t want things to get…complicated, I guess, if things went further. I’m okay with it, more so just shocked it’s even happening. ” “Jesus woman, we’re not animals, just some guys stuck in a facility with a hot woman. We’re not gonna walk around and just go slapping ya’ on the ass and grabbin at ya’ tits.” Red huffed, crossing his arms as he stared at her.Lilly felt her face flush again, a small giggle leaving her lips. It soon turned into a full-blown laugh as she clutched her stomach. “Jokes on you, I’m into that.” Her laugh carried her words as she saw the surprise on all three of their faces. A flush spread across their cheeks, and a mix of scents hit her nose:Stretch smelled like cigarettes, mint chocolate, and a hint of honeysuckle; Sans was more like peaches, cinnamon, and fall leaves; and Red's aroma remained unchanged.“Oh you are playing a dangerous fucken’ game dove.” Red let out an almost-growl that sent another pleasant shiver down her spine, but she kept her confident smirk in place. It wasn't as if they were asking to marry her; some harmless flirting wouldn't hurt anyone. Both sides knew the situation for what it was, and if this little game was something they wanted to do...well, she certainly wasn't going to stop them.“Well, lucky for me, I’m usually the winner.” She flashed them a teasing smile and tapped her wrist, her way of telling them what she was about to doRed started to object—but before he could finish his sentence, Lilly cut him off.“Too late, now we're even!”With that, she vanished quickly and reappeared in the workout room of the recreation center.The last thing she saw was Red's face lighting up like a Christmas tree.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Fucking tease…” Red snarled, fists clenched as he stalked around the edge of the pond.

The three of the skeletons had been left slightly stunned at Lilly’s reaction, as well as her playfulness before she teleported away. She had left them to mull over some of the more gruesome details of her tech

and

her flirty final remarks, which left them feeling…uneasy.

“Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction. Do you seriously wanna open this can of worms, Classic? We haven't even been here for more than 48 hours.” Stretch looked over to Sans, crossing his arm and pulling a cigarette from his pocket. He was still standing in the same spot, staring at the now empty spot where their Overseer had once been.

“I mean, I’m not one to

Judge

here, if you know what I mean.” He turned around, winking at Stretch who merely snorted at the pun in response. Sans paused though, truly thinking over Stretch's words. There was something about her that struck him in an unfamiliar way; it made him want to trust her, to get close to her despite what they already knew about her.

Even after everything they had learned, something compelled him to get closer to her quickly and deeply.

It was almost unsettling how powerful these feelings were.

“Did ya mean whatcha said, that we’re just havin’ fun wit her? Not to be a dick, but besides the maids, who are too scared to even be in the same room as us, she’s the only other damn person we got to talk to. If shit goes south, we’re fucked.” Red huffed, crouching down and placing his arms on his knees. He glanced at both Stretch and Sans, studying them cautiously.

“I mean, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have conflicted feelings on it. But, I got to have my own little talk with her and I have a feeling that she’s not really here by choice. She’s just as much the government's prisoner as we are. We’ve only scratched the surface of the amount of information she’s got, and it's only going to get worse as time goes on.” Sans took a few steps towards the pond, focusing on the waterfall as though admiring it could help him ignore his anxious thoughts.

“You know what I mean, Classic. If we start flirtin’ with her, there’s no going back. We can’t shut that door once it's been fucken opened, and we still don’t really know her.”

“You seem pretty conflicted for someone who looked like he was about to fuck her into the ground about 30 seconds ago.” Stretch laughed, rolling his eyes at Red to try and push his buttons.

“You know what I fucken meant, ashtray!” He shouted back, standing up quickly and stepping towards Stretch.

“Look, I don’t blame you. She’s a looker, but…”  He rolled the cigarette between his teeth, looking in Sans’s direction.

“

But

, it's a dangerous game to play. I know Red said we aren't animals, but three years of not being able to deal with our heats properly is going to make things a little complicated. Not to mention the nuances of her being the only real person we’ve interacted with since being released. There’s a chance it's not that we really like her, but rather she’s our first and only option. It’s not black and white.” Sans shook his head, attempting to ignore the nagging feeling that was crawling over him.

He wasn’t sure whether this was going to be the right call, given the circumstances. She had surprised him with her worries, pointing out she felt uncomfortable with their flirty behavior due to her position and what it would entail for all of them.

The possibility to take things further…She mentioned it there at the end.

He wondered if this was why he found himself so entranced by her; her smell, her entire presence. Whenever he was around her, he felt tense, yet in the same instance his thoughts were jumbled. It seemed wrong and right simultaneously.

He felt his face flush at the idea of her under him. Running his phalanges through her thick black hair and grabbing at her supple flesh. He knew her skin was soft, and her scent was intoxicating. He could still remember how her hand felt on his own in the garden, her softness sending a chill down his spine.

It was clear as day in his head, the image of her lying under him, needy and spread for him.

He jolted, the sudden thought giving him whiplash.

What the actual fuck is wrong wtih me

…He thought, looking back to his alternates to keep his brain focused.

“I mean, you smelled her earlier, she’s pretty sensitive to everything we do around her. Her scent is ridiculously strong for a human, but it could be because she's not

really

human anymore. Her scent almost doubles when she’s aroused, and when she got angry with Edge the burnt smell made me want to gag.” Stretch removed his cigarette from his mouth as he spoke, letting out a deep sigh as he blew smoke toward the trees.

“Well, it's a difficult situation, one that's only going to get worse. I have plenty of questions and hypotheticals buzzing around in my head, but admittedly, I'm just too lazy to focus on them for very long right now." Sans gave a small shrug.

Lilly had been right about the Judge's ability to differentiate between good and bad humans, even if they hadn't technically judged her yet. She had an air around her that was similar to that of Toriel or Kindness humans – a presence that made one feel safe and at home.

While she was definitely dangerous in terms of her abilities, and no doubt had a high LV, he couldn’t apply his universe's rules to this one. There was no telling whether the people of this universe even had souls, and while the thought slightly terrified him, he also understood that the rules of his world wouldn’t and couldn’t be applied here.

There were so many variables in this situation that it almost made his head spin.

He paused for another breath, looking out into the garden while he gathered himself. "It's evident that she's killed before, given her reaction during our discussion of her skills; I'm almost certain she already has a high LV. But when she threatened Edge earlier, there wasn't an ounce of bloodlust in her words or behavior.”

“Just anger.” Stretch grimaced, and Sans didn't blame him.

Red huffed, clearly frustrated by the lack of real answers between the three. “So what then? We gonna all just start tryna fuck her? What's the fucking game here?”

“I’d say it’s on the table, just don't rush anything and freak her out Red. It's…weird, how things are going right now. I don't know if it's because we lost our minds being held captive for three years, or if it's just because she's the first person to treat us like normal people since arriving.” Sans rubbed his face, clearly frustrated by Red's crude statements and his lack of understanding his feelings at the moment.

“SANS? ARE YOU ALL STILL IN HERE?!” Papyrus's voice echoed throughout the dome, sending a few birds scattering around the area. The three of them turned towards the entrance, glancing down the path back from where they entered.

“Over here bro!” Sans hollered back, making his way back  towards the impressive fountain. Stretch and Red both shared a brief look with each other before trailing behind him.

Papyrus was marveling at the elaborate fountain in front of him, arms crossed over his broad chest and a pleased grin spread across his face.

Sans waved at him as he got closer, “What's up bro? What brings you in here?”

“Ah, I Was Wondering How Things Went With Lilly. Blue, Edge and I Seemed To Have Accidentally Hit A Sore Spot With Her This Morning Over Breakfast. I Spoke With Her And Wanted To Fill You In Once You Were Done.” He nodded, tilting his head as he looked around the massive entrance.

“Yeah, got a lot of good info on her abilities, and we may or may not have teased her a little bit.” He put his hands in his hoodie pockets, looking away sheepishly from his brother's stern gaze.

“Stars Above, You Three Just Cannot Control Yourselves Can You? I Don't Entirely Blame You, But Don’t Scare Her Off On Day Two. Friendship Before Fucking, Please.” Papyrus sighed heavily at their lack of restraint while Sans flinched from hearing his brother's crude statement.

Mostly because the thought sent shivers through him.

Red and Stretch both snorted in amusement and looked away quickly in an attempt to stifle their chuckles.

After a beat of silence, Stretch cleared his throat, walking towards a nearby bin to put out his cigarette. “Anyway…what did you guys do to hit a sore spot?” He was still chuckling as he waited for their response.

“Well, It Turns Out She Cannot Have Children. While She Was Making Breakfast We Were Explaining Some Date Mate Qualities That Monster's Appreciate, Which Led To Her Joking About Kids. Her Employers, Or Rather Our Enemy, Removed Her Chances Of Doing So. We Assumed It Was Something She Was Mourning the Loss Over, But She Explained She Never Wanted Kids In The First Place.”

“So…?” Sans trailed off, not entirely sure where this conversation was going.

“It Also Appears She Cannot Really Age. She Explained That Even If She Did Have Children, She Would Outlive Them. We…Pushed A Little Too Hard On The Subject, Which May Have Appeared As Pitying Her. She Teleported From The Room Shortly After, And Not In The Greatest Mood.” He shook his head, looking down at the fountain's basin in thought. Red let out a whistle at the information, while Stretch came back and sat on the edge of the fountain.

“Well, so what if she can't pop a few babies? Not like humans need to keep fucken breedin’ anyway." Red huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked away dismissively from the group.

“Well, In Human Culture I Believe It Is Something That Many People Struggle With And Worry Over. Regardless, I Ate Breakfast With Her And Had A Little Heart To Heart. Did She Explain Anything About Her Scars?” He asked while glancing between the three with a serious expression on his face.

“Nah, we forgot to ask her about it. She did say

something

about it when we initially met up today…” Stretch's face contorted in thought as he tried to remember what she had said to them earlier.

Papyrus nodded his head with certainty, “Her Father Did That To Her. I Have A Feeling That The Reason She No Longer Speaks With Her Family And Took This Job Has Something To Do With It. She Doesn't Miss Her Family, She Was Trying To Get Away From Them.”

Sans felt sudden boiling anger fill his chest that momentarily clouded his thoughts. He didn't understand why the idea of someone hurting her filled him with such a strong need to protect her; he barely knew the woman, and yet here he was consumed by feelings of rage and uncertainty. He couldn't remember the last time he had such a strong reaction.

Stretch and Red seemed to share his own feelings. The area filled with the mixed scents of anger and buzzing magic.

There was a small static noise that echoed quietly, but it went unnoticed and ignored as they all tried to calm themselves.

Papyrus noticed his behavior and gave him a knowing look, it was as if he could sense the turmoil inside him. He and Papyrus both understood that kind of pain.

“You know, it’s always the hot ones with daddy issues.” Red's attempt to break the tense silence only drew harsh glares from everyone present, causing him to immediately stop his chuckles.

“Anyway…There's Another Thing. She Can Smell Our Magic, She Knows Our Scents.”

The group fell silent, the sound of nature and water around them being their only company at the moment.

Suddenly, Red spoke up, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he looked for confirmation from Papyrus, “Shit…so that’s what the fuck she meant when she was askin’ ‘bout her own earlier…”

“That…really complicates things. Are you sure bro?”

It made sense; it explained why he suddenly had such intense feelings towards her safety. If what Papyrus said was true, however, he would rather not consider the implications of what it really meant.

However, it

would

explain his lewd, intrusive thoughts.

“I Don't Know If It's From Her…Tech…Or If It's The Same Rules That Apply In Our Universe, But Yes.” Papyrus looked at him with a stern expression, which only made him want to shrink away from his brother.

He wasn't lying.

“Fuuuuck…” Stretch let the word draw out, leaning back with both his hands on his face.

“If she can actually smell our magic…We're getting into soul-mate territory. That's not…

damn it

.” Sans growled out, beginning to pace around the area.

“You Must Have Had Some Kind Of Similar Reaction To Mine. When You Get Close To Her, You Can Feel It, Right? There's Some Kind Of Draw She Has To Her. Even Though We've Been Here Less Than Two Days, As Soon As I Hugged Her, I Knew. Her Scent Is

Addicting

, Almost Like A Drug That Hazes Over Your Mind. It's Not The Same As Other Humans Or Even Monsters.”

“That could just be because of the Tech, we don't know for sure. Even if it's true, it just makes her a soul-mate candidate, nothing for sure. Is it a side effect of her abilities…? No, maybe it's got something to do with her level of knowledge of us…?” Sans rambled off, continuing to pace around with his hand on his chin as he tried to piece together any other option to explain Lilly's ability to smell them.

He noticed that before he knew anything about her or had any idea of what technology was inside of her body, he was already drawn to her. Her presence seemed intoxicating, almost like she was calling out to him on some primal, hidden level.

Stretch mumbled with concern etched on his features, “I wonder if

that's

why we're so sensitive to her feelings, especially arousal. It happened earlier too.”

“This…is way too much shit for one fucken day.” Red sighed, shaking his head.

“Tell Me About It. I Was Beginning To Wonder If They Had Drugged Us, Given How Quickly My Body And Soul Reacted Near Her. It Feels Wrong, In A Way, How Fast It Happened. You All Know As Well As I Do What This Means.”  Papyrus shook his head, but he had a sly grin on his face now.

“I mean, we don't even know if our universe's rules can be applied here. It could just be because of her technology, just the way she was made. We need…” Sans trailed off, looking at his brother with wide eyes.

“Sans…You Know If You Ask To See Her Soul, She'd Probably Agree. But

I

Do Not. That's…I Think We Should Trust Our Gut For Now, It’s Way Too Soon To Ask For That. Hell, It's Too Soon To Tell Her

Any

Of This. You Know Humans Take Things Very Slow. They Barely Understood Monster Relationships Back Home, So I Highly Doubt It Would Even Begin To Make Any Sense Here.”

“Wait, wait, wait! I think we are jumping way too ahead of ourselves right now! That one little thing does not guarantee she's a soulmate. We've all touched her and it didn't feel like there were sparks flying or…or…you know what I mean!” Stretch’s voice was slightly high pitched from his panic, pacing now and shaking his head.

“T-That's right! Shit is already as complicated as it is, we can't go addin’ more into it just cause we think she's soulmate material…stars fucken ABOVE WE BARELY KNOW HER!” Red shouted, slamming his fist into a nearby tree. The sound of his fist hitting the dense wood reverberated throughout the dome, birds scattering once more.

“Well, Have All Three Of You Touched Her?” Papyrus cocked his head, waiting for a response.

The three looked at each other before slowly nodding.

“And I'm Assuming You've Been Suddenly Plagued With Lewd Thoughts Of Her, The Urge To Be Closer To Her, Hold Her, Protect Her?” He let a small grin slide over his face as he looked at them knowingly.

The silence was deafening. Sans could feel his skull ringing, a sense of dread and excitement viciously fighting in his soul with his brother's questions.

Papyrus was

right

.

Lilly…was their soulmate from another universe.

She was

every pair of brothers' soulmate

.

“Fuck…me.” He breathed, fear etched across his face.

“Play Your Cards Right And Maybe She Will, Brother.” Papyrus snorted. Sans thought his eyes couldn't grow any wider at how bold his brother was being right now. Confused, choked noises left his throat as he gaped, his face lighting up with his magic in embarrassment.

“Papyrus!” He shouted now, not understanding where this behavior was coming from. His brother wasn't a baby bones anymore, he knew that, but this was just so out of character.

“Look, I'm Not Going To Overthink This And Neither Should Any Of You. Just Stick With What We Discussed Yesterday. We Treat Her Normally And See Where Things Go.”

“You know it's not that simple bro. This changes everything, this makes it all so much more fucking complicated…”

“Sans, We Were Probably Sent Here For A Reason, And I'd Bet She's That Reason. I'm Going To, As They Say, Shoot My Shot With Her. We Can't Do Anything Until H.Q. Makes The First Move, So I Will Not Spend My Time Trying To Play Mind Games And Worrying About It. We Are Alone, On A Private Resort With Our Soulmate For Who Knows How Long With Everything We Could Ever Want And MORE!” Papyrus threw his hands up in the air, exasperated and frustrated as he spoke.

“I Am Going To Have Fun, I Am Going To Not Overthink This Until It Is Necessary, And

I Am Going To Court Our Soulmate.

We Have Earned That Right After Being Caged For Three Years And She Deserves Proper Partners In Every Sense.” He crossed his arms, looking at the three with a hardened gaze.

Before Sans even had time to process half of the things Papyrus had thrown at him, the little bands on their wrists beeped.

“Hey guys, are you all okay out there? I got some weird readings for your magic levels and wanna make sure you're all alright.”

Lilly.

Her voice cut through the air, slight static echoing through the wristbands.

All four of them froze.

“Uh…yeah. Just talking…” Sans replied, looking at his bracelet with uncertainty. He wasn't sure if he was supposed to press something or if it would just pick up his voice, both thoughts leaving him concerned.

“Oh, alright. Just checking! Don't do anything I wouldn't do.”

Her laughter sounded strange coming from four different bracelets at the same time, echoing around them. The bracelets beeped one more time, signaling she was no longer on the line.

Could she…listen in to their conversations?

She didn't sound upset or panicked, but he couldn't know for sure.

Had she heard everything they had been saying? Did she know? Would she invade their privacy like that? Would she freak out if they told her? Was

he

freaking out?

He was too afraid of any of those answers to say anything else.

“Just Act Like You Have Been So Far, Save For Yesterday Morning. Talk With Her, Get To Know Her, Spend Time With Her. I Think It Will Become Much More Obvious Once You Get To Know Her More. We Have Time, Money, And Plenty Of Things To Do, So Take It Easy For Once And Enjoy Yourselves.” With a wave of his hand and a sigh, Papyrus turned around and began walking away.

“We…are so fucken screwed.” Stretch sighed, and Sans and Red could only nod their heads in agreement.

.

.

.

Lilly was not a woman you could easily scare, not after everything she had been through. She had spent years in brutal training, digging deep into her soul to find an inner strength like none other. She was numb to any moments or scenarios that could make even the most hardened soldier tremble in fear.

But this was not one of those moments.

The X0 system had unlocked access to their bracelets when a loud warning blared through her head. It demanded her attention to the spike in hostile magic and she had no choice but to answer. With the long distance between them, the system automatically opened a direct line of communication to the skeletons…

Where she had heard
everything
.

Every last word that was uttered from the men on the other side of the line. Their words reverberated in her mind, as if echoing to taunt her, forcing her to accept what had been said. Anxiety began to creep up on her as she felt herself unable to control what was happening around her, wreaking chaos on the well-honed composure she had worked hard for so many years disappearing as they spoke.

As soon as Sans confirmed they were all okay, she responded as lightheartedly as she could, and then cut the line.

It seemed none of them knew just how long the line had actually been open, how long she had listened. She hadn't done it on purpose, not wanting to interrupt their conversation, but she felt guilt swell in her chest as they spoke about her.

As they spoke about things she was never meant to know.

Her crouched body trembled, arms clinging to her knees as she nuzzled her face into her forearms. Her skin felt like it was on fire, every pore and follicle prickling with fear and borderline excitement. The coolant strips on her arms ran wild with a mix of color; purple and sea green, intermixing in chaotic swirls thanks to the thunderous pounding of her heart. The air coming out of her lungs hissed between clenched teeth, shallow breaths forced their way out of her as her throat desperately tried to remain open.

She could feel tears threatening to roll down from the corners of her eyes, shut tightly against the onslaught of emotions that were crashing against the shores of her mind. She pictured herself laying there - a broken shell - letting the waves consume her until everything just stopped existing altogether. The feeling of dissociation rolled over her

This could not be happening.

Sweat slicked her skin while her fists clenched tight as her nails cut into her palms, working desperate to push away the panic that threatened to engulf her entirely.

As if things weren’t already bad enough, they were about to get a whole lot worse. In less than 48 hours, she had gone from dreaming of these scenarios to having potentially marked off one of the most common tropes ever written—soulmates.

A sweet dream before, now…a nightmare.

Flirting was one thing, but harmless banter and risky innuendos did not pose the same threat as life binding ties that a soulmate link did.

This was not what she signed up for; she was a trained killer, a bio-weapon trained in thousands of different forms of combat and strategy.

None of that included romance or soulmates from another fucking universe.

The thought sent a wave of terror through her body that caused her vision to blur and the darkness of dissociation threatened to take over. Moving on autopilot, she got up and stumbled towards the training room where she found some semblance of solace when no other could be found.

A spacious area occupied by various workout equipment and tools hung up against the walls and littered across the floor. To the left stood a large terminal which she made her way over to slowly before plugging in some credentials and setting the program up to randomize a set of exercises for herself - something ordinary, mundane even;

just

enough to drag her back into the tangible world again, however briefly it might be.

She felt like she was going to OverHeat, hell, she welcomed it, practically begging for the potential pain to flush through her body. To drag her back down to reality from how fast her mind was floating away from her.

She was in a daze as she moved to the center of the room, unsure of when the training robots that had materialized to attack her.

Her body moved like a hot knife through butter, sending flurry after flurry of punches and kicks at her assailants, dodging left and right with inhuman speed and agility.

Her head was so loud yet so empty; it felt as if thousands of questions were being hurled inside her mind all at once, thousands of scenarios, thousands of things that could potentially go wrong, each more terrifying than the last.

Pain ripped through her chest like knives yet she forced herself to endure it, hoping desperately that there was some mistake.

Hoping, even praying silently that it wasn't what she feared it was, the aching she had felt in her chest the last two days.

The voice of Papyrus broke through the mental fog, reminding her of his words .

That she deserved

proper partners

.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

She had been chosen by the government and turned into a killing machine, an abomination to be contained yet unleashed when needed. Reborn from the bowels of the government to rip and tear through anything and everything they wanted her to.

Even the boys, if they commanded it so.

“Break them if you need to, just don't kill them. You've been given clearance to use force when and if necessary, or if you just feel like it. As long as they can still walk and talk when we need them, I don't care what you do.”

Images of G.E.'s face flitted across her mind as the training dummy in front of her exploded into a million tiny pieces from the impact of her punch. The debris bounced and echoed harshly off the walls, oil and grime flying in several directions.

If looks could kill, her face would have been an instant death sentence.

They deserved someone other than her. But fate had damned them, throwing these poor souls onto a path lined with misery and despair led by none other than herself. They were doomed to follow in the wake of destruction that has become synonymous with her life, a hell she wished upon no one.

Especially not her supposed soulmates.

“...lly?”

She wasn't sure what number of dummies she had destroyed, only two being left as they circled her.

She lunged forward quickly, morphing her right arm into a massive clawed appendage as she struck down both. Parts and circuitry flew everywhere, oil splattering against the floor in a violent manner.

“...ly..?”

Her breathing was ragged, not from exertion, but from the panic that raced under her skin. It writhed around in her chest like a centipede, gnawing at her insides and threatening to consume her.

“LILLY!”

Blue's shouting echoed in the room, and she whipped around in a panic to look for him.

He and Edge were standing in the doorway of the training hall. Edge looked irritated, while Blue had slight concern on his face.

Her face flushed, looking away from the two quickly to hide her feelings that bubbled to the surface of her skin.

“Oh fuck, sorry I was…I was just training.” She muttered, flicking her massive clawed hand of the oil and carnage that stained it. It quickly shifted back to her normal arm, her skin melding in a mesmerizing way as it moved.

“I Was Beginning To Wonder If You Had Gone Deaf.” Edge huffed, walking further into the room to survey the destruction of the thirty or so training bots.

His voice.

Your soulmate's voice.

She shivered.

This was like Pandora's box; now that it had been opened, there was no going back, no closing it and forgetting about it in the corner of her mind. It had unleashed a flurry of emotions and waves of thoughts that refused to leave her be, almost crushing her with the weight of how heavy they seemed to sit on her shoulders.

“You Seem Pretty Out Of It, You Okay?” Blue's voice cut through her thoughts, and she finally looked back up at the pair.

She

needed

to get her shit together.

She still needed to apologize for what happened in the kitchen this morning, and about a hundred other things for how she's been acting. She was a hardened fucking solider and she was not going to let this stupid shit like this overwhelm her. Not when she had more important things to do.

She was a fucking Overseer, and it was time to act like one.

“Yeah actually…I wanted to actually apologize for…fuck just for everything.” She moved her hands around nervously, exasperated by everything that had been happening.

“I had no right to snap at you in that hallway Edge. I had no right to do that when I never even gave you a chance to understand why I was upset, and it wasn't fucking fair or right. You all should have never had to apologize to me,” The words kept pouring from her mouth, her nerves making her hands fidget as she spoke, “and I don't blame any of you for what you said to me. Blue, you were absolutely right. You all

don't

know me, and that makes this all the more fucked up. This morning was even worse, and I'm sorry about that too. You guys seemed genuinely worried and sympathetic for me, and I shouldn't-”

“Stars Above Woman, Shut The Fuck Up.” Edge huffed, grabbing her by the shoulder as he stepped closer. She flinched slightly from his touch, not due to fear, but because of how it sent a tingle across her exposed shoulder and flesh.

“I…Sorry?” Lilly blinked a few times, looking at him with wide, startled eyes. As he stood in front of her, she was hit with his scent.

Cedar, dandelions, and something similar to fresh baked bread.

It made her head spin.

“Stop Fucking Apologizing, It More Annoying Than That Stupid White Dog I Used To Deal With. You…” He removed his hand, holding the bridge of his nose and sighing, a frustrated look on his face.

“Lilly, Thank You For Your Apology. We…You Are Just As Much A Victim In This As We Are, And We Realized That. We've Talked A Few Things Over And We Know You're Probably Having A Hard Time With This Just As Much As We Are.” Blue grinned, but he did have a look of slight concern on his face as he spoke.

“The Blueberry Here Is Correct. While Your Apology Is Warranted For

Some

Of It, I Do Not Place The Majority Of The Blame On You Either.”

“But I'm not…Okay wait, wait, I'm not really a victim here. You guys were stolen from your homes, locked away and then forced to be stuck here with me. I promise you, I'm way better off in the scenario than you guys are, which is

not

cool. I'm not going to put my experiences next to yours and call it the same thing.” She spoke quickly, shaking her head at their words.

“Dammit Woman, I Told You To Shut It. If You Want To Apologize Then Be A Good Little Human, Shut Up And

Listen

.” Edge sent her a small glare, but there didn't seem to be any malice in it.

She immediately tightened her lips, eyes widening. A blush ran along her cheeks, but she didn't look away.

Fuck

.

“Now, As We Were Saying…” He started, but Blue cut him off by grabbing both her shoulders and looking at her seriously.

What the fuck is up with them touching me, oh my god PLEASE-

She knew the answer to her own question, but decided it was better to play dumb and live in denial, because…why not.

Blue's scent found her nose next, mingling with Edge's.

Apple pie, fresh rain, and the scent you get walking into a new store, crisp and bright.

“Lilly, We Get It. This Entire Situation Is Really Fucked Up, But You Are Not The Enemy Here And We Know That Now. We've All Got Our Own Issues, Problems, And Traumatic Shit That We Have To Navigate On Our Own. We Will Make Mistakes, All Of Us. So, You Need To Stop Overthinking And Beating Yourself Up Over It.” He pulled back, surveying the surrounding damage of the robots.

“Well, Beating Up These Things…Works Instead I Guess.” A grin formed on his lips as he gave her a side eye.

“You Should Understand That We All Had Time On Our Surface's. Time To Grow And…Experience Things. We Know Trauma Is Complex And Being Thrown Into A New Situation Is Going To Make Tensions High. What I'm Trying To Say Is…Stop Talking So Fucking Much And Over Explaining Yourself. We'll Figure It Out As Time Goes On.” Edge crossed his arms, looking down at her.

Well, this was not at ALL what she was expecting.

Between Blue's attitude and swears, to Edge's slight softness in the way he regarded the matter, it all…was a lot.

She was sure her face was lit up brightly, she could feel the way her coolant swirled under her skin.

“I…Okay, yeah.” She only gave a tiny nod, unable to form the words to say anything else. They were not only forgiving her, but telling her that they were

all

treding into new territory. Mistakes were going to be made and buttons were going to be pushed.

Sometimes she forgot that monsters are originally made from kindness, and she wasn't giving them the credit they deserved. Fanart and Fanfiction had really clouded her judgment, and while they definitely weren't canon in their personalities, she would really need to stop assuming.

“And While I Know I Am Very Handsome, You Need To Calm Yourself. I Can Smell Your Sex From A Mile Away.”

Edge stated it so casually that Lilly choked.

She was coughing violently as she choked on her spit. She tried covering her face, unsure of what the

hell

Edge had just said to her. Through her fit, she watched Blue elbow him in the ribs, earning a yelp of annoyance from Edge as he glared at him.

“Stars Edge, Have Some Manners! You Know Humans Are Sensitive About That Kind Of Thing!”

“Well She's Making The Entire Room Smell Of It! I Can Even Smell It Over The Oil!”

“Humans Can't Control That, And You Can't Just Say That Kind Of Stuff To Her!”

“It's Not Like She's Denying it!”

“Well, Maybe It's Because She's Fucking Choking?!”

“Based On The Smell, It Seems Like She Wants To Choke On Something Else.”

“EDGE!”

“WHAT?!” I HAVE DONE

NOTHING

WRONG!”

“YOU JUST INSINUATED SHE WANTS TO SUCK YOUR DICK!”

“AND?!”

“YOU'RE JUST AS BAD AS RED, OH MY GOD! NOW I KNOW WHERE HE GETS IT FROM!”

“Both of you shut the fuck up! Oh my god, I think…I think I'm going to pass out…oh my god…” She hollered between laughs.

Lilly was wheezing at this point, laughing as their banter continued on, going from casual talking to yelling as they went back and forth. She went from choking to laughing so hard she thought that this would be the one thing to

actually

kill her.

She didn’t figure that Edge and Blue would have such a good friendship based on what she knew. However, by the way they interacted and hung around each other, she could see how close they were.

“Y-you…I can

not

fucking handle this dude…I'm gonna throw up, holy fuck.” She continued laughing, trying to calm herself down as she sucked in air, wiping away the tears that had formed in her eyes.

“Do Not Puke On Me, For The Love Of God.” She let out another laugh, watching as Edge stepped back. While he had a slight look of disgust, she took note of the small grin on his lips.

“Lilly, I'd Like To Offer One More Apology, But Not For Me, For Him.” Blue shook his head, grinning now as well.

“It's fine, it's fine…christ. Okay, firstly, that entire interaction just gave me fucking whiplash. Secondly, I did not know that you guys could smell

that

so strongly and I'm…kinda only half sorry.” Lilly had a massive smile on her face, the tension leaving her shoulders as she calmed herself down. The worries and fears she had earlier seemed to melt away, settling themselves down in her mind to re-examine for another time.

She was still concerned, and overwhelmed, but that could be addressed another time. There was no point in staying worked up, not when she had things to do and people to take care of now.

“Told You She Wasn't Going To Deny It.” Edge smirked, raising a brow at her and she only shook her head.

“You Are Unbelievable, I Swear.” Blue huffed, eyeing her as if to say, ‘please don't encourage this’.

“Hey, I told you guys that I’m a fangirl. I gave you fair warning, I'm only half ashamed of myself, but give me 20 minutes and even that little bit of dignity I have left will disappear.” She gave Edge a devilish grin, who in return had a small blush crawl over his face.

“Ah yeah, just like your brother you can dish it out but you can’t really take it. Now, ignoring everything that just happened, what did you guys need from me?” She tilted her head, looking between the two as Edge sputtered to think of something to say back.

“Oh! We Wanted To See If You Would Join Us In The Game Room. We Haven't Had The Chance To Look It Over Yet, And Stretch Told Me Nothing In There Had Been Touched. You Haven't Played Any Of The Games Since You've Been Here?” Blue asked her, looking at her with slight confusion.

“Oh, uh yeah. It didn't feel right to touch anything since this stuff's not really for me. I had my hands pretty full anyway, with all the Overseer stuff I needed to do, so it all just kinda sat in there.” She shrugged, ignoring the looks Edge and Blue shared with each other.

“But, I'd love to join you. I just gotta call the maids to come clean.” She zoned out for a second, sending some notifications to a handful of maids that the training room would need to be deep cleaned before the end of the day. She sent the order off, knowing it would cause their collars to alert them to where they were needed.

“Did You Just Do That In Your Head?” Blue asked, looking at her with curiosity as they began moving out of the training room together.

“Yup, It's like I have a computer in my head, and I just send them little text messages to let them know what to do.”

“That…Actually Seems Fairly Convenient.” Edge mumbled, holding his chin with his hand.

“It is. I fucking hate talking to those cunts.”

“You Seem To Really Dislike The Maids. Why?” Blue pressed the button on the elevator as he asked, turning to look at her.

“It's not

just

the maids, but…humans in general I can't stand. They

are

bitches though, don't get me wrong. I've never done anything to them and was actually looking forward to having company in the beginning. But, after some shit with the last head maid, a fucked story I'll tell you some other time, they started treating me like the plague. Anyway, they gossiped to hell and back about both you guys and myself, and not good things either. They’re not interested in anything other than their paychecks. Humans can suck my fucking dick.” She smiled, stepping into the elevator as they followed behind her.

“But, You Yourself Are Human.” Edge raised a brow, leaning back against the elevator wall.

“Not anymore.” A sly grin rolled over her face as the elevator doors shut.

.

.

.

Lilly couldn't remember the last time she had actually stepped foot in the game room, but damn did she wish she had.

The interior of the massive room reminded her of a love child between a Dave & Busters and an arcade, with a bit of GameStop thrown in for good measure. Colorful lighting and neon glowed from every corner of the massive square room from the different machines.

The carpeted floor was something out of a bowling alley, with little neon swirls and circles decorating it like a toddler on cocaine. The walls were a deep gray, almost black in color. The dim lighting gave the place an even greater feeling of nostalgia to all the machines and consoles set up around the area.

To the left from the entrance were large pinball machines and colorful arcade games like Dig-Dug and Galaga lined up in neat rows. Across from them, there was an area full of rhythm games like Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and driving simulators like rideable bikes. Further down, air hockey tables, foosball, Skee-Ball, and many other carnival-style games were tucked away in a corner.

In the back rested several PC's and desks, surrounding two comfortable couches. Four large TV's hung on the wall with game consoles stored beneath them. Between the screens were towering bookshelves filled with classic board games and video game cases. On the right side of the room, glass cases glowed with pairs of VR headsets with empty floor space to allow for a comfortable play area.

The noise was almost overwhelming; the steady hums of the machines mixed with music and sound effects created a symphony that echoed throughout the space.

“What…The Fuck.” Blue breathed out, turning to slowly look at Lilly.

“Well, It's been a while since I checked this place out. I forgot how fucking cool it is!” She grinned, rushing to the left to check out one of her favorite games, DDR. Blue And Edge followed behind her, both stopping occasionally to view the hundreds of machines that lined either side of them.

“This…This Is Actually Insane, Lilly. This Is INSANE! HOLY SHIT!” Blue reached out and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her back and forth as he shouted. She watched as his eyelights formed into stars as he shook her, his head whipping around as he looked over everything and laughed.

The view of him made something in her pause. Seeing his bones light up from the different neon colors of the arcade machines, and the noise that filtered around them.

She more than understood how surreal it all was.

“I KNOW! ISN’T IT FUCKING COOL! She hollered back while laughing, grabbing his forearms as they both freaked out together.

She really hadn't given herself the chance to genuinely process how crazy it all was, and this was only

one

of the rooms in the building. It felt like a fever dream, taking in the immense and overwhelming room with two people she never thought she'd see in real life.

The stress of everything seemed to truly melt away, allowing herself to fully enjoy the happiness and excitement of the moment.

“This Is Complete And Utter Overkill. I Don't…Why In The

Hell

Would The Government Even Sign Off On Something So Fucking Frivilous And Pointless!” Edge huffed, his sockets wide as he took the place in, his eyelights lingering on one of the pinball machines behind the DDR setup.

“I've learned to stop asking questions and just enjoy it. Take your own advice and don't overthink it, just pick something and go fucking nuts!” Lilly laughed, stepping towards the dance platform. The bright lights were intense for her sensitive eyes, but the music and themes that blared from the large machine's speakers made her all the more excited. When was the last time she got to play any kind of game, let alone an arcade machine?

“Yo, Blue, wanna have a little competition?” She smiled, watching as he turned away from one of the many machines. A devious grin rolled over his face as he looked at the rythm game and back to her.

“Oh, Think You've Got Better Moves Than Me, The Magnificent Blue, Huh?” He walked over, stepping up to her right on the platform.

“Oh,

I bet your boney fucking ass I do

.”

“Well Then, Your Jiggly Ass Versus My Boney Ass. Don't Be Too Upset When I Get The Higher Score.”

“D-Did you just call my ass jiggly?” She laughed, raising a brow at him as she touched the screen, the song list coming up as she flickered through it.

“Well, If Our Asses Are Boney, Your's Is Jiggly. Would You Rather Me Call It A

Fat

Ass?”

“Only if you use it with a ‘PH’.” She snorted, scrolling through the almost endless list. She could hear Blue sputter as he tried to contain his own laughter at the remark.

They had two different machines, but this one had been loaded with songs from several different eras of the game. As she scrolled, a familiar song popped up. She grinned wickedly, sending Blue a devious look.

“That Doesn't Even Make Any Sense. I Would Also Assume All That Flesh Would Slow You Down, So I Will Place My Faith In Berry To Kick Your Ass.” Edge had appeared behind her, grinning as he leaned over the support bar to eye what they were doing.

“I'm being ganged up on! This is a hate crime…probably.” She feigned hurt, selecting the familiar song and setting the difficulty to expert.

“I Would Say Don't Worry, But You Should. I Won't Go Easy On You.” He smiled as the song loaded, preparing himself as he settled his boots on the left and right arrow.

“Oh you're fucking

on

, this song is my life blood baby.” She shifted her own feet, glancing down at the colorful arrows as the narrator shouted ‘STEP!’.

Butterfly

began blaring through the speakers while the fake stage lights flashed in different colors. The nostalgia was intense as she trembled in excitement.

“

This

Is The Song You Picked?” Edge huffed loudly behind her, and she assumed he was rolling his eyes at the cheesy sounding music.

“Do NOT disrespect my girl Butterfly, this is a CLASSIC!” She hollered over the music, the notes quickly forming and she began to move her feet in time with them.

As the song played on, the smile never left her or Blue's face. As they would hit double notes, turning to face each other, Blue had a wicked grin on his face as he sent her a teasing wink.

“Would Be A Shame If You Tripped, Better Not Get Distracted!” He raised his voice, feet moving quickly as he kept up with the onslaught of notes.

“Blue, you would never think of cheating to win, right?” Lilly smirked, her feet gliding in time with his as they stomped away.

“Never!” He declared, huffing a little from the exertion as the notes sped up.

“Oh boy, you already getting tired?” She raised a playful brow, singing along goofily as Blue kept his focus on the screen.

She had an unfair advantage—being a cyborg meant that her reflexes were much quicker. Her coordination made stomping on the notes a breeze and she couldn't help but show off a bit, swirling around on one of the notes to face Edge.

He merely raised a challenging brow, his hand resting on his fist, elbow propped up on the bar as he watched her. His amused expression made

butterflies

dance in her stomach.

Ha, funny punny.

She beamed at him before turning back to the game quickly.

“Seems To Me You're Getting A Little Cocky, Lilly. What Do You Think Edge? Are Humans Usually So Sure Of Themselves?” Blue panted slightly now; sweat forming on his brow as he glanced over his shoulder at Edge. He was slowing down but hadn't missed any notes yet as the music echoed on.

“Humans Usually Are. Though, You'll Be Lucky To Beat Her At This Rate.” Edge's voice sounded close behind her ear now, causing goosebumps to race down her neck.

“If either of you are thinking of cheating then you better be prepared for the consequences motherfuckers!” She threatened between lyrics, warmth radiating through her body as she noticed Blue’s smirk in her peripheral vision. Neither of them had missed a single note and it seemed that this match was going to end in a tie if it kept up.

“You Are The One With An Unfair Advantage, Though. If Anything, You Should Have Given Him Some Kind Of Handicap. Quite…Naughty, Playing Dirty Like This.” Edge leaned himself just over her shoulder, whispering just loud enough over the music for her to make out what he had said.

“Don't start that shit, you bastard! I know what you're doing!” She huffed loudly while Blue let out a laugh next to her.

“Hey, All's Fair In Love And War. I Can't Control Him, So I'm Innocent.”

“Innocent my ass!” She huffed, the flush on her face evident that Edge was getting a bit more under her skin than she liked.

“Oh, We Both Know That Ass Is

Not

Innocent.” Edge suddenly growled in her ear, and she stumbled for a second, missing a single note that put Blue just barely in the lead.

One. Fucking. Note.

“OH YOU MOTHER FUCKER!” She shouted, face bright red as she tried to refocus. But, it was too late, the end of the song appearing as the notes trailed off.

Blue was declared the winner of the game, jumping and pumping his fist as he shouted. Lilly turned slowly to face Edge, a deadpan look on her face as she stared him down.

Oh, if looks could kill.

“Let's Fucking Go! Teamwork Makes The Dream Work.” He smirked, turning and giving Edge a high five, who shared his look of satisfaction.

“That…is so. Fucking. CHEATING! You did that shit on purpose.” She huffed out pointing at them both as she stepped off the platform.

“You're A Human Supercomputer With An Apparent Weakness For Skeleton's And You Think We

Aren't

Going To Take Advantage Of That?” Blue laughed, nudging her in the side as they made their way further down the aisle.

“I-...That's…well fuck.” She huffed, shaking her head as she tried to think of a reply.

“Fighting Dirty Is One Of The Best Tactics There Is. It Can't Be Helped When Up Against Someone Like Yourself.” Edge crossed his arms, making his way over to a Harley Davidson themed pinball machine.

“It's not

my

fault! Not like I can control that…Oh Pinball!” She huffed, before quickly averting her attention to the bright machine. She ran over, standing next to Edge as she leaned over the side of the machine excitedly. Blue followed behind, but tapered off as he eyed one of the bike racing simulators.

“And We Can't Control How Easy It Is To Tease You, So Here We Are.” He huffed, eyeing the coin slot before pushing the button tentatively. All of the games had been modified so that they never required money, so the boys could play as much as they liked.

“Well, one of these days you guys are going to get a taste of your own medicine and I will

not

be sorry.” She rolled her eyes, while Edge raised an eyebrow at her confession.

“Then You Can't Blame Any Of Us For What Might Happen To You.” He smirked, causing another tingle to roll down her spine.

The sound of a motorcycle roared through the machine as it lit up, and Lilly chose to remain silent for her own sanity's sake after that.

“Now, Watch Me Absolutely Decimate This Silly Machine Of Yours.” He boasted, resting his large hands against the sides as he prepared the first ball.

And decimate he did.

He hadn't even lost his first ball yet, sitting at a hefty half a million points within the first few minutes. The machine would let out dings and chimes that echoed around them as she watched him play.

She looked up for a moment, wondering where Blue had gone, only to see him sitting on one of the motor bike games and riding it well. He looked a little funny, being so much larger than what the bike was meant to handle, but seemed to be using it to his advantage as he tilted to either side atop it.

She glanced down again, watching as Edge's fingers tapped away at the bumper buttons. She allowed her mind to slightly drift as the ambient noise of the room and the countless games filled her ears.

Soulmates.

She had multiple soulmates, from another universe, who were sitting here playing arcade games with

her

. A superhuman cyborg made by the government with a pretty massive kill streak.

Lilly felt her skin tighten uncomfortably, a sudden and painful thought ripping her from the moment of enjoyment.

She was meant to fill out a monthly report for H.Q. each month before she went in for a coolant change. SImple things, like their behaviors, how they were getting along, and how they were adjusting to this environment.

Would…Would she have to report them as her soulmates?

What would H.Q. do if they found out?

Did they even

know

about Soulmates?

Lilly felt a shiver of fear at the idea of them testing any of the monster's souls, or even her own. For the first time in her entire employment, she knew she was going to have to keep her mouth shut.

Disobeying orders or withholding information was against her contract. The consequences of this would be devastatingly severe if it ever got out.

But…

She glanced back up at Edge, watching his face screwed in intense concentration, but with a small smile there.

She would be willing to risk it, to keep them happy.

To keep them safe here.

Even if it meant keeping them safe from herself.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It had been a grueling two weeks for Lilly since the boys arrived. With the soulmate discovery Papyrus had shared with the others, it seemed as though her personal space was shrinking by the second. No matter where she went or what she did, they were there. Desperate to be close to her, no matter the cost to her sanity. She was supposed to be blissfully unaware of the changes and information, chalking it up to them trying to grow closer with her, but she knew better.They were playing a dangerous fucking game. Every movement felt like a calculated attempt at seduction. They always managed to place a gentle hand on her back or arm when passing by. Innocent remarks about her looks or clothing began to linger in the surrounding air, and compliments never seemed to stop pouring in whenever she wore something even slightly revealing. Invitations for games, exercises and cooking together constantly arose from every direction, driving her further up the wall each time. Every day felt like being edged, teased without ever being satisfied. Tormenting her with playful gestures and flirty expressions, these boys knew exactly what it was doing to her and how far they could push without crossing the line. Red and Stretch had both made passing comments about how much nicer the entire grounds smelled, and she had to physically stop herself from punching either of them in the ribs.What had shocked her more was how forward Papyrus and Edge seemed to have become in the recent week. Papyrus had been openly flirting with her, making bold comments about how well she seemed to take care of herself and commenting on her muscles. Edge had been watching her training sessions and offering her advice, but more surprisingly had been asking her for advice on his form. They had been handsy, flirty, and down right devious in the last few days, and she was starting to think she was actually going insane.It wouldn’t be as difficult if it wasn’t giving her such severe whiplash. She had no idea that out of all of them, Papyrus would be the most forward so far.Watching all the personalities slowly blossom out of each of the skeletons was interesting, but it didn’t help the growing feelings of attraction to them. She noted how Blue and Edge seemed to be fairly close with each other, which had caught her off guard. Red, Stretch also seemed to be close, with Sans and Paps mingling between the groups. As they began to open up to her more, she tried returning the favor by sharing some of her interests with them. Horror movies, RPG’s and baking, all of which each of the skeletons could find relatable with her. Good or bad? She wasn’t sure yet.Not today, though. She knew her fuse was burning out, frustration growing from her own embarrassment and skittish behavior around the men. But she was ready for it, and actually excited, to give them a taste of their own medicine. She had it all planned out in her mind: opting to wear a very thin black crop top with a fishnet shirt underneath. Dressing with no bra, only pasties to help cover her nipple piercings, but from the way her chest moved freely, it was fairly obvious that her chest was lacking in the support department. Tight black spandex shorts hugged her hips and ass with black thigh high socks, and a plain pair of converse shoes to finish out the look. Her plan was simple…make them squirm as she tried to have a semi-important conversation with them. She was going to make them feel embarrassed for having perverted thoughts while she innocently explained the things they wanted to know about her. After all, she had no idea about the soulmate thing, so how was she supposed to know?She remembered Edge's words, smiling deviously.Sometimes, you had to play dirty .They wanted to have a group discussion with her about the rest of the overseers, as well as anything else she could tell them about her abilities. Something they had put off for some time as they had been busy ordering new clothes and items for their respective apartments.She gave herself a once over in the mirror, noting how the shorts really hid nothing from view. As she leaned over onto the bathroom counter, she watched as her full breasts pressed together, the coolant swirled in her lower stomach in excitement.
Oh yeah, you wanna play dirty? I'll make sure your dicks are so hard you'll be walking funny, you fucks.
She stopped suddenly, a blush forming on her cheeks, immediately regretting the thoughts that she had.She was undeniably getting a little cocky, and slightly egotistical as well, with the newfound attention she was receiving from all the hot skeleton men. A slight wave of cringe and embarrassment shot over her. She covered her face with her hands, wondering where the hell she pulled this confidence from. She peeked through her fingers, glancing up into the mirror skeptically at her fresh skin.This had been the longest she’d gone without her skin sheer. It made her wonder why she even requested to have it installed in the first place.Even though she had dropped that facade, she still couldn't help but find something wrong with herself, something that made her feel less than desirable.Her body wasn't exactly the poster child of feminine appeal, either. She had a lot of muscle, with only a slight curve to her waist. She was more masculine now, and while it never used to bother her before, the sudden influx of flirty comments from Papyrus and Edge had her questioning herself. A frustrated sigh and groan left her lips as she shook her head, trying to push away the gnawing lack of self-esteem she suddenly felt crawling its way up her throat. It was either god complex or worthless trash, no in-between, it seemed.Did her supposed soulmates really find her attractive? Being in an isolated environment with no one else to pay attention to, was it only natural that they’d go stir-crazy for each other? Soulmate situation be damned, they had said it themselves. Being locked up for three years with no pussy was apparently a hard thing to deal with, pun intended.She felt a wave of panic at the thought. Her mind swirled, and she could almost feel the anxiety settling like a weight on her chest. Were they only so attentive to her because she was the only one to treat them normally? The bar was pretty fucking low, and there was a list about 100 miles long of fangirls that would love to get their hands on them, and in several places.To treat them right, or possible horribly wrong.She hated the feeling. Hated the uncertainty it brought about. Hated having to consider things that she never would have even imagined before being thrown into this situation.But, that was for another time, another day when she could panic about how complex it all was.
Panic attacks are not cash money. Panic attacks are cringe. Panic attacks do not serve cunt.
Lilly pushed herself away from the bathroom countertop, moving swiftly out of the room as she made her way to the recreational building. They had decided to meet on the top floor, the club. It was past dinner, and the boys had decided to have a more light-hearted talk over drinks and music. A part of her squinted in suspicion at the meeting place they had picked, but she put it off her mind for now. Her outfit was sort of clubish, so she could get away with it.She checked their locations, seeing that they were all on the top floor, moving about as they took in the new area. The clubroom was massive, a large dance floor, many tables and chairs littered around, two different bars, a section of pool tables and poker games, and then, of course, the secret back section.The strip club.She snorted as she waited in the elevator, trying to stifle her laughter of their possible reactions if they ever found it. The thumping of music began to beat against her body as she recognized that someone had found the DJ area. As the music grew louder, she recognized the tune.Hollywood Undead, Everywhere I Go.She rolled her eyes, but a smile still found its way to her lips.The elevator doors opened, and Lilly walked in with a slight saunter to her hips, the song making her want to do some shots and dance. She never got the chance to experience the club scene, let alone any type of party environment considering her circumstances. What would she have been like in a club? Would she have been hit on, or would people have called animal control on her based on her looks? It was a shame she never got to fuck around and find out, she had always wanted to try body shots, at least once. MTV made it look cool as hell.
Mentally, I’m a whore. Emotionally, I’m unavailable. Physically, I’m a dumpster fire. Who wants my number?
She glanced around, shaking off the erratic thoughts. It looked like they had gathered to the back at one of the pool tables.Edge was leaned over, his attention solely focused on the brightly colored balls in front of him. His dark sockets were sharp and calculating as he steadied his pool cue with both hands. He wore a black button-up shirt that was slightly undone at the top to show off his collarbones and ribs, paired with black slacks and dress shoes that gleamed under the dimmed lights of the room. A sleek gold watch sat on his wrist as he adjusted his position and aimed for the shot.Blue, however, leaned back against the adjacent pool table, watching Edge carefully with a grin, his own pool cue resting in one hand. His white t-shirt had a Japanese styled demon printed across the front and was partially tucked into a pair of ragged skinny jeans. The wallet chain hanging from his belt loop glittered as he shifted weight onto one side.Stretch stood next to Blue, practically leaning over on his pool cue, irritation evident in his gaze as he eyed Edge cautiously. He had on a white tank top with an unbuttoned orange shirt layered above it, loosely tucked into blue jeans and white tennis shoes. Smoke rolled between his teeth as he glanced from Edge back to the billiard balls in front of him.Red had his back towards her, so she couldn’t see too much of what he was wearing. It looked like a leather jacket with an intricate skull design painted across its back. Baggy black pants hung low around Red's waist, chains dangling from their sides as he watched the game.Lilly felt nothing but straight panic and heat spread across her skin at the group. They cleaned up incredibly nice, which was not helping her calm down. Seeing them in casual clothes rather than the usual uniform was not something she had on her bucket list, but if there was a god, she was thanking them for this opportunity. Men in uniforms, suits, button ups, Jesus Christ what a fucking feast. 
I think I can hear my pussy meowing. I’m definitely very normal about this, very, very normal in my attraction to giant skeleton monster men.
She looked around to pull herself together, quickly spotting Papyrus as he moved around the bar, stacking various bottles of liquor in his arms. She couldn't help but offer him a friendly smile, although it was hard to miss the raised brow and smirk he threw her way when he noticed her clothing. He had on a long sleeve white shirt, with a black vest and matching slacks that made him look as handsome as ever. A thin black belt cinched around his waist completed the entire outfit.Sans, however, was nowhere to be seen. A quick scan in her head told her he had definitely found the strip club. She had to hold in a laugh as he slowly made his way around, his magic spiking as he saw more and more of her little secret.She looked back to the men, suddenly feeling extremely underdressed. It made her shift uncomfortably as she made her way over to the group."This is the song you picked for our talk? Feels more like a fucking party in here." She smiled, crossing her arms as the few finally looked up at her."Damn right, gotta problem with it, sweet cheeks?" Red laughed, but quickly stopped as his eyes raked over her slowly, lingering on her chest."Eyes are up here, Red." She snapped a finger in front of his face, but was startled as he attempted to snatch her arm. She quickly yanked it back, wiggling her finger at him as she turned around and made her way to snag a bottle of tequila from the bar."Ah, ah, ah. Down boy. I want some shots before you start getting touchy.""She wouldn't even touch you sober Red, congrats." Stretch teased, earning a slew of angry curses from Red as they argued. Lilly merely shook her head, ignoring the two. She could feel their gazes on her back, and a small smile rolled over her lips."You're gonna burn a hole in my ass cheeks if you keep staring like that!" She hollered, a bite of tease in her tone. With a wave of her hand, she quickly made her way behind the bar, hoping to find her favorite.She heard a few of them cough nervously, knowing they had been caught in the act. It made her grin deviously as she reached up and grabbed her favorite bottle of tequila. Taking a quick swig before setting it aside, she bent over again to grab a few cans of sprite to bring back as chasers.Once she was done taking care of her drink of choice, Lilly strutted back over to them wearing a smirk plastered across her features. "So, I didn't think we were getting wasted for this 'talk', but I'm not gonna complain." She grabbed one of the rock glasses Papyrus had brought over with him earlier, pouring a double into it before cracking open her soft drink with another satisfied smile.Papyrus poured himself some kind of whiskey, sniffing it cautiously, a look of uncertainty on his face. "Didn't take you for a whiskey guy, Paps." She commented offhandedly—although part of her was curious to know what drew him to that particular bottle.He raised a brow at her words, taking a sip as he grinned playfully at her reaction. He immediately sputtered and coughed profusely as he tried to tolerate the burning sensation that now flooded his senses. Lilly tried to stifle her laugh, looking away awkwardly as he choked on his drink, while also trying his best not to make too much noise about it either. "Y-you're doing great buddy…!" She wheezed out between bursts of laughter; holding tightly onto her mouth in hopes it would keep the chuckles at bay."Well," Papyrus started after recovering from the coughing fit; carefully placing his glass down upon the coaster beside him. "Maybe Not Wasted, But We Haven't Had The Chance To Party In Sometime. I Figured We Could Sample Some Of The Liquors You Had Here."He motioned with his head towards one of the shelves filled with bottles before grabbing his glass again and taking another tiny sip—cautiously this time around."You, On The Other Hand," He continued; nodding towards Lilly's almost full glass curiously. "Definitely Act Like A Tequila Woman.""I feel like I should be offended!" She laughed before downing the semi-sweet liquid in one go, much to the slight horror of a few of the surrounding men."Jesus Fucking Christ. It Seems Like None Of You Know The Meaning Of The Words Self-Control." Edge huffed, grabbing a different bottle and making his own drink. The others soon followed, making their own respective drinks and shots."I know you did not just do that with a straight face. Tequila is so awful." Stretch shook his head, eyeing her warily as she poured another. He held some kind of jack and coke mix in his hand before pulling out a bottle of honey and pouring a ridiculous amount into the glass. He gave her a wink before chugging the contents."Don't you humans fucking bitch about tequila all the time? Thought y'all hated that stuff, like the ashtray over here." Red chimed in, eyeing her from the side as he downed a shot of his own. She glanced at him, snorting at the assumption. Stretch huffed, but merely rolled his eyes at the comment."Well, humans do. Scientific name, bitch-ass-pussius."Red immediately choked on the shot, coughing harshly as he flickered between irritation and laughter.“Now I feel like I should be offended, sugar.” Stretch teased, downing some of his own.She merely shrugged with a smile.“Damn right! Ya shoulda seen the way humans reacted to monster liquor when we got settled on the surface. Fuckers were choking and stumblin’ around left and right!” Red laughed, pouring himself another.“God, what I would do to try some of Grillby’s drinks. Is it really stronger than what we’ve usually got?” She looked at Red, who was slowly seeming to inch closer to her left. She raised a brow and brought her glass to her lips, choosing to sip on her drink this time, savoring the burn.“Of Course. After We Got Established Above Ground, The Alcohol Content Had To Be Regulated At Bars For Humans. We Don’t Metabolize Alcohol The Way Humans Do, Nor Do We Have The Organs That Would Be At Risk From Such High Alcohol Consumption. I’d Say The Percentage Would Be Closer To Eighty For Them, While Monsters Only Feel What’s Around Thirty To Forty Percent.”  Edge spoke, shooting at the balls on the table. She watched as two striped balls fell into the side pockets, and Stretch let out a hiss of disapproval.“I swear to god he’s cheating. I don’t know how, but I will find out.” He grumbled, and Edge glared at him.“Do Not Accuse Me Of Such Low Tricks Just Because You Cannot Keep Up With My Greatness!” He smirked, crossing his arms and letting Red take the next turn.“Edge? Cheating? Hm, why does that sound so familiar…” Lilly snorted, looking at him curiously as she brought her glass to her mouth. A small blush rolled over his face, and he looked away, adding more chalk to the end of his stick.Blue laughed, walking around the table to get a better look. “Hey, She’s Got A Point.” “You Were the One Who Initiated That! Do Not Play Innocent Now! I Was Merely…Assisting!” Lilly laughed at how flustered Edge seemed to have become from the comment, looking down in her lap as she turned off one of her body’s filters for alcohol. Her body naturally filtered toxins and poisons, one of which was alcohol. She honestly had no idea she could switch it off until one of the tech’s back at H.Q. had asked her about it.Bastards.If she had known, she would’ve gotten drunk way sooner.“You’ve got to be shottin’ me, you’re starting the party without me? I’m hurt.” Sans’s voice rose from her right, and she noted the slight blue tint on his cheek as he made his way over to them. “Not our fault ya went an’ ran off, Classic. Now get over here and do some shots!” Red laughed, downing his drink and prepping another one. Sans raised a brow, but pulled a bottle of ketchup from his hoodie pockets and looked over the selections of liquor curiously.“I can already tell some of you are going to need to be dragged back to your rooms…” She sighed. Edge, Papyrus and Blue looked at her with sympathy over their brother's behaviors. “That’s what makes a great party sugar snap.” Stretch winked at her. She shook her head, knowing this was going to end up being a long, long night....Lilly's head was spinning, a combination of the alcohol and the incessant badgering from the boys. She could feel herself slipping into a pit of embarrassment as they prodded her with questions she never wanted to answer. Yet, they were relentless, egging her on with slurred words, refilled shots, and obnoxious laughter.“Noooo, please don’t make me relive those embarrassing ass memories, my god…” Lilly pleaded, her speech slightly slurred from the drinks she had downed in an attempt to drown out their teasing.They were being absolute assholes right now, asking stupid questions she never wanted to think about ever again.Red slammed his drink down on the edge of the bar, causing it to spill over onto the sticky surface. "Ya know we won't stop ‘til ya spill the beans," he cackled, his eye sockets squinting mischievously.“I don’t play favorites! And like hell I’m giving even one of you the fucken ego boost.”Stretch leaned forward, his own speech slurred as he joined in. "Come on, sugar snap. Just tell us who got you into the fandom~...Who's your favorite? We won't stop bugging you until you tell us."Lilly rolled her eyes and took another swig of her drink. If she told them the truth, they would never let her live it down. But then again, if she didn't tell them, they would continue to ride her ass about it. 
Oh dignity, where for art though?
“If I tell you, you owe me something embarrassing too.” She huffed, a goofy smile spread across her face. She turned to see Blue, Edge, and Papyrus all watching on in either amusement or frustration. At this point, she wasn’t sure if it mattered. Despite their attempts at a serious conversation, drinks had been steadily passed around, and they had yet to talk about anything of real importance regarding her abilities or H.Q.. But Lilly didn't mind – she was determined to have a good time, and so far, it was half great and half terrible. Why did they have to be so fucking curious about everything?Sans let out a dramatic sigh, pouring more spiked ketchup into his mouth. "Oh come onnnn, that's not fair. You already know so much about us!""But not really!" Lilly protested, laughter bubbling up in her throat. "Just surface level stuff. And you know what they say, assuming makes people’s asses turn up…or their asses turn out…I don't know, something about asses." The three judges erupted into a fit of laughter at the table, and Lilly's quickly followed.As Red leaned in closer to her left side, he wiggled his bone brow over and over, urging her to spill the alleged juicy details. Lilly laughed as she tried leaning away from him, but couldn't resist any longer."Alright! But buckle the fuck up because when I drink, I get talky," she warned with a mischievous glint in her eye. "And imma spill some lore on you bone bitches. Can’t have the juicy bits without the context." Her smirk widened as she prepared to dig herself into a hole she knew she would never crawl out of. The six skeletons seemed to watch her with such an intensity that she had to look away, her gaze going out to the dance floor as she recalled when she first got into Undertale.“Okay, okay, so obviously…it was Sans first. Classic, I mean.”“I FUCKEN CALLED IT!” Sans abruptly shouted, standing up and doing a weird little dance, his hips moving awkwardly as he tried to not drunkenly fall over. “GOD DAMMIT, CLASSIC YA BASTARD!” “FOUL, THAT’S A FOUL AND YOU KNOW IT!” Red and Stretch both shouted over Sans, clearly in absolute devastation at not being the first choice.“Calm down, you fucking drama queens! You weren't even…born? Existing…yet when the game first came out, you guys come later!” Lilly shook her head, downing more of her tequila. Red’s eyebrows shot up as he leaned over the bar to look at her, “Oh, I’m gonna come later, that’s for fucken sure…” He purred, and Edge roughly dragged him back further down the bar.“Into Toilet Paper, Probably. A Sock If You’re Lucky Enough.” Blue laughed as he snaked around Lilly’s right, his hand grazing along her lower back as he moved to the barstool next to her. Lilly snorted, covering her face with her hands to try and not lose it at Blue’s sick ass burn. However, her body became painfully aware of the way his fingertips seemed to very slightly press into the soft flesh of her back, grazing some of her coolant points.“FUCK DOES THAT MEAN, YOU BLUEBERRY SHIT?!” Red shouted, his face glowing with embarrassment.“You Don’t Want Me Repeating It, Trust Me. Anyway, What Draws You To Classic? I Mean, Red And I Are Pretty Similar In Terms Of Appearance, So What Made Him Special?” Blue chugged some kind of dark mix drink as he eyed her, waiting for an answer that would satisfy him.She sighed before chugging what was left in her glass. Blue poured her some more while the rest looked on in excitement. “God dammit…look, it's not a pissing contest, okay? This is also going to get hella awkward. Especially considering I have to talk about this from a video game perspective while you’re all sitting in front of me as like…living, breathing people.” “Hey, we get it. No hard feelings here for how ya gotta describe it.” Sans piped up, while the others nodded in agreement. She could feel the tequila warm her stomach as her vision blurred a bit, maybe she shouldn’t chug so fast. Or maybe she should chug faster to get through this?Well, they asked for it.“I just…really liked your humor and several different interactions in the game. I only played the pacifist route, I was too terrified and emotionally attached to everyone to ever think of playing the…you know…bad routes. However, I did see clips of it all over the internet. When you...judged the human and you…Ah, I don't know! Like, you gave off this aura of weakness but in reality are insanely smart and clever, and had like crazy attacks and strength. It was like a super dope underdog moment, right? I mean, there are literally thousands of compilations of people reacting to your boss scene. Plus, how you knew all about the resets and fucked with the assholes mind, and it was just…super satisfying.” Before they could even respond, she decided to just keep going. If she was going to incriminate herself, what better time to do it than being wasted?“Then of course I got into all the fan art, okay? Fan fictions, stories, art, you name it, I ate it up. Then I started falling for Papyrus shortly after. Your energetic and friendliness was borderline intoxicating. I felt like I was your best friend just from playing the game, it was really nice for a lonely little shit like me. Your passion for cooking and training made me want to be better, to do better. Plus being tall? Now, in the game Sans is supposed to be hella short, like kid height short, but then you all show up and are tall as fuck , like hello ?? I was always a taller girl so it was hard finding anyone cute and taller than me, but I would’ve been happy regardless, it's just, like, a mega bonus, you know?” Lilly paused her rambling only to chug her glass, only this time Blue didn’t refill it for her. She grabbed the bottle, keeping her eyes away from the group as she poured not just a shot, but her apparent fan-girl obsessed feelings out.“Then I found out about AU’s, or ya know, the whole alternate universes' thing. I was getting access to all these new characters, new personalities and cool worlds that had their own stories, feelings, and love put into them. New games to basically play all over again. Of course there were a few fan games, but oh my god the amount of AU’s is actually insane. Like, you’ve met each other, but that’s not even the tip, it's a little fucken speck in the world of AU’s dude. I spent months looking through as many as I could find. Next was Stretch and Blue, then Edge and Red. That’s not in order or anything, so don’t get your panties in a twist, okay? I just stumbled across you guys as time went on, and love all of you. You’re all so unique and special, and I ate that shit up , dude.”The only sound in the bar was her rambling and the music of the club as she continued.She downed more tequila, and her skin felt tingly.“The list goes on, it's actually depressing when you think about how many of you I’m in love with. Kinda a gross obsession, borderline stalker-y now that you're here, and real, and I have to deal with the consequences of my actions. It feels like I’m one of those cringe fans that scream in concerts and cry. No hate, but also just embarrassing for myself. Undertale, Underswap, Underfell, Fellswap, Swapfell, Horrortale, Inktale, Dreamtale, XTale, Outertale, Siren AU’s, Bitty AU’s, I mean I could sit here for hours listing close to a hundred AU’s. Don’t even get me started on reverse harem, my god , like, why should I have to pick? Why couldn't I have them all in my stories? Plus, polyamory is cool, but humans suck and think it's weird. Not me though, cause I’m selfish, and I want 'em all. Oh my god…wait no, that sounds even worse, damn.”With a final deep breath, she had officially dug her social grave, crawled in, and died. She slammed her head down onto the table with a loud thunk, feeling how hot her cheeks had grown. Her coolant swirled brightly with a mixture of lavender and yellow, giving away her feelings, whether she wanted it to or not.“There, happy?” She huffed, reaching out to grab the tequila bottle, only to notice Blue was now holding it. She snatched it quickly from his hand with a huff. In one swift motion, she began to chug the burning liquor, screwing her eyes tight as she desperately tried to avoid eye contact.Why the fuck was it so quiet all of a sudden? Or had it been quiet? She couldn’t tell.Blue swiftly snatched the bottle back from her hand, and some tequila dribbled over her lips. Her eyes shot open as she sent him a glare, but abruptly stopped upon seeing what the silence was about.Every single skeleton’s face was lit up in either embarrassment or pure shame, she couldn’t really tell. Their sockets were scrunched up as they seemed to be trying to look everywhere except her, some of them covering their mouths or faces, arms crossed and shifting on their feet. Fuck, that was hot . Why was that so hot? Was it because she was seeing them alive, in front of her, or because they were clearly turned on and embarrassed? Damn, the world may never know, but she wanted to find out.“Well you ASKED! You wanted honesty, and I fucken gave it to you!” She drunkenly laughed, turning to look to her left and ignore whatever the hell they were going through right now.Oh wait, soulmates and stuff, yeah.She forgot about that.Well, it wasn’t her problem, at least…it wasn’t drunk her’s problem .“I don’t even…oh my god…”  Sans mumbled from somewhere behind her. She rolled her eyes, spinning on her barstool as she faced them all.“Look, I’m not the only one who feels this way. You’ve got thousands, no, hundreds of thousands of fans out there who probably feel the same way, if not even more than that. Remember day one when I said there’s porn of you guys? Oh my fucking god, dude, there is SO MUCH PORN! There's even a running joke about Sans’s blue glowing popsicle! Hahahaha!” She explained, poorly, falling into a fit of laughter while trying to yank the bottle out of Blue’s hand. He had a death grip on it though, one arm on the bar holding it while he was hunched over, face in hand with the other.“Lilly!” Sans seemed to somehow screech her name out, and she just laughed harder, leaning all over Blue as she flailed her arms for the bottle.“I Think…That’s Enough Alcohol For You.” Blue mumbled, turning to look at her. She finally got to see his face, and it was clear why he had kept his head down until now. His eyelights were something she’d heard about before in a few fanfictions, but it was amazing seeing it up close. There, in his sockets, were two bright blue hearts. They seemed fuzzy around the edges, but she could still see something that resembled a pupil in the middle of them. “I Agree, We Need To Get Her To Bed Before She Riles Anyone Up, Stars Above.” Edge grumbled, moving over to clean some of the glasses they’d all been using.Red got up from his spot on the bar and huffed, "Like she hasn't already, fucken hell ...", brushing his jacket off as he spoke.“You know, we did ask…” Stretch replied, getting up and making his way to her left. Blue sat the bottle out of reach, standing up and turning away from her to follow his brother.“Wha-?! I haven’t even started, you old farts! I can turn on my toxins filter and be sobered in seconds, let me have my white girl drunk moment!” Lilly grabbed the bottle of tequila from the bar top, where Blue had left it unguarded.“Yeah, but that was until we just got the love confession of the century. Seriously, I don’t think anyone is going to be able to top it, that was insane .” Sans sighed, rubbing his face. They all still had raging blushes, but it seemed to be calming down.  “Not my fault, asked and answered, bitches! Who’s opening up more now? Besides, now you guys can have a taste of your own medicine! You think I don’t know how much you’ve been teasing and fucking with me the last two weeks? I’m stupid, but not blind, you bone brains. It’s called mutha fucken payback!” She yelled, almost falling off her barstool as she moved away from them. She took a big gulp from the bottle, swaying on her feet as she burst into laughter.“Okay, Lilly, hand the bottle over. You’ve definitely had enough…”Sans stalked towards her with a determined look on his face, reaching out for the bottle she clutched to her chest. She stepped back quickly, her eyes narrowing at him as if he was going to burn her. She laughed recklessly, taking another step away from him. “Over my sexy, muscly, dead body, bone man.”“Damn, she has a point...”“Shut it, Red.”“Lilly. The Bottle, Now.” Edge's voice was firm and commanding as he crossed his arms and took a step closer to her. The bar that had been left in disarray was now clean thanks to his efforts, but she couldn’t help but wonder why he wouldn’t have just let the maids deal with it.“Oooo, Edgy is using his daddy voice, watch out…” She taunted playfully, watching as he cocked a brow in response.But, he didn’t deny it… kinky .“Did she just call Edge daddy?” Sans turned away from her briefly, and she immediately took the chance to move further away from them all.Blue let out a frustrated sigh and shook his head, “No, She Said He Has A Daddy Voice, There Is A Difference.”Red's face turned bright red with anger as he shouted back, “C’mon, right in front of my fucken salad?!” It only made her laugh more.Stretch rolled his eyes, “I have never seen you eat a single vegetable Red, let alone a fucking salad.” Edge's loud voice cut through their argument, “Shut The Hell Up, All Of You. Our Drunken Overseer Is Slowly Escaping While You All Argue, This Is Your Fault’s To Begin With, So Make Yourselves Useful!”Papyrus, apparently the most composed of the group, seemed to be the only one who had kept his eye on what she was up to. He had a look of disappointment on his face, or frustration, or a sexy smirk. She couldn’t really tell, with how the room seemed to tilt.She was now halfway across the club, a second bottle of tequila somehow miraculously appearing in her hands. Her movements were drunken and sloppy, but damn if she wasn’t determined.“You Need Water And Sleep, Lilly, Now Come Here.” Papyrus called out to her, trying to defuse the situation, although Lilly could still see how his cheekbones were dusted orange. She eyed him with a devious grin and shook her head defiantly as she prepared herself for another round of drinking.She was having a lot of fun all of a sudden.“When th’ fuck did she even grab that second bottle?!” “Fuck if I know, I’m still coping with the last twenty minutes. Did you guys know she had a strip club installed in the back?” “Oh My God, Sans, Brother Dearest, Another Time Please?”“What’n the fuc- I WANNA SEE!”“Red, Shut The Fuck Up For Five Minutes And Try To Not Think With Your Dick.”“How can I not when her fucken scent is everywhere right now!”“Wha- Okay, God Dammit . She Clearly Doesn’t Know, Which Is Why We Need To Get Her To Bed.” “Bro, when did you start cursing so much, holy stars.” “Stretch, Shut Up.”“Yes sir, brother sir!”“Smart Ass, I Swear To Stars!”“Guys, She Is Clearly Too Drunk, And None Of You Are Helping This Situation Right Now. She Does Not Understand The Weight Of Her Words Or The Effect On Us, Which Is Why-!”“Bro, she just love dumped on us so hard. We’re fucked, absolutely whipped.”“Sans, If You Don’t Be Quiet And Help Me-”They continued to bicker with each other, all the while Lilly was finishing the last of the tequila from the first bottle. She sat it on the floor, watching as they argued and talked over each other. It was actually hilarious, watching the more semi-sober brothers argue with the more drunken ones. Why were they so worked up? Why did it matter if she got blasted into oblivion? They were all at least a little drunk, some more than others, but It wasn’t like she did this often. Plus, she wasn’t being a messy, crying drunk either.Boys, typical drama queens.Then, her favorite song came on. It was all coming together, she had been waiting for the perfect moment, and this was it.Black Betty, by Spiderbait.The guitar riff started, and she yanked open the cork from the second bottle, the loud pop grabbing their attention. All six of them whirled around to face her, their expressions ranging from annoyance to confusion. She stood confidently in the middle of the dance floor, a deranged grin plastered on her face.“Lilly…Don’t.” Oh, Papyrus was angry angry…and it was hot. 
Oh my god wait, does Papyrus have suppressed rage that comes out when he's drinking? YESYESYES
“Well boys, this has been great, wonderful even, an absolute banger, but I think it’s time I take this party somewhere else.” She taunted, bringing the bottle to her lips and maintaining intense eye contact with Papyrus. Oh, she was being ballsy today. “You Are Not Going To Like What Happens If You Take Even One More Sip From That Bottle-”“Oh, I think I’m gonna love it, actually.” 
*Whoa, Black Betty, bam-ba-lam!

Whoa, Black Betty, bam-ba-lam!*
His warning was drowned out by the sound of her chugging and the song.Then, all hell broke loose.Papyrus and Edge moved with inhuman speed, causing her to choke on her drink as they closed the distance between them in mere seconds. She pulled the bottle from her lips, her laughter turning into a nervous giggle as she watched them reach for her, but she was prepared for that.She teleported to the other side of the room, appearing by the pool tables she had first found them at. Paps and Edge froze, looking around frantically as they finally settled over to her new location. The glares they sent her made her legs tremble. Why did they have to be so fucking sexy when they’re mad at her?She felt a shift of magic in the air, and Red had appeared on her left, swiping at her as she laughed and teleported again. She could hear him curse and growl in her direction, sending heat straight to her core.This was fucking awesome .This time she was standing on top of the bar behind Blue, Stretch and Sans, all of who frantically tried grabbing her as she ran down its length. “Lilly, Stop And Get Down From There, That’s Not Safe!” Blue followed behind her, frantically reaching for her legs as she booked it.Sans had seemingly given up, leaning over the bar next to Stretch, “I forgot she can teleport like us dude, that shit is way more annoying now that we're on the other end…”He rolled his eyes at Sans, “Yeah, no shit. I think she knows that.”Her laughter was borderline uncontrollable at this point as she outran them, hopping down from the bar top and teleporting once more to the elevator doors before she even hit the ground.She took another swig from the bottle, watching as they grew more irritated with her antics. “You Really Want To Play This Game, Vixen ?” Edge practically snarled at her from the dance floor, his cheekbones dusted red.She took a deep breath in, recognizing that the entire bar was filled with all of their scents. It only fueled her urge to keep fucking with them. She loved it when they were horny, angry drunks. Pausing for a moment, she realized something. Her heart was beating heavily in her chest, and the adrenaline from being chased had clearly riled her up.
Is this a kink? Do I have a ‘being chased by people I’m super horny for’ kink? I think this has awoken something in me, or maybe it was always there. Maybe the kink is the friends we made along the way.
She laughed at her own thoughts, the shouts from the men being drowned out by the blaring music and her own drunken stupor. For once, she was truly living in the moment, reveling in the adrenaline and chaos surrounding her. Actually, this was probably the most fun she’d had in years, and they were not going to take that bottle from her, not without a fight. A sexy, drunken fight.Damn, Sans was wrong, because she was the one who was definitely whipped.“Sugar snap, you are really gonna regret playing this game…”“She Doesn’t Regret Anything With How This Entire Club Smells, She’s Into This!”“Edge, You’re So Not Helping Right Now.”“Oh Can It, Berry. I Know You’re Into Primal Play.”“What The Fuck, Dude?! I Told You That In Confidence!”“I didn’t need to know that about my own brother!”“Welcome to the fucken club, ashtray.”“Paps, maybe we should-”“I’m Going To Lose. My. Mind.”Lilly took another swig between laughs. She couldn't help but relish every moment of the chaos unfolding in front of her. If getting drunk and pissing off the group got her this kind of entertainment, she would have done it much sooner. For the first time in what felt like ages, she was laughing so hard that her sides hurt. The alcohol coursing through her veins left a tingling sensation on her lips and fingers, giving her a second to breathe.She knew why she was running from them, and why she was causing so much trouble.She didn’t want to let go of this feeling.She leaned back on the elevator doors, pressing the button with the bottom of the glass bottle, the noise of the ding, once again, pulling the group out of their arguing. “I gotta say, you guys suck ass at tag.” She scoffed playfully as the elevator doors slowly slid open, and she took a few steps back into it.“Sans, Teleport To Her Room, Now. Stretch, The Garden, And Red, The Kitchen. Blue And Edge, Follow Me. If She’s Going To Play Stupid Games, She’s Going To Get Stupid Prizes.” Papyrus spoke with such a tone of authority and irritation that she felt her mouth fall open in shock. She felt a nervous, yet pleasant, shiver run up her spine as she watched the group formed sly grins on their face. She didn’t like that.They were supposed to be chill, be flustered and having fun like she was, but suddenly she felt like she had misread something. Like she had overlooked or forgotten something important about what was happening in front of her. She put a hand on her hip, angrily pointing the bottle at the group as the elevator doors began to close.“I’ve done nothing wrong, so suck my dick, eat my ass, ligma balls, aaaaaaaaand…Your mom’s a hoe.” The doors closed with a soft click, and she crossed her arms triumphantly. Fucken nailed it. If she was going to die, she’d die the drunkest and funniest motherfucker in this place.The elevator hadn’t moved yet, and she momentarily considered hitting all the buttons for fun. Realizing she was just going to teleport again, she laughed out loud to herself. Swaying a bit as her vision blurred, she rubbed her free hand all over the buttons, giggling all the while at whatever the hell she was doing.She sighed happily, thinking for a moment about where she could go. Clearly, she had done something to really piss Paps off, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to deal with one of his lectures while being this drunk. What was the worst that could happen? They tuck her into bed and read her a bedtime story? She pressed her face against the cool mirrored walls of the elevator, and scrunched her face in concentration as she tried to formulate a plan.Realizing she was too fucked to think that hard, she sighed dramatically and disappeared from the elevator. The goal was to reappear in the game room, somewhere by the pinball machines, but she let out a loud grunt as she was slammed into the giant connect-four machine instead. Oh yeah, she had never teleported drunk before. Huh.This would either be the best thing ever, or the worst, and she was so ready to fuck around and find out.With more giggles leaving her, she wandered around the massive area and stared at all the bright, loud, flashing machines. It gave her such a hit of nostalgia that she was failing to notice a few new presences making its way through the room with her.She stopped in front of a giant Galaga board, happily pressing the buttons and completely forgetting she was meant to be on the run. Why didn’t she get drunk more often? Clearly, this was actually the greatest thing of all time.
“̴̼͐̕E̸̥͆͝c̸͖̪̓c̵̪̝̈́ĺ̸̼ḛ̵̛̩̇s̷̰͒i̴͖̘͑â̸͍ś̸͖̘͌t̸͙̿ĕ̵̦̬s̵̪̪̊͝ ̵̳̄͐9̸̱̺̀͛:̷̫̿7̴̡̰̒:̷̢̼̅ ̵̠̀G̶͉̟̀͝o̷̢̟̓,̵̧̟͛ ̸̠̹̀̆ẽ̷̩̖̌a̵̭̕t̶̬̓ ̸̮̼̃y̴͎̥͊͒õ̷̲ù̵̩̈r̶̨͐ ̵̯͕͊̑f̸̟̐͂ȍ̷̳͠ö̷̪ḓ̷̅ ̴͔̈́̿ẃ̴̧̖͐i̷̬̓t̸̞͖̏h̵̘̿̎ ̸̜̬̀͠g̸̙̍̓l̵͍̎̉a̴͚̦͋̍d̶̩̙̿̽n̴̘͒̔e̷̟͆͗s̶͚̍͝s̴̨͔̃̈́,̶̲̐̈́ ̸̦͋̀a̴͇͆͊n̵̦̑͜d̷̀̂ͅ ̴̳̾̚d̴͚͐̕r̸̫̖̒͠i̵̧͑̃ň̵̮k̸͍̥̏̚ ̷̜͕̓y̶̧̼̒̄o̷̖̼̔̇u̷͎̦͂̾r̴̻͖̓ ̵̱̹̀w̸̹̋ị̸̽͂n̷̢̏e̷̱̽ͅ ̶̢̤̀ŵ̷̘̱͋i̶͚͛̎ṫ̸̼͔̑h̷̠̄ ̵͎͇͂̿a̵̞͖͆ ̶̣̲͆̚j̷͂ͅȏ̸̞̪͝y̵̝̏f̶̛̤͊ŭ̸̘̭͛l̸͖̀̔ ̴̾͠ͅͅh̶̙̒e̵̪̋a̷̢͉̅̈́r̶̛͎t̴̥͗ͅ,̶͎̉͋ ̷͙́f̵̘͐͆ŏ̵̜̫̓r̵͙̂ ̶̧̚G̴̘̒o̵͕͝d̸͚́́͜ ̵̪̳̉͝h̶̙̄ȧ̴̩̝s̴͖̓̀ ̸̮̀̄a̶̤̟͠ḷ̶̫͆̚r̵̻͝ȩ̴̮̒̚ȧ̴̝ḓ̴̈̋y̵̢͈̐̓ ̵̗͝a̷̘̯͐͆p̶̢̒̔p̴̜̈́̈r̶̤͈̔͘ŏ̷͈̦̈v̸̧̬̋̇ę̶̰̍d̴̪̓͠ ̸̻̈́w̶̼̣͆̓ḧ̴̘́͝å̴̻̯̆t̴̢̞̿̑ ̶͓́y̸̨̓o̵̤͐ų̴̮̚ ̵̡̀͜d̸̯͖̄̉o̸͇̓.̴̦͕̈́”̴̹̺̾

̶̱̮̋

̵͈̈́͜“̸̻̑͜N̶͈̊͂è̶͙v̶̩̬̆̓ę̵̮̐͘r̵̤̒̂ ̵̧̹͛̓t̴̺͊e̷̮͚̚ĺ̵̗͆͜l̶̟̈ ̴͍̤͒ṁ̵͓͎̂è̵͎͍̃ ̸͔̱̓w̸͖̘͌ḩ̶̰͐̇a̴̧̪̓t̵̢͝͝ ̸͚̎͑I̸̼̓̐ ̶̳̣͋͘ć̴̢ä̵͙́̍n̵̞̯̾ ̸͈̐a̷̰̠̓n̵̗̿d̸̥̈́ ̶̬̻̈́c̷̡̗̄̃å̵̛̝͍n̷̘̉͠n̸̗͍̈̒ó̸͍̌t̷̩͚͑̕ ̶̧̘̀̊d̷̨͖̒o̸̮̹͒͝,̷̻̀ ̸̨͑L̵͖̝̀ȉ̷͉̂ĺ̴̩̳͂l̴̡̍͝ì̸͉͙á̷͖̳̊n̷͖̄͝.̴̙̱̉ ̷͙̮̈́̕R̷͍͛̚ǒ̶͍t̸̙̿t̷̞͊ẽ̴̀ͅn̸̥̎,̵͈̈́ ̸̣͈͒͐d̵̳̦̒̾ę̷̏v̶̢̑̒ì̷͎̎l̴̥̀s̴̻̦͌ ̴̹̘͒s̶͕̝͝p̵̨͒̆a̴̰̣̍̾w̶̼̽n̶̳͂!̶̽
Her head throbbed for a moment, and she paused. Her scars ached.She shook her head furiously before chugging more tequila, way more than she should be drinking, but who cared? Like hell she’d let the memories of that sick bastard ruin the little fun she was allowing herself to have. She sucked in a breath, steadying herself on the edge of the machine to avoid tipping over from the way her vision seemed to swirl.
*Warning! Toxic Levels Of Alcohol Detected - Please Initiate Detox Immediately - Seek Class 2 Personnel For Further Assistance*
“Fuck you…stupid fu-stupid fucken cyborg shit…” She hiccuped, blinking hard to try and get her eyes to focus and make the warning message go away. There seemed to be several notifications in her vision that she was desperately trying to ignore, putting them to the far back of her mind. If it was that important, G.E. would have called her, but also fuck that guy.She paused for a moment, her instincts kicking in as she felt like she was being watched.Oh, so she wasn’t alone after all.The grin returned to her face as she made her way back towards the door, trying to figure out who was in here with her.That was mistake number one. The second mistake she made was attempting to teleport to the computer desks in the far right of the room. This time she was slammed roughly into an adjacent wall, bouncing off it with absolutely zero grace as she held her nose and landed on her ass. It didn’t hurt, but she pulled her finger away to see a small dribble of blood on her fingers. She quickly wiped it off on her shorts, sitting on the floor and choosing to instead pout. “Need Some Help?” A skeletal hand with a hole in the center reached out, and she happily took it.“Thanks gamer.” She laughed, easily accepted the hand and was hoisted off the floor.She then turned around, coming face to face with Papyrus and Edge.“Oh…shit.” 
Ah yes, graceful and forever eloquent, Lilly.
“Oh Shit Is Correct.” Edge stated, folding his arms over his chest as she looked up at him.“Your Nose Okay?” Papyrus tilted his head, eyeing her with a small smile.It made her shiver.“Uhhh…I plead the fifth, or the sixth, or the right to bear arms, or freedom of speech or something.” She mumbled out, cringing a bit at just how trashed she sounded at that moment. She felt like a kid getting caught doing something they shouldn’t have, and it caused her coolant to swirl uncomfortably.Papyrus narrowed his eye sockets at her, his smile disappearing, “Plead All You Like, It’s Not Going To Help You Now.” He practically huffed at her as he spoke, and she involuntarily clenched her legs together. “You Do Know We’re Trying to Help You, Right? But That's Hard To Do When You Run Around Like This.” He shook his head, almost like a disappointed parent.  Oh no, not the disappointment . “I Don't Think You Understand Just What Your Little Confession Back There Did To Us. However, That Needs To Be Discussed Once You've Sobered.” Edge sighed, shaking his head.She pouted, “I'm just having fun, you wieners.” Kicking the floor a bit and swaying, she avoided making eye contact.“Did She Just Call Us Dicks?”“Yes, Edge, Yes She Did.”Bastards. “You guys asked me about my fandom stuff first! How is it my fau-fault when I'm just being honest? Besides, I'm having a great time, I haven't been drunk like…ever. Mostly ‘cause I forgot that I could turn my filter off and didn't have time, so this is like…my baptism.” Her hiccuping and slurred words were doing her no favors right now, but she laughed anyway. She watched as they both shared a look between each other, but it only made her giggle more.Edge sighed, glaring slightly at her, “Alright, Enough. We're Getting You Back To Your Room.” “I Truly Did Not Think My Patience Could Be Worn So Thin. Yes, I Do Believe You've Had Enough Fun For The Night.” Papyrus agreed, looking down at her.“I-...well…Nuh Uh.” She shook her head, biting her lip to avoid laughing.
Two for Lilly, zero for Papyrus and Edge. Score.
“Come Here.” Papyrus outstretched his hand like he wanted her to take it, but she quickly stumbled back from him.“Nope.” Edge sighed, pinching his nasal bridge, “You Really Might Want To Reconsider, Little Overseer.” “Consider suckin’ my diiiccckkk.” She failed this time around and let out a loud laugh, not caring at how high the tension seemed to be right now.She saw Edge's face dust with red, and Papyrus's eyebrow twitch in irritation.“You Really Don’t Know When To-” “Bye bitches.”And with that, she made her third and final mistake. Teleporting away to try and get out the door.Only she didn’t make it out the door.Well, that would be a half lie, because she made it, literally , half the way.The wind was knocked out of her as the matter of the wall shifted to allow space for her torso, sending drywall, steel, and dust everywhere with a loud crack. She blinked, going to rub her eyes, only to find that her arms had been trapped within sections of the wall as well. Her left arm was low, with her elbow embedded into the steel beams inside the structure, with just half of her forearm and hand poking out. Her right arm was completely behind her in the wall, feeling it poking at her hip from the other side. She looked around, realizing she was viewing the hallway and entrance into the recreation building where she started the tour those few weeks ago. She could see the doorway on her right, which led to the glass dome that connected the two main buildings.She had gotten stuck in the wall, next to the door of the game room.Now slightly bent over, realizing her feet were dangling, and roughly four or so feet off the ground. Her front was poking out of the wall at the bottom of her ribs, and could feel her ass sticking out right at her love handles on the other side.Letting her head fall forward, she felt shame and nervousness crawling over her skin at the situation she’d gotten herself into. “Oh shit .” She heard him before she could see him, “You Really Just Don’t Know When To Call It Quits, Do You?” Edge drawled, his black slacks and dress shoes moving into her field of view. Lilly didn’t look up, knowing that the shame and embarrassment showed on her face, from something she knew had been avoidable. 
I fucked around, and now I'm finding out.
“Oh, No Snide Remarks This Time? Nothing Fun To Retort With?” His tone was slightly playful, but there was an aggressiveness under it all that made her tense.“I Think She Knows Better At This Point. You’re Not Hurt, Are You?” Papyrus’s voice echoed from the game room's open door on her left, and she assumed he was on the other side, behind her. She was able to hear some of his words through the wall, given she’d just put a massive hole in it.A small ‘no’ was all she could muster to say.Damn, she didn’t like being drunk anymore, because now she had feelings , and it sucked .“Lilly, Look At Me.” She didn’t move.“Look At Me Or I’ll Make You .” She stayed silent, thinking about a smart ass remark she could give him when her long hair was suddenly bundled in Edge’s fist. He yanked her head back harshly to look up. He was leaned over, his face close enough that she could smell some kind of woody, spiced cologne on him.It made her head swirl with filthy thoughts.“Oh, Enjoying This, Are You? You Do Realize Monsters, Especially Boss Monsters, Have A Heightened Sense Of Smell…It's Almost Suffocating How Much Of Your Arousal Is In The Air.” He leaned in close to her ear, his breath rushing against the skin of her neck. Lilly shifted her hips, well, as much as she could in her given position. Fuck .“Stars Above Edge, Stop Riling Her Up. I Can Barely Think Back Here.” She could hear Papyrus bark from the other side, and she couldn't help it as a small whine left her throat.Edge merely sighed, letting her hair go and standing back up. She kept her head up this time, realizing something as she did.She was dick sucking height.“Stuck in the wall trope, thank you, Jesus.” She laughed, but quickly stopped upon Edge sending her a glare.“Lilly, Turn Your Toxins Filter On, Now .” Papyrus’s voice seemed a bit closer to the wall now, and she felt heat radiating close to her hips.“Aww, but I don't wan-AH!” Her giggling remark was cut short by the feeling of a bony hand coming down hard on her right ass cheek.What. The. Fuck?“D-Did you…Papyrus, did you just…slap my ass?!” She stuttered, suddenly feeling much more sober.She had been playing with fire, and now she was getting burned.“I'm Going To Count To Five, and You're Going To Turn The Filter On Before I Finish, Understood?” Edge leaned back down to look at her, and she swallowed hard.There was a sudden understanding in the back of her brain that immediately made her comply before he even began.
*Toxin Filter Initiated - Detox Beginning - 3 - 2 - 1 - Detox Complete - Blood Alcohol  Levels Returned To Normal*
Edge raised a brow, the system alert being heard out loud.Lilly felt the rush of her system filtering the alcohol out, her brain swirling less and less as the fog lifted from all her senses. Now, she could really feel what was happening, and damn was it embarrassing. She had gone and gotten pretty plastered in a short period of time. While it was fun, the post-drunk shame was settling deep into her chest as she recalled everything she had said and done.“...Sorry guys…” Was the only thing she could mumble out, looking back at the ground. Her coolant swirled under her skin, her face red with embarrassment at what the hell she'd been doing the last few hours.Edge chuckled a bit, “Well, That Was Quick.” “So She Does Know How To Follow Directions…” Papyrus replied.
Oh sweet mother Mary.
“Look I-...I've never teleported drunk before, I didn't realize it was going to send me through the damn wall. I should be able to teleport out though now that I'm sober.” She looked down, only to sigh in frustration when she was greeted with the sight of her own chest.She couldn't see shit, great.“Oh No, No Reason To Leave Yet. I Think A Proper Punishment Is In Order, Wouldn't You Say Creampuff?” She froze at his words.“After All The Trouble She Put Us Through? Most Definitely.” Before she could try and backpedal, she felt a hand begin caressing her ass in slow circles. She physically jumped, unable to see it before she felt it, and it made her shiver. It was slightly uncomfortable due to being wedged in the wall, but the snug fit gave little room to argue or move.“I…uh….Paps?” Her voice came out more of a hoarse squeak, realizing just what kind of situation she'd gotten herself into. She knew they'd been flirting with her for weeks, teasing and messing with her.Tonight, she may or may not have gone a bit overboard.Papyrus’s words echoed in her head, “I Am Going To Have Fun, I Am Going To Not Overthink This Until It Is Necessary, And I Am Going To Court Our Soulmate. We Have Earned That Right After Being Caged For Three Years, And She Deserves Proper Partners In Every Sense.” “If I Recall The Information My Brother Gave Us Correctly, She Can't Teleport With Others. I Assume That Means As Long As We Touch You, You're Staying Put.” His large hand was easily squeezing and kneading the entire muscle of her ass, and she bit her lip to keep herself grounded.Was this…actually happening to her right now? Were they going to fuck her while being stuck in this wall, or were they just messing with her? Was this what he meant by courting her?!Her coolant turned a bright purple as she felt her panties grow slightly wetter at the thoughts that suddenly plagued her mind.“Perfect. Lilly, I Believe A Punishment Is In Order. Although For You, I Have A Feeling You'll Enjoy Every Second, Little Vixen.” Edge brought his clawed hand under her chin, gripping her face. He yanked her head upward, forcing her to make eye contact with him as he grinned deviously.“Oh, fuck .” The words came out soft and breathy as she looked over his face for any hint of a lie. There was none.“Oh Fuck Is Right.” Edge growled.She was fucking screwed .

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Papyrus’s large hand rested firmly on her backside, his fingers digging into the soft flesh with a rough squeeze. She couldn't help but bite back a moan at the sensation, feeling a mix of arousal and embarrassment that this was happening while she was stuck in this fucking wall .Her skin felt like it was on fire, both from Papyrus's touch and the way Edge was holding her face. Her brain was trying to process everything happening, while also desperately trying to ignore how good it felt to be manhandled by the both of them."I-I'm not comfortable doing anything with you guys if you're drunk," she managed to say through rushed words, trying to push away from Papyrus's grasp. "Don't get me wrong, I'm all for drunk sex, but we haven't talked about boundaries or anything…" But Papyrus didn't seem to want to let her go, at least of her fucking ass cheeks . Being wedged in the wall like this also made it nearly impossible for her to really move, and the most she could do was accidentally grind harder into his hands."Listen To Her," Papyrus said with amusement laced in his tone. "She's Worried About Us. What A Sweet Little Thing. You Didn’t Seem Too Worried Earlier When You Were Making Us Chase You All Throughout The Club." His hand continued to knead into her, sending shivers down her spine. She sucked in a breath as she felt Edge lick the side of her neck, reminding her that he was still holding onto her face."Don't Worry, Little Pet," Edge purred. "As I've Told You Before, Monsters Don't Experience The Same Effects Of Human Alcohol. While Our Brothers May Not Be Sober, We Are More Than Capable Of Continuing."A shudder ran through her body at Edge's words, her mind reeling at the implications. She had forgotten that he mentioned that earlier, considering she had been pretty distracted with other things, like spilling her guts to the group. The realization that they were fully in control of their actions only heightened her senses, but it also helped relieve a bit of the worry that she had about possibly continuing.It didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous as hell, though.Lilly liked to think she was a pretty horny, devious individual, but she had never actually done anything, with anyone . Let alone two characters, turned real, that she had the mega, slutty hots for.She was ruined. Absolutely cooked."B-but…" she stammered, her resolve weakening as Papyrus continued to massage her. Edge's tongue traced a hot path up her neck to her ear, eliciting another involuntary moan."No More Excuses," Edge growled softly. "Your Body Seems To Disagree With Your Words, Pet. Give Me A Safe Word. We’ll Also Be Using The Color System, You’re Familiar With It, Correct?" His free hand snaked down to cup her breast, thumb brushing over her hardened nipple through her shirt. Not even the nipple pasties she put on could protect her from what his fingers we’re doing to her.“Aaah…Fuck! Yes I am…Uh…Shit…I don’t know, uh, gummy bear!” She sputtered, tensing as he rolled her nipple between his fingers. She watched him smirk as he found her piercing, tugging on it slightly.“Good Girl.”She felt her pussy clench at his words.
Oh, No. Praise kink. God help me.
Edge's sharp teeth grazed her earlobe as he whispered, "Now, Tell Us Your Color, Pet."Lilly's mind raced, her body burning with desire despite her nervousness. She knew she wanted this, had fantasized about it countless times, but the reality of it happening was almost overwhelming. Her brain felt like it was going to short circuit, and for a second, she panicked, wondering if that could actually happen considering she was a cyborg. Still, the ache between her legs and the way her body responded to their touch told her everything she needed to know.However, out of all the skeletons she was going to have some of her firsts with, she definitely was not expecting Edge, let alone Papyrus.She must have really pissed them off. Too bad for them though, because if this was them angry, she was going to be pissing them off a lot more from now on."G-green," she managed to stutter out, her voice shaky. Dirty talk was not her forte, one because she had never done it, and two, it was fucking embarrassing . They’re boss monsters, why couldn’t they just read her mind?She could feel Papyrus give a low chuckle. "Such An Eager Little Thing, It Almost Makes Me Forgive You For How You Acted Earlier. You Have Tested My Patience More Than Any Human I’ve Ever Met, Lilly, And That’s Quite The Feat…" He purred, a hand suddenly sliding up the side of her thigh and snaking it's way closer to her middle. She let out another yelp as he smacked her left cheek this time, the sting of bone connecting to her soft skin making her legs tremble.
Okay, you are not helping back there, dick wad.
Her slight scowl at Papyrus’s teasing was quickly interrupted when Edge's grip on her face tightened slightly as he turned her head, forcing her to meet his gaze head on. Lilly's breath caught in her throat as she stared into Edge's blazing red eyelights. The intensity of his gaze made her shiver, a mix of fear and arousal coursing through her."Remember, Pet," Edge growled softly, "You Can Stop This At Any Time, Use Your Safe Word If Needed And Blink Three Times Quickly If Your Mouth Is Occupied. Although, Based On The Way You Smell, I Have A Feeling We Won't Need It, Will We?" She was frozen, but managed to nod her head slightly, unable to look away from his hypnotic gaze. She was pretty impressed with his ability to set up safety nets for a spur of the moment fling, especially because he wasn't really wrong. She didn't think she'd be using that safe word anytime soon.His sharp grin widened.“Good, Now Keep It Up And You Just Might Get To Cum.” Without warning, he crashed his teeth against her lips in a searing kiss. Lilly gasped in surprise, giving him the opportunity to slip his conjured tongue into her mouth. Whimpering as it filled her mouth, his scent overwhelmed her as she took in the new sensation.She had wondered what their ecto would feel like, and she was getting a real up close and personal lesson about it. It was soft, and so fucking malleable, with the way it seemed to swirl and take up most of the room in her mouth. It was wet and had the distinct notes of his cedar and flowery scent, but felt nothing like a human’s tongue.Meanwhile, Papyrus's hand had reached its destination between her legs. He rubbed her agonizingly slow, feeling the heat and dampness even through the thin fabric of the shorts she had picked out."My, My," Papyrus chuckled. "Someone's Quite Excited. Is This What You Were Hoping For? Waiting For Us To Corner You And Ravage You On A Whim?" His skilled fingers found her clit, circling it teasingly. 
Holy. Shit.
She suddenly really, really regretted underestimating Paps.“I Knew From The Moment I Saw Your Outfit What You'd Been Trying To Do, But Teasing Us Has Consequences, Little Flower. I’ve Been Dying To Get My Hands On You For More Than Two Weeks, And I’m Going To Thoroughly Relish In This Golden Opportunity.” Another smack rang out, her whimper swallowed by Edge's tongue. He seemed to groan as she did, feeling his tongue wrap around her own in an unnatural, but delicious way.She broke away from the kiss with a loud, gasping moan, her voice coming out much higher in pitch than she would’ve liked. Feeling a mix of her and Edge's saliva slide over her lips and chin, he wiped it with his thumb and pressed it back into her mouth. She happily sucked on it, running her tongue in circles around it to try to tease him back, but was stopped short by another smack from Papyrus on her rear.“You Think We Wouldn’t Notice? Wouldn’t Dare To Cross A Line That Was Blurred To Begin With, Especially Given The Way You Seem To Enjoy Flaunting That Tantalizing Smell Of Yours Around?” Edge hissed at her, narrowing his sockets.What in the actual fuck was happening to her right now? Was this real? Were they being serious? Was she actually in a coma and lying somewhere in a hospital, dreaming?She prayed to god, any god, that she wasn’t.Another high-pitched, whining moan slipped past her lips, and Edge took the opportunity to add another digit to her mouth. His bones felt interesting against her tongue, hard but still malleable, and she was slightly surprised at how smooth they seemed.“Oh, Don't Be Shy Now, Pet. Since You're So Good At Running Your Mouth, We May As Well Find Other Uses For It.” He smirked at her, pressing into her tongue as he reached for her nipple.He was crouched down now, knees bent, with the sleeves of his button-up shirt rolled back to his elbows.Oh, sweet mother of God, that was hot .Her brain felt swollen as nerves danced over her skin. Edge easily lifted her shirt, eyeing the upside down cross nipple pasties she wore with a raised brow.“You're Giving Me So Many Wonderful Ideas That I Almost Want To Reward You.”She shivered at his words.
I’m such a fucking bottom.
He peeled the stickers off slowly, revealing her silver and opal nipple bars. He got lower on his knees, using his other free hand to cup the underside of her breast as he leaned in closer. Lilly's eyes widened as he guided her head downwards to make her watch what he was doing. She let out a muffled whimper around his fingers as his conjured tongue flicked out to tease her nipple. A beautiful, red, shimmering tongue snaked out from his mouth, engulfing her nipple in one long lick. The sensation was electric, causing her to tense and shiver.Edge's tongue swirled around her sensitive bud, occasionally pulling on the piercing with his teeth. The dual sensations of his skilled tongue and the slight pain from his sharp jaws sent waves of pleasure through her chest. She moaned loudly, the sound still partly muffled by his fingers in her mouth.Then, he looked up at her, grinning and taking most of her breast into her mouth, and bit her .“Mmnnghh-!” Involuntarily clenching her legs hard, Papyrus gave her another hard smack. She felt him placing his knee between her legs to keep them spread as his fingers continued their torturous teasing, building a coiling tension in her core.God, it was so much that her mind was reeling from the sensory overload. Edge's teeth digging into the soft flesh of her breast, his fingers in her mouth, Papyrus's relentless teasing between her legs—it was almost too much to process. She felt like she was burning up from the inside out, her body trembling and twitching as the wall kept her tightly in place.“Do You Remember When I Hugged You The First Day We Arrived Here? I Was Instantly Plagued With The Thought Of Running My Hands Over Your Soft, Plush Ass, Just Like This.” He gave her a hard squeeze, not letting his other hand move an inch as he caressed her.“Every time You Trained Or Worked Out, Running Around In These Little Fucking Shorts, I Just Wanted To Rip Them Off With My Teeth .” Papyrus practically growled as he pressed harshly into her clit, and she let out a choked cry.
What in the FUCK happened to Papyrus, oh my GOD.
She could only choke on her own moans and mewls as he spoke and touched her, unable to process that this was how he was acting right now.Edge released her breast with a wet pop, admiring the ring of red marks his teeth had left behind. He licked over the indentations soothingly, causing Lilly to shudder."I Don’t Blame Him, You’ve Been More Than A Tease, A Down Right Fucking Menace For Half A Month, And It’s High Time You Paid The Price.”She could only whimper in response.“And Such Lovely Noises You Make, Brat," he purred. "I Knew You’d Look Good Being Marked."She felt something simmer in her lower stomach when he called her a brat.
I’ll fucking show you a brat.
She bit down on his fingers, holding them in place as she sucked roughly on them, a sudden surge of confidence and defiance making its way through her. She watched as his head snapped up at her, his eye socket squinting as he sucked in a hiss through his teeth. The way he looked at her made her pussy clench, her toes curling, but a slight nervousness crept across her skin.
I might regret that. Shit.
Edge's eyelights flickered dangerously, a low growl rumbling in his chest. In one swift motion, he yanked his fingers from her mouth and gripped her jaw tightly."Oh, You Want To Play Rough, Do You?" he snarled, his voice dropping an octave. "Very Well, Pet. Let's See How Long You Can Keep Up That Attitude."Without warning, Edge grabbed a fistful of her hair, tugging her head back roughly. She gasped at the sudden pain, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through her. His other hand trailed down her exposed neck, sharp phalanges scraping lightly against her skin."You Think You Can Challenge Me?" Edge growled, his hot breath ghosting over her ear. "I'll Make You Regret It, You Little Brat ."Smirking, she laughed a little, “I’d love to see you try bone boy .”Edge's eyelights flared dangerously at her taunt. In one fluid motion, he released her hair and gripped her throat, applying just enough pressure to make her gasp."Careful What You Wish For, Pet," he growled, his sharp teeth grazing her earlobe. "I Can Be Quite… Creative When It Comes To Punishment."“Oh, I Should Be Able To Assist. I Don’t Know Why You Insist On Being So Defiant, Lilly, But I Promise You That You’ll Very Quickly Come To Regret It. Whatever Cute Little Assumptions You Had Of Us Need To Be Erased, And Replaced With Hands-On Experience.” In one swift motion, Papyrus yanked down her shorts and underwear, exposing her dripping pussy to the cool air. She gasped at the sudden exposure, a shiver running through her. Her coolant swirled a bright purple, small flares of pink glowing along with it.“Count, And If You Forget, Then Edge Can Help Remind You.” His voice had gotten low, and she flexed her legs as her body tensed.She giggled, “Count what, how long this is taking? ‘Cause I think- FUCK !”Her smart ass mouth was really getting her into trouble all of a sudden.Papyrus had brought his hand down extremely hard this time, her right ass cheek burning harshly. He was no longer touching her between her legs, the loss of pleasure making her much more aware of the stinging sensation. His hand was so large that he was able to get most of her cheek when he brought it down, causing her to suck in a breath to steel herself. She bit her lip, not saying anything, because it would take more than a few rough smacks to get her to shut up and listen.Papyrus's hand came down again, even harder this time. The sharp sting made her yelp involuntarily."I Believe I Told You To Count ," Papyrus growled. "Let's Start Over, Shall We?"“Did You Somehow Forget This Was A Punishment? ” Edge hissed, reaching down and pinching her left nipple harshly, tugging on it as he played with the jewelry. Lilly gasped, but let out a breathy giggle. It was much less enthusiastic than before, but she did it anyway to see just how far she could push their buttons. Even though she couldn’t see Papyrus due to being stuck in the wall, she could almost feel the way he was burning holes into her ass, probably irritated at her little act.After all, she really was a brat.She may have made some…poor…assumptions and judgement calls about their libidos, but that didn’t mean she was going to roll over into a submissive mess just because they told her too. In fact, a lot of their words, while extremely hot, made her want to laugh and fight back, seeing how much she could piss them off.Papyrus's hand came down again, the impact reverberating through her body. Lilly bit back a moan, determined not to give in so easily."Still Nothing To Say?" Papyrus's voice was dangerously low. "Very Well. Let's See How Long You Can Keep This Up.” Another spank, and she felt her eyes water.“I Do Love…” Smack. “Endurance Tests…” Smack. “So It’ll Be…” Smack! “Interesting To See…” Smack! “How You Do…!” SMACK! Tears spilled over on her cheeks, and she let out a loud cry as Papyrus finished his sentence and brutal hit on her tender ass.Oh! She fucked up .She felt her resolve begin to crumble as the relentless spanking continued. Each impact sent shockwaves of pain and pleasure through her body, her ass burning and tingling. She could feel herself getting wetter with each strike, her body betraying her stubborn attitude as more cries slipped past her lips. Edge had let go of her throat, instead choosing to roughly tug, lick, suck, and bite her nipples, leaving marks all across her chest.“F-Fuck…you…” She laughed weakly, her head rolling to the side.She was gonna get one last jab in, even if it meant sacrificing sitting in chairs for the next few days.
Fucking worth it.
Edge's eyelights flared dangerously at her defiant words. He grabbed her chin roughly, forcing her to look down at him."Oh, You Little Fucking Whore, You Really Don’t Know When To Shut The Fuck Up, Do You? I’ll Tell You Right Now, It’s Not Me You Should Be Worried About At The Moment." He growled, his voice low and menacing.Her stomach did little flips at the degrading words and warning, adding to the heat pooling at her core.He stood fully, moving his hand to cover Lilly's mouth, muffling any further smart remarks. Papyrus's hand came down again, harder than before, the impact echoing even through the wall.“Try Your Best To Not Scream Too Loud.” He hissed, and Papyrus really began. Oh fuck, maybe not worth it. "One," Papyrus counted for her, his voice stern. "Since You Seem Incapable Of Following Simple Instructions, I'll Count For You. But Make No Mistake, We’re Starting Over From The Beginning."Another brutal slap. "Two."Her muffled cries grew louder with each impact. Her body trembled, torn between the pain and bolts of pleasure shooting straight to her clit. She could feel her head growing fuzzy, her vision blurred from tears and flinching when the impacts came down. She couldn’t see him, couldn’t prepare for each hit on her already raw ass."Three," Papyrus growled, his hand coming down again with punishing force.Lilly's legs shook as she tried to stay still, her muffled sobs and moans growing more desperate with each strike. The pain blurred with pleasure, her pussy clenching and feeling her arousal drip down her legs, despite her attempts to resist. She pressed her face into Edge’s hand, feeling her tears roll over onto it.I really want to laugh and give them a piece of my mind right now."Four." Another harsh slap. "Five."
Nope. Nope, nevermind.
Edge's grip on her face tightened as he leaned in close, his hot breath ghosting over her ear. "You Wanted This, Didn't You, Brat? To Be Put In Your Place? To Have That Smart Mouth Of Yours Silenced?""Six," Papyrus continued relentlessly."Seven… And Of Course She Does. There’s Practically A Puddle Between Her Legs Right Now. How Often, Lilly? How Often Have You Read And Fantasized About Us, Begging And Praying For It To Become A Reality? Tell Me, Is It Everything You Imagined It Would Be, You Little Brat!”And with that, her resolve crumbled entirely.She wasn’t fucked, she was absolutely ruined. Tears streamed down her face as she nodded frantically against Edge's hand, desperate whimpers and cries escaping around his fingers."Eight," Papyrus growled, his hand coming down once more. "Nine."Lilly's entire body shook, her muffled cries growing more desperate with each impact. The pain had long since blurred into a burning, tingling sensation that sent waves of heat straight to her core. Her legs trembled as she struggled to stay upright, held in place only by the wall and Edge's firm grip."Ten," He delivered one final, punishing slap.She shuddered violently, a muffled scream escaping around Edge's fingers as the impact sent shockwaves through her. Her vision blurred, tears streaming down her face as she gasped for breath. The burning ache in her ass radiated through her entire body, mixing with the throbbing need between her legs. She could have sworn she had a higher pain tolerance than this, but god- damn, Papyrus had a surprising amount of force behind his swings.Edge slowly removed his hand from her mouth, allowing her to gulp in air. "Have You Learned Your Lesson, Pet?" he purred, his sharp phalanges trailing down her tear-stained cheek.Lilly nodded weakly, her defiance basically shattered into pieces. "…Yes," she whimpered, her voice hoarse. "I'm sorry…I'll be good…"Being a brat seemed like it was either the best thing ever, or the worst. She would have to decide when she tried to sit down tomorrow.If she even could."Good Girl," Edge praised, his tone softening, and she felt Papyrus rub soft circles over the tender flesh of her ass.“You Did Wonderfully. I Have To Say, Your Ass Is Beautiful When It’s Red And Bruised Like This, Flower.”Shivering at his words, a mix of pain and pleasure coursed through her as he gently caressed her tender skin. She felt utterly exposed and vulnerable, trapped in the wall with most of her naked body on display, but the praise from both skeletons sent a warm tingle through her."Thanks…," she mumbled, her voice still shaky.“Say It Properly, Lilly.” Papyrus’s voice was more gentle, but still stern, as he squeezed her sore rear.She gasped out. “Th-thank you…!”Edge's sharp grin widened as he observed her flushed face and tear-stained cheeks. "Such A Good Girl Now," he purred, running a fingertip along her bottom lip. "I Think You've Earned A Reward For Taking Your Punishment So Well."Papyrus hummed in agreement, and her breath hitched as his hands caressed her thighs, inching closer to her aching core. The cool touch of his bones against her feverish skin made her shiver."P-please," she whimpered, no longer caring about maintaining her bratty facade. The punishment had done a number on her, leaving her desperate and needy.
What a shocker.
Edge chuckled darkly, his eyelights glowing with intensity. "Listen To Her Beg. Such A Change From Earlier, Wouldn't You Say?""Quite The Transformation," Papyrus agreed, his fingers ghosting over the wetness that had dripped down her legs. "So Wet For Us Already. Did The Punishment Excite You This Much, Lilly?"His fingers ghosted over her dripping folds, making her gasp and twitch. The light touch was almost unbearable after being wound up so tightly. She wanted—no, needed —more."Please," Lilly whimpered, trying to press back against his hand. But the wall restricted her movement, leaving her at the mercy of the two.Edge smirked at her desperate plea. "Please What, Pet? Use Your Words."Her face burned with embarrassment. "Please… touch me," she managed to choke out."Oh? But We Are Touching You," Papyrus teased, his fingers still barely grazing her sensitive entrance. "You'll Have To Be More Specific."She squirmed, frustrated by their teasing after taking such a brutal spanking. "Please… I need more. I-I want you to make me cum," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.Edge's grin widened. "Louder, Pet. I Don't Think He Heard You."Swallowing what was left of her bruised pride, Lilly repeated herself louder, "Please…please make me cum!""Good Girl," Edge purred, rewarding her with a gentle kiss on the forehead. That almost gave her more whiplash than Papyrus beating the shit out of her ass cheeks. She felt her face burn, blushing at the sweet, yet intimate gesture."And Since You Asked So Nicely…" Papyrus said, his voice low and husky. Without warning, he plunged two fingers deep into her dripping pussy. She cried out at the sudden intrusion, her back arching as much as the wall would allow."Oh, She's So Tight ," Papyrus groaned, slowly pumping his fingers in and out. "And So Wet . You Really Did Enjoy Your Punishment, Didn't You?" His tone had a bite of tease in it as he moved his fingers, scissoring them against her aching walls. She let out a loud cry as he did so, her hips trying to buck against his hand despite her limited mobility. The burning on her ass only seemed to heighten the pleasure, creating a delicious contrast of sensations.Edge watched her face intently, clearly enjoying her expressions of pleasure. "Look At You ," he purred, running his sharp phalanges down her neck and chest. "So Desperate And Needy. What A Good, Obedient Little Whore You've Become. Tell Me How It Feels, Being Bound Like This, Unable To Move As He Touches You?"“Ahh…It’s so good…Fuck! Please!” Crying out as Papyrus curled his fingers harshly within her, and she could’ve sworn her vision went white for a moment. Edge’s dirty talk was only spurring her on, but knowing he was watching her reactions made a sense of embarrassment and arousal rush over her.“Ah, Yes, I Do Believe There Was Something Else You Wanted, Wasn’t There?” He mused, and she could hear the movements of him undoing his belt.The sound alone made her tighten around Papyrus’s fingers.His voice rang out, and he added a third finger, “Ohhh, Whatever It Is, She Just Got Tighter Edge.”
God so fucking help me-
“Is That So? Then Beg For It, Pet.” He growled out, bringing his hips forward"Please," She gasped, her mind hazy as she looked up at him. "I want… I need…"She paused, trailing off as she became quickly overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through her body. She curled inward, shaking as Papyrus’s skilled fingers were driving her wild, pumping in and out of her dripping core at a merciless pace. The sound of Edge's belt hitting the floor sent another jolt of arousal through her."Go On," Edge prompted, his voice low and commanding. "Tell Me Exactly What You Want ."Like hell she could even formulate a sentence right now.“Lilly… Answer Him .” A loud smack was the only indication she got as Papyrus brought his hand down roughly on her already sore ass.“Aaahh- FUCK !” She let out a cry, panting as she clenched around his fingers inside her.
Where the fuck did Papyrus learn to do this shit?!
Swallowing hard, Lilly forced herself to meet Edge's intense gaze again. "I-I need your cock," she managed to gasp out, her face burning with a mix of embarrassment and need. "Please… fuck my mouth, let me suck your cock Edge ."She watched as his eye sockets seemed to widen, a blush blooming over his skull as his eyelights darted over different parts of her face.Who knew being a needy whore was the best kind of payback a girl could ever have?She watched as he composed himself, undoing his zipper and bringing himself closer to her face. "See, That Wasn’t So Difficult. Now, Open Your Mouth." he commanded, his eyelights hard on her face.Trembling slightly, she parted her lips obediently.Now it was her turn to be shocked, because one of the biggest cocks she’d seen in her life popped into her vision. She knew their size difference could have some interesting implications, but this was actually inhuman . She had no idea how she was supposed to get that thing in her mouth, let alone even try to take one in her pussy.It was probably 11–12 inches in length, and the girth was large enough that she wasn’t even sure she could wrap her hand around it. More than that, however, there were bumps along the top and bottom of his cock, along with a set of piercings.A Jacobs fucking Ladder with gold jewelry adorning it all the way to the base. There were probably 8 or 9 sets of bars that ran along the underside of the shaft. She licked her lips nervously, her mouth watering at the sight."Well, Pet?" Edge growled, his hand still tangled in her hair. "You Begged So Prettily. Now Put That Mouth To Good Use."Shaking slightly, she leaned forward as much as the wall would allow, parting her lips. She ran her tongue experimentally along the underside of his shaft, feeling the smooth metal of the piercings. Edge hissed in pleasure, his grip tightening in her hair."Don't Tease," he warned, his voice low and dangerous.Taking a deep breath, Lilly opened her mouth wider and took the head of his cock into her mouth. Her jaw needed to be stretched fairly wide to take him, but not uncomfortably so, since the length would end up being the problem. She swirled her tongue over the tip, feeling her own tongue piercing press against his ecto, doing her best to work with what little room her mouth had left.
Do I still have a gag reflex? If I do, can I turn it off? Cause that would be really useful right about now.
Meanwhile, Papyrus continued his movements, his fingers pumping in and out of her dripping pussy. He added a fourth finger, stretching her further and eliciting a muffled whimper around Edge's cock.Edge let out a low growl of pleasure as she worked her mouth over his length. The size difference was proving to be a minor set back, but her enthusiasm made up for it. He guided her head with the hand tangled in her hair, setting a steady rhythm."That's It, Pet," he purred. "Take It Deeper."Lilly struggled to accommodate more of his length, fresh tears pricking at the corners of her eyes as she fought to relax the muscles towards the back of her throat. The bumps and piercings along his shaft created an intense sensation as they dragged against her tongue and the roof of her mouth.Behind her, Papyrus increased the pace of his fingers, curling them to hit her sweet spot with each thrust. His thumb found her clit, circling it in time with his pumping fingers. She moaned around Edge's cock, the vibrations causing him to hiss in pleasure. She tensed, feeling a bit too wet as something poured out on the insides of her thighs.“Oh My God, She’s A Squirter Edge, It’s Our Lucky Day.” Oh, I didn’t know it could do that . Lilly had never, in her life, squirt before, let alone thought it could even happen. She was a little worried about the mess, and also the fact that Papyrus, of all fucking people , was the one making her do it.She definitely wasn’t complaining, but the bastard did sound a little too fucking smug about it.She felt Edge’s cock twitch hard in her mouth, a loud growl coming from deep in his chest at the new information.Suddenly, Papyrus removed his fingers, and she whimpered at the loss of them inside her and the feeling of more liquid dripping down her legs, soaking into her thigh highs.She couldn’t say shit, not with her mouth being preoccupied at the moment. She looked up at him through her messy hair, trying to give him a pleading look.Edge's eyelights blazed as he met her gaze, his grin widening. "Such A Needy Little Whore, Wanting More Are We?" he growled, thrusting deeper into her mouth.
Not what I was going for, but, uh…duh.
Lilly gagged slightly as the tip of his cock hit the back of her throat, but she forced herself to relax, breathing through her nose. She hollowed her cheeks, sucking harder as she bobbed her head in time with his thrusts.
Okay, gag reflex still intact. Damn.
Behind her, she felt Papyrus shift his position. His large hands gripped lower on her hips, pulling her ass back as far as the wall would allow. He bent her legs forward a bit, feeling them come to rest somewhere on his arms. She felt something warm blow across her pussy, and her eyes widened in realization."Color?" Papyrus asked, his voice husky as she realized his face was probably inches away from her pussy. Lilly pulled back from Edge's cock just enough to gasp out "G-Green!" before he thrust back into her mouth.Without further hesitation, Papyrus dove in, his long, conjured tongue lapping at her dripping folds. She moaned loudly around Edge's cock, the vibrations causing him to hiss in pleasure. His tongue was unlike anything she had ever felt before—warm, slick, and impossibly flexible as it explored every inch of her. She let out a loud whine as his tongue began to press inside her, slowly moving further and further in, something a human would never be able to achieve. It seemed to swell, growing larger as it almost writhed inside her aching cunt.Edge's grip on her hair tightened as he picked up the pace, thrusting deeper into her mouth. "That's It, Pet," he purred. "Take It All, From Both Of Us.”She struggled to focus on pleasuring Edge as Papyrus's skilled tongue worked her into a frenzy. His fingers dug into her hips, and he practically groaned against her, causing her to twitch. There was also a new sensation, something else wet trailing along the outsides of her folds and moving up towards her clit. Her shoulders and abs trembled as she fought to stay upright, relying more on Edge gripping her hair for support.
Does he…Does he have two fucking tongues?!
She let out a cry around Edge’s cock and her theory was proved true, as a second tongue began viciously lapping at her clit, while the other seemed to squirm inside her. She clenched hard around it, and she could hear and feel the fucker chuckle against her.When this was all over, she was going to have a very long talk about everything that Paps apparently could do with his magic, because now the possibilities were endless.Lilly's mind reeled as pleasure overwhelmed her senses. The dual sensations of Edge's thick cock stretching her mouth and Papyrus's magical tongues working her pussy were almost too much to bear. She moaned and whimpered around Edge's length, her body trembling as she struggled to stay upright, possibly even conscious.Edge's grip on her hair tightened, feeling his sharp claws rake over her scalp and his thrusts becoming more erratic. "Such A Good Little Pet," he growled, his voice strained. "Taking My Cock So Well."Papyrus seemed to move slightly, one of his hands leaving her hip as he redoubled his efforts, his tongues moving in tandem to drive her wild. The one curled inside her never seemed to stop squirming, pressing against a spot that made her spasm, while the other flicked rapidly over her swollen clit. Her thighs quivered, her orgasm building rapidly as she tried to control her erratic breathing. She felt like she was drowning in pleasure, her mind hazy and unfocused as she struggled to keep up with both skeletons' demanding pace.Edge's thrusts became more erratic, his grip on her hair tightening almost painfully. " Fuck ," he growled, "I'm Close, Pet. You're Going To Swallow Every Drop, Understand?" All she could do was moan in response, her eyes watering as she fought to take him as deep as her throat would allow.Edge's thrusts became more frantic as he neared his climax. Lilly struggled to keep up, her jaw aching from the stretch of his thick cock. Papyrus's skilled tongues continued their relentless assault on her pussy, pushing her closer and closer to cumming.And oh how fucking badly she wanted to.With a final, deep thrust, Edge buried himself in her throat, letting out a guttural groan as he came. His cum flooded down her throat and into her mouth, the taste sharp and tingling on her tongue. She swallowed reflexively, struggling to take it all as he held her head in place and jerked with each release. She felt his cum threaten to spill out from the sides of her mouth, and did her best to swallow quickly. It made her throat and stomach tingle as it went down, and she wondered if that was because it was technically magic."That's It, Good Girl," Edge moaned, slowly releasing his grip on her hair. "Every Last Drop."Just as she was beginning to slightly relax, she felt Papyrus begin to thrust his monstrous tongue in and out of her at a brutal pace. She let out a loud cry around Edge’s cock, feeling her vision begin to blur as the tears continued down the sides of her face. It was so much pleasure, so much sensation she’d never experienced before, that it was actually making her eyes forcibly water.Edge pulled back, and her once muffled moans quickly turned into loud, whining cries and pants as she got closer to the orgasm she was desperately chasing."Ah-ah! Oh god, I'm…I'm gonna-" Lilly cried out, her body trembling uncontrollably as Papyrus's relentless assault pushed her to the brink.Edge's hand tangled in her hair again, yanking her head back. "Look At Me When You Cum, Lilly." he growled, his cheeks dusted with red.Her eyes locked onto Edge's intense gaze, her mouth hanging open as she panted and moaned. Her eyes rolled back, but a firm set of slaps on the side of her face made her refocus on him. She felt Papyrus bring a hand down on her ass, and the walls of her pussy clenched hard around his tongue as he moved it.That was all it took to push her over the edge.“F-Fuck…fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK-!”Her body convulsed as her orgasm crashed over her. Her back arched as much as the wall would allow, thighs quaking around Papyrus's skull. Waves of intense pleasure radiated through her core, causing her to scream out incoherently. Her coolant flashed bright purples and pinks, pulsing in time with the contractions of her pussy.Edge held her gaze, drinking in the sight of her ecstasy. "Ooh, Pretty Girl," he purred, his sharp grin widening. "You Look So Good When You Cum."Papyrus relentlessly continued, working her through her orgasm and drawing it out. His tongues moved slowly now, coaxing more pleasure from her overstimulated body. Lilly whimpered and twitched, overwhelmed by the intensity of it all. She could feel him shaking a bit before he tensed, twitching a bit against her.
Oh my god, he came from eating me out.
As the last aftershocks subsided, Papyrus slowly withdrew his tongues, placing a final, gentle kiss on her sensitive folds. Lilly whimpered at the sensation, her body still hypersensitive. She slumped forward, panting heavily as she came down from her intense orgasm. Her body felt like jelly, and she was grateful for Papyrus's arms keeping her slightly upright. Edge released his hold on her, gently stroking her cheek and combing through her now messy hair."You Did So Well, Pet," he purred, his sharp grin softening slightly. "Such A Good Girl For Us."She felt Papyrus stand up behind her, his hands caressing her sides as she was slightly lowered from the loss of support."Indeed," he agreed, his voice low and husky. "Your Taste Was Even better Than I Had Imagined, So Thank You For The Meal, Dearest."Lilly felt a warm flush spread across her cheeks at their praise and Papyrus’s vulgar words. She was still trying to catch her breath, her mind hazy from the intense pleasure she had just experienced."Th-thanks…," she managed to stammer out, her voice hoarse from the sheer level of screaming and moaning she just did. She heard Edge cleaning himself up, putting his belt back on with ease. She wasn’t sure what Papyrus was doing, but now she felt slightly cold and sticky, assuming he had left to grab towels to clean up.“Let’s Get You Cleaned Up And Put To Bed Then, And We Can Talk More In The Morning. Are You Able To Teleport To Remove Yourself From The Wall?” Edge leaned over her, rubbing her back in small circles.Leaning upwards into the touch, she was surprised by how groggy and worn out her body was. She was a little confused, considering she had a pretty insane healing ability, yet it didn’t seem to be working on the abuse her body just went through.Her ass cheeks still fucking burned, after all.She nodded weakly, “Yeah, I think so, let me just breathe for a second though…”Edge said nothing, but his hand remained on her back, offering a comforting feeling. She heard footsteps and realized Paps had come back, hopefully with goodies.“I’ve Got Water, Wet Wipes, Towels, and Some Ibuprofen. Is She Able To Get Out Of The Wall On her Own?” Yes. The goodies . She smiled a bit, her head, and body feeling a bit floaty after everything she had just been through.But she didn’t regret it in the slightest.“I Believe So, But She Needs To Rest And Recover. We Were Quite Rough On Her, All Things Considered. She May Be In Subspace.”“I Figured. I May…Have Gone Too Far. It Has Been Some Time, After All, Not Dealing With Our Heats Properly And Then This New Situation.”“She Never Used The Safe Word, And I Kept A Close Watch Of Her Face For Any Signs Of Discomfort, I Assure You That You Have Nothing To Be Sorry For. She Thoroughly Enjoyed Herself, She Will Just Need Very Good Aftercare.”Wow, how the fuck could they talk so much after that ?“I’ve Got It Arranged. I Had Blue Stock Her Room With Extra Supplies.”“Good. I Will Say, I Hadn’t Expected Much From You, But After This I Can Say I’m Thoroughly Impressed.”“A Lot Of People Seem To Assume Things About Me, And You Wouldn’t Be The First, Edge. I Have Plenty Of Tricks Up My Sleeve.”Lilly snorted, still leaned over and staring at the ground. “Okay lovebirds, ya gonna kiss now?”She heard both of them sigh, and it only made her giggle.“It Seems Her Mouth Is Still In Working Order.” Edge huffed, stepping off to her left.“Lilly, Can You Teleport Out Of The Wall, Just In Front Of You, Here In The Hall?” Papyrus moved to her right, placing a hand on her shoulder.“Yeah, Yeah…Gimme a sec…” She huffed, tired and really wanting to fall asleep in the wall.She blinked for a second, focusing on her ability and feeling the immediate loss of pressure around her waist and arms as the world tilted. Her feet hit the ground, but her legs quickly wobbled and gave out from under her as she stumbled forward.Luckily, both Edge and Paps had been prepared for this and caught either of her arms, steadying her and holding her upright.Leaning heavily against the two skeletons, her legs felt more wobbly and unstable the more she tried to put weight on them. She felt utterly drained, both physically and mentally, after the intense experience."Easy there," Papyrus murmured, his arm wrapping securely around her waist. "Let's Get You Cleaned Up And Into Bed."Edge nodded in agreement, supporting her other side as they carefully guided her towards her bedroom. Lilly's mind was still hazy, floating in a pleasant post-orgasmic fog. She barely registered the journey, focusing instead on putting one foot in front of the other.Once in her room, they gently lowered her onto the bed. She immediately flopped backwards, stretching out her back with a loud groan. She didn’t understand why she wasn’t healing after all of that. Did it have something to do with their magic?Papyrus produced the wet wipes and towels he'd brought earlier, Gently wiping her legs, groin, and face down, while Edge carefully removed her remaining clothing. As they carefully cleaned her up, Lilly found herself drifting in and out of awareness. Their touch was gentle, a stark contrast to their roughness earlier. She felt warm and cared for as they tended to her, and it left a smile on her face."Here, Drink This." Edge murmured, holding a glass of water to her lips. She blinked, sitting up slightly and sipped gratefully, not realizing how thirsty she had been."And Take These." Papyrus added, offering her some ibuprofen. She swallowed the pills, hoping they would help with the lingering soreness. She couldn’t remember the last time she had to actually take pain medication."Good Girl," he murmured, setting the glass aside. "Now, Let's Get You Comfortable."Once they finished cleaning her up, Edge carefully maneuvered her under the covers while Papyrus adjusted her pillows. The softness of her bed felt heavenly against her aching body. Her eyelids felt really heavy, and she knew that this was about to be some of the best sleep of her fucking life ."How Are You Feeling?" Papyrus asked softly.“Hm…? Oh, I feel awesome…What about you guys, though? That wasn’t like…You weren’t actually like…mad at me, right?” She mumbled, eyes already closed.“Stars No, Lilly. You Were Perfect.” He reassured, feeling him run his hand over her hair.She smiled softly at the reassurance, her eyes still closed as she nestled deeper into the pillows. "Good… 'Cause I had a really great time." she mumbled sleepily.Edge chuckled softly, gently brushing her hair away from her face. "We're Glad To Hear That, Pet. Now Get Some Rest."She hummed contentedly, already drifting off. "Mmkay… g'night…"Best. Night. Ever....As her breathing evened out, and she slipped into a deep sleep, Edge and Papyrus exchanged a look."She Handled That Remarkably Well For Her First Time," Papyrus remarked quietly, getting up from the bed and making his way out of her room. Making sure all the lights were off, Edge followed quickly behind as they shut her door.Edge nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Though We'll Need To Have A Proper Discussion About Boundaries And Expectations Once She's Recovered.""Agreed. For Now, Let Her Rest. We Can Talk More In The Morning," Papyrus said, his voice low as they walked down the hallway towards their own respective apartments."I Must Admit, I'm Impressed With Your…Skills," Edge commented, glancing at Papyrus. "I Wouldn't Have Expected Such…Experience From You. Did You Really End Up Using The Dual Tongue Trick On Her?”“Haha, Of Course I Did! Human Anatomy Is Very Different, But It’s One Of The Benefits Of Having Magic. I Have Quite An Arsenal Of Material That I’ve Been Reading Up On. Did You Know There’s A Whole Category Of People Out There Who Refer To Themselves As ‘ Monster Fuckers ’? It’s Usually Creatures With More Beastly Forms, Like Werewolves, But I Think The Term Clearly Applies Here.” He laughed, crossing his arms as they made their way to the elevators.Edge raised a brow at his enthusiasm. "I See You've Done Your Research. Though I Suppose I Shouldn't Be Surprised, Given That You Are Another Version Of Myself.”Papyrus chuckled. "Yes, Yes. I May Not Be As… Openly Aggressive As You are, But I Have My Own Ways Of Getting What I Want. And What I Want Is To Make Sure Our Little Overseer Is Well Taken Care Of."They reached the elevator, stepping inside as the doors opened."Speaking Of Which," Edge said, his tone growing more serious, "We'll Need To Keep A Close Eye On Her Tomorrow. The Drop From Subspace Can Be Intense, Especially For Someone New To This."Papyrus nodded in agreement. "Of Course. I've Already Arranged For Blue To Bring Her Breakfast In Bed Tomorrow Morning. We Can Check On Her Once She’s Up And About.” They both entered a comfortable silence as the elevator came to a stop on the bottom floor."One More Thing," Edge said, his tone more concerned. "We Need To Be Careful About How We Proceed From Here. This Changes The Dynamic Between Us And Lilly Quite Significantly. I Know She Already Voiced Concerns To The Others, But She Isn’t Aware Of The Soulmate Development."Papyrus nodded thoughtfully. "You're Right. We'll Need To Have An Open Discussion With Her About Expectations And Boundaries Once She's Recovered, Although The Soulmate Aspect May Have To Wait, You Know How Humans Can Be. And…We Should Probably Inform The Others Of This New Development, Once They’ve Sobered Of Course.”“HA! Stretch Will Be Pissed That We Got To Her First.”“Well, That’s What He Gets For Being Fucking Lazy. Early Bird Gets The Worm.” Papyrus rolled his eyes.Edge let out a boisterous laugh,“Damn Right.”“By The Way, If You’re Heavily Into BDSM, I Highly Recommend Looking Into Tentacle Play, It Looks Amazingly Useful.”“Oh, Don’t Worry. I’ve Got A List Of New Things To Try, And That Is Most Certainly One Of Them.”“…We’re Going To Need A Lot More Bottles Of Ibuprofen.”“Say No More, I’m Ordering A Pallet On Amazon Right Now.”“Stars Above…I Really Hope She’s Prepared For All Hell That’s About To Break Loose Around Here.”“Oh Shut It. We Both Know She’s Into It.”Well...He wasn't wrong.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Blue had to use every ounce of his willpower to look away from the scene in front of him. He gritted his teeth so hard it felt like they might break as he retreated back into the elevator. The doors shut with a soft click, and for a brief moment, he relished in the silence.

But it was short-lived as Lilly's screams of pleasure echoed through the building. He could hear her even as he descended to the lower floors. That woman had some serious lungs on her, but what pissed him off was that

he

wasn't the one making her scream like that. He had seen Edge pulling out of her throat, her gasping moans spilling over into the hallway as she screamed out and orgasmed.

She had somehow gotten herself stuck in a wall, paying the price for her little show in front of everyone at the club. This was

after

she had drunkenly declared her love for the group. His cock twitched painfully against his pants as he remembered her running from him down the bar, goading them on as they tried to catch her. He rubbed his hands over his face, bone scraping against bone roughly as he leaned back against the elevator wall.

They were

so

fucked.

Edge wasn't wrong…Blue had always been into primal play. He longed to give in to his animalistic instincts, hunt down their cute little overseer, bend her over any surface, and fuck her senseless.
And Lilly? Fucking stars help him, she was without a doubt his soulmate.
The way she strutted around without a goddamn bra, her tits almost spilling out of that tiny top and those thigh-high socks…No wonder Stretch, Classic, and Red had gotten plastered. Every single move she made, from a giggle to a slight twitch, had them clenching their fists in frustration. To most, her fragrance of apples, whiskey, and oil might have been repugnant. But for Blue, it was like an aphrodisiac. He would breathe as deeply as possible every time she was around, just to savor the aroma.

And when she got turned on, that apple scent transformed into the tantalizing smell of fresh-baked apple-cinnamon pie, spiked cider with a hint of musk from the oil. It was enough to make his mouth water as he greedily inhaled, even as he made his way back to the apartments.

He could still smell it, considering it seemed to linger in the air wherever he went. He couldn’t escape it, thinking and dreaming about her constantly. It had only been two weeks and most of them were already pushing themselves to their limits to keep composure around her. On the flip side, there were some benefits to this situation. They were becoming increasingly close with her, paying close attention to every aspect of her being—physical, mental, and emotional—as they became more and more invested in her.

Getting to know her and spending more time with her had been the right move, and he cringed as he recalled how he acted the first day they had met.

He really regretted the way he handled things, happy to have been making it up to her the past few weeks. Rather, he was happy to see how she had been

reacting

to his actions. She was so easy to fluster, and the more he got to know her, the more he realized just how considerate and worried she was about everything. She was constantly fussing over them, always considering their feelings first rather than what she clearly wanted.

It made him regret the assumptions he had initially jumped to when they first met.

She had stopped hiding her scars with the skin sheer, wearing them proudly as a badge of honor. Blue couldn't deny that he found them alluring, a physical testament to her strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The way her lip would tug tightly against the torn skin when she smiled, revealing more of her teeth, made him want to press his own lips against hers and feel the texture against his bone. The way the plethora of scars stretched and pulled across her tanned skin only made him want to run his hands over them more. The way human skin worked always fascinated him. The smoothness, textures, colors, and patterns that could be seen on it, every single one individual and unique. He often stared, finding himself wanting to just sit and run his hands all over her…well, that and several other reasons.

In return, he regularly caught her gazing at their bodies, her eyes lingering over their mouths, chests or hands, a faint blush painting her cheeks. Though she never openly admitted it, her body language and subtle glances made it clear that she wanted them as much as they wanted her. Blue often wondered if she was just as curious about their physiology as they were hers.

Actions spoke louder than words, and the way her coolant would swirl that gorgeous blue with tinges of purples when they were near her were dead giveaways. He let out a groan low in his chest, when he saw her walking around with his color permanently a part of her body, like she was

made for him

.

As he spent the past few weeks carefully observing her, he started to notice patterns in the different colors of Lilly’s coolant and what they meant.

Purple was the most common one they had seen, which usually meant two things; she was either turned on, or just flustered. Pinks seemed to mix into the purple when she got

really

worked up, but it was rarer. The color green was associated with fear, as seen in the way her coolant would swirl wildly with it whenever they played horror games, or she got jump scared during a movie. Yellow was typically associated with disgust, which Red found quite the amusing discovery when he and Classic competed in a challenge to see who could put the most condiments on their food. Lilly looked like she was going to vomit as they ate it. Orange typically appeared when she was super excited, happy, or laughed really hard, and he knew it drove his brother and Creampuff wild seeing it.

Her coolant was typically blue, but he observed that it would change shade depending on her emotions. The swirling motion would also vary in speed depending on how she was feeling, evident under the glass panels on her arms. They also noticed a glittery, shimmering effect to the coolant, which he found mesmerizing.

He couldn't help but feel grateful for her hybrid nature, her cyborg enhancements proving to be incredibly useful in their interactions. With each passing day, he was learning more about her preferences and quirks, making the process of wooing his potential soulmate a bit smoother.

He wasn’t sure when they could reveal the information about her being their soulmate, but he knew humans could be skittish about relationship dynamics, and they’d have to take it slow. Monogamy wasn’t really normalized in the underground, due to making sure the population stayed thriving. Monsters having multiple partners were common, but in their cases it was mutual and communicated about, not a surprise soulmate connection. He did catch himself struggling with sharing her with the others, but a part of him felt relieved that in a way, it was just different versions of himself and his brother. Out of all the people he was forced to share her with, he probably lucked out.

However, he did wonder what kind of issues it could bring in the future, and a spike of nervousness hit him in the gut.

What were they supposed to do when it was time to go home? They all had their own respective universes they needed to get back to, lives they had spent countless years building.

Would she pick between them? Dump them all and run?

He wouldn’t really blame her if she did.

He had no idea what the implications of this situation could mean, but one thing he did know was that he fucking

hated

thinking about it. Creampuff’s words helped ground him a bit, reminding him that even if this was temporary, they should allow themselves to indulge for once. He was more than happy to do so, especially after being locked away at that stupid facility for three years.

After what felt like the longest night ever, he finally returned to his own apartment. He put his bracelet up to the handle, unlocking the door and stepped inside. It was no longer the empty space it once was—now filled with all the things he had always dreamed of having. The modern furnishings were still fun and playful, just how he liked it.

He desperately wanted to get to bed to quell the aching between his pelvic bone.

But before he could even re-lock the door, his phone buzzed. He let out a sigh as he checked a message from Creampuff, asking him to stock up on water and snacks for Lilly's room. Well, it made sense, she must have been exhausted given what little he’d seen in the hall.

He hesitated for a moment, considering whether he wanted to make the trip back to her room or take a page from his brother's book and use magic to teleport there. In the end, fatigue won out, and he flexed his muscles, grunting as he pulled off the type of magic that he hadn't used in ages.

He glanced around, the kitchen dimly lit from the lights of the appliances as he grabbed a handful of different items. Water bottles, granola bars, and some kind of jerky piled in his arms as he walked through the ballroom, up the stairs, and to her bedroom door.

He paused, sensing someone inside.

Knocking, the door opened a bit roughly to reveal a

very

drunk Sans.

“S-Sup Blue, whatcha needin’?” Classic slurred, tilting over and falling against the door frame with a soft thud.

He huffed, “Classic, You May Want To Head To Bed. It’s Quite Late.” Of course he’d be forced to deal with one of his drunk alternates with everything else he had going on right now.

Classic just chuckled, his eyelights hazy and unfocused. “N-nah, m’bro said to wait here, so I’m waitin’. Lils ain’t back yet either, so I’m protectin’ her room for her.”

He glanced down the hall to his left, knowing that just beyond those doors, across the glass hall, Lilly was preoccupied with Creampuff and Edge.

Blue sighed, "I Don't Think She'll Be Back For A While. Why Don't You Let Me Take Care Of This?"

Classic's eyelights narrowed suspiciously, looking down at the items in his arms. "Whaddya mean? Where's she at?”

"She's…Indisposed At The Moment," He replied carefully. "I'm Just Dropping Off Some Supplies For Her."

He wobbled, nearly falling over as he tried to stand up straight. "Nuh-uh. I'm s'posed to watch her room. Can't let ya in."

Blue's patience was wearing thin. He didn't have time for this drunken nonsense, especially not after the night he'd had. "Look, I'm Going To Leave These Things Here Whether You Like It Or Not. Now Move Aside.”

He pushed past him, who stumbled backwards into the room. Blue quickly set the supplies down on one of her nightstands, trying to ignore the scent of her that permeated the room. As he turned to leave, Classic grabbed his arm, nearly toppling over in the process.

"Wait," he slurred. "Where's Lilly? Is she okay?"

Blue sighed, pinching the bridge of his nasal cavity. "She's Fine, Classic. She's Just…Busy Right Now."

His eyelights flickered, his face scrunched in confusion before a hint of understanding crossing his face. "Oh. OH. She's with…someone else, ain't she?"

He nodded reluctantly, not wanting to go into details. "Yes, But It's Best If We Don't Discuss It Further."

His grip on Blue's arm tightened, his expression darkening. "It's Edge, isn't it? That guy-”

“Yes, But Also Your Brother. She’s Fine, You Know Better Than Anyone That She’s In Good Hands.”

Classic's expression shifted from anger to confusion, then to a mix of hurt and resignation. He let go of his arm and stumbled backwards, collapsing onto Lilly's bed.

"My bro? Paps is…with her?" Classic mumbled, his eyelights dimming. "Guess I shoulda seen that comin'. He's always been the cool one."

Blue felt a twinge of sympathy for his alternate. He knew all too well the complicated feelings that came with this situation. "Look, Classic, It's Not…You Know This Was Bound To Happen At Some Point. This Whole Situation Is Complicated."

Monogamy wasn’t the issue, it was more related to the fact that they

had

to share a soulmate. They were already fairly rare, but to have different versions of yourself being forced to share a

soulmate

of all things, it was bound to cause some kind of jealousy issues. There were unspoken implications of a soulmate being with different versions of himself, doubts about his own personality and sense of self-worth.

Boss monsters were notoriously protective of their mates, and with three years of pent-up sexual frustrations under all their belts, none of them were sure how well it would end.

Classic nodded slowly, his eyelights unfocused. "Yeah, s'complicated. But…it still hurts a lil bit, ya know?" He let out a bitter chuckle. "Guess I shoulda made a move sooner. Always been too much of a lazybones."

Blue sat down next to Classic on the bed, careful to maintain some distance. "We're All Struggling With This, Classic. It's Not Easy For Any Of Us. Plus, It’s Only Been Two Weeks. Humans Don’t Move As Fast As Us, Which Means You’ve Got Plenty Of Time To Make Your Own Moves."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared predicament hanging heavy in the air. Classic leaned back, staring up at the ceiling.

"Ya ever wonder what woulda happened if we'd met her separately? In our own Universes?" he mused.

Blue considered this. "I Try Not To Think About It Too Much. It Only Leads To More Frustration, I Think. But It Does Also Make Me Wonder If There Are Other Versions Of Her Out There, Maybe Waiting For Us. Either Way…It’s Not Great."

His alternate chuckled humorlessly. "Yeah, you're right. Still…at least we got her, here and now."

Blue nodded silently, understanding the sentiment all too well. He'd had similar thoughts himself, late at night when sleep eluded him. What if he'd met Lilly back in his own universe? Would things have been simpler? Or would fate have found a way to complicate things regardless? Did it mean he had multiple versions of his soulmate out there, one for him and his brother, waiting for their return?

"We Should Probably Get Some Rest," Blue said after a moment, standing up from the bed. "It's Been A Long Night For Everyone."

Classic nodded slowly, his eyelights still unfocused. "Yeah…yeah, you're right. Just…give me a minute, will ya?"

Blue hesitated, torn between leaving the guy to his thoughts and making sure he actually made it back to his own room. After a moment, he sighed. "Alright, But Don't Stay Here All Night. It Wouldn't Be Appropriate."

As Blue turned to leave, Classic's voice stopped him. "Hey, Blue?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks. For…ya know. Being honest with me." Classic's words were still slurred, but there was a hint of genuine gratitude in his tone.

Blue nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Of Course. We're All In This Together, After All."

Just as he placed his hand on the door handle, it swung open abruptly. He was immediately hit in the face with the strongest scent of Lilly’s arousal he’d ever smelt. It made his pupils blow wide and a groan rip from the back of his throat. He held his face, taking a step back as he tried to ground himself. He heard Classic snarl, and knew he wasn’t faring any better.

“Ah, I See You’re Both Here. Apologies, I Didn’t Realize. Brother, You Need To Return To Your Room And Sleep This Off. We’ll Be Talking To With Everyone, Lilly Included, In The Morning. ” It was Creampuff, standing in the doorway with is arms crossed.

Blue's eyelights flickered as he struggled to regain his composure. The intoxicating scent of Lilly's arousal rolled off Creampuff in thick waves,overwhelming and clouding his thoughts and making his magic buzz beneath his bones. He could hear Classic's ragged breathing behind him, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

Creampuff stood firm in the doorway, his expression stern but understanding. "I Know This Is Difficult, But You Must Maintain Your Control. Lilly Needs Rest, And We All Need To Discuss This Situation In The Morning When We're Clear-Headed. Remember What I Said Sans, You Have Nothing To Worry About."

Blue nodded stiffly, forcing himself to take a step back. "You're Right. We Should Go." He turned to Classic, who was now standing, his eyelights hazy but intense. "Come On, Classic."

He hesitated, his gaze fixed on his brother with a mixture of confusion and frustration. "But…she's okay, right?" he slurred, swaying slightly on his feet.

Creampuff's expression softened slightly. "Yes, She's Fine. She's Resting Now. Edge Is With Her."

At the mention of Edge, Classic's eye sockets narrowed, a flicker of blue magic sparking in his left eye. "That bastard better not-"

"Classic," Blue interrupted firmly, placing a hand on his alternate's shoulder. "Let's Go. Now."

For a tense moment, it seemed like he might resist. But then his shoulders slumped, and he allowed Blue to guide him towards the door. As they passed Creampuff, the taller skeleton stepped aside, but he could see the tension in his posture, ready to intervene if necessary.

He was absolutely

coated

in her scent, and even if they were brothers, he knew things could get dicey with Classic’s drunken state.

“By The Way Blue, Would You Like To Make Her Breakfast In The Morning With Us? If Not, It’s Quite Alright, But I Figured I’d Ask.” He added as they moved out the door.

Blue paused, considering the offer. The thought of being there when Lilly woke up, of seeing her sleepy, satisfied expression and knowing he had a hand in taking care of her…It would give him a chance to do something nice for her, to show how he wanted to take care of her.

"I… I'd Like That," Blue replied, his voice slightly strained as he fought to maintain his composure. "What Time Should I Be Here?"

Creampuff nodded, a small smile on his face. "Around Six Should Be Fine. We'll Make Sure She Has A Proper Meal To Recover."

Blue nodded, tightening his grip on Classic's shoulder as he felt the other skeleton tense at Creampuff's words. "We'll See You In The Morning Then. Come On, Classic."

He merely grumbled as Blue dragged him through the hall and down the ballroom stairs, knowing that going the shorter route through the rec building would only cause issues.

As they made their way through the ballroom, Classic stumbled, nearly pulling both of them down. Blue grunted, readjusting his grip on his alternate's arm.

"Come on, Classic. Just a bit further," he muttered, half-dragging the other skeleton towards the apartments.

Classic mumbled something incoherent, his eyelights flickering dimly. The scent of Lilly's arousal still clung to them, making his magic thrum beneath his bones. He tried to focus on the task at hand, pushing away the intrusive thoughts and images that threatened to overwhelm him.

They finally reached Classic's apartment door. Blue fumbled with the lock, trying to lift the guy’s arm, with the bracelet, to the handle. After a moment, the door clicked open, and he hauled Classic inside.

The apartment was a mess, clothes, trash, and empty ketchup bottles scattered everywhere, and he rolled his eyes. Of course his brother’s alternates would share the same messy habits.

As he got him hoisted to his bed, Classic rolled over, looking at him with a devious smile.

Well, that was never good.

“H-hey…as a thanks…lemme give ya one of these. Smell’s like you’ll be needin’ it.” He slurred, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out something bunched in his hands.

Blue eyed Classic's hand warily, unsure what to expect. As he uncurled his fingers, his eye sockets widened in shock. There, nestled in his palm, was a pair of lacy, silk black panties.

"Are those…?" Blue trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper.

Classic grinned lazily, his eyelights hazy but mischievous. "Yep. Swiped a few of 'em from her room earlier. Thought I might need 'em for…ya know." He winked clumsily.

Blue felt his magic flare, a mix of arousal and indignation coursing through him. "Classic! That's…That's Completely Inappropriate! You Can't Just Take Her Undergarments Without Permission!"

Despite his words, Blue couldn't tear his eyelights away from the delicate fabric

Classic shrugged, tossing the panties at him, and he snatched them from the air faster than he was willing to admit. "Suit yourself. But don't pretend you don't want 'em."

Blue's fingers clenched around the soft fabric, his magic thrumming with a mix of shame and desire. He knew he should return them, that keeping them was a violation of Lilly's privacy. But the temptation to hold onto this small piece of her was overwhelming.

"I…I'll Return These To Her Room," he said stiffly, though he made no move to let go of the panties.

Classic chuckled, his eyelights knowing despite his drunken state. "Sure ya will, buddy. Sure ya will."

Blue felt his face flush with magic, embarrassed at being so transparent. He tucked the panties into his pocket, trying to ignore the way the fabric felt against his bones. "Get Some Rest, Classic. And…Don’t Do This Shit Again, Stars

Above

."

He walked out of the apartment, hearing Classic chuckle behind him.

As Blue made his way back, the weight of Lilly's panties in his pocket felt like it was burning a hole through the fabric. His mind raced with conflicting emotions—guilt at possessing something so intimate without her knowledge, and an overwhelming desire to indulge in this forbidden prize.

Entering his apartment, he leaned against the closed door, taking a deep breath. The scent of Lilly's arousal still clung to him, mingling with the faint apple and bourbon smell emanating from his pocket. His magic thrummed beneath his bones, desire and guilt warring within him.

Blue's fingers trembled as he pulled the delicate undergarment from his pocket, his mind racing with vivid images of Lilly wearing them. He imagined how they would hug her curves, accentuating the softness of her skin and the swell of her hips. The thought made his magic flare hotly, pooling in his pelvis.

He brought the fabric to his face, inhaling deeply. Her scent enveloped him—apples, bourbon, and that intoxicating hint of arousal that had clung to Creampuff. A low groan escaped him as he breathed in deeply.

"Stars Fucking Above, Forgive Me." he muttered to himself as he clutched the panties tighter.

He had made his choice.

.

.

.

Blue's breath hitched as he inhaled the scent again, his magic pulsing with need. He knew he should return them, but the temptation was too great. With shaking hands, he made his way to his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

He collapsed onto his bed, still clutching the delicate fabric. His mind raced with images of Lilly—her flushed face, her well toned muscles and soft curves, the way her coolant swirled with purple when she was aroused. He imagined her wearing these very panties, maybe even thinking of him as she touched herself.

The image of her gasping, wanting and needy in the hallway sent a shock of pleasure through him, and a growl ripped through his chest. The way her moans and cries sounded, the flush of her tear stained cheeks, god it was going to kill him.

His magic had fully formed now, straining against his pants. With shaking fingers, he undid his fly, freeing his throbbing cock. The glowing blue ecto created a dim light that seemed to illuminate himself. It made him tremble, partly of arousal, and partly of the fear of being caught. He knew realistically there was no way she would know what he was doing, but it didn’t stop his anxiety from running rampant.

Somehow though, the idea of Lilly catching him in the act only made his cock twitch.

Blue wrapped his hand around his aching length, groaning at the sensation. He brought her panties to his face once more, inhaling deeply as he began to stroke himself. Her scent filled his senses, driving him wild with need.

He imagined her beneath him, her skin flushed and glistening with sweat. In his mind, she moaned his name, begging him to touch her, to claim her, fuck her until she couldn’t think about anything but him. Her soft lips parting as she gasped and wailed under him as he ravaged every part of her that he could get his hands on. Blue's hand moved faster, his breath coming in ragged pants as he lost himself in the fantasy.

"Lilly," he groaned, his voice husky with desire. "Stars, I Need You So Badly."

His thumb brushed over the sensitive head of his cock, sending sparks of pleasure through his body. He pictured her soft hands on him instead, her curious fingers exploring every ridge and groove of his magic.

Blue's hips bucked involuntarily as he stroked himself faster, his magic pulsing with need. He pictured those soft, scarred lips wrapped around his length, her eyes gazing up at him with desire as she took him deeper. The image sent a jolt of pleasure through him, making him groan low in his throat.

"Fuck, Lilly," he growled, his free hand clutching the panties tightly. "You're So Perfect, So Beautiful. My Little Mate…"

In his mind, he saw her sprawled out beneath him, her legs spread wide as he thrust into her tight heat. He imagined the way she'd moan his name, her back arching as he hit all the right spots. The fantasy was so vivid he could almost feel her warmth enveloping him.

Blue's movements became more frantic, his breath coming in short gasps as he neared his peak. The noises spilling from her lips in the hallway filled his head, and it completely pushed him over the edge.

With a strangled groan, Blue came hard, his magic pulsing as he spilled over his hand. Waves of pleasure crashed over him as he rode out his orgasm, Lilly's name on his lips.

As the aftershocks subsided, reality slowly crept back in. Blue lay there panting, his magic dissipating as guilt and shame washed over him. He looked at the panties still clutched in his hand, now slightly damp with his sweat.

"Stars, What Have I Done?" he muttered, covering his face with his free hand.

Blue lay there for several minutes, trying to calm his racing thoughts, the post-nut clarity really beginning to kick in. The guilt gnawed at him, warring with the lingering pleasure from his release. He knew what he had done was wrong, a violation of privacy and trust. And yet, a part of him couldn't bring himself to fully regret it.

With a heavy sigh, he finally sat up, looking at the crumpled panties in his hand. He couldn't keep them—that much he knew for certain. But returning them to Lilly's room now felt impossible. How could he face her, knowing what he had done?

The maids usually took care of their laundry…Would they say anything to her, or just put them back to where they belonged? He knew Lilly didn’t enjoy the maids’ presence, so there was a pretty good chance it would go unnoticed.

After a moment of deliberation, Blue made his decision. He would wash the panties himself and return them discreetly, perhaps slipping them into her laundry when she wasn't looking. It wasn't a

perfect

solution, but it was the best he could come up with in his current state.

I’m so screwed.

With a heavy sigh, Blue dragged himself out of bed and made his way to the bathroom. He cleaned himself off before washing the delicate fabric by hand, trying not to think too hard about what he was doing. Once clean, he hung them to dry over the shower rod, out of sight.

As he crawled back into bed, exhaustion finally overtaking him, Blue's thoughts drifted to the morning ahead. He would have to face their little overseer at breakfast, act normal while carrying the weight of his little guilty secret. The thought made his soul clench with anxiety.

But there was also a part of him, a primal, possessive part, that felt a thrill at having this hidden connection to her. He had gotten a taste, however small, of what it would be like to have her as his mate. And now that he had experienced it, he most certainly wanted more.

Blue closed his eyes, willing sleep to come. He could handle this! Besides, it wasn’t like she knew what he had done, and if he had anything to say about it, she never would.

Finally, the relief of sleep consumed his foggy mind as he curled up beneath his warm blankets.

.

.

.

Lilly knew that, in several ways, this was a moment that would be forever burned into her mind.

And her ass.

She turned in the mirror, gaping at the extensive red and blue bruising across her sore rear-end. Even with a decent night's rest, her body hadn’t healed from her little…

adventure

…with Papyrus and Edge.

She let out a high-pitched whine, covering her face and squealing into her hand at the memory.

Lilly's face burned with embarrassment as she recalled the events of the previous night. The way she had shamelessly begged for more, her desperate cries echoing through the hallway. She could still feel the ghost of their touches on her skin, the delicious ache in her muscles a reminder of what they had done. She wasn’t going to lie though, she was pretty happy that her healing didn’t work.

She liked being marked.

It made it all feel more real, less like some vivid dream she might wake up from at any moment.

She gingerly ran her fingers over the bite marks over her breasts and neck, wincing at the surprising tenderness. Edge certainly hadn't held back, leaving his mark on her in more ways than one. And Papyrus… she shivered at the memory of his unexpected dominance, so different from his usual cheerful demeanor.

As mortifying as it was to admit, a part of her really wanted to see just how of her skin they could cover in marks, nips and bruises.

She clenched her thighs together, her coolant swirling with a light lavender.

For fuck's sake, it was only

seven in the morning.

The sound of knocking at her bedroom door made her jump. "Lilly? Are You Awake? We've Prepared Breakfast For You!" Papyrus's cheerful voice called out.

Her eyes widened in panic. How was she supposed to face them after last night? And oh god, what about the others? Did they know? Her coolant swirled wildly with a few mixtures of colors, greens and purples as she rushed to pull some clothes over herself.

“U-Uh, yeah! Gimme…oh fuck…give me just a second!” Lilly knew she didn’t have time for a bra, slipping a black and white t-shirt crop top on, and some simple, stretchy white shorts. She winced as she pulled them over her ass, tears pricking at the corner of her eyes. She had to forgo panties, not wanting further pressure on her sore behind.

Damn. Papyrus better have made some good shit after what happened yesterday.

Lilly took a deep breath, steeling herself before opening the door. Papyrus stood there, beaming at her with his usual enthusiasm. Behind him, she could see Edge and Blue holding various items as they looked her over.

"Good Morning, Lilly! I Hope You Slept Well," Papyrus said, his cheekbones tinting a light orange as his gaze flickered over her form.

"Morning, Papyrus," Lilly replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "Um, thanks for making breakfast guys. You really didn't have to…"

"Nonsense! After Last Night's Activities, We Wanted To Make Sure You Had A Proper Meal To Regain Your Strength," Papyrus stated matter-of-factly, causing Lilly's face to burn even hotter.

Chat, is this real?

She glanced nervously at Blue, wondering how much he knew.

Edge's expression was unreadable as ever, but there was a glint in his eye sockets that made her shiver. Blue, on the other hand, was fidgeting slightly, a faint blue blush dusting his cheekbones as he avoided direct eye contact.

"O-Oh, um, thanks," Lilly stammered, stepping aside to let them in. "That's really thoughtful of you."

As they filed into her room, Lilly couldn't help but notice the way their eyelights roamed over her body. She suddenly felt very exposed in her hastily thrown-on outfit, especially without a bra. The thin fabric of her crop top did little to hide the marks littering her neck, but she tried to ignore it.

Key word, tried.

Lilly fidgeted nervously as the skeletons set up breakfast on the small table in her room. The aroma of pancakes, eggs, and bacon filled the air, making her stomach growl despite her anxiety. She couldn't help but notice how Blue's eyelights lingered on her exposed midriff, or how Edge's gaze kept roaming over the visible bite marks across her neck.

"I Hope You're Feeling Alright This Morning," Papyrus said, fluffing up one of her blankets. "We Made Sure To Include Plenty Of Protein And Carbohydrates To Help Replenish Your Energy."

Lilly sat down gingerly, wincing as her sore bottom made contact with the bed. She saw Edge's mouth twitch into a smirk at her discomfort, and she felt her face heat up even more.

"Thanks, guys. I uh…I-…” She stuttered taking the plate of food from her nightstand.

Fucking jesus girl, get your shit together and just say it.

“I…I wanted to talk about yesterday, actually.” She sighed, letting out some tension in her shoulders, steeling herself and looking up at the group.

She watched as they tensed, and it made her grin. She took a few bites, savoring the moment of tension and anxiety they all seemed to have.

Ha! Your turn, shitheads.

“Don’t get your little panties in a twist, I loved it, and you didn’t do anything wrong, so no need to panic. Also, I’m assuming since Blue is here he knows what went down. What about the others? Are they even up? ‘Cause I should probably say this with everyone here.”

The three skeletons exchanged glances, their expressions flooding with relief.

"The Others Are Still Asleep, As Far As We Know," Edge replied, his voice gruff. "We Thought It Best To Speak With You Privately First."

Papyrus nodded, sitting down next to Lilly on the bed. "We Wanted To Make Sure You Were Alright Before Involving Everyone Else. Last Night Was… Quite Intense."

Blue fidgeted with the hem of his shirt, his eyelights darting between Lilly and the floor. "I, Uh, Only Know The Basics. Creampuff Filled Me In A Little When I Ran Into Him Last Night."

Lilly took another bite of fluffy pancake, trying to gather her thoughts. "Okay, that's fair. I just… I want to make sure we're all on the same page here. Last night was… intense, but I don't regret it, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Papyrus's face lit up with relief at Lilly's words. "Oh, I'm So Glad To Hear That! We Were Worried We Might Have Pushed Things Too Far."

Edge scoffed, but Lilly could see a flicker of relief in his eyelights as well. "We? More Like You, Creampuff. I Thought You Would Keel Over From A Fucking Soul Attack With How Panicked You Were This Morning."

Blue finally looked up, meeting Lilly's gaze. "Although I Did Not…Participate, I’m Glad You’re Okay. Are You…You're Really Okay With Everything That Happened?"

Lilly nodded, eating a few pieces of bacon.

Damn, they were fantastic cooks.

"Yeah, I am. It was… unexpected, but in a good way? I think I just want to make sure we're all comfortable with where things stand now, or what it means going forward."

She paused, setting her full plate down and gathering her courage before continuing.

Fuck, this was gonna be a lot.

"I like all of you. A lot. You all clearly know this, and I’m not afraid to say it. And I'm… open to exploring things further, if that's something everyone else wants. The biggest issue I have is that, given my position, and the weird ass circumstances we’re in, I don’t…A part of me feels guilty. You guys don’t…you don’t really have any options to explore your…sexual desires or romantic interests while being trapped here. I think it just makes me worried that I’m abusing my position, or my power. I know monster relationships move faster than humans, but with it only being two weeks I’m just worried about when you guys do get to explore more of the world, you’ll see you’ve got plenty of options. Plus I’m not-…there’s a lot about me that you don’t know, the things I’ve had to do. I mean, I’ve

killed

people before, a LOT of people. And like, polyamory is fine, but with this many people I don’t know how I could realistically meet everyone’s needs-”

“Does She Always Panic-Ramble Like This?” Blue crossed his arms, a smirk across his face.

Papyrus laughed, “Yes, From What Our Brothers Told Me, She’s Been Incessantly Worried Over It.”

Edge let out an exasperated sigh. "For Stars' Sake, Woman. We're Not Some Delicate Flowers You Need To Protect. We're Fully Capable Of Making Our Own Choices."

Papyrus nodded in agreement. "Lilly, We Understand Your Concerns, But I Can Assure You, None Of Us Feel Coerced Or Pressured In Any Way. If Anything, We've Been The Ones Pursuing

You.

If It Isn’t Evident By How Sore Your Ass Is, Then I Don’t Know How Else To Tell You How We Feel."

She choked, sputtering at his words and covering her face. “Paps!”

Blue stepped forward, his eyelights soft as he looked at Lilly. "I Promise You, You're Not Abusing Anything. We're All Adults Here, Capable Of Consent And Our Own Informed Choices. And As For Your Past… We All Have Things We're Not Proud Of. It Doesn't Change How We Feel About You."

Lilly felt her face flush at their words, a mix of embarrassment and relief washing over her. She hadn't expected them to be so… understanding.

Honesty, communication, all these green flags…okay, something bad is gonna happen, I just know it.

“And Polyamory Works A Little Different For Monsters. I Know It May Be Overwhelming To Have This Many Monsters Courting You At Once, But I Assure You That Our Dynamics Account For That.” Papyrus stated, crossing his arms happily as he explained.

Lilly's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Wait, really? How does that work exactly? Because from what I’ve read online most people feel overwhelmed with just two or three partners, but

six

…I wouldn’t wanna neglect anyone.”

Edge cleared his throat, his expression softening slightly. "Monster Relationships, Especially Those Involving Boss Monsters Like Us, Can Be… Complex. We Have Ways Of Sharing And Balancing Our Attentions That Might Seem Strange To Humans."

Papyrus nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! It's Quite Common For Boss Monsters To Have Multiple Mates, Especially In The Underground Where Resources Were Scarce. With Our Magic Being More Potent, The Need To Produce More Offspring Was Often The Goal. We've Evolved To Handle These Dynamics."

Blue chimed in, his eyelights bright. "Plus, Monsters Move Quite Quickly When It Comes To Dating, Usually Within The Span Of A Few Days. This Is Because We’re Much More Intune With Our Souls Than Humans, So We Can Gauge A Partner's Potential Fairly Quickly."

Lilly blinked, trying to process this information. "So… you're saying that monster relationships can naturally handle multiple partners better than humans, and that two weeks is already pretty long for you guys?"

Papyrus nodded enthusiastically. "Precisely! We Often Work In Groups, Or Otherwise Known As ‘Bands’ To Ensure The Survival Of A Mate. It’s More…Animalistic In Nature, But It Does Have Its Benefits. You Humans Seem To Drag Things Out For So Long, And While It Makes More Sense Given Your Biology, It Still Isn’t Something I Can Really Wrap My Head Around.”

Oh my god…like ABO dynamics.

Lilly felt a laugh force its way from her throat, quickly smacking her hand over her mouth to stop herself.

"I'm sorry," she managed between giggles. "It's just… this sounds a lot like some fan fiction I've read online. I didn't realize it would have so many similarities to actual monster biology and dating."

Edge raised a brow bone. "What Kind Of Fiction Are You Reading, Pet?"

Lilly's face flushed bright red and her giggles stopped immediately. "Oh, um… just some… romance stuff. You know, nothing important."

He gave her a knowing look, and she looked away.

You’d be a beta, bitch.

She felt the bite marks ache.

No, no he would not.

“A—anyway! Does this mean, like…okay, wait. Do you guys want to be…fuck buddies? Or actual…relationship? I’m fine either way! I just didn’t uh, well…you know.”

The three skeletons exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of amusement and fondness.

"Oh Lilly," Papyrus said gently, taking her hand in his. "We're Not Interested In Just Being 'Fuck Buddies', As You Put It. At Least, I'm Certainly Not."

Edge nodded, his usual scowl softening slightly. "As Much As It Pains Me To Agree With The Creampuff, He's Right. We Want More Than Just A Physical Relationship With You."

Papyrus sent him a glare, but Edge merely rolled his eyes.

Blue stepped closer, his eyelights bright and sincere. "We Want To Court You Properly, Lilly. To Build Something Real And Lasting With You."

Lilly felt her breath catch in her throat, her coolant swirling with a mix of purple and orange. "R-Really? All of you?"

God, are you there? It's me, ya boy. Sorry for doubting you, sorry for cursing you out, thank you for this meal, I love you.

She felt tears threaten to well in her eyes, her chest clenching with some kind of warm and comforting pressure.

But what about when they go home…

She felt her gut clench, ripping her from the happy feelings as her face fell.

“What about…when you guys have to leave? Go back home? I would never, and I mean

never

, expect you to pick me over your own universes, but I do think…I think it would fucking hurt. A Lot. I know it sucks to think about, but we

need

to get all the elephants out of the room before doing this.” She winced, looking down at her hands.

Papyrus squeezed Lilly's hand gently, his expression softening. "Lilly, We Understand Your Concerns. But The Truth Is, We Don't Know What The Future Holds. None Of Us Can Predict When Or If We'll Be Able To Return To Our Own Universes."

Blue stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on Lilly's shoulder. "Besides, We've All Agreed That For Now, We Want To Focus On The Present. On Building Something With You, Here And Now."

Edge nodded, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "We're Not Naive. We Know There Are Challenges Ahead. But We've All Decided You're Worth The Risk."

Lilly felt tears welling up in her eyes, overwhelmed by their reassurance. "I… I don't know what to say. You guys really want this? With me?"

Monsters move fast, but my pussy moves faster. Three points FOR ME LETS FUCKING GOOOO!

Papyrus smiled warmly, wiping away a tear that had escaped down Lilly's cheek. "Of Course We Do. You're Incredible, Lilly. Smart, Kind, Brave… How Could We Not Want To Be With You?"

Blue nodded enthusiastically. "Plus, You've Already Shown Them How Well You Can Handle Multiple Partners." he added with a wink, causing Lilly to blush furiously.

“And I’ll Warn You Now, Pet. It Will Happen Again, So Best Get Used To It. With This Many Partners You’ll More Often Than Not Be Dealing With Two Or More At A Time.” Edge grinned, crossing his arms as his eyelights roamed over her sitting form.

Lilly felt her face flush even hotter at Edge's words, a shiver running down her spine. The thought of being with multiple partners again sent a thrill through her, despite her lingering soreness.

"O-Oh," she stammered, trying to regain her composure. "I, um… I think I could handle that."

Edge's smirk widened, a predatory glint in his eyelights. "Oh, I

Know

You Can. You Proved That Quite Thoroughly Last Night."

Papyrus cleared his throat, shooting Edge a warning look. "Perhaps We Should Focus On The More… Immediate Aspects Of Our Relationship For Now. Lilly, Would You Be Comfortable With Us Courting You Openly? Or Would You Prefer To Keep Things More Discreet For The Time Being?"

Lilly bit her lip, considering his words. Two weeks felt like nothing to her, like she had only scratched the surface of getting to know them all. It felt so…rushed. But then, she remembered something important, something they had still yet to mention, or realized she knew.

They were soulmates, at least…maybe? Kinda?.

Fuck it, we ball.

“Well, uh, I mean, I kinda don’t give a shit either way, to be honest.” She shrugged, “I’m not ashamed of anything, especially not any of you guys so, as long as you’re all honest with me about jealousy issues or needs and boundaries then…yeah. It all does feel kinda fast? But that’s probably because I’m still kind of human and shit’s confusing.”

Blue's eyelights brightened at Lilly's words. "Really? You're Okay With Us Being Open About It?"

Lilly nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I mean… why not? Like I said, I'm not ashamed of you guys. Plus, it's just us and the maids. And honestly, after last night, I think the cat's probably out of the bag anyway."

Edge chuckled darkly. "Indeed. I'm Sure The Entire Facility Heard You Screaming."

Lilly's face flushed crimson, but she couldn't help the small thrill that ran through her at the memory. "Oh god, was I really that loud?"

Papyrus grinned, his cheekbones dusted with a light orange. "Let's Just Say We're Glad Some Walls Are Soundproofed.

Lilly felt her face burn even hotter at their teasing, but she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Despite her embarrassment, there was something thrilling about their open discussion of what had happened.

"So, um," she started, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "What exactly does monster courting entail? I want to make sure I understand what I'm getting into here."

Blue beamed, clearly excited to explain. "Well, Courting For Monsters Usually Involves A Series Of Dates And Gift Exchanges To Show Our Interest And Compatibility. We Also Tend To Be Quite… Physical In Our Affections."

She nodded, taking in the information. "Okay, that doesn't sound too different from human dating. Except maybe the gift part—depending on who you date, gifts can be rarer."

"There Are Also Some More… Instinctual Aspects," Edge added, his voice low. "Scent Marking, For Example. It's A Way Of Letting Others Know You're Being Courted."

Lilly's eyes widened slightly. "Scent marking? Like… rubbing on me or something?"

Papyrus chuckled. "Not Quite So Literal. It's More About Leaving Traces Of Our Magic On You. It Can Be Done Through Physical Contact, Or Even Just Spending Time Together. "

"Oh," Lilly said, her coolant swirling under her skin quickly. "I guess that explains why you guys always seem to be so close to me. And I guess after last night I’ve already…got some on me?”

Papyrus nodded, his eyelights softening. "Yes, You're Already Carrying Traces Of Our Magic. It's… Quite Appealing, Actually."

Edge's eyelights roamed over Lilly's form, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "Very Appealing Indeed."

Lilly felt a shiver run down her spine at their words, her coolant swirling with hints of purple. "So, um, what else should I know about monster courting?"

She watched as they exchanged glances between each other, and she had a feeling she knew exactly what they were debating.

The soulmate candidacy.

She should really just be honest with them, keeping a secret that heavy…it would be a shitty way to start a relationship.

Relationship? Courtship? Ah, fuck it.

Lilly took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Actually, before you guys say anything else, there's something I should tell you. It’s only fair that I’m…honest, so that it doesn’t cause problems later down the line."

The skeletons exchanged curious, but nervous glances before turning their attention back to her.

"I… I know about…the soulmate thing, at least, that I’m potentially one…" Lilly said quietly, her skin felt too tight, and her cheeks were flushed with shame.

There was a moment of stunned silence as the three skeletons processed her words.

"You… You Knew?!" Blue stammered, his eyelights wide with shock.

Papyrus leaned forward, his expression a mix of surprise and concern. "How Long Have You Known, Lilly?"

Edge's sockets narrowed suspiciously. "More Importantly, Who

Told You

?"

Lilly fidgeted under their intense gazes. "No one told me! It was…actually an accident. I had overheard Paps and the other guys talking about it a while back. I didn't mean to listen in, I swear! Whenever you guys get really strong magic flare up, and I’m not within a certain range, I get connected to your bracelets to check in. I didn’t know what was happening at first, and didn’t want to interrupt, but then you guys just kept

talking,

and then I heard more and

more

and I just-I didn’t know what to do!”

The three skeletons exchanged shocked glances, processing her confession.

"I See," Papyrus said slowly, his brow furrowed in thought. "And You've Known This Whole Time. For The Past Two Weeks?"

Lilly nodded, her gaze fixed on her hands in her lap. "Yeah… I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner. I just… I didn't know how to bring it up. I knew I wasn’t supposed to overhear that and I really, really didn’t want to, it's just a stupid fucking safety feature of my tech that activates automatically. I swear on everything I am, I’ve never used my tech to spy on you guys or listen to you."

Edge's sockets narrowed. "So You've Been Playing Us This Whole Time? Just…Pretending Not To Know? Teasing And Fucking With Us?"

"No, Edge, God no!" Lilly exclaimed, her head snapping up to meet Edge's gaze, putting her arms up and shaking them back and forth. "It's not like that at all! I was just…

scared

. I didn't want to make you guys think I was…abusing my powers to spy on you. Plus, I’ll admit I kinda…No, okay, I

really

freaked out. Remember when you and Blue found me in the training hall? That was right after I had overheard it.”

Less than 5 minutes into having skeleton boyfriends, and I’ve already fucked it up.

Blue's expression softened as he placed a hand under his chin. "So

That's

Why You Were So Upset That Day. It Does Make A Lot More Sense, Looking Back."

Edge's expression remained stern, but some tension left his shoulders as he sighed, shaking his head. "While I Don't Appreciate Being Kept In The Dark, I Can… Understand Your Reasoning. It Was Probably An Overwhelming Amount Of Information At The Time. It Took Even Some Of Us A Few Days To Adjust To The Idea."

Papyrus reached out, gently taking Lilly's hand in his. "Lilly, We Appreciate Your Honesty. Even If It Came A Bit Later Than We Would Have Liked. But I Do Have To Ask… How Do

You

Feel About It? About Being Our Potential Soulmate?"

Lilly felt her coolant swirl rapidly, a mix of emotions flooding through her. "I… I don't know. It's a lot to process, you know? I mean, soulmates are a big deal for you guys, right? And the fact that I might be soulmates with

all

of you… it's overwhelming. There’s a risk that more monsters, more pairs of brothers, could come through the rift at any time, which would add to the numbers. Not that I expect every single one to wanna be with me! It just…" she paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "I can't deny that I fucking

love

you guys, even if it's because I developed a para-social relationship initially. These last two weeks have been some of the most amazing weeks of my life, and as cheesy as it sounds, an absolute dream come true. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I think I just wanna make sure

you

guys are okay with

me

."

She sighed at the end of her long-winded explanation, hoping any of her feelings or worries made it across.

Edge's expression softened slightly at Lilly's words. "Pet, We Wouldn't Be Here If We Weren't 'Okay' With You. Soulmate Or Not, We've Chosen To Pursue This. Although, I Do Need To Do Something, So Stand Up.” Edge walked to her side of the bed, pointing at the floor as he watched her.

She looked between Blue And Papyrus for answers, but they didn’t seem to know what he wanted either, confusion clear on their faces.

“Uh, okay…?” She tentatively stood up from the bed, Edge fairly close in her personal space now.

"Fucking Perfect," he grunted, grabbing her roughly and bending her over before smacking her ass with both hands.

"OW! OW! OW! What the fuck Edge!? Why are you guys so obsessed with spanking me?!" She screamed, trying to cover her sore cheeks as she buried her face in the bed

“Edge, Stars Above!” Blue yelled, rushing over to check on her. He gently stroked her head as she continued to hide her face.

“Oh Good Heavens, Edge. Could You Not Have Waited Until She Was At Least

Somewhat

Healed? I Know She Must Already Be Quite Bruised From My Own Doings, So You’re Not Helping.” Papyrus sighed, rubbing his hand over her back gently.

“I’m Sorry For

Nothing

. That, Little Brat, Is For Not Telling Us You Knew. Teasing And Testing Our Patience For

Two Weeks

.”
She could practically hear the smug grin on his face. The sting in her rear was enough to make her want to get even.
Oh, she really,

really

, wanted to fuck with him right now.

So fuck with him, she shall.

"You know what…this is bullshit." She muttered, rolling onto her back and tucking her knees to her chest while splaying them open suggestively with her hands above.

Throwing her head back,  “Ah~…Daddy Edge, please…harder!” she let out the

loudest

and most

whorish

moan she could muster.

The silence was music to her ears.

“Serves you right, fucker. Thanks for breakfast though, love you!” She laughed, teleporting to the garden to check on butterbean.

The image of Edge's shocked, furious, and bright red face was etched into her mind as she happily strolled off to find her beloved little cat.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lilly cooed as she showered her precious little baby boy, Butterbean, with love and affection. He was a rescue munchkin cat and her pride and joy, one of the few things that still made her smile. She couldn't help but show him how much she adored him.She suppressed a squeal as she rubbed his cheeks, serotonin flooding her system as she pet him.While she still visited him every day and made sure he got fed properly, she was always nervous just leaving him out in the Garden by himself. However, she knew he couldn’t stand being cooped up in her room, and instead chose to make sure that the Garden was off limits to the maids.Currently, she stood on the upper level—a large, semicircular space made of cobblestone and surrounded by lush vegetation. From here, she and the others could reach the top of the waterfall and another expansive pond.“I missed you Butters! Whatcha been doin’? Been giving those birds hell, huh? Damn right, since you take after your momma.”  She ran her fingers along the fur on his chin as he plopped down onto the cold stone, purring happily.“Oh my god, you’re just too perfect my little BABY-” A soft cough jolted her out of her thoughts, and she quickly turned to face the source.Stretch, Sans, and Red stood behind her with different expressions of amusement on their faces."Hey guys! I was just spending some time with my little Butterbean. I’m shocked you're up this early, actually…" She turned back around to continue petting and showing affection towards the small kitty, but he let out a small 'mrow' and made his way over to the three skeletons."Hey there, little guy. I was just starting to miss you!" Stretch crouched down as Butterbean rubbed against the fabric of his pants.“He’s been terrorizing the animals I had put in here, as he should .” She nodded, standing and crossing her arms.A small part of her really enjoyed the fact that most of them were animal lovers and enjoyed Butterbean's company. He was her family, and if he liked them, well, then she made the right call.Red chuckled, his sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. "Heh, I bet he's been havin' a real good time out here. Probably thinks he's the king of this little jungle, don't ya, buddy?" He reached down to scratch behind Butterbean's ears, earning a contented purr from the cat.Sans, ever observant, noticed the slight tension in Lilly's posture. "Also, it’s almost noon Lilly. You okay there? Seems like ya been a bit on edge, or maybe I should say, in Edge ?."Lilly sputtered, her cheeks going pink at the memories that flashed through her mind. Firstly, she hadn’t realized just how much she lost track of time, but also how her ass was now freshly sore after Edge smacked the living hell out of it.
Technically, I wasn't even in Edge.

He was in me.
Lilly quickly composed herself, trying to hide her flustered state. "I-I'm fine. Just, uh, a little tired from all the…gardening." She gestured vaguely at the lush surroundings. Ah yes, gardening , real fucking smooth. Stretch raised a brow bone, a knowing smirk playing on his face. "Tired, huh? Wouldn't have anything to do with all that noise coming from the hallway in the rec building last night, would it?""Ha! Knew I heard somethin'. Boss sure knows how to have a good time, don't he?" Red barked out a laugh, holding his face.She bristled, her coolant swirling with light purple.“Ain’t just Edge. Heard my bro left some pretty good marks of his own.” Sans chuckled, his eyelights scanning over her hips.“The only reason Blue couldn’t get involved was cause he had to drag your drunk ass outta her room.” Stretch sighed as he glared at Sans, shaking his head as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket.“Hey, I made sure to compensate the guy for a hard nights work.” He winked, and she felt like she was missing something as a light blush formed over his cheeks.Her face burned even hotter, her eyes darting between the three skeletons. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. How did they all know? And what was that about Blue?Butterbean, somehow sensing her embarrassment, mewed softly and rubbed against her legs. She was grateful for the distraction and bent down to scoop him up, burying her face in his soft fur."I… I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled unconvincingly into Butterbean's fur.
Playing dumb will totally work.
Red snickered. "Sure ya don't, sweetheart. Just like ya don't know anythin' about those bite marks on yer neck."Lilly's hand flew to her neck, eyes wide. 
It totally did not work.
Stretch took a long drag from his cigarette, blowing out a cloud of smoke before speaking. "No need to be embarrassed, honey. Besides, it's not like we haven't all had our…own ideas."Lilly felt her face grow even hotter, if that was fucking possible. She hugged her cat closer, using him as a furry shield against the knowing looks of the three."Yeah, sweetheart," Red added, his sharp grin predatory. "Besides, it ain't like we can't smell it on ya."Her eyes widened in horror. "You can smell…?" She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.Fuck, she forgot about that!Stretch nodded, taking another drag of his cigarette. "Enhanced senses, honey. Comes with being a boss monster."“I-I know that! I just didn’t think it would…well, shit.” She huffed, setting Butterbean back down as he began to squirm in her arms.She turned around abruptly, walking off and making her way to a storage unit to grab some of his wet food.“I mean, I guess it’s better we talk anyway. I already talked to the other three this morning, but…” She trailed off, bringing over a can of some gross, organic kitty food.“Oh, ya mean how ya knew that you’re a soulmate candidate, got railed in the hallway last night, and love us a bunch? I don’t know doll, maybe you should re-tell the story, for fun .” Red growled, but he had a devious smirk over his face.
The bastards already knew.
“ Okay ! I already apologized for that, I didn’t get railed, it was just oral and a lot of spanking, and yes, sue me, I love you guys.” She rolled her eyes, squatting and watching Butterbean as he went to town on the wet food.Good, it meant she didn’t have to look at the fuckers smug faces.Sans chuckled behind her, "Heh, no need to get all worked up, kiddo. We're just teasin' ya.""Yeah darlin’, Red added, his voice low. "Though I gotta say, hearin' you admit it out loud is pretty damn satisfyin’."Lilly felt her face burning as she continued to focus on her cat, watching him eat with an intensity that was probably unnecessary. She could feel their gazes on her back, making her skin tingle with a mix of embarrassment and nervousness.Stretch took another long drag from his cigarette before speaking. "So, sugar snap, now that it's all out in the open, what exactly are your plans? You can't expect us to just sit back and do nothing now that we know."She stiffened as they stepped closer to her.“I mean…I’m cool with…whatever,” She started slowly, “but, you all should probably know it takes me longer to heal from wounds inflicted by monsters than humans. I can force the process, speed it up manually, but it’ll drain me a bit. I haven’t had to heal semi-naturally in years. And Sans, your brother has a hell of a fucking hand on him. I swear to god, I thought I wouldn’t be able to sit at all today…” She sighed, letting her head fall to the side as she kept her gaze down.Red let out a low whistle. "Sounds like you had quite the night. But don't worry, we can be gentle… when we want to be."She felt a shiver run down her spine at his words, her imagination running wild with possibilities. She stood up slowly, finally turning to face them."Look, I… I care about all of you. A lot. But this is all happening so fast, and I'm not sure how to handle it." she admitted, her voice low.She really did not want to fuck up whatever was happening between them all.“I just…fuck dude, I don’t know !” She slapped her hands to her face, tilting her head back, “Half of me just wants to say fuck it, and let every single one of you run a train on me until we all pass out, and the other half of me is scared to even hold your hand or kiss you. Tell me, how the fuck does that make sense?! I don’t know if it’s because of stupid human customs I’m used to, but its really, really hurting my brain. And my pussy.” She groaned, clenching her muscles to try to redirect the tension she was feeling.God, this situation was driving her insane.Stretch chuckled, a mix of amusement and sympathy in his voice. "Honey, you're overthinking this. There's no rule book for soulmates, especially not in a situation like ours.""He's right. We're all figuring this out together. No need to rush into anything you're not comfortable with." Sans nodded, his permanent grin softening.Red, however, had a different take.“Though if ya want that train to happen, sweetheart, just say the word.” He winked, his grin turning predatory.“That’s the thing, I’m super comfortable with all of it, more than all of it! Hell, bend me over and rail me now, I don’t care because I'd love it . I’m just…nervous? Got undiagnosed anxiety? I know what’s happening isn’t fast for boss monsters, but for a human, it’s fast .” Lilly paced, rambling on as she walked in little circles around Butterbean, “But also, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with fast? Like, who cares if its only been two weeks, it’s no one else’s business but our own! I wanna get dicked down just as much as the next bitch, I mean, god knows I’d enjoy every second of it. Just get passed around by my soulmates, who are giant monsters, with giant monster dicks too, sign me the fuck up! I just…I can’t shake that weird feeling that I’m fucking something up and when I fuck something up I’m not the only on-”Her rambling was suddenly cut off as she felt a bony hand gently grip her arm, stopping her pacing. She looked up to see Stretch's warm amber eyelights gazing down at her. His face was gentle, but he had a deep orange tint over his cheekbones."Honey, breathe," he said softly, his other hand coming up to cup her cheek. "You're not fucking anything up, or fucking anyone yet, I guess."She snorted.Sans stepped closer, "Kid, it's okay to be nervous. This is new for all of us. But we're in this together, remember?"Red, surprisingly, was the one to offer the most reassuring words. "Listen, doll. We ain't goin' anywhere. Whether ya want to take things slow or jump right in, we're here for ya. No pressure, no expectations.”Red and Sans seemed to fare no better though, their own faces flushed. It was a stark contrast to the sweet words they were giving her.“Fuck I…I know…thank you. I guess my brain just, it just feels like a big pile of mush right now. Like, I feel like a fucking tweaker .” Lilly took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts.She leaned into Stretch's touch, finding comfort in the warmth of his bones against her skin.She took another breath, settling her mind and just focusing on the guys. She could feel the way their magic swirled around her, their scents mixing pleasantly in her nose. Pushing her face into Stretch’s hoodie, she bunched her hands in it.She felt a surge of slight selfishness roll over her, tensing in his arms.“I want one…” She mumbled into the cloth, feeling as Stretch chuckled."One what, honey?" Stretch asked, his voice warm and amused as he stroked her hair.“I want one of your hoodies, and one of each of your jackets.” She didn’t look up, but pointed to where she knew Red and Sans were standing."Aw, sweetheart, ya want our clothes? Tryin' to surround yourself with our scent?" Red chuckled."Heh, not a bad idea, hun. Might help ya feel more comfortable with all this." Sans hummed in agreement. “You might drown in my hoodie though, seein’ as how small ya are.” Stretch laughed, and she punched him lightly in the side, still keeping her face against his lower ribs.“I’m six feet tall and built of pure muscle and machine, I’m not small by any means Stretch.” She huffed.He wasn’t entirely wrong though, compared to them, she was tiny. With Stretch holding her she could really get a feel for the size difference. She only came up to about his midsection, but a part of her relished in that.
Monster fuckers unite.
Stretch chuckled, his chest rumbling against her cheek. "Sure, sugar. Whatever you say." His tone was teasing, but affectionate.Lilly finally pulled back, looking up at the three skeletons with a mix of determination and vulnerability in her eyes. "I'm serious though. I want something of yours. All of yours. It'll help, I think."She paused though, noting that Sans and Red had already removed their jackets.“I-I didn’t mean right now! I’m not just gonna literally take the clothes off your backs!” She sputtered.Sans was in a white turtleneck sweater, and Red had on a black one. They both had gotten gloves at some point, each pair matching their shirts.Fuck, it was really, really hot .
Glove kink, how you haunt me.
Red grinned, "Too late, sweetheart. They're yours now." He moved over to her side, draping it over her head. The fabric was heavier than she anticipated, and she let out an ‘oomph’ as it covered her head entirely.Sans moved to her other side, grabbing her arms and pilling the hoodie into it. "Yeah, kid. Take 'em. We've got plenty more."Stretch chuckled, and she felt him pull away, assuming he pulled off his own orange hoodie as she felt it drape over her shoulders like a cape. "There ya go, honey. One custom-made skeleton blanket, just for you."They had tossed the clothes over her like a coat rack, and she let out a huff at being semi-blinded by their antics.The weight of the jackets and hoodie felt comforting, like a warm hug from all three of them at once. She inhaled deeply, their scents mingling together and making her feel dizzy in the best way possible."You guys are ridiculous," she mumbled, her voice muffled by the fabric covering her face. She could hear them try to stifle their laughs, and she turned to the closest voice.“What, something on my face, bone boy!?” She tried to shout and sound angry, but her voice still coming out muffled as she spoke through the clothes.Red snickered, "Yeah, sweetheart. My jacket."Lilly felt him gently lifting the fabric from her face, revealing his amused grin as he looked down at her."There ya are, doll. Was startin' to think we'd lost ya under all that."She pouted, but couldn't help but smile back, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at the affectionate look in Red's eyes. She turned to look at Sans and Stretch, who were both watching her with similar expressions of fondness.She could see Stretch after he’d removed his hoodie, wearing a simple black tank top. Her eyes lingered over his arms and clavicle, the bones shifting as he…breathed? Did they breathe?
Damn. I love these skeletons.
"Like what you see, honey?" Stretch teased, noticing her stare.She opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by a low growl from Red. "Hey now, don't forget about us, darlin’." He reached out and pulled her closer, his sharp phalanges gently gripping her hip.Sans chuckled, moving to stand behind her. "Yeah, kiddo. Plenty of skeletons to go around."Their proximity and the combined scent of their clothes wrapped around her was making her head spin.“Well, I just…don’t usually see you guys wear much else, so…yeah, you look good.” She managed to get out, playing with a part of Red’s hoodie to distract herself.Lilly felt her heart rate increase as they closed in around her. Red's grip on her hip tightened slightly, sending a shiver down her spine. Sans pressed closer behind her, his breath tickling the back of her neck. Stretch loomed over her front, his tall frame casting a shadow as he gazed down with half-lidded sockets."Just 'good', huh?" Red teased, his fingers tracing light circles on her hip. "I think we can do better than that, can't we boys?"Sans hummed in agreement, his fingers trailing lightly up her arm. "I'd say we're at least 'great', wouldn't you, Lil’s?""Maybe even 'amazing'." Stretch leaned in closer, his breath ghosting over her ear."I-I…" she stammered, struggling to form coherent thoughts. "You're all… incredible."Red's grin widened, his sharp teeth glinting. "That's more like it, sweetheart." His hand slid from her hip to the small of her back, tracing over some of the coolant points on her spine.Sans chuckled low in her ear, his phalanges now tracing patterns down her neck and across the bite marks Edge had left. "Careful, kid. Flattery like that might go to both of our heads, if ya know what I mean."
Oh my god, was that a dick joke?
Stretch's long fingers tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his heated gaze. "Or it might make us want to show you just how 'incredible' we can be."
Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck-
If the words had come from any human, any other person, she would have laughed, cringed even, but she couldn’t even bring herself to make some kind of smart remark.Her swirling thoughts were interrupted when Stretch planted a sweet kiss on her forehead, but pulled away suddenly.“Well, as much as I’d love to, I’m afraid we might be overwhelming our little Overseer here boys.” He mused, cocking a brow at her.Lilly blinked, her mind still hazy from the intense moment. "I... what?" she managed to stammer out.Were they actually…cock blocking her right now?"I'm not... overwhelmed," she protested, even as her racing heart betrayed her words."Sure ya ain't, sweetheart. That's why you're shakin' like a leaf." Red rolled his eyelights, pulling away from her.Sans stepped back as well, giving her a bit more space. "He's right, hun. We don't want to push you too far too fast."Well, it wasn’t like she could get railed in the middle of the Garden anyway, and not in front of poor butterbean.Plus, her ass still really hurt.She let out a disappointed sigh, “Fine…I should really force the healing process first anyway, my ass is raw . Paps really did a fucking number on me…” She huffed, very gingerly caressing one of the sore spots.Red snorted, "Classic's bro really went to town on ya, huh?""What can I say? My bro's never half- assed anything in his life." Sans winked at her, but she only rolled her eyes.Stretch raised a brow bone, his expression a mix of concern and amusement. "Maybe you should take it easy for now. Don't want to aggravate those marks. I’m not as great as my bro with healin’ magic, but I may be able to help ease some of the pain."She sighed, looking back down at Butterbean as he was finishing up the last of the wet food.Lilly nodded, reluctantly stepping back from the three skeletons. "You're right. I should probably get going anyway. I think I missed a few notifications from headquarters last night, and I need to prep the coolant room for when I do my change in a few weeks."The three exchanged a few glances between each other, before Sans shrugged.“Well, if Stretch is gonna heal ya, mind if we tag along? I don’t think we got to see this place during the tour.” He asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets.Lilly hesitated for a moment, considering Sans' request. She hadn't shown anyone the coolant room yet, but these were her soulmates.If she could trust anyone with this, it would be them."I… I guess that would be okay," she said slowly. "But you have to promise not to mess with anything. Some of the equipment in there is pretty sensitive, and it…fuck it, I’ll explain when we get there."Red grinned, holding up his hands. "Scout's honor, sweetheart. We'll be on our best behavior."Stretch nodded in agreement. "We're just curious about your work. Promise we won't cause any trouble.""We'll keep our hands to ourselves… mostly." Sans sent another wink at her.She felt her cheeks heat up at Sans's implication, but she pushed the thought aside."Alright then, let me clean up Butter’s mess and put your clothes up first."She teleported away to her room, opting to put Red and Stretch’s jackets on the bed, and slipped Sans’s over her shoulders.God, it was fucking huge on her.It came all the way down to her knees, and the sleeves went pretty far past her hands. She flopped the sleeves around, giggling like a little kid in a candy store. She picked up his smell, basking in the peaches, cinnamon, and fall leaves scent that wafted from it. It made her head feel warm and her heart fluttered as she did, but quickly shook her head to try to refocus.She was taking a pretty big step with them right now, and needed to stay serious.Teleporting back, she noted how Sans raised a brow at her, but his grin widened at the sight of her in his hoodie."Looks good on ya, kiddo," Sans chuckled, his eye lights softening as he took in the sight of her practically swimming in his oversized jacket."Thanks. It's, uh, really comfy." She smiled, flopping the sleeves at him."Ya look absolutely adorable, darlin', but now I really gotta see ya in mine." Red purred, causing her cheeks to burn.When had she ever been called adorable? Her? A six-foot tall muscled war machine, who was littered in scars?She had to try really hard to suppress a girlish giggle.Stretch nodded in agreement, and she noticed that he was holding Butterbean as he made biscuits into his shoulder. "We’re gonna end up needing a fashion show, sugar."“You dorks…” She huffed, walking past and petting Butter’s before cleaning up his dish.Picking it up, she took it back to the shed, rinsing it off in the sink and putting it back with the other cutely decorated plates she had for him. While it looked like a shed on the outside, it had a few kitty doors, large cat trees, toys, a sink area, and lots of care products for Butterbean on the inside. It was temperature controlled so that he could rest comfortably no matter how hot or cold it got inside the garden.Stepping back out, she motioned for the group to follow her. Stretch sat Butters down, and they all gave him a few more pets before he wandered off into the brush.She led them back down the set of stairs on the right, next to the waterfall. The coolant room was…It wasn’t really just a room. It was an entire underground sector for her work as Overseer and her more intense training.It also held the control room.And her cell .As they walked, Red slid up next to her. "So, sweetheart, what's so special about this coolant room anyway?" he asked, his curiosity evident in his voice.“Well, it’s not just the coolant room. It's more like…an underground facility with several rooms that are important for not just the grounds, but for my maintenance as a cyborg.” She flopped the long arms of Sans hoodie as she spoke, earning a chuckle from Red.Stretch raised a brow bone. "Maintenance? Like, tune-ups and stuff?""Yeah, something like that. You guys already know a little about my coolant, but my body needs regular updates, mostly to test new blueprints of weapons or combat tactics that H.Q. wants me to go over. The coolant room is a crucial part of that process, of course, but there is another that’s a bit more…" She paused as they reached the bottom, following the path that led to the waterfall.“It’s…hard to explain. But the entrance is back here, behind the waterfall.“ She stated, not looking back as she led them across the grass and to a set of steps that blended into the rock.The roar of the waterfall made it impossible to really speak to them, so she just continued behind it, the cool mist brushing over her face and legs.They were in a small hidden cave, with a large, reinforced door with a complex-looking keypad next to it. She approached the keypad, her fingers flying over the buttons as she input a long code. The others watched in fascination as the door beeped and slowly slid open with a hiss, revealing a vast, white hallway.She motioned for them to come inside, and they stepped forward. She followed quickly behind and the doors slowly slid shut with a loud clang as they locked.They said nothing as she continued forward, an almost eerie, tense silence permeating the air as she walked. There was a hum of machinery in the background, but no doors other than the one at the end of the hall.It was giving ‘The Lab’ vibes from the game, so she knew it probably wasn’t super comfortable for them.“This is the elevator. It’ll take us pretty deep underground, are you guys gonna be okay? Now’s the time to back out if you want, no hard feelings.” She held her hands up, worried that being so deep underground could trigger them in some way.The Command Center was a good three miles underground, which then led to several areas like the combat chamber, coolant room, security feeds, and more.While she didn’t want them to be uncomfortable, in the back of her mind, she was probably more nervous than they were.The three skeletons exchanged glances before nodding in unison."We're good, sweetheart," Red assured her, "Been underground before, remember?" He chuckled.With a small nod, she turned and input a second code. There was a soft beep, and the doors slid open silently."Alright then. Let's head down."They all stepped into the spacious elevator. It was pristine white, like the hallway, with no buttons inside. As soon as the doors closed, it began its descent.The ride was smooth but silent, and after roughly ten minutes, they came to a slow halt. The doors reopened, and cool air rushed into the now semi-warm elevator.There was another small hallway, but this time there were three doors. Two on the right, and one on the left.She stepped out, turning to face them as they curiously followed behind.“Welcome to the Command Center boys. What do you wanna see first?” She crossed her arms, wondering which section they’d be interested in checking out.Stretch was the first to speak up, his eyelights scanning the hallway curiously. "Why don't you start with the coolant room, honey? Since that's what you mentioned first.""Yeah, kid. Especially considering how important it is." Sans nodded in agreement.Lilly nodded, turning to the single door on the left. She input another code onto the keypad, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.She let them go first, and as they stepped inside, the skeletons' eye sockets widened at the sight before them.The room was massive, easily the size of a small warehouse.The walls were lined with large, cylindrical tanks filled with a pale, shimmering blue liquid. There were close to a hundred or so, each more than ten or so feet tall and probably five feet wide. Pipes and wires ran along the walls and in between the tanks, but there was a section on the left that was slightly different.These tanks were much darker than the others, varying in color as they flowed from one to the next. The filtering system was active, the liquid pulsing lightly as it flushed her old coolant and recycled it for new. On the sides of each tank, there were small cylinders attached which held the filters that H.Q. would send over each month.In the center of the room stood a raised platform with what looked like a high-tech medical chair. It was eerie, with the only light being cast from the tanks, some monitors, and a few lights above the chair.However, what was even more jarring was the massive contraption that loomed above it. Roughly one-hundred tubes with thick needles on the ends suspended in the air by some kind of mechanical arms and machinery."This is where I come for my coolant changes," Lilly explained, walking over and gesturing to the chair. "The process takes about 24 hours, during which all my old coolant’s drained and replaced with fresh coolant from these tanks."Lilly watched as the skeletons took in the room, their eyelights roaming over the massive tanks and intimidating machinery. She could see a mix of fascination and concern in their expressions."Holy shit, sweetheart," Red breathed, his eyelights fixed on the chair and the array of needles above it. "This looks like a fuckin’ torture chamber."Sans nodded, his usual grin a bit strained. "Yeah, kiddo. When you said 'coolant change,' I wasn't expecting… all this ."Stretch moved closer to one of the tanks, examining the pale blue liquid inside. "And you have to do this every month?"She nodded, unconsciously wrapping Sans's jacket tighter around herself. "Yeah, it's necessary to keep my systems running smoothly. The old coolant gets contaminated over time, so it needs to be completely replaced. Just existing is enough to contaminate it, add in anytime I use my abilities, or like when I filtered out the alcohol from my system last night, it darkens. See?"She walked over to where Red was standing by the chair and pushed the hoodie sleeve up, showing her left arm to Red.He gently grabbed her wrist, turning her arm around in the light as he scrutinized her coolant chamber.“Shit, ya right…It do look a little darker than before…” He hummed, but his face was scrunched in either frustration or concern, she couldn’t really tell.She nodded, letting her arm drop. "Yeah, it’ll get even darker over time. Usually at the end of the month I'll get sluggish, my emotions tend to be all over the place…It's kinda like a replacement period that human women get, except I can fix it by doing a coolant change. The process isn't painful, but it's... uncomfortable. Plus, I have to be shutdown during it."She walked over to one of the tanks, placing her hand on the cool glass. "Each of these tanks holds enough coolant for fifty full changes. The darker ones over there," she pointed to the section with the varying colors, "are where my old coolant goes to be filtered and recycled."Sans moved closer to the chair, his eyelights tracing over the machinery above it. "And all these needles... they go into you?""Yeah. Remember the coolant points I showed you on my spine, and these here on my thighs? There are little entry points, like what I told you about. They connect to drain and refill the coolant. It's a pretty thorough process."“And you don't know what the coolant’s made of?” Sans continued, eyeing the rows of tanks suspiciously.“Nah, I've never really thought about it. Like I said, I figured it was just like….shit you'd put in a car.” She snorted, pulling away from the tank.Stretch's face furrowed in concern. "Sugar, that’s...and you have to be completely shut down for it?""Yeah, it's necessary. My rig needs to be offline so it doesn’t try to fight the process and Overheat. It's... vulnerable, I guess you could say." She grimaced at the wording.Red growled low in his throat. "Don't like the sound of that, sweetheart. You bein' all defenseless like that."A part of her bristled at being called defenseless.Another part knew he wasn’t wrong.Sans moved closer to her, looking at her from the side. "And you're alone down here when this happens?"Lilly hesitated before answering. "Well... yes, but that's why this facility is so secure. Only a handful of people even know it exists, let alone have access to it. Plus, there are security measures in place. Only authorized personnel with the right codes can enter this room during the process, and there are fail-safes to protect me if something goes wrong."Stretch approached, peering at the control panel. "Still, that's a lot to take in. You said every four weeks, right? When was your last change?"“The day before you all got here, so I’ve got roughly another two weeks before I need to do it again. Sometimes if I’m careful I can make it five to six weeks, but I don’t like pushing my luck.”She watched as they processed all the information, their expressions a mix of concern and fascination. She could see the gears turning in their heads, likely trying to figure out how it all worked."Two weeks, huh?" Red mused, his sharp grin taking on a protective edge. "Well, doll, I think it's safe to say you won't be alone for this next one."Sans nodded in agreement. "Yeah, kiddo. We'll be here to keep an eye socket on ya. Make sure everything goes smoothly.""Guys, that's really sweet, but you don't have to-" Lilly started, but Stretch cut her off."Sugar snap, we're not lettin' you go through this alone anymore. It's not just about protection. We want to be here for you. This is…this seems like a lot for someone to go through, and you’ve been doing it alone for what, three years?” He waved his hand around, gesturing to the ominous vibe of the room.To be fair, it was a little spooky.Okay, a lot of spooky.She shook her head, but a small smile rolled over her lips at their worry.“I was heavily monitored back at the facility, so I’d say it's only been about…seven or eight months on my own. I had a lot of training to do before they’d let me come over and deal with the Ground’s construction personally.”Sans' eye lights flickered slightly at the mention of the facility. "Right, the place that... made you a cyborg. I'm guessin' they weren't exactly the nurturing type."Lilly's smile faltered, her gaze dropping to the floor. "No, not really. It was... clinical. Efficient. They cared about results, not comfort."Red's growl deepened, his sharp teeth clenching. "Sounds like a bunch of heartless bastards if ya ask me."“Well, these are the guys that kept us locked away for three years, so you’re not wrong, Red.” Sans sighed, rubbing his face."Well, you're not alone anymore, sugar. We're here now, and we'll make sure you're taken care of properly." Stretch crossed his arm, nodding at her.She only sighed, knowing that there was no changing their minds.“Aright, alright, if it makes you feel better than you guys can hang while it happens, I’ll give you all the codes. I’m telling you right now though, it’s not exactly a pretty process, and it's loud too. I’ve seen videos of what I look like during it, and I straight up look like a corpse. My eyes go black, and I go limp, so it won’t exactly be a ‘fun little hangout’.” She waved her hand dismissively.Lilly's words hung in the air, the gravity of what she described hopefully sinking in for them. They exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them, and she raised an eyebrow but said nothing.“Anyway, enough doom and gloom, we can go ahead and check out the other areas. You can technically see the combat area from the control room, so I’ll leave it up to you guys if you wanna see both individually.” She walked back, standing by the door.They quickly made their way over to her, their expressions still thoughtful as they processed what they had just seen and been told. They hadn’t answered her, and she knew the signs of anxiety when she saw it."Earth to skellies, control room or combat area next?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood.Sans spoke up first, his lax grin returning. "Let's check out the control room. Sounds like it might give us a good overview of everything."Red and Stretch nodded in agreement, and Lilly led them to the door directly across from the coolant chamber. Once again, she punched a code in, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.As they entered, the skeletons' eye sockets widened. The control room was massive, with wall-to-wall screens and monitors displaying various data streams, security feeds, and system diagnostics. The left side wall was completely glass, overlooking a massive, darkened area down below. In the far right corner, there was a massive steel door with a glass viewing window into a small room, with a singular bed inside.Lilly said nothing and only watched as they wandered around, waiting for their questions.Sans whistled loudly as he took in the room. "And I thought the last room was impressive. This is quite the setup, kiddo. You run everything from here?"She let out a small laugh, walking over to the main console. "Pretty much. I can monitor the entire facility from here, and this is where I usually do my reports and stay updated with H.Q. While I get notifications for messages in my vision, I have to come down here to respond to them and review things."Red's eyelights were drawn to the glass wall. "What's down there, doll? That the fightin’ ring?" He snickered."Well, basically. That's the combat chamber," Lilly grinned, pressing a button that illuminated the area below and walking to stand next to him. "It's where I do most of my physical training and weapon testing. It's designed to be adaptable for various scenarios and environmental conditions."The lights slowly lit up, section by section in the chamber below. It was enormous, easily the size of several football fields. It was almost hard to see the end of it. Various obstacles and structures were scattered throughout, creating a complex training ground. The walls were a sickly gray, with a reinforced steel plating covering everything.Stretch walked over to the glass, peering down at the combat chamber with a mix of fascination and concern. " This is where you train? Looks…hardcore.”She didn’t look at him, focusing instead on the combat area."It has to be. My job requires me to be prepared for any situation. The room can simulate different terrains, weather conditions, and even gravity levels."Sans moved to examine one of the nearby monitors, his eye lights scanning over the data scrolling across the screen. "And all this information... it's about your systems?""Well, some of it, yeah," Lilly confirmed. "It monitors everything from my coolant levels to my power output, reaction times, weapon accuracy... basically every aspect of my performance. There’s another section about the Grounds, the maids, you guys…and it’s how I talk with H.Q."Red's sharp grin widened as he took in the impressive setup. "Damn, sweetheart. You're like a one-woman army down here."Lilly chuckled, "Well, that's kind of the point. I'm designed to be a one-woman nuclear bomb ."“What about that room over there? It looks like…” Sans began, but she cut him off.“It's a containment cell. It has electroplating that produces a high voltage shock if…I try to get out. It's reinforced with five feet of high grade titanium alloy, the same stuff my rig is made out of.” She felt the tension rise immediately in the room."Doll," Red growled, his accent thickening as he spoke, "whatcha mean by if you try ta get out?"“It's…look this is what I wanted to talk about. This area, there are a few things down here I figured you might not like. That cell is something you should know about though.” She sighed, walking over and continuing as she looked through the viewing window.“If I ever…malfunctioned, or attack you guys, you would need to teleport me inside and then teleport out. It allows monsters to go in and out freely, but not me . I designed it without approval from H.Q. because if something happened, and I couldn't stop it, then…then at least you guys would be safe.”They said nothing, so she kept going.“And there's a communication system here, so you can still talk to me,” she added, “There's also a slot for food. This way, everyone stays safe, and I'll be fine until the issue is resolved.” She nodded, turning her head to face them again.They had various expressions of anger, their grins tight. She rolled her eyes. “Look, I know it's not great to think about, but I had to do something .”“And ‘something’ means making an entire prison cell for yourself?” Stretch spoke slowly, his voice low.She winced at his words, but held her ground. "It's not a prison cell, it's a safety measure. For you guys, even for the maids, for everyone.""Safety measure my ass," Red growled, his eye lights flaring. "Sounds like ya made yourself a fuckin' cage ."Sans stepped closer, his usual grin strained. "Kid, I get wanting to be prepared, but this... this is extreme. You really think you'd hurt us?"Lilly sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know. That's the point. I don't know what could happen if something went wrong with my systems. It's better to be safe than sorry.""And who decides when to use it?" Stretch asked, his voice tight. "Who gets to decide you're 'malfunctioning'?"Her eyes flashed with a mix of frustration and irritation. "We all do. If any of you think something off with me, bring me here. If I feel like something’s off with me, I can teleport in, but I can’t teleport out."The skeletons exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of concern and disbelief."Sweetheart, ya can't expect us to just be okay with this," Red said, his voice gruff but tinged with worry."I don't expect you to be okay with it," Lilly replied, her voice firm. "But I need you to understand why it's necessary . This isn't just about me. It's about protecting everyone. Look, come over here, and hopefully you’ll understand a bit better."She walked past them and over to another console, pressing a few buttons. A holographic display appeared in the center of the room, slowly rotating and showing a 3D model of her body, complete with all her cybernetic enhancements."This is me, basically." she explained, gesturing to the model. "Every enhancement, every weapon system, every bit of tech that makes me... well, me."The skeletons gathered around the hologram, their eyelights roaming over the intricate details of Lilly's cybernetic anatomy."It's incredible," Stretch murmured, leaning in to examine the model more closely. "The level of integration between organic and mechanical components is... I've never seen anything like it."Sans nodded in agreement, his eyelights scanning over the hologram intently. "It's remarkable engineering, that's for sure. But it also looks... invasive."Red growled softly, his sharp phalanges clenching at his sides. "Yeah, looks like they didn't leave much of ya untouched, did they, sweetheart?"Her smile faltered slightly at their reactions."It was... extensive," she admitted, her voice softening. "But it's what allows me to do my job effectively."She zoomed in on various parts of the hologram, explaining as she went. "My bones are reinforced with a titanium alloy. My muscles are enhanced with synthetic fibers for increased strength and endurance. My nervous system has been completely replaced with a high-speed neural network. My eyes, ears, even my skin—they're all augmented in some way.”The skeletons listened intently, their expressions a mix of awe and concern as Lilly detailed the extent of her modifications.She hadn’t really…processed it herself either. She still looked kind of normal on the outside, so seeing it pulled apart raw like this…It was like looking at something foreign, something wrong.Something not her .Her voice trailed off as she stared at the hologram, her expression growing distant. The room fell silent, the soft hum of machinery the only sound that could be heard.“It’s not just information about myself, guys. If anyone who’s good enough with a computer got down here, and got access to this, they could tamper with my code. This is like my second brain. I receive orders from here, and while some of it has to be uploaded to my manually, some of it…” She grimaced."Some of it... can be done remotely? That what ya sayin’?" Red had a bite of anger still laced in his tone.The room fell silent as the implications of his words sank in. The skeletons exchanged worried glances, their eyelights dimming slightly."That's why the security down here is so tight," Sans realized, his voice low. "It's not just about protecting the facility. It's about protecting you .""Exactly. That's why I need you guys to understand the importance of keeping this place secure and that cell over there. It's not just about the facility or my job. It's about my autonomy, my free will."She turned back to the hologram, zooming in on her head. "See this? This is where my main processing unit is located. It's connected directly to my brain, at the base of my skull. If someone were to gain access to it...""They could control you," Stretch finished, his voice barely above a whisper."Or worse," Lilly added grimly. "They could rewrite my entire personality, have access to all my weapon specs, my battle modes, my combat protocols..."Her words hung heavy in the air, the full weight of her vulnerability sinking in for the group. The room felt suddenly colder, the soft hum of machinery taking on an ominous tone.Red was the first to break the tense silence, his sharp teeth grinding audibly. "So that's why ya built yourself a cage. Ya ain't just worried about hurtin' us. You're worried about someone else gettin' in your head.""Exactly. If something ever felt... off, if I suspected someone had tampered with my systems, that cell would be the safest place for everyone. Including me."Sans's eyelights flickered as he processed this information. "Kid, I get it. I do. But there's gotta be a better way than locking yourself up. We could help, maybe find a way to improve your security-”“No, Sans, there isn’t. Plus, this is like…worst case scenario. I don’t plan on letting anyone else down here except you guys so…unless you plan on getting in my head then, well, we’ve got nothing to worry about anyway.” She let a small smile roll over her lips, crossing her arms.Her attempt at lightening the mood fell flat, the skeletons' expressions remaining grim.She turned and looked up, the glow of the hologram reflecting off her face.Something in her chest lurched.She leaned down, turning off the display.“Well, what’s done is done though, ammaright?” She snorted, changing the subject and trying to roll some of the tension out of her shoulders. She noted how the surrounding three remained silent, not saying anything.God, this place had such shit vibes.“Well, I may as well do my job and check out what I missed from last night. Hopefully it won’t be too much, just some new blueprints.” She huffed, turning back around and typing quickly into the console.“Lilly…this conversation isn’t over, we will have to talk more about…all of this, at some point.” She felt Sans rest a hand on her shoulder.“I know Sans, but what’s done is done. The cell is there, and hell, I don’t even think I could break it down, even if I wanted to.”Silence fell over the group once more as she continued to type.Well, that was as good as it was going to get.She shook her head, her fingers flying over the keys as she logged into the system. The main screen lit up, displaying a series of messages and notifications."Let's see... a few system updates, some new training protocols..." she muttered, scrolling through the list. "Ah, here we go. New weapon blueprints, just as I thought."She opened the file, and a detailed schematic appeared on the screen. It showed what looked like an advanced laser rifle, with multiple components highlighted and annotated."Interesting," she mused, her eyes scanning over the details. "Looks like they've improved the energy output and reduced the cooldown time. This could be useful.” She hummed, continuing to scroll through the endless line of notifications.Red peered over Lilly's shoulder at the weapon schematic, letting out a long whistle. "Now that's a beauty. Bet it packs quite a punch, huh?""That's some pretty advanced tech. Do you test all these new weapons yourself?" Stretch frowned slightly as he leaned in.Sans moved closer, his eyelights scanning over the data on the screen. "How often do they send you new stuff like this, kiddo?"Well, at least they’d moved on. For now.Lilly nodded, still scrolling through the information as she tried to answer all three of their questions. "Yeah, this bad boy has been in the works for a while. I can give you guys a demo some time down there in the combat area. I test everything personally. It's part of my job to ensure all new tech is combat-ready before it gets approved for wider use. They usually send updates every couple of weeks, sometimes more frequently if there's a top-dog in town looking for something flashy to show off to his rich buddies…Or just government dick swinging contests."She heard a few of them snort, and a small bit of relief washed over her.She paused, her finger hovering over the screen as she came across another notification. Her expression darkened slightly as she realized what it was.It was a video message from G.E.“Fuck….” She hissed, slamming her fist down on the edge of the console.Like this day couldn’t get any fucking worse."What's wrong?" Stretch asked, his tone weary.Lilly took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "It's... it's a video message from G.E."Sans's eyelights dimmed slightly. "G.E.? That the big boss you mentioned before?""Yeah. If he's sending a personal message, it's usually not good news." She nodded, her jaw clenching.Stretch stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to watch it now if you don't want to. We can come back to it later.""No, I need to know. If something’s gone down then I have to stay updated. You don’t have to watch with me, but you may want to hear what he has to say too. I don’t know if you’re allowed to or not, but there's nothing in my system that says you can’t watch.”She took a deep breath and clicked on the video message. The main screen flickered to life, revealing the face of a young man with bright green eyes, much like her own. His brown hair was neatly combed back, and he wore an impeccably tailored suit.He also had a shit eating grin on his face. “Heya X-04! How’s life been so far at the Grounds, huh? You and your little skelly boys settling in real good yet?”  Lilly's jaw clenched at G.E.'s jovial tone, her hands curling into fists at her sides. The surrounding skeletons tensed, sensing her discomfort. "I hope you're not slacking off too much with all your new... friends ," G.E. continued, his grin widening. "Because we've got some exciting news for you! Remember how I warned you that the rift could bring through more anomalies? Well, we’ve actually got a few more in our collection! We’ve had them for a while now, but wanted to wait and see how you all did before allowing more in Sector 8, and the other locations of course." Lilly's eyes widened slightly, a mix of dread and resignation washing over her face.“What…what’s he talking about, Lilly?” Sans’s voice was tense as he watched the video playback, but she couldn’t say anything, not yet.G.E.'s grin widened even further, his green eyes shinning with an unsettling amount of excitement.  "That's right, X-04! We've got a whole new batch of skeletons for you to babysit. They'll be arriving in about a week or two, so make sure you've got everything ready for them. Oh, and don't worry—we've made sure they're all compatible with your... unique situation. "She felt her stomach drop, her face paling as the implications of G.E.'s words sank in. She could feel the tension radiating from the group, but she couldn't bring herself to look at them. Her coolant swirled green and blue as she continued to listen."Now, I know what you're thinking," G.E. continued, his tone mock-sympathetic. "Six more? Good heavens! How will you manage!? But don't worry, we have faith in you, especially since we've made sure they're just as... interesting as your current batch. After all, you’re apparently totally fine to handle multiple... partners, isn’t that right?”Her blood ran cold.How…how did he know? How did H.Q. know? Just how closely were they being monitored? She had only confirmed everything with Papyrus, Edge, and Blue this morning, and this message was from yesterday.G.E.'s grin widened impossibly further, "Something else fun, X-04. We've made some... adjustments to your next coolant change. Nothing major, just a little tweak in the filters to help you better accommodate your growing family. You'll find all the details in the attached files, and we’ll be sending over a new shipment of filters within the week, so watch out for a special delivery! "He leaned in close to the camera, his voice dropping to a low whisper.  "Oh, and X-04? Remember who you belong to. " The video cut off abruptly, leaving the room in stunned silence.She stood frozen, her eyes wide and unfocused as she stared at the now-blank screen. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the soft hum of machinery."Lilly..." Sans started, his voice tight with concern and barely suppressed anger. "What the hell was that ?"She couldn't respond, her mind reeling from everything she just learned. More skeletons? Adjustments to her coolant filters? And how did they know about her relationships? 
It literally only started today!
Red growled low in his throat, his sharp phalanges clenching and unclenching at his sides. "Sweetheart, you better start explainin' real quick. What did that bastard mean by 'remember who you belong to'?"Stretch moved closer to Lilly, his usual lazy demeanor replaced by a tense alertness. "Sugar, we really need some answers. Right now.”She turned to face the skeletons slowly, her eyes wide and filled with a mix of fear and confusion."I...I’m government property, Red.” She began, but he let out a snarl.“Like hell ya are!” “Look! I… I don't know how they know about us," she started, her voice barely above a whisper. "They shouldn't... it's not possible. I haven’t told them anything, I wasn’t going to tell them about that."She trailed off, her gaze darting around the room as if searching for hidden cameras.The realization hit her like a ton of bricks."They've been watching us. All of us. This whole time." Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke.Sans's eyelights flickered dangerously. "Watching us? How?"“I don’t…” Her voice was low as she glanced down and each of their wrists, noting how the shiny metal seemed to mock her as she stared.“Oh god…the bracelets.”Lilly's words hung heavy in the air as the skeletons all looked down at the seemingly innocuous bracelets on their wrists. The realization that they had been unknowingly monitored this entire time sent a chill through the room."Fuck!" Red snarled, his sharp phalanges clawing at the bracelet. "I knew these things were bad news. Can we get 'em off!?""Red, don't!" Lilly shouted, reaching for his arm. "We don't know what kind of fail-safes they might have put in place. If you try to remove it forcefully, it could... fuck I don’t know, but it could hurt you ."Red growled but stopped his attempts, his eyelights burning with barely contained rage. "So what, we're just supposed to let them keep spyin' on us?"Sans's eyelights had gone dark, his usual grin tight and strained. "Lil's, you gotta give us more than that. What exactly are these bracelets doing? And why didn't you tell us about this before?"Stretch glared, his expression a mix of concern and betrayal. "Did you know about this? About them listening to us?"Lilly shook her head vehemently, “No, NO! I told you, it was just supposed to be like a fucking Fitbit! It just tells me where you are and your magic, and we can talk…through it…”
How could I be so fucking stupid.
Her eyes widened in horror as the realization fully sank in."Oh god... the communication function ."She pushed away from the console roughly and began pacing, her hands running through her hair in agitation. "I should have known . I should have checked more thoroughly. I just... I trusted them when they said it was just for monitoring your health and location. I never thought...""So they've been listenin' in on everythin'? Every fuckin' conversation?!" Red shouted again, his magic flaring dangerously.Sans's expression had gone completely blank, his eyelights extinguished. "And you had no idea, Lilly? None at all?"“NO, SANS, I DIDN’T FUCKING KNOW!” She whipped around, screaming.His eyelights returned as they all flinched.They watched her coolant slowly morph into a deep red.“I knew that when they put them on you there would be some form of monitoring, yes , but it wasn’t like I had a say in it either! They’ve got one around the necks of every maid in this facility, not to mention whatever they use in my own systems, I don't-….I never trusted anything H.Q. fed me, not after what they put me through, but for this one, small thing…They were so nonchalant about it that, I just figured if it was something important they would have said something!” She shouted, pacing around the room as her coolant swirled angrily under her skin, the deep red color a stark contrast of her once bright blue.The tension was palpable as the skeletons watched her pace, her coolant pulsing an angry red beneath her skin. The sight was unsettling, a visceral reminder of just how different she was from them."Okay, Okay, I’m sorry, we get it. You didn't know. But that doesn't change the fact that we've all been violated here. Our privacy, our trust... it's all been compromised, hell, not that there was much to begin with." Stretch sighed, pulling out another cigarette.“Fucking christ, gimme one…” Red held his hand out, and Stretch gladly passed him one and a lighter.Sans nodded, his eyelights dim but present. "He's right. We need to figure out what to do about this. We can't just let them keep spying on us, not to this extent."Red's sharp teeth were bared in a snarl. "I say we find a way to disable these fuckin' things. I don't care what kinda fail-safes they got, I ain't lettin' them listen in on all our shit!” He took a drag, turning around and rubbing the top of his head as he let out another frustrated growl.Stretch and Sans said nothing, their faces scrunched in deep frustration and thought.“You know what this shit means, right? They fucking heard her. They heard my bro and your bro going to fucken town on her last night!” Red roared, throwing his hands out.Lilly flinched at Red's words, feeling like she was going to vomit. The idea that G.E. and anyone at H.Q. could overhear her more…intimate moments with the boys made her skin crawl.She slumped against the console, her head in her hands. "And now they're sending more pairs here, and other monsters to the other facilities? Why? What's their game here? He said they’d had them for a while now…it could mean there’s a lot more than just this group, possibly entire other AU’s, and he’s just not telling us."The skeletons exchanged uneasy glances, their anger momentarily replaced by a growing sense of dread."More pairs..." Sans muttered, his eyelights flickering. "And they've had them for a while. This is starting to feel less like a rescue operation and more like...""A fuckin' breeding program ," Red growled, finishing Sans' thought.Stretch's cigarette nearly fell from his mouth. "Shit. You don't think they're actually trying to...""To what? Create some kind of super-powered robot-skeleton army? I can’t have kids, I don’t even want kids! That was one of the questions they asked when I was recruited. Plus, they aren’t the reason I ended up sterile, my bastard of a father is." Lilly laughed bitterly.Her laugh echoed in the control room, the tension palpable as the skeletons whipped their heads over to her."What th’ fuck do ya mean…" Red growled, his eyelights flickering dangerously. "Stars, this whole thing just keeps gettin' worse!"“Ha! You don’t even know the fucking half of it .” She snarled back and started pacing again.
This was too much. This was too muchtoomuchtoomuchtoo-
Sans rubbed his face, his permanent grin strained. "So if it's not about... reproduction , then what's their angle here? Why bring in more of us?"Stretch took a long drag of his cigarette, blowing out a cloud of smoke before speaking. “It’s gotta be something monster related, maybe with souls? They asked a lot of shit about monsters back when they held us there, was like they couldn’t get enough.”Lilly tensed, realizing something from the first few days after the boys arrived.“Guys…back when I was talking to you about the Overseers, do you remember when we went over the tech I used? How it's meant to…counteract monster magic?” She slowly came to a stop, overlooking the combat area.The skeletons fell silent, their eyelights dimming as they recalled the conversation."Yeah," Sans said slowly, "You mentioned your systems were designed to nullify monster magic. To keep us in check if needed."Red's sharp grin tightened. "What're you gettin' at, sweetheart?"She turned to face them, her expression grim. “When did you arrive at the facility…”“It was a little over three years ago. I don’t see…how…” Stretch started, but trailed off.“ I, was picked for the program a little over three years ago.” She stated, her voice strained.It looked like her fear was somewhat right."You're saying..." Stretch began, his usual lazy drawl tense with realization, "that they already had the tech to deal with monster magic before we even showed up?”Sans's eyelights flickered out completely. "Which means they knew about monsters. About us. Long before the rift opened.""Those fuckin' bastards! They've been playin' us this whole time!" Red slammed his fist against the wall, leaving a small dent."It looks that way. The question is, how? And what are they benefiting from?" Lilly nodded grimly, her coolant still swirling an angry red.Her mind raced as she tried to piece together the meaning of it all. There was so much new information, but that meant thousands of new questions, and zero fucking answers."If they knew about monsters before the rift..." Sans began, his voice low and tense."Then maybe the rift wasn't an accident ." Stretch finished, his usual lazy demeanor completely gone.Red bared his teeth, "You think those fuckers brought us here on purpose ?""It's starting to look that way. But why? What could they possibly gain from bringing monsters over to this world? Your tech? Your magic?" She huffed, her brain starting to hurt from the information overload.Her mind raced as she tried to process all the new information. The implications were staggering—H.Q. had known about monsters long before the rift opened, they were monitoring everything through the bracelets, and now they were sending more skeletons."We need to figure out a way to block the signal from these bracelets," Sans said, his voice low and serious. "At least temporarily, so we can talk freely without them listening in."Red nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and we gotta find a way to get more info on these new skeletons they're sendin'. We need to know what we're dealin' with.""And we need to start looking into this rift business," Stretch added. "If they did bring us here on purpose, we need to know how and why. They’re messing with some dangerous tech if that’s the case."Lilly took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.This wouldn’t be fun.“This is too much shit, I say we go upstairs, and get fucking wasted.” She stated, trying to get their attention.She held her finger up, displaying a small text bubble styled hologram next to her head.
“I don’t know about the last two, but there may be a chance I can help with the bracelets.”
The skeletons' eyelights locked onto her and then the text bubble, their expressions a mix of confusion and wariness."Right now? As much as I’d love a drink, I don’t-" Stretch began, but she held a finger up to her mouth, her eyes flicking down to their wrists.
"Talk out loud about something else, but watch what I’m saying. I... I might be able to interfere with the signal. My systems are designed to interact with and potentially override other tech. It's how I can communicate through the bracelets in the first place."
Sans's eye sockets widened, and he quickly looked around for anything to write with.“I mean, she’s right. What the hell are we supposed to do about it right now anyway? For fuck's sake, they’re humans, they’re gonna do their own shit whether we want ‘em to or not.” Red huffed, but his face had a new grin as he played along.Finding some spare notepads and pencils, Sans passed them to Stretch and Red before beginning to write his own message out quickly.
"You think you could block the signal without them noticing?"
“We need to go fill our bro’s in anyway. May as well try to cope and get fucked while doing it. This is…too much for one day.” Sans sighed, winking at her. "Maybe," Lilly replied in text, her brow furrowing in concentration. "I'd have to be careful. If I do it wrong, they might notice the tampering. But if I can make it look like simple interference..." “I still have to go over these reports, but I’ll see what I can dig up. Just make sure you grab my favorite bottle, the tequila I like.” She mused.She loved how quick they could play along.Red grinned sharply, scribbling away before showing his own notebook.
"Now we're talkin', sweetheart. How soon can ya get started on it?"

“I could do it now, but…”
She tensed. "But what?" Sans wrote, his face scrunching in concern.Lilly took a deep breath, steeling herself. "But to do it, I'd need to connect directly to your bracelets. And that means... I'd have to link up to them. Physically." “Stars above, you really shouldn’t touch that stuff after yesterday’s little…adventure you had, don’t ya think, sugar?” Stretch rolled his cigarette between his teeth, looking up at her."What exactly does that entail?" Stretch wrote cautiously, showing his note.She walked over to the far wall, pressing her hand against a hidden panel. A section of the wall slid open, revealing a collection of cables and connectors.
"These are designed for a direct link with my systems, it’s how I download blueprints," she explained, pulling out a thin, flexible cable. "I'd need to connect one end to myself, and the other to your bracelet. It would allow me to access the bracelet's programming directly."
“I’ll have you know I’m perfectly capable of handling my alcohol! I just, well…Maybe I like to cause trouble, bone boy.” She felt the tension in the room, but a small grin made its way over her lips in the difference between the words she was saying versus the ones she was showing.Red's sharp grin tightened. "And what happens when you're connected to us like that? You gonna be able to see inside our heads or somethin'?"
“No, nothing like that, they’re just monitors on your wrist. I’d be able to talk to you through one of the monitors, keep you updated. Although, I technically don’t know what these bracelets actually do anymore. I don’t know what kind of code I’m going to be working with, or what I’d be getting into until I’m actually in them. It also means I’d need to do this manually, six different times, twelve if we count the other pairs, and avoid getting caught each and every time…”
“As long as you take responsibility for your actions, then, don’t get mad at us if we jump your bones , hun.” Sans responded, keeping the fake conversation going.Lilly paused, her expression flattening again. "And there's another issue. If H.Q. does detect any unauthorized access or tampering with the bracelets, they might trigger some kind of failsafe. I don't know what that could be, but it probably wouldn't be pleasant, for any of us. Worst case scenario…" “We’re dust, simple as that.” Red’s face twisted into a snarl.She nodded grimly at Red's words. The room fell into a tense silence as the gravity of the situation sank in.Sans was the first to break the silence, scribbling quickly on his notepad. "It's risky, but we don't have much choice. We need to be able to talk freely without them listening in, but there’s also no telling how soon they’d notice they can’t hear us." Stretch nodded in agreement, writing his own message. "I'm willing to take the risk. Better than being their little experiments. We can go over everything else after we turn this shit off." Red growled low in his throat, but nodded as well. "Fuck it. Let's do this." Lilly took a deep breath, steeling herself as her words and notes didn’t line up.“Oh you know I never mind, punny man . Let’s fucking go.” 
"Alright. Let’s go get the others. Grab some extra notepads because, fucking christ, we’re going to need them."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Stretch placed a hand on the edge of the console as Lilly read through the new files on her coolant change. He was the only one who stayed behind, while Red and Sans teleported off to grab the others and fill them in. She had pulled a plush office chair up, sitting in it as she scrolled. Her coolant was slowly returning to its normal blue, but there were still the occasional swirls of red mixed in. “So this is about the new filters, huh?” He wrote down, his notepad resting on the console table so she could see. “Yeah I don’t…I guess I never really considered what was in them, but it looks like we’ll get a better idea in this report. I haven’t ever…I don’t really review these, mostly because I never understood them, but now I’m realizing that may have been a mistake.” The words formed in front of stretch next to the monitor as she sighed, opening the new document. “You can tell some information is missing, probably redacted, but it makes me wonder why they’d even give me this much, knowing I wouldn’t understand it…It’s not like they’re reporting to anyone, not to mention these are all signed off by G.E. personally. Why would he give us this?” She let out a frustrated huff, scrolling through and reading the report. 
Updating Command List…Running…Classified Case File 39-B: Coolant Filter Adjustment And Emendation Overview:

- 30% More R.M. Fragments Installed In X-04 Rig’s Filters

- Set To Be Homogenized With Ethylene Glycol

- Current R.M. Fragment Levels Above 60%; Observe Power Nucleus Instabilities And Specify When More May Be Added.
 Stretch scrunched his nose at the first few lines, furiously writing on the pad. “What the hell are R.M. Fragments? The Ethylene Glycol makes some sense, but I also don’t know what power nucleus they’re talking about…” 
“I…I don’t know, but whatever it is, it looks like they’ve increased the amount in my coolant. As for a power nucleus, I don’t have anything like that in my tech, not that I’m aware of.”
Lilly scrolled further down the document, her brow furrowing as she read.
"There's more here... It looks like they've been gradually increasing these R.M. Fragment levels over time in the filters. But why? And what the fuck are they?"
Stretch leaned in closer, his eye sockets narrowing as he scrutinized the text. "Whatever they are, they seem pretty important. Look at this part here." He set his pen down and pointed to a section of the report: 
Warning: Exceeding 80% R.M. Fragment Concentration Suspected To Result In Unpredictable Fluctuations In Subject's Power Nucleus And [REDACTED]. Proceed With Caution.
 A chill ran down her spine as she read the warning, and slowly wrote out a response.
"Unpredictable fluctuations? I guess my rig might be the power nucleus they’re talking about but…why would they even leave this in here, knowing we’re gonna have questions?"
Stretch nodded grimly. "I don’t know, but the fact that they're calling you a 'subject' is pretty unsettling too. It's like they're treating you more like an experiment than a person." She scrolled further with one hand, her fingers shaking slightly as she navigated through the document. 
"There's more here...Fucking christ, Stretch, look at this."
She pointed to another section of the report: 
Note: Subject Has Shown Increased Magical Affinity And Occasional Manifestation Of [REDACTED] Abilities. Correlation With R.M. Fragment Concentration Appears Strong. Further Testing Required To Determine Optimal Levels For Desired Outcome.
 Stretch's eye sockets widened as he read the note. "Magical affinity? But you're human, you shouldn't have any magical abilities at all. Not to mention this universe shouldn’t have magic to begin with." She could feel her heart rate spiking.
What the hell have they been doing to me?
She scrolled frantically through the rest of the document, searching for any more clues. Suddenly, Stretch stopped her hand, pointing to another section. 
Addendum: Recent Observations Indicate Potential For Subject To [REDACTED] Between Rifts. Exercise Extreme Caution When Adjusting R.M. Fragment Levels. Unauthorized [REDACTED] Could Result In Catastrophic Consequences For All Active Rifts.
 Stretch's grip on the console tightened, his bones creaking slightly under the pressure before he released it, writing a long message. "I don't like this, Lilly. Not one bit. It sounds like they're messing with things they don't fully understand, and you're caught in the middle of it.” He stepped back, lighting another cigarette while she read, “If the rift pulled us through, and it sure as shit wasn’t an accident, then they may be trying to utilize your abilities to find a way to travel back and forth between the multiverse. Not to mention the fact that this document proves there’s more than one out there right now.” She wanted to scream. “They're playing with fire, and they don't seem to care who gets burned in the process.” Was all she could reply.Lilly's hands trembled as she closed the document and spun around in the chair, feeling a headache coming on.She looked up at Stretch, her expression hard. "How the fuck do we tell the others? We've already got so much shit on our plates.” He took a long drag from his cigarette, walking back over as the smoke curled around his skull as he exhaled. "We have to. This isn't just about you anymore, Lilly. If what this document suggests is true, it could affect all of us—hell, it could affect entire universes."
"But how do we even begin to explain this? We don't even understand half of what's written here."
As if on cue, a familiar feeling rushed over her skin. Sans and Red had teleported back, bringing along Papyrus, Edge, and Blue. They walked over and took in the room before crowding around her and the console. Their expressions quickly shifted from curiosity to concern as they took in her and Stretch’s expressions.Stretch wrote down something for a while before pointing to the console and showing the group his previous messages.Every single one of their sockets darkened as they read Stretch's notes.Sans wrote down a message of his own as they all stood in silence. “I had a feeling something wasn't right, but this... this is worse than I thought. More rifts means more monsters, and more problems.” “You Mean To Tell Me That Not Only Has Our Security Been Compromised This Entire Time, But Now They’ve Been Tampering With The Very Coolant That Keeps You Alive? And What Does It Mean By Magical Affinity?” Edge had the nastiest look on his face she’d ever seen as he shoved his own notebook forward.Even with the serious tone of the conversation, she felt her pussy clench as he glared down at her.Why are they so fucking hot when they’re mad? Am I not normal? She paused, craning her neck and noting how they all towered above her from her position in the chair, an equal amount of anger on their faces. They stood in an almost perfect semi circle around her, caging her against the console’s table.She clenched her thighs.
No, no I am not.
"Yep," She replied, "And apparently, they've been doing it for a while now. Possibly from the very beginning three years ago. I dont have magic, not that I'm aware of. I can't shoot fire out of my hands or fly, so I've got no idea what they mean." She shrugged, but noted how they all seemed to breathe in deeply for a second.
Oh fuck, the scent thing. 
Shit.
Get it together you stupid slut.
She shook her head, recalling G.E.’s smug face from the video message.
And suddenly my pussy is dry again, amazing.
Blue's eyelights flickered anxiously as he scribbled in his notepad. "But Why? What Are They Gaining From This? They’ve Left Lilly Here At The Grounds, With Us, Under The Guise It Was Meant To Help Us Adapt To This Universe If They Couldn’t Return Us To Our Own. If There Are More Rifts, Then Clearly They Dont Want Us To Go Back." Red's eyelights flared dangerously as he scrawled a response. "They're usin' her as a fuckin' guinea pig. Probably hopin' to unlock some kinda interdimensional travel bullshit, and it's got to be related to the coolant somehow if it can interfere with it. Do the other Overseers use coolant?" The group looked down at her expectantly, but deflated when she shook her head.
“The other girls all have older tech, except maybe Annie. After I destroyed her rig two years ago she got an upgrade but she doesn't need coolant, none of them do.”
Sans's brow furrowed as he scribbled furiously. "So they're experimenting on you specifically. But why? What makes you different from the others? The magical affinity? And how does it relate to these R.M. fragments?" Lilly shook her head, frustration evident in her expression. "I don't know . I've always assumed I just had newer tech, but now... I'm not so sure. I've never heard them talk about R.M. fragments before, and this is the first time I'm seeing it in a report. Then again, I never paid much attention to the shipment information because it never seemed important. Do you think they're intentionally feeding us this information? I mean, what's the point of us knowing now?" Papyrus, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally wrote something down. "Perhaps It’s Not About The Technology. What If There’s Something Unique About You, Lilly?" The room fell silent as they all considered this possibility. “The only thing unique about me is that I’ve got the latest tech and use coolant. So, yay, I’m special .” She did jazz hands as she snorted.She saw a few of them roll their eyes, and she had to suppress a laugh. “The problem is we don't know the correlation between all of this, we're missing too many pieces. I would like to get my hands on some of your coolant Lilly, run some tests if possible.” Sans wrote, rubbing his chin as he looked back at the door. “That's May Be A Good Idea, Maybe The New Guys That Are Coming Would Be Willing To Help?” Blue scribbled looking down at her. “It's worth a shot. We're going to have to fill them in on all this shit anyway, which is gonna suucckkk.” Lilly rubbed both her hands over her face, groaning.Papyrus wrote something quickly, turning his notebook to her. “I Don't Think We'll Have A Choice. We Need All The Help We Can Get. Do We Know Who They Are?” Lilly shook her head, pointing down at his bracelet.
“We Haven't read the report yet. We wanted to get these things off you guys so we can speak without the assholes listening in.”
Edge growled, his sharp teeth grinding together as he wrote. "We Need More Information. This Isn’t Enough For Us To Properly Theorize Anything, We’ll Just End Up Going In Circles And Getting More Frustrated. We Need To Find A Way To Access More Data Without Tipping Them Off. More So Than They Already Could Be.” “And How Are We Meant To Do That? They’ve Got Us In A Fucking Cage.” Blue wrote back, shoving it towards Edge who only sneered in response. “We got bigger fish to fry right now. Lilly's right, we need to turn these bracelets off so we can actually talk and then go from there.” Stretch wrote, rolling his eyes at the two.Sans nodded in agreement, scribbling quickly. "It's too risky to leave them on, especially with what we've just learned." They looked down at her, as if waiting for whatever plan she had.Well, fuck. “I can start now, but for the love of god, tell me if anything changes. I’ll only be able to send messages on the monitor, but you can type and I'll be able to see it. If you get hurt even a little bit, tell me, and I’ll disconnect.” Lilly felt her nerves spike as she pushed out of the chair, turning it around so whoever sat could see her messages on the monitor. They made room for her as she made her way back over to the wall’s hidden panel, messing with a few cords to find the right ones.If she fucked this up, there was a chance she could end up dusting one of her soulmates.The thought made tears prick at the corner of her eyes. “We Understand The Risks Dearest, They’ve Filled Us In. Better To Go Out Fighting, Right?” Papyrus handed her his notepad, her face contorting as she bit her lip.
Damn, he’s so cool.
She just sighed, patting the top of the chair for someone to sit. “So then…who’s the lucky guy that wants to go first?” Her text displayed in front of her, but this time it was slightly flickering.Her nerves were making it hard to create the image.The skeletons exchanged glances, a tense silence falling over the room. Finally, Edge stepped forward, his face hard as he eyed her and wrote in his notebook. "I’ve Got The Most HP Out Of Everyone Here, It May As Well Be Me.” He finished writing and sat down in the chair, offering his right arm to her.Lilly nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she picked up the cables from the floor. She connected the first cable to Edge’s bracelet, handling his wrist gently as she found the small access hole on the side. Motioning the others to gather around the console, she took a step back, flicking the second cable for more slack.She had never done something like this before. “I don’t know how long this could take but just keep talking to me through the console. If anything happens that you think might end up hurting someone, rip the cable out of Edge's bracelet.” She didn’t look at them as she displayed the message, clicking a small button on the end of the cable. A thin needle shot out, and she noticed a few of them flinched.If something went wrong, she wanted them to disconnect Edge first.Whatever happened to her, she could handle it. She was a fucking military-cyborg after all.She’d been through worse than whatever these bracelets could do.She brushed her hair to the side, her fingers pressing around the back of her skull until she found the small, metal entry point to her neural link at the base of her skull.Taking a deep breath, she connected the cable, suppressing a shiver as the needle slotted into place.And then the world went dark.. . .-Sans’s POV- Sans watched as Lilly’s eyes seemed to shake for a moment, before they flickered off, turning black like a T.V screen going out.He felt his soul clench with fear as she stopped moving entirely, her body frozen and rigid as her arms fell to her sides.It didn’t even look like she was breathing.She was still standing, and he instinctively reached out to steady her, but stopped himself, not wanting to risk disrupting whatever process she had initiated.This was the first time he'd ever been so uncertain about so many things, and now he had someone besides his brother he worried for.His soulmate.Whether she knew it or not, they'd all fallen hard for her over the last two weeks, slowly adjusting to the soulmate candidacy as they got to know her. She was a part of their daily routine, their lives, someone they couldn't see being without. Boss monster fell hard and they fell fast, and he wasn't sure how he would cope if something happened to her.Everything they'd learned over the last few hours had his mind spinning out. He wasn't used to being on this end, not knowing enough or being in control. It made him nervous, his bones itching as his magic swirled uncomfortably.He glanced back at the others, noting their similar expression of worry.They were all in the same boat that he was, being forced down a current with no way to paddle. He looked back to Lilly, feeling his soul clench.The room was deathly quiet, the only sound was the soft whirring of the console and monitors in the room. Edge sat unnervingly still, his face an impassive mask, but Sans could see the tension in his shoulders.He felt a tap on his shoulder, turning around to see Blue pointing at the monitor excitedly.It was a message from Lilly, the text slowly appearing on the screen as she typed something.
“Okay, I’m in. It’s confusing as hell in here since I've never done this before, but I think I can find the right section that handles the communication function and see how they’ve got it setup. Wait…Does this work? :P…OMG I can send little emoji’s. You guys, this is so fucking funny. :p :L :D :O :] :3 LMAO NOT THE UWU FACE HAHA”
“Well, It Looks Like She's At Least Having Fun…For Some Reason.” Papyrus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shook his head in disappointment.Edge scoffed. “Of Course She’s Even Worse Than You Three When It Comes To Joking Around In A Dire Situation.” He sent glares at Red, Stretch and himself.Stretch snickered and shrugged his shoulders, “Hey, what can we say, sugar’s got a pretty good funny bone.” A few of them chuckled, easing only a sliver of the tension in the room.Sans felt a wave of relief wash over him as he read her message. At least she was still conscious and able to communicate. He leaned forward, typing into the keyboard to reply.
“Okay, Lilly, how long do you think this will take? - Sans”
There was a pause before Lilly's response appeared:
"Oh Cool! I can see your message. Hi! :D”
“Oh Fucking Stars Above .” Edge groaned, covering his face with his left hand.Blue covered his mouth as he looked away, small giggles escaping him as his shoulders bounced, “She’s Giving Me So Much Anxiety Right Now, But God, She’s So Stupidly Cute .”“I didn’t think ya could see someone’s personality through text, but christ, ya know it’s her for sure!” Red let out a full laugh this time, holding his ribs.“I can even picture her in my head, waving her entire arm around and waving at us.” Sans couldn’t help it, covering his own mouth as a few laughs forced their way out of him.God he loved this girl.He looked back up at the screen as more text appeared.
“Mnnn, kinda hard to say. The system is more complex than I thought, but it shouldn’t be more than ten to twenty minutes, unless I run into any surprises. It should be easier each time once I figure out this first one. I'll keep you updated tho my sweet little skele-boys ;P. And no groping my body’s ass or boobs, I’ll know if you do it ya perverts. OMG WAIT, TITTIES ( . )( . ) LMAO"
“Good Lord, She Doesn’t Take Anything Seriously, I Swear.” Papyrus huffed, but the words came out between laughs.“Okay, now you’re being a pervert, sugar.” Stretch laughed, leaning over and holding the console.“This Is Actually Fucking Ridiculous . I Can’t…She’s- She’s Sending Us Tit Emojis While We’re Trying To Hack Into These Bracelets? Really?” That was the first time Sans had ever seen Edge crack, a few chuckles mixed in as he tried to get the absurd sentence out and kept his head down.“That’s cause she likes gettin’ into trouble, remember bro?” Red grinned, crossing his arms.Sans snorted as he wrote another message: "Be careful in there, kiddo. Don't push yourself too hard. Also, you’re killing us here with the emojis. Edge laughed but he’ll never admit it."“DO NOT TELL HER THAT!” Edge’s face lit up in a bright red blush as he screeched, but didn’t move from the chair.Blue fully lost it, bending over slightly as he howled with laughter. “S-She’s Never Gonna Let You Live That Down, And Neither Am I, HAHAHA!”“No shame in having a funny bone, Edge.” Sans snickered, turning away from him.His reaction was priceless.She was easing the tension in the room slightly, which he was thankful for.
“OMG EDGE LAUGHED? Consider this your second dose of karma for slapping my sore ass this morning, you dickhead >:D”
Every single one of them covered their mouths, avoiding Edge’s burning gaze as they sputtered.“Oh, The Minute This Is All Over, She's So Getting It.” Edge growled, his face still flushed.“O-okay…okay…back to the task at hand, stars above.” Sans breathed out, wiping a tear from his socket.The minutes ticked by slowly. While she had eased some of their fears, not all of them could be brushed off. Sans stayed at the keyboard, waiting for any update from her.Suddenly, Edge's bracelet emitted a soft beep, and a ring around the entire bracelet lit up in red. Edge's eye sockets widened slightly as he eyed it warily, his arm resting over the chair's armrest."The bracelet turned red. Did it work?" Sans quickly typed into the console.There was a pause before Lilly's response appeared: "Sorry, not yet, but I think I've gotten into the piece of code for communication. They’ve got some serious encryption wrapped around it, its a fucking mess dude. I thought the bracelets were just sending a constant signal stream to H.Q., but from the looks of things here it actually records things in weekly increments before sending it off like a report. The good news? You guys can talk out loud with no problem! :D. It hasn't sent anything to them yet for this week’s report, but it looks like it would've been sent out sometime tomorrow.” Sans felt a mixture of relief and concern at Lilly's message. On one hand, the devices were not actively sending out their conversations in real time, on the other, the complexity of the system was worrying.Plus, they had already been talking a bit, forgetting to use the notepads, even if it was just to joke around.Sans paused though as he re-read her message.How much experience did she have with this sort of thing? Not that he was doubting her abilities, but he wasn't sure how familiar she'd be with it and how long it could take. The longer she was in that limbo state, the more tense he knew the room would become.“Well, It's Good That We Aren't Actively Being Monitored. Which Means They Only Got The First Week’s Information To Go Off Of.” His brother stated, standing next to him and crossing his arms.“True, plus if she downloads whatever is in there, it should give us more information about what they were looking for.” Stretch hummed.Blue glanced around the room before looking at Stretch. “What, Like Why They Needed To Record Us In The First Place?”“Probably. If they're experimenting on our girl here, no tellin’ what kinda shit they're tryna’ pull by recording how we interact with her.” Red huffed, sending an uneasy glance to Lilly’s still form.“I Do Not Like The Fact That They've Been Messing With Her Coolant. She Needs It To Stay Alive, Correct? How Would We Even Replace It For Her If It Turns Out It's Dangerous?” Papyrus clenched his fists, eyeing the monitor.Sans didn't want to think about the implications of his brother's words.He shook his head, replying to her last message.“Can you delete the stored data? Anything they've gotten from the last week?" Sans typed quickly.There was a longer pause this time before Lilly's response appeared:
"I think so, but it'll take some time. I’m having to offload a lot of it into my own internal storage. I'll store it first and then go in and erase whatever I find. Don’t freak out when it happens, but it's going to shut the whole bracelet down, since it's all connected. It should automatically unlock and fall off of Edge's wrist when I'm done. They may notice we fucked with them faster but it's worth it. I don't like what I'm seeing in here so far >:[ ."
Sans felt a wave of unease wash over him. The idea of her absorbing all that data into her own systems made him nervous. Who knew what kind of shit H.Q. pumped into those bracelets.“She's Just Going To Dump It All Into Her Brain? Is That Safe?” Blue asked, turning to him.“I don't know, this is new territory. But if she says that's what she has to do, then all we can do is trust her and wait.” He sighed."Be careful, Lil. don't overload yourself," he typed back quickly.Another moment passed before her response appeared:
"Don't worry, I should have plenty of storage space. It's just...a lot to process. I’ve never done this before so it’s gonna be a fuck around and find out kinda situation LOL. Some of this stuff could be useful though, we can go through it once I’m done with everyone’s bracelets."
Sans exchanged a worried glance with the others. What exactly did their bracelets do ?“Well, at least we can get something out of these little fuckin’ shit bands.” Red huffed, holding his arm up and glaring at it.Suddenly, Lilly's body jerked slightly, causing everyone to tense. Her eyes flickered briefly before going dark again.“What Was That?” Edge spoke up, shooting him a glare.“I don't know, hold on.” He looked back at the monitor."What happened? Are you okay?" Sans hurriedly typed."I'm fine," Lilly's text appeared quickly. "Just a small power surge from cracking into all this data. It's...complex. There is way more shit in here than I thought. My body just reacts to it like, uh, IDK, like being plugged into an outlet, I guess. Lots of stuff coming through. "He felt his anxiety rising. He hesitated, then typed: "Maybe we should take a break? This seems risky.""No!" Lilly's response came instantly. "We can't stop now. I'm already partway through. Interrupting could corrupt the data or worse. I don't know how the bracelet would react if I was suddenly pulled out.""Classic…” Edge growled, eyeing the group.“She's okay, Edge, just a power surge.” He replied, his magic responding to Edge's own hostile flare of irritation and fear.Red stepped closer, pulling the keyboard over as he typed. "Worse how, sweetheart? What exactly are we dealin with here?"There was a long pause before Lilly's reply appeared. "Hi Red! :D”The reaction was instant.Red slapped his hand over his face with an audible clack, dragging his phalanges over his face as he sighed.“Oh My God .” Papyrus shook his head, turning around and pacing as his shoulders shook from laughing.“S-she’s…I can’t… dude …HAHAHA!” Stretch doubled over, slapping the table loudly.“I Cannot Believe This Is Happening Right Now.” Edge let out a long, frustrated sigh.
“Also, I'm not entirely sure. But some of this information... it's not just recordings. There are command protocols, override codes, things that seem designed to directly fuck with your magic. I think your bracelets we’re meant to do more than just record our conversations >:[ and I don’t fucking like it >:[ >:[ >:[."
They all pulled their attention back to her words, reading over it carefully as they grew serious once again.“Ah hell, that's not good.” Stretch rubbed his face, eyeing her words carefully.“No shit! What the fuck are these things?” Red snarled, ripping himself away from the console.“How Safe Is This For Her?” Papyrus put a hand on his shoulder, and Sans only sighed.“I don't know, but I don't think it's safe for any of us if we leave them on either.”"Can you disable those protocols?" Sans typed quickly.Another pause, longer this time."I think so," Lilly's response finally came. “But it's like untangling a massive knot. Pull the wrong thread and the whole thing could unravel... or tighten even further, I don't know. I am gonna need more time tho, sorry :(."Red growled softly, his sharp teeth grinding together as he came back to type. "So what're our options, doll?""Hm, I can try to isolate the command protocols and replace them with dummy code," Lilly replied. "It should keep the bracelet functioning normally on the surface, but kill any attempts to use these commands or send out a report, even if you're not wearing them. There’s just… shit , there’s just a lot more stuff in here than I thought there would be. We gotta get these things off you guys."They all noticed how she didn’t seem to be joking around anymore, the tone of her messages becoming more serious.Sans felt his soul twist suddenly with worry. 
"Maybe we should pull you out, kiddo. this seems a little dangerous."
The response was immediate and firm: "No >:[ . I'm almost through this encryption. Once I'm in, I can edit it, just... give me a few more minutes. I'm not taking the risk of leaving these on you guys.”“Fuckin’ hell…” Red huffed, and Sans didn't blame him. They all exchanged uneasy glances, and he knew they were in a tight spot.The atmosphere quickly shifted back to uncomfortable as they all waited. Blue fidgeted nervously, pacing every so often. Edge's scowl deepened, his sharp phalanges tapping an agitated rhythm on the arms of the chair.Suddenly, Lilly's body jerked violently, her back arching as if in pain. A small, strangled sound escaped her lips."Fuck!" Sans immediately rushed to her side, hands hovered in uncertainty over her.“Don’t touch her! We don’t know if it’ll make it worse!” Stretch hollered.“She Needs To Stop, This Is More Complicated Than We Thought, It’s Not Worth The Risks!” Papyrus shouted, rushing over to the other side of her shaking form.They could hear a small zapping noise, as if she was being electrocuted.“If somethin's fuckin’ hurtin’ her, we gotta unplug it!” Red growled, reaching for the cable.“Don't! We Don't Know If It Would Hurt Her While She's Connected To The Bracelet!” Blue snatched Reds arm, and he turned and snarled, ripping it out of his grip.“Just stop, all of you!” Stretch shouted as he typed.
“Sugar, what the hell is going on? Your body is freaking out on us out here!”
The console remained ominously silent for several agonizing seconds before a message finally appeared:
"Ah shit! Sorry! D: I'm okay, I’m okay! I finished the code. Just ignore whatever the hell my body is doing for now. There was a... a security measure I didn't anticipate. I managed to block it, but...It activated…one of my own….security measures…the silencer. There’s….a lot of data….I’ll have to offload…”
“We Can't Just Ignore This Lilly!” Papyrus shouted at the monitor, not caring that she couldn't hear them.They were all frustrated. They weren't used to being unable to help.Her text was coming in slowly, and Sans knew it was a bad sign.“So what, she's just gotta stand there and get fuckin’ electrocuted?!” Red shouted, throwing his hands out in exasperation."Lils, you need to disconnect now," Stretch typed frantically. "We'll figure out the rest later. Just get out of there!"There was no response. Lilly's body continued to twitch and spasm, her face contorted in what looked like pain as her jaw clenched.Red growled, pushing Blue aside. "Fuck this," he snarled, reaching for the cable again."Stop!" Edge snapped, reaching up and grabbing his brother's arm. "Blue Is Right. We Don't Know What Interrupting The Process Might Do.”"We can't just stand here and do nothing!" Red shot back, yanking his arm free.“Have Some Faith In Her!” Edge shouted, bringing his fist down on the table in front of him.Red flinched back.There was a beat of silence before he scowled, turning away and walking back around to the console.Sans felt torn between the urge to intervene and the fear of making things worse. His eye lights darted between Lilly's twitching form and the silent console, desperately hoping for some sign that she was okay.This was not going well, in any way so far.Suddenly, Lilly's body went completely still, her jaw and muscles relaxing as she seemingly returned to normal. The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the soft hum of machinery.Papyrus eyed both him and Lilly wearily, “Is She…Alright?” “Stretch?” Sans looked at him, waiting for any answer."Lilly?" Stretch typed, his face stricken with fear.Suddenly, Edge’s metal bracelet beeped again, unclicking and falling to the floor with a loud clang, causing them all to jump. The wire was still connected to it and Lilly as it rolled on the ground.But there was no response on the console yet.Sans felt his soul freeze as the silence stretched on. The fallen bracelet seemed to mock them, its dull metal glinting in the lab's harsh lighting.It brought back awful memories."Lilly?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. His phalanges hovered over the keyboard, trembling slightly. "C’mon kiddo, say something."The seconds ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. Blue whimpered softly, his eye lights shrinking to pinpricks. Papyrus placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, though his own face was etched with worry. Red glared at Edge, but he was completely focused on Lilly's unmoving form.Just as Sans was about to throw caution to the wind and physically shake her, the console flickered and the entire group sighed in relief.
"I'm here! I'm okay :P…sorry for worrying you. I got the code to work though! You can hook up the next bracelet, and I shouldn’t have to deal with that again now that I know what’s going on. Did Edge’s bracelet come off? (:o??"
He quickly typed back:
"Yeah, it fell off, but you had us worried sick, kiddo. What happened in there?"
There was a brief pause before Lilly's response appeared:
"It's... hard to explain. It’s like there's malware in here. When I tried to disable it, it triggered the bracelet and I had to redirect the code back to myself. You remember the silencer I told you guys about, where I can’t say more than I’m allowed and it shocks the hell out of me and stops my vocal cords? I think this was another version, meant for you guys. It was probably meant to detain you, but with how severe it was, there’s a chance it could’ve dusted some of you. There's no limiter on its strength. If I hadn't redirected it, it would've shocked Edge instead, and I don't…I don’t know how much damage it would've done to him if I let the signal through.”
Sans felt a chill run through his bones at Lilly's words. The idea that the bracelets could potentially dust them was horrifying. He glanced at the others, seeing his own shock and fear mirrored in their expressions.They'd had these death traps on for years, and they were only just now getting rid of them.“She…Took The Damage From The Bracelet…In My Place?” Edge's voice was soft, but his face was twisted in anger.“Yeah, and that means every single one of them is capable of doing that shit, and she has to do this five more times.” Stretch scowled, rubbing his face.“I Don't Know. This…This Is A Lot….” Papyrus mumbled, shaking his head.None of them wanted her to keep going, but the risk of being dusted was…well, it felt like an impossible choice."Shit, lil. that's... that's intense," he typed, his phalanges trembling slightly. "Are you sure you're okay to continue? We can take a break if you need it.""I'm fine Sans, I’m a big girl :P " Lilly's response came quickly. "Now that I know what to expect, I can handle it. I’d rather we get these things off you guys as soon as possible. I don't like the idea of them being on you for any longer than necessary, so, who's next? :] "The skeletons exchanged uneasy glances. Red stepped forward, his sharp teeth set in a determined grimace. "I'll go next. Let's just get this shit over with and pull her out.”Sans nodded grimly, helping Red connect his bracelet to the other end of the cable. As they worked, he couldn't shake the unease gnawing at his soul. Not only had they been monitored, but the humans had the means to potentially control or even dust them at will. He knew the bracelets were dangerous, since a part of it was connected to the protocols that Lilly could’ve used when they first got here, but he didn’t realize just how deep the rabbit hole went. How much they’d been lied to. It made his magic burn in his chest."Alright, you're hooked up," Sans typed out. "Ready when you are, kiddo."There was a brief pause before her response appeared: "Dope, I see it. Should only take a few minutes now. Don’t panic though if I spasm again, that security measure is weird and I might just have to take it until I copy the dummy code in. I'd rather it be me than you guys since I've dealt with it before.”Sans clenched his jaw, his eye lights fixed on Lilly's motionless form. “They've used this shit on her before? Just fucking electrocuting her whenever they felt like it?” Stretch hissed as he lit another cigarette.“They’ve Got A Lot To Pay For. Especially For Hurting Our Soulmate.” Blue sneered and glared at Edge's discarded bracelet on the floor.Edge picked it up, placing it on a nearby table as he stood from the chair, allowing Red to take his place. “They’ll Be Lucky If We Let Them Off With Just Death After What We've Learned.” He hissed, walking over to join them around the monitor.Sans knew he wasn't happy that Lilly had taken the hit for him.“While I Wouldn't Usually Condone Violence, It Seems Quite Appropriate For This Situation, Wouldn't You Say, Sans?” Papyrus didn't look at him, instead cracking his knuckles as he pushed his fists together.Damn, his bro was so cool.“Heh, I think you're right bro. They're not getting off easy with this one.” The room fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the soft beeping of machinery and the occasional irritated or nervous huff from one of the skeletons.Red sat rigid in the chair, his sharp phalanges scratching the chairs fabric as he watched the screen. His usual cocky grin was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a tense scowl.Minutes ticked by, feeling like hours. Sans found himself counting Lilly's breaths, reassuring himself that she was still functioning. He couldn't shake the image of her body jerking violently earlier, the small sound of pain she had made.G.E. had a really bad time in his future.Suddenly, Lilly's body tensed, her back arching slightly. A soft whimper escaped her lips, barely audible in the quiet room.“Stars, Does She Have To Deal With This Every Time? For Every Bracelet!?” Blue snarled, grabbing his head and looking away from her body."Easy, Blue," Sans murmured, though his own eye lights were fixed on Lilly's twitching form. "She said she could handle it. We gotta trust her."Red growled low in his throat, his sharp claws digging further into the chair. "Doesn't mean we have to like it Classic. " He muttered.The seconds crawled by, each one marked by a small tremor in Lilly's body. Sans found himself holding his breath, silently urging her to finish quickly.Finally, with a soft click, Red's bracelet fell to the floor. Lilly's body relaxed, the tremors subsiding."Hell yeah! :D" her message appeared on the screen. "Red's bracelet is fucking done-zo, baby. Gimme the next one, I’m on a roll now.”The entire group let out a collective sigh.Sans felt a wave of relief wash over him as he read Lilly's message. He quickly typed back:
"You're doing great, kiddo. But are you sure you don't need a break?"
"Nah, I'm good," Lilly's response came swiftly. "You know the deal punny man, who’s next? :P "Stretch stepped forward, his shoulders tense. "Guess that'd be me." He said, holding out his wrist. Red got up, picking his own bracelet off the floor and handing the cable to him. Stretch sat in the chair as he prepped the next round of…whatever this was.As Sans helped connect Stretch's bracelet, he couldn't help but notice the slight tremor in Lilly's fingers. Her entire body seemed to be twitching occasionally, and he wasn't sure if it was from being shocked or the strain she was under.Despite her tone and cute little remarks, it was clear the process was taking a toll on her in some way or another."Alright, you're hooked up to Stretch’s bracelet," Sans typed. "Ready when you are, Lil’s.""Gotcha, starting now." came Lilly's reply.As Lilly began working on Stretch's bracelet, the tension in the room remained palpable. Sans found himself pacing back and forth, unable to stay still as he watched for any signs of distress from her.Stretch was stiff with his bracelet hooked up to her, his usually relaxed posture now taut with anxiety. His eye lights flickered between the screen and Lilly's motionless form, a worried frown etched on his face.Minutes passed in tense silence. Sans could hear the soft clicking of Blue's bones as the smaller skeleton fidgeted nervously. Edge stood like a statue, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, but Sans could see the concern in his narrowed eye sockets.Suddenly, Lilly's body jerked again, a small gasp escaping her lips. Sans felt his soul lurch, instinctively taking a step towards her before forcing himself to stop, knowing he couldn’t do much.It stopped quicker this time, which was his only relief. Stretch’s bracelet beeped and fell to the floor with a clang. He picked it up, moving back over to the console.She was getting faster at it, but at what cost?"Stretch's bracelet is done, I'm getting good at this ;P" Lilly's message appeared moments later. "Who's next?"Sans glanced between his brother and Blue, but Blue moved first."I'll Go." he declared, plopping down into the chair and holding out his wrist.As Sans connected the bracelet, he couldn't shake the growing unease in his soul.He typed quickly: "Lilly, are you sure you're okay? What's happening to all that data you're absorbing?"There was a brief pause before Lilly's response appeared:
"I'm fine, Sans. The data is... a lot. But I'm storing it safely. We can go through it later when everyone's safe."
He could only sigh.There was no changing her mind, he knew that. She was stubborn, but it was one of the things he liked about her.
Damn her cute, sexy, stubborn attitude.
The process continued until finally, all of their bracelets were off. All that was left was to finally get her unplugged and make sure she was alright. She had been convulsing less and less each time as she got faster at the process, but it didn’t help ease his anxiety.“Alright, get that fucken cable outta her.” Red growled, walking over to her side.Sans nodded, carefully disconnecting the cable from the point in the back of her head. He cringed as he felt the needle unclick as he pulled, her body swaying slightly.Her reaction was instant.She gasped, her eyes flickering between black and normal.She lurched forward, reaching out to hold the wall as she let out a strangled cry, but it came out slow and glitchy, like a busted computer speaker.“F-f-fuucc-k…Waaaaaiiitt…Tooooo M-m-uuucchhh…Datt-tt-ttaaaaaaa…” Lilly’s voice came out slow and distorted, like a dying machine. Her eyes fizzled in and out, and her other arm flew up and covered her mouth like she was going to be sick.He reached out instinctively to steady her, his bony hands gently grasping her shoulders as he was scared to even touch her."What's wrong? What do you mean?!" he urged, his voice tight with worry.Her eyes continued to flicker erratically, her body swaying as if she was having trouble maintaining her balance. She pulled her hand away from her mouth, it opened and closed, but only garbled, static-like sounds emerged.“What the fuck is happening to her?!” Red hollered.“I Knew This Was A Bad Idea, Fuck!” Blue shouted, and the entire group rushed to her side as she twitched."Syssssss...tem...o-o-o-overload. Too...muuuuuuuuch...dataaaaaaa…!" she managed to grind out, each word seeming to take immense effort as it warped between high and low pitches.Her words, distorted and broken, sent a chill through his bones."What can we do?!" he asked urgently, his eye lights shrinking to pinpricks. "How can we help you right now Lilly?"Her body trembled violently, her eyes flickering rapidly between black and normal. She opened her mouth to speak, but only a harsh, high pitched static-like sound emerged. He had to stop himself from covering the sides of his skull at the noise as it grated against his bones.It was the worst thing he heard in his life, like scrap metal scraping together."Fuck this," Red growled, pushing past Sans. "We need to do somethin' now!""Wait!" Edge snapped, grabbing his brother's arm. "We Don't Know What Interfering Might Do!"“Well We Can’t Just Leave Her Like This!” Papyrus shouted back, looking around the room frantically.“Data, data…” Stretch mumbled as he paced with both hands on his head, before whipping around, “The console! We need to hook her directly up to the console so she can offload the excess data!”Sans's eye sockets widened in realization."Shit you're right! She stored it all in her head, she's overloaded!"He and Red quickly, but carefully, guided her into the chair by the console. Sans fumbled with the cable, his bony fingers shaking as he tried to reconnect it to the port on the back of her head."Easy, kiddo," he murmured soothingly as she let out another distorted groan. "We're gonna help you, just hang on."With a soft click, the cable slid into place. For a moment, nothing happened. Then her body went rigid, her eyes wide and completely black again.The console screen suddenly lit up with a flurry of activity. Lines of code and data streamed across it at a dizzying pace, faster than any of them could follow."Is It Working?" Blue asked nervously, his eye lights flicking between Lilly and the screens."I think so," Stretch muttered, his brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the data flashing by. "Looks like she's offloading a massive amount of information from all of our bracelets. I think she…I think when she stored it all, she was fine, she wasn’t in her body yet. But when she was pulled out, it flooded into her head all at once, and her rig didn’t know how to handle the load.”Sans watched anxiously as the data continued to stream across the console. Lilly's body remained rigid, her eyes still completely black. The only sound in the room was the soft whirring of machinery and the rapid clicking of data being transferred."How Long Is This Going To Take!?" Edge growled, crossing his arms. Sans wanted to snap at him, but knew he was probably just as worried as the rest of them."I don't know," Stretch replied, his voice strained. "She probably stored years worth of data since we had them on for so long. This could take a while."As if on cue, the console let out a sharp beep. The stream of data slowed, then stopped entirely. A progress bar appeared on the screen, slowly filling up.“Or not.” Sans huffed."98%... 99%... 100% Transfer Complete." A robotic voice announced, echoing around the room.Suddenly, Lilly gasped, her eyes returning to normal as she slumped forward. Sans rushed to catch her before she hit the ground."Shit! You okay?" he asked urgently, cradling her in his arms.She grimaced, grabbing the cable from the back of her head and yanking it out harshly, gasping.“ F-f-fuck …what…what haaaaappened ?” Her voice was still slightly distorted, and her breathing was harsh as she blinked."You Scared The Living Daylights Out Of Us, That's What Happened!" Papyrus exclaimed, worry evident in his tone.Lilly winced at Pap’s volume, rubbing her temples. " S-s-sorry , I... I didn't meeeeean to worry you all. Everything's a bit f-f-fuzzy. "Sans helped her sit up slowly, his eye lights scanning her face for any signs of distress. "Take it easy, kiddo. You just offloaded a ton of data. How're you feeling?""Like my heeeeead’s gonna e-explode ," Lilly groaned, leaning against Sans for support. "But...better. I cooooouldn’t store the data anywhere else while getting the b-b-bracelets off, so I had to stooooore it internally. That’s gonna suck ass when I haaaaave to do it for the o-others …"“Your Voice Is Still Not Back To Normal. Did The Shocks Cause Permanent Damage?” Edge leaned down on one knee to look at her. Sans knew he probably felt guilty, even if his expression was hard.“ N-n-n-noooooo . I think it just neeedds …some time to go ba-b-back to normal. It hasn't beeeeen activated that much since t-t-t-they first installed and teeeessted it.” She waved her hand, her speech wavering.“Don't worry Edge. I woouuuuuulldnn't have done it if I-I-I-I didn't think I could haaanddle it.” She looked up and smiled at him, but he said nothing, standing and walking off to the side.Stars, she really had no idea how worried they'd been.Stretch leaned forward, his brow furrowed with concern. "You're saying you'll have to go through this again? For the other alternates?"“Well, yeeeeeeah , it's not like anyone else c-c-can do it. I’ve got to manually gooooooo in there and unnnnnntangle that…mess of encrypted code before putting the d-d-dummy one in.” She huffed, leaning back and rubbing her face.Sans hated how tired she looked, and he really didn’t want to see her do this, ever again.But he knew they didn’t have a choice. The new set of skeletons would have their own bracelets, and they couldn’t risk their conversations being sent back to H.Q.. At least they had a buffer window of a week or two to get it done, so maybe they could find a way to ease the process a bit.He paused, recalling how Lilly explained this place was like her second brain.If he could get into the console and check her systems out, there was a chance he could disable the silencer, free her from the fucked up security measure.And possibly any others that they'd put on her.He gut twisted with guilt at the idea of messing with her code without her knowledge, but a surge of protectiveness rushed through him. He’d talk to Red and Stretch, knowing they'd probably help. They'd find their own ways to help her, even if she didn't want them to get involved.He let out a heavy sigh, his phalanges gently rubbing her back as he looked at her. "I don't like it, but you're right. We can't risk leaving those bracelets active.""It’s Probably A Given That The Newcomers Will Have Bracelets Of Their Own, And No Doubt That They’ve Also Been Tampered With…You…Did Good Little Overseer. Quite The Achievement, But I Believe We Should Get You To Your Room To Rest.” Edge huffed, but Sans could see the simultaneous relief and anger in his body language.Lilly nodded weakly, her eyes still closed as she leaned against him. "Thanks Edge, but I sssssstill need to go over those f-f-f-files about the new guys. Just... give meeeeee a few minutes to recover. My systeeeeeems feel fried after that da-da-da-da-data dump. You guys should take a look at the console though, go throooooough some of that info I nabbed…I thought I sa-sa-sa-saw something that I’m really hoping isn’t what it looooooooked like." She sighed, rubbing her throat as her speech wavered in and out.“What Kind Of Info…?” Blue tensed, looking up at the monitor.“It looked l-l-l-like…fuck, what’s it caaaaalled …Hands? N-n-no , shit…Oh, Wingdings! Wiiiiiiiingdings font.”The skeletons all went rigid at her words. Sans felt his soul freeze, his eye lights shrinking to pinpricks." Wingdings ?" He repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "You’re sure?"“Yeah, it waaaaas a bunch of weird sy-sy-sy-symbols and hands. I’d recognize thaaaaaat shit anywhere. I’m assuming by-by-by-by your reactions it’s as bad as I thought. Gaster shit, huh?” She huffed, covering her face and resting her elbows on her knees.The skeletons exchanged uneasy glances. Red's eye lights had disappeared, while Edge's usual scowl had deepened into something darker."It's... complicated," Stretch said slowly, moving towards the console.“More than fuckin’ complicated…” Red snarled, following next to Stretch.Sans shared a look with his brother, watching as he nervously rubbed his gloved hands together.It made his magic flare angrily."But, yeah, kiddo. that's... that's Gaster's first name." Sans confirmed, his voice tight. "Did you see anything else? Any specifics about what the wingdings said?"Lilly shook her head slowly, wincing as if the movement caused her pain. "Not reaaaally . It was all jumbled u-up with the other daaaaaaata . I didn't have time to process it pro-pro-properly while I was dismantling the bracelets' code, but I graaaaabbed copies of it all so…it should be in the console."Red growled low in his throat, clenching his fists. "So the old man's involved in this somehow, huh? Fuckin' lovely .""We Don't Know That For Certain, Or Which One It Could Be." Edge interjected, though his scowl showed he knew that Red was right, “This World Has Plenty Of Information On Everyone’s Gaster, There’s A Chance They Could’ve Put It In There To Fuck With Us, Knowing We Would’ve Tampered With The Bracelets.”Sans felt his soul twist with a mixture of anger and dread. He glanced at Lilly, who was still leaned over, arms slightly trembling."We need to go through that data," he said firmly. "But first, we need to get Lilly somewhere she can rest and recover.""I'm-I’m-I’m fine," She mumbled, though her voice was still glitching and static filled. "Just... juuuuust give me a few min-min-minutes. ""No way, sweetheart," Red growled. "You've done enough for now, and ya clearly don’t sound fine. Time for you to take a break, little girl."She didn’t even look up at Red or reply to his comment, and it was at that moment that he knew she was much more exhausted than she was showing.Blue nodded vigorously. "Red's Right! You Need Rest, Lilly. We Can Handle The Data For Now And Fill You In Once You’ve Recovered A Bit."Stretch turned around suddenly, slapping his forehead.“Shit, I forgot! Someone heal her! She’s still sore from your little stunt in the hallway! I was going to but then all this shit happened…Shit, I’m so sorry sugar.” He groaned, rubbing his face with both hands.“Haha! It’s fiiinnne Stretch… Th-th-thank you though.” She waved a hand weakly at him, but didn’t get up from the chair.“I’ll Take Her Back. Now That We’ve Been In Here, We Can Teleport Until We Have The Proper Codes. First, Find Out Who’s Coming Here, Then Go Over Whatever Data She Got From The Bracelets.” Edge huffed, walking back over and standing in front of Lilly.“Wait, you can all t-t-t-teleport? And I gotteeemmm…Lemme w-w-w-write it down.” She mumbled, leaning back in the chair.“Shut Up And Lift Your Arms.” Edge huffed as he reached down, and she didn’t protest as she raised them into the air, her eyes closed.They all watched as he picked her up, adjusting his arms under her legs and around her back as she clung to his neck.“ Owieeeee ….my b-b-b-butt …” She mumbled, and a few of them had to hold back a laugh.“Yes, Yes. I’ll Fix It Once We Get You To Your Room, Lilly.” His voice was low as he turned and looked at them, “I’ll Return After Taking Care Of Her.” He nodded at the group before teleporting away, leaving flickers of his red magic in the air.A small part of him felt jealous, but a larger part of him was just thankful there were enough of them here that someone could take care of her, giving them more eyes to sort through all this information.He turned back to the others, his expression grim."Alright, let's see what we're dealing with here," he said, moving towards the console. "Stretch, can you start sorting through that data?" He asked, grabbing the chair Lilly had been in.Stretch nodded, cracking his knuckles as he grabbed another chair and rolled over to the terminal. "On it, Classic. It might take a while though–there's about 15 years of combined info to go through.""Look for anything related to those R.M. fragments first," Sans instructed, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he pulled up the data from the bracelets. "We need to figure out what the hell they're putting in Lilly's coolant. Until I can get a sample and the right equipment, we’re going off of documents alone. Scrape her old reports she got from H.Q. too."“Oh, good call. She did say she didn’t really read them before, so now’s as good a time as any.” He replied."In The Meantime, We Should Look For Anything About The New Arrivals," Papyrus suggested. "We Need To Know Who We're Dealing With, At Least Some Names Or Au’s. I’ve Done A Decent Amount Of Research On The ‘Undertale’ Fandom And May Be Able To Recognize The Monsters Listed."Red growled, pacing back and forth. "Yeah, and figure out what the fuck Gaster has to do with all this. I don't like it one bit."Sans nodded grimly. "Agreed. Bro, Blue, can you guys start going through those arrival files? Look for any names or identifying details about the new guys, you should be able to access it from over there.""On It!" Blue exclaimed, moving to another terminal and pulling up the documents as Papyrus quickly followed behind.Lilly had given them a great lab area to work with, even if she didn’t know it.
Or maybe she did.
It made him smile a little.Red continued his agitated pacing, his sharp teeth grinding together. "I still don't like that we had to put Lilly through all that shit. There's gotta be a better way to deal with those fuckin' bracelets.""I know, I don't like it either," Sans sighed, rubbing his skull. "But for now, it's the only option we've got. Once we've gone through this data, maybe we can figure out a safer method."The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the rapid clicking of keys as they worked.After a few moments, Papyrus let out a triumphant "Aha!" as a new window popped up on the screen he and Blue were sat in front of.The others moved immediately, gathering around and peering at the document that had appeared.It was titled "New Asset Integration: Phase 2"." Asset integration?" Red snarled. "Is that what they're calling us now, fuckin’ assets ?"Sans felt his soul twist with anger, but he pushed it down, focusing on the information before them. "Let's just see what we're dealing with here."The document outlined plans for the arrival of six new "assets" from alternate universes. As they read through the details, Sans felt a growing sense of unease."Looks Like…Oh Dear. The Listed AU’s Are ‘SwapFell Red, Horrortale,’ And One I’m Not As Familiar With…’Underpatch’?” Papyrus leaned back in his chair, bringing his hand to his chin as he thought."Underpatch? Never heard of that one." Sans muttered, leaning in closer to read the details."SwapFell Red and Horrortale though... those are some pretty intense AU’s," Stretch added, his brow furrowed with concern. "We're gonna have our hands full."Red let out a low whistle. "No shit. The SwapFell versions of us are gonna be a real fuckin' treat to deal with.""And Horrortale... stars, that's not going to be easy," He sighed, rubbing his skull. "Those versions of us have been through some serious trauma. I think that’s the one Lilly was hoping to get sent here, the one that had the famine after their core collapsed. We'll need to be careful."Blue's eye lights flickered anxiously. "What About This Underpatch? Does Anyone Know Anything About It?"Papyrus shook his head. "I'm Afraid I Don't Know. I Think The ‘Sans’ Was Popular, But…I’ll Have To Do Some Digging.”"As if we didn't have enough skeletons in the closet already." Red growled. "Six new skeletons, all from pretty intense AU’s... this ain't gonna be no fuckin' picnic.""No kidding," Stretch muttered, leaning back in his chair. "And with everything else going on... the Rifts, the R.M. fragments, whatever the hell Gaster's involvement is... we've got our work cut out for us."Sans felt a headache coming on as he considered all the new challenges they were facing. His eyes scrolled the document, and he pointed.“Wait, look, there’s a list of names and some info about them here.” 
New Asset Integration: Phase 2 - Nicknames & Health Records

-SwapFell Red; Boss Monster 'Sans' Designated Nickname: ‘Black’

-SwapFell Red; Boss Monster 'Papyrus' Designated Nickname:‘Mutt’

-Horrortale; Boss Monster 'Sans' Designated Nickname; ‘Axe’

-Horrortale; Boss Monster 'Papyrus' Designated Nickname; ‘Sugar’

-Underpatch; Boss Monster 'Sans' Designated Nickname; ‘G’

-Underpatch; Boss Monster 'Papyrus' Designated Nickname; ‘Aster’

Time Allotted At Facility 32-B: Two Years, Eight Months, & Thirteen days.

-Boss Monster ‘Sugar’ Received Three Extractions, Two Upper PreMolar & One Canine, Fitted With Palate Expander and TAD’s.

Brace’s Will Be Maintained For Another Six Month’s At Location 8 Until Future Removal. Received Back Brace For One Year And Three Months, Current Status: Removed.

-Boss Monster ‘Axe’ Refused Care For Skull Injury.

-Boss Monster ‘Mutt’ Refused Care For Gold Canines.
 Sans felt his soul clench as he read through the health records. The clinical, detached way they described the procedures performed on these alternate versions of themselves made his magic churn uneasily."'Sugar' Had Teeth Extracted And Was Fitted With Braces? And A Back Brace?" Blue's voice was low as he read the disturbing information. "Christ, That Poor Guy...""Stars Above," Papyrus murmured, his eye sockets wide. "They Arrive Shortly After We Did. They Were Held Almost As Long As We Were.""Looks like it," Stretch growled, his fingers clenching into fists. "And not all of it consensual, from the sound of it. 'Refused care' my ass –I bet they didn't even offer proper treatment."Red's eye lights flared dangerously. "Make ya wonder what kinda shit sweetheart went through when she was at the facility…”The group froze, taking in the words.It had never occurred to them before to ask or consider what happened in her past. She always seemed like a regular young woman, laughing and spending time with them. She was slightly more open about her scars, so they knew her father was a psycho. However, she never discussed anything from the facility other than what happened with Overseer number seven, Annie, and Butterbean.In reality, she had been through intense experimentation, and it was still ongoing .Sans felt a chill run through his bones. He'd been so focused on their own situation, he hadn't stopped to consider what Lilly might have endured during her time at the facility. The thought made his soul ache."You're right," he said quietly. "We... we don't really know much about what happened to her before we arrived, do we?"Stretch's eye lights dimmed. "Stars, I feel like an ass. We've been so caught up in our own problems, we never even asked about any of her past, not just the facility. All we know is that she has a sister, and her father is apparently a fucking psycho.""She Never Mentioned Much About Her Time There. If She Did, She Always Played It Off With A Joke," Papyrus said, "I Always Assumed It Was Because There Wasn't Much To Tell, But... Perhaps It Was Too Difficult To Speak About."Blue fidgeted nervously with his gloves, but his face was twisted into a dark frown. "Do You Think... Do You Think They Did Experiments On Her Outside Of Just Turning Her Into A Cyborg?""I don’t know, but we’re sure as fuck going to find out," Sans snarled, storming back to the console as the thought made his magic flare. "Stretch, can you look for any files related to Lilly's time at the facility? Medical records, experiment logs, anything?"Stretch nodded grimly, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "I’ll add it to the list of a hundred other things, Classic. But...” He paused, turning back in his chair to look at them all, “Are we sure we want to know? This could be a major invasion of her privacy, and if she finds out we looked into it..."Sans paused, considering Stretch's words.He was right–this was delving into deeply personal territory. There was a chance they’d stumble across things they were never meant to know, not until she was ready to talk about it.But the gravity of the situation demanded it."I know it's not ideal," Sans said, his voice heavy. "But we need to understand what we're dealing with here. If there's anything in her past that could affect her health or safety now, we need to know. And..." he hesitated, then continued, "If they did something to her , something she might not even be aware of, we need to find out."Red growled in agreement. "Yeah, as much as I hate diggin' into sweetheart's business without her knowin', we gotta do what we can to keep her safe. Even if that means findin' out some ugly fuckin’ truths."Papyrus nodded solemnly. "I Agree. It's Not A Decision To Be Made Lightly, But I Fear That This Goes Deeper Than Any Of Us Know. There’s No Way In Hell They’ve Told Her About Everything They’ve Done To Her, Just Look At The Way They’ve Altered Her Filters And Whatever Those R.M. Fragments Might Be.”Blue's eye lights flickered anxiously, but he steeled his expression. "I Don't Like It Either, But... If It Helps Keep Her Safe, Then We Have To Do It. Better To Ask For Forgiveness Than Permission With How Things Are Right Now."Sans paused, remembering what he had considered earlier.“Stretch, Red, remember what she said earlier, about how this place is like her second brain, and certain things can be accessed remotely?” He began.Stretch and Red nodded, their eye lights sharpening with understanding."You think she might've given us access to more than she realized?" Stretch asked, his fingers hovering over the keyboard."Exactly," Sans confirmed. "She said this place is wired to her. If we can get into her code we might be able to turn off that silencer that hurt her earlier when she removed the bracelets, but…”He cringed.They were already going to be digging up what they could on her past, but add getting into her head too into the mix…Red's eye lights flared dangerously. "But we'd be gettin' into her head without her knowin'. That's a whole other level of invasion, Classic. She just talked about how that was somethin’ she was worried about, fuck, its why she built herself a prison cell ! She terrified of that happenin’!"Sans nodded grimly, his soul heavy with the weight of the decision. "I know! Trust me, I don't like it any more than you do. But if there's a chance we can disable that silencer and prevent her from getting hurt again, we have to try."Stretch's fingers hovered over the keyboard, his expression conflicted. "It's a hell of a risk, Classic. If we mess this up, or if she ever found out...""She'll Never Trust Us Again…" Blue finished quietly, his face contorted into a grimace.The room fell into a tense silence as they all grappled with the moral implications of what they were considering.Papyrus let out a long sigh, putting his arms behind his head as he leaned back in the chair. “Let’s Just…Let’s Just Focus On The Files We Have For Now. We Have Two Weeks, Maybe One, Before The Others Arrive. We Have Time To Come To A Decision About It. We’ve Already Got A Lot On Our Plates As It Is.”Sans nodded, feeling a mix of relief and frustration at Papyrus's suggestion. "You're right, bro. We've got enough to deal with for now. Let's focus on what we have and worry about the other stuff... later.""Agreed," Stretch said, turning back to his console. "I'll keep digging through these files, see what else I can find about her time at the facility and what kinda shit they had in those bracelets.""Good idea," Sans replied. "Red, can you help Stretch with going through anything on the R.M. fragments? We need to figure out what those are and how they're affecting Lilly’s coolant."Red grunted in acknowledgment, moving to another chair and terminal to begin his search."Blue, Paps, keep working on those arrival files. See if you can find any more details on the internet about their AU’s and what Underpatch is.”"You got it." Blue replied as he and Papyrus turned back to their research.He saw Papyrus pause, turning back around to look at him while the rest worked.There was something on his brother’s face that was almost unreadable, but he watched as he slowly spoke in Hands.‘Don’t Do It. She’s Been Hurt All Her Life Sans.’Sans flinched, but kept watching.‘We Must Never Be The Ones To Add More To It.’He felt his soul lurch.Sans knew that none of this was going to end well, for any of them.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I thought you stated my work would remain uninterrupted, W? Her vitals are spiking, she’s waking up.” A gruff voice hissed.

She felt something peel away from her stomach.

It burned.

The same voice, but lighter, more clinical, spoke up, “Have the little human peons deal with it. Clearly, we are busy, D.”

Something else tore from her, and she slowly looked down.

Her entire middle was cut open, the walls of her abdomen and skin peeled back with unnerving precision.

A single masked figure, with four arms was standing above her. Each of its hands held something different, some with organs, some with medical tools she didn’t recognize.

IT BURNED.

“She’s truly well and awake now. Stars W, can you do nothing right?” It hissed.

“Quiet, it matters little now.” The thing above her paused, leaning down close and placing something on her face.

“Good morning X-04. Unfortunately we’re not quite finished here, so go back to sleep…”

“Before something else wakes up inside you.”

She screamed.
...Lilly shook her head as it throbbed, heaving into the toilet in front of her.While she was no stranger to nightmares, this time was different. She could never remember what they were about, but she’d lucked out that none of the boys seemed to know yet. She didn’t sleep much anyway, but that only seemed to fuel their protectiveness over her.She shivered as she vomited again, feeling her skin become clammy.They barely let her leave the room in the last few days after the bracelet incident. They were constantly bringing her food and different articles of their clothing for her to snuggle with while they worked down in the console room. She was grateful the first day, especially since Edge had healed her sore ass and bite marks. It was a tender moment that she relished in at the time, but now she was getting tired of being coddled like a fucking baby.But she was getting sick of it.She vomited again.
The irony of it all.
It was beginning to grate on her nerves, and she was itching to get back to the console room and do something, god, anything at this point.Lilly wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her stomach finally settling. She was thankful she didn’t process food the same way, so she never actually used the toilet anymore. She wasn’t sure she would have been able to explain human bowel movements to the guys.
Ever.
She pushed herself up from the cold tile floor, legs wobbling slightly as she gripped the edge of the sink for support. The mirror reflected a pale, drawn face, dark circles prominent under her eyes. Her small black tank top was slightly damp from sweat, and her black tights clung to her skin weird.Then she watched as her coolant pulsed and returned her skin to normal, as if she had never been sick in the first place.
Well, don’t I look like a fucking million bucks?
She snorted, rolling her eyes as she felt new energy flush through her. After she finished brushing her teeth and removing the taste of vomit from her mouth, she stalked out of the bathroom, determined to get something done today.But, as if they could somehow read her mind, Stretch and Red appeared in the room, their magic tingling over her skin.Lilly narrowed her eyes at the two skeletons, crossing her arms defiantly. "Don't even think about it. I'm done being cooped up in here."Red's grin widened, but she could see he was tense. "Aw, come on, dollface. We're just tryin' ta take care of ya.""Yeah, well, I appreciate the thought, but I'm actually going stir-crazy, dude. I need to do something useful .""You still look pale, honey. Maybe you should rest a bit more." Stretch stepped closer, concern etched on his skull.She scoffed, rolling her eyes at him, “Well, now I know you’re lying just to keep me in here. My rig made sure I look normal, remember? Advanced healing?”They shared a look between each other, but said nothing."Look, I really do appreciate the concern, but I'm not some delicate little flower that needs to be on constant watch. I'm going to do something today, and with the new guys coming I wanna make sure that I get everything ready. Shit, I don’t even know who’s gonna be here yet."She watched as their resolve seemed to crumble.
Fuck yeah.
Red's eye lights flickered before he let out a reluctant sigh, "Alright, sweetheart. But ya gotta promise to take it easy, yeah?"She nodded happily, pumping a fist at her side. "Yes! I promise. Now, can we please head to the console room?""Fine, but one of us stays with you at all times. No arguments." Stretch huffed, shaking his head at her.She bit back a retort, knowing this was the best compromise she'd get out of the stubborn bastards."Deal."The trio made their way to the console room, her mind racing with all the possibilities. As they entered, she immediately noticed the tension in the air. Sans and Papyrus were huddled over a screen, their whispered conversation stopping as soon as they noticed her.Well, that totally wasn’t fucking suspicious at all.
Not.
She watched as Sans's eye lights flickered to Red and Stretch, a silent question passing between them. Red shrugged, while Stretch just shook his head slightly."She insisted." Stretch explained. "Wouldn't take no for an answer."“Damn right. Now, what have we got on those bracelets and the new guys? Anything about those wingdings I found in the code?” She stalked over, eyeing Papyrus as he quickly shifted the monitor to something else.She narrowed her eyes, but kept her mouth shut.Sans sighed, rubbing the back of his skull. "Not much progress on the bracelets, kid. The wingdings you found are proving... difficult to figure out."“Yes, It’s Slightly Alarming At How The Code Seems To Be Working. While I’m Not As Experienced In These Areas, Even I can Tell That It’s Going To Take Much Longer Than We’d All Like.” Papyrus huffed, sitting back in one of the office chairs and crossing his legs.Damn, he looked good like that.She walked closer to the middle console, leaning over as she checked the screen. “What’s concerning about it? I may not know shit either, but I’ve got loads of info stored in my brain that might help, so I can look over it if you want.”Sans hesitated, his eye lights flickering between her and the screen. "It's... complicated. The code seems to be evolving on its own, changing faster than we can keep up with."Lilly frowned, her brow furrowing as she processed this information. "Evolving? Like, some kind of AI?""Something like that," Stretch chimed in, moving to stand beside her. "But it's not like any AI we've ever seen before. It's almost organic in nature."She felt a chill run down her spine at his words.Organic code? That sounded eerily familiar to something she'd read about in her databases, but she couldn't quite place it."Let me take a look." She insisted, reaching for the keyboard.Red's hand shot out, gently but firmly grasping her wrist. "Hold on there, sweetheart. Maybe ya should just take a look at the new guys first, yeah?”She shot him an irritated look.Okay, they were being weird.More than the usual kind of weird.She turned around slowly, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at the four.“Alright, spill it. What the hell’s going on that’s got everyone’s panties in a twist. What are you hiding?”She watched as sweat formed on their skulls.
Busted.
“I know you’re hiding shit when you all start sweating.”More beads of magic sweat.“I’m not gonna drop this.”They wouldn’t even look at her.“ Guys… ” Her tone was low.Sans sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Alright, kid. You got us. We...We’ve been worried about ya. Especially after the bracelet incident."“We just don’t want ya pushin’ yerself after all…that…” Red’s grinned tightened.Oh.Had that scared them?“Aw, guys…That’s really sweet, and I’m sorry it freaked you out so bad. I promise I’m good though. I’m a hardcore battle cyborg, it’s gonna take a little more than a little electricity to break me.” She laughed, tilting her head at them.The skeletons exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions a mix of concern and guilt. Papyrus was the first to speak, his tone soft."Lilly, We... We Were Truly Frightened When We Saw You Convulsing And Twitching Like That. Your Mouth Was Open In A Silent Scream, And There Was This... This Awful Burning Smell."Sans nodded, his eye lights dim. "Kid, you gotta understand. We've seen some pretty messed up stuff in our time, but watching you like that... It was something else entirely.""Yeah, dollface," Red chimed in, his sharp teeth gritted. "Yer tough as nails, we know that. But seein' ya in pain like that... It fuckin' killed us."“We’re your soulmates, Lils. You think you’d take it well if something like that happened to us, and you couldn’t do anything to help?” Stretch lit a cigarette, looking away.Oh, god .She fucked up.She was so used to going through insane shit at the facility she had become pretty desensitized to all the horrific things that had happened. While she had healed and moved on from the trauma of her father, she knew the facility was a much bigger box to unpack, one that she wasn’t sure if they’d be ready to open.From being burned in acid and crushed to test her healing capabilities, prolonged sensory deprivation, endurance test that went on for days, testing how much pain she could take or how much she could melt from an Overheat and still function, being pumped with every toxin or chemical known to man…the list went on far longer than she could count.They’d even dropped a mini-nuke on her once.She knew realistically it wasn’t healthy, but she was fine with what had happened, glad even. It made her the strongest motherfucker alive, made her into a fucking warrior that could protect all of them in case something went wrong.Just trying to even imagine the idea that she wasn’t, like before she became an Overseer...
Is this…how they feel? Right now?
It was horrific.Her face fell as she looked at the ground, before slowly reaching out and pulling Sans in close for a hug, burying her face in the soft fabric of his sweater.She wasn’t sure she had done this before.Just reached out and hugged one of them.It made her chest tighten.“Fuck, I’m…I’m sorry …I didn’t realize just how hard that must’ve been to watch. I’ve gotten pretty desensitized to it, but I know it’s not normal for other people. That was…was probably really hard on all of you…I’m sorry…”Sans wrapped his arms around her, his grip tightening as he let out a shaky breath. "It's okay, kiddo. We just... we care about ya, y'know?"Lilly felt the others move closer, their presence warm and comforting. Red's hand came to rest on her shoulder, while Stretch gently stroked her hair. Papyrus leaned in, pressing his forehead against the side of her head."We Know You're Strong, Lilly," Papyrus murmured in her ear. "But That Doesn't Mean We Won't Worry About You."She nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat.It had been so long since anyone had truly cared about her wellbeing. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut, and she found herself clinging tighter to Sans.There were only a handful of humans on the entire planet that she had genuinely cared for. Her old therapist Carol, the single mom from the coffee shop she used to go to, Megan, and Dave, one of the officers who helped her the night she was attacked by her father.This level of intimacy was so new and foreign, it almost felt wrong."I...I don't know what to say, to be honest with you." She mumbled into Sans' sweater. "I'm not used to people… worrying ."Red's grip on her shoulder tightened slightly. "Well, ya better get used to it, dollface. 'Cause we ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon."She felt a small chuckle escape her lips, despite the heaviness in her chest. "You guys are gonna turn me into a little fucking sappy baby , you know that?"Stretch's hand paused in her hair. "Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, honey."“Pft, what? So now we gotta be all cringy and cry over movies like ‘The Fault In Our Stars?” She laughed, feeling some relief roll over her.Sans chuckled, his chest rumbling against her. "Hey, don't knock it 'til you've tried it, kid. A good cry can be pretty cathartic."Lilly pulled back slightly, looking up at Sans with a raised eyebrow. "You're telling me you've cried over sappy movies?""What Can We Say? We're Sensitive Skeletons." Papyrus chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eye sockets.She laughed hard this time, a sly smirk rolling over her face.“Oh yeah, real sensitive. Especially when you were like, oh, I don’t know, like three fingers and two tongues deep in my pussy just a few days ago.”Papyrus' eye sockets widened, a bright orange blush blooming across his cheekbones. He sputtered, struggling to form words as he gaped at her."I... THAT’S... W-WELL..." He stammered, his voice becoming loud.The others weren't faring much better.Sans's grin had become strained, covering his face with a gloved hand. Sweat had begun beading on his skull as a faint blue tinge colored his cheeks.Red's sharp grin had widened as he let out a low, rumbling chuckle. But even he couldn't hide the deep crimson flush spreading across his face.Stretch had nearly choked on the cigarette smoke he'd just inhaled, coughing and hitting his fist into his chest a few times as an orange hue crept up his face.“C’mon, Lil’s…that’s literally my bro…” He looked away shaking his head.She narrowed her eyes as with a wicked smile. “Well, then come get your turn, and you can just be tunnel buddies.”Red slapped his hand over his mouth before doubling over in a fit of roaring laughter, his face flushed a deep crimson as it echoed throughout the room.Stretch had turned around, leaning over one of the consoles, and she could practically see the smoke steaming off his now bright orange head.Papyrus had gone completely rigid, his jaw working silently as if trying to form words, but it was failing spectacularly. Sans’s eye light had gone out, his face a deep and pretty blue.He looked like he was about to short-circuit, his eye lights flickering back to life as he struggled to maintain his composure. "K-kid, that's, uh... that's not...""Not what, Sansy?" Lilly teased, looping a finger through his new jacket string. "Not appropriate? Not fair? Considering my coolant gives me away, I think it’s only right I get to have some fun of my own."Sans's eye lights darted nervously, his blush deepening. "I, uh... that's not ... I mean..."Stretch cleared his throat, his face still flushed orange. "Lils, maybe we should, uh, focus on the task at hand?"Oh yeah, she had shit to do.But damn, did she wanna get railed.She suddenly had a wicked idea, for later, of course.“Alright, alright. I wanted to go over some of this stuff anyway. Can’t do that if I’m getting bent over and railed on every surface in here.” She held her hands up, releasing Sans from her teasing with a smirk.She could feel the tension in the room, thick enough to cut with a knife. The boys were still flustered, their magic thrumming in the air around her and their scents filling her nose pleasantly.
Good. Let them stew in it for a bit.
“So, I still haven’t heard who these new guys even are. Did the file mention what AU’s they're from or their names?”Sans cleared his throat, seemingly grateful for the change in subject as he sat back down in one of the chairs and turned to the console. "Right. Well, we've got some basic info on them, lemme pull up the file for ya.”She leaned over his shoulder, purposefully pressing her chest into his back, her eyes scanning the screen as he pulled up the file. She felt him stiffen slightly, but didn’t say anything.
Ha, got your ass.
She turned her attention back to the monitor, and this time it was her turn to tense as she read.“Swapfell Red, Black and Mutt. Horrortale, Axe and Sugar. Underpatch, G and Aster…”Her coolant pulsed heavily under her skin, shifting into a low mix of blue and purple as she read the names.She kept reading, trying not to think too hard about the images that flashed in her head.She was so, so happy that the Horrortale brother’s would be here. From the sounds of things, H.Q. had been helping Sugar with the endless amount of dental and back problems he probably struggled with.It made her heart clench.She continued reading.Then her pussy clenched.“Axe is 7’7'“ tall…and sugar is 8’3” tall…what…what the fuck? I thought…wait…wait what the fuck?! Just how tall are you guys?!” Her voice was high-pitched as she reared back, but bumped into Stretch who had been behind her.She slowly turned and looked up at him, scanning him with her eyes.There was a beat of silence before she let out a loud shout.“You’re 7’10”?!” She pointed at Stretch and Papyrus, then to Sans and Red, "And you all are 7’1”?! What the actual fuck!”The skeletons burst into laughter at her outburst, her face flushing pink. This is so not fair. How did I grow like three inches and still end up the smallest here?! Red let out a loud laugh. "Heh, what's the matter, dollface? Feelin' a little short ?" He winked at her, and she scrunched her face at him.Stretch chuckled, reaching down to pat her head playfully. "Aww, don't worry, honey. We think you're just the right size." His long phalanges ruffled her hair, emphasizing their height difference.Sans's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter, his permanent grin wider than ever. "Guess you could say the situation's really... growing on ya , huh kid?""Oh, ha ha , very funny. Pick on the little cyborg, why don't you?" She grumbled, but there was no real heat behind her words.Papyrus, who had been laughing silently finally spoke up. "Now, Now, Let's Not Tease Her Too Much. After All, Good Things…Do Come… In Small Packages …!" He slapped a hand over his mouth, looking away as his shoulders shook.The room erupted into more laughterSans took a deep breath before wiping away a tear from his socket. “Bro...I’m so proud of you for that one.”She felt herself bristle, her face growing more and more red.She wasn’t angry, not really , just…Fucking embarrassed. Was she pouting right now? Is that what pouting felt like? “I’m six feet tall! That’s tall for a woman!” She shouted, pointing at Papyrus.Papyrus chuckled, patting her head gently. "Of Course, Lilly. You're Very Tall For A Human Woman. We're Just... Extra Tall."She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don't you, ya skyscraper ?"Sans's grin softened as he looked at her. "Aw, c'mon kid. You know we're just teasing. Besides, your height is perfect for... other things."His eye lights flickered over her body suggestively, and she felt a shiver run down her spine.Red nodded, his sharp grin widening. "Yeah, dollface. Makes it real easy to pick ya up—"Without warning, he yanked her by the waist and threw her over his shoulders. She let out a yelp, feeling slightly dizzy at the sudden change in perspective.“—and do shit like this .”Then he slapped her ass.“What is with you guys and spanking me?!” She hollered, lightly pounding her fists into his back ribs.Red chuckled, his deep voice rumbling through her. "Can't help it, sweetheart. Ya got a real nice ass."Lilly felt her face flush even hotter, a mix of embarrassment and arousal coursing through her. She wiggled, trying to get down, but Red's grip on her was firm.“P-Put me down before I shove my foot up your ass!” She sputtered, trying to lean upwards.“Oh, kinky .” He purred before spanking her again, leaving his hand there and kneading the flesh.
Mother. Fucker.
She watch as Stretch sauntered over to the side, a lazy grin on his face as he leaned over and looked down at her with a grin. "Dunno, honey. I think Red's onto something here. This view is pretty nice."He stood back up, and she felt a second hand ghost over the other ass cheek before giving it a full squeeze, and she involuntarily let out a loud squeal.She flailed in Red’s grip, causing him to laugh harder. “Paps! They’re getting handsy and I need to read the file! Help me!”Papyrus cleared his throat, trying to maintain a stern expression despite the orange blush creeping across his cheekbones. "Now, Now, Boys. As Much As I Appreciate The... Aesthetics Of The Situation, We Really Should Get Back To Work. We Have Important Matters To Attend To."
Thank god. No wait, thank Papyrus.
Red's grin widened mischievously as he locked eyes with Papyrus. "Aw, c'mon Creampuff. We're just havin' a little fun." In one fluid motion, he spun around and plopped down into one of the console chairs, pulling her with him so she was straddling his lap.She let out a surprised gasp as she found herself suddenly pulled in close against Red’s chest, her legs spread wide over his femurs. His hands came to rest on her hips, holding her firmly in place. She could feel the way his breath rolled over her exposed shoulders, so she tried once again to pry out of his grip.She felt his tongue run over her neck, and she whined at the contact. "Why don't ya get comfortable, dollface? We'll read the file to ya while ya... relax a lil, huh?"His hands tightened on her hips, pulling her down firmly against him. She could feel the hard ridge of his pelvis pressing against her core through their clothes, and a shiver ran down her spine."Red, I swear to god —" she started, but her words were cut off by a soft gasp as he rolled his hips upwards, grinding against her."Shh, sweetheart. Be a good girl and just listen. " He purred, his deep voice rumbling through her chest.“I can’t even see the file! Motherfucker… ” She huffed, but wrapped her arms through the inside of his hoodie and pressed herself into his chest, wrapping around him in a hug.She was learning very quickly that she really liked hugs.
Well that's...depressing.
“Heh, I ain’t no motherfucker doll, But I can be a you fucker, if ya want.” He rolled her hips again, and she tensed, playfully slapping him in the back of his spine.Sans cleared his throat from somewhere behind her, "Alright, alright. Let's focus here." She heard him clicking the mouse and typing on the keyboard for a second before speaking up again, "So, we've got Swapfell Red—that's Black and Mutt. Black's the older brother, stands at 7'1" like us shorter guys. Mutt's 7'10" like Stretch and Paps."She tried to concentrate on Sans' words, but Red's hands were slowly sliding under her tank top, roaming her sides, his phalanges tracing teasing patterns along her ribs. She squirmed in his lap, earning a low chuckle from him."Then there's Horrortale—Axe and Sugar," Sans continued, seeming to just ignore what the fuck Red was doing to her. "Axe is 7'7", Sugar's 8’3”. Looks like Axe is the older one, while Sugar is younger.Her breath hitched at the mention of Axe and Sugar's heights. She tried to focus on Sans' words, but Red's wandering hands were making it so damn difficult to concentrate."And finally, we've got Underpatch—G and Aster," Sans went on, his voice sounding slightly strained. "G's 7'1", and Aster's 7'10". Seems like only Axe and Sugar have a height difference from all of us, probably due to their Universe’s circumstances."Red's hands slid higher under her tank top, ghosting along the underside of her breasts through her sports bra. She bit her lip to stifle a moan, her hips unconsciously grinding down against him."Heh, seems like someone's enjoyin' the info," Red mumbled in her ear. "Or maybe it's just me?"She looked up to glare at him, but the effect was somewhat ruined by the heat on her cheeks and the way her breath was coming out quicker than she’d like.She opened her mouth to say something but was quickly cut off as he cupped her breasts, kneading them gently through the thin fabric of her sports bra. She arched into his touch, a soft whimper escaping her throat."Red, you big bitch ." She breathed, narrowing her eyes at him. "We're supposed to be working..."He chuckled, the sound low and gravelly in her ear. "Oh, we are workin', spitfire. Just... multitaskin'."Sans cleared his throat again, his voice sounding strained. "Right, uh... where was I? Oh yeah, the new guys' personalities. Black is pretty strict and demanding, kind of like Edge. Mutt's more laid back, but fiercely loyal to his brother."She suddenly had a great idea, her face turning into a sly grin.She saw the way Red began to sweat, his hand pausing on her breast.“Guys! Red’s touching my titties , so I can’t work!” She leaned back from him, turning her head and shouting.All three turned to look at them.She felt Red stiffen under her.
Gotcha.
Sans chuckled, shaking his head. "C'mon, kiddo. You're telling me the great war-cyborg Lilly can't handle a little multitasking?"Oh.Papyrus crossed his arms, an amused grin on his face. "I Expected Better From Our Esteemed Little Battle Cyborg. Surely A Few Gentle Caresses Aren't Enough To Derail Your Focus?"
Oh.
Stretch leaned against the console smirking, taking a long drag from his cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Honey, if you can't handle a little fondling while we discuss important matters, how're you gonna manage when things really heat up around here?"Oh shit. Red's grin widened against her neck, his hands resuming their ministrations with renewed energy. "Yeah, dollface. Thought you were tougher than that. Don't tell me a little tit play is what’s gonna do ya in?”He gave her breast a hard squeeze as he said tit play, as if to just rub it in her face.
Well, that backfired.
Her face flushed a deeper shade of red, a mix of arousal and indignation coursing through her. "I-I can multitask just fine ! It's just... it-…dammit, you all are supposed to be on my side!” She threw herself back against Red’s chest, refusing to look at any of them.“Bastards, every single one of you .” She hissed.Lilly felt Red's chest rumble with laughter behind her. "Aw, don't be like that, Lils. We're just havin' a little fun."She grumbled, burying her face in his sweater. "Yeah, yeah. At my expense."Sans chuckled, "Alright, let's get back on track here. Where were we? Oh yeah, Axe and Sugar."Perking up slightly at the mention of the Horrortale brothers, her curiosity completely overrode her embarrassment for the moment."Axe is... well, he's got some issues. Understandable, given what they've been through. He can be pretty intense and protective of Sugar. Speaking of which, Sugar's a sweetheart, but he's got his own quirks. They've been through a lot," Sans continued, his voice softening. "HQ's been working with them, especially Sugar. He's had a lot of dental work done, but it looks like they got his back issues resolved."
Thank god…
She felt a pang in her chest at the thought of what the Horrortale brothers must have endured, and was more than happy that they were coming. She shifted in Red's lap, momentarily forgetting her compromising position as she focused on Sans' words."And G and Aster?" She prompted, genuinely curious about the Underpatch pair.She had not been expecting those two to show up.Sans cleared his throat. "Right. G's... well, he's a bit of a flirt. Smooth talker, likes to think he's the coolest guy in the room. Aster's more reserved, but he's brilliant. Both of them are incredibly smart, actually."“They’ll probably be a lotta help with all the shit going on in the files we have, and probably the bracelets too. I think the more eyes we have on everything, the better.” She nodded, thinking hard about the situation for a moment.Until Red began to slide his gloved fingers under her sports bra.“Already thinkin’ ‘bout other monsters while I’m right here doll? I’m hurt…” He mussed.His fingers slid under her sports bra, ghosting over her pierced nipples. Lilly gasped, arching into his touch involuntarily."N-no, that's not what I—ah!" She cut off with a moan as he pinched and rolled them between his fingers.He paused, really messing with the jewelry for a moment before he hissed through his teeth.“Shit fellas, she’s pierced .”Her face flushed an even deeper shade of red as Red announced her piercings to the room. She squirmed in his lap, feeling her face scrunch up in shame."R-Red!" She shouted, glaring at him.But the damage was already done. She could feel the atmosphere in the room shift, becoming charged with a new kind of tension.Sans cleared his nonexistent throat, his eye lights flickering. "Is that so?"Stretch stubbed out his cigarette, his gaze suddenly intense as it raked over her form. "Well, well. Looks like our little cyborg's full of surprises, isn't she?"Papyrus covered his blushed face, sighing. "Stars Above, Red, Now You’ve Done It . ”Red chuckled darkly, his fingers still toying with her piercings as he gave them a tug. "What's the matter, dollface? Embarrassed? Don't be. It's fuckin' hot.""I-It's not like I got them for you guys! I've had them for years!" She bit down on her lip, a choked whimper getting caught in her throat."Oh?" Sans leaned forward, his eye lights bright with interest. "And here I thought you were just full of surprises. Got any other piercings we should know about, kid?"She felt her face burn even hotter at his question, but answered anyway. "I’ve got my snake bites, my bridge, and my tongue. I figured you all knew that, I mean, you guys have seen my face, right? The snake bites and bridge piercing are pretty obvious." She mumbled, averting her gaze.Red's hands paused, one coming up to gently grasp her chin and turn her face towards him. His eye lights roamed over her features, taking in the silver studs adorning her lower lip and the bar through the bridge of her nose."Heh, guess we were a bit... distracted before to really notice." He chuckled, his thumb brushing over her lower lip. "But ya mentioned yer tongue too, right?"Before she could respond, his thumb pressed against her lips and quickly pried her mouth open. She reached up with one hand, grabbing at his wrist.“ E-Ed! -Ah -ile! ” She tried to tell him off to get back to the file, but it came out funny since he was forcing her mouth open.Red's eye lights flared brightly as he caught sight of the silver metal barbell in her tongue. "Well, ain't that somethin'..." He raised a brow at her, running his tongue over his gold tooth.Lilly felt her face burn even hotter, if that was possible. She tried to pull away, but Red's grip on her chin was firm, and he rang his thumb over her tongue, pushing the piercing around."Now, now, dollface. No need to be shy," his finger pushed down into her tongue, "I'm sure we're all just dyin' to see what that little piercing of yours can do."She heard movement behind her, and suddenly Sans was behind Red’s chair on the left, leaning in close. His eye lights were focused intently on her mouth, a deep blue blush spreading across his cheekbones."Gotta admit, kid. That's pretty hot." Sans murmured, his voice uncharacteristically husky.Stretch appeared on her other side, his eye lights flickering between her face and Red's hand. "Damn, honey."Papyrus cleared his throat, his face a bright orange. "We Are Never Getting Through The File At This Rate If You All Keep This Up."But his words were ignored as the others crowded closer, their magic thrumming in the surrounding air.She squirmed in Red's lap, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden attention. Her tongue involuntarily rolled against Red's thumb, the metal of her piercing sliding over his glove.“-ou -uckin -as-ard…” She grumbled, the words sounding…Not great.Red chuckled darkly, his thumb pressing down harder on her tongue. "What was that, dollface? Didn't quite catch it."
You wanna play games, bone man? We’ll play games.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, she relaxed her jaw and slowly, deliberately, bit down on his thumb with a decent amount of pressure before sucking on it. She ran her tongue in circles, never breaking eye contact with him.Red's eye lights flared brightly, his grin widening as she sucked on his thumb. "Fuck, sweetheart..."Sans and Stretch both inhaled sharply, their eye lights fixed on the scene before them. Papyrus made a choked sound, his face burning a bright orange.Lilly maintained eye contact with Red as she swirled her tongue around his thumb, making sure the metal of her piercing dragged along the sensitive bone through the glove. She could feel him tensing beneath her, his other hand gripping her hip tightly."Careful there, doll," He warned, his voice strained. "Keep that up and ya might start somethin' ya can't finish."Well, he was kinda right.Which made it all the better.She released his thumb with a wet pop, a sly grin spreading across her face.“You’re right, I can’t, because I need to go through that file. This little game is ending in blue balls, or red balls, I should say, because you guys just gave me enough time to copy the files into my head, so…see ya!” She reared back and let go of him, teleporting to the other side of the room by the door.She watched as they all whipped their heads to where she had landed, and Red got up quickly from his chair.She grinned triumphantly at the shocked expressions on the skeletons' faces. She backed up towards the door, her hand reaching for the panel."Thanks for the info, pretty boys. I'll be sure to review it thoroughly... in private." She knew they weren’t gonna let it go, especially with how her coolant pulsed a vibrant purple beneath her skin.But she had shit to do.Red's eye lights flared dangerously, his grin sharp and predatory. "Oh no ya don't, love. You can't just leave us hangin' like that.""Gotta hand it to her, Red. That was a pretty slick move." Sans chuckled, shaking his head.Stretch's eye sockets narrowed, "Clever girl. But you know we can't let you off that easy, right?"Papyrus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, but said nothing.She grinned mischievously as she backed towards the now open door. "Oh, I think I can. After all, we've got important work to do, right? Can't let a little 'tit play' distract us from our duties."She rolled her eyes at Red, and a low growl rumbled in his chest."Besides," she continued, taking another step back, "I've got some... research to do on our new arrivals. Gotta make sure I'm prepared to give them a proper welcome."Sans' eye lights flickered, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "Now, kiddo, let's not be hasty. We can, uh, review the file together if you'd like."Stretch tensed as he lit another cigarette. "Honey, you're treading on thin ice here. Might wanna think twice before you make your next move."She smirked, enjoying the reactions she was getting. "Oh, I'm sure we could. But I think I'd rather do my... studying in private. You know, really get to know our new guests before they arrive."Red narrowed his eye sockets at her, "Yer playin' with fire, dollface. Ya sure ya wanna go down this road? Ya might not like it when ya get burned."“Lilly, You’ve Done This To Yourself, That’s All I’ll Say On The Matter.” Papyrus turned, sitting back down and resuming work on something.
I know, and I’m McFuckin’ lovin’ it.
She grabbed her chin, feigning concentration for a few seconds before looking back at the three with a wicked smirk.“ I think I’ll take my chances. ”With that, she ran out the door and teleported into the casino room....-All POV-Red's eye lights flared dangerously as he watched Lilly disappear through the doorway. A low growl rumbled in his chest, his sharp teeth grinding together in frustration."That little fuckin’ minx." He snarled, his magic crackling around him. "She thinks she can just wind us up and leave?"Sans chuckled, but there was an edge to it. His eye lights were bright, flickering between cyan and yellow as he struggled to maintain his composure."Gotta hand it to her," he said, his voice strained. "She knows exactly how to push our buttons."Stretch took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around his skull as he exhaled slowly. His usually relaxed posture was tense, his phalanges tapping restlessly against his femur."She's playing a dangerous game, and I don’t think she’s prepared for the consequences.”“Because She Loves It, That’s Why. If You Had Heard Even Half Of The Things She Said To Edge And I In The Hallway, You Wouldn’t Be Surprised. She’s A Brat, Through And Through.” Papyrus sighed, his fingers pausing over the keyboard as he turned and looked at the group.“She Does Need The Break Though, So It May Do Us All Some Good To Play With Her. I Will Say…Edge And I Did Some Research. You May Want To Try Tentacle Play With Her, It Can Work Out As A Pretty Good Punishment While Not Giving Her What She Wants.”Sans sputtered, looking away from his brother. “P-Paps! C’mon man…!”“Oh yeah? And what is it that she wants?” Stretch eyed him, his curiosity peaking.“Us, obviously.” Red grinned wickedly, “We won’t touch her, but they can…Creampuff you kinky bastard , it’s perfect.”Papyrus only waved them off, turning back around in the chair. “Yes, Yes. You’re Welcome. Now Go Give Our Little Overseer A Reminder As To Why We’re Boss Monsters. We Still Need To Work On This At Some Point, After All…” Red's grin widened, "Oh, I like the way you think, Creampuff. Our little doll needs to learn she can't just wind us up and walk away."Sans rubbed the back of his skull, a mix of excitement and hesitation flickering across his face. "I dunno, guys. Don't you think that might be taking it a bit far?"Stretch raised a brow ridge at Sans, taking another long drag from his cigarette. "C'mon, Sans. You can't tell me you're not itching to teach her a fun lesson. Besides, you heard Paps. She loves this kind of thing."Sans's eye lights flickered, his permanent grin tightening slightly. "Yeah, but with all three of us at once... and tentacles ? That's pretty intense, don't you think?"Red chuckled darkly, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light of the console room. "That's the whole point,Classic. Our little doll wants to play games? We'll show her just how intense we can get. ‘Sides, she’s gonna have to get used to a lot of us at once, ‘specially once the new guys realize she’s their soulmate too.""Besides, you heard what your bro said. She's been asking for this kind of thing. We're just... giving her what she wants, in our own way." Stretch nodded, a lazy smirk playing on his face as he stubbed out his cigarette.Sans hesitated for a moment longer, his eye lights flickering between the group. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh, his grin widening slightly. "Alright, alright. You've convinced me. But we gotta be careful, ya know? Don't wanna push her too far, make sure we double-check with her before we do anything."Red clapped Sans on the back, as he laughed. "Don't you worry, pal. She uses the color system, and my bro told me her safe word is gummy-bear. ”Sans and Stretch both slapped a hand to their mouths, choking on laughter.“Fucking stars above, she’s so cute …” Stretch wheezed between laughs.Red chuckled, his sharp grin widening. "Ain't she just? Cute as a button, but with a mouth that could make a sailor blush.""And a body that could tempt a saint, christ ." Stretch added, his eye lights flickering with a mix of amusement and desire. "Did you see the way she squirmed when Red was playing with her piercings? Thought I was gonna dust right there."Sans nodded, a faint blue blush dusting his cheekbones as he grinned. "Yeah, and the way she sucked on Red's thumb? Stars, I never thought I'd be jealous of a digit."Red's eye lights flared at the memory. "Fuck, don't remind me. That little minx knows exactly what she's doing. The way she looks at us with those big, innocent eyes while she's doing the most sinful things... it drives me fuckin' crazy .""Tell me about it," Stretch groaned, running a hand over his skull. "And have you noticed how she always seems to bend over at just the right angle when she's working on something? I swear she does it on purpose."Sans chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, she realizes it alright. Remember how she pressed up against me earlier when she was looking at the file? I could feel the way she pushed her breasts into me, plus, I could see her grin on the reflection of the screen."“ALRIGHT! Get Out And Go Rail Her Already, You Animals. Stars Above , Some Of Us Are Still Trying To Work Here.” Papyrus threw his hands in the air, his skull a bright orange as he shouted at the group.“S-Shit, sorry bro, we’re going.” Sans made his way to the door sheepishly, but looked back and eyed the others with a grin. “I say we take the long way, make the wait all the more worth it. Give her some time to…think, about what she’s started.”Red laughed, walking out the door with a wave of his hand, "I like the way ya think, Classic. Let's make her sweat a little ."Stretch nodded, following behind. "Might as well enjoy the anticipation. After all, good things come to those who wait."Papyrus heard the doors close behind him and let out a long, drained sigh. His face was finally beginning to cool down as he overlooked the multitude of files that he had to sift through.A flash of Lilly’s moans and sweet cunt in his mouth flickered through his mind, and he vigorously shook his head.“Stars Help You Sweet Girl, You Have No Idea What You’re In For.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lilly made her way around the bright, noisy casino room, slowly admiring all her work. She wasn’t sure if the guys had explored this place yet, and to be fair, she hadn’t really been in here since the construction had finished.Glancing at the large arrangement of slot machines and various gambling games, she made her way to the back, which held the main attraction.The main poker table.It was a stunning, donut shaped setup that could easily seat up to twenty people. Made from rich mahogany wood, it had that perfect mix of sophistication and sex appeal, with a polished finish that gave it a sleek look. When she had flushed out the designs, it made her want to dress up like some rich businesswoman and run the place.Or wear one of those bunny girl costume as she dealt hands to the boys.She let out a girlish squeal at the thought, covering her face.
Fuck me, I’m such a whore. 
She calmed down, walking over and running her hands across the playing surface. It was covered in a deep red felt, soft to the touch, making it ideal for sliding cards and chips smoothly across the table.In the middle, there was a large opening just for the dealer, giving them a cozy space to manage the game from the center. It was designed to keep the action flowing, so the dealer could deal cards and keep an eye on everyone without leaving their spot, spinning around to see everything. As in, her , hopefully.The table had handy little features, like cupholders and chip trays along the edges, all lined with gleaming brass accents that added a touch of glamour. She was sure Mettaton would approve if he ever got the chance to check this place out, which only made her grin wider.It was big, but in a way that felt inviting and ready for a night of fun, high-stakes excitement. The kind of table that made you feel like you were in for an unforgettable game the moment you sat down, and god did she want to. Lilly would totally be lying if she said a lot of the designs didn’t have her and the boys in mind. She felt a twinge of giddiness roll over her, covering her face and letting out another soft squeal as some of the reality of the situation hit her.She was the luckiest motherfucker in here right now.To have soulmates…To have them specifically as her soulmates? God, it made her want to scream. It didn't feel real, but the memories of Edge, Papyrus and now Red touching her slammed her back into the earth with brutal force.
HELL YES! 
She was even happier that they had met her after she became an Overseer. She was in a position of power, and she was strong . She could protect them, keep them safe, and that made every bit of hell she had gone through worth it.It didn’t matter how much it hurt, how much pain the facility put her through. She would do it all over again, thousands and thousands of times if it meant she could stay with them.She fanned her face, letting out a breathy giggle and finally calming down a bit as she made her way around the table. To make it easier for the dealer to move in and out of the circle, there was a clever little detail she had put in the table's design: a flat-top bar section that opened up just behind the dealer’s spot. It blended in seamlessly with the rest of the mahogany wood, but with a simple lift or slide, the section would open, creating a pathway to step in or out.God, she fucking loved this thing.
It amazing the kind of stupid shit you can make when you have enough money.
Sinking down to the floor to be out of view, she finally began to work on sifting through the files in her head.There was a base amount of information on the new guys, and she soaked it in quickly. Realistically, it only took her less than a second to process the information, but the guys didn’t need to know about that. There wasn’t much else in the file that they hand’t already gone over, just detailing some personality details that she already had a general idea of. She raised a brow at some of the info, noting how each of them had been on the surface for some time before they were dragged over here.That made her heart clench.She hated the idea that they were being ripped from their homes after settling in, finally getting comfortable with normal life.Not like she could change it now.With a sigh, she kept filtering the info.Black and Mutt were obviously close, with Black being really strict about appearance and order, and Mutt was fiercely loyal to him, usually calling him M’lord. Apparently Black was cool and collected, while Mutt as more a mix between Red and Stretch, lewd and lazy at the same time.Axe and Sugar were both a little skittish, but had reported being in therapy on their surface. Sugar hadn’t gotten any help yet for his injuries due to the health care system and not many monster friendly doctors willing to help.That made her blood boil.Axe was apparently fairly chill, but the document described his personality as ‘unsettling’.She snorted.Sugar, on the other hand, was apparently very sweet and calm, but slightly strict at certain times. Now that , she hadn’t expected.She moved on to G and Aster, looking over their section carefully. G was labeled a flirt, who seemed to love causing trouble anywhere he went. He also had a thing for drinking and apparently caused some trouble while he was at the facility. Aster was called ‘Intelligent and professional’, apparently willing to help out with a lot of the research during his time there. Both he and G were labeled as highly intelligent and high priority assets.She saw the word ‘asset’ and snarled.How dare they call her boys assets .She blinked, quickly coming out of the rage as she realized she had called them ‘her’ boys.There was no way of knowing if they were all her soulmates too, plus, it was kind of a dick move to assume. And, twelve soulmates was a lot of skeleton to handle.She was barely keeping up with the six here now, add more to that and…Her face flushed.
God…dammit.
She sighed, leaning back and closing her eyes. She went to send a command to the bracelets, to tell her where Sans, Red, and Stretch were, but quickly remembered she had helped remove them.
Oh, shit.
She couldn’t play dirty anymore. She could still tell when they entered a room with the way her Rig would react to the use of their magic, but that was about it. She thought back to how she had teased them in the console room, her skin flushing. Would they really come after her? Was she okay with taking things further after such a short period of time? Her mind reeled between wanting to get railed and wanting to slow things down. She recalled how they had given her their clothes, talking to her and reminding her that things would go at whatever pace she wanted.But what did she want?She paused, thinking for a moment.Yeah, she wanted to get railed .She brushed her fingers over her scarred lip, thinking for a moment. At some point, she’d have to tell them about her past with her father. While he had never touched her…Then men he sold her out to over the span of six years, did. She wasn’t technically a virgin, but Carol, her old therapist, helped remind her that those times didn't count. That she was a child who had their innocence taken away much too soon.Something nasty rolled around in her gut.Would they..think less of her because of what happened?  No, no, they’re your soulmates, they would never . They’d probably just get super pissed and declare war on any of the men who had put their hands on you, you know that. She let out another sigh, then tensed when she felt three magical signatures pop into the back of the room.Fuck, so they had chased after her.She slowed her breathing, using a code in her head to cloak her coolant and skin so the light of it wouldn’t give her spot away. There was some kind of electro-swing music playing over the entire room, and she prayed the noises from all the machines would help keep her hidden. She felt her pussy clench, and willed the bitch between her legs to stop so her scent didn’t give her away either.Then she heard them.“Damn..almost forgot she installed this place! Dollface really doesn’t half ass anythin’, does she?” Red’s baritone voice echoed, and it sounded like they were still quite a distance away, taking in the room."Nah, she really doesn't." Sans chuckled, "Look at the detail on these things. Each one's got a different monster theme."Stretch spoke up from somewhere in the slot isle, "This one's definitely inspired by Muffet. Bet Lils knew how much we'd appreciate the nod to our Underground buddies.""An' that one's gotta be for our Grillby. Heh, she even got his exact shade of purple right.""Look at this one," Sans said, "It's got my signature attack all over it. Stars, she’s cute."Red laughed, "Ya think she made one for each of us?"“Oh you know she did.” Stretch’s voice slightly closer now.She estimated they were probably within fifty or so feet of her and suddenly really regretted picking the most ornate thing in the room to hide in.
Fuck me and my dramatic flare.
Sans let out a low whistle, “She’s even got an area for chips and roulette tables too.”"Ya think she programmed these to actually pay out?" Red mused, and she heard one of the machines start up."Knowing our Lils, probably. She seems like the type to want us to get the full experience." Stretch hummed.She clenched her thighs and covered her mouth at the way he said ‘our’ Lils, her heart fluttering at the word.
Christ, I love them so much. I feel like a rabid, feral dog, foaming at the mouth over them.
"Hot damn, now that is a poker table!” Red let out a loud laugh, and she felt him get closer to her spot."Bet she spent hours getting this thing just right." Stretch chuckled. "Our girl's got an eye for detail."Lilly's heart swelled at the praise, her cheeks flushing as she fought to keep still."Speaking of details," Sans mused, and she could hear his fingers drumming on the table to her left, "check out how massive the thing is, It's like she thought of everything to make this place perfect, especially if more show up.""Ya think she's hidin' in here somewhere?" Red asked, his voice low and playful. "Seems like the kinda place she'd wanna show off.""Probably, based on how fresh her scent is in here." Sans chuckled, "I can just imagine her sprawled out on this table, waiting for us to find her."Stretch hummed in agreement, and she felt him circling the massive poker table slowly. "Look at all these little details. The brass accents, the cupholders...damn, she’s got great taste.""And check out this dealer spot," Red said, and she tensed. "It's like a little throne for her to run the game from. Bet she'd look damn fine standin’ there in one of those sexy little dealer outfits."“Oh stars above, you know those bunny girl outfits ?” Sans suddenly let out a low groan, and she felt her skin tingle.Yup, they were definitely her soulmates, the way they seemed to be reading her fucking mind like that."Oh man, don't even get me started." Stretch chuckled, his voice low and husky. "I can just picture her in one of those tight little numbers, all curves and long legs."Red let out a growl of approval. " Fuck yeah . With those fishnet stockings and those cute little bunny ears. Bet she'd look good enough to eat.""And those high heels." Sans added, his voice thick with desire. "Clicking on the floor as she struts around the table, dealing cards with those deft little fingers of hers.""Oh man, speaking of costumes," Stretch said, and she felt him leaning against the table, "what about a sexy nurse outfit? You know, one of those super short white dresses with the little red cross on the chest?"
For all that is fucking holy, please, shut the fuck up.
"With one of those lil’ nurse caps and a stethoscope around her neck. Fuckin’ hell , she could give me a 'physical' any day." The group let out a collective set of deep chuckles that made her legs clench."How about a french maid outfit? All black and white lace, with those frilly little aprons and a feather duster.""Oh stars," Stretch groaned. "I can just see her 'dusting' the table, bending over juuust enough to give us a peek."Her pussy clenched as a multitude of scenes and images rushed into her head.God, they were going to ruin her."Don't forget the garter belt and stock-" Red paused before growling low in his chest. “ Fuck …I can smell her…dollface is definitely in here somewhere, and she can hear us.”
Oh. Shit.
Her heart raced almost painfully as she heard the skeletons start to move around the room more purposefully. She could feel their magic crackling in the air as they began searching for her.Or rather, hunting her. "Come out, come out, wherever you are, Lilly…" Sans called in a deep sing-song voice that sent shivers down her spine.Red's deep chuckle echoed through the casino. "Ya know, dollface, hidin' from us is only gonna make it more fun when we find ya.""And we will find you." Stretch added, his usual lazy drawl tinged with a hint of predatory excitement.God, this was the most terrified and horny she’d ever been in her life.And it was amazing. “Ya know…my bro mentioned something about..well, damn, what was it fellas?” Sans had a playful tone as he spoke, his voice a little closer to the table again.“Oh, you mean tentacle play? Heard that it’s good for all kinds of things…Boss monsters can make a lot of interesting stuff with their magic Lils, did you know that?” Stretch continued, and she thought she was going to die as her heart seemed to stop beating.
God, is this real? Are you there?

Fucking tentacles?
“Oh yeah, and don’t worry sweetheart, we know ya use the color system, and that cute lil safe word of yours, gummy-bear.” Red chuckled, and she could tell they had begun closing in on her location, even if they didn’t know it.Red let out a low growl as he continued, “What, didja really think we wouldn’t follow through after ya teased us like that? Talkin’ about gettin’ all chummy with the new guys?”“I think she did, and I think that’s what she was hoping for.” She could feel that Stretch was almost back to the table, and she froze.All three of them were standing together now, slowly getting closer as they seemed to have figured her out.
Well, I’m dead. Please write, ‘most poppin’ pussy’, on my gravestone.
“Well, when you play stupid games…”She let out a startled scream as the latch to the dealer's middle was yanked open, her cloak turning off as the small space lit up with her bright purple coolant.“You tend to get stupid prizes .” Sans’s eyelights bore down on her, flashing between blue and yellow, his cheeks dusted in a light blush.Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest as she found herself staring up at three very smug, very aroused skeletons. Their eyelights were blazing with intensity, boring into her with a hunger that made her whole body flush with heat.Sans's grin was positively predatory as he leaned down, bracing his hands on either side of the opening, pinning her in. "Looks like we found ourselves a little bunny hidin' in her burrow."Red's deep chuckle sent shivers down her spine. "Seems like we hit a jackpot , boys."Stretch's eye socket narrowed, but there was a smirk on his face. "And what a prize she is."She swallowed hard, her mind reeling as she tried to think of something to say, anything at all.“H-Heeeyyy…guyyss…Crazy seeing you here…ahaha…ha…” Her sad attempt at a laugh died out, as she fiddled with her hands.
Nailed it.
"Really? That's the best you've got after all of this?" Sans chuckled, raising a brow at her and waving his hand around, Red snorted, shaking his head. "Gotta say, dollface, I expected better from ya. Where's that quick wit we love so much?""I think we've left her a little... tongue-tied." Stretch smirked, leaning over on his arms as he looked down at her.Her breath caught in her throat as she watched a faint blue glow emanate from Sans's left eye socket. The air around them seemed to thicken, crackling with magical energy that made her skin tingle."Well, since you're having trouble finding your words." Sans purred, "How about we help you out of there?"Before she could react, several glowing blue tentacles materialized from thin air, seeming to come from somewhere around Sans’s back. They were translucent and shimmering, pulsing with his magic as they slowly moved around in the air.There was a silent pause before the tentacles whipped harshly and shot out at her.It happened so fast she physically jumped. There was one wrapped tightly around each of her wrists, one curled around her waist, and one around each of her knees as she was yanked into the air with a surprised scream. She found herself suspended in mid-air, the glowing blue tentacles holding her firmly but not painfully. She gasped, her body trembling with a mix of fear and excitement as she looked down at the three skeletons below her. They had stepped back from the table, pulling her so she was just past it, and her legs were eye-level with them.Oh, this shit was about to get weird .And she loved it. Sans's grin was positively wicked as he controlled the tentacles with subtle movements of his hand. "Comfortable up there, kiddo?"Red chuckled darkly, his eyelights roaming over her suspended form. "Look at her squirm. I think she likes it, boys.""Oh, I know she does," Stretch purred, reaching up to trail a phalange along her calf. "Can't you smell how excited she is?"She tried to squeeze her thighs together, but the tentacles holding her knees yanked them back open. She squirmed in the tentacles' grasp, her heart racing as she looked down at the three. Their eyelights were burning holes into her, sending shivers down her spine."S-So you caught me, okay…What’s uh…what’s the plan here?" She managed to stammer out, her voice shaky.Sans chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Oh, we've got plenty of ideas, hun."Red nodded, running his tongue over his teeth lewdly, "Oh yeah. Gonna make ya feel real good, dollface.""But first." Stretch drawled, reaching up to trail a phalange along her inner thigh. "I think we need to teach you a little lesson about teasing ."She gasped as the tentacle around her waist tightened slightly, pulling her closer to the skeletons. She could feel the heat radiating off their bodies, their magic crackling in the air around her."A-A lesson?" She stammered, "What kind of lesson?"Sans's grin widened, "The kind that'll make you think twice before running off and hiding from us again.""And the kind that'll have ya beggin' for more by the end of it." Red whispered, leaning close to her ear.She felt her legs twitch. Damn , did they know how to dirty talk.“You know,” Sans started, and she felt the tentacle begin to move, shifting under her tank top as it writhed against her skin, ”I never really understood this kinda kink, but I think I’m starting to come around after trying it myself…”Her breath hitched as she felt it begin to push itself under her sports bra.“Speak for yerself, this shit’s hot .” Red purred, and she watched as he summoned a set of his own, bright red and shimmering like Sans’s.“I mean, I get the appeal. Means we can sit back and enjoy the show.” Stretch grinned, as orange ones formed behind him.Her eyes widened and her heart rate picked up, “Oh shit .”She watched as Sans paused, his eyelights softening as he looked her over. The tentacles stilled, loosening their grip slightly as he studied her face."Hey, Lils…" He said, his voice gentler now. "You doing okay up there? I know this is a lot all at once, considering…everything. You can hold up a peace sign if you wanna stop since you might not be able to use the safe word…if you, ya know… do wanna keep going."She blinked, her racing heart slowing a bit at the concern in his voice. They had all stopped moving, eyeing her with more serious expressions.Aw…they were worried about her.Well, they shouldn’t be.She wanted to get freak-nasty with the tentacles, and god help anyone who tried to stop her.A sly grin rolled over her lips as she eyed him.“Sans, I’m a freak in bed. Tentacles doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the shit I’m into.”There was a pause before they all let out a low set of chuckles.One of Red’s tentacles shot out, slipping under the bottom of her tights as it began to trail up her calf. “Well then sweetheart, look’s like we’re about to have a great time .”
Oh my god, he said the thing.
Her breath hitched as the tentacles began to move with newfound purpose. Sans's blue appendages slithered further under her shirt, cool and slick against her skin. One curled around her rib cage while another teased at the underside of her breast. Red's crimson tentacles worked their way up her legs, leaving tingling trails in their wake. They slipped beneath the fabric of her tights, inching higher with agonizing slowness. Stretch's orange tendrils wrapped around her thighs, their grip firm but not painful as they spread her legs wider."You've been such a naughty girl, Lils," Sans purred, his eyelights burning bright. "Running off and hiding from us like that.""And then teasin' us about gettin' friendly with the new guys? Gonna make ya regret that little stunt, sweets.” She felt Red’s tentacle suddenly flex, and she watched as it tore through her fucking tights, the end slightly sharp. He had ripped one leg open, before going for the other leg and removing them completely.She gasped, sending him a glare. “Red! Those were my good tights, you dick !”
Rail me without destroying the little clothing I have please, you boneheads.
“Tsk, tsk, what a smart mouth Sugar. Don’t you know that’s what got you into trouble in the first place?” Stretch grinned and shrugged his shoulders, and she tensed as one gently wrapped around her throat. It was tight, but not uncomfortable.“Trouble my ass ! You can rail me with the tentacles all you want, but dammit don’t rip my-MPH!” She was cut off as he flicked his wrist, shoving the tentacle into her mouth.She sent him a heated glare. Bastard .Stretch's grin only widened as it began to push further into her mouth, and he held his hand up to the side of his skull, "What's that, Sugar? Can't quite hear you with your mouth full."Red snickered, "Looks like we finally found a way to shut that smart mouth of hers.""About time. Though I gotta say, I'm gonna miss her witty little comebacks." Sans sighed and shook his head, but he had a shit eating grin on his face. Oh, fuck these guys. She flexed her wrists just enough to flick them all off.With both hands.They only chuckled at her defiant gesture, shaking their heads."Oh, Sugar," Stretch purred, the tentacle in her mouth pulsing gently as it pushed deeper. "You just don't know when to quit, do you?""Guess we'll just have to teach ya a lesson about respect, doll, so don’t blame us for what happens.”Sans nodded, his expression darkening with the only thing she could describe as pure fucking lust. "And it's gonna be a long, hard lesson."
God? Thank you.
In one quick motion, Sans tore through her tank top and bra, peeling them off of her.She tensed, since now the only thing she had left on were her white panties. Her coolant point on her stomach were different from the rest, three lines that trailed down and stopped at her hips, before meeting in the middle of three small circles. Her body was littered in deep, rigid scarring from what her father had done to her, and she felt a flash of shame roll over her skin at her appearance. She quickly looked away. There were a total of around thirty scars, the smallest ones still being around six inches in length, and each one more than an inch or more wide. She was more toned and muscular on top of it all, and wasn’t sure her the boys would react to seeing all of it just… out there , on full display. She was completely hairless save for her eyebrows, eyelashes, and head, since H.Q. had apparently dipped her into some weird shit before each of her surgeries, so that wasn't the issue. There had just been some level of disconnect when she was in the wall with Edge and Paps, because she had been mostly clothed and couldn’t see what Papyrus had been doing from behind.This was up close and personal.She heard each of them suck in a breath before speaking.Sans's eyelights raked over her form appreciatively. "Stars, Lilly. You're absolutely fucking gorgeous. "Red growled low in his throat, his sharp teeth parting slightly. "Fuck, dollface. Look at ya, all spread out for us like a fuckin' feast. So fuckin’ perfect . I knew the minute we met, when I saw those coolant lines on your stomach that they went further down but… shit …"Stretch hummed in appreciation, his orange eyelights roaming over her curves. "Stars above, I’ll never get tired of seeing her in this gorgeous purple…And those panties? Looks like someone's been enjoying herself.”Okay, her shame was officially gone.
Goodbye, cruel, horny world.
Her face flushed hot with embarrassment and arousal at their words, watching as their hungry gazes raked over her exposed body. The tentacles holding her shifted, spreading her legs wider and arching her back to put her on full display.Sans's blue appendages slithered across her skin, leaving tingling trails in their wake. One curled around her breast, squeezing as another teased at her nipple. She let out a muffled moan around Stretch’s tentacle in her mouth, tipping her head back as she shivered.Red's crimson tentacles slid up her inner thighs, their slick surface leaving goosebumps in their wake. One curled around the edge of her panties, tugging teasingly at the fabric. "What do ya say, boys? Should we unwrap our present ?""I think she's been teasing us long enough. Time to return the favor." Sans tilted his head, narrowing his eyes at her and smiling playfully.With a flick of Red's wrist, the tentacle tore through her panties, shredding the fabric and leaving her completely exposed. She let out a muffled gasp around the appendage in her mouth, her face flushing an even deeper shade of red."Look at how wet she is…" Stretch purred, his orange tentacles spreading her legs wider. "All worked up just from a little teasing, huh?” He raised a brow at her, and she narrowed her eyes again.Dammit, it was the only thing she could do.Without warning, one of Sans's blue tentacles slid between her folds, teasing her entrance. She bucked her hips, letting out a muffled moan around the appendage in her mouth."Easy there, hun." Sans chuckled, his tentacle circling her clit teasingly. "We're just getting started."Lilly's body trembled as Sans's tentacle teased her sensitive flesh. The cool, slick appendage circled her clit with maddening slowness, sending jolts of pleasure through her core. She squirmed in the tentacles' grasp, desperate for more friction.
Fucking teases…Wait, shit. I’m definitely a hypocrite.
Red growled low in his throat, "Look at her squirm. She's practically beggin' for it.""Oh, I think we can do better than that," Stretch purred, the tentacle in her mouth pulsing gently. "What do you say, boys? Should we make her beg for real?"Sans's paused for a second before he spoke slowly. "I like the way you think, Stretch."With a slow curl of his finger, he withdrew the tentacle from her folds, leaving her aching. She let out a frustrated whine around the appendage in her mouth, shooting daggers at the smug skeletons below her."Aw, what's wrong, spitfire?" Red teased, his sharp grin widening. "Thought you wanted us to stop?"Sans chuckled, one of his tentacles whipping around in the air as he eyed her. "Yeah, Lils. Isn't this what you were after when you ran off and hid from us?"Stretch's tentacle began to thrust gently in and out of her mouth as he spoke. "Or maybe... you want something more?"She growled around the tentacle, her eyes narrowing further.Of course she wanted more. But she'd be damned if she was going to beg for it.Her defiant glare only seemed to amuse them, which made her wanna punch them.
Hard.
"Oh, I think our little bunny needs some more convincing." Sans purred. Suddenly, two of his blue tentacles began to tease her breasts, circling her nipples with feather-light touches.Red's crimson appendages slid along her inner thighs, so close to where she needed them but never quite making contact. "Yeah, dollface. Why don't ya tell us what ya want?"Stretch's tentacle withdrew from her mouth with a wet pop, leaving her gasping. "Go on, Sugar. Use your words."She panted, her body trembling as the tentacles continued their relentless teasing.“ Fuck…you guys. ” She let out a breathy laugh, smirking down at them."Oh, I see. Still feeling stubborn, are we?" He teased, trailing a tentacle along her inner thigh. "Well, we can play that game all night if we have to.""Yeah, dollface. We've got all the time in the world to break that stubborn streak of yours."Stretch grinned, "And we're very, very patient monsters. "With agonizing slowness, the tentacles began to move again. They slithered across her skin, leaving tingling trails of magic in their wake. They teased her most sensitive areas—brushing against her nipples, gently caressing her breasts and lower back, and teasing between her legs but not actually touching her where she needed it. She was panting, flexing her arms and thighs against the tentacles as she squirmed.Her body felt like it was on fire , every nerve ending screaming for more as the tentacles continued their relentless teasing. It felt like hours, but she knew it had only been about eight, agonizing minutes thanks to her processors keeping track.Her coolant swirled quickly under her skin. She bit her lip, trying to stifle the needy whimpers that threatened to escape. As much as she wanted to give in, to beg them for release, her stubborn pride held her back.Sans let out a sigh, but he was smiling as he shook his head, "Still holding out on us, huh? Gotta admire that determination of yours, Lils."Red trailed a tentacle dangerously close to her aching core. "Yeah, but how long can ya keep it up, doll?"Stretch used his orange appendages to squeeze her thighs gently. "I bet we can make her crack. What do you say, boys? Should we up the ante?"Her eyes widened as she watched the skeletons exchange mischievous grins.Well, that wasn’t good."Oh, I like the sound of that," Sans purred, his eyelights flickering dangerously. "What did you have in mind, bud?"Stretch's grin widened as he looked up at her. "Well, our little Sugar here seems to enjoy a bit of... overstimulation, from what I've heard. Why don't we give her exactly what she wants?"Red chuckled darkly. "Sounds like a plan to me. Ready to give in yet, doll?"Before Lilly could respond, the tentacles' movements suddenly intensified. Sans's blue appendages latched onto her nipples, sucking and tugging with rhythmic pulses. Red's crimson tendrils slithered between her folds, one circling her clit while another teased at her entrance. Stretch's orange tentacles wrapped around her thighs, spreading her legs wider as another pushed back into her mouth.She let out a long stifled cry as she trembled, the sudden overwhelming feeling making her head fuzzy. Her coolant swirled rapidly under her skin, creating mesmerizing patterns of light."Look at her glow ." Sans chuckled, his eyelights fixed on the pulsing purple light. "So beautiful...”Was that…a pun ?
Absolute dick move .
Sans's blue tentacles kneaded harder into her breasts before circling around them and squeezing, the cool magic sending shivers down her spine as they tugged and rolled her nipples. Red's continued their assault between her legs, one circling her clit with maddening pressure while another teased at her entrance, dipping just slightly inside before withdrawing again, slowly flicking back and forth against her. Stretch's orange tentacle thrust slowly in and out of her mouth, muffling her moans and whimpers as it began to push farther into her throat.She was ready for that though, sending a code to loosen the muscles in her throat so this time she couldn’t gag. Then she tensed as she saw another one of Stretch’s orange ones move behind her, and felt it slip between her ass, gently rubbing back and forth.Oh, shit. Well, thank god she didn’t do that anymore, at least.She had never been more happy to be a cyborg than at that moment.Her body trembled uncontrollably as the tentacles assaulted her senses. Every nerve ending was on fire, pleasure building to an almost unbearable level. She could feel herself getting close, her inner walls clenching around nothing as Red's tentacle continued to tease her entrance." Fuck ," Red hissed, "She's so fuckin' wet."Sans nodded, "Oh yeah. Look, she’s even dripping onto the floor."Stretch only chuckled, the tentacle in her mouth pushing deeper. "But she's still holding out. Gotta admire that stubbornness."Her eyes rolled back as the tentacles intensified their movements. Sans's blue appendages tugged and rolled her nipples relentlessly, sending jolts of pleasure straight to her core as she tried desperately to move against Red’s, but he would pull back just as she flexed. Okay, okay, you win! Just fucking do it already, god dammit. Her breathing through her nose became raged as Red lightly pressed into her clit, and she thrashed in their collective grip, whimpering loudly around the tentacle in her mouth."Look at that, boys. I think our little Overseer’s finally ready to give in." Sans laughed, but she couldn’t care less at this point."Yeah, but I wanna hear her say it. C’mon spitfire, beg ."Stretch slowly withdrew the tentacle from her mouth, and the others along her body stopped abruptly. "Go on, Sugar. Tell us what you want."Gasping for air, she looked down at the three skeletons with desperate, tear filled eyes from the edging she was receiving. Her pride warred with her need for just a moment before crumbling completely, because god help anyone who tried to get in the way of her getting fucked by these things.“ P-please…please, please, please fuck me, I can’t…I need it…please. ” She begged quickly, her voice low and whining as she panted.She watched the skeletons' eyelights flared at her desperate plea, their magic crackling in the air with renewed intensity. Her words seemed to ignite something primal within them, their composure cracking as they drank in the sight of her." Fuck. " Red growled, his sharp teeth parting as he panted. "Say that again, dollface. Nice and slow this time."" Please ... I need you. All of you. I want you to fuck me until I'm screaming, please ..." She breathed, trying to blink some of the tears from her eyes.Sans growled low in his chest, his eyelights wavering in his sockets. "Stars, Lilly. You have no idea what you do to us when you beg like that."Red's sharp grin widened, "But since ya asked so nicely...""How could we possibly say no to that?" Stretch finished, winking at her.Without warning, Red's crimson tentacle plunged deep inside her, stretching her walls as it began to thrust in and out at a relentless pace. She cried out in pleasure, her back arching as Sans's blue tentacles latched onto her nipples once more, sucking and tugging with renewed vigor. Stretch's orange tentacle pushed back into her mouth, muffling her cries as it began to thrust in and out of her mouth, but she felt it begin to push deeper in, slowly moving down her throat.At the same time, there was another one teasing her rear, not quite pushing in, but testing to maybe see if it could.And fuck, did she want it to.She felt her first orgasm crash into her suddenly when one of them latched a tentacle onto her clit, sucking hard.She screamed around the one in her mouth, tensing hard as she trembled, her vision swimming as pleasure rolled over her skin in waves at the release." Fuck , look at her cum ." Red growled, but he didn’t slow his pace.Sans had a wicked look on his face as he looked her over, “Oh, already? I’m sure we can get her to do it again. Isn’t that right, Lils?”“I mean, she did beg for it, after all.” Stretch eyed her for second, and she watched him through hooded lids as he seemed to think about something.“Hold up two fingers for stop, and one finger for good Sugar.” He said, and before she could try to figure out what he meant, she felt the tentacle by her ass slowly begin to apply pressure and push in.Her eyes widened.She immediately sent a flurry of codes through her head, processing them as fast as she could to forcibly relax the muscles, just in case.The moment she finished the command, it slipped in, and she let out a loud cry, but managed to slowly hold up one finger."Fuckin’ hell ashtray, ya shoved it in her ass?" Red huffed, his sharp teeth bared in a predatory grin. "She’s already tight as shit…""Oh, she likes it. Don't you, Honey? Look how she's trembling."She couldn’t answer even if she wanted to, because her body was shaking so uncontrollably as the tentacle pushed deeper into her ass. The sensation was intense, a mix of pleasure and a slight burn that had her seeing stars. She moaned around the appendage in her mouth, her eyes rolling back as she felt herself being filled from both ends."Shit, that's hot." Sans growled, “Hope you’ve got room for another hun, cause you’re gonna need it.”Without waiting for a response, one of Sans's blue tentacles slithered between her folds, and very slowly began pushing in alongside Red's crimson one. Lilly's eyes widened at the sudden stretch, a muffled cry escaping her as she felt herself being filled to the absolute brim. There was a slight burn, but it only added to the pleasure as she felt them writhe inside of her.Stretch chuckled, the orange tentacle in her ass pushing further. "Stars, you should feel how tight she is back here."Red's sharp grin widened. "Oh yeah? Maybe I should give it a try then.""Back off, Red," Stretch growled playfully. "I called dibs on this sweet ass first.""Oh yeah? Says who?" Red retorted.Sans chuckled, his blue tentacle writhing alongside Red's. "Now, now, guy. There's plenty of her to go around."We’re they…actually arguing about this shit? Now, of all times?Fucking men. As they talked, their tentacles seemed to move more erratically, thrashing and pulsing inside her. Her ass and pussy involuntarily clenched down hard as she was filled and stretched in ways she'd never experienced before. The sensation of being so completely stuffed was overwhelming as she came again, her core spasming as she cried out. Fuck, it was so much, but it was so good."Yeah, but I bet she likes mine better." Red growled, his crimson appendage swelling slightly inside her."Oh please." Stretch scoffed, his orange tentacle pulsing inside her ass as the one in her throat seemed to writhe in deeper. "I've got the perfect angle back here. She's practically melting around me.""Yeah, well I've got the front view, and trust me, she's lovin' every inch," Red retorted, his crimson appendage swelling even more as it curled harshly.
Okay, okay, please stop fighting holy shit-
Sans rolled his eyelights, "Guys, come on, this isn't the time to be-""Stay outta this, Classic!" Red and Stretch snapped in unison.As they bickered, their tentacles moved more erratically, thrashing and pulsing inside her with increased intensity. She felt another orgasm rip from her as tears slowly rolled over on her cheeks, her screams muffled.She felt something gush from between her legs, hearing it hit the carpet floor.She was gonna fucking kill them after this.Sans's eyelights widened as he watched between her legs. "Holy shit , she’s a squirter." He breathed, his grin widening.But Red and Stretch were too caught up in their heated argument to notice."Ya think yer so special 'cause ya got her ass?" Red growled, his crimson tentacle swelling even more inside her, almost painfully. "I've got the prime real estate right here."Stretch rolled his eye lights, the orange appendage in her rear seemed to push in impossibly deep as she felt it push against her lower stomach. "Please. Everyone knows the back door is where it's at. Just listen to those muffled moans."She began to lose count of how many orgasm she had, feeling herself stuck in one long, continuous one as they pounded into her mercilessly. There was an almost continuous stream from between her legs, and she was trembling so hard she may as well have been vibrating. She felt like her brain was on fire, barely able to keep her eyes open as it felt like she was full on sobbing at this point, tears streaming over her cheeks and down her neck. She could hardly make any noise as Stretch seemed unaware of just how far into her throat he was going, and she could feel the way her pressed deeper into her ass, as if he was trying to make them meet somewhere in the middle."Guys," Sans tried to interject, his eyelights flickering with slight worry as he pulled his own tentacle from her middle and off her breasts. "I think we might be—"But his words were drowned out by Red's growl. "Ya think yer so special? I'll show ya somethin’ fuckin’ special..." The crimson tentacle inside Lilly twisted harshly, stretching her to her absolute limit.Not to be outdone, Stretch's orange appendage pushed impossibly deeper into her ass and throat as he sneered at Red.She felt her vision going dark around the edges as the overwhelming sensations pushed her to her absolute limit. Her body was trembling uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face as orgasm after orgasm ripped through her. The tentacles inside her were swelling and thrashing wildly, stretching her beyond what she thought possible.If they kept this up, she might actually have to use the safe signal, as much as she was enjoying herself. Overstimulation was one of her kinks anyway, and she could easily break out of this if she felt like she had too, but…She kinda wanted to see where this would go, unable to believe that they were actually fucking arguing about which hole of hers they had.If she wasn't so overstimulated, she would've been laughing at the absurdity of it all.But then Sans's voice cut through the haze."ENOUGH!" he roared, his left eye flaring bright blue.Suddenly, all the tentacles froze in place. Red and Stretch's argument died instantly as they turned to look at Sans in surprise.
At least one of you still has some common sense, good god.
"Look at her, you fucking idiots!" Sans growled, gesturing to her. "You're so caught up in your stupid competition that you're not paying attention!"Red and Stretch's eyelights widened as they finally took in her current state, making eye contact with her through her wet vision." Shit. " " Fuck. "Sans quickly took charge of the situation. "Red, Stretch, pull out. Slowly ."The two skeletons complied immediately, carefully withdrawing their tentacles from her body, making her whimper and twitch hard.Their sockets were wide with concern and fear as they watched her reactions.As soon as the appendage left her mouth, she gasped for air, her chest heaving as she tried to come down from the slight dizzying waves that rolled over her."Easy, easy." Sans murmured, his blue tentacles gently bring her in close before lowering her into his arms and disappearing.He cradled her gently in his arms as Red and Stretch hovered nearby, their expressions a mix of concern, guilt and immense fear.
Good, little cocky bastards.

Hah, cocky.
"Lils? You with us, sweetheart?" Sans asked softly, brushing her hair back from her face.She only nodded, trying to catch her breath, sending out a code to push the healing process early.Her coolant died down to a swirling blue, with tinges of purple as she healed. There were bruises marks around her neck, thighs, wrists, and waist, but she cracked an eye open as she watched the ones on her wrists slowly began to disappear. She knew she took more damage from monster magic, but at least it still worked.She felt relief flood over her, her post-orgasm after shocks dying down immediately as her energy came back to her.“Alright, alright, you can put me down now…” She mumbled. Sans nodded, slowly setting her on her feet. He reached out to steady her, but blinked when he realized she seemed fairly okay on her own.She wasn't really mad, but she knew she probably should've been. But that's why she had a great plan to get back at them for it."So," she began, her voice low and controlled as she slowly crossed her arms. "You two want to explain what in the actual fuck that little pissing contest that was all about while you were railing into me with four tentacles at the same time?"Red and Stretch exchanged guilty glances, their earlier bravado completely gone. They shuffled awkwardly, unable to meet her eyes."We, uh..." Red started, rubbing the back of his skull."Got…carried away." Stretch finished lamely.She maintained her stern expression for a moment longer before letting out a long sigh. "You're lucky I’m a cyborg, you know that right? If you did that to a human, they probably would’ve died."They all flinched hard at her words, their eyelights dimming with guilt as they kept their heads down." Shit , sweetheart, we're really sorry." Red said softly, his face contorted into an almost painful look. "We shoulda been payin' more attention…We didn’t…fuck, I’m so sorry darlin’."Stretch nodded harshly in agreement, his voice tight. "I’m so, so sorry Sugar…We got caught up in our own egos and forgot what was really important. Fucking stars above, we promise you it won't ever happen again."Red and Sans nodded as his words, and her eyes widened for a split second before returning to normal.They did not throw that word around easily, and she knew it.Sans stepped forward, placing both hands on her cheeks as he looked her over. "They're right, Lils. I’m sorry we got pretty carried away there. Are you sure you're okay?"Her stern expression softened slightly. "I'm fine, really. Like I said before, I heal fast and I didn’t use the safe-signal. But you guys need to be more careful, especially when we're trying new things like that, because what if I did, and you hadn’t noticed it?"The skeletons all nodded, looking beyond devastated at her words.
Okay, now they look liked kicked puppies, but at least they understand the gravity of it.
She sighed again, turning around and stared at the massive puddle on the floor of her own fluids.“You are so lucky I’m super into that shit, you boneheads.”There was a beat of silence before Sans spoke up."You mean…you liked it?" he asked cautiously.“Fuck yeah, I love that kinda stuff, the overstimulation, tentacles, rough sex, the whole nine-yards. I would’ve loved it more if we had discussed it a little beforehand, but I didn’t use my safe signal. Plus, I could’ve technically gotten out whenever I wanted with my abilities, but I didn’t think you boneheads would actually keep arguing like that and wanted to see what would happen. I would've laughed if my throat hadn't been stuffed, to be honest.” She paused, eyeing the poker table to make sure none of her juices got on it.“However, I really would have used the safe signal if you guys had gone any further than that. Fucking christ Stretch, I thought you were gonna make yours meet in the middle at one point with how deep you were going. I literally felt my organs shift around. It’s a good thing I don't have to breathe either, jesus. And Red, I thought you were gonna split me in two with how much you kept making yours grow inside me. God, Sans was the only normal one, but you should’ve put that shit to a stop way sooner.” She huffed as she finished her little rant, walking over and surveying the damage of her juices on the floor.It was still puddled . There was so much it hadn’t even soaked into the carpet yet, and she could feel it occasionally run down her legs when she shifted.Lilly sighed, shaking her head as she looked at the mess. "Well, I guess we'll need to clean this up before anyone else sees it.""No! We can take care of that, doll." Red offered quickly. "It's the least we can do after... well, you know."Stretch nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Sugar, you just relax. We've got this handled."“Oh, don’t you worry. You all owe me big time after that little stunt.” She felt a wicked grin roll over her lips as she turned and looked back at them.They had bright blushes on their faces, even if they did still look a little guilty.“O-owe ya? What, uh, whatcha mean, sweetheart?” Red swallowed hard, eyeing her nervously.“Let’s just say, I’ve got a lot of ideas. The first one involves a lot of rope, vibrators, and me sitting back and enjoying my own show. But that’s just a small example.”The skeletons' eyelights widened at her words, a mix of excitement and nervousness flickering across their faces.Red's sharp grin returned, though there was still a hint of sheepishness in his expression. "Fuck, dollface. Ya really are a freak, aren't ya?"Stretch rubbed the back of his skull, a faint orange blush dusting his cheekbones. "I, uh, can't say I'm opposed to…that one..."“Me…neither.” Sans swallowed, looking to the floor, his face a bright blue.She shook her head, placing a hand on her hip. "Oh, my sweet, innocent boys. That's just the beginning, because I’m totally tattling on you to Blue, Edge, and Paps.”The skeletons' eyelights shrank to pinpricks, panic immediately washing over their faces.
Sweet, sweet revenge.
Red's sharp grin faltered, his skull breaking out in an intense sweat. "W-wait, dollface, ya can't tell Boss about this!" He sputtered as he began to panic. "He'll have my skull for a paperweight!""Blue will never let me hear the end of it." Stretch groaned, burying his face in his hands. "He'll give me the scolding of the fucking century, probably make me run laps..."Sans chuckled nervously, his eyelights darting around the room. "Heh, come on, Lils. No need to bring Paps into this, right? He might, uh, get the wrong idea about what happened in here…”She paused, looking between their panicked faces before turning around and walking away, raising her hands to her mouth.“EDGEEE! BLUEEE! PAPYRUSSS! GUESS WHAT YOUR BROTHERS DID TO MEEE~!” She shouted as loud as she could in a sing-song voice, walking back towards the door.The reaction was instantaneous. The casino erupted into chaos as the three skeletons scrambled to stop her, panicking and rambling." Shit, shit, shit !" Red cursed, his sharp teeth gnashing together as he lunged forward. His phalanges grasped at thin air as she easily sidestepped his attempt to grab her. "Dollface, please! I'm beggin' ya ! Boss'll dust me for sure if he finds out!"Stretch teleported in front of her, his orange eyelights wide with desperation. "Sugar, please, I'll do anything! Blue will make me run laps for weeks if he hears about this!"She teleported past him, grinning like a mad woman.Sans appeared beside her in a flash of blue magic, sweat beading on his skull. "Lils, sweetheart, let's talk about this, please ." He pleaded, his grin nowhere to be seen. "Paps doesn't need to know the, uh, specifics of what happened here, right? How about we make a deal?"But she was already out the door, a mischievous grin playing on her lips as she called out again, trying not to laugh at their reactions. "OH BOYS! YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT YOUR BROTHERS DID TO ME WITH THEIR TENTACLES!"Fuck, it was really hard for her to not laugh right now.She heard noises coming from the game room, knowing that the hole in the wall from her last escapade hadn’t been patched up yet.So someone had heard her.The skeletons' panic reached a fever pitch as they heard movement from the game room. Their eyelights completely fizzling out, sweat beading on their skulls as they realized the gravity of the situation. Before any of them could even beg her further, the game room door slammed open, hitting the wall with a loud bang. Edge and Blue stalked out, with Papyrus falling not far behind. They turned, slowly making eye contact with her.There she stood, triumphantly in the hallway with her hands on her hips and legs slightly open, bare ass naked with a wicked grin on her face. Blushes bloomed over their skulls, and then chaos unfolded for the second time in the span of minutes.Edge's eyelights blazed crimson as he took in the scene, his sharp teeth bared in a snarl. "Red, Care To Tell Me Why In The Nine Hells Our Soulmate Is Stark Ass Naked, Screaming About You Doing Something To Her With Tentacles?!" He hissed, his gaze locking onto his trembling brother.“Yes, Stretch, Why Don’t You Help Him Elaborate .” Blue tapped his foot and narrowed his eye sockets at Stretch, who shrank back from him.“I’m Going To Assume Based On The Look On Their Faces That Something Went Wrong, And Now They’re Going To Face Some Consequences .” Papyrus crossed his arms, staring down Sans with a look that could've dusted him.She smirked, slowly turning to look at Sans, Red, and Stretch. She pointed at them, still grinning as they tried to subtly shake their skulls in a pleading ‘no’.“They got into an argument, got distracted while railing me with their tentacles, and made me cum over and over until I cried.”She turned back around, the hallway falling deathly silent for a moment as Edge, Blue, and Papyrus processed her blunt statement. Their expressions cycled through shock, confusion, and finally settled on barely contained rage and disappointment.Edge was the first to break the silence, "You. Did. WHAT ?!" He roared, stalking towards Red with borderline murderous intent.Red's eyelights returned, but they were shrunk to pinpricks as he backed away from his furious brother. "B-Boss, I can explain! It ain't what it sounds like!"" Papyrus. " Blue said, his voice unnervingly calm and low, "I Think It's Time We Had A Long Talk About Respecting Our Soulmate And Proper Bedroom Etiquette."Stretch visibly gulped, sweat beading on his skull as he faced his brother's eerily calm demeanor. "Bro, c'mon, it was just...just a little misunderstanding..."Papyrus fixed Sans with a stern glare, slowly tapping his foot. "Sans, I Expected Better From You. We're Going To Be Having A Very Serious Discussion About This."Sans's eyelights flickered nervously as he held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Paps, bro, I can explain everything. It's not as bad as it sounds, really!"Lilly watched with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction as the three guilty skeletons squirmed under their brothers' scrutiny. She couldn't help but feel a little smug at how quickly the tables had turned.Edge's sharp gaze snapped to her, his eyelights softening slightly as he took in her disheveled state. "Lilly, Are You Alright? Did These Imbeciles Hurt You?"She shook her head, her grin softening into a more reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Edge. Really. They just got a little carried away, that's all. I just knew you guys could scold them better than I would, plus they still owe me for it.”Blue's stern expression faltered for a moment as he looked her over with concern. "Are You Sure, Lilly? You Don't Have To Protect Them If They Truly Went Too Far.""No, no, I would’ve used the safe signal if I felt like it was gonna get out of hand, and I could’ve stopped it if I really had to. I actually really enjoyed it, they just need to learn to pay more attention is all. Plus, I heal fast, remember?" She gestured to her body, where the bruises and marks had already faded to near invisible.Papyrus nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Well, If You Say You're Alright, Then We’ll  Believe You. But That Does Not Mean These Three Are Off The Hook. First, However, Let’s Get You Cleaned Up."Edge nodded in agreement, his sharp gaze snapping back to Red. "Indeed. It Seems These Three Need To Be Taught A Lesson About Proper Etiquette And Respect." He hissed.Blue nodded firmly. "Exactly. Just Because She Enjoyed It Doesn't Mean They Didn't Act Irresponsibly. I Think We Should Take This Down To The Combat Room, Don't You Edge?"“Most Certainly . ”The three guilty skeletons exchanged nervous glances, realizing they weren't getting out of this easily. She watched as Edge grabbed Red by the scruff of his sweater before teleporting away, and Blue grabbed both Stretch and Sans.“Meet Us Down There After You Take Care Of Her, Creampuff.” Blue huffed.They gave her puppy dog eyes, but she ignored it with a grin and a small wave goodbye as they disappeared.“Damn, I forgot you all can do that, that’s so cool.” She smiled, looking back up to Papyrus.His stern expression softened as he turned to her, his eyelights roaming over her with concern. "Are You Absolutely Certain You're Alright, Love? I Know You Said You Heal Quickly, But Those Three Can Be Quite... Enthusiastic When They Get Carried Away. I Also Hold Some Responsibility, As I Was The One Who Suggested Tentacle Play In The First Place."He gently took her hand in his, his phalanges tracing over her wrist where faint marks were still visible. His touch was feather-light, almost reverent, as if he was afraid she might shatter under him.“Damn, Paps, you’re kinky .” She laughed as a blush formed on his cheeks before continuing, “But hey, don’t be too hard on them. Like I said, I’m okay and I enjoyed every second of it. I would’ve used the safe-signal if I needed to, worst case scenario I would’ve used my abilities to get me out of the situation if it came to it. Stretch and Red just got into a dick swinging contest and were being rough, and Sans was too distracted by me squirting to stop them sooner. Besides, it was about the same as when you spanked the ever loving shit out of me over there, I cried then too, maybe not as much as this though.” She snorted, rolling her eyes and pointing to the hole in the wall she had made. Papyrus's cheekbones were flushed a vibrant orange at her blunt description, his eyelights widening slightly. "I See. That Is…Fair. I May Have To Remind Edge And Blue To Not Be Too Harsh On Them." He coughed, clearing his nonexistent throat. "Well, I'm Glad You're Alright And That You Seemed To Enjoy Yourself, Especially Since You Were Clearly In A… Sticky Situation." He eyed her legs, with a slight smile.Lilly blinked in surprise before bursting into laughter, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh my god, Papyrus! Did you just make a pun ?!"His grin widened, looking quite pleased with himself as he scooped her up into his arms like she weighed nothing. "Well, I May Not Approve Of Them, But I’m Still Quite Funny When I Want To Be.”“Hell yeah, and the fucking coolest .” She grinned curling against him.“Damn Right. Now, Let’s Get You Cleaned Up Before I Go Beat Some Manners Into Sans.” All she could do was laugh.
Sorry boys. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Don’t Blame Me When I Kick Your Coccyx Into The Floor.” Edge had a wicked grin on his face as he stood across from Blue, who seemed just as cocky at the current situation.

“What, Need To Overcompensate In Front Of Our Girl Here, Edgelord?” His arms were crossed over his chest as he laughed, sending her a wink.

Lilly sighed, shaking her head.

Men.

She had to admit though, they did look really fucking good right now.

Edge had no shirt, black basketball shorts, and a set of tights underneath it, which was fine, but…He had an

ecto body.

His lean and muscular frame was adorned with a deep red ecto that seemed to have a shimmering effect, even in the harsh lighting of the combat chamber it was glorious. Every inch of his body was sculpted, from his six-pack abs to the inviting v-line peeking out from underneath his shorts.

Blue was similar in build but was much thicker, which only had her trying not to drool. He had black sweatpants on and crop top that was just absolutely clinging to his broad chest. He had a light blue ecto that seemed close to an aquamarine in color, but there was an occasional greenish hue in some places.

She looked at Papyrus out of the corner of her eye.

Fucking

hell.

He stood tall with a great posture, his orange ecto body on full display. Unlike the others, he wore only a pair of form-fitting black compression shorts that left

so little

to the imagination. His ecto form glowed with a warm, amber light that seemed to catch the light like he was in a fucking movie.

His build was eerily similar to Edge’s, just slightly thinner, and she assumed it had something to do with the differences in their universes.

His chest was broad and well-defined, tapering down to a narrow waist. His abs were a perfect six-pack, and much like the others, each muscle clearly visible and defined. From the way he had his arms crossed, it only accentuated his build.

She let her eyes wander, noting how the compression shorts clung to every curve and contour, accentuating his muscular thighs and the fucking massive bulge he had.

God, she just wanted to lick them all over, so,

so badly

.

“You Know, You Don’t Have To Just Look, Dear. You Can Touch Any Time You’d Like.” Papyrus had a smirk over his face, but he wasn’t even looking at her.

She tensed, feelin her coolant swirl just a bit quicker.

Smug bastard

knew

.

She blinked a few times, trying to will her heart rate to slow down as she glanced back at Edge and Blue. After the massive scolding that Sans, Red, and Stretch received a few days ago, they had been up her ass. Doing anything and everything they could to make it up to her, but it also meant she was getting even less time to herself.

Luckily, their brothers seemed to recognize she had been getting more irritable and offered to help her blow off some steam.

That was how she ended up down here with them in the combat chamber, while the others were up in the console room above.

"Oh, I Don't Need To Overcompensate For Anything,

Berry

. I'll Let My Actions Speak For Themselves."

Blue scoffed, uncrossing his arms and stretching them above his head, "Actions? You Mean Like The Time You Tripped Over Your Own Feet During Training And Face-Planted Into The Wall?"

"That Was One Time!" Edge growled, his red eyelights flaring. "At Least I Didn't Get My Ass Handed To Me By A Temmie."

Blue's cocky expression faltered for a moment before he recovered, puffing out his chest. "That Temmie Was Unnaturally Strong! Besides, I'd Like To See You Take On A Horde Of Them Without Breaking A Sweat!" He snorted, rolling his eyes.

“I think the sheer amount of male ego in this room is gonna make me hurl.” Lilly made a fake gag noise and stuck her finger to her mouth, but there was a grin on her face as she looked them over.

“Oh? We Could Always Give You Something Else To Gag On, Starlight.” Blue cocked a brow at her, and she bristled.

“I Think She’s Well Acquainted.” Papyrus pat the top of her head, and she refused to look at him.

Edge chuckled, “Oh Yes She

Is

.”

Fuckers.

“Good one guys!” Stretch’s voice filtered out over the intercom system. Turning around and looking up to the console room window, she could see Red, Sans, and Stretch eyeing her with shit eating grins.

She raised both her hands in the air and gave them the bird.

Red’s response was to make a peace sign and wiggle his tongue between the fingers.

Because of

course it was.

Papyrus clapped his hands together, and she turned her attention back to the group, “Alright, You Know The Rules Gentlemen. The First Monster To Lose Their Weapon Or Be Pinned For More Than Three Seconds Loses. Keep It Clean, No Cheap Shots.”

Edge grinned wickedly, his eye sockets narrowing.

She watched as he raised his arms, palms facing upward, and a deep red glow emanated from his hands. The air around him seemed to crackle with his magic as two massive great swords materialized, their blades easily as long as he was tall. The swords were a deep, blood-red color, with intricate etchings along the flat of the blades that pulsed with a darker crimson light. The hilts were wrapped in what appeared to be black leather, with crimson gems embedded at the pommels.

Edge gripped the swords, one in each hand, and twirled them with surprising ease despite their enormous size. The blades left trails of red light in their wake, creating mesmerizing patterns in the air. He settled into a fighting stance, the tips of the swords barely touching the ground as he readied himself.

She had never seen his choice of weapon before, but fuck, was it insanely hot.

Blue's grin widened, his eyelights sparkling with mischief. "Oh, You Want To Play With Big Toys, Edgelord? Le Me Show You What A

Real

Weapon Looks Like."

With a dramatic flourish, Blue raised his hands above his head, his magic crackling around him in a dazzling display of cyan and white sparks. The air seemed to hum with energy as a massive shape began to materialize above him.

Her eyes widened as she watched the spectacle unfold. At first, it looked like Blue was summoning a regular Gaster Blaster, its draconic skull forming out of the swirling magic. But as the summoning continued, she realized this was something much more insane.

The handle, formed from interlocking vertebrae, was easily six feet long, each bone segment shifting and realigning with fluid grace as Blue maneuvered it. At the top, the Gaster Blaster skull served as a back piece for a devastating hammerhead, its jaws lined with razor-sharp teeth that seemed to glow with an inner cyan light. He twirled it a few times before swinging it down hard to his side, creating a gust of wind from the sheer force.

"Holy shit." She breathed, her eyes darting between Edge's twin great swords and Blue's monstrous hammer. "You guys are... that's just...that’s fucking

incredible

."

Edge smirked, twirling his swords once more and pointing one at her. "Like What You See, Pet? Just Wait Until You Watch Me Use Them."

"I Bet You Can't Wait To See Me Pound Edge Into The Ground, Can You, Lils?" Blue winked at her, effortlessly spinning his hammer in a dizzying arc.

Her face immediately fell as she gave them both a blank stare. “Aaaand suddenly, my pussy is dry. What a shame.”

Edge and Blue both chuckled at her, and even Papyrus couldn't suppress a snicker.

"Oh Come Now, Pet." Edge purred, his crimson eyelights glowing with amusement. "We Both Know That's Not True."

Blue nodded in agreement, his grin widening. "Of Course It Isn’t. I'm Sure We Could Easily… Remedy That Situation, If You'd Like."

Lilly rolled her eyes, fighting back a smile. "You two are insufferable."

"You Love It." They replied in unison, and she cracked, smiling at them both.

Papyrus cleared his throat, eyeing her from the side. "As Entertaining As This Banter Is, Perhaps We Should Begin The Match?"

Edge and Blue nodded, their expressions shifting from playful to focused in an instant.

Oh fuck yeah, here we go.

She had seen them train together a few times, but it mostly had been working out in the rec building’s gym or running laps around the property.

Not once had she been able to see them spar yet, and she was practically shaking with excitement for two reasons.

One? She wanted to see them in action, in real life.

Two? She wanted to show off her own stuff too. The weeks of playing around and being coddled were over, she had to show them just how capable she was.

And all the cool shit she could blow up.

But for now, she would wait and watch.

Edge and Blue circled each other, their weapons at the ready. The air crackled with tension and made her skin tingle as their magic rolled over her in waves. She held her breath, knowing this was going to be the show of a lifetime.

It came in a flash of crimson.

Edge lunged forward, his twin swords slicing through the air with frightening speed. Blue barely had time to raise his hammer, blocking the attack with the massive skull. The clash of magic-infused weapons sent sparks flying, illuminating the chamber in a dazzling display of red and cyan.

Blue grunted, pushing back against Edge's assault. With a sudden burst of strength, he shoved Edge away and swung his hammer in a wide arc. The air whistled as the enormous weapon cut through it, forcing Edge to duck and roll to avoid being flattened.

As Edge rolled to his feet, he flicked his wrist, sending one of his great swords spinning through the air towards Blue. The crimson blade whirled like a deadly saw blade, its edges gleaming wickedly in the harsh light of the combat chamber. Blue's eyelights widened for a split second before he reacted, swinging his hammer with precision to deflect the spinning sword. The clash of magic sent a shockwave through the room, and she felt the vibration in her bones.

And pussy.

Fuck, why was it so

hot

seeing them fight?

Edge didn't waste a moment. As soon as Blue deflected the first sword, he was already charging forward with the second, his feet barely seeming to touch the ground as he moved quickly. Blue, still recovering from the force of deflecting the first attack, barely had time to bring his hammer up to block Edge's overhead strike.

The clash of weapons reverberated through the chamber as Edge and Blue locked in a fierce struggle, neither willing to give an inch. Edge's remaining sword pressed down against the shaft of Blue's hammer, red and cyan sparks flying where the weapons met. Their ecto-bodies strained with effort, each gritting their teeth as they glared at each other.

With a grunt, Blue suddenly shifted his weight, angling his hammer to slide Edge's sword off to the side. As Edge stumbled forward, thrown off balance, Blue spun in a graceful arc, his hammer whooshing through the air. Edge barely managed to duck under the swing, the wind from the massive weapon sending small amounts of debris about the area.

Not missing a beat, Edge dropped into a low crouch and swept his leg out, aiming to knock Blue off his feet. But Blue was ready, leaping over Edge's leg with a surprising amount of agility as he backflipped.

As Blue landed, Edge was already in motion.

He summoned his discarded sword back to his hand with a flick of his wrist, the crimson blade materializing just in time to parry Blue's downward strike. The impact sent tremors through the floor, and she could feel the vibrations in her chest.

Edge used the momentum of Blue's attack to spin, his swords becoming a whirlwind of deadly crimson light. Blue danced backwards, his hammer a blur of cyan as he deflected each strike with quick matched precision.

Suddenly, Blue feinted left, causing Edge to overextend. In that split second of vulnerability, Blue's eyelights flashed, and he slammed his hammer into the ground. A shockwave of cyan magic rippled through the floor, catching Edge off-guard. The ground beneath his feet trembled and cracked, forcing him to stumble back. Blue seized the opportunity, his hammer already in motion for another devastating swing.

Edge barely managed to cross his swords in front of him, catching the full force of Blue's attack. The impact sent him skidding backwards, his boots leaving deep grooves in the floor. As Edge struggled to regain his footing, Blue pressed his advantage.

With a battle cry that echoed through the chamber, Blue leapt into the air, his hammer held high above his head. The cyan glow of his magic intensified, casting eerie shadows across the room. As he descended, the air around him seemed to warp and ripple, distorted by the sheer power he was channeling.

Edge's eyelights widened as he realized the magnitude of the attack. In a desperate move, he crossed his swords above his head, channeling every ounce of his magic into them. The crimson blades glowed white-hot, pulsing with power as Edge braced himself for impact.

The collision was devastating.

Blue's hammer met Edge's crossed swords with a thunderous boom that shook the entire area. A blinding flash of cyan and crimson light erupted from the point of impact, sending debris and wind rushing past her face. The shockwave that followed knocked them both off their feet, sending them flying backwards and into the floor.

They had both dropped their weapons, resulting in a tie.

Lilly paused, blinking a few times as her coolant swirled.

They were…

slow

.

She still enjoyed every second of seeing them spar as their soulmate, they were hot as hell.

But as a fighter? Well…

She had to shake the thoughts from her head.

“Tie!” Papyrus shouted from next to her, and she watched as both of them got up and brushed themselves off.

Was she…being weird right now?

What the fuck is this feeling?

She wasn’t disappointed by any means,

god no

.

More so…confused?

Huh?

Edge and Blue picked themselves up off the ground, their ecto-bodies glistening with sweat from the intense battle. They dusted themselves off, their weapons dissipating into sparks of magic that faded into the air. Both of them were breathing heavily, but their faces held wide grins of exhilaration.

"Well, Well, Edgelord," Blue panted, "Looks Like We're Evenly Matched This Time."

Edge scoffed, but there was no real heat behind it. "Pure Luck, Berry. Next Time, I'll Wipe The Floor With You."

As they bantered, she remained lost in thought, her brow furrowed slightly as she processed what she had just witnessed. The clash of magic, the dazzling display of skill and power, it had been fucking

incredible

to watch.

Yet, something nagged at her, a feeling she couldn't quite shake.

She found herself analyzing their movements, dissecting each strike and parry. Edge's swordplay, while impressive, lacked the fluid grace she'd expected from someone of his reputation. His attacks, though powerful, seemed almost...

predictable

. And Blue, for all his agility, had moments where his footwork faltered, leaving openings that a more experienced fighter might have exploited.

The realization hit her like a bucket of cold water.

Their reactions, while inhumanely fast by normal standards, seemed borderline

sluggish

to her.

"Well, Starlight? What Did You Think?" Blue's voice quickly pulled her from her thoughts as he looked down at her.

Edge crossed his arms, a smug grin on his face. "Yes, Pet. We'd Love To Hear Your Opinion On Our... Performance."

She blinked, realizing she had been lost in her own head. Pushing aside her confusing thoughts, she focused on the two skeletons before her, their ecto-bodies still glowing with residual magic and glistening with sweat from the sparring match.

"Holy shit you guys!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with genuine awe. "That was fucking insane! The way you both summoned those weapons? Edge, those twin swords were badass! And Blue, that hammer? Jesus Christ, it was like something out of a fantasy movie! Plus, it was really fucking hot, not gonna lie." She grinned, practically bouncing on her toes.

None of it was a lie.

But for some reason it felt

wrong

to say to them.

Blue and Edge exchanged glances, their cheekbones flushing with the blushes of their magic.

"Why, Thank You." Blue said, his eye sockets crinkling as he smiled at her. "I'm Glad You Enjoyed The Show. It's Not Often We Get To Really Cut Loose Like That."

Edge nodded in agreement, a rare, genuine smile gracing his features. "Indeed, Pet. It's... Refreshing To Hear Such Honest Appreciation." He paused, his grin turning mischievous. "Though I Must Say, Your Reaction Was Almost As Entertaining As The Match Itself."

Lilly felt her own cheeks heat up, realizing how eagerly she had been gushing over their performance. She cleared her throat, looking away.

“W-well…it was fucking

cool

.” She huffed, keeping her gaze down.

Papyrus chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Indeed It Was. But Now That We've Shown Off Our Skills, Perhaps It's Your Turn, Dear?"

She tensed, her eyes darting between the three skeletons. "M-my turn?"

Blue nodded enthusiastically, his eyelights sparkling. "Of Course! We've Never Really Seen You In Action Before. It Would Be Quite The Treat To Witness Your Abilities Firsthand."

Edge smirked, crossing his arms. "Yes, Pet. You've Been Cooped Up For Weeks Now. Surely You're Itching To... Let Loose A Little?"

She shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flickering around the combat room. The idea of showing off her skills was so damn tempting, especially after weeks of being treated like she was made of glass.

But there was a worry in the back of her mind, a worry that something might be different after this.

She was loaded to hell, back, and beyond with thousands of weaponry and training protocols, most of which could blow the combat room sky-high.

After seeing them spar, she was now slightly worried about their impression of her if she did this.

“I uh…I don’t know guys. I’ve got a lot of…scary shit in my database. I also don’t usually fight to protect myself, and I don’t want that to upset any of you if you see me get hurt. Especially after the bracelet incident...” She fiddled with the bottom of her t-shirt, keeping her eyes on anything but them.

Papyrus stepped closer, his expression softening. “Lilly, We Would Never Think Less Of You For Wanting To Show Us What You’re Capable Of. In Fact, We Would Be Honored To See It.”

Blue nodded, “Yeah! And Besides, We’re All Here To Support You. Remember? The Whole Point Is To Blow Off Some Steam And Have Fun.” He shot her a wink. “Plus, I Doubt Anything You Can Throw Out Will Scare Us.”

“It’s Alright To Let Go A Little, Pet.” Edge leaned in slightly, his voice low but encouraging.

She took a deep breath, considering their words.

“Alright, fuck it. I really need to blow off-”

“Facility 32-B Authorized Personnel Will Arrive At Sector Eight Front Gate In Thirty Minutes. Please Advise.”

She was interrupted as the systems intercoms went off, signalling that HQ had sent a delivery.

White-hot rage boiled over in her veins.

They had done it without the proper 24-hour allocated notice.

And now, she couldn’t even blow off any steam.

She grit her teeth, her coolant swirling a deep red, “Never mind, I guess. Looks like either the boys are here, or it's just the supplies for the library, the lab, and the new filters. Either way, We’ve got a welcome party at the gate, and I’m gonna have to try really fucking hard not to kill anyone.”

“Hey, kiddo? I thought they were gonna give us notice for the deliveries?” Sans’s voice rolled over the speaker, and she glanced back up at him, nodding.

She connected to the speakers, replying, “Yeah, that’s proper protocol, meaning someone up there is about to get their fucking ass reamed.”

Red, Stretch and Sans teleported down to them, holding out their old bracelets from HQ. Edge, Papyrus, and Blue took theirs, putting them back on for appearance’s sake.

“Well, we’re coming with for sure, honey. We aren’t gonna let ya deal with them on your own.” Stretch looked tense as he blew smoke from his skull, but she paused at his words.

“Guys, I don’t-”

Papyrus shook his head, pressing a finger to her lips, “No Arguing On This One, Dear. We’re Going To Be There, Whether You Want Us To Or Not.”

She batted his hand away, shooting him a playful glare, “I know

that

, that’s not what I was going to say.”

He looked down sheepishly, ”A-Ah, Then, Apologies. Continue.”

All she could do was chuckle, but then her face fell serious again.

“Look, I know you guys don’t know really anything about my time at the facility while I was training to become an Overseer, because to be honest, its…

beyond

fucked up. I went through some straight-up torturous shit, and it…When I deal with these guys, you’re probably gonna see a side of me you might not like. I can get violent, and ‘bitch’ doesn’t even begin to describe my personality. It’s like a person I

have

to be when dealing with these people. I don’t…I just don’t want you to…fuck…” She growled, shaking her head and pacing.

"Kiddo, whatever you need to do to handle this, we understand. We're just here to support you."

Lilly stopped pacing, her eyes meeting Sans's eyelights.

The intensity in her gaze made him flinch involuntarily.

"No, you don’t…You don't understand, Sans. None of you do. The things they did to me... the things they made me do...I haven’t told any of you because if you couldn’t handle seeing me get electrocuted, then even a sprinkle of the shit they put me through would give you fucking aneurysms. But…I trust you all, and I just…don’t want you to hate me if you see this side of me. The violent, ugly, X-04 side. I’ve accepted what happened to me but I-…I worry you guys will-…” She clenched her fists at her sides, putting her head down.

All the gore.

All the bodies.

All the tests.

There was so much.

She looked back up at the group, the tension was palpable, and they could see the conflict raging behind her eyes.

"Sweetheart," Red started, reaching out to her, "Ya don't gotta tell us everythin' right now, but... maybe ya could give us a little more context? We wanna understand, we really do. Boss and I, we been through some heavy shit. We all have, and we ain’t gonna hate ya."

Lilly's eyes darted around the room, her breathing becoming more rapid. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, struggling to find the right words.

Finally, she took a deep breath and began, “Alright. First and foremost, I’m over it, so it doesn’t bother me like it used to. Am I okay? Probably not, but we don’t have time to unpack that." She shook her head, trying to remain on topic.

“I-…I’ve killed a

lot

of people, guys. I don’t know if this universe is different, or if you’ve checked my stats, but there’s a high chance it’s maxed out in the worst way possible. You already know I killed the seventh Overseer, but…when they began testing all my battle modes, there were so many bodies, hundreds, maybe even thousands over that three-year period. There’s a story they tell the new recruits, and a video they play for them when they sign up. The X-04 Massacre of Meta-Hall.”

A few of the skeletons tensed visibly at the mention of the X-04 Massacre. Red's eyelights flickered, a look of recognition crossing his face.

"Wait, sweetheart," he said, his voice low and hesitant. "Ya don't mean... that was

you

?"

She flinched.

“I-…something had gone wrong during one of the tests. The code had fried my brain, overloaded my systems. I don’t even remember what happened, but I was told that someone had fucked up the code, and they couldn’t stop the protocol. HQ decided all they could do was wait until I Overheated, and then get me in for repairs. They…they locked an entire facility down and just let me rampage until my systems overheated…Over six-hundred personnel died that day before I finally shut down.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

She flinch as she felt a new type of magic roll over her.

She felt her sins crawling on her back.

It was

suffocating

.

.

.

.

Red, Stretch, and Sans exchanged glances, their eyelights flickering with a mix of shock and concern. Without a word, they all focused their magic and

Judged

their soulmate.

The world around them seemed to fade away as the familiar black box materialized before their eyes, revealing her stats:

Lilith Mayford—“Lilly”—”X-04”

LV 20+?/20?+

HP 999?

AT 999?

DF 999?

EXP 99999?

Weapon: Battle Rig X-04

Armor: Battle Rig X-04

Gold: 0

As the information sank in, they felt a chill run through their bones.

Her LV was maxed out, confirming her words about the countless lives she had taken.

But it was the symbols that truly unnerved them. They had never seen stats like these before, not even in their darkest timelines.

Red's breath hitched, his phalanges curling into fists at his sides. He had heard whispers, rumors of the X-04 Massacre, but to think that the woman standing before them—their

soulmate

—was responsible...

It sent a shiver down his spine.

But then, their sockets widened as they read her status.

* Has so much more to say

* She’s terrified of losing all of you

.

.

.

She had to keep going, just get it all out there.

“I won’t lie, I started enjoying it at some point…the killing, I mean. It felt like the only form of control I had left. They way they feared me when I’d walk down the halls made me stand tall and proud. I guess it was just a coping mechanism after all the testing, all the trials. If I could handle being tortured, then I was strong, right? I was powerful enough to withstand being burned alive in acid, being crushed over and over, every toxin and chemical pumped through my body, the psychological torture trials, prolonged sensory deprivation, training until I Overheated and melted from the inside out, training under 30 plus g-force and being blown up for durability tests…They dropped a mini-nuke on me once, and the reason I don't have to breathe is because of the drowning tests they did, and that’s just scratching the surface.”

She paused.

“I just had to make it a few years…a few years and I could come here, see and meet you guys. I would bloody my hands as often as I needed to, as long as it meant I could keep you all safe. The worst part, I think? I don’t…I don’t really feel bad about it. I don’t know if it’s because I have high LV, but I don’t really care about the people I killed, or all the testing. I obviously used to, I mean, I thought I was going to go insane from the nightmares, the pain…but I just kept going because as long as I made it here, then it was worth it, and eventually I think I just went numb to it all. I stopped caring about everything except you guys, butterbean, and maybe three humans on the entire planet.”

She was shaking.

“The one thing I am afraid of…is

this

. Telling you. Showing you a part of what I am. I don’t…”

She gripped her arm so hard she felt the bone fracture.

The room remained silent, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at them.

Then, like a dam bursting, chaos ensued.

She flinched and whipped her head up as Red slammed his fist into the nearest wall, leaving a deep crater in the reinforced metal, roaring. "

Those fuckin' bastards!

" He snarled, his voice shaking as his eye socket blazed a hellish red, "I'll fuckin' dust every last one of 'em!"

Sans's usual grin had warped into something

manic.

His eyelights had disappeared entirely, leaving his sockets dark and empty. The air around him seemed to warp and distort as he struggled to keep his magic in check. "They...They tortured her. They forced her to kill. They raised her LV on purpose.”
Papyrus was breathing heavy, snarling as he turned away from her pacing. “I Can’t…It’s No Wonder She Was So Confused By Our Reactions With The Bracelets, They Put Her Through A God-Damn Hellish

Nightmare

…”

“I’ll Fucking

Kill Them

. I’ll Kill So Many That Hell Won’t Have Enough Rough For All The Bodies I’ll Be Sending Down.” Blue had crouched down to the floor, his hands draped over his knees as he shook with what she could only assume was rage.

Edge had said nothing because at some point, he had begun walking his way back down the combat room.

She watched as bones and blasters began going off, blowing up several buildings and areas as he roared.

“I’ll kill every single one of the dirty bastards. They did that shit to her…for

three years straight

.” Stretch had bitten his cigarette in half, his fists and teeth clenched so hard she thought they would break.

She had no idea what to say, her chest tight with a mix of fear and confusion.

“So you don’t…you don’t

hate

me?” Was all she could get out.

Everything seemed to stop at that moment, the rage and hostile magic in the air snuffing out like a dying fire.

Before she could react, they were all moving towards her at once. Edge, who had been destroying anything and everything across the room, suddenly appeared beside her in a flash of red magic. Blue teleported from his crouched position on the floor. The others closed in swiftly, and suddenly she found herself enveloped in a tangle of skeletal arms and scents.

Red's arms wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her flush against his broad chest. His face buried into the crook of her neck, and she could feel the wetness of tears against her skin.

"Hate ya? Sweetheart, we could

never

fuckin' hate ya. Not for this, not for

anythin'

." His voice cracked.

She felt her own tears building, rolling over her cheeks as her voice came out choked.

“S-so…you won’t leave me? Even if I’m…a filthy murderer…I liked it, guys. Not always but…I don't regret that I’ve…killed people to get here and that…I’m not…I-” She choked on the words between stifled sobs, trying hard to not fully lose it.

She felt so small, so afraid.

She had killed so many, endured so much, all to get here.

There was no way she’d survive losing them.

“Shh, Shh, None Of That. It’s The Effects Of High LV That Make You Feel That Way. They Forced Your Hand, Lilly. They

Forced You

Into This Position. We Do Not Hate You, And We’re Never Going Anywhere, Pet. They’ll Have To Pry You From Our Cold, Dusting Hands Before We’d Ever Let You Go.” Edge slowly pet her hair, his voice so soft and gentle that her eyes widened.

Sans moved in front of her, cupping her face in his bony hands and forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyelights were dim but filled with an intensity that made her breath hitch.

"Lilly, listen to me." He said firmly. "What they did to you was

horrific

. You didn't have a choice. You were just trying to survive, to make it here, to

us

. We don't hate you for that. We could

never

hate you."

She felt her lip quiver, her face contorting into anguish as the dam broke. She watched through watery eyes as Sans’s breath hitched, his own face turning into something heartbroken at her expression.

She wailed.

She gripped anything and everyone she could, shaking as she grieved the person she use to be.

But there was a relief, a warmth through it all.

It hadn’t been for nothing.

Everything she had gone through over the last three years, it had been worth it.

She was strong, she was here, and most importantly, she still had them.

They didn’t hate her.

"Let it out, Lils." Red murmured, against her. "We've got ya. We ain't goin' nowhere.

Never

."

Her anguished wails echoed through the combat chamber as she clung desperately to the skeletons surrounding her.

"We're Here For You, Starlight.

Always

."

“We Would

Never Leave You

, Especially After Hearing About This Lilly. You’re Our Soulmate.”

"Honey, now that we've got you, we're

never

letting you go."

She felt more tears spill over her cheeks at their words, practically shivering in their arms.

She had done it, she had endured everything and made it here. Even if she didn’t know it at the time, it had all led up to this.

An unconditional love.

Then, as if by some fucked up comedic timing, HQ ruined the moment.

“Facility 32-B Authorized Personnel Will Arrive At Sector Eight Front Gate In Twenty Minutes. Please Advise.”

A collective round of snarls, growls, and hostile magic immediately enveloped her, making her skin tingle and snapping her out of her crying fit.

Because they were all pressed against her, she was practically vibrating from their growls, and she smacked a hand to her wet face, trying to stop a giggle from escaping.

Damn. That was embarrassing lmao.

They all looked down at her in confusion and concern, their protective embrace loosening slightly as they tried to gauge her sudden shift in mood. Lilly's shoulders shook as she felt them staring, which only caused her to start giggling.

"S-sorry," She managed, her voice becoming slightly normal. "It's just... that timing is

so

fucking ridiculous."

She wiped at her eyes, smearing the tears across her cheeks. "One minute we're having this intense emotional moment, and the next, it's like 'Just in case you forgot, your tormentors will be here in ten minutes. Have a nice day!'. And when you guys all growled while holding me…I felt like a vibrator…!"

She snorted, fully losing it in a fit of laughter.

They all stared at her, a mixture of bewilderment and shock etched across their faces.

Red blinked, his expression slowly shifting from confused to a sly grin. "Did ya just compare yourself to a sex toy, sweetheart?"

“I-I couldn’t help it! Hahaha! Oh my god…I may as well been plugged into the wall like a fucking Hitachi wand…I-I can’t…oh my god…!” She laughed harder, clutching her sides.

Edge crossed his arms and narrowed his sockets at her, but he had a grin on his face, "Maybe I Should Growl At You More Often Then. If It Keeps You Giggling Like That, It Might Be Worth It."

She kept laughing, pushing him in the chest playfully and shaking her head, “Oh my god, please do, it does wonders for my ears…and my

pussy

…!” She wheezed, doubling over again.

The tension seemed to evaporate at her comment.

“You Like Our Growls

That

Much?” Blue cocked a brow at her, and she felt like she was going to puke from how hard she was laughing.

This situation was

actually fucking insane.

“H-hell yes! Humans can’t growl…s-so when you guys do it…fuck, it’s so hot…Wait, my stomach, it hurts, fuck!…I can’t believe this is happening, oh my god!” She wheezed, wiping her face and trying to suck in air as she attempted to calm down. Her coolant was a mix of purples and oranges, with little blue occasionally swirling in the mix.

Papyrus slowly stroked her hair, but he had a smirk on his face, "Well Then, I Guess We Know What To Do Next Time We Need To Lighten The Mood, Don’t We?"

“Lilly, you’re a real piece of work,” Sans chuckled, shaking his head. “You just bared your soul to us, and then you go and make us laugh. Talk about range.”

“Seriously, sugarsnap.” Stretch added, trying to cover his grinning face. “You had me there for a second; I almost forgot we were dealing with an impending delivery from Hell’s front office.”

“—And possibly the worst customer service imaginable,” Red added with a smirk.

But then he suddenly paused, pulling back and looking her over.

As her laughing fit died down, she looked at Red with clear confusion.

Before she could even ask, his sockets narrowed as a shit eating grin rolled over his face.

“I didn’t know ya full name was

Lilith

, sweetheart. Gotta say, it’s pretty hot, rolls off the tongue

real

good.”

She gaped as he said her full name, a deep blush flushing over her cheeks.

Her coolant turned purple so fast it may as well have been a flash-bang grenade.

Edge's sockets widened, his crimson eyelights flaring with interest. "Well, Well,

Lilith

. It Seems Your Full Name Has Quite The Effect On You." His voice dropped an octave lower, a predatory grin spreading across his face.

Blue leaned in closer, his cyan eyelights sparkling with something down right sinful. "

Lilith

." he purred, drawing out each syllable. "What A Beautiful Name. It Suits You Perfectly, Starlight."

“No,

no

! Just call me Lilly! No one has called me that name in years, oh my fucking

god

!” She practically screeched, slamming her hands to her face and walking away from them as her face burned nearly as bright as her coolant.

“Come on,

Lilith

, don’t hide. You can’t expect us to not after a reaction like that.” Sans called out, his voice teasing as he practically growled her name.

“I can’t. I can’t. Oh my god, nope. Nooope, full name is off the table unless we’re fucking. I won’t be able to function, I’ll actually die.” She shook her head, trying to make it to the combat chamber doors.

“Lilly! I Think You’re Overreacting—” Papyrus called out, his voice echoing in a lighthearted tone.

“Nope, nope. Just doing my best to not let my heart explode Paps!” She mumble shouted back.

She bumped into Red, who had teleported in front of her, “Oh sweetheart, we’re already in this deep. You can’t just run away from the good stuff.” He teased.

She sputtered, stepping back and shooting him a pouting glare, “Oh really? What part of me screaming ‘I’m about to combust’ says ‘Oh, harder daddy, keep going!’? I’d like to live past this moment, thanks!”

It was Red’s turn to burst into laughter, his whole frame shaking as he threw his head back. “You’re killin’ me here, Lilith! Just wait until you hear the wails when we—”

“Red, for the love of all things holy, shut the fuck up!” She was practically begging at this point, her voice high and cracking.

Dickheads, every single one of them.

“Facility 32-B Authorized Personnel Will Arrive At Sector Eight Front Gate In Ten Minutes. Please Advise.”

The air shifted, becoming tense almost immediately.

“Welp, looks like shit stains are almost here. Let me change, and we’ll go over a plan. Talk about fucking whiplash, oh my god. I don’t think I’ve ever gone from horny, to angry, to sobbing, to laughing, back to horny, and back to angry so fast in my entire life.” She sighed, fanning her face as reality brought her back down from…

All of

that

.

"I know the feeling, honey." Stretch said, running a hand over his skull as he tried to regain some composure. "This is gonna be one hell of a day.”

“Oh yeah, and before anyone says shit, who’s coming with me to change? God knows I probably won’t be getting any alone time ever again.” She sighed, but there was a slight smile on her face.

She was about to put on a show for her boys when she dealt with HQ.

She noticed a smirk creep onto Red's face as he stepped forward, “I’m thinkin’ we should all be there, just to make sure ya take what ya need. After all, it’s not every day we witness

The

Lilith Mayford in action.”

“No, no! Ugh, don’t call me that! And you can’t all just pile into my room while I strip, we’ll never fucking leave!” She groaned, her cheeks flaring again.

This blush was basically her new BFF at this point.

“Ah, but ya’d be surprised how much time we can make in a tight space, doll.” Red grinned, leaning in closer and making her heart race. “‘Sides, it’s not like we ain’t seen ya in less.”

Stretch chimed in, raising an eyebrow. “Plus, who wouldn’t want to see how you look in battle gear? It’s gotta be something epic to go with that wild energy of yours.”

Lilly threw her hands up in mock exasperation but couldn’t suppress the grin that crept onto her face. “You’re all impossible!”

“Impossible To Resist.” Edge replied smugly, leaning back with crossed arms.

Fuck, when he’s right, he’s right.

With a deep breath, Lilly steeled herself. “Alright, fine! Just… Keep it civil, okay? I’m trying to get my head together for the delivery. Meet me in my room and I’ll go over the plan.”

She didn’t wait for a response, teleporting into her room and ripping her closet doors open.

She was gonna need to strip fast before anyone got wandering hand syndrome.

As she practically shot out of her workout clothes and began shuffling on some black cargo pants, she felt the others pop into the room. She didn’t make a big deal out of it this time, instead choosing to talk while she changed.

“Alright, I need to look intimidating and organized, and you guys are going to have to stay back and not say anything while I handle this. Before you comment, I know that sucks dick, but so do I, and you don’t see me complaining.”

There were a few choked laughs, causing her to grin. She moved on, digging through different shirts on hangers as she found what she wanted. A sleek, black spandex crop top. It had a longer neck like a turtleneck, but no sleeves, and cut off just above her waist.

Perfect for showing off her scars and coolant.

She shuffled it on, continuing, “I’m gonna go into this trying to maintain some semblance of control, but you’re gonna see X-04 out there, not Lilly. My attitude is gonna be ‘mega-bitch’ combined with ‘brutal killing cyborg’, so I ‘m warning you now. I just don’t wanna scare any of you guys if you see that. Anyway,” She grabbed a pair of thick military combat boots and black socks, purposefully bending over with her ass facing the group.

I can play dirty too, bone boys.

She sat on the edge of the bed, sliding each sock on and ignoring the way a few of them sucked in a breath as she put her combat boots over them.

“I’ll need you guys to stand behind me, about five or six feet, and just keep quiet. If they say or do anything that isn’t straight up kissing the fucking ground I walk on, then there’s gonna be hell to pay. Especially since they’ve broken protocol and arrive without notice. On top of that, we don’t even know what’s being delivered since they fucked up, which means my patience is thinner than a fucking atom.”

She finished lacing them up, moving to the bathroom to grab a hair tie and put her hair up into a pony-tail.

“If they’re smart, they recognize me immediately and know not to fuck around, but if they’re stupid and feel like finding out, well…” She pulled her hair back as she eyed the guys from the side.

“Then they'll learn exactly why I have the reputation I do.” Lilly finished with a wicked grin, stepping out of the bathroom.

They had various blushes over their faces.

It was kind of ironic, in a way, since she was more covered up than usual. She hadn’t really dressed up since the first few days they had gotten here, so it was a bit of a difference compared to her usual workout clothes.

Edge was the first to speak, his voice low and husky. "Pet, You Look... Absolutely

Lethal

." His eyelights raked over her form appreciatively, a deep crimson blush dusting his cheekbones.

Oh, daddy, say that shit again, slower this time.

She paused.

Wait…am I

actually

getting a daddy kink? Red, this is so your fault.

She couldn’t help but grin wider as she turned to face them all fully. “Glad you think so because I intend to make an impression. You guys are about to see why I’m so fucking badass, and why I’m the head of the Overseers.”

Red stepped forward, cocking his head slightly as he observed her. “Impression? Sweetheart, if they’ve got half a brain, they’ll be too busy shitting their pants to even look you in the eye.” His voice held a teasing tone, but there was a seriousness behind it.

“Right?” She laughed, feeling that adrenaline rush from the impending confrontation course through her. “And if they don’t? Well, then that’s when things will get…creatively messy.”

Stretch leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, a grin still plastered on his face. “You know, I’d pay good gold to see the looks on their faces when they realize who they’re dealing with.”

She felt her cheeks warm, but her coolant pumped harshly as it shifted into a deep red.

“Well don’t worry boys, cause you’re getting a front row seat. Oh! Before I forget, how much violence is okay violence? Because while I don’t wanna kill anyone if I can help it, shit might get messy, and I don’t wanna traumatize anyone. Plus if they brought the new guys that’s one hell of a way to say hello and get them to never talk to me. Seriously though, you’re allowed to have boundaries or whatever it's called about that kinda stuff.” She waved her hand in the air, trying to play it cool.

But there was a slight nervousness in her tone.

She wasn’t about to go out there, guns blazing and mow down whoever was there, but if shit did go south…

Well, she’d do anything, and she meant

anything

, to protect her boys.

Blue stepped forward, his eyelights blazing with an intensity that made her pause.

Had she fucked up by saying that?

"After What We've Learned About What Those Bastards Did To You, Starlight? You Can Do Whatever The

Hell You Want

." His voice was low, almost a growl.

Oh.

No, no she had

not

.

Edge nodded in agreement, his sharp teeth bared in a snarl. "Precisely. If Anything, I'd Say We're More Likely To Join In Than Be Traumatized, Pet. They Deserve Far Worse Than Whatever You Dish Out Today."

Sans's usual grin was tight, his eyelights flickering dangerously. "They’re right kiddo. While we aren’t ones to usually advocate for senseless killing-”

“Speak for yer fuckin’ self, this shit ain’t senseless after what they did to her.” Red cut him off with a snarl, but Sans only shrugged and continued.

“After hearing about the shit they put you through? I'd say you're showing remarkable restraint by not blowing the whole place sky-high the moment they arrive." His eye lights flashed blue and yellow, his grin tight.

Papyrus nodded at his brother, cracking his knuckles, “They’re Right, Lilly. While I Do Try To See the Best In Others, I Don’t Think I Feel Like Applying That Rule To Them Right Now.”

“And you know the moment shit hits the fan, we’ll be right by your side. We’ve got our own…feelings, about the whole thing we need to work out…

violently

.” Stretch lit up a cigarette, his socket flaring with a beautiful orange flame.

Hostile magic rolled through the room, heat practically radiating off of the group in front of her.

She felt her pussy clench.

This is my type, I fear.

Her coolant was red from adrenaline and fury, but there were flickers of occasional purple.

“

Fuck

…you’re all so hot when you’re angry.” She breathed.

They all blinked a few times at her words, before a few of them laughed, while the other looked exasperated.

“Stars Above Pet, You’re Like A Monster In Heat Sometimes, I Swear.” There was a tinge of red on his cheeks as he huffed.

“Maybe I am,” Lilly grinned, feeling a rush of confidence at their reactions. “But right now, I’m the monster you’re all backing up, and if these idiots think they can waltz in and break protocol, they're in for one rude fucking awakening.”

Stretch flicked ash from his cigarette, eyeing her with approval and pointing it at her. “Now that’s the spirit, honey. That’s the fire we want to see.”

It happened before she could stop it.

A girlish set of excited giggles left her lips as she covered her face.

They were encouraging her, supportive of her, backing her the fuck up.

Then she realized what just happened, and embarrassment flushed over her skin.

“Ah, wait no-!” She shook her hands at them, shaking her head back and forth wildly.

But it was too late, the damage was done

The guys all burst into laughter.

"Stars above, did our big bad cyborg just giggle like a

schoolgirl

?" Sans teased, his grin widening impossibly further.

Red clutched his ribs, doubling over. "Holy shit, sweetheart! One minute you're all 'I'll rip their spines out,' and the next you're gigglin' like ya just got asked to prom!”

“N-no I didn’t-!”

"It Seems Our Fearsome Warrior Has A Softer Side After All. How... Adorable." Edge snickered, looking away from her.

“You were right honey…the whiplash you’ve given me today is probably enough to bruise my damn coccyx!” Stretch wheeze, holding onto the wall.

“W-wait guys it’s not-!”

Blue was covering his face, shaking his head, “Stars Lilly, You’ve Got No Idea How Cute You Really Are.”

“She Really Doesn’t. But, It Only Makes What’s About To Happen Out There All The More Interesting. After All, We Didn’t Get To See You In The Combat Chamber Before We Were Rudely Interrupted. I Think Now Is The Perfect Time For A…Live Demonstration.” Papyrus grinned, but he slowly made his way over through the group.

His face became serious for a moment, and he pulled her into a hug. Her face cooled down, and she slowly wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against him.

“Lilly, We’ve Been…We’ve Been So Worried About You, And We Knew That We Should’ve Asked About Your Time At The Facility Sooner. We Just…Didn’t Want To Overwhelm You. Thank You For Telling Us, Even Though You Were Scared. Just Know That Whatever Choices You Make, From Here On Out You Have Our Full Support. We have Been…Quite Selfish Over The Last Few Weeks. Whenever You’re Ready, We’ll Listen To All The Details Of Your Time At The Facility, And Whatever Happened With Your Father.”

She relaxed in his arms, nodding against him.

“Thanks guys, and hey, the same goes for all of you. I don’t know much about the stuff with Gaster, or what your time was like on your surfaces. I think I’ve just been distracted with horny fangirl brain, to be honest.” She heard a few chuckles throughout the room, and Papyrus pet her hair again.

“Well, We Didn’t Exactly…Help With That Either.” Papyrus coughed into his hand, a light blush over his cheeks.

“See? This is the shit I was talkin’ about! I say we have a fuckin’ sex marathon, rail her over every damn surface around this place, get it all-” Red was cut off as a voice echoed within the room.

"

Facility 32-B Authorized Personnel Have Arrived At Sector Eight Front Gate. Please Advise.

"

Lilly pulled away from Papyrus, trying to hide her blush at Red's crude comments. "As much as I'd

love

to take you up on that offer, Red, it looks like our guests have arrived."

Hostile magic flared again, and she let a manic grin roll over her face.

“Alright boys, come watch your Overseer give these shit stains a

bad time

.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lilly walked down the ballroom steps in silence, her boys trailing directly behind.

She let her coolant pulse wildly under her skin, every step giving her a new purpose as she allowed memories of her time at the facility to flash through her mind.

Pure, raw, unfiltered rage began to pool in her core, and she hissed out a stream of steam from between her teeth. The air around her body began to waver as her core temperature rose, the sheer amount of heat she was radiating warping and distorting the area.

Battle after battle flashed through her mind, body parts and viscera painting her body like she’d bathed in it.

Training sessions with Annie, Meredith, Cynthia, and Clover, the other weak, worthless little bugs that she had the misfortune of calling her Overseer Sisters.

Violet was out of commission, and Hanna was precious to her.

She was going to have someone’s head for this little stunt.

Literally, if they weren’t careful.

They stopped just before the doors that led to the front area of the grounds. It was a massive area of gravel, plenty of room to drop shipments off at and organize. There was a large, ornate black gate that connected to steel and concrete walls that wrapped around the entire grounds.

She turned back to look at her boys.

“Remember, stay behind me and do not speak a word, I’ll handle this. If Axe, Sugar, Mutt, Black, G, and Aster really are here with this shipment, I can't make too much of a mess. I don't want my first impression to be some fucked up killing machine, as much as I’d love to really let loose.”

Her face was hard, and while she didn’t mean to, it probably looked like she was glaring at them.

Stretch let out a low whistle as he eyed her, “Damn honey, if looks could kill, we’d all be dust.”

She smiled.

“Doll, ya have no idea how excited I am to see ya put these fuckers in their place.” Red had a wild grin on his face, eyeing her up at down.

“Plus, we can always fill them in once the

dust

settles, right fellas?” Sans winked at her, but his eye light was still flickering between blue and yellow.

Papyrus nodded with a stern expression, crossing his arms. “He’s Right, Lilly. We’ll Handle The New Guys If They Do Witness Anything Unsavory. We Won’t Move Unless You Ask Us To.”

Edge and Blue merely nodded in agreement to confirm since they were busy glaring out the doors.

“Well then, X-04 is about to make her appearance. Enjoy the show.” She practically snarled, whipping around and swinging the doors open with excessive force.

She stalked forward, her posture tall and commanding as she felt something shift inside her.

X-04 was here, and she wanted

blood

.

The air wavered as more heat rolled off her, and she allowed her face to fall into something flat, cold, and remorseless. She immediately allowed her processors to take in the scene before her, cataloging every thing within her sights and beyond in mere seconds.

There were three trucks, each hauling a massive black shipping container.

Deliveries of all requested supplies confirmed.

There were exactly twenty humvee’s, each engine rumbling in her ears as she logged them. Directly on the left of the gate there were two large black SUV’s, windows tinted and bulletproof glass evident on the designs.

Delivery of new charges not confirmed.

She flicked her eyes around.

Confirmed presence of sixty entry level grunts, six commanding officers, and three facility 32-B personnel at gate.

The grunts were standing in six sections of ten, each with their own commander holding them at rest.

Directly at the front of the gate, there were three individuals, and a large silver container.

Her eyes narrowed.

The first and most notable, was a woman with a harsh scowl on her face. She wore a tight black business suit, her deep red hair pulled back into a tight bun as she tapped her foot, looking around.

The second was the man that stood behind her in a long trench coat and black suit. He had an earpiece in his right ear, partially obscured by his wavy brown hair, and sunglasses covering his eyes.

The third was another man, dressed in a lab coat with the symbol of the facility on the breast pocket. He was excited based on how she logged his heart rate, glancing around frantically as he took in the area. His short black hair was combed back, and his dark brown eyes frantically roamed over everything before they landed on her.

He paled immediately.

Good.

She stalked forward until she was exactly five feet from the gate, feeling as the air shifted from boredom to high alert and fear from most of the soldiers.

She turned, looking at her boys who stood behind her like a wall of pure anger and power. They had listened, keeping back about another six feet.

Confirming they were doing as they were told, she turned back around, staring down the three in front of her.

“

State your business for arriving at sector eight grounds without the proper 24-hour allocated delivery notice.

”

Her voice rolled over the area like a thick blanket of malice, using her code to amplify it so it could be heard throughout the entire area.

The woman in the business suit stepped forward, her scowl deepening as she met Lilly's glare head-on. "I’m sector manager Elara Voss, and we’re here for the supply drop. I’m here to speak with the Overseer, not the fucking hired help. Got get X-04." She declared, her voice clipped and authoritative.

Lilly watched as the man in the lab coat paled, reaching for the woman’s arm.

But it was too late.

With a manic grin, Lilly sent a code to open the gate, and it began sliding open with a loud groan. She gave her some credit, as the woman didn’t flinch.

But she sure as fuck did when Lilly teleported in front of her, towering over her much shorter frame.

“
You’re fucking looking at her,

cunt

.
”

The woman's eyes were wide, shock mingling with a flash of anger as she tried to regain her composure, "Oh, so you think you can intimidate me, X-04? I don’t give a rat’s ass who or what you are. I’m the sector manager now, and I’m here to deliver the new shipments and the-" But Lilly cut her off, leaning in closer as she stared at the woman with an intensity that could’ve burned her.

“
Without the proper 24-hour allocated notice. On top of that, it seems you’ve brought excessive military presence for a mere delivery operation, care to tell me

why

?” She sneered.

Elara’s composure cracked for just a moment, the confidence wrinkling like paper in a fire. "We have our reasons, X-04." She snapped, trying to reclaim the ground she had lost. "An unexpected issue came up with the new—"

“
Did you not hear me? I asked a question, and you

will

answer it. If you can’t use those little ears of yours, I may just have to remove them from the head they’re attached to.
” Lilly slowly reached out with her hand, a sinister smile rolling over her face.

Elara recoiled slightly, the bravado slipping from her features as Lilly’s fingers brushed against her earlobe, a ghosting caress that hinted at violence.

The air crackled with tension, soldiers shifting nervously, their eyes darting between their sector manager and the volatile figure of X-04.

“X-04. We have the paperwork here. We had to expedite the deliveries of the new assets due to an issue with them before transport.” The man with sunglasses stepped forward, seemingly unimpressed by her threats.

He seemed almost…smug, the way he said ‘assets’.

That got her attention.

She scanned her eyes around again quickly, not seeing the bus that the first six had arrived in.

The air became heavy and thick as her rage began to boil over.

“
Give me that paperwork now. And by the way…?
” She smiled, looking over at the man with a lingering question.

He smirked, “Xavier, X-04.”

“
Ah, yes, Xavier. I’d like to make you aware of something. If you, or any of the little fucking bugs you’ve brought to my doorstep, call my boys assets or disrespect them in any way from this point on…

I’m gonna paint my fucking driveway with your brain matter

.
” She teleported in front of him, holding her hand out with a sweet smile.

“
Now…fetch,

doggy

.
”

Xavier’s smirk faltered, then tightened into a thin line, his posture shifting from lazy confidence to a guarded stance. He stared at her hand for a moment, as if weighing the risk of compliance against the threat that hung in the air like rancid smoke. Elara shifted beside him, her eyebrows furrowing as she processed Lilly's words.

“Now is not the time for games, X-04.” She interjected, her voice strained but resolute. “We have no intention of inciting violence here. This is a delivery, plain and simple.”
“See, that’s the thing, little miss sector manager. You all seem so keen on pissing me off, and based on the way your little scientist over there is about to piss himself…I’d say he’s the only one on this property that seems aware of what and who I am. I always play games, and do you know why? Because I’m the winner, every mother-fucking-time. Now, Xavier, you’ve got twenty seconds to hand me the paperwork, or I’m gonna start breaking your bones in alphabetical order.” Lilly’s grin was down right manic at this point as she stared the three down.
Xavier’s façade cracked further, his confidence fizzing out at her words. Elara's fury bubbled beneath the surface, but she was smart enough to know the weight of the threat she was making. The lab coat-clad man stood frozen, eyes darting back and forth between his superior and Lilly, sweat glistening on his brow.

“
Twenty seconds.
” Lilly pressed, leaning forward. “
Tick-tock.
”

Elara opened her mouth to protest, but the look in Lilly's eyes silenced her.

Perfect.

“Hurry.” She urged Xavier through clenched teeth, desperation edging her tone.

With a reluctant grunt, Xavier reached into his side bag and produced a thick stack of documents, handing it over with trembling fingers. Lilly snatched the papers with a flick of her wrist, smiling all the while.

Something was wrong here, and she was going to figure out what.

Where were her new boys?

She scanned though the documents quickly, logging and noting each section.

Her face hardened.

The paperwork had only been filed six hours ago, and on top of that there was a forged approval signature from G.E., aka Director Issac, on the new guys being here four days early. She had also brought excessive military force in order to handle them.

Then where were they?

She scanned again, here eyes landing on the massive metal container to her right.

There was…no way, right?

There would be blood spilled if she confirmed her suspicions.

Lilly's eyes narrowed as she flipped through the pages, her processors working overtime to analyze every detail. The air around her shimmered with heat as her rage built, steam rising from her skin in wisps.

"
Well, well, well,"
she drawled, her voice dripping with venom.
"It seems we have quite the collection of fuck-ups here, don't we?"
She turned to face Elara, who was now visibly sweating.
"Let's start with the basics, shall we? This paperwork was only filed six hours ago. That's a far cry from the 24-hour notice required for any delivery, let alone one of this... magnitude.
"

She took a step closer to Elara, who instinctively took a step back. "
Then we have this lovely little forgery.
" Lilly held up a page, pointing to a signature at the bottom. "
Did you really think I wouldn’t know Director Issac’s Signature? And lastly…and you better answer this really fucking carefully…

where are my boys

?
" Her voice was low, each word laced with the promise of violence.

Elara swallowed hard, trying to maintain a stance of authority. "It’s not…there was a situation, X-04. These things have been hurting people, and we took precautions to ensure they wouldn’t be able to do that during delivery."

She snapped her fingers, and four grunts moved to the container.

Lilly felt her fingers twitch.

She heard the boys behind her suck in a breath, Stretch’s voice filtering into her ears, “Oh, this is gonna be

bad

.”

“Yes, They’ve Really Gone And Done It Now.” Papyrus sighed.

The four grunts approached the container, their movements stiff and mechanical as they unlocked the heavy metal door. With a loud creak, it swung open, revealing the darkened interior. For a moment, there was only silence, broken by the soft clink of metal against metal.

Then, they emerged.

Each of them had their wrists and feet bound in shackles and chains, a thick metal collar around their necks like a vice. They all had a flat metal plate that seemed to wrap around their jaws and cover their mouths like a makeshift muzzle.

They were connected together like a line of prisoners.

Axe was the first to be dragged out, his single red eye light blazing with fury as he stumbled forward. The chains wrapped around his body clinked ominously, restricting his movements. His clothes were slightly torn in places as she allowed her processors to take over and analyze them all. He had on his usual blue hoodie, but the hood had a fluffy fur rim all the way around. He wore a slightly torn white t-shirt with black basketball shorts, finishing off with white socks and ragged looking black and white sneakers.

Behind him, Sugar followed, his tall frame hunched over, eye sockets and white eye lights wide with a mix of fear and shock. The rectangle framed glasses sitting on his nose had a crack on running along one side. He had a pastel pink sweater on, and possibly a dress shirt underneath based on the white collar and cuffs poking out from the ends. His long brown pants and white slip on shoes were slightly scuffed in some areas, clear sighs of a struggle.

Her rage intensified.

Black and Mutt were next, bound a bit closer together than the others.

Black's red pentagram like eye lights were mere pinpricks of rage, the three scars on his left socket scrunched as he surveyed his surroundings. His outfit similar to Edge’s when he first arrived, a black chest plate and sharp shoulder pads that had scuffs and marks all across it. His long red scarf was draped messily and torn around his neck from where they had collared him. His bright red gloves and boots had ominous stains on them, and she prayed that it was someone’s fucking blood.

Mutt was in his long black and orange trench coat, the hood, cuffs, and bottom being a thick orange fur. His orange sweater was torn and stained, and his black skinny jeans had a broken gold chain dangling around at his side. The black and gold spiked collar he usually wore had been loosened to allow room for the one they had in a choking grip around his throat. He had one long scar across the left side of his socket, and his orange eye lights were lax as he feigned indifference at the situation.

Aster stumbled behind Black quickly. His glasses were cracked, his green eyelights flickering in a cold anger. A thin trail of marrow rolled from both cracks on either side of his sockets. His long black dress coat was torn near the bottom, and the white turtleneck sweater under it was stained with a mix of green marrow and red blood. His slacks were scuffed, and his black dress shoes were almost white from the amount of dust and dirt on them.

G brought up the rear, his yellow eyelights narrowed as he followed behind his brother. The cracks running along his face, much like his brother’s, seemed to have thin spider webbing cracks that leaked marrow. His crop black leather jacket was wrinkled in spots, and some of the white fur on the hood was stained with marrow and blood. The white sweater and black jeans he wore seemed to be covered in a mix of dirt and grime, and his black tennis shoes seemed to have been haphazardly tied back up as his feet dragged.

They

all

looked as if they’d been beaten or injured in some way as they stumbled to stand in line behind Elara and Xavier. They looked between her and the boys behind her, then sent glares to the back of Elara and Xavier’s head like they were trying to kill them with their stares alone.

Their eyelights fell back to her, narrowing in suspicion and nervousness.
“Oh. They Are So Fucked.” Edge chuckled from behind.
Charles, at some point, had scrambled his way back and locked himself in an SUV.

He knew what was coming.

Her vision narrowed to a pinpoint, her entire world consumed by the sight of her battered and chained boys. The air around her crackled with energy, steam hissing from between her clenched teeth as her temperature skyrocketed.

Elara, either oblivious to the danger or foolishly confident, began to speak. "As you can see, X-04, we've taken necessary precautions with these... creatures. They've proven to be unstable and violent. Before transport, they attacked several of our men. We couldn't risk—"

Lilly cut her off, her eerily calm voice echoing across the lot, “
You’ve got ten seconds to get that shit off them before I remove your head.
”

“Hell yeah, fuck em up sweetheart!” Red shouted, practically cheering from behind her.

“Get her ass, Lils!” Stretch followed up, hooting and hollering.

The new guys sockets all widened in shock.

A large holographic timer formed over her head, already beginning to tick down.

Elara's eyes widened, panic creeping into her expression as she glanced at the looming timer. “You can't—”

“
Five seconds.
” Lilly interjected, her voice an icy whisper that sent chills through the grunts standing nearby.

Xavier, now visibly sweating, took a step back, his confidence crumbling. “You don’t get to make calls like that—”

“Three.”

Elara’s face went from panicked to rage in an instant, stepping forward and sticking a finger into Lilly’s chest, “You do not have the authority to-!”

“

Time’s up

.
” She snarled.

Lilly brought her hand to the side, as if she was slapping a bug away.

Elara’s head was disconnected from her body instantly as it flew off to the side and disintegrated into the concrete, leaving a crater in its wake.

The rest of her swayed and twitched in place before her corpse crumpled to the ground, blood pooling from her neck stump.

A moment of stunned silence enveloped the courtyard, the only sound the soft thud of Elara's body hitting the gravel. The grunts stood frozen, eyes wide and mouths open as they slowly processed what they’d just seen.

The new groups’ eye’s widened in shock, looking between the woman’s body and her in a mix of confusion and slight…well now, was that satisfaction?

Blue let out a low whistle. “

Damn,

Starlight.”

“Welp, they had it coming after pulling something like this in front of Lils...” Sans sighed.

“
Let’s try this again. Ten Seconds.”
Lilly’s voice was monotone and cold as she stared at Xavier, who seemed to come out of his shock.

He reached to his hip and raised his gun, pointing at her with trembling hands, “Y-you’re a fucking psychopath! You fucking crazy bitch! You killed her!” He screamed, aiming the barrel between her eyes.

“
Five seconds.
” She smiled.

Xavier's gun quivered in his hand, but something in Lilly's gaze made him hesitate. “You’re insane!” He shouted, his confidence slipping through his fingers like sand. The voices of his grunts had turned to whispers, panic rising as they began to realize just how badly they miscalculated.

“
Three.
” Lilly took a step forward, her body radiating waves of heat that made the air shimmer around her. She could feel the tension in the air, thick and heavy with fear.

“Stay back!” He barked, though his voice cracked.

“
Two.
”

The grunts shifted nervously, their eyes darting between Lilly and Xavier, who stood frozen, sweat dripping down his temple.

“
Last chance.
” Her voice was deceptively sweet, like poison poured over honey.

In a frantic move, Xavier pulled the trigger.

The shot rang out, echoing through the courtyard, but Lilly didn’t fall.

She held the bullet between her teeth, her grin widening.

“Stars Above, Is It Weird If That Was Kind Of Hot?” Blue whispered.

Edge chuckled, “No. Not It Is Not.”

“
Here, since I’m such a nice girl, why don’t I give this back to you?
” Her voice echoed even if her mouth didn’t move.

She spit it back at him, the bullet piercing through his shoulder with so much force that the meat and bone seemed to evaporate.

His arm, with nothing left to hang on to, fell to the ground with a sickening thud.

Panic erupted among the soldiers. Some dropped their weapons, eyes wide with fear, while others scrambled for cover around the trucks, their training abandoned in the face of true terror. The air thickened with the scent of sweat and adrenaline, a heady mix that clung to Lilly like a second skin.

She shook her head and grimaced as Xavier began screaming, clutching and grasping at the stump as he flailed on the ground.

“
For the love of god,

shut the fuck up.

” She sneered, kicking him in the face so hard his jaw shattered, sending teeth and blood all over the ground.

He stopped screaming, falling back unconscious.

She turned to the four trembling grunts that had been shoving their guns at the boys, two on either side of the ends of the line of skeletons.

One by one, in less than a second, she had their heads gone.

They exploded into the ground, painting sections of the concrete like she had promised.

X-04

always

kept her promises.

She teleported back to her original spot, noting how the new guys were flicking their gazes between the bodies and her in absolute disbelief.

“
Alright, listen up you ugly little fucking animals! You’ve got twenty minutes to unload those three cargo containers here on the right. If you feel like running or trying anything stupid, just look around you and remember that I have plenty of space to add to my collection.
” She smiled and clapped her hands, gesturing to the massive stains on the concrete that was Elara and the four grunt’s heads.

The soldiers hesitated, glancing at one another, the fear palpable as they registered the consequences of their choices. A few grunts made half-hearted attempts to rally their courage, but one look at Lilly's blazing eyes quelled any thoughts of rebellion.

“You heard her!” One of the commanding officers barked, the tremor in his voice evident. “Get moving! Now!”

Like a swarm of agitated ants, the soldiers scrambled to obey, some rushing back to the large trailer trucks while others stood frozen, rooted in disbelief at what had just transpired.

Let them all know, and let them all remember.

Her face went from rage to concern in an instant as she moved to the new guys, assessing them closely, “Fuck, I’m

so, so sorry they did this to you

. Is it okay for me to touch you, so I can get these chains off? I can also have the other guys use healing magic on you to patch these wounds up once they’re all off.” She spoke frantically, worry etched in her face as she looked them all over.

Axe's red eye light bloated in his skull as he looked her up and down.

They were still muzzled

“Shit, sorry, just…nod if it’s okay?” She slapped herself in the face for being so stupid, looking back to the group.

Axe’s eye flickered, a quick nod barely perceptible amidst the tension. Sugar, despite his hunched stature, managed to meet her gaze, his fear giving way to a glimmer of hope as he nodded slowly. The rest followed suit, Mutt and Black exchanging instinctive glances before both of them inclined their heads slightly. Aster, still dazed from the head trauma, offered a hesitant nod, and G stared her down, giving a fast nod as he looked around at the carnage she had created.

“Alright, it shouldn’t take long. Can you lean down for me, so I can start with the muzzles? It’ll suck, but I’ll need to do this one by one to make sure it doesn’t hurt any of you.” She held her hands out to Axe first, waiting for his move and approval.

Axe hesitated for a moment, the chains rattling as he shifted awkwardly. But he leaned down, his head bowed slightly, the unspoken trust in his single red eye piercing through the chaos around them. Lilly's fingers danced over the muzzle, her fingertips slightly ghosting over the sides of his skull as she felt around for a weak point.

She froze when he leaned forward, resting his skull on her shoulder and took a deep breath in.

“Fuck! Did I hurt you? I’m so sorry…Hold on, let me just-” She panicked, morphing her finger into a small blade as she cut through the metal like butter, the muzzle clanging to the ground loudly as he pulled back slightly.

But he leaned back in, burying his face in the curve of the left side of her neck.

“A-Axe…are you okay?” She stuttered, worried she’d hurt him in some way.

A low rumble emanated from his chest as he pressed closer to her. She felt the tension in his body slowly relax, his chains rattling softly as he shifted.

Then, with agonizing slowness, she felt him drag his tongue up the curve of her neck, leaving a trail of tingling warmth in its wake. The sensation sent shivers down her spine and caused her skin to erupt in goosebumps.

As his tongue reached her jawline, Axe whispered hoarsely, “Thanks

bite-size

.”

She felt a blush crawl over her face, shaking her head as she gently moved him off her, “D-don’t thank me until I’ve gotten everything off and everyone else free! And it’s not smart to lick people you don’t know!”

She quickly turned her attention to Sugar, who was watching the interaction with wide, uncertain eyes. “Your turn, can you lean down for me? I’m sorry I’m really short…” She said softly, forcing herself to focus.

Sugar leaned down obediently, his tall frame looming over her. Her fingers brushed against the muzzle and the sides of his skull, scanning for the pressure points to release him from his restraints. As she worked, she could feel the tension in his body slowly dissipate, and he closed his eyes.

“Almost there. I’m

so sorry

Sugar…” She whispered, her voice steadying him as she cut through the last piece of metal holding it in place. The muzzle clattered to the ground, and Sugar drew in a deep breath, relief flooding his features as he flexed his jaw.

“Thank You Very Much.” He smiled and tilted his head at her, her face heating once more.

“Of course.” She nodded, moving to Mutt next.

Mutt stood tall and imposing, his expression a blend of calm indifference and suspicion as she approached. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, possibly a silent acknowledgment of what she had just done.

He leaned down slightly, allowing her easy access to his muzzle.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be quick…” She murmured. She repeat the pattern, gently letting her fingertips dance over the sides of his skull and the muzzle as she searched for the best spot to cut into.

She paused when he shivered at her touch, his sockets widening.

“Fuck! Did that hurt? Shit, I’m sorry, hold on…” She grimaced, slicing slowly into a thinner section of the metal. It slowly came apart, falling to the ground. He flexed his jaw, sighing slightly and leaning in close to her like Axe had done.

“W-wait, Mutt. Let me get your brother first.” She went to pull back, but he went for the right side of her neck, opposite to Axe.

Mutt's breath ghosted over her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Without warning, he dragged his tongue up the curve of her neck, savoring every inch. The sensation was electric, causing her breath to hitch and her skin to erupt in goosebumps. His tongue was warm and slightly rough, leaving a tingling trail in its wake as his magic touched her skin.

She felt a piercing on it somewhere.

As he reached her jawline, Mutt paused, his gold fangs grazing her skin ever so lightly. "Thanks, darlin'." He murmured, his deep voice rumbling against her. "And don’t worry, ya ain’t hurtin’ us. Quite the opposite in fact. Makes more sense now that I’ve gotten a taste. You smell absolutely delicious... like cinnamon apple pie and gunpowder."

Lilly felt her face flush hot, her once angry red coolant had slight swirls of purple mixed in.

What the hell did that mean?

At least she wasn’t hurting them…?

“J-just let me get everyone out! Jesus, what’s with you guys and licking me…” She shook her head, and he chuckled and leaned back, eyeing her with a sly grin.

She moved in front of Black, a soft look on her face, “Alright, Black. Can you lean down here for me?” She held her hands out, waiting for permission.

Black’s expression was a complex blend of defiance and vulnerability as he studied her. His red pentagram shaped eyelights flickered over her face, and then her hands. For a moment, he hesitated, but then he crouched down, his chains clinking softly as he shifted. Lilly could feel the weight of his gaze, intense and scrutinizing, as she worked on the muzzle.

“Just like the others. I promise it won’t hurt,” She reassured him, her fingers gently brushing against the cold metal and the sides of his skull. He tensed when her fingers made contact with his bone, but then he relaxed again as she worked. As she sliced through the restraints, she couldn’t help but glance up at him, gauging his response.

The moment the last piece fell away, he straightened up and flexed his jaw with a low growl of satisfaction that reverberated deep in his chest.

“Free At Last.” Black murmured, his voice low and gravelly. He looked down at her, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. “You’ve Got Quite The Skill For Freeing Captives, Little One. I Think I Might Be Fond Of You.” His words were tinged with a dark appreciation, the corners of his mouth hinting at a grin.

“It’s no problem…Once the muzzles are all off I’ll move onto the collars, and then the chains.” She mumbled, looking away and focusing next on Aster.

He stood quietly to the side, still unsteady behind his cracked glasses. “Aster, it’s your turn now.” She beckoned softly. “Can you lean down for me?”

With careful movements, Aster complied, his body trembling slightly as he approached her. The vulnerability in his posture made her heart ache. She leaned in closer to examine the muzzle, noting how it had gnawed at him, leaving small raw patches on his skull.

“I’ll be quick, and then my boys back there can help heal you, okay?” She said softly, being careful when she touched the areas around his skull that seemed injured.

He stopped trembling the moment her fingers touched his skull, his eye sockets going wide as he abruptly stood back up.

“A-Aster, are you okay? Did it hurt? Is it digging into you?!” She panicked, noting how G shifted in his chains to glare at her and then looked at his brother with worry.

Mutt and Axe chuckled from her left, and she looked over in confusion.

“Nah, he ain’t hurt darlin’, just realizing what we all did.” Mutt shrugged, sending a wink to Aster who shook his head, narrowing his sockets.

Axe raised a brow, “Gotta say, it makes all the shit we went through well worth it, bite-size.”

“I don’t-…Okay, we’ll talk about whatever this is in a bit.” She turned back looking up at Aster who still seemed to be staring at her with wide, shocked sockets, “Can you let me finish? Or do I need to do G’s first?” She asked, trying to sound calm and gentle.

Had she scared him when she killed those people?

The thought made her blood run cold.

Aster blinked a few times, shaking his head and then nodding at her. He leaned back down, and she quickly removed it from his face.

As the muzzle clattered to the ground, Aster inhaled deeply, relief flooding his features. “Thank You. I Was just…Caught Off Guard. You Did Not Injure Me.” He whispered, his voice almost lost in the chaos of the courtyard.

“It’s okay. I know this has been horrible for you all, so I don’t expect you to trust me or be entirely comfortable with what’s happened here today…” She gave a soft, but sad smile as she tried to ignore the bodies on the ground around her.

She turned her attention to G, who stood stiffly in place, eyes narrowed as he assessed the scene around him. Despite the chains that bound him, there was an undeniable strength radiating from him, like he was shaking in the chains that bound him. “G, your turn.” She gestured for him to lean down.

For a moment, he hesitated. His gaze flickered between her and the soldiers scrambling to obey her earlier command, clearly still weighing his options. But finally, with a purposeful step forward, he lowered himself slightly.

“Thank you…” Her fingers brushed over the cold metal of his muzzle, and then his skull as she sought out the weakest point. The moment she made contact, he shivered, his chains rattling slightly as his eye sockets went wide.

“Sorry…fuck, I’ll be quick…” She reassured, slowly cutting into the metal and letting it fall to the ground.

As the muzzle clattered to the ground, G inhaled sharply, “Damn darlin’…makes a hell of a lot more sense now why the guys were actin’ like that.” He grinned, flexing his jaw and rolling it a few times.

She narrowed her eyes in confusion, but shook her head, reaching back out to him.

“We’ll talk more later, let me get the collars.” She turned her head, noting how her boys were switching between eyeing the workers and watching the scene from a distance.

They all had shit eating grins on their faces, like a silent conversation had been passing between them and the new guys.

Okay…this was…weird.

“Oh doll, you can yank on my collar anytime…” G purred, and she narrowed her eyes at him.

“Are you…flirting with me? After I just killed five people, maimed a sixth, and you’ve all been transported here like caged animals?” She asked, disbelief in her voice, her hands still a few inches away from his collar.

G's grin widened, but a flicker of seriousness crossed his features. “It’s all about perspective, sweetheart. A different kind of freedom can be intoxicating, and you’ve just given us a lot more than I think you’re even aware of.” His voice was low and smooth, an undercurrent of something primal threading through his words. “Besides, this whole mess has only confirmed that you’re more than worth our attention.”

“D-don’t get all philosophical on me right now! I don’t even know that that means!” She stammered, shaking her head to dispel the sudden warmth spreading through her cheeks. She couldn’t let herself get distracted by flirting—not now, not when they were in the middle of this chaos. “I really need to focus on getting you all free.” She huffed, and he only chuckled and leaned back down.

Her finger’s ghosted around his neck and the collar, and he shivered again. She felt how cool his bones were, and how the magic that radiated off him seemed to tickle her skin. She traced her fingers carefully along the edges, searching for any weak points or mechanisms designed to release it.

“Just a moment…I can’t find a latch, so I’ll just cut it off like the muzzles…” She whispered, her voice steady against the chaos surrounding them. The sounds of soldiers scrambling and shouting faded into a distant hum in her ears as she concentrated on her task.

As she sliced through the collar’s thinnest point, she couldn’t shake the feeling that G was watching her intently, his gaze unwavering. “You know,” he said, his voice low and teasing as his breath ghosted over her ear, “for someone who just tore through a small army, you sure have a gentle touch.”

She huffed, pouting slightly at his teasing as the collar fell. It swung heavily, still connected to the chains and cuffs on his wrists.

She reached down, grabbing the cuffs around his wrist and quickly pulled them apart like it was nothing. The broken metal and links scattered around the ground as she reached out for the ones at his waist.

G’s hands immediately shot out, wrapping one around her waist and one around her wrist as he pulled her in close. She let out a startled yelp as he leaned down, pressing his face against the right side of her neck like Mutt.

“G! Come on, I need to get everyone!” She sighed, trying to pull away.

“Just a second, spitfire. Let me savor this moment…” He chuckled against her neck, and her breath hitched.

What the actual

fuck

was happening?

His grip tightened slightly as he pressed his face against her neck, inhaling deeply. His breath ghosted over her skin, sending shivers down her spine. She felt the smooth surface of his teeth graze her neck, followed by the warm, tingling sensation of his tongue.

G dragged his tongue slowly up the curve of her neck. The sensation, much like the others, caused her skin to tingle as it trailed up to her jawline.

He paused, his teeth grazing her skin ever so lightly. "Damn, sweetheart," He murmured, his deep voice rumbling against her. "You taste even better than you smell…”

“As Much As I Know You’re Enjoying Yourself G, The Rest Of Us Would Like To Be Freed At Some Point. Hurry It Up, You Horny Bastard.” Black snarled, and she could hear his chains rattling as he shifted.

He let her go with a low chuckled, putting his hands up placating, “Alright, alright…Gotta save the real fun for later anyway.” He said, winking at her.

“Jesus Christ, alright. Let me get your feet, then you can head over to the others. Hey Paps! Do you guys think you can start healing them?” She turned, calling out to the group behind her.

“Of Course! Blue And I Are Quite Good With Healing Magic.” Papyrus had him arms crossed, sending her a warm smile and a thumbs up.

“Dope. Okay, let me get these…” She mumbled, getting onto her knees as she reached for the ones around G’s ankles.

She gripped the cuffs, quickly pulling them apart like butter as the links and chains scattered across the gravel.

“Alright, now we’ll just do this shit in reverse…” She looked up, noting that G and Aster had blushes on their face as they looked down at her. Aster’s was a light lime, while G’s was a soft yellow.

Huh?

“Darlin’, yer killin’ me here…” He rubbed his face, quickly moving away as he walked over to Papyrus.

She furrowed her brows, moving onto Aster’s ankles as she shuffled to the side. She repeated the process and then stood, going for the chains around his waist.

“I Apologize On My Brother’s Behalf. He Doesn’t Know How To…Well, He Has A Hard Time Behaving Himself, Especially In Front Of A Beautiful Woman.” Aster turned his face away, a soft blush still evident on his cheeks.

She felt her own blush return.

He had called

her

beautiful.

She brushed the thoughts off, trying to figure out their reactions. Had she broken some kind of weird skeleton kink rule? Was there something about chains she didn’t know, like the sock thing?

She wasn’t sure if she wanted to find out right now.

“I don’t blame the guy, she looks

killer

on her knees like that.” Mutt grinned, licking his fangs as he eyed her.

“Oh come on! How are you straight up flirting with me while you’re still chained up like this…And was that a pun!? I swear to god…” She grumbled, shaking her head as she tore through Aster’s chains. He leaned down, giving her access to his collar.

As she worked on his collar, her fingers deftly maneuvering around the cold metal, Axe's gravelly voice cut through the air. "Ya know, bite-size, watching you tear through those chains like they're made of paper... it's doing things to me." His single red eye light flickered intensely as he watched her hands work.

Lilly felt her face flush hotter, the coolant in her cheeks swirling with more hints of purple. She tried to focus on the task at hand, but Axe's words echoed in her mind. The collar finally gave way under her touch, clattering to the ground.

“Thank You, Dear.” Aster nodded at her, slowly making his way to the group behind.

“It’s no problem, Aster.” She waved her hand dismissively in the air.

She moved and knelt before Black and Mutt, her hands reaching for the heavy chains encircling their ankles. The air around them crackled with an odd tension, a mix of the earlier violence and something... different.

Fucking flirty ass skeletons…

"My, My, Little One…" Black purred, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine. "I Must Say, You Look Quite Fetching From This Angle."

I refuse to engage this time. Nope. I’m cooler than that.

Mutt chuckled, his chains shifting slightly as he leaned back. "Gotta agree with m'lord there, darlin'. You on your knees like this... it's givin' me all sorts of ideas."

She didn’t look up, trying her best to keep her mouth shut as she tore through both of them quickly. She stood, moving to grab at the ones on their waists, her cheeks red from all the ridiculous comments the group was making.

There were literally five dead bodies scattered about, and the sounds of heavy boots thudding and panicked gasps from grunts as they worked around them.

And these stupid skeletons were

flirting with her.

Lilly's fingers worked deftly at the chains around Black and Mutt's waists, her face burning hot as she tried to ignore their suggestive comments and the way the chains looked wrapped around their spines and hips. The metal links clinked and rattled as she tore through them with inhuman strength, scattering broken pieces across the gravel.

"Such Strength In Those Delicate Little Hands. I Wonder What Else They're Capable Of..."

"Bet those fingers could work magic on more than just chains."

This is actually fucking crazy.

She kept her eyes fixed on her task, refusing to meet their gazes as she moved to their wrists. The air around them felt charged, crackling with an odd tension that had nothing to do with the chaos surrounding them at the moment.

“Why are you flirting with the insane woman who just tore the heads off of five people…” She huffed, trying to ignore the way her cheeks burned and her coolant swirled with more purple.

It was definitely more purple than red at this point.

Black leaned back slightly, an amused grin spreading across his skeletal face. “Insanity Can Be Quite Charming, You Know. Especially When It’s Wrapped Up In Such A Cute Little Package Like Yourself.” He tilted his head, the pentagram in his eye flickering in a way that felt almost playful.

Mutt grinned wide, flashing his fangs, “Ain’t nothing like a little danger to spice things up, sweetheart. Gotta admit, your version of ‘breaking the ice’ is pretty enticing.”

“J-Just-…god-dammit, let me see your collars…” She scrunched her face in slight frustration, reaching up with her hands to Black first.

He leaned in close to the side of her head as she slowly snaked her fingers across his neck and collar, whispering into her ear, “You Know, I’d Love To Put One On You Myself. I Bet You’d Look

Fantastic

In Red…”

“I swear to god Black, If you don’t shut up, I’m gonna yank on this thing.” She grit out, her face burning.

Mutt let out a deep, rumbling laugh at her words, "Oh darlin', you're just making it worse for yourself. Or better, depending on how you wanna look at it."

Black's grin widened, his eyelights flickering with mischief. "Perhaps You Should, Little One. I Might Just Enjoy It." His voice dropped an octave lower, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. "Though I Must Warn You, I Might Have To Return The Favor."

“You’re both actually fucking ridiculous…” Black’s collar popped off, the last of his chains falling with it as she sighed, reaching over for Mutt’s.

Mutt leaned forward, the smirk still plastered on his face as he met her gaze. "I'll take that as a compliment, sweetheart. Ain't nobody ever made a fuss over me like this before." He chuckled, the sound rich and deep as he watched her work.

“Of course I’m gonna make a fucking fuss! Stupid bitch comes in here being disrespectful as shit, then has the balls to have you guys transported like this? Honestly, I let her off easy, blowing the bitches brains out like that all over my parking lot…” She sneered, her face and voice a stark contrast to the gentle way she was touching the sides of his neck and collar.

"Sweetheart," He murmured, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, "you're something else, you know that?" His eyelights flickered, "Didn't expect to find our guardian angel in a place like this, let alone one that paints the ground red."

She huffed, shaking the violent thoughts from her head as she cut through his collar, “I’ll lay a bitch out any time for all of you.” It fell to the ground with a thud as she finished.

Mutt's deep, rumbling laughter filled the air, his golds fangs shining. "Oh darlin', you're something special. Ready to paint the town red for a bunch of monsters you just met?" He leaned in close, his breath ghosting over her ear as he whispered, "Careful now, or we might just fall for you."

“Y-you-!” She started, but he moved past her, ruffling her hair and chuckling as he walked to join the others.

Moving on, she tried desperately to shake off all the images and lewd thoughts that plagued her mind.

She got down again, noting how Axe and Sugar seemed to be sparing her from further flirty comments as she ripped through the chains on their ankles. Moving up, she got to work on the ones around their waists, quickly tearing them apart.

“Ya know bite-size, ya might wanna leave these on me, I tend to bite.” He chuckled, eyeing her as she worked.

“Pft, good thing I’m into that I guess.” She rolled her eyes, moving onto the ones on Sugar’s hands.

Axe's deep, rumbling laugh filled the air, a sound that she found herself wanting to hear more of. His single red eye light blazed with renewed intensity as he fixed his gaze on her, a predatory grin spreading across his face.

"Oh sweets," He purred, his voice low and gravelly, "ya really shouldn't say things like that. Might give a monster ideas." He leaned in closer, his breath ghosting over her ear as she worked on Sugar's chains. "And trust me, my bite is much worse than my bark."

She felt a pleasant shiver run down her spine, her fingers momentarily fumbling with the chains. She tried to focus on the task at hand, but Axe's words echoed in her mind, stirring something primal within her.

Fuck. Me.

"Brother, Please Behave Yourself. We’ve Only Just Arrived…” Sugar sighed, shaking his head as she broke through his wrist chains. She reached out, waiting for Sugar to lean back down for her so she could remove his collar.

She didn’t think she even came up to the bottom of his ribs as she craned her neck up at him.

Fuck, he was so

big

.

As Sugar leaned down, his towering frame now dangerously close to her, she felt a rush of warmth flood her cheeks again. She fought to maintain her focus as she cut into the collar from his neck, her fingers trembling slightly at the proximity.

"You're Doing Great, Dear." Sugar said softly, his deep voice a soothing contrast to the chaos around them. "Just A

Little More.

"

Oh my fucking god, not the praise kink.

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak as she quickly severed the metal. Once free, Sugar straightened up and stretched, the sound of cracking joints reverberating through the air. He looked down at her with that same gentle smile, reaching out and petting the top of her head.

“Thank You very Much, Hun.” He said, and Axe chuckled as he noted how her face lit on fire as Sugar walked away.

I’m going to die, confirmed. A nuke can’t kill me, but tall, gentle skeletons can.

Lilly turned to Axe, her skin still tingling from Sugar's gentle touch. Axe's single red eye light narrowed as she approached, his grin widening to reveal sharp fangs that contrasted sharply with the rest of his normal teeth.

"Saved the best for last, eh bite-size?" Axe chuckled. He held out his hands, the chains clinking softly as he moved. "Come on then, sweets. Don't keep me waiting."

She huffed, trying to ignore the way her coolant swirled with more purple than red now. She reached for his wrists, her fingers brushing against the cool bone as she examined the heavy cuffs.

Axe leaned in closer, "I gotta say, you’ve got a way of making a monster feel right at home. Just the sight of you tearing through those chains? Damn near got me all hot and bothered." His voice was low, gravelly, and she felt it resonate deep within her core, the intensity making her heart race.

“Y-you're still chained up, remember?” She stammered, focusing on the cuffs. “Let’s get these off first.”

He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his crimson eye light. “Oh, I know, sweets. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the view while I’m waitin’.”

She rolled her eyes, working quickly to cut through the cuffs around his wrists. The chains fell to the ground with a metallic clatter, leaving him unshackled.

“Now for the collar.” She said, reaching out with her hands to him.

Axe's grin widened as she reached for his collar. He shook his head, chuckling deeply. "Ah, ah, not so fast, bite-size. You're a bit too vertically challenged for this, ain't ya?" His eye light flickered with mischief. "Let's get you a better angle."

Before she could protest, his large hands gripped her hips firmly. With seemingly no effort at all, he lifted her off the ground, her feet dangling in the air. She let out a startled yelp, her hands instinctively grabbing onto his shoulders for balance, and her legs wrapping around his lower ribs.

"There we go," Axe purred, his face now level with hers. "Much better view from up here, don't you think?"

Oh. My. God.

She didn’t move, feeling her face light up as her coolant fully shifted from red to purple.

It happened so fast it looked like a strobe light, flickering and pulsing in the chambers of her arms and stomach.

"I...I need to get your collar off." She managed to stammer out, narrowing her eyes at him. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for the metal encircling his neck.

Axe's grin widened, revealing more of his fangs that nearly made her clench her thighs. "By all means, bite-size. Take your time." His voice was a low rumble that she could feel vibrating through her chest.

She slowly began cutting it off, leaning against him and becoming extremely aware of how her body pressed into him.

Her fingers brushed against his cervical vertebrae as she maneuvered around the collar, eliciting a low growl from deep within his chest. The vibration sent tingles through her body, making her breath hitch.

Axe's hands tightened on her hips, pulling her impossibly closer. His face dipped down, nuzzling into the crook of her neck. She felt his nasal ridge trace a line from her collarbone to her ear, inhaling deeply.

"Mmm…"Axe's voice rumbled low in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "I always forget just how soft ya humans are…" He inhaled deeply, his nasal ridge tracing along her neck. "And, ya smell good enough to

eat

."

Her fingers fumbled slightly with the collar as his words washed over her. She could feel the heat radiating from his bones, seeping through her clothes and warming her skin. His large hands splayed across her back, holding her securely against his broad chest.

I’m ruined.

“Brother! Let The Nice Lady Free You, And Stop Ogling Her!” Sugar shouted from behind, and she sent a silent thank you to him.

She cut through the last bit, and it fell away, rolling off his shoulders and to the ground. She sighed, instinctually leaning over and resting her head on his shoulder as she let some of the tension release from her body.

She got a whiff of his scent as she did, “Oh…your scent is like…pine, copper, and butter cake…” She tilted her head, leaning back and looking at him.

Axe’s red eye light became bloated in his skull at her words, a small blush forming on his cheeks as his sockets went wide.

His eye light dilated, and he blinked a few times, chuckling and setting her back down on the ground, “Bite-size, ya got no idea the kinda things you’re doin’…and that makes it all the more fun.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, but swiftly shook her head and turned to make her way back to all twelve skeletons.

“Alright, everyone listen up. They’ve got six minutes left to finish up here. Once these fuck heads are off my god-damn property, I’ll log the shipments, and then we’ll get you all inside for the tour.” She put a hand on her hip, allowing her voice to fall back into serious as she overlooked them all together.

“Yes

ma’am

.” Red winked at her, saluting her with two fingers.

“Gotta say Lils, that was one hell of a show you put on.” Sans chuckled, eyeing the carnage behind her with a raised brow.

She bristled.

Mutt grinned, “Shit, we’re not complaining. This went from the worst day ever, to the best.”

“Yeah, yeah. In case it wasn’t clear, if anyone from the facility ever breathes at you wrong, you tell me, and I’ll have some more fun. Speaking of…” She narrowed her eyes, turning as she overlooked the scene behind her.

The grunts were scrambling to finish unloading the three shipping containers, their hands shaking as they worked under the pressure of her presence. The few who had retained their composure were throwing nervous glances in her direction, their eyes wide with fear.

She looked down to the bodies of Elara and the four grunts, and watched as Xavier seemed to be stirring occasionally.

Walking over, she looked around for that little scientist, seeing that he was still inside one of the SUV’s and ducked down when they made eye contact. She sent a copy of his face through her database of different facility personnel, finding him from the one she had been at.

She grinned, calling out for him, “
Oh Charles~!
” She singsonged, swaying side to side as she walked over to the bodies on the ground.

He flinched in the vehicle, opening the door and slowly stepping out.

“
Charles, dear, please don’t forget to take the trash with you when you leave.
” Her eyes narrowed and her grin widened as she brought her leg back.

She brought it down on the side of Elara’s ribs, sending her flying through the air and into one of the Humvee’s with a sickening crunch.

She repeated the process with the others, each landing on one of the vehicles around the area.

Pausing, she looked down at Xavier, who still seemed to be breathing.

“
Oh? This one is still kicking! Charles, if you want him to live, you may wanna get him into a car. If not, there’s plenty of space here on my parking lot of his brain too.
” She smiled, watching as Charles shakily moved closer to grab Xavier.

“
And don’t worry! I’ll be calling Director Issac to speak about the things that went on here today. After all, I’m his second in command, and he’s not going to be happy with this. Let’s hope he doesn’t send you all back to me as an apology gift.
” She sneered, relishing in how he couldn’t even make eye contact with her.

“Y-Yes, X-04…I understand…c-completely…” He stuttered, dragging Xavier’s body back to the SUV.

She gave him a warm smile, “
Aw, see? This is why you’re my favorite Charles. Now get the

fuck off my property

.
” Her face morphed into a hard expression as she finished, watching as the large trucks began to drive away.

Grunts filtered back into their Humvee’s, and she let out a relieved sigh as their tires squealed and kicked up dust as they peeled away. Luckily they had taken the container they had brought the boys over in with them, leaving nothing behind.

Then she looked down.

There was one thing they did manage to leave.

Xavier’s severed arm.

Her eyelids twitched in irritation as she stared at it, snarling, “Oh you’ve got to be fucking kidding me!”

She picked it up, waving it around above her head like a second arm as she tried to flag down one of the vehicles, “
YOU STUPID MOTHERFUCKERS! I TOLD YOU TO TAKE ALL THE TRASH WITH YOU!
” She screamed, throwing it hard.

It flew through the air, whipping and spinning wildly as it disappeared over a treeline, hundreds of yards away.

Breathing heavily, she pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to calm down from the new irritation crawling around in her gut. Her coolant pulsed and angry red, feeling herself getting worked up all over again.

“

Fuck. Me.

” She hissed, deciding to make a video call to G.E. as a large holographic screen popped up in front of her.

Someone was going to pay for this, and she knew G.E. would be more than happy to oblige.

There were a bunch of choked laughs from behind her, so she turned around and sent a harsh glare to the group, noting how they immediately began sweating and looking away from her as the call rang on.

After a few agonizing moments, the screen flickered to life, revealing the face of G.E., the Director, framed by the sterile environment of the facility. He grinned, raising a brow as he took in the scene, glancing at the blood-soaked gravel and the remnants of chaos decorating Sector Eight.

“Ohoho, X-04 you naughty little cyborg, what happened here?” He tilted his head, his green eyes peaking from over his sunglasses as he looked at her with a shit eating grin.

Lilly felt her jaw tighten as she glared back at G.E. The warmth of the blood still fresh beneath her feet only fueled the simmering rage in her core.

“G.E., there was a little infestation sent to my doorstep, so I had to take care of it. The little sector manager Elara Voss came in here without 24-hour allocated notice, forged your expedited signature, and then had my new boys chained together, beaten, muzzled, and collared like
fucking animals
.” She snarled, her coolant pulsing faster as she watched G.E. sweat slightly at her words.

“W-Woah woah! X-04, sweet pea, you know I would never mess with your little skellies like that!” He put his hands up, shaking his hands back and forth, but there was still a slight smile on his face.

“Plus, what the problem? Sounds like you got an early birthday gift! You got new skellie boys, and you got to let off some steam, killing two birds with one stone! Or I guess five, in this case.” He laughed, eyeing the stains on the ground.

Her eyes blazed with fury, the heat radiating from her skin creating a shimmering distortion in the air as her core temperature began to rise much too quickly. "You think this is funny, G.E.? You think I wanted to spend my day playing executioner in my own goddamn courtyard? You know the only thing that has stopped me from slaughtering every single fucking bug in the facilities are these boys here, and I have a fun little feeling that you’ve got more and haven’t sent them over, so let me make this perfectly fucking clear for you…” She leaned in, noting that his grin seemed to falter for a fraction of a second.

She was right…

there were more

.

“If any of my boys are sent here in a condition any less than perfect, I will start collecting body parts and string them up like mother fucking Christmas lights. I will make the X-04 Massacre at Meta-Hall look like the second coming of christ compared to the kind of hell I will raise.” She snarled, steam hissing from between her teeth as she spit the words out at him.

G.E. blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the ferocity behind her words. His facade of amusement shattered like glass, replaced by a more serious expression that matched the gravity of her tone. "Now hold on just a second, X-04. We don’t want to get too carried away here! You know I wouldn’t hurt them! Elara Voss was new, and if I had known she was going to pull a stunt like this, well, she wouldn’t have made it all the way there. You know I respect you and your little boys behind you, and we want to make sure they’re…extra comfortable, given your cute little circumstances, don’t we?" He said, attempting to regain some semblance of control over the situation as a sly grin rolled over his face.

He was talking about how she was soulmates with Sans, Papyrus, Red, Edge, Blue, and Stretch. While she didn’t know if she was also soulmates with the new guys, Mutt, Black, Axe, Sugar, G, and Aster, it seemed that for some reason, he was counting on it.

But she was ready for that.

A slow grin rolled over her face, and he tensed.

Good.

“G.E., dear. It seems like you’ve really miscalculated something here.” She began, slowly leaning to the camera.

“What do you think would happen if a military-trained war cyborg, who doesn’t love anything, found something to love? I mean, you remember quite well what happened to Melody and Annie, right? They tried to kill my cat Butterbean, and look where that got them. Now that I’ve got these guys behind me, do you really want to find out what happens if I find even a single scratch on any of their heads?” Her grin became wild and unhinged as she stared him down on the video feed.

His face hardened when she mentioned Melody, the deceased seventh Overseer.

G.E. swallowed hard, "X-04, I assure you, no one wants to see you go down that path again. I have no intention of undermining your authority over these new boys. What happened today will be snuffed out and reparations will be made in order to make it up to you and the newest guys. Come on now, you know that

I

know better than to pull something like that on you!” He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head.

Lilly’s grin faltered only slightly, but the intensity in her gaze remained unwavering. She could see the sweat forming on G.E.'s brow, the way his casual demeanor was slipping.

It felt good.

Everyone at the facility knew how she was regarding her sector.

Regarding her boys.

It had been the only thing keeping her going.

And her only trigger into absolute destructive slaughter.

“Then let’s make this clear, shall we?” She leaned closer to the screen, letting her voice drop to a dangerous whisper. “I want a full investigation into how Elara Voss and her unit were even allowed near my sector. I want to know who authorized those shipments and how they were allowed to take custody of my boys and treat them the way that they did. And if any of those fucking grunts come here trying to undermine my authority, hurt my boys, or seem to forget I’m second head of the division,
you’re gonna need a fucking sand blaster to get any of their remains out of the concrete
.”

G.E.’s expression tightened, and his face paled.

“Of course, X-04. I’ll have every resource at my disposal scouring through reports and logs to find out exactly what went wrong.” He paused, his green eyes darting from side to side as if searching for an escape from what was happening.

That was fine, she got what she wanted.

She sighed, letting a cute smile roll over her face, “Alright, thanks G.E. That’s all I needed! Oh, and unfortunately it seems that Elara’s little lackey, Xavier, has lost an arm, and a lot of teeth. He’s with Charles, the guy from the gravitational testing branch. I tried to warn him, but then he had to go and shoot me! You can’t get anywhere being nice these days…” She shook her head, sighing.

G.E. paused before laughing, his cheery personality coming back full force, “Aw, X-04! The fact that you let him live is a miracle all in itself. Alright, I’ll see that things are handled on this end and send you an updated report by the end of the week. And to her skellies? Sorry for the rough ride! You’ve seen less than a pinch of what our X-04 can do, so you should know you’ve got quite the dangerous little guardian angel…Have fun!” He laughed, waving behind her and quickly cutting the call.

She turned around, shaking her head as she eyed the group.

They were looking at her with a mix of…confusion? Blushes? Shock?

She had no idea and didn’t have the mental energy to unpack it right now.

“Alright new guys, welcome to sector eight. I’m your Overseer, Lilly.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

-All POV-The twelve skeletons were gathered around in the top floor of the rec building, the club, mingling between the pool tables as they all sipped on various drinks. There was a classic rock radio playing over the speakers, giving the atmosphere a bar-like tone. Lilly had given them a brief tour of the grounds, stating they’d have plenty of time to explore later if they wanted.Now, they had more pressing issues to deal with.She had gone to log the shipments, claiming that it would be easier if she handled it herself while they filled the new guys in on everything that had been happening. After they were done, they’d remove their bracelets and call it a day.While a few of them had protested, Classic and Blue stated it was better this way, and to let her handle things down there for now.One, they knew she was stubborn. Two, there were a lot of things that the new guys needed to be filled in on, like everything happening with HQ and why they were removing their bracelets.But also, everything regarding Lilly.“So…how long you guys been here with firecracker, huh?” Mutt raised a brow, sipping from a bottle of barbecue sauce he’d grabbed from one of the many vending machines around the grounds.Classic chuckled, his eye lights flickering as he spiked his ketchup bottle with vodka, "Firecracker, huh? That's a fitting nickname for her."“It’s Only Been A Month Since We Arrived, I Believe. It Feels Like Much Longer, Considering Everything We’ve Been Dealing With As Of Recent.” Creampuff sighed, leaning over on his pool cue."A month?" Mutt whistled, "And here I thought you'd all been livin' it up with her for ages."Red snorted, taking a swig from his mustard bottle. "Livin' it up? More like survivin' one crisis after another with all the shit we’ve been sortin’ through."“Well, I Do Believe That’s The Reason We Left Her To Handle The Deliveries On Her Own, Care To Start From The Beginning?” Aster leaned back on the bar on his elbows, eyeing the group."Actually, I Think We Should Clarify Some Things. Lilly Is Our Soulmate, And We Guessed Based On Your Reactions When She Touched You Earlier To Remove Your Muzzles, You Noticed As Well.” Edge smirked, taking a long, slow sip from his glass.The new arrivals exchanged knowing glances, a mix of excitement and uncertainty crossing their faces."Yeah, we noticed alright," G chuckled, running a hand over his skull. "Felt like getting hit by a damn freight train of protective and horny thoughts the moment she touched me. I didn’t know if I wanted to hold her or rail her into the concrete."“It Was…Very Alarming .” Aster squinted, a light blush dusting his cheeks.“I ain’t gonna fuckin’ complain. Didn’t even believe in all the soulmate bullshit, but then here she comes, blasting the heads off those meat bags and then lookin’ over us like a worried mother hen.” Axe laughed, slapping his knee.“Yeah, and what a mother hen she is.” Stretch added, leaning back in his seat with a bottle of honey, “I mean, look at how she ripped into those guys. It’s kinda hot, if I’m being honest.”“Yeah, But I Think We’re Missing The Point Here…While We All Have One Soulmate, She Now Has Twelve, And That’s Not Including Any That May Show Up In The Future.” Blue sighed, chugging some of the whiskey in his glass.“What Are You Trying To Say, Berry ?” Black narrowed his eyes at him, and Blue held his hand up and shook his head.“Just That It’s Bound To Get Complicated,” He replied, his tone serious as he glanced around the room. “Twelve Skeleton Boyfriends—““—Plus However Many More Show Up.” Aster interjected, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “The Dynamics Of This Can Become Quite Convoluted. Not To Mention, This Isn’t…I Don’t Know. What Are The Odds Of Us Being Pulled Over Into A Universe Where We Don’t Even Exist, And Then We’re Paired With Our Soulmate, Of All People? She’s The Soulmate To All Twelve Of Us, And Potentially Any Others? It Just Doesn’t Sit Well With Me. It Feels Too…Convenient.”Classic leaned back, his eye lights dimming as he pondered Aster's words. "You know, I've been thinkin' the same thing," he admitted, swirling the ketchup in his bottle. "The odds of all this happening... it's astronomical . We're talking numbers so big they'd make even the most dedicated mathematician's head spin."Stretch nodded, twirling his honey bottle between his phalanges. "Yeah, it's like winning the multiverse lottery, but instead of cash, we got a badass soulmate who can bench press a truck and has a thing for skeletons."“Hah! I betcha if ya asked her to, she would.” Red snickered, walking over and yanking a bottle of whiskey from the shelf of the bar."Don't test her," G said, his tone serious but a hint of amusement lurking beneath. "She might just toss you into the next continent for shits ‘n giggles instead."“Your Arrogance Aside, I Think We Can All Agree She’s More Than Capable Of Holding Her Own. Look At What She Did Today, How She Handled Herself Out There. She Doesn’t Seem Like The Type To Wish To Be Coddled.” Black chimed in, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair.Aster shook his head, “That’s Not What I’m Worried About. Have Any Of You Bonded With Her?” He glanced between the first six arrivals, watching as they exchanged conflicted glances.“No, We Have Not. We’ve Only Been Here A Month, And Humans Move Much Slower Than Us Monsters When It Comes To Relationships. We’ve Been…Slightly Intimate With Her, In Our Own Ways, But No One Has Completed A Bond. She’s…Been Through A Lot, And We Do Not Wish To Overwhelm Her. After Hearing Your Words, I Think I Agree. I’m Worried This May Be Something A Bit More Serious Than Just A Lovely Coincidence.” Creampuff shook his head, taking a sip from his rock glass."Maybe you're right," Mutt said, leaning against the bar with a thoughtful expression. "But how long do we let this drag on? The longer we wait, the more complicated it gets. Hell, we just got here, and we’re practically foamin’ at the mouth for her. Does anyone really think we can just play it cool?"G shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "I ain't exactly known for my restraint. The moment she walked in and started tearing heads off, I felt that pull like a moth to a flame. If she’s our soulmate, we should be pursuin’ her."“Yeah, but…I think Aster and Classic have a point.” Stretch sighed, rubbing his face, “The chances of this happening…of us all being put together conveniently on a facility with a woman who happens to be our soulmate, with all the other issues involving HQ? This reeks of some kind of setup.”“I Mean, We Don’t Know Her As Well As You All Do, We’ve Only Just Arrived. Has She Shown Any Signs Of Being Disingenuous? From What I Saw Out There, And Based On The Way She Smelled, I Don’t Believe She’s Faking Anything. If Something Is Going On Behind The Scenes, Then She May Be A Victim Just As Much As We Are.” Black huffed, looking between the first six.Sugar cleared his throat, his cheeks dusted a light orange, “While She Did Kill Those…Horrible People, She Was Genuine In The Way She Was Concerned For Us. I Could Tell The Moment She Began To Remove My Muzzle. Her Touch Was Gentle, Her Intent Rolls Off Her In Waves, Loving And Worried.”“She’s-…Stars above, you have no idea. I don’t think there’s been a single moment where she isn’t worried about us. I mean, you’ve seen the grounds.” Classic waved his hand around the club, noting the extravagance of it all, “She made sure to try to give us anything and everything we want. Her room is small, practically abysmal compared to the apartments she’s got us in. If she’s being dishonest in any kind of way, then I’m gonna have to second guess myself as a Judge, because she hasn’t lied to us once since we’ve been here.”Edge huffed, breaking the balls on the pool table and leaning back, “Yes, Pet Has Quite The Heart Of Gold, But I Have To Agree. Thinking Things Over Rationally, This Does Seem Suspicious That We’ve All Been Conveniently Placed Together With A Woman Who Happens To Be Our Soulmate. On Top Of That, She’s In A Position Of Power Over Us.”  Axe raised a brow, leaning in to take his own shot, “Bite-size out there already put ya in yer place then, huh?”“Nah, nothing like that. She’s literally never raised a hand at us. When we first got here, we panicked. Shit, we really regret it looking back, but we attacked her on our first day here. We had some bone attacks pointed at her, and she just talked to us like people. Never once hurt us, and then made puns about shit for five minutes. I think I fell in love right then and there.” Stretch chuckled, shaking his head.A chorus of laughter erupted from the group, and Mutt leaned back, crossing his arms with a teasing smirk. "Sounds like you got shot with Cupid's arrow that day, Stretch. But hey, can't blame ya—she does have that whole 'badass warrior goddess' vibe goin’ on."“Sweetheart’s got us all wrapped around her finger, and she don’t even know it. Hell, ya all heard the way she threatened those guys if they ever even looked as us wrong. But…it does make ya wonder why. Could just be the soulmate pull, but somethin’ tells me it's got a lot more to do with her time at the facility, especially after hearin’ only a lil bit of the fuckin’ torture they put her through.” Red snarled as he finished, chugging some mustard to try to forget the things she had told them earlier.Hostile magic flickered through the air at his words, and the new ones looked on with confusion and frustration.“What Does That Mean?” Sugar’s eyes narrowed, his back straightening as he stared at Red.Blue shook his head, eyeing the new group wearily, “There’s A Lot You All Don’t Know. We Should Probably Fill You In On Everything We’ve Found Out Regarding HQ And The Facilities Before We Continue Discussing Lilly. Fair Warning, It’s Going To Be An Overwhelming Amount Of Information. We’ve Only Just Started Sifting Through It All, And We’ve Got A Mile Long List Of Questions With No Fucking Answers…Christ, If Ink Was Here He’d Be Having The Time Of His Life Right Now.” He sighed as he finished, but was startled as Axe teleported in front of him.“… you …know Ink ?” Axe’s eye light was bloated in his skull, his grin strained.Blue reared back, his sockets going wide, “Wha-… Horror !? Is That You ?!”There was a tense, confused silence that seemed to only be interrupted by “Hellraiser” by Ozzy Osbourne playing through the club.Axe's eye light flickered, a mix of recognition and something slightly manic crossing his face, “Well, well, well... ain't this a surprise. Didn't expect to run into you here, baby blue. This just turned into a…fun lil reunion .”“ How -…Wait, Do You Know If Any Of The Others Are Here Too?! What About Dream Or Ink…Hell, Even Fresh?!” Blue stood abruptly, slamming his hands on the table as he looked over Axe in shock.Axe's grin faltered slightly, a flicker of something dark passing over his face. He took a step back, running a hand over his cracked skull as he let out a low, humorless chuckle."Heh, sorry to burst your bubble, Blue. Haven't seen hide nor hair of 'em since I got yanked into this mess. Been about three years now, give or take, same as all of you. Ain’t heard shit from Nightmare, Killer, Dust, Error, or Cross. You, uh…you still followin’ that truce that Nightmare and Dream made?” Axe looked almost sheepish as he teleported back to his spot, chugging ketchup like he was trying to drown in it.Blue's eyelights dimmed, his shoulders sagging as he slumped back into his chair with a heavy sigh, “I-… Damn . And Yeah, We Still Follow It, At Least, We Were When I Was Pulled Over Here. It’s Been Three Years Though, So I Don’t Know What They’ve Been Up To. That’s…Really Concerning. There’s A Good Chance They’ve All Been Dragged Over Here As Well, But…Stars, I Didn’t Think Things Could Get Any More Complicated But, Here We Fucking Are.” He growled, rubbing his face.“Uh, care to fill in the rest of us normies over here?” Mutt raised a brow, eyeing them both.Blue cringed, keeping his gaze down, “It’s…A Lot. All Of This Just Became…A Lot More Complicated.”On the other side of the room, Stretch had his sockets narrowed, glaring daggers into Axe. Sugar was messing with his sleeves, his eyelights flicking between Blue and his brother nervously.“Alright, Alright. Let’s Just Get Back To What We Know, And Then You Can Fill Us In On What You’re Talking About.” Aster shook his head, turning and grabbing the notepad and pen Classic had given him.“Well, As Lilly Would Put It, Grab A Fucking Drink. You’re All Going To Need It.” Edge huffed, his posture stiff as he made his way to a table, drink in hand.Pool would have to wait.Aster took a deep breath in, letting it out slowly as he eyed the group, “So, What Can You Tell Us?”“Alright, buckle up, and save your questions for the end. I’m gonna do my best to summarize everything, then we can pick it apart one by one.” Classic rubbed his skull, and the new guys all nodded as they tensed.“So, first thing, Lilly was picked for the Overseer program a little over three years ago, about the same time we were pulled through the rift.  If you all remember, they already had that magic nullification tech when we were yanked over. Based off of this, we can confirm that they definitely had some kind of understanding of monster magic before we even got here. We’ve theorized a few things, but obviously we don’t have any solid answers yet nor do we know how this tech is made or works. Our best guess right now is they’re pulling Monsters over for a specific reason, but we don’t know why.”The only sound in the club was the music, and the soft scribbling on Aster’s notepad as he wrote everything he could down.Classic continued, standing slowly as he started to walk around the tables, “Second, Lils received a shipping invoice for the new filters for her coolant, which we’ll talk more about that later. The important thing was, when we went over the report, it seemed like there were specific tidbits of information left in that shouldn’t have been. We learned there are multiple rifts open and active, and there’s a good chance that our two groups are from different ones, since we didn’t see each other during our three years at the facilities.”The tension in the room was so thick it felt like a suffocating fog, all six of the new arrivals burning with questions, but keeping quiet as they listened.He held up three fingers as he walked, all eyelights on him, “Third, it talked about something called R.M. Fragments, and that whatever they are make up a good chunk of her coolant. The report stated that they’ve been gradually increasing the amount over time, and that it’s somehow increasing her magical affinity for…something. She said she’s never used magic or had any signs that she could, and not to mention that magic doesn’t exist in this universe. She wasn’t lying, and she’s never been told about these R.M. Fragments before. None of the other Overseers use coolant, so they’re targeting Lilly specifically, and we don’t know why.”There was a flicker of hostile magic rolling throughout the club at his words.“Fourth, these R.M. Fragments seem directly related to the rifts, while some of it was redacted, it seemed as though they want her to be able to travel between them. We can assume the fragments are somehow going to allow her to do that, although these are just theories. It mentioned a power nucleus, but we’ve looked over Lilly’s Rig and haven’t seen anything like that on her. There’s a chance it’s talking about the Rig itself, but we aren’t sure. While it didn’t go into detail, it mentioned that anything above 80% of R.M. fragments in her coolant could result in catastrophic consequences for not just the rifts, but for her as well. The new filters that just came in today have been adjusted to 60%.”“Fifth, the reason we need to remove your bracelets is that Lils discovered they’d been monitoring and recording our conversations in weekly intervals on them. We had talked about her being our soulmate, and HQ found out. G.E., the bastard you saw on the video feed out there, made a comment about it when he sent a report last week. It seems they know we’re her soulmates, and they want us all together for some reason. Lils connected directly to the bracelets and was able to copy all the data for us, and disabled the recording function by putting in a dummy code. She also found that there was some kind of command in there directly related to her Overseer protocols.”“It would’ve sent out a high voltage shock, but it had no limiter, so it could’ve dusted some of us with low HP if it had ever been used. She redirected the shock to herself when she was disabling it, and that shit’s hard to watch. On top of that, when we looked over the code, we found that there are wingdings weaved into it, like an organic virus. So, someone’s Gaster is involved, and we don’t know how or why.”Aster and G tensed at his words, sharing a quick glance before looking back to Classic.“Sixth, Lilly’s past. The scars she’s covered in, like how her lip is torn, are from her father. Bastard is rotting in jail, but he attacked her with a broken liquor bottle. She’s open about it, and will even joke with you on it, but we don’t know much past that, save a few things here and there. We know her father was a religious, alcoholic psycho, and that she has a sister she doesn’t speak to. As for her training to become an Overseer, we only found out this morning that they basically tortured her for three years.”“She’s been burned in acid, crushed, shot, blown up, put through extreme psychological torture, prolonged sensory deprivation, gravitational endurance testing, and that’s just the fucking cliff notes version we got. We don’t know any of the details, but from the little we do, she’s not only deeply traumatized, but completely desensitized to any kind of pain. There’s also the fact that they forced her to kill as a part of her training.”“Her LV is maxed out, her stats are high, but they’re also not normal. We know that the facility maxed her LV out on purpose, but what we don't know is why. If you’ve ever heard of the X-04 Meta-Hall Massacre, that was her. Someone fucked up the code for one of her battle modes, and she ended up going on a blacked out rampage until she shut down from an Overheat. Six-hundred people died because someone fucked with her head .”The room filled with hostile magic, snarls and growls ringing out as the entire group tensed.Classic sighed, shaking his head as he continued, “And lastly, her coolant. The lines you saw on her stomach, arms, and the ring in her eyes are all filled with it. There’s more on her thighs and running along her back for each vertebra of her spine. She has to change it monthly, and there’s a section down in the command center where she gets it done. Looks like a torture chamber, and she’s fully shutdown when it happens for roughly 24-hours. Up until now, she’s never questioned what the coolant was made of, because she needs it to stay functioning. In order to use her Rig, the coolant has to stay circulating throughout her system so she doesn’t go into an Overheat.”“An Overheat is what happens if her coolant isn’t replaced monthly, or she over-exerts herself. Her next coolant change is in roughly four days, and you can tell because the color darkens over time. It’s usually a bright, pretty teal, but today it was closer to a deep blue. She-...She described an Overheat as melting from the inside out. The temperature of her Rig increases exponentially, causing her organs, flesh, and anything not metal to melt and fall off her. She stated she’s conscious the entire time. It doesn’t matter how much of her body or brain is destroyed, she’ll feel every bit, and she can’t die.”With a final huff, Classic made his way back around and slammed down into his chair, holding his face in his hands.“So, there ya have it. We’ve got a million questions, zero answers, and a lot of fucking problems.”The silence that enveloped the room was thick enough to slice through, each of the new skeleton processing the avalanche of information they had just received. It felt as if an oppressive weight had settled on their shoulders, binding them to the grim reality of what had been going on here.“ Holy… shit .” G breathed, leaning back in his chair as he stared up at the ceiling.Black ripped away from his chair, storming behind the bar and grabbing several bottles of liquor, “I Think I’ll Take You Up On That Recommendation For A Drink. Who Fucking Wants One?” He whipped around, snarling as he slammed the bottles onto the bar countertop.Mutt, Axe and G immediately teleported over, grabbing one and teleporting back to their chairs. Aster reached over, snagging something at random as he stared at his notepad in disbelief and horror.Black, Mutt, Axe, G, and Aster all chugged from their own respective bottles as they tried to cope with the severity of what they’d learned. Sugar’s eye sockets were empty, one of his large clawed hands digging thick lines into the bar's top as he shook from rage.“Today Was The First Time We’d Ever Seen Her Cry, And You Know Why ? She Thought We Would Hate Her, Or Leave Her When She Talked About The Torture She Endured. She Truly Sees Herself As A Murderer, And Not Someone Who Was Forced To Do It For Survival. The Effects Of High LV Are There For Sure, But It’s Clear To Us That She Is Not A Murderer Because She Wanted To Be.” Creampuff grit out.After a long pause, Aster looked up from his notes, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Given All Of This... How Has She Been Over The Last Month? I Can't Imagine Anyone Maintaining Their Composure After Enduring Such… Horrors ."The original six exchanged glances, a range of emotions passing over their faces.It was Stretch who broke the silence first, a soft chuckle escaping him."You'd literally never know she’s been through it all." He said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I swear, some days it's like watching a kid in a candy store. She's always running around, playing with us in the game room, cracking jokes, flirting, getting flustered. She acts…like a normal girl."Classic nodded in agreement. "She's like a ray of sunshine, always bouncing around with this infectious energy. Half the time I think she forgets she's supposed to be our 'Overseer' and just acts like she’s here on vacation, having the time of her life.”Edge growled, “That’s Because For Her, Not Being Actively Tortured Is A Vacation. She Has No Frame Of Reference For Normalcy In Her Life, So This Probably Seems Like A Fucking Five-Star Resort.”“Then we better start spoilin’ her to hell and back, considerin’ it sounds like she’s been scrappin’ her knees crawlin’ out from there already.” Axe snarled, digging grooves into the table as he raked his claws over the wood.“We’ve Tried, But She’s Stubborn. She Hates Being Coddled And Views Her Past As A Source Of Strength. So Far The Only Way We’ve Gotten Through To Her Is By Flirting With Her, But Any Time We Become Slightly Serious She Pushes Back Hard .” Blue sighed as he got up from his spot and made his way to the bar.Black's grip tightened on his bottle, "The R.M. Fragments," he began, his voice tight, "You Said They're In Her Coolant, Correct? And She's Due For A Change In Four Days?" His eye lights narrowed, focusing intently between the first six.Classic nodded, his expression grim, "Yeah, that's right. The new filters just came in today, and they're set at 60% concentration. It's a significant jump from what she's been using before.""And You're Just Going To Let Her Use Them?" Black's voice rose slightly, a hint of fury and disbelief in his tone. "After Everything She's Been Through, Why Risk it? Its Clear They’re Still Actively Experimenting On Her, So Why The Hell Would We Let Her Go Through With Replacing Them?!"“I Have To Agree. It’s Also Quite Concerning That They’ve Sent Knew Filters Just As We’ve Arrived. Do We Not Know What’s In Them? Have You Been Able To Run Any Tests?” Aster adjusted his glasses before crossing his arms, looking over his notes on the situation.Red shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eye lights darting between the others before he cleared his nonexistent throat. "Actually, ‘bout that..." he began, "Remember that big shipment that came in today? The one Lilly's down there logging right now?"The others nodded, their attention focused on Red as he continued."Well, it ain't just filters and supplies. We, uh... we ordered a whole bunch of lab equipment. Like, enough to set up a proper research facility down in the console room." Red's grin was strained as he watched the realization dawn on the faces of those around him.Mutt’s eye sockets widened. "You're kiddin’. How much are we talkin’ here?"Red let out a low whistle, "Everything ya could think of, and then some. I'm talkin' state-of-the-art equipment, boys. Mass spectrometers, high-powered microscopes, centrifuges—the works. We wanted to test the coolant and filters before she went and did the change, but there’s been a lotta shit happenin’ and ain’t much we’ve been able to do ‘bout it.”Classic shot up from his seat. "Wait, you mean it's all here? We have everything we need to actually analyze this stuff? We could run tests on those filters and her coolant before she even thinks about using them!"“Exactly,” Red replied, his grin widening. “I knew it was coming soon, but I didn’t think we’d be gettin’ all the shit at once. If we can just—”“Hold up,” G interjected, leaning forward with his bottle in hand, “Let’s say we do manage to test the filters and coolant before she uses it. What are we even looking for? And even if we figure out what these R.M. Fragments are, if she needs that shit to live then what the hell are we supposed to do?”Classic opened his mouth, then closed it, his brow furrowing in thought. “I… I guess we’d have to find a way to either neutralize whatever’s dangerous about the filters or figure out how to manage it. If we can figure out how the filters work and what the coolant is, we may be able to create an alternative for her to use.”Axe slammed a fist on the table, causing a few bottles to rattle as he growled, “Then why not try to confront her about it? Just be straight with her that this shit ain’t good, and that we’ll find an alternative.”“Yeah,” Mutt added, “but you heard ‘em earlier, there’s a part of her that refuses to acknowledge any kind of threat to her well-bein’. If we even hint that she could be in danger, she’ll push back. If she prides herself on bein’ strong, add her high LV to it, then she probably won’t appreciate us tellin’ her what she can and can’t handle.”“There’s Also The Issue Regarding Gaster’s Involvement And The Coincidence Of How We All Ended Up Here With Her.” Creampuff cut in, running his thumb over the hole in his hand.“Yeah,” Classic agreed, leaning back in his chair, “But we don’t have enough information right now to do anything but guess. The only thing we can control right now is figuring out what’s going on with her coolant, and working on that code we got from the bracelets. After seein’ her go off on those facility guys, its pretty clear she wants to protect us as much as we want to protect her.”Axe scoffed, “Yeah, well, we can’t just sit around while HQ plays puppet master with her. We need a plan—somethin’ concrete. Otherwise, we’re sittin’ ducks.”“I think we’re going about this wrong. She already knows about the shit going down. She’s not being kept in the dark, so I don’t think we should start trying to keep shit from her now. Lils was more than happy to tell us to test the coolant and the filters, so I say we just let her know what’s up.” Stretch huffed and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one and taking a long drag as he eyed the group.“It’s a double-edged sword, and ya know it, ashtray.” Red sneered, pointing at him with his bottle of mustard, “If we tell ‘er to hold off on the coolant change, she’ll run herself ragged into a fuckin’ Overheat just cause we asked. She’ll bend over backwards to make us happy, but that’s a part of the fuckin’ problem.”“He’s Right. She Has No Regard For Her Own Well-Being Because Of How Much Shit They Did To Her. While She’ll Cooperate On Whatever We Suggest, It Also Means She May Take Things Into Her Own Hands And Go Too Far, Getting Herself Hurt In The Process. She Didn’t Care When The Bracelets Electrocuted Her, And She Won’t Care If She Has To Wait On A Coolant Change And Melts From The Damn Inside Out, All Because We Asked .” Blue clenched his teeth, hissing as he spoke.“Then What Do You Suggest We Do?” Aster asked, frustration creeping into his voice. “We Can’t Just Stand Here And Let Her Use Those New Filters When We Don’t Know What Kind Of Effect They’re Having On Her. But From The Sound Of Things, There’s A Strong Chance She’ll Either Brush Off Our Concerns Or Push Herself Too Far.”G tipped his head back, “I don’t know, I think I agree with Stretch. What if we framed it more like a team effort? Instead of asking her to hold off on the coolant change, we could just do the tests together—a way for us to bond as she explains everything since she’s the one with firsthand experience. Let her take hold of the reigns.”“Shit, wait, that’s a good idea.” Classic chimed in, his sockets widening slightly, “Include her in the process rather than trying to swing hard one way or another. She thrives when she's in control, and she doesn’t want to be seen as weak in front of us.”Black nodded slowly, considering the new angle, “If She Feels Like She’s Part Of The Solution Rather Than The Problem, She Might Be More Open To Our Concerns About The Filters.”“We Should Also Double-Check With Her About The Soulmate Development. Is She Aware We Are All Her Soulmates? And How Comfortable Is She With Forming A Band Of Twelve, Potentially More, Mates? How Open Is She To Being Courted?” Aster furrowed his brows as he flipped through the notepad, scribbling in notes as he went.Edge let out a sharp laugh, "She Knows We Are, But Pet Is Quite Shy And Did Not Want To Assume You All Would Be As Well. Given How She Reacted When You All Immediately Began Flirting With Her, She Probably Thinks That You Were In Shock After She Killed Those Fuckers. You’ll Have To Tell Her Point Blank, Or She’ll Never Figure It Out.”Blue nodded, a sly grin rolling over his face, "She’s Very Easily Flustered. You Can Always Tell Because Her Coolant Makes Her Like A Living Mood Ring, Always Giving Away Her Feelings. The Purple You Saw Happens When She’s Flustered Or Turned On. Pink Is When She’s Really Worked Up. Blue Is The Default, But It Can Be Lighter Or Darker Depending On What She’s Feeling. Red, As You Saw, Means She’s Pissed. Orange Is When She’s Laughing Or Happy, Green Is Fear, And Yellow Is Disgust. I Believe That’s All We’ve Seen So Far."Red snorted, taking a long swig from his mustard bottle before adding, "Yeah, sweetheart’s a hot mess. Kept muttering somethin' about 'harem bullshit' and 'fuckin' skeleton magnets' whenever we all start teasin’ her. It’s a damn riot gettin’ her worked up. And guess what fellas? Her tongue and nipples are pierced.” A shit eating grin rolled over his face as he told the new group the information.“R-Red! Don’t Start That Now!” Creampuff shouted, covering his face.The new arrivals' reactions to this information were a mix of shock, embarrassment, and barely concealed excitement .Mutt let out a low whistle, grinning deviously, "Pierced tongue and nips, huh? Seems like our lil firecracker's got some spice to her. I bet that tongue piercing feels real nice when she's-""MUTT!" Black cut him off with a sharp glare, though a faint red dusted his cheekbones. "Keep Your Lewd Thoughts To Yourself ."Despite scolding his brother, Black couldn't help but let his mind wander to all the possibilities the information gave him.Aster’s face was a bright lime as he held up his hands, “This Is Really Not The Time-”  But G cut him off.“Now that’s just unfair,” G laughed, leaning back in his chair with a wide grin. “Here we are grappling with the weight of her past and the shit storm we’re in, and all you can think about is how to get into her pants?”“Hey, I’m just appreciatin’ the finer details.” Mutt replied, wiggling his brows. “And besides, it ain’t like you’re not thinkin’ the same damn thing.”“How the hell are we supposed to get shit done around here when her introduction was to come swinging out the gate in our honor? Honestly, bite-size is just beggin’ to be locked in one of our rooms for days on end.” Axe chuckled, running his tongue over his teeth.Sugar shifted uncomfortably in his seat, a faint orange blush dusting his cheekbones. He cleared his throat, his voice soft as he spoke, "Um...I Couldn't Help But Notice Earlier, When She Was Removing My Collar...Her Scent Was Quite... Pleasant ."The other skeletons turned to look at him, some with raised brows and others with knowing smirks. Sugar fidgeted under their gazes, wringing his hands nervously."Oh? And what exactly did our little Overseer smell like to you, big guy?" Mutt teased, leaning forward with interest.Sugar's blush deepened, and he averted his gaze. "Well...It Was Sweet, But Also Warm And Spicy. Like...Like Freshly Baked Pastries And Something Rich And Smooth."Red's grin widened, a knowing glint in his eye lights. "Oh yeah? Ya caught that too, huh? Let me tell ya, boys, it gets even better when she's really worked up."Red leaned forward conspiratorially, his voice dropping to a deep whisper as a shit eating grin rolled over his face."When sweetheart's turned on, she smells like the most delicious fuckin' cinnamon apple pie ya ever had, fresh outta the oven. All warm and spicy-sweet, with this rich undercurrent of smooth bourbon that just makes yer bones ache. It's intoxicatin', I tell ya. Like fallin' face-first into the most perfect dessert, all gooey cinnamon and tart apples, with that boozy kick that makes yer head spin. And when she's really worked up? Stars above, it's like the whole damn room is filled with it. "The new arrivals leaned in, captivated by Red's vivid description. Their eye lights flickered with interest, magic crackling in the air as they imagined the intoxicating scent of their soulmate.“I Thought That Was What I Could Smell On Her When She Removed Our Collars…Stars Below, She’ll Be The Death Of Us.” Black hissed, covering his furiously blushing face as he gripped his bottle so hard it cracked.“God, I knew I caught some of it on her…” G let out a low groan, running a hand over his face. "It’s a damn recipe for an addiction right there. Cinnamon apple pie and bourbon? That shit’s borderline unfair .""Fuck, I wanna sink my teeth into her so bad. Mark her up real good, make her smell like us too." Axe growled low in his throat, his eye light dilating."Oh, I can already tell I'm gonna enjoy getting her all hot and bothered. Just getting to taste her neck earlier made me feel like I was gonna lose my mind. Bet she tastes as good as she smells, doesn't she?" Mutt's grin widened, his sockets flicking between the first group.“She Tastes Even Better Than How She Smells, If You Can Believe It.” Creampuff covered his face with both hands, leaning back in his chair as he tried to not lose it over remembering how Lilly’s pussy tasted.He was no better than any of them here, and stars above did he want another taste. “As… Fun, As This Is, None Of You Answered My Question. How Does She Feel About There Being Twelve Of Us, And How Open Is She To Being Pursued By All Of Us At The Same Time As A Band?” He sent a small glare to his brother, who raised his hands chuckling as he made his way back to his seat.There was a thoughtful pause as the first six considered his questions.“We Know She’s Alright With It. The Problem Is More So That She’s Worried About Not Being Enough For All Of Us. She Was Worried When It Was Just Us Six, Now That There’s Twelve…She May Panic. Human’s Usually Stick To One Partner, So She’ll Probably Feel Overwhelmed Even Though It’s Something We’ve Tried To Reassure Her About.” Creampuff sighed, shaking his head.“And You’ve Informed Her Of How Bands Work? Monster Relationships Are Built To Handle Groups Better Than Individuals, Take The Bunnies From Our Universe For Example, Their Band Was Nearly Thirty Strong. Why Would She Need To Worry? ” Black furrowed his brows.Classic sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "We tried explaining that to her, but she's been conditioned to see relationships as a zero-sum game. With everything she's gone through, it's hard for her to see that love isn't finite. From the little we know about her past, it’s probably made her think that she isn’t allowed to have this many partners, or doesn’t think she deserves them.”Aster nodded, his eyes flickering with understanding. “So Our Best Bet Is To Reassure Her Every Step Of The Way. We Need To Emphasize That A Band Is Based On Trust, Mutual Support, And Providing For Her As Our Center, Not A Competition. How Do We Get Through To Her Without Making It Feel Like An Obligation?”“Get creative.” Mutt suggested, shrugging, “Let’s make it fun. Surprise her with something special for the first time we all hang out together. Somethin’ to take her mind off the heavy shit.”Edging forward, G added, “What if we set up a lil cookout at that bar, by the pool? Have a little party, swim, eat, drink, just give her a normal hangout with everyone there so she can see what a potential band looks like in action?”Sounds like a solid plan,” Classic said, nodding. “We can each bring something to the table, literally and figuratively. Let her see how we all vibe together, make it a low-pressure hangout.”Axe’s eye lights gleamed as he looked at his brother, “We can handle the grill. Just let me throw some bones on there, get a good char going, maybe toss in some spices. Can’t go wrong with grilled meat.”“Oh! And I’d Love To Do Some Buffalo Or Barbecue Wings. Finger Foods Would Go Well For This Type Of Event I’d Say.” Sugar clapped his hands together, nodding happily.Mutt smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Alright, we’ll have the barbecue sorted and get more of a menu goin’. What about drinks? We should keep it festive but not too wild. I mean, we want her to have fun without ending up knocked out from too much booze.”“Ah, She Actually Has Something Called A Toxins Filter That She Can Turn On And Off. She Can Sober Up In Seconds, So We Won’t Have To Worry About That.” Blue added.Creampuff shook his head, a small blush on his cheeks, “Well, Unless She Feels Like Playing Chases Again After The Last Time She Had Tequila. Stars Above, The Hole In The Game Room isn’t Even Done Being Fully Patched By The Maids Yet…”“Oh, a tequila girl, eh? My kinda woman.” G chuckled, swirling his bottle around.“Wait, This Toxins Filter…Can She Not Get Drunk If She Has It On?” Black raised a brow, and Aster scribbled something on his notepad as he listened."Yeah." Blue replied, shaking his head with a grin. "She Can Get Completely Blitzed, But Once She Flips That Filter Back On, It’s Like A Reset Button For Her Blood. One Second She’s Giggling Over Some Dumb Joke, And The Next, She’s Completely Sober And Doesn’t Even Need To Worry About A Hangover."“Damn,” G whistled, clearly impressed. “That’s a helluva skill to have. But how does she feel about drinking? Is it something we should encourage considering her scars and shit with her fucked up father?”Red shook his head, grinning, “She loves it. Ain’t said nothing about it the few times we have drank together. You’ll usually see her sippin’ on something if she’s workin’ in the console room or playin’ in the game room with us.”“And she can definitely hold her liquor,” Classic added with a chuckle, “There’s nothing like watching her take shots with us and burst into laughter between rounds. She could drink us all under the table easily.”Classic's words hung in the air for a moment before Aster's eye lights brightened, an idea forming in his mind."You Know, This Cookout Might Be The Perfect Opportunity To Learn More About Her Abilities And Get To Know Her Better." Aster mused, tapping his pen against his notepad. "We Could Incorporate Some Games Into The Evening, Something Like Truth Or Dare Perhaps?"G's grin widened at the suggestion. "Now that's an idea I can get behind. Nothing like a good old game of Truth or Dare to break the ice and maybe get some juicy details.""Plus, it gives us a chance to show her our playful side," Stretch added, leaning back in his chair. "Let her see that we're not just a bunch of bone-heads worried about her all the time.""Yeah, and it gives us a chance to share stuff about ourselves too," Mutt added, grinning. "Make it feel more like an exchange than just us grilling her for info."Sugar cleared his throat softly, drawing the attention of the others, "Um, While I Think The Cookout Is A Wonderful Idea," he began, his voice hesitant but earnest, "Shouldn't We Perhaps Wait Until After We've Sorted Out The Issue With Her Filters And The Upcoming Coolant Change? It Seems... Well, It Seems A Bit Premature To Be Planning A Party When There Are Such Pressing Matters At Hand."After a moment, Aster nodded slowly,"You Make An Excellent Point, Sugar. We Shouldn't Get Ahead Of Ourselves. The Coolant Change And Filter Analysis Should Take Priority.”Edge scoffed, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair. "You're All Overthinking This. Why Don't We Just Ask Her If She Can Keep Using The Current Filters For Now?"The room fell silent as the skeletons exchanged glances, a mix of surprise and sheepishness on their faces.Classic chuckled, rubbing the back of his skull. "Heh, sometimes the simplest solution is the one we overlook, isn't it?""Yeah, boss has a point," Red grinned, "We've been sittin' here, spinnin' our wheels, when we coulda just not changed the damn things at all."Stretch nodded, taking a long drag from his cigarette before exhaling a plume of smoke. "Told ya. Honestly, I think we aren’t giving her enough credit. She probably had the same idea, and that’s why she’s-…wait…”He paused, his sockets going wide before he shot out of his chair, knocking it over in the process.“Wait—where the hell is she?” Stretch exclaimed, “She was supposed to be logging shipments, right? She’s been gone too long for just that, it's been like two hours!”The room fell silent as Stretch's words sank in. The skeletons exchanged worried glances, the air growing thick with tension.Red's eye lights flickered, his grin faltering as a thought struck him. "Shit, ya don't think she..." he trailed off, his phalanges drumming nervously on the table. "Ya don't think she might've already installed those new filters while we've been up here jawin', do ya?"The suggestion sent a ripple of unease through the group.Classic's eye lights guttered out, leaving his sockets dark and empty, "Fuck," he breathed, "That's exactly the kind of thing she'd do.”Creampuff shot up from his seat, his tall frame rigid as he grit his teeth, "We Need To Get Down To The Coolant Chamber Now . If She's Already Started Changing Them, We May Still Be Able To Stop Her Before They’re All Installed."His words sent everyone into a frenzy.Chairs scraped against the floor as skeletons leapt to their feet, magic crackling in the air with nervous energy."Hold On," Creampuff interjected, raising a hand to halt the group's frantic movements. "The New Arrivals Haven't Been Down There Yet. It Would Be Unwise For Them To Try To Teleport Blindly." He turned to address Mutt, Black, G, Aster, Axe, and Sugar. "I'll Take You The Long Way. Teleport Back Into The Garden Perditus, The Entrance Is Just Behind The Waterfall.”“Fuck, let’s just hope we aren’t too late.” G grimaced.They all teleported away in flashes of magic, panic and worry etched into every single face....Lilly hummed softly to herself as she stepped back, surveying her handiwork with a satisfied smile. The once-sparse console room had been transformed into a state-of-the-art laboratory, gleaming with freshly unpacked equipment. Pristine metal countertops lined the once open space of the room, now home to an array of sophisticated machines.She didn’t know what half this shit did, but the guys wanted it, so she got it.
I would say it cost a fortune but…it didn’t with how fat my bank account is.
She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, her muscles aching pleasantly from the effort of setting everything up. It had taken a little longer than she would’ve liked, but the surprise would be worth it.While she wasn't used to feeling tired after simple labor anymore, her darkening coolant meant she was going to be feeling the effects more often. It always happened near the end of the month, which is when she'd usually focus on paperwork and blueprint data.This was so fucking worth it though.She could already imagine the boys' faces when they saw what she'd done – their eye sockets going wide, jaws dropping comically as they took in the sight of their new playground.“Fuck yeah. I want a reward for this.” She grinned, walking over and grabbed a box from the floor.
I’m gonna need at least 1000 kisses as payment, thanks.
She had gone and grabbed two of her new filters, and a large sample of her fresh coolant for them to work on. There was plenty, so she could always bring them more if they wanted.The filters were easily a foot tall and eight inches around, and she had used a large glass jar to collect some of her coolant from the tanks.She eyed the blue sparkling liquid, furrowing her brows.HQ was fucking stupid as shit if they thought she’d keep using these filters.As she was setting a few extra filters onto the counter, she felt a shift in the air as Red, Edge, Blue, Sans, and Stretch teleported in.She jumped, whipping around and with a panicked look on her face.Dammit, she hadn’t finished setting everything up yet!Sans locked onto her, teleporting in front of her and gripping her shoulders harshly. He loomed over her, his face covered in beads of blue sweat, and his right eye light flickered between blue and yellow as he stared at her with a panicked expression, “LILLY! Where are the new filters?! Did you already install them?!” He shouted.Her eyes widened in shock at Sans' frantic question. She blinked rapidly, trying to process his words as she glanced between the five skeletons who had suddenly appeared.She slowly held up the new filter she had in her hands at him, narrowing her eyes, “Uh…why the actual fuck would I do that? I wanted it to be a surprise but…I got your lab stuff all set up. The new filters are still in their boxes, stored in the coolant room for now. I just brought a few in here so you could test them when you were ready. Why the hell did you think I would’ve installed them?”Red let out along sigh of relief, his shoulders slumping, “Oh thank stars… I thought we were too late. Ya scared the hell outta us.”Sans let her go, rubbing both hands over his face as he groaned, “We just got caught up in everything and panicked when we saw how long you’d been gone. We were worried you might’ve…jumped the gun with those filters.”She bristled.“Jump the gun? Do you think I’m really that fucking stupid ? Why the hell would I want that shit in my body after everything we figured out! I was trying to do something nice for you damn boneheads…” She huffed, setting the filter in her hands on the metal table .She had outdone herself, and the dickheads thought she’d go and install the new filters from HQ?Her coolant swirled under her skin slowly, a small reddish hue mixing with the deep blue.Okay, she was a little pissed that they didn’t seem to trust her to make simple, informed decisions. It actually blew her mind a little, that they really thought she’d do something like that.
What the fuck you guys? I may be stupid, but I’m not an absolute moron.

Okay, well…maybe.
Just as Stretch was about to speak, the other seven rushed through the door, Papyrus hauling behind them in as they locked onto her.Aster was breathing heavily, his glasses slightly tilted as he looked over her, “Lilly! Did You-”Edge held his hand up, shaking his head, “No, No She Did Not. She Was In Here Preparing This For Us.” He gestured around the room, showing off all her hard work.That they had still yet to say anything about.She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she looked over them all, “There are twelve of you now, and between all of those thick skulls of yours, you really thought I was gonna fuck around and find out with the new filters, huh?”Her coolant darkened a bit more.“Uh, well, you see…” Mutt rubbed the back of his skull awkwardly, glancing between the guys for support. “We just got a little freaked out. You’ve been through so much—”She sighed, rubbing her face and cutting him off, “I know, I know. I’m not actually mad…I mean, I’m kinda mad, but its just because I need a coolant change soon and my emotions are all over the place. If they’ve filled you in, then you just learned about all the fucked shit going on around here, so I don’t really blame any of you for being worried. I was just trying to do something nice by setting up this stuff for you guys.” She huffed, hopping up and sitting on one of the tables.They were adjusted for the guys heights, so it was a lot taller than what she was used to. Her feet dangled pretty far from the floor, so she began kicking them back and forth.They still hadn’t said anything about the place and how she got their lab setup.She was kind of pouting right now.Okay, she was definitely pouting.The skeletons' eye lights widened as they finally took in their surroundings, realizing the transformation that had taken place while they were in the club. The once sparse console room had been completely overhauled, now resembling a cutting-edge research facility.Pristine metal countertops lined the walls, gleaming under the bright fluorescent lights. An array of sophisticated equipment was neatly arranged throughout the room—centrifuges, microscopes, spectrometers, and other machines they had only dreamed of having access to. Everything was meticulously organized, with labeled drawers and cabinets filled with supplies and tools.In one corner, a small refrigerator hummed softly, stocked with reagents and samples. Three large whiteboards on wheels sat in the corner, ready for anything they’d wanna write down.She felt comfortable around all the equipment, flashes of the facility flickering through her head.Sometimes she missed it.The way every single person there feared her. "Lils, this is... incredible . You did all this while we were upstairs?" Sans spoke up, but she didn’t look at him.Her pout deepened, her lower lip jutting out slightly as she continued to swing her legs. The coolant lines under her skin pulsed with a mix of deep blue, slight red, and a hint of orange, showing her conflicting emotions.She probably looked fucking stupid, and she didn’t care.She was totally mad at them."Yeah, well... I wanted it to be a surprise. Took a little longer than I wanted ‘cause…I don’t know what a lot of this stuff does, but I’d seen a lot of similar shit back when I was at the facility.""This Is…it’s Much More Than I Could’ve Hoped For." Aster breathed, "This Is Amazing Work, Lilly. You Really Put In A Lot Of Effort To Make This Space Functional For All Of Us. This Equipment Is Perfect, And It’s All Been Set Up Wonderfully."She felt her cheeks start to warm at his words. No, no, dammit. I will be mad at them and I will fucking pout. "Holy shit, sweetheart." Red whistled, his eye lights roaming over the pristine lab equipment. "This place is fuckin' amazing. Ya really outdid yerself."G nodded in agreement, running his phalanges along the smooth metal countertop. "Seriously, this is top-notch stuff, doll. I've never seen a lab this well-equipped outside of a university.""The Organization Is Impeccable." Black added, inspecting the neatly labeled drawers and cabinets. "You've Clearly Put A Lot Of Thought Into The Layout. It's Highly Efficient, Little One."A small blush began to crawl over her face, her coolant shifting more towards a blue, orange, and purple hue, the red slowly dissipating.It wasn’t fair. With six more hot skeletons here, it was going to drive her crazy.“While This Is Not A Subject I Am As Familiar With, I Can Tell You Put A Lot Of Love And Effort Into This, Lilly! You Did Wonderful!” Sugar claimed, making his way around the console room, now half lab.Her pout deepened as she tried to not let go of her frustration so easily, glaring daggers at the coolant chambers on her arms for giving her away.
God dammit…let me be mad! FUCK YOU, PRAISE KINK!
Axe chuckled as he walked between the tables and equipment, "Damn, bite-size. This is some serious shit. You even got us one of those electron microscopes. We'll be able to see shit down to the atomic level with this bad boy."Stretch nodded in agreement, peering into a large centrifuge. "And this centrifuge is top-of-the-line. We can separate out the components of your coolant in no time with this."As they continued to explore, Mutt opened one of the refrigerators, his eye lights widening. "Holy shit, you even stocked the fridge with reagents. How'd you know what to get?"Her face was burning.
Dammit.
“I just…the guys gave me a general list of things they wanted, so I just…googled stuff.” She mumbled.“Googled? You know how to use the internet?” Mutt laughed, leaning back against the fridge with a smirk.She shot him a glare, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “Yeah, I can fucking Google things . I’m a cyborg, Mutt. Why the hell wouldn’t I with all the free time I have anyway…”“Guessin’ that time was well spent,” G chimed in, grinning as he inspected a small drawer filled with various vials. “You’ve got everything from spare testing materials to lab safety gear in here. You thought of it all, huh?”“Stop it.” She grumbled, kicking her legs a bit harder as she became less angry and more embarrassed, “I did what I could.”The blush had spread over her neck and ears, and she looked back to the floor.Bastards.“Seriously Lils. This is amazing, you really didn’t have to do all this by yourself. We appreciate this a lot.” Sans's tone softened as he made his way over to stand in front of her.She refused to look up.“...You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.” She said softly. “Aw, is she usually this pouty and cute?” G chuckled, and she whipped her head up to glare at him. Sans chuckled, reaching out and pulling her into a hug, her legs spread as she was able to lean against him, “Yeah, she is.” “Fuckers.” She hissed, but leaned into his chest as she pressed her face against his ribs, closing her eyes.God, she really didn’t want to move.Like at all .Her fingers tightened their grip on his shirt, and she buried her face against him, practically rubbing her face back and forth as she slowly breathed in his scent.Sans chuckled, feeling her nuzzle against his ribs. "Heh, what's the matter, Lils? You trying to burrow into my ribcage or something?"She grumbled incoherently, her face still pressed firmly against his shirt. She continued to rub her cheek back and forth, enjoying the way the fabric and his bones underneath felt against her skin. The coolant lines under her skin pulsed with a mix of deep blue and vibrant purple, betraying her as she tried to stay pissed.She knew this was probably weird as fuck, but right now, she couldn’t stop herself."Aww, look at her," Stretch cooed teasingly. "She's like a little kitten kneading her favorite blanket.""If you don’t shut the fuck up Stretch, I swear to god I will throw you out that fucking viewing window." She mumbled, but made no move to pull away from Sans.If anything, she seemed to press closer, her fingers curling tighter into the fabric of his shirt.She would never say it out loud, but she just wanted to lie down, cuddle, and go to sleep after the day she’d had.Sans chuckled softly, bringing a hand up to gently pet her head. His phalanges ran through her hair soothingly, careful not to snag on any tangles."Hey, you alright there, Lils?" He asked quietly, his deep voice rumbling through his chest."Mph," Came her muffled reply, barely audible as she refused to lift her face from him.His phalanges continued their gentle motions, massaging her scalp in small, circular movements. It made all the tension seem to melt away from her muscles as she felt her coolant slow. She hadn’t really been physically affectionate with the guys like this. While she had obviously fucked around with them, this was…Softer. More intimate, for some reason.There was muffled conversation around her as the group began to look around, the new guys getting an idea of the place since they hadn’t been down here yet. She could hear them going back and forth through this room and the coolant bay, observing and learning about the process.Sans didn’t move the entire time, simply letting her stay latched onto him as he stroked her head.She was beyond grateful, her body feeling too heavy as she inhaled his scent, soaking in the warmth it seemed to give her.It wasn’t long before she knew she was falling asleep, and she kind of didn’t give a shit. It felt like she’d been running a marathon, her worsening coolant really starting to take a toll on her after all the emotional whiplash she’d been through today. It would only get worse as she neared the change date, and she wasn’t exactly thrilled for what that meant.This part of the month always sucked, always made her emotional and unpredictable.With the new guys here, and after everything they’d been dealing with, she was a mess.She wanted to be held, spoiled, touched…And she hated it. The last thought she had before passing out against Sans was the small hope that someone would stay with her while she slept.For the first time in many years…X-04 was afraid to be alone .

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

-POV All-

As Lilly's breathing slowed and her body relaxed against Sans, the skeletons exchanged glances with each other. There was a mix of smirks and concerns as they made their way around the console room, conflicted between exploring and watching what was going on with Lilly.

Classic felt her grip on his shirt loosen as she fully drifted off, her face still pressed firmly against his ribs. He couldn't help but raise a brow at how she had acted, and just how vulnerable she was right now.

It was so different from earlier, the raging, war-machine of X-04.

Now she was just…Lilly. Their small, silly little soulmate.

"She's out like a light." He murmured, his fingers still gently stroking through her hair. "Must've really worn herself out setting all this up."

Stretch moved closer, his face softening as he saw the scene. "Can't blame her. After everything that happened today, plus all this…?" He gestured around the lab. "It's a wonder she didn't crash sooner."

Aster adjusted his glasses, walking over to look at her, “Does She Need Sleep As A Cyborg?”

“She Said She Doesn’t

Technically

Need It, And That She’s Still Semi-Aware Of Her Surroundings But…” Blue raised a brow, looking at how she was cradled against Classic.

“She Is Clearly Still In Need Of It.” Black huffed, moving to gather with the rest as they looked over her.

“Her Coolant…It's

Really

Dark. It’s Supposed To Look Like That, Isn’t It?” Sugars voice was nervous as he pointed to the jar of fresh coolant Lilly had sat down on one of the tables earlier.

The chambers in her arms and on her stomach were almost a deep navy. It swirled much slower, almost sludge-like under the glass panels.

“Yeah, she said this was normal but…it’s hard to look at.” Stretch grimaced.

"It’s definitely concerning, but it explains why her feelings have been all over the place. It’s also probably why she passed out so hard." Classic hummed as he pulled her in closer against himself, "Either way, we’ve got to make sure she doesn’t push herself too hard before that coolant change in a few days."

“Damn, Lils, you really keep trying to do everything by yourself,” Red said softly, shaking his head as he spoke to her, “You’re gonna burn out if you keep this up.”

“You Know She’s Stubborn, But That’s Something We Love About Her.” Edge sighed, shaking his head as he sat in one of the many office chair’s she had gotten for them.

Classic grinned, a slight blue dusting his cheeks as he looked down at her. He gently adjusted his hold on her, but it seemed like her fingers only tightened around his shirt any time her moved.

"Well, looks like I'm not going anywhere for a while," He chuckled, his voice low to avoid disturbing her. "She's got a death grip on me."

With a subtle flicker of magic, he teleported them both to one of the plush office chairs she had thoughtfully provided. He settled into it, carefully arranging her so she was cradled comfortably against his chest, her legs draped over his femurs.

She let out a soft whine of protest, her face crunching up before she settled back in against him, rubbing her face on his ribs.

The others watched with interest, eyeing her and Classic as she settled.

“Look at her…” Mutt murmured, crossing his arms as he leaned against the lab counter. “Guess lil’ firecracker really needed this. It’s like...watching a candle flicker out. She was so ballsy when she confronted those bastards from the facility earlier. Seein’ her like this is…”

“Its Hard. Over The Last Month She’s Never…She’s Never Just Fallen Asleep On One Of Us Like This. She’s Very Skittish When It Comes To…Soft Forms Of Intimacy.” Creampuff frowned, watching her carefully.

"Yeah, it’s a big deal. She’s letting her guard down,” Classic said quietly, glancing down at the peaceful face of their soulmate. “It means she trusts us—at least a little bit.”

Edge narrowed his eyes, his voice low, “I Don’t Think It’s About Trust, I Believe It Has More To Do With Her Past. She’s Embarrassed, Like She’s

Afraid

To Ask For Any Kind Of Affection From Us.”

Stretch let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Ain't that the truth. She's like a cat, always pretending she's tough and independent, but when it comes down to it, she'd rather curl up in the sun and be cared for. Hell, the way she was rubbing her face on Classic made it seem like she was damn near tryin’ to scent mark him."

The group erupted into quiet laughter, their voices barely above whispers as they exchanged knowing glances. Classic smirked, gently running his phalanges through Lilly's hair as she shifted slightly against him.

There was a sense of pride in his soul that she had fallen asleep against him first…not that he’d ever admit it to the others.

"She'd probably claw anyone who tried to move her." G snickered, "But look at her now. She’s found her little cuddle buddy."

“It Is Quite…Cute.” Aster tilted his head, a slight smile on his face.

“Cute, huh?” Red echoed, a grin spreading across his bony features. “More like downright adorable. I’ll tell ya, if anyone saw her like this they’d never believe she’s the same big bad X-04 that caused the Meta-Hall massacre.”

"Right?" Blue chuckled softly, leaning against the wall,  "She’s A Total Badass, But When It Comes To Being Vulnerable… Well, It’s Like Seeing A Whole Different Person."

“God, you all should’ve seen it. When she was preparing to go down there to greet those assholes at the gate, we were all in her room with her. She was going on about how she was worried she’d scare us, asking us ‘how much violence is okay violence’. This was right after she told us just a little bit about what the facility had done to her. So of course, what do we say? Fuckin’ go for it, honey. As soon as we finish tellin’ her to not hold back, what does she do? Starts giggling like a little school girl, covering her face and blushing. Cutest shit I’d ever seen.” Stretch chuckled, moving to a corner as he lit up a cigarette.

The new skeletons' eye lights widened at Stretch's words, a mix of surprise and curiosity on their faces.

"Wait, wait, wait," G said, holding up a hand. "You're telling me the same woman who knocked the heads off of five people, was giggling and blushing like a schoolgirl? That's... that's adorable and terrifying at the same time." He shook his head, but there was a slight grin on his face.

Mutt let out a low whistle, his sharp teeth curling into a grin. "Damn, talk about a switch flippin’. One second she's all cute and flustered, the next she's tearin’ through security like tissue paper. That's one hell of a contrast."

Black nodded, “She’s Given Us Quite The First Impression. To So Readily Throw Herself Into Harms Way For Monsters She Barely Knows…If She Wasn’t Our Soulmate I’d Say It’s Borderline Stupid.” He huffed, shaking his head.

But there was a tenderness that flickered over his face as he glanced at her.

“Harms Way? The Only Harm That Will Be Done Is To Any Fucker From The Facility That Gets Into Her War Path. You All Heard The Way She Spoke To That Director, G.E., She Doesn’t Care That She Doesn’t Know You All Well Yet, She’ll Defend All Of You With Her Life And More.” Edge narrowed his eyes at Black before letting his gaze roll over G, Mutt, Axe, Sugar, and Aster.

They had no idea just how far she’d be willing to go for them.

Aster shifted uncomfortably under Edge’s intense gaze, clearing his throat, “I Believe She Has A Good Reason For Protecting Us, But It’s Still Daunting To Think About How Far She’d Go. The Weight Of That Responsibility… It Could Crush Her.”

Lilly stirred slightly in Classic’s embrace, mumbling something incoherent before snuggling deeper into him, her face still hidden against his sternum.

The sight of her shift in vulnerability ignited a fierce protectiveness within each of them.

“Well, since we can’t really do much while she’s out, how about we take a look at the Gaster code we got from the first six bracelets? We won’t be able to remove yours until Lil’s is awake, but we can still get something done.” Stretch sighed, gesturing to the new guys.

“Yes, We Can Also Begin Analyzing Her Coolant And Finding A Way To Open One Of Those Filters. She Put A Lot Of Effort Into Setting This Lab Up For Us, So We Should Use It Properly.” Aster nodded, eyeing the room with interest.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to sit this one out for now, fellas. I can be the peanut gallery, but I’m not about to go moving around.” Classic grinned, gesturing to Lilly curled up against him.

The skeletons chuckled quietly, moving about the room with new purpose.

“Alright then,” Stretch said, gathering a few items from one of the tables. “We’ll show you what we’ve got so far. Honestly, Lils saved our coccyx the other day. Since we’re in a world where we’re technically from a game, they’ve got a damn wingdings translator on the web. Blew my fucking

mind

.”

“Asgore’s Beard, Sometimes I Forget That. It’s Very…Unnerving, To Say The Least.” Black huffed, grabbing some papers on the information they had regarding the code.

“Well, It’s Not Too Shocking If You’re Familiar With The Multiverse. If Ink Did Get Dragged Over Here, He’d Probably Be Fangirling Over The Fact That We’re In The Creators' Universe Right Now.” Blue chuckled, shaking his head.

“Heh, that ink stain would be havin’ a fuckin’ aneurysm.” Axe snorted, shaking his head as he popped open the sample jar Lilly had given them of her coolant.

“Speaking Of This ‘Ink’ Person, Care To Fill Us In On How You Two Know Each Other?” Aster raised a brow, looking between Blue and Axe.

Blue snorted, shaking his head as he looked at Aster with an amused glint in his eye lights. "Oh Boy, Where Do I Even Begin? Honestly, If I Tried To Explain Everything About The Multiverse And All The Different Versions Of Us Out There, We'd Be Here For Weeks, Maybe Even Months. And That's Not Even Getting Into All The Crazy Shenanigans With Ink, Error, Dream, Nightmare, And The Rest Of The Gang."

He paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully before a mischievous grin spread across his skull. "You Know What? I've Got A Better Idea. Why Don't You Just Google the 'Undertale Wiki' And See What Pops Up? Fair Warning Though—You Might Want To Grab A Drink And Get Comfortable. It's One Hell Of A Rabbit Hole To Fall Down. It’s

Literally

Too Much To Explain, You’re Better Off Looking It Up And We Can Talk Abou It Later.”

“To give ya a brief info dump, I was a part of Nightmare’s gang, and lil Blue here was a part of Dream’s. We’d go around causin’ trouble around the multiverse, and they’d track us down. We’d fight, we’d have a stalemate, everyone would leave and lick their wounds, then do it all over again. Eventually, Dream and Nightmare were able to come up with a truce about four years ago. Well, seven, now. Ever since then it’s been alright.” Axe shrugged, watching how Stretch tried to stare him down.

He grinned, “Heh, be mad all ya want, bud. I was just doin’ my job.”

“Your

job

?” Stretch echoed incredulously, his eye sockets narrowing as he let out a low laugh. "You mean the job of being a colossal pain in everyone's ass and

beating on my fucking brother in your spare time

?"

“Stretch, Chill Out. It’s Been Years, And I Wasn’t Just Getting My Ass Beat. Have Some More Faith In Me, Stars Above. I Got My Fair Share Of Hits In Over The Years.” Blue huffed, waving Stretch off so he didn’t start anything while Lilly was sleeping.

“Regardless…I’ve Started Looking Into This And…You Weren’t Kidding When You Said There Is A Lot. Nightmare And Dream Are From An AU Called Dreamtale, Where They Are Not Technically ‘Sans’, But Rather They Look Like Them Due To The Bodies They Were Given From A…Tree? They’re Just A Few Of The Gods Of The Multiverse. Nightmare Embodies Negativity While Dream Is Positivity, And Then Nightmare Was Corrupted-…Good

Lord

.” Aster’s sockets were blown wide as he stared at his phone, trying to take in the level of information he was getting.

“This is lookin’ like way more shit than I wanna even try to wrap my fuckin’ head around right now. There’s a shit ton of info on all of us, plus thousands of other universes and AU’s.” Red huffed, scrolling on his phone as he did the same.

“Ink Is Some Kind Of Guardian Of AU’s, While Error Is A Destroyer, Working To Directly Erase Universes And Fight With Ink…Fuck

Me

, This Is Just An Existential Crisis Waiting To Happen.” Black cringed, putting his phone away and turning back to the computer to focus on something else.

“There is so much shit here it’s making my skull hurt. Swapped versions, felled versions, reverse swapped, story shifts, whole other Sanses’’ and Papyrus’ that are just…entities of their own? Holy shit…this fandom is

insane

. I mean, I knew from the little you told me bro, but this…this is a lot.” Stretch shook his head, eyeing his brother wearily.

“Yeah, There’s A Lot That Even I Didn’t Really Know About. I Spent The First Week Or Two Looking Over As Much As I Could. Fair Warning, There’s Some Gross Shit On The Internet, So Be Careful Or Be Ready To Pour Bleach Into Your Fucking Eye Sockets.” Blue cringed, shivering as he remembered some of the things he’d seen.

“Shit, Lilly Had Warned Us About That On Our First Day…” Edge grimaced, eyeing his phone wearily.

“Porn. There’s A

Lot

Of Porn. Some Much Worse Than Others.” Creampuff nodded, cocking a brow as he scrolled.

Mutt chuckled as he hunched over his phone, “Hey, some of this shit’s pretty accurate. Gotta admit, some of this fan art is pretty-” He stopped, his eyelights disappearing as he clicked his phone screen off and shoved it into his pocket, standing slowly.

“Blue…
where the fuck is the bleach
.” His tone was low, sweat beading on his forehead as he looked like he was going to be sick.

Axe slapped a hand to his face, trying not to laugh too loudly as to not wake Lilly.

Blue sighed, teleporting away. After a few tense moments of silence, he teleported back with several bottles of whiskey, handing one to Mutt, “I Tried To Warn You, Dude.”

“Do I Even Want To-” Aster started, but G cut him off.

His face had gone pale as he shoved his phone into his pocket and quickly took a bottle from Blue.

“No.

You do

not

want to know

.” G shook his head frantically , chugging from the bottle.

As the skeletons began to delve into the vast sea of information about the multiverse, their curiosity grew alongside their discomfort. The sheer scope of it all was beyond overwhelming, and yet, they couldn't help but keep looking at the seemingly endless amount of alternate realities and versions of themselves.

“So…you think that Ink and Dream got pulled over too, bro?” Stretch eyed Blue wearily, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

Blue shrugged, leaning back against the counter with his arms crossed. “Honestly? It’s Possible. If They Got Dragged Into This Mess, We’ve Got Even More Issues. Ink, Dream, Nightmare, And Error Are All ‘Gods’ Of The Multiverse, So The Implication Of Them Being Here Aren’t Great. I Don’t Think They’d Be Soulmates With Lilly Because They’re Technically Not Like Us, But At This Point I Have No Idea. Ink Doesn’t Even Have A Soul Or Feelings, So I’m Not Sure It Would Be Possible For Him To Have A Real Romantic Relationship Of Any Kind. Either Way Though, The Presence Of Beings Like Them In This Universe Could Mean Trouble—Trouble We’re Not Ready For."

Aster's brow furrowed as he processed this information, his analytical mind working overtime. "If These Beings Are As Powerful As You Say, Their Presence Here Could Dramatically Alter The Fabric Of This Reality. But...There's Something I've Been Pondering."

He paused, adjusting his glasses as he looked around at the other skeletons. "You Mentioned Earlier That This Is The Universe Of 'the Creators'—The Fandom, As It Were. In Essence, This World Gave Birth To Our Stories, Our Very Existence. So, I Can't Help But Wonder... Would Their Powers Even Apply Here?"

The room fell silent as Aster's words sank in.

Mutt was the first to break the silence, letting out a low whistle. "That's one hell of a question, doc. The facility filled us in on a handful of the fandom stuff when we arrived but…shit, sometimes I forget that we’re not even meant to be real, just fuckin’ video game characters.”

"Fuck, Mutt, don't go there." Red groaned, rubbing his temples. "My skull's already poundin' from all this multiverse bullshit. Now you wanna throw existential philosophy into the mix?"

G chuckled, taking another swig from his bottle. "Hey, why stop there? If doll here is in the fandom, then that means we could look at her like our god. I’m sure she’d get all flustered over it too.”

“I’m Not Sure They Really Have Any Power Though, Creators, I Mean. If They Did, Couldn’t They Have Just Sent Us All Home Already? I Think The Term ‘Creator’ Only Applies For The Multiverse, And Not This Universe. Here, They’re Just…Normal Humans.” Creampuff furrowed his brows, eyeing Lilly before continuing, “Well…Lilly’s Case Is Different, But That’s Only Because She’s A Cyborg, Not Necessarily A Creator.”

“Well, we know about the rifts, and that they’ve already had the tech to mess with our magic. Real question is, where the hell did they come from, and what does bite-size over there have to do with all of it?” Axe nodded to her before shaking his head, “Heh, never though I’d see the day when I kinda missed Nightmare. Goopy bastard could probably figure it out faster than I could.” Axe chuckled, scratching at the edges of his cracked skull.

Edge's eye lights narrowed, "You Know, That's A Good Point. We've Been So Focused On The Immediate Threat Of The Facility That We Haven't Really Considered The Bigger Picture. Why Her? Why

Us

?"

Black nodded, his sharp teeth set in a grim line. "Indeed. The Facility's Interest In Lilly Goes Beyond Mere Scientific Curiosity. There Must Be A Reason They Chose Her Specifically For This Little…

Project

." He practically spit the last word.

Classic paused, glancing down at her as he thought it all over.

"You're right." He murmured, "There's gotta be more to this than we know. The way the facility treated her, the experiments they conducted... there has to be more to it than just making her our Overseer. Especially with whatever these R.M. fragments are and Gaster’s involvement. They’re messing with things they don’t fully understand, and she’s been caught in the crossfire."

Aster nodded, his brow furrowing. "Perhaps Her Unique Cyborg Enhancements Are Not Merely Tools But Hold Some Kind Of Intrinsic Value To Them—Or To Us. You Mentioned The Documents From Her New Filter Shipment Said She Had Some Kind Of Magical Affinity, And That She May Be Able To Travel Between The Rifts? May I See It?"

Stretch nodded, moving to one of the many consoles around the back of the room. His fingers flew over the keyboard, pulling up the scanned document they'd received.

"Here it is," he said, gesturing for Aster to come closer. "Take a look at this part here."

“Note: Subject Has Shown Increased Magical Affinity And Occasional Manifestation Of [REDACTED] Abilities. Correlation With R.M. Fragment Concentration Appears Strong. Further Testing Required To Determine Optimal Levels For Desired Outcome.”

Addendum: Recent Observations Indicate Potential For Subject To [REDACTED] Between Rifts. Exercise Extreme Caution When Adjusting R.M. Fragment Levels. Unauthorized [REDACTED] Could Result In Catastrophic Consequences For All Active Rifts.

Aster’s eye lights widened as he processed the document's contents, “This Is… Concerning, For

Many

Reasons.” He said, his voice low.

“One, Why Would They Provide Us With This Information In The First Place, Knowing What They Do About Our Personalities And The Lives We’ve Lived? Second, If They’re Suggesting That Lilly Can Traverse Rifts, Then It Raises The Stakes Significantly. Not Only Are They Still Actively Experimenting On Her, But They’ve Implied She Has Some Kind Of Affinity For Magic. However, It Doesn’t Exist Here, So Then What Are They Talking About? Void Magic, Maybe? No, I Don’t-…Ugh, You Weren’t Kidding When You Said We Have More Questions Than Answers. There’s Too Little To Go Off Here.” Aster stepped back, rubbing the back of his skull as he sighed.

“Maybe They Assumed We Wouldn’t Ask Too many Questions?” Sugar spoke up, making his way to a chair to sit closer to Classic and Lilly.

“I mean, if they know we’re Lilly’s soulmate, then they should know we’d ask even

more

questions.” Classic shook his head, glancing at Sugar.

Axe's eye lights flickered as a low growl rumbled in his chest, "Ya know what? Fuck this. We're sittin' here speculatin' when we've got the damn things right in front of us." He strode over to the table where Lilly had placed her spare filters, snatching one up and examining it closely.

"We need to cut this fucker open and start figuring out what the hell these R.M. fragments actually are. All this talk about magic affinity and rift travel... it's gotta be connected to whatever's in these things."

Aster was the first to move, his mind already racing with possibilities.

"You're Right," He said, adjusting his glasses. "We Have The Means To Start Unraveling This Mystery Right Here." He gestured to the state-of-the-art lab equipment Lilly had provided, "Let's Put These Tools To Good Use. However, We'll Need To Be Extremely Careful With This Process. These Filters Contain Substances We Don't Fully Understand, And We Can't Risk Contaminating The Samples Or Harming Ourselves In The Process."

“Yeah, yeah. We got it, don’t worry…” Red said as he rummaged through a set of drawers for more lab supplies. “We’re not complete morons…Well, most of the time.” He laughed, earning a collective snicker from several in the group.

G nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Hell yeah, let's crack this thing open and see what makes it tick. I'll get the protective gear. We should probably wear gloves and goggles at the very least."

"Good thinking," Stretch agreed, stubbing out his cigarette. "I'll set up the microscope and prepare some slides. We'll want to examine this shit with a fine-tooth comb."

As the skeletons scrambled to collect the necessary equipment, Classic remained cradling Lilly protectively in the chair, ensuring she stayed undisturbed. He watched them with carefully, but found himself looking back down at the woman in his arms, a light blush on his face as she snuggled closer to him.

He had to stop himself from running his hands over her waist and thighs, shaking his head slightly as he tried to focus.

Mutt gathered several pairs of gloves from a nearby cabinet, tossing some across the table to Aster and Ax. "Just don't break anything, okay? Firecracker over there would probably skin us alive if we mess up the lab."

Axe grabbed a pair and slid them on with a mischievous smile. "Heh,

no skin off my back

anyhow." He flashed a toothy grin as he prepared to slice into the filter.

There were a few chuckles at the joke, but they remained focused as they grabbed the two filters she had set on the counter for them. They each put safety goggles and gloves on as they prepared to open it.

While Lilly had ordered the largest size she could, they were all still a little small on the large monsters.

Aster held the large cylinder steady while Stretch handed a small, precise laser cutter to him.

“Alright, Let’s See What We’re Working With Here…” He muttered, his brows furrowing as he turned the filter back and forth, trying to find a good spot to open it from without damaging the contents inside.

“Ya might wanna try here,” Mutt pointed to a section of the top rim, “It’s more likely to be empty since this is where the connection point is.”

Aster nodded, positioning the laser cutter at the spot Mutt indicated. With steady hands, he activated the device, a thin beam of intense light slicing through the metal casing. The room filled with a soft hum and the faint scent of ozone as he carefully traced the edges of the filter's top.

"Almost There." Aster murmured, his eye lights focused intently on his work. The other skeletons leaned in, their anticipation palpable as they watched the final millimeters of metal split.

With a soft hiss, the top of the filter separated cleanly. Aster set aside the cutter and slowly lifted the cap.

A collective breath was held as he peered inside.

"Stars Above." he whispered, his eye sockets widening as he slowly pulled out the inner tube.

Within the large glass tube was a deep blackish brown liquid. There was a flat, gray metal plate on the top and bottom of the glass, with exit points for allowing coolant to be filtered in.

But what truly caught their attention were the hundreds of glimmering pinkish-white shards, floating within the liquid. Most of them were similar in size, being no bigger than a pencil eraser, but their shapes varied.

The skeletons leaned in, their eye lights fixed on the mysterious contents of the filter. The tiny shards seemed to shift and shimmer in the dark liquid, casting an eerie glow.

"Holy shit," Red breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "What the hell

are

those things?"

Aster carefully tilted the filter, watching as the fragments swirled and settled. "These Must Be The R.M. Fragments Mentioned In The Documents. But What Exactly Are They? They Don't Appear To Be Any Known Mineral Or Chemical Compound I'm Familiar With."

Mutt carefully took the filter from Aster, tilting it slightly to watch the fragments dance in the liquid. "Whatever they are, they're reacting to something. Look how they're moving—it's not just from us tilting the filter."

The skeletons gathered closer, their eye lights fixed on the swirling fragments. True to Mutt's words, the shards seemed to move with an almost sentient purpose, clustering together and then dispersing in patterns that didn’t make sense.

"It's Almost Like They're...

Alive

." Creampuff whispered, making his way over as he watched the container.

Black's eye sockets narrowed as he studied the fragments. "Or Responding To Some Kind Of Energy We Can't See. These Aren't Just Inert Pieces Of Matter."

"We Also Need To Examine Each Piece Of The Filter Itself. It Might Not Be Much, But It May Tell Us More Of What We’re Dealing With.” Aster hummed, and Mutt set the inner piece of the filter back on the table.

Mutt's phalanges traced the edge of the filter's casing, his eye lights narrowing as he examined it more closely. "You know, now that I'm gettin' a better look at this thing, it's reminding me of somethin'..."

Red leaned in, his sharp teeth set in a contemplative frown. "Yeah, I'm gettin' that feeling too. It's like... fuck, what

is it

?"

Edge crossed his arms, his piercing gaze fixed on the filter. "The Construction Is Oddly Familiar. The Metal Plating, The Color Of The Liquid..."

Suddenly, Mutt's eye sockets widened in recognition. "Holy shit, I got it. It's like a lead-acid battery, ain't it!? Look, these metal plates here, I bet every boney ass in here that they’re

lead

. The dark liquid here? It matches up with the color of charged lead acid batteries. I betcha that shit is a sulfuric acid mix, the electrolyte for it.”

"You're right," Stretch murmured, his eye lights scanning over the device. "The structure is hella similar. But why would they use a lead-acid battery design for a coolant

filter

?"

Aster adjusted his glasses, leaning in to study the components more closely. "It's Possible They're Using The Battery Design As A Basis For Something More Complex. The R.M. Fragments Could Be Acting As Some Sort Of Catalyst Or Energy Source Within This System."

"But that still doesn't explain what these fragments actually are." G pointed out, gesturing to the shimmering shards suspended in the liquid. "Or why they're reacting that way."

Axe's eye socket narrowed as he watched the fragments swirl. "Ya know, this might sound crazy, but... what if these fragments are some kinda crystallized magic or somethin'?"

The room fell silent as the other skeletons considered his words.

"Crystallized magic?" Red repeated, his brow furrowed. "Is that shit even possible?"

"In Theory, Perhaps." Aster mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Magic Is, At Its Core, A Form Of Energy. And We Know That Energy Can Be Converted And Stored In Various Forms. If The Facility Has Found A Way To Crystallize Or Solidify Magical Energy..."

"It would explain why they feel so familiar." Stretch added, his eye lights fixed on the swirling fragments. "We're all made of magic, after all. Maybe that's why we're getting that weird feeling…”

“Perhaps It Would Also Explain Our Little Overseer’s Magical Affinity That Was Stated In The Filter Report.” Black frowned, turning back and looking at Classic.

Lilly was still snuggled against him, sound asleep. His grin was tight as he listened to their conversation, curiosity and unease etched on his face.

"If these fragments are some form of crystallized magic, it could explain a lot," Classic said softly, "Her ability to interact with our magic, the way she seems to be able to smell our scents... it's like she's got a piece of our world inside her."

Axe nodded, "And if that's the case, it means the facility's been pumpin' her full of this shit for who knows how long. No wonder she's got such a strong connection to us."

"But Where Did They Get It From?" Edge questioned, his sharp gaze scanning the room. "Magic Doesn't Exist In This World, So How Did They Obtain Enough To Create These Fragments? That Shipment Had Roughly Three-Hundred Filters In It, And The Amount Of Shards In Each One Is Probably In The Hundreds. We’re Talking Thousands Of These Things In Just One Order, Not Including However Many Over The last Three Years She’s Been Given."

A tense and uneasy silence fell over the room.

"Maybe..." Blue began hesitantly, his brows furrowed, "Maybe It's Connected To The Rifts Somehow? If They're Able To Open Portals To Our World, Could They Be Harvesting Magic From There?"

Stretch's eye sockets widened at his brother's suggestion. "Shit, that's... that's actually a pretty solid theory, bro. If they've found a way to extract and crystallize magic from our world..."

"It would explain why they're so interested in keeping the rifts open." G added, his expression grim. "They're not just studying us—they're mining our world for resources."

“Wait, but Lilly is the only Overseer who uses coolant, who uses

these

filters…What else would they be used for? What’s the point?” Classic asked.

Aster tapped his chin, leaning back in his chair, "That's... A Very Good Point. If Lilly Is The Only One Using These Filters, Then Why Produce Them In Such Large Quantities? Unless..."

He trailed off, his eye lights dimming as a troubling thought occurred to him.

"Unless what, doc?" Red prompted, his sharp teeth set in a grimace.

Aster took a deep breath before continuing, "Unless They Do More Than We Realize. If This Is Indeed Crystallized Magic, The Potential Uses For It In A World With No Magic Skyrocket Into The Millions And More.”

"Millions of uses?" Stretch echoed with a tense frown, "Like what?"

"Well, If We Consider Magic As A Form Of Energy, The Applications Could Be Vast. Energy Production, Advanced Technology, Even Weaponry... The Possibilities Are Nearly Endless." Aster hummed.

"Weaponry?" Edge's eye sockets narrowed, his sharp teeth set in a grim line. "You Don't Think They'd..."

"After what we've heard the fuckers did to her?" Red cut in, his voice low and angry as he waved his hand to their soulmate, "I wouldn't put anythin' past those fuckin’ bastards."

“It’s Possible Her Weaponry, Her X-04 Rig Is Based On The Use Of Magic. It Would Explain…” He grimaced, taking his glasses off and covering his face with one hand,”…It Would Explain Why She Can Smell Our Scents. She May Not…Be Our Soulmate. It May Be A By-Product Of What These Shards Are Doing To Her.”

"
No.
" Classic said angrily, his arms tightening protectively around Lilly's sleeping form.

His sockets were dark as he sent a tense stare at Aster, "That can't be right. What we feel for her, what she feels for us... it's real.

It has to be

."

Stretch nodded, his expression grim, "I'm with Classic on this one. We've all felt the pull towards her, the connection. That can't be faked, not even with magic."

"But How Can We Be Sure?" Black questioned, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. "If These Fragments Are Capable Of Mimicking Magical Properties, How Do We Know They're Not Influencing Our Perception?"

Creampuff cleared his throat as he eyed the new group, "But... If It Wasn't Real, Then Why Did You All React To Her So Strongly When You Arrived This Morning? And How Is It That We Have All The Signs Of A Soulmate Candidacy From Her? We Were Each Within Our Own Facilities For Three Years, We Were Bound To Have Stumbled Onto Other Humans Who Had Been In Contact With These Fragments. If That Were Truly The Case, We Would Have Noticed It On Other People."

"Hell yeah, bro." Sans nodded, his eye lights returning as he looked down at her, "What we feel... it's more than just some magical influence."

Axe grunted in agreement, "Yeah, gotta agree with Creampuff on this one. Ain't no way this is just some side effect. The pull we feel towards her, it's too strong, too... genuine. Shit, thought I was gonna lose my mind out there earlier when she started gettin’ close and ripping my chains off. Bite-size got something about her, and it ain’t just magic."

"Not to mention," Stretch added, leaning against a nearby counter, "if it were just these fragments causing it, wouldn't we be feeling the same pull towards each other? We've all got magic, after all."

“Ew, dude, what the

fuck

?” Red scowled, shaking his head at Stretch.

“My point exactly.” Stretch snorted, rolling his eye lights.

"So, we're back to square one," G sighed, rubbing the back of his skull. "On top of that, they’re not putting the fragments directly into her, they’re using them to clean her old coolant. What’s the point of that? A normal filtration system should work just the same, this is…" He gestured to the glass tube, “Excessive.”

Aster looked over the tube again, "Perhaps... Perhaps The Fragments

Are

The Filter Or Purifier For Her Coolant. If They Truly Are Crystallized Magic, They Might Be Absorbing Impurities Or Harmful Substances From Her System."

"But why use magic for that?" Mutt questioned, his brow furrowed. "Wouldn't regular filtration methods work just as well?"

"Not Necessarily," Aster replied, his eye lights flickering as he considered the possibilities, "If Lilly's Cybernetic Systems Are As Advanced As They Seem, Traditional Filtration Might Not Be Sufficient. Magic Could Potentially Cleanse It In A Way We Don’t Understand."

“When she showed us the diagram of her system on the console here,” Classic began, pointing to the middle console in the back of the room, “We didn’t see anything crazy, anything that stood out as too much in her Rig.”

“That’s the problem though, yer goin’ off the basis that the facility would tell her everything they did to her.” Mutt shook his head, pulling out a pack of cigarettes as he slowly walked around the room.

"You're right," Stretch sighed, "We can't trust anything the facility's told us or her. For all we know, there could be a whole other system in her that we're not even aware of."

"Which Brings Us Back To The Question Of

Why.

" Edge growled, his sharp teeth set in a grimace. "Why Go Through All This Trouble? Why Use These Fragments? What Is Their Endgame? We Don’t Have Enough Information To Go Off Of, And This Does Not Explain Gaster’s Involvement."

Aster sighed, nodding, “Edge Is Correct. We Need To Take The Fragments Out And Test Them. Right Now, We’re Just

Assuming

These Are Crystallized Magic, But We Can’t Know Unless We Study Them Further.”

As the skeletons worked to set up the area and equipment, Classic remained seated with Lilly still curled up against him. He watched the others with a mixture of frustration and concern, his phalanges absentmindedly stroking her hair and rubbing slow circles on her back.

Sugar leaned over, looking between them both, “So…You Said She Does Not…Do This Often With Any Of You? Even Though She Is Aware Of The Soulmate Connection?”

Classic sighed, shaking his head as he looked down at her. "No, she doesn't. This is the first time she's really let her guard down like this with any of us."

He paused, "She's... been through a lot. More than we know. It's made her wary of getting too close, I think. Plus, she's still trying to wrap her head around the whole soulmate thing."

Sugar nodded thoughtfully, his eye lights flickering with a mix of concern and curiosity. "It Must Be Difficult For Her And For All Of You As Well. For Her To Suddenly Have So Many Soulmates, And To Be Expected To Care For Us All While Still Dealing With Her Own Trauma And The Facility."

"Yeah, it is," Classic admitted quietly. "We want to be there for her, to show her she can trust us and lean on us. But we also don't want to push her too hard or too fast. It's a delicate balance. With you guys arriving, she’s probably terrified. She’s open to everything, but I think she gets overwhelmed easily, like she doesn’t think she deserves any form of intimacy or love from us."

"Poor Thing..." Sugar murmured, his eye lights soft as he looked at her, "She Seems So Strong, But There's A Fragility To Her As Well. It Must Be Exhausting, Trying To Be Everything For Everyone While Still Fighting Her Own Battles."

Classic nodded, his phalanges gently tracing the curve of Lilly's cheek. "You've got no idea, pal. She puts on a brave face, but we can all feel how much she's struggling sometimes. The way she threw herself into danger earlier to protect you guys... it's like she thinks her life is worth less than ours."

"That's ‘cause she does." Axe's gruff voice cut in as he approached, his single red eye light fixed on her. "You can see it in the way she moves, the way she talks about herself. She's got a fire in her that shows she don’t give a shit what happens to her, probably ‘cause of her abilities. She thinks she’s indestructible.”

Classic almost flinched at Axe’s words.

"You're right," he said softly, "She acts like she's expendable, like her life doesn't matter as much as ours. But she couldn't be more wrong."

Sugar nodded, his expression somber, "We'll Have To Show Her That She's Just As Important As Any Of Us. That Her Life Has Value Beyond Just Being Our Protector."

"Easier said than done," Stretch chimed in from across the room, "She's stubborn as hell when it comes to her own well-being. Always putting everyone else first."

"Then We'll Just Have To Be More Stubborn," Edge declared, his sharp teeth set in a sly grin, "We'll Just Have To Spoil Her. She Needs To Be Shown Proper Care, And The Only Way To Do That Is Give Her Hands-On Experience With All Of Us.”

Classic chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're not wrong, Edge. But we've gotta be careful about it. Push too hard and she'll just retreat further into herself."

"Then We Take It Slow." Sugar suggested, his voice gentle. "Little By Little, We Show Her She's Worthy Of Love And Care. Maybe Start With Small Gestures—More Hugs, Acts Of Service. Let Her Know It’s Alright To Want That From Us."

Classic nodded thoughtfully at Sugar's suggestion. "You've got a good point there, pal. Small steps might be the way to go with her."

He glanced down at Lilly's sleeping form, a soft smile tugging at his skull. "You know, it's funny. For all her strength and bravado, she can be so skittish when it comes to affection. The first time I tried to hug her, she nearly jumped out of her skin. She finally hugged one of us on her own  just a few days ago. Latched onto Stretch in the garden and asked for our hoodies to snuggle with. She’s too damn cute, and she doesn’t even realize it." He chuckled.

Sugar's eye lights softened as he listened to Classic. "That's So Sweet. She's Like A Little Kitten, Slowly Learning To Trust And Accept Affection."

"Heh, yeah, that's a pretty good comparison." Classic agreed with a chuckle. "I betcha she would purr when she's really relaxed if she could."

Axe raised a brow ridge at that, his grin widening. "Purrs, huh? Now that's somethin' I'd like to hear."

"You And Me Both," Mutt chimed in with a smirk.

“You know…” Red began, a sly grin rolling over his face as he turned to look at Classic, “If she can make anythin’ as long as she got the blueprints, makes me wonder if she could give herself cat ears and a tail.” He snickered.

Classic's eye sockets widened at Red's suggestion, a light blue blush dusting his cheekbones. "Red, don't even go there. She'd probably smack you for even suggesting it."

"Aw, come on," Red chuckled, his sharp grin widening. "You can't tell me you wouldn't find it cute as hell. Lil’ kitty Lilly, all soft and cuddly..."

"Red," Edge growled in warning, though there was a hint of amusement in his eye lights. "Don't Give Her Any Ideas. She Might Actually Do It Just To Mess With Us."

"And That Would Be A Bad Thing Because...?" Mutt chimed in with a smirk.

“Oh shit! Get her into one of those bunny girl costumes, and she could probably do real bunny ears and a tail. Christ, we really gotta ask her cause now I’m curious as hell.” G grinned wickedly.

"Alright, alright, focus. I think we're good to go." Stretch said, stepping back to survey their work. The makeshift containment zone was crude but functional, with thick plastic sheeting creating a barrier between them and the area where they'd be examining the fragments.

Aster nodded, adjusting his gloves. "Yes, As Thrilling As It Is To Wonder What Our Soulmate Would Look Like With…Animal Features, We Need To Extract A Few Of These Fragments For Closer Examination."

There were a few chuckles, but the group moved back to their spots while Classic and Sugar stayed seated with Lilly.

With careful precision, Aster used a pair of long tweezers to fish out the first fragment. He slowly clamped onto one, and pulled it from the dark liquid.

The moment the liquid on it fell away completely, it disintegrated, leaving nothing behind.

The room fell silent, the skeletons staring in shock at the empty space where the shard had been just moments ago.

"What the..." Red muttered, leaning in closer. "Did anyone else see that shit?"

Aster's eye sockets were wide as he rotated the now empty tweezers in his hand, "Fascinating... And Concerning. It Seems These Fragments Are Unstable Outside Of The Liquid."

"Try another one," Stretch suggested, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Maybe it was just a fluke."

With a nod, Aster carefully extracted another fragment. The result was the same—the moment it was no longer covered in liquid, it disintegrated into fine, glittering dust.

"Shit," Axe muttered, his single red eye light flickering. "That ain't good. If these things can't exist outside that liquid, how the hell are they supposed to work in her system?"

Aster's brow furrowed as he considered the implications. "Perhaps... Perhaps The Liquid Itself Is Part Of The Process. It May Act As A Stabilizing Agent For The Fragments."

"But then how does it work in her coolant system?" G questioned, leaning in to examine the filter more closely. "Her coolant's a different color, isn't it?"

Stretch nodded, his eye lights dim as he pondered. "Yeah, it's that weird blue color. So either the fragments are behaving differently in her system, or..."

"Or there's somethin' else goin' on that we don't know about," Red huffed.

Aster's eye lights suddenly flickered with realization. He turned to the others, his voice filled with urgency. "Wait A Moment. Her Current Coolant... It Looks Remarkably Similar To This Liquid The Fragments Are Suspended In, Doesn't It?"

The other skeletons paused, their eye lights widening as they considered Aster's words.

"You're right," Stretch muttered, leaning in to examine the filter more closely. "It's got that same dark, almost oily look to it."

“Someone Get Me A Sample From One of The Tanks In Her Coolant Room! The Ones That Haven't Been Filtered Yet!” Aster moved over, quickly grabbing various vials and containers as he organized them on the metal table-top.

Mutt nodded, quickly teleporting out of the room. A tense silence fell as the others waited, their minds racing with possibilities. After what felt like an eternity, but was likely only a minute or two, Mutt reappeared, holding a small vial of dark, viscous liquid.

"Here ya go, doc," he said, handing the vial to Aster. "Fresh from the tank, still warm and everything."

Aster took the vial with gloved hands, his eye lights intense as he examined it. "Thank You, Mutt. Now, Let's See What We're Dealing With Here."

He carefully poured a small amount of the coolant into a petri dish, then used the tweezers to extract another fragment from the filter. With precise movements, he lowered the fragment into the coolant sample before the last of the liquid could fall from it.

The room fell silent as Aster lowered the fragment into the petri dish filled with Lilly's used coolant. All eye lights were fixed on the interaction, breaths held in anticipation.

At first, nothing seemed to happen. The fragment sat suspended in the dark, viscous liquid, its pinkish-white surface almost shimmering.

Then, slowly,it started to change.

It started at the edges of the fragment as it seemed to melt into the coolant. Bright hues of blue spread through the coolant like an ice cream melting in the sun. The dark, almost black liquid began to shift, swirling with streaks of vibrant teal.

"Holy shit," Stretch breathed, leaning in closer. "Are you seeing this?"

The skeletons watched in awe as the fragment seemed to dissolve completely into the coolant, transforming it before their eyes. The once dark liquid now sparkled with a blue glow, just like the coolant they'd seen flowing through Lilly's systems and the sample she gave them..

"Stars above," Aster murmured, his eye sockets wide as he watched the transformation unfold. "It... It

Purified

The Coolant."

As the skeletons watched in awe, the transformation of the coolant continued, taking an unexpected turn. The vibrant teal blue that had initially spread through the liquid began to shift and change once more. Slowly, tendrils of deep crimson began to seep into the blue, creating a mesmerizing swirl of color.

"What the hell?" Red muttered, his eye lights fixed on the swirling mixture.

The red continued to spread, eventually overtaking the blue entirely.

Aster leaned in closer, his analytical mind racing. "Fascinating. It Seems The Fragment Is Causing Some Sort Of Chemical Reaction Within The Coolant. But Why The Color Change?"

As the words left Aster's mouth, the crimson coolant suddenly flickered, as if responding to his question. In an instant, the deep red hue vanished, replaced by the vibrant teal blue they had first seen. The transformation was so abrupt, so unexpected, that several of the skeletons jerked back in surprise.

"What the actual

fuck

?" Axe growled, his single red eye light flaring with intensity.

"Did... did anyone else see that?" Stretch asked, his voice hushed with disbelief. "It just... changed back."

The other skeletons nodded silently, their eye lights fixed on the now-blue coolant. The sudden shift from red back to blue had left them all stunned.

"It's Almost As If..." Aster began, his brow furrowed in concentration, "As If The Coolant Is Reacting To Something. But What?"

“It Has To Be Whatever These Fragments Are. Whether It’s Crystallized Magic or Something Else, We Won't Know Unless We Find A Way To Test Them.” Black huffed, rubbing his face.

As the skeletons continued to ponder the mysterious behavior of the coolant, a soft groan from across the room drew their attention. Lilly was stirring in Classic's arms, her eyes slowly fluttering open.

"Wha... what the hell?" She mumbled, her voice thick with sleep. She blinked a few times, taking in her surroundings with growing confusion.

Classic gently stroked her hair, his voice soft and soothing. "Hey there, sleepyhead. You dozed off on me for a bit. How are you feeling?"

Lilly's eyes widened as she realized her position, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks. "Oh god, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to fall asleep on you like that, shit!" She started to pull away, but Classic's arms tightened slightly around her.

"Hey, no need to apologize," Classic said gently, his arms still wrapped securely around Lilly. "You obviously needed the rest. Besides, I didn't mind being your pillow for a while." He winked at her, and her blush deepened.

She stopped trying to pull away, instead, she glanced around the room, taking in the makeshift containment area and the gathered skeletons. Her brow furrowed as she noticed their intense focus on something on the table.

"Oh shit! Did something happen while I was asleep? You figure out what the hell they’re putting in my coolant?" She raised her brows, leaning back slightly in Classic's arms as she tried to look over at the table from across the room.

They all exchanged weary glances, and there was a moment of hesitation before Aster spoke up.

"We've Made Some... Interesting Discoveries, Lilly. While We Don’t Have Any Answers Yet, It May Be Best If You Come Take A Look.”

She sighed, pulling away from Classic, “Figures. When

don’t

we have more fucking questions than answers?”

There were a few small chuckles from the group.

Well, she wasn’t wrong.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

After being filled in on everything they discovered, Lilly had forced the group to stop working for the night. She was able to remove their bracelets and shuffle them all to bed, but not without the group worrying over her like a group of frantic nannies.She may or may not have dipped two of her fingers into the liquid of the filter to grab an R.M. Fragment. The liquid that may or may not have been acid.It was totally acid.The meat and skin from the middle knuckle up had melted away, causing immediate panic, especially when she kept her hand in.It wasn’t like it hurt or anything. After all, she was a fucking super cyborg, she had immediate regeneration.Okay, with how sluggish her coolant was now, it took about five minutes, but still, she was fine!
Pft, drama queens.
But, that was how she found herself being stared down in her room, for the third day in a row.She was sitting on the end of her bed, braiding her hair to the side while Black, Mutt, and Blue watched her with narrowed eye sockets.“C’mon guys…I’m not gonna fucking explode at any moment. You’re all acting like I’m gonna wither away like a dying person. It’s been three days , can we give it a rest already?” She rolled her eyes, huffing as she braided together more thick strands."We're Just Concerned." Blue said, his voice softer than usual. "You Literally Put Your Hand In Acid, Lilly. That's Not Exactly Normal Behavior."“I didn’t know it was acid!” She threw her hands up, exasperated by their behavior."Bullshit." Black hissed, his tone sharp. "You Knew Exactly What You Were Doing. You're Not Stupid, Little One. You're Reckless."“Wha-!” She sputtered, looking at Black in disbelief, “How the fuck would I have known that! I was asleep on Sans while you guys were talking about everything. You all didn’t even know it was acid, you were just guessing based on how Mutt said the filters looked like lead batteries!”Mutt moved forward to loom over her, his eyelights flicking between her and her healed fingers, "Darlin’, even if ya didn’t know, ya kept yer hand in the damn acid."She finished her braid and tossed it over her shoulder with a huff, "Look, I get it. You're all worried. But I'm fine, see?" She held up her fully regenerated hand to him, wiggling her fingers. "Good as new. No harm, no foul. I’m a super cyborg, I’m built to handle that kind of stuff. If the guys filled you in on the little of my time at the facility, you know I can handle a hell of a lot worse." She snorted, moving past him and checking herself over in the mirror.She had gone for a pair of ripped black shorts, a white tank top, black converse, and a soft black cardigan to wrap herself in.
Good enough.
“Anyway, I’m fine. I don’t need babysitters and I still have a job to do, you know. Let’s head to the kitchen to get breakfast. I’ll also need to finish unloading the shipment for the library and then fill out my end of the month report for HQ.” She sighed, brushing a few loose strands of her bangs out the way.As she was moving out of the bathroom, Black blocked her path, reaching out and grabbing her jaw as he forced her to look up at him.Her eyes widened in surprise as he gripped her jaw, his eyelights burning intensely as he stared down at her. For a moment, neither of them moved, the tension thick in the air."Listen Carefully, Little Overseer." Black growled, his voice low and dangerous. "We Are Not Trying To Babysit You. We Are Trying To Protect You. From Others And From Yourself."She tried to jerk her head away, but his grip was firm. She glared up at him defiantly, "I don't need protecting, I’m a fucking military cyborg, Black!" She spat, "I can take care of myself.""Can You?" Black challenged. "Because I’ve Only Just Arrived A Few Days Ago, And It Already Seems To Me That You Have A Death Wish."She rolled her eyes, reaching up to try to yank his hand away, “I literally can’t die, dude. A little acid isn’t gonna ruin me. I think you guys are seriously underestimating how sturdy I am.”Black snarled, using his other hand to wrap her braid in his fist and yank her head back.She felt a slight blush rise to her cheeks over the feeling.“Just Because You Cannot Die Doesn’t Mean We Cannot Be Worried!” He leaned in so close their faces were almost touching.
Damn you, horny brain. For once, can I just be cool and angry?
She narrowed her eyes, “You don’t even know me! Like you said, you literally just got here a few days ago, why the hell are you new guys so worked up?”While she knew that the first six were her soulmates, she hadn’t wanted to assume the new guys were too.After all this though, it was kinda obvious.She wanted to punch herself in the face for being so fucking stupid.At this point though, with everything else going on? Twelve soulmates was the least of her worries. She was either gonna have to sit on this train and enjoy the ride, or get the fuck off.And out of all the things she was, a quitter sure as hell wasn’t one of them.
If god wants me to get fucked by twelve skeletons, who am I to say no?
The only problem?None of the had talked to her about it yet, but she knew they had talked to each other.They were trying to keep it from her, and that pissed her off. Black's eyelights flickered, his grip on her jaw loosening slightly as he sputtered, caught off guard by her question. His skull flushed a deep crimson as he struggled to find the right words."I... We..." He started, then stopped, growling in frustration. "It's Not That Simple ."He released her braid but kept his hand on her jaw, his thumb absently stroking her cheek. The gesture was surprisingly gentle, contrasting sharply with his earlier aggression.Well, if they didn’t want to say anything or possibly admit to being her soulmate, she wasn’t gonna force them.They were gonna fucking regret it though.She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Look, I appreciate the concern, really. But you guys don't owe me anything. I did what should’ve been done. It's my job to keep you all safe, end of story."She gently removed his hand from her face, giving it a small squeeze before letting go. "Now, can we please move on? We've got a lot to do today since it’s the end of the month, and I'd rather not waste time arguing about this. Let’s head to the kitchen to eat, and then we’ll go over the last of the stuff from the shipment."Black looked like he wanted to protest further, but Blue stepped in, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She’s Right, Black. We Can Discuss This More Later.”He reluctantly stepped aside, allowing her to pass. As she walked by, he caught her arm, his grip firm but not painful."This Conversation Is Not Over." He growled softly.She met his gaze, a hint of challenge in her eyes. "Oh, I know it isn’t." She huffed, pulling her arm free and striding out of the room.As they made their way to the kitchen, she could feel their eyes on her back. She knew they meant well, but their overprotectiveness was really starting to grate on her nerves.In the kitchen, she found Sans and Red already seated at a table, nursing mugs of coffee. They looked up as the group entered, their eye lights immediately zeroing in on her."Heya, Lils. How're ya feeling?" Sans asked, his grin a bit strained as he glanced down at her hand.All she could do was sigh, knowing she was in for another round of concerned questioning. "I'm fine, guys. Really. Can we please just focus on what needs to be done today?"Red snorted, "Ya ain't gettin' off that easy, sweetheart. Ya scared the shit outta us after that whole acid incident."She rolled her eyes, moving to the Keurig as she grabbed a mug and a pod of caramel latte.“Yeah, yeah. My designated babysitters here already tried that shit with me. I’m fine, and I’m getting something done today. I don’t have a choice since HQ needs that report.” She thumbed over her shoulder to Black, Mutt, and Blue.They had begun mingling around the kitchen, grabbing drinks and breakfast leftovers.It was a little past eight, which meant she had time to get the shipment unloaded, test the laser rifle from HQ, and then finish the day off with the report.Sans and Red exchanged glances, clearly not satisfied with her dismissal. Sans opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off."Look, I get it. You're all worried. But for the millionth time I'm fine, and we have work to do. So can we please just drop it for now?" She said firmly, pulling her freshly brewed latte from the machine.They all shared looks of concern and frustration, but seemed to reluctantly accept her request. For now, at least."Fine, but don't go thinkin’ this conversation is over, doll." Red grumbled, taking a long swig of his coffee.She rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time, “I know. ” She huffed, turning back around to grab her now full mug. Pouring some vanilla creamer and sugar into it, she sipped it contently and pulled up the blueprint of the laser rifle in her head to look over.As she studied the blueprint in her mind, she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and frustration. The laser rifle was one of their newer pieces, and she was eager to test it out in the combat chamber. However, she also knew that they were only sending her minor updates on it and several others, which made it feel like a waste of time. They’d labeled this one high priority, wanting her to focus on reporting the cooldown, range, and energy output changes."So, what's on the agenda for today?" Sans asked, breaking her concentration.She took another sip of her latte before responding. "First, we need to finish unloading the shipment for the new library in the rec room. Then I have to test out the updated blueprint of the laser rifle HQ sent. After that, I'll work on my end-of-month report.""Sounds like a full day." Sans commented, looking down at the chambers on her legs, "You sure you're up for all that with how dark your coolant is right now?"She shot him an exasperated look, "Yes, Sans. I'm looking forward to getting some real work done. And even if I wasn’t, I don’t have a choice. I have to send them a report on this, whether I want to or not. Plus my coolant change is tomorrow and then I’ll be good as new.""Alright, alright." Sans said, holding up his hands in surrender. "Just don't push yourself too hard, okay?"She nodded, barely suppressing another eye roll. She downed the rest of her latte and set the mug in the sink. "Let's get started on that shipment. The sooner we finish, the sooner I can test that rifle."As they made their way to the rec room, she couldn't help but notice the worried glances the skeletons kept throwing her way. It was starting to really piss her off, making her coolant sludge under her skin uncomfortably, but she tried to push it aside and focus on the task at hand.She had left several empty rooms in the back section of the rec area so they could add more things later if they needed. The library was planned, but she had left it empty so the first six guys could pick what kind of books they wanted to put into it.It was a gorgeous two-story room, with high ceilings, deep mahogany walls, and intricate railing around the second floor.It was enough to put any public library to shame with how many empty shelves were scattered in the walls and through different areasThere was a massive oval-shaped oak tabled with thirty plush red chairs surrounding it towards the back, with an intricate star pattern made of different colored marble in the floor. A large fireplace sat against the wall behind it, with curved stairs on either side of the room to access the second floor. There were several private rooms as well, with computers, desks, and anything else they’d want or need if they chose to use them.Currently, the room was filled with metal crates and shipping boxes, thousands of books between all of them. It ranged from history, sciences, fiction, non-fiction, medical, fantasy, manga, anything and everything she could get her hands on. She grabbed a box and started unpacking, organizing the books by genre."Hey, sweetheart." Red called out, holding up a thick hardcover book. "Where d'ya want the trashy romance novels? Got a special section for those?" He waggled his brow bones suggestively.She snorted, shaking her head, "Just put them in the romance section. Most of the shelves should already be labeled. There are also signs above different areas that will tell you where you can put stuff if you get lost."As they worked, she found herself getting lost in the rhythm of unpacking and sorting. It was mindless work, but it allowed her to focus on something other than the constant worried glances from the skeletons. She was halfway through a box of medical encyclopedias when she felt a presence behind her."You Know, We Could Probably Get This Done Faster If You'd Let Us Use Our Magic." Black said, his voice low and close to her ear.She didn’t give him a reaction, only shrugging her shoulders in response, “You can if you want, I won’t stop you. Just make sure you don’t wreck anything in here. I spent hours designing this place.”He huffed, clearly unsatisfied with her nonchalant response, "That's Not What I Meant. I Was Suggesting We Could All Use Our Magic To Get This Done Quickly, So You Can Rest."She paused in her sorting, turning to face him with a raised eyebrow. "Black, this isn't strenuous work, and I'm perfectly capable of helping. It’s my job, dude. You all shouldn’t be helping in the first place."She could see the frustration building in his face, but before he could argue further, Sans called out from across the room."Hey, Lils? Where do you want these science books? They don't seem to fit in any of the categories we've got so far."Grateful for the distraction, she moved away from Black to help Sans. "Let me see those. We might need to create a new section for specialized topics."She hummed, skimming through the boxes he was at, “Uh, shit, alright. We can put these on the second floor with the learning section. I think that’ll fit best.”As she helped Sans sort through the science books, she could feel Black's eyelights boring into her back. She tried to ignore it, focusing on the stack of books she was going through instead."These look pretty advanced." Sans commented, flipping through one of the books. "Quantum physics, string theory... Where'd you get all these?"She shrugged, stacking a few books in her arms and shoving them into boxes. "I put in requests for a wide range of topics when you each gave me your lists. Figured you guys might appreciate some more technical stuff. We should have plenty of space to order more in the future too."His expression seemed to soften as he looked around the massive library, "That's... really thoughtful of you, Lils."She felt a slight warmth in her cheeks as she kept her gaze down. "Of course, Sans. You know I’m only getting the best shit for you guys."He chuckled softly, his eyelights warm as he watched her organize the books. "Yeah, you always do go above and beyond for us, don’t ya?"A shit eating grin rolled over her face, "Hell yeah. You guys deserve it after everything you've been through."As they continued sorting, she could hear the others chatting and occasionally bickering over where certain books should go. It was almost...domestic. The thought made her pause for a moment, a strange feeling settling in her chest."Hey, you okay there, Lils?" Sans asked, noticing her hesitation.She blinked, “O-oh, yeah, sorry. I guess I just…I don’t know. It’s nice, being in here with you guys. Spending time with you all like this. I also just don’t know much about your time on the surfaces. I know each of you had a few years there before you were dragged into this universe, but…” She trailed off, realizing how little she really knew about their time above ground.His eyelights flickered, a mix of emotions crossing his face. "Yeah, I guess we haven't really talked much about that, huh?" He set down the book he was holding, leaning against the shelf. "It was... different. Good in some ways, tough in others."She nodded, encouraging him to continue."We had our freedom, which was amazing. But humans... well, let's just say not everyone was thrilled to have monsters around." He sighed, running a hand over his skull. "We made progress, sure. But it was slow. Lots of protests, discrimination. Paps had a hard time with it at first."She frowned, feeling a pang in her chest, "I'm sorry you had to go through that. It must have been difficult, especially after everything you'd already been through. Humans fucking suck ass, so unfortunately, I’m not too surprised." She grit out.The scar of her torn lip ached.He nodded, his expression somber. "Yeah, it wasn't easy. But we had each other, and that made it bearable. Plus, there were good humans too. Like you."She felt her cheeks warm at his words, “Yeah, well, I’m not human anymore, so I don’t count.”Sans chuckled softly, shaking his head, "Nah, you count. Human or not, you've got a good soul, Lils."She turned her head away, feeling flustered by his word, "Thanks, Sans. That... means a lot coming from you."They fell into a comfortable silence as they continued sorting books. After a while, she spoke up again, her voice quieter than before."Hey Sans? Can I ask you something?"He looked up from the stack of books he was organizing, "Sure thing, kiddo. What's on your mind?"She hesitated, fidgeting with the book in her hands, "I was just wondering... do you ever miss it? Your universe, I mean. Your old life there."His eyelights dimmed slightly as he considered her question. He was quiet for a long moment, his phalanges idly tracing the spine of a book."Yeah," He finally said, his voice soft. "Yeah, I do. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for what we have here. You've given us a safe place, more than we could've hoped for. But..." He trailed off, his gaze distant."But it's not home." She finished for him, understanding in her voice.Sans only had a sad smile on his face. "Even though all the monsters from the underground were pulled over, we don’t get to see them since they’re with the other Overseer’s. I think I just miss a lot of the mundane, if you can believe it. I had my hot dog stand on this perfect little corner at the park, and there was this one group of kids that liked my pranks and jokes. They’d come by and eat, then wouldn’t leave for almost an hour.” He chuckled.She felt her heart clench at his words.They had built a life, a whole world…that was their home.And the government had ripped them all from it, forcing them to sit in a glorified golden bird cage with her as their Overseer.“…Wanna tell me about them?” She asked slowly, unpacking more books.His eyelights brightened a bit at her question. He leaned back against the bookshelf, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face."Sure, kid. Well, there were three of them—two human kids and a monster kid. The humans were twins, a boy and a girl. Real troublemakers, those two. Always trying to sneak extra ketchup packets when they thought I wasn't looking."Lilly chuckled, imagining Sans catching the kids red-handed."The monster kid was this little armless lizard monster. Sweetest kid you'd ever meet, but clumsy as all hell. Can't tell you how many times I had to use my magic to keep 'em from face-planting right into my stand." Aw, monster kid . She could practically see their bright little face in her head.As Sans spoke, his voice grew warmer, more animated. It was clear these memories meant a lot to him."They'd come by almost every day after school," Sans continued, his expression softening, "The twins would always try to get me to tell them new jokes, and the monster kid would just sit there, stars in their eyes, laughing at every pun no matter how bad it was."She found herself smiling as she listened, picturing the scene in her mind. "Sounds like they really brightened your day." she said softly.Sans nodded, his grin widening. "Yeah, they did. It was... nice, you know? Having that routine, seeing familiar faces. Made the surface feel a bit more like home."He paused, his expression growing more thoughtful, "I wonder how they're doing now. If they still go to that park, looking for a hot dog stand that’s not there."She felt her heart clench, her coolant swirling darkly under her skin.“Well, when we get you all home, that just means you’ll have to go back with a lot more material. You better put this library to good use.” She chuckled softly, unpacking more books as she kept her gaze down.Even if they were all her soulmates, she would never keep them from that."Yeah... home." He said softly, his tone tinged with a hint of something she couldn't quite place.She glanced up at him, noticing the conflict in his expression, "Sans? Is everything okay?"He seemed to shake himself out of whatever thoughts had gripped him, his usual grin sliding back into place. "Yeah, 'course. Just... thinking, I guess."“Hey, its okay, you know.” She said quietly.He looked at her curiously. "What's okay?"She set down the books she was holding and turned to face him fully. "It's okay to miss home. To want to go back. You don't have to feel guilty about that."His eyelights flickered, a mix of surprise and something else—relief, maybe? — crossing his face. "I... thanks, Lils. I guess I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that."She smiled at him, “Of course, you bonehead. I get it. It’s alright for this to be hard, to mourn the life you had before. I’d never judge any of you for feeling that way. Honestly, I’d be more concerned if you didn’t have complicated feelings about the whole thing.”His shoulders seemed to relax slightly at her words. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his touch affectionate. "You're something else, you know that?"She felt a warmth bloom in her chest at the gesture, "I know, I’m great and amazing. Although, not nearly as much as all of your brothers." She said with a small grin.“Paps is pretty cool, huh?” He grinned.“Fuck yeah. If you ever get into the public eye, he’s gonna be so famous it’ll make your damn skull spin. The Undertale fandom is gonna lose their shit for all of you.” She snickered.Sans let out an awkward chuckle, shaking his head as his cheeks dusted with light blue, “Man, sometimes I forget about that. That we’re like…video game characters here. Gotta say though, it was pretty bone-rattling hearin’ that I was your favorite that night in the club.” He winked at her, and she bristled.“T-that’s not-!” She sputtered, pushing him away slightly, “Whatever, you damn bonehead. I knew that shit would go to your head…” She grumbled, moving another stack of books.Sans chuckled at her flustered reaction, his grin widening, "Aw, c'mon Lils, no need to be so modest. I'm flattered, really. Though I gotta say, I'm surprised you didn't go for the obvious choice of the Great Papyrus."She rolled her eyes, trying to fight the blush creeping up her neck, "He’s also my favorite, dammit! All of you are, even if I don’t wanna admit it. Besides, fangirls always go for the mysterious, punny skeleton with a tragic backstory.""Tragic backstory, huh?" Sans raised a brow bone, "Guess I better start practicing my brooding looks in the mirror."She snorted, shaking her head, "Please don't. Your ego's big enough as it is."He chuckled, his grin softening into something more genuine, "Alright, alright. I'll save the brooding for when I really need to impress ya."She rolled her eyes again, but there was no real annoyance behind it, "As if you need to try and impress me."They fell into a comfortable silence as they continued sorting books. She found herself sneaking glances at Sans, noticing the way his eyelights seemed brighter than before, his posture more relaxed.She felt a warmth in her chest, knowing she had helped ease some of his burden, even if just for a moment."Hey, Lils?" Sans spoke up after a while, his voice soft."Yeah?" She looked up from the stack of books she was organizing."Thanks. For listening, and for... well, everything." He rubbed the back of his neck, a light blush on his cheeks.“Of course Sans. You know I’m here for you guys. I might technically be your Overseer, but I’m your soulmate, first and foremost. You don’t have to shoulder everything just because you’re worried about me. We’re a team, whether you like it or not.” She chuckled lightly, bumping her hip against his.His eyelights flickered at her words, a mix of emotions crossing his face. He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, they were interrupted by a loud crash from across the room."MUTT! I TOLD YOU TO BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE BOXES!" Black's irritated voice rang out.She and Sans turned to see a pile of books scattered across the floor, with Mutt standing sheepishly next to them. Black was glaring at his brother, hands on his hips."Sorry, m'lord." Mutt mumbled, already bending down to start picking up the fallen books.She sighed, shaking her head with a small smile, "I guess we should go help them before Black blows a gasket."Sans chuckled, "Yeah, probably a good idea. Don't want him to get too spine-y about it."She groaned at the pun but couldn't help the grin that spread across her face. "That was terrible, even for you."They made their way over to where Mutt and Black were, with Black still scolding his brother as they both picked up books."Seriously, Mutt, How Many Times Do I Have To Tell You To Be More Careful?" Black grumbled, stacking books with quick, precise movements."Sorry, m'lord." Mutt repeated, but he had a grin on his face as she made her way over.She knelt down beside them, starting to help pick up the scattered volumes, "It's all good. We’ve got basically all day to deal with this shit. There’s probably hundreds of more boxes here. Maybe I should’ve ordered things in batches…” She mumbled furrowing her brows as she picked up a book on learning Cantonese.Black scoffed, his eyelights flicking to her,  "We Would Have Been Done Already If You'd Let Us Use Our Magic."She rolled her eyes, stacking more books, "I told you, I'm not stopping you from using magic. I just don't want you guys to feel like you have to do everything for me. Go nuts, if you wanna.""That's Not The Point." Black growled, his frustration evident, "You Shouldn't Be Exerting Yourself At All In Your Current State.""My 'current state' is fine, Black. I'm not made of glass. You know, I’m actually really enjoying just hanging out in here and doing this with you guys." She huffed.Black's eyelights flickered, a mix of frustration and something softer crossing his face. He opened his mouth to argue further, but Mutt cut in before he could."She's right, m'lord. It's kinda nice, just hangin' out like this." Mutt's lazy grin widened as he looked at Lilly. "Besides, I think our little Overseer here likes spending time with us."She felt her cheeks warm slightly at his words, "W-well, yeah. Of course I do."Black's expression softened slightly, though he still looked conflicted, "Fine. But If You Start To Feel Tired Or Overexerted, You Will Tell Us Immediately. Understood?""Yes, sir ." She teased with a sly grin, setting some books down on a small table.Black immediately stiffened at her words, his eyelights shrinking to pinpricks as a deep crimson blush spread across his cheekbones. His jaw clenched, fingers tightening around the book he was holding as he struggled to maintain his composure"Careful there, darlin'. You might short-circuit m'lord if you keep that up. He's not used to such... obedience ." Mutt snickered.“Shut Your Mouth, Mutt!” Black hissed, grinding his teeth.“What, want me to call you captain instead, mister head of the royal guard?” She grinned, unpacking more books as she eyed him from the side.She knew he had a thing for labels, and she was damn well gonna use it against him.Black's eye lights flickered dangerously, his blush deepening as he struggled to maintain his composure. "You're Treading On Thin Ice, Little Overseer." he growled.She felt a shiver run down her spine at his tone, but she refused to back down. "Oh? And what are you going to do about it, Captain ?" she challenged, a mischievous glint in her eye.Black’s hand shot out to grab her, but she teleported a few feet away, covering her face and trying not to giggle as he whipped his head up at her.His eye lights flared with a mix of frustration and something darker as he watched her teleport away. "You Think You're Clever, Don't You?" he growled, slowly taking a step towards her.She couldn't help the grin that spread across her face, “Oh definitely. I’m your Overseer for a reason, Captain .” She teased again.He snarled, his back straightening, "You Seem To Have Forgotten Your Place, Little One," He grit out, "Perhaps I Need To Remind You ."She tapped her chin for a second in mock concentration, “Hm…I coulda sworn my place was over you .” She grinned wickedly, teleporting away to the top floor.She leaned over the railing, waving her fingers and smirking down at Black, “I think you guys forget that I can teleport sometimes, which, honestly? Makes this shit even funnier.” She laughed.He glared up at her and in an instant, he vanished, reappearing right behind her on the second floor."You Seem To Have Forgotten, Little Overseer," he growled, his breath hot against her ear, "That We Can Teleport Too."She whirled around, startled by his sudden proximity. Her back pressed against the railing as Black loomed over her, his eyelights burning intensely as he snaked a hand around her waist.She immediately began flailing, turning back around and reaching down towards Sans and Mutt, who were eyeing her with grins.“Guys! He’s man-handling me! This is harassment!” She laughed.Black's grip on her waist tightened as she squirmed, pulling her flush against his chest. "Harassment, Is It?" he purred, "I'd Say It's More Like... Discipline."“IT’S GETTING WORSE! HE’S GONNA PUT ME IN A TIME OUT CHAIR!” She shouted, laughing harder as she reached her arms out towards the two.Sans and Mutt exchanged amused glances, clearly just enjoying the show."Sorry, kiddo." Sans called up, his grin widening. "Looks like you dug your own grave with this one.""Yeah, darlin'." Mutt chuckled. "You might wanna start thinkin' of ways to get back in m'lord's good graces."She gasped.“Wha-?! You fucking traitors!” She sputtered between giggles, giving them a double middle finger.Black's grip on her waist tightened further as she flipped off the others, his chest rumbling with a low growl. "Such Vulgar Behavior." he tsked, his breath hot against her ear. "I Think Someone Needs To Be Taught A Lesson In Manners ."She felt a shiver run down her spine at his words, her laughter dying in her throat as she realized the position she was in. Black's body was pressed firmly against her back, his arm like an iron band around her waist. She could feel the heat radiating off him, his magic crackling in the air around them.Her eyes narrowed and a sly grin tugged at the corners of her mouth, “This is a lot of talk coming from someone who just met me a few days ago. Already trying to get into your Overseer’s pants, Black? Didn’t take you for one to try and seduce the authority around here.” She snickered.She would love to see how he got out of this one.Black's grip on her waist loosened slightly, caught off guard by her words. His eyelights flickered, a mix of frustration and something else crossing his face.
Perfect.
"I... That's Not...!" He sputtered, his usual confidence faltering for a moment.She took advantage of his momentary distraction, slipping out of his grasp and teleporting back down to the main floor. She landed next to Sans and Mutt, a triumphant grin on her face.“Ha! Suck my dick!” She shouted, throwing both her hands in the air and flipping him off with a wild grin.Mutt and Sans both snorted, slapping hands to their mouths.Black paused, his eyelights darting over her as he gazed down at her from the second floor. For a moment, the library was silent, the tension palpable in the air. Then, slowly, a smirk spread across his face.She tensed.
Uh oh.
"Well Played, Little Overseer." He hummed, "But Don't Think This Is Over. I Always Get What I Want In The End."With that, he turned on his heel and strode back to the pile of books he had been organizing, his movements graceful and purposeful. She watched, stunned, as he began methodically sorting through the volumes, his posture relaxed but still emanating an aura of authority.The sudden shift caught her off guard.She had expected him to teleport down and continue their little game, maybe even escalate it.Instead, he had…admitted defeat? Given up? Played her?She had no fucking clue, but it bothered her.The triumphant grin had faded from her face as she watched him calmly sort through books, acting as if nothing had happened."Uh, what the fuck just happened?" She muttered, glancing between Sans and Mutt.Sans chuckled, shaking his head, "Looks like you might've underestimated him, kiddo. Black doesn't give up that easily."Mutt nodded, a knowing smirk on his face, "M'lord's playin' the long game now, darlin'. You might wanna watch your back."She furrowed her brows, a mix of confusion and intrigue swirling in her chest, "The long game? What the hell is that supposed to mean?""It means," Sans said, his grin widening, "You lost this one, kiddo.”She bristled.“You’re supposed to be on my side, you ass.” She huffed, crossing her arms.They both chuckled, making their way back over to their own piles of books as they continued where they left off.Damn them.She let out a small sigh, but made her way to the back right corner that hadn’t been touched yet. There were several rows of shelves that resembled more of the layout of a library. There were a few scattered reading nooks around, each adorned with large, plush seating to accommodate the skeleton's bigger sizes. The warm, soft in-ceiling lights cast a slight glow over the dark wood, and the smell of fresh paper and books made her feel cozy.Crouching down, she began opening a box of what looked like cookbooks, slowly stacking them and placing them in the correct spots.She was feeling sleepy for some reason.The atmosphere combined with the soft noise of the others made her want to curl against one of them and nap.Like hell she’d admit it, though.Black would probably tell her no as some kind of dickhead punishment.She wanted it, though.A light sigh left her lips as she opened another box, allowing her to be drawn back into the lull of her soft surroundings.It just felt so…nice.As Lilly sorted through the cookbooks, she found herself yawning more frequently. The cozy atmosphere of the library combined with the rhythmic task of organizing books was making her eyelids feel heavy. She shook her head, trying to stay alert, but the warmth and comfort of the room was seeping into her bones.She grabbed another cookbook, eyeing the front as she tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.Something about Korean dishes? She couldn’t really tell at this point as she shoved it onto the shelf.Moving away with a long yawn, she found herself weaving back behind the shelves, distancing herself from the others as their voices faded into the background. She was deep enough in that no one could see her, so…One little nap wouldn’t hurt anything, right?She didn’t know who she was trying to convince.She found a small, half circle nook, with an incredibly soft looking, red velvet cushion. It didn’t take her long to curl up in a ball on it, wrapping her cardigan around herself as she moved a small red pillow under her head. There was plenty of room left, easily fitting one or two of the boys alongside her if she adjusted herself correctly.She probably looked ridiculous, curled up into a ball in the middle of this thing, like a fucking child.But she kind of didn’t care because, fuck , this shit was so soft. Thank god she had the fuck-you levels of money to blow on extras for this place.She blinked a few times, trying to will herself to just stay awake and rest her body, but it wasn’t long before her eyes had fully closed.The soft lights, warm atmosphere, and gentle lulling noise was all it took as her mind was dragged under....-POV Black-Black frowned as he glanced around the library, realizing he hadn't seen his soulmate for some time now. He set down the book he was holding and straightened up, his eyelights scanning the room."Mutt." He called out, his voice low but commanding. "Have You Seen The Overseer Recently?"Mutt looked up from his own stack of books, his lazy grin faltering slightly as he shook his head, "Nah, m'lord. Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in a while."His frown deepened, a flicker of concern crossing his features, "We Should Find Her. She Shouldn't Be Wandering Off Alone In Her Current State."The two brothers made their way through the library, weaving between towering shelves and carefully arranged reading nooks.As they searched through the library, their concern grew with each passing moment. The others had noticed their search and joined in, spreading out to cover more ground."Sweetheart?" Red called out softly, peering around a corner, "You still in here?"There was no response, just the muffled footsteps of the skeletons as they continued their search.Black was about to suggest they split up to cover more ground when Mutt suddenly held up a hand, signaling for silence. His eyelights were focused, his gaze focused down the farthest wall of the library."M'lord." He whispered, gesturing towards a secluded corner of the library as a soft smile made his way to his face, “Found her.”Black moved closer to him and followed his brother's gaze.He paused, focusing on a small reading nook tucked away between two tall bookshelves.There, curled up on the plush velvet cushion, was Lilly.She was fast asleep, her body curled into a tight ball with her cardigan wrapped around her. Her face was peaceful, all the usual tension and wariness melted away in slumber.Black felt his soul clench at the sight. She looked so small and vulnerable like this, nothing like the fierce and stubborn Overseer he had come to know over the last few days.He approached the sleeping figure quietly, his movements careful and deliberate. As he drew closer, he could see the way her coolant swirled sluggishly on her leg chambers, the color a deep, sickly greenish-blue. It was clear she had been pushing herself too hard, despite their warnings and concerns.He knelt down beside the nook, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair from her face. She stirred slightly at his touch but didn't wake, instead nuzzling deeper into the cushion with a soft sigh."Foolish Girl." Black murmured, "Always Trying To Prove How Strong You Are."His brother came up behind him, his voice low, "She's really out cold, huh? Guess all that stubbornness finally caught up with her."Black nodded, his eyelights never leaving her sleeping form, “Let Blue, Classic, and Red Know We’ve Found Her. If They Begin Shouting, They’ll Only Wake Her.”Mutt nodded and quietly moved away to inform the others. Black remained kneeling beside her, his eyelights soft as he watched her chest rise and fall with each breath.He couldn't help but marvel at how peaceful she looked. All the stress and tension that usually lined her face had melted away, leaving her looking younger and more vulnerable than he'd ever seen her.It stirred something protective in his soul."You're Going To Be The Death Of Me, Little One." he murmured, gently stroking her hair. "Always Pushing Yourself Too Hard, Never Letting Anyone Take Care Of You."She stirred slightly at his touch, mumbling something incoherent before settling back into sleep. He felt his soul clench at the sight. How long had it been since she'd allowed herself to truly rest like this?After the others had filled them in, he couldn’t bring himself to understand her actions. She had already done so much, been through so much, so then…why?Why couldn’t she allow them to take care of her the way she more than deserved?He heard soft footsteps approaching and looked up to see Sans, Red, and Blue approaching quietly. Their eyelights immediately focused on Lilly's sleeping form, expressions softening."Jeez, she's really out, huh?" Sans whispered, kneeling down next to Black."Poor Thing Must Have Been Exhausted." Blue murmured, his eyelights filled with concern.Red grunted softly in agreement, "Stubborn little spitfire. Always pushin' herself too hard."They all stood in silence for a moment, watching their soulmate sleep peacefully. It was a rare sight to see her so unguarded, so vulnerable with them here.A small part of his soul clenched at how she had hidden away from them back here, as if she was ashamed to want to lean on them.He found himself growing slightly frustrated over the fact that he couldn’t reveal they were also her soulmates yet, much like her first six. Humans moved so slowly when it came to relationships, but soulmates were another topic entirely.Black would’ve claimed her the day they arrived if it weren’t for the warnings and information they’d received from their alternates.She was taking on too much, carrying a heavy burden on her shoulders that was meant to be shared by all of them.That was the entire point of a band, the reason she had so many soulmates.So they could support and spoil her, give her the world on a silver platter.He would burn the world to the ground, if she so wished it of him.Black's eyelights flickered as he watched her sleep, his soul aching with the desire to scoop her up and carry her to bed. But he knew she wouldn't appreciate being moved without her consent, even in sleep."We Should Let Her Rest." He said softly, standing up, “I Can…Stay With Her, If You Are All Comfortable With It.”He paused, unsure of how the others would feel at his slightly selfish request. Not that he should care, but it wasn’t about him.It was for her.He had been the one to start their little game earlier, it was only right he stayed by her side.“Heh, knock yourself out, bud. We’re a band. Just means we can try and get more of the library done while you're with her.” Classic shrugged, eyeing him with a grin.“He’s Right. I Can Grab You Both Some Blankets And Water. For When She Wakes, Of Course.” Blue nodded, his gaze still held onto Lilly.Red let out a soft chuckle, “Yer the one who tuckered her out with that lil’ game of yer’s earlier. Only right ya gotta be her pillow this time.”Black nodded, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude at their understanding.He carefully maneuvered himself onto the plush seat, gently lifting Lilly's head to rest on his lap. She stirred slightly at the movement but quickly settled back into sleep, nuzzling against his femur.He felt his soul flutter at the contact, a soft warmth spreading through his bones. Carefully, he began to stroke her hair, his phalanges gently combing through the soft strands.The others quietly dispersed, with Blue returning moments later with a few blankets and a bottle of water. He set them within easy reach before giving Black a soft smile and heading back to continue organizing books.As the sounds of quiet conversation and rustling pages filled the library once more, Black found himself relaxing into his role as Lilly’s guardian.As he sat there, gently stroking her hair, he found himself reflecting on the past few days. When he and his brother had first arrived in this universe three years ago, it had not been a pleasant encounter. After four years on their own surface, they had finally begun to get comfortable, to adjust.Yet, they had to do it all over again, here in this damned universe.Of course he had been skeptical of their supposed Overseer.He had expected someone cold and clinical, not unlike the scientists who had badgered them with questions at the facility.Instead, they had found Lilly—fierce, stubborn, and unexpectedly caring. She had made quite the impression, not hesitating in the slightest to take out the bitch of a woman, Elara Voss and the men who had caged them for the trip over.All for them.The way her anger and fury rolled off her in waves, the calculated precision of her movements as she slaughtered those bastards…A small red blush dusted his cheeks as he recalled the scene.While he was never one to wish to be coddled, the moment she touched him to remove his muzzle, it had clicked into place. The world fell away at her gentle caress, the fierce protectiveness and worrying intent that poured from her washed over him like waves. Like she had been made for him.He glanced down at her sleeping face, taking in the sickly, greenish-navy color of her slowing coolant on her thigh chambers. Even in sleep, there was a slight furrow to her brow, as if she couldn't fully relax."What Are You So Afraid Of, Little One?" He murmured softly, caressing her scarred lip and cheek.Stars below, she was gorgeous.A warrior with a fighting spirit to rival even the greatest of monster legends, each scar worn as a badge of honor to showcase her resilience.It had only been a few days, but he would slaughter anyone who even breathed in her direction incorrectly.A small whimper left her lips, yanking him from his thoughts. She was gripping his jeans fiercely, almost like she was trying to pull herself closer with furrowed brows.He chuckled softly, reaching over to grab one of the blankets Blue had retrieved for them. He laid it over her gently, but she only seemed to press into him further with another whimper, causing him to pause.His cheeks warmed at the physical affection she was displaying, and he slowly moved her into his lap. She would mumble softly, causing him to tense, but managed to get her straddled in his lap and pulled against his chest without disturbing her further.He tensed slightly as she wrapped her arms around his ribs, her face nuzzling into his sternum as she got comfortable.His face began to heat up further, but he moved to cover them both with the blanket as he got comfortable in the nook.It was…more than comfortable.The luxurious fabric and quality of everything only added to his growing admiration for her. Lilly had gone above and beyond for them all, ensuring on the finest quality for every inch of the grounds they resided in. Black felt his soul swell with affection as she snuggled closer in her sleep, her face pressed against his sternum. He wrapped his arms around her protectively, savoring the warmth of her body against his bones.As he held her, he couldn't help but reflect on how quickly she had wormed her way into his soul. In just a few short days, she had become someone he would fight to protect, someone he wanted to care for and cherish.Soulmate pulls would do that to a monster.But she was so stubborn, so determined to prove her strength and independence. It frustrated him to no end, seeing her push herself to the brink of exhaustion rather than let them help her. While he was aware of her coolant change the following day, it did not ease the frustration and lingering concern that plagued him."You Don't Have To Do Everything Alone, Little One." He murmured softly, pulling her closer, "We're Here For You. I'm Here For You."A small whimper escaped her lips, her brow furrowing as if caught in an unpleasant dream. He tightened his arms around her instinctively, one hand moving to gently stroke her hair."Shh. You're Safe." He murmured softly, his deep voice rumbling in his chest.She seemed to relax at the sound of his voice, her face smoothing out as she nuzzled closer to him.Black felt a warmth bloom in his soul at her unconscious response to his comfort.As he continued to hold her, he found himself lost in thought. He pondered over the complexities of their situation—the fact that they were soulmates, yet unable to fully act on it due to human customs and the delicate nature of their circumstances.He recalled her teasing words earlier.“ This is a lot of talk coming from someone who just met me a few days ago. Already trying to get into your Overseer’s pants, Black? Didn’t take you for one to try and seduce the authority around here. ”He faltered for a moment, the strokes of her hair slowing.Perhaps Black was not giving her enough credit. She was already aware of the first six being her soulmates, who was he to say she hadn’t already caught on?
“You don’t even know me! Like you said, you literally just got here a few days ago, why the hell are you new guys so worked up?”
He became lost on thought as he recalled the interaction from this morning, his magic swirling as he remembered her words.A small grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.So she was aware.Black chuckled softly to himself, shaking his head in amusement. Of course she had figured it out. She was far too clever not to have put the pieces together."You're Quite The Trickster, Aren't You, Little One?" He murmured, his phalanges gently combing through her hair. "Playing Coy, Seeing How Long We'll Dance Around The Truth."He gazed down at her sleeping face, taking in every detail. The slight furrow of her brow, the way her lashes fluttered against her cheeks, the soft curve of her lips. Even in sleep, she was captivating."I Wonder What Game You're Playing, My Dear." He mused quietly, "Are You Testing Us? Seeing How Long We'll Keep Up This Charade?"He traced the scar on her lip gently with his finger, noting how cute her little teeth were that poked out from the lack of soft flesh.Black continued to hold Lilly as she slept, his thoughts swirling. If she was aware they were soulmates, why hadn't she said anything? Was she waiting for them to make the first move? Or perhaps she was unsure how to proceed, given the complex nature of their situation.He recalled how fiercely protective she had been of them from the moment they arrived, how she went above and beyond to ensure their comfort and safety. It was clear she cared deeply for them all, given the way she had torn into that insufferable Director Issac over the video call.She had promised to kill anyone who dared to lay even a finger on them.Black's soul swelled with a fierce protectiveness as he gazed down at her sleeping form.He would do the same for her in a heartbeat, he realized.The thought of anyone harming her made his magic flare dangerously. He would tear apart anyone who dared to lay a finger on her, who dared to even look at her the wrong way. She was theirs to protect, to cherish, to spoil, to love.He imagined standing beside her, his scythe crackling with magic as they faced down any threat together. He could almost feel the satisfaction of crushing the life out of anyone foolish enough to cross them. The way her eyes would light up with that fierce determination, that burning rage that made his soul sing. They would be unstoppable together.And it wasn't just him.He knew the others would stand by her in a heartbeat.As the hours went by, he finally heard the sound of soft footsteps, recognizing his brother’s scent as he rounded the corner of a bookshelf.Mutt raised a brow at the position they were in, and Black sent him a harsh glare. There was no real heat behind it, but he wasn’t used to being so…affectionate in the open like this.It seemed neither was Lilly, based on how she had retreated to the farthest sections of the library to fall asleep.Mutt chuckled softly, moving closer to kneel beside the nook. His eyelights softened as he gazed at Lilly's sleeping form."She looks peaceful," he murmured, careful to keep his voice low. "First time I've seen her let her guard down like this."Black nodded, his phalanges still gently combing through her hair. "She's Exhausted Herself. Pushing Too Hard, As Usual."Mutt hummed in agreement, his gaze thoughtful. "Y'think she knows? About us being her soulmates, I mean."Black paused, considering his brother's question, "I Believe She Does. She's Far Too Clever Not To Have Figured It Out By Now. Especially Based On The Teasing Comment She Made Earlier.""So why hasn't she said anythin'?" Mutt asked, his brow furrowed.“I Have A Handful of Theories, But I Believe We Aren’t Giving Her Enough Credit. She’s Probably Waiting For Us To Say Something To Her, To Be Honest With Her. The Way She Holds Herself Makes It Quite Clear She Values Honestly And Straight Forwardness, Given The Way She Was Teasing Earlier.” Black huffed slightly, continuing to run his fingers over her scalp.Mutt nodded, his eyelights flicking between Black and Lilly. "Makes sense. She's not the type to beat around the bush. Probably wants us to man up and tell her ourselves."Black hummed in agreement. "Indeed. Though I Wonder If There's More To It Than That. Perhaps She's Unsure How To Proceed, Given The... Unique Nature Of Our Situation."Mutt chuckled softly. "Yeah, I'd say havin' twelve soulmates is pretty unique. Not to mention the whole 'Overseer' thing."Black's phalanges stilled in Lilly's hair for a moment as he considered his brother's words. It was true—their situation was far from conventional. Being soulmates was one thing, but add in the complex dynamics of their roles as Overseer and charges, and it became a delicious recipe for disaster.“With The Way She Took Out Those Guards On Our Behalf, It’s Quite Clear She’s Not Only Protective, But Possessive. There’s A Chance She Is Carrying More On Her Shoulders Than We Realize.” He hummed, his brows furrowing slightly.“Well…” Mutt began, reaching out and tracing the scar on her cheek. “If she likes the honesty, maybe we have a big ‘ole sit down at that table, at the front of the library. We could do it before we have that cookout we planned. After her coolant change tomorrow, ‘course.”Black sighed slightly, “It’s A Tempting Idea...” They fell into a contemplative silence, both watching her as she slept peacefully in his arms. The gentle rise and fall of her chest and the soft warmth of her body against his bones filled him with a sense of contentment he hadn't felt in a long time.After a few moments, Mutt spoke up again, his voice low and thoughtful. "Y'know, m'lord, maybe we're overthinking this. She's direct, right? Don't beat around the bush?"Black nodded, his eyelights never leaving her face. "Indeed. She Values Honesty And Straightforwardness From What I’ve Managed To Gather.""So maybe that's what we need to do," Mutt suggested. "Be direct. Not corner her or make a big deal out of it, but just... talk to her. One-on-one or in small groups. Let her come to us as a group after she’s heard from the others.”Black considered his brother's words, his phalanges resuming their gentle strokes through her hair. "You May Have A Point, However…Once She Know’s One Of Us Is Her Soulmate, She’ll Easily Recognize The Others Are As Well. More Than Likely She’ll Want Us All To Sit And Discuss Things Once We Admit To It. She’s Closer With Her First Six, Since They’ve Been Here Longer Than We Have, More Comfortable With Them.”Mutt nodded thoughtfully. "True. But maybe that's not a bad thing. Let her process it in stages, y'know? And we can show her we respect her enough to be honest-”A soft voice suddenly cut through their conversation. “Figured it out already, huh, you boneheads?”Black and Mutt froze, their eyelights snapping down to Lilly's face. Her eyes were still closed, but a small smirk had formed on her lips."L-Lilly?" Black stuttered, his usual composure slipping for a moment. "How Long Have You Been Awake?"She cracked one eye open, her smirk widening. "Long enough to hear you two trying to figure out how to tell me something I already know."Mutt chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Shoulda known we couldn't pull one over on ya, darlin'."“Yeah, but I appreciate the way you’re trying to go about it. I’ll admit, when the others first told me…well, I actually found out on accident, but that’s beside the point. When I found out, I did freak the fuck out. To be fair, it had only been a few days into meeting them, similar with you guys.” She hummed quietly, closing her eye again.Black noticed she hadn’t moved to pull away from him, making his soul flutter.He felt a mix of relief and amusement wash over him.Of course she had known all along.He should have expected nothing less from their clever little Overseer."So You've Been Aware This Entire Time?" he asked, his phalanges resuming their gentle strokes through her hair.Lilly tilted her head slightly, still not opening her eyes. "Well, kinda. Figured it out the second day. The way you all looked at me, how protective you got right off the bat... It wasn't exactly hard to put two and two together."Mutt chuckled softly. "And here we were, thinkin' we were bein' subtle."She snorted, cracking an eye open again, "About as subtle as a brick through a window, maybe. Mutt, when we first met, you, Axe, and G all licked me, and Black? You told me you wanted to put a collar on me. Honestly, I feel fucking stupid for not realizing right then and there, but I was too worried about getting those chains and collars off you all.”Black felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement at her words. She was right, of course. They hadn't exactly been subtle in their attraction to her from the start."Well, In My Defense, You Are Quite... Collectable." He said, his voice a low purr.Lilly's eyes finally opened fully, a mischievous glint in them as she gazed up at him. "Oh? Is that so, Captain ?"Black's blush deepened at her teasing tone. He opened his mouth to retort, but Mutt beat him to it."Careful there, darlin'. You might short-circuit m'lord if you keep that up." Mutt chuckled, his grin widening.She laughed softly, the sound sending a pleasant warmth through Black's soul. "Well, we can't have that, can we? Consider this your punishment for not saying anything. You’re my pillow now.” She snickered, pulling herself in closer to his chest and closing her eyes again.He tensed slightly as her fingers traced patterns over the back of his spine, feather-light touches of her soft little fingers.Black felt his soul flutter at her touch, a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through him. He struggled to maintain his composure as her fingers continued their gentle exploration of his spine."Punishment, You Say?" he managed to grit out, his usual confident tone wavering slightly. "I'd Hardly Call This A Punishment, Little One."“Yup.” She giggled softly, “The punishment is…don’t move and let me nap. You’re the one who said I needed rest, and you don’t seem like the hypocritical type, Captain.”He felt a mix of amusement and exasperation at her words. She was right, of course. He had been insisting she needed rest, and now here she was, using him as her personal pillow."Very Well, Little Overseer." he said, his voice a low rumble. "If This Is My Punishment, I Suppose I Have No Choice But To Accept It."Lilly hummed contentedly, snuggling closer to his chest. "Good boy." she murmured, her voice already growing heavy with sleep.Black's soul fluttered at her words, a deep crimson blush spreading across his cheekbones. He glanced at Mutt, who was watching the scene with barely contained laughter."Not. A. Word ." Black growled softly at his brother, careful not to disturb Lilly.Mutt held up his hands placating, shaking his head with a grin and teleporting away.As Lilly drifted back to sleep in his arms, he found himself reflecting on this new development. She had known all along that they were her soulmates, yet she had played along with their charade. A part of him admired her cunning, while another part felt a twinge of frustration at being outmaneuvered.It made him grin.She was most definitely their soulmate, and stars help anyone who tried to take her from them.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Make sure she’s got a change of clothes.”“I Already Have Some Here.”“What About Snacks?”“Yes, We’ve Made Sure There Is Plenty For When She Wakes.”“Who the hell was gonna be on first watch again?”“Dude, we’ll be in groups so each of us can take turns keepin’ a socket on her when it gets late, we already talked about it.”Lilly was going to fucking murder someone. She was sitting on the end of the medical chair in her coolant bay, pinching the bridge of her nose as she tried not to absolutely lose it at the amount of chaos going on around her.All twelve of her soulmates were frantically moving about the room, setting up chairs, a snack station, and who the fuck knows what else.After she’d napped for a few more hours on Black yesterday in the library, she’d felt so guilty.She’d kept him in there, unable to leave or eat if he needed to, even if he kept snapping at her that it was fine.He had been blushing around her ever since.It may have been because she’d called him good boy before she passed out the second time.He was totally gonna get revenge on her for that.But it was kind of worth it.She had been grateful for not just the nap, but the fact that Black had stayed with her.His scent was intoxicating, like a cigar lounge, warm coffee, and cannolis.It made her want to know the others’ scents too.Aster let out a soft sigh, moving over to stand next to her. “I Know They Are Overwhelming, But Bare With Them, My Dear. They’re Only Worried For You.”“I know, Aster. But if they don’t calm the fuck down, I am going to lock every single one of them out of here and put up a barrier so they can’t teleport in.” She grit out, leaning into his touch as some of the tension left her shoulders.He chuckled, shaking his head, “I’m Well Aware. Now, Why Don’t We Actually Do Something Productive And Get You Set Up, Hm?”She let out a long groan, “Yes, holy fuck . You get brownie points for being the only normal one today.” He chuckled again, moving over to the terminal on her left as she got up to show him what was about to happen.“Alright, first things first, the machine will automatically log me once I hook up my neural link. When it recognizes I’m connected, I’ll be strapped down and then the automated shutdown process will kick in.” She pointed to the small headrest on the chair, noting the small cable that hung down from the side.Aster nodded, his eyelights scanning over the terminal as Lilly explained. "I See. And The Restraints Are Necessary, I Assume?""Yeah, they keep me from moving during the process. Even though I'm shut down, there can still be some involuntary muscle twitches as the fresh coolant is filtered back in." She replied, gesturing to the large, open metal cuffs on the chair. "Once I'm secure, the needles will connect to all my coolant points and begin draining the old coolant. It usually takes about eight to ten hours to drain when it’s thick like this.”She grimaced, looking down at the chambers on her arms as the deep, navy like liquid slugged beneath the glass panels.Aster nodded solemnly, his eyelights softening as he looked at her darkened coolant. "I See. And After The Old Coolant Is Drained?"She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Then comes the flushing process. A cleaning solution is pumped through my system to clear out any residual contaminants. That only takes around two hours, kinda like running a dishwasher. Finally, the new coolant is introduced. That takes another six to eight hours, but the reboot can be anywhere from one hour to three while it circulates back through my systems."Aster nodded, his expression thoughtful as he processed the information. "I See. It's Quite An Intricate Process. And You Say This Takes Approximately 24 Hours In Total?"She shrugged, “It's somewhere between 20 and 24, yeah. I usually give myself 24-hours because I’ll be a little wired after the process. It’s probably got something to do with the R.M. fragments, but we don’t have the time to really speculate.”Aster nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That Makes Sense. Given How The R.M. Fragments Reacted To The Old Coolant, It More Than Likely Caused The Energy Surge. We'll Make Sure You Have Proper Supervision Afterward."“It’s a double-edged sword, really. I’m about to be more hyper than a bunny rolling in a pound of coke.” She snickered.Aster nodded, his expression a mix of concern and fascination. "I See. Well, We'll Be Here To Support You Through The Entire Process, My Dear. Is There Anything Else We Should Be Aware Of?"She sighed, glancing around at the others who were still bustling about the room."Just... try to keep them from freaking out, okay? I know I look pretty lifeless during the process, but I promise I'm fine. Oh, and make sure they don't touch any of the equipment. The last thing we need is for someone to accidentally disconnect something."Aster chuckled softly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Of Course. I'll Make Sure They Behave Themselves."She smiled gratefully at him before taking a deep breath. "Alright, I guess it's time to get this show on the road."Glancing around the room, she noted that the chaos had somewhat settled. The skeletons had arranged themselves into groups, with some setting up a small lounge area with chairs and snacks, while others were examining the various equipment in the room."Alright, boys!" Lilly called out, catching their attention. "I'm about to get started. Last chance to back out if you're squeamish."Red snorted. "Not a chance, sweetheart. We're in this for the long haul."The others nodded in agreement, and she only sighed again.“Alright then, just remember I’ll be shutdown. That means I’m not gonna be breathing, moving, or even have a pulse. Do. Not. Panic . If I found out you did and break something while I’m out, I swear to god I’ll kick all your boney asses when I wake up. I’ll have enough energy to do it and then some.” She huffed, hopping up into the chair.She had gone for a black strapless bra and low riding black panties, much to the initial joy of many of the boys. It had to be backless so the machine could access all points on her back properly.Damn perverts.But they were her perverts.She settled into the chair, trying to ignore the worried looks from her soulmates. She’d done this hundreds of times, it wasn’t anything new to her."Alright, where the hell is this thing…" she muttered, reaching around her head before finally grabbing the neural link cable.As soon as she plugged it in, the chair whirred to life, and she placed her limbs in the restraints. The metal cuffs clamped down over her wrists, ankles, neck, and torso, securing her in place. The skeletons tensed at the sight, but Aster held up a hand to keep them from interfering."Remember, This Is Part Of The Process." he reminded them gently.Thank god for Aster in all of this.A mechanical voice echoed through the room: " Neural Link Established. Initiating Shutdown Sequence. "Her eyes met Sans' for a brief moment, a small smile on her face. "See you on the other side, boys. Don’t break anything while I’m gone." She snickered.Her vision blurred, a notification popping up as her body was shutdown.“ Coolant Change Initialized. Please Stand By. ”... “X-04 Rig Current Temperature Cataloged At 215 Degrees Fahrenheit And Dropping. Shutdown Sequence Complete. Awaiting Temperature Stabilization. Estimated Time Until X-04 Rig Reaches Safe Temperature: 25 Minutes. ” The robotic voice rang out over the coolant room.“Stars above, she wasn’t kidding when she said she looked like a corpse…” G hissed, clicking his tongue.Aster nodded, eyeing her motionless form with a mix of unease and interest, “She Stated She Had Done This Many Times, But It’s Quite…Unnerving.”“So, what then? We just gotta wait ‘til she cools off and then the needles’ll drain her coolant?” Red huffed.“It Said Her Temperature Was Over Two-Hundred…That Sounds Horrific.” Sugar grimaced, moving around the group with various snacks.The skeletons watched in tense silence as Lilly's body cooled, the only sounds the soft whirring of machinery and the occasional beep from the monitors. True to her word, she looked lifeless—her skin had taken on an ashen color, and her chest was eerily still."This Is... Unsettling." Edge muttered."Yeah, no kiddin'." Classic agreed, his grin strained. "Kinda makes ya wonder what else she's had to go through that we don't know about."As the minutes ticked by, the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly somber.The robotic voice chimed in again: " X-04 Rig Temperature Stabilized. Initiating Coolant Extraction. "The array of needles above Lilly's body whirred to life, descending slowly towards her prone form. With practiced precision, they aligned themselves with the various coolant points on her body."Holy shit." Mutt breathed, his eye lights fixed on the scene before them.The over sixty needles slowly inserted themselves along her spine coolant points, twisting into place with a loud series of clicks. Two more inserted themselves on the sides of her arms, two went into the middle of the ones on her thighs, and three clicked into her lower stomach.A loud hiss emanated from all the points as they settled into place.The scene was borderline horrifying.Nearly a hundred tubes descending from the ceiling, all connected to various coolant ports on her body as she lied there, lifeless under the harsh florescent lights.The skeletons watched in stunned silence as the dark blue coolant began to flow through the tubes, draining from Lilly's body. The liquid pulsed rhythmically, almost hypnotically, as it made its way to the filtering tanks on the far side of the room."Fuck me." Red muttered, his eye lights fixed on the gruesome sight. "This is some sci-fi horror shit right here."G nodded grimly, "Yeah, it's... a lot to take in. No wonder she didn't want us here at first."Stretch paced nervously, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "I can't believe she's been doing this alone all this time. Stars, what if something had gone wrong?""Nothing Will Go Wrong," Aster assured them, though his own voice held a hint of tension. "She’s Done This Many Times. There Is No Reason To Assume Something Will Happen Now.”The skeletons settled into an uneasy silence as they watched the coolant draining process continue. The dark blue liquid flowed steadily through the tubes, emptying Lilly's body of the contaminated fluid.Classic moved closer to the chair, his eye lights scanning over her motionless form. "Ya know, seeing her like this... it really drives home how different she is from us. I mean, we knew she was part machine, but this...""It's A Stark Reminder Of What She's Been Through," Creampuff said softly, "To Think She's Had To Endure This Alone For So Long..."Black scowled, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "It's Unacceptable. She Shouldn't Have Had To Go Through Any Of This In The First Place."“In case ya all forgot, bite-size here did this shit for us. Became an Overseer just ta see us . Don’t shit on her hard work and what she’s been through. She don’t need yer pity.” Axe growled.Red growled low in his throat, glaring at Axe. "Doesn't make it right! Doesn't mean she should have to suffer. Who knows what other shit the facility made ‘er do, we only got the fuckin’ cliff-notes version, an’ it was all just a buncha torture! That ain’t hard work, she’s a fuckin’ victim!"Axe's eye socket flared with crimson magic, his perpetual grin twisting into a snarl. "Ya think I don't know that, ya fuckin' moron? 'Course she's a victim, but she ain't some fragile little thing that needs us ta hold her hand and fuckin’ bottle-feed her. She's stronger than all of us put together. She’d dust yer ass faster than you could blink."“That Doesn’t Mean We Aren’t Allowed To Be Angry At The Ones That Hurt Her.” Edge snarled, standing behind Red.“You Being Angry Only Further Perpetuates The Idea That She Cannot Handle Herself. We All Saw How She Handled Director Issac Over The Video Call. They Are Afraid Of Her, And She Knows It. She Knows How To Not Only Handle Herself, But Use What They Did To Her As An Advantage Against Them.” Sugar stood behind Axe, crossing his arms as he glared down at the two.“Yeah, by maxin’ out her fuckin’ LV! Making Her kill, crushing her, blowin’ her up, meltin’ her in acid. How the fuck can ya sit here and say we shouldn’t be mad after hearin’ about all that! They put their hands on our fuckin’ soulmate!” Red hollered, stepping closer to Axe.Axe didn’t move, a manic grin spreading over his face as he loomed over Red, “‘Cause bite-size there knows what she’s doin’. None of ya fluffy fucks have any trust in her, and yer only provin’ my point with how much yer hoverin’ over the last few days was pissin’ her off.” “We’re makin’ sure she don’t fuckin’ Overheat! Or did’ja somehow forget that, with that cracked skull of yers? Or maybe ya just don’t give a shit!” Red snarled."Ya think I don't care?" Axe's eye socket flared brighter, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "I care more than you fuckin' know. But I also respect her enough to not treat her like some broken piece of scrap metal."Red's eye lights blazed, magic sparking at his fingertips. "Respect? Ya call this respect? Lettin' her go through this shit alone, not givin' a fuck about what they did to her?""We Give A Fuck, You Imbecile." Sugar snarled, cold fury on his face. "But We Also Understand That Lilly Is More Than Capable Of Handling Herself. She Doesn't Need Us To Coddle Her Or Treat Her Like Some Kicked Puppy."The tension in the room was palpable, hostile magic crackling in the air as the four skeletons faced off. Their heated argument echoed off the walls of the cavernous coolant room, the harsh fluorescent lights casting long, ominous shadows across the floor.Red's eye sockets narrowed dangerously, his sharp teeth bared in a snarl. "Ya call it coddlin', I call it carin'. She shouldn't have ta go through this shit alone anymore!""And she's not." Axe growled back, his single red eye light bloating in his socket, "We're here now, ain't we? She's tough as nails and smart as hell. Give her some credit. Every time you lil’ pussies hover over her, I can see the way her LV spikes. Yer spittin’ on all the shit she’s been through when ya treat her like that. Yer not treatin’ her like an equal, yer treatin’ her like a fuckin’ rescue project ."“She Kept Her Fingers In Acid! Melting Her Own Damn Meat And Skin Right Off The Bone! Or Maybe That’s Why You Didn’t Seem To Care, Are You Both Into That?” Edge sneered, and Sugar let out a low warning growl.“What the fuck did you just say?” Axe’s voice was low, his grin becoming manic as his LV suffocated the room.He summoned his a massive femur bone with a wicked, blood stained axe blade on the end. He twirled it a few times before pointing it at Edge.“Care to repeat yerself, buddy ?” He grinned wider, staring Edge down.“With Pleasure, You Fucking Animal .” Edge sneered, quickly summoning his great swords as he readied himself at Axe."ENOUGH!" Aster's voice boomed, his own magic flaring to life.Four large hands with holes in the center materialized behind each of the skeletons, grabbing them by their collars and yanking them into their seats roughly as their weapons disappeared in specs of magic."This Is Not The Time Or Place For Such Childish Behavior. We Are Here To Support Lilly, Not Fight Like Milk-Fed Children." Aster hissed, harrowing his sockets as he stared down at the four.There was an unsettling feel of familiarity in the air of Aster’s magic, making everyone in the room, aside from his brother, G, tense.It was very close to Gaster’s magical signature, giving an otherworldly, oppressive, and commanding aura to the room.“We Will Find A Balance Between Learning To Care For Her And Also Respect Her Wishes To Not Be Coddled. The Best Way To Accomplish That Is By Working Together, Not Against One Another. Lilly Understands We Are Angry On Her Behalf, But What She Will Not Tolerate Is Going Overboard And Restricting What She Can Or Cannot Do. She’d Be Disappointed, In All Of You , If She Saw This Occur. Be Thankful That She Is Unconscious At The Moment, Or You’d Have Much Worse To Deal With.” Aster grit out, his magic slowly dissipating as the LV and hostile magic in the room calmed.The tension in the room slowly dissipated as Aster's words sank in. The four skeletons, still held in place by the magical hands, avoided each other's gaze, a mixture of shame and lingering frustration on their faces.“You Are Right, I-…I Apologize For My…Words, Earlier, Axe. It Was Uncalled For. Pet Can Handle Herself Better Than Any Of Us Can Handle Ourselves.” Edge said slowly, clenching and unclenching his fist as he avoided looking at Axe.Axe grunted, his eye light shrinking back to its normal size. "Yeah, well... I shouldn'ta gotten so worked up either. We're all on edge here."Red sighed, running a hand over his skull. "Fuck, this whole situation's just... it's a lot, ya know? But yer right, we gotta trust her more."“We All Want What's Best For Lilly. Perhaps We Can Find A Middle Ground Between Being Supportive And Respecting Her Independence. It’s What She’d Want…" Sugar nodded, rubbing his arm in slight shame.Aster's magic hands slowly released their hold on the four skeletons, dissipating into wisps of green magic. "I'm Glad We've Come To An Understanding. Now, Let's Focus On What's Important—Being Here For Our Soulmate."G let out a low whistle, “Damn bro, you’re so cool.” a grin on his face as his eye lights flickered between the four and his brother.“I Know.” Aster huffed, turning back to one of the monitors." Coolant Extraction 25% Complete, " the robotic voice announced, breaking the uneasy silence.“You know, I think that’s the biggest issue, to be real with you all.” Stretch hummed, lighting a new cigarette."What do you mean?" Classic asked, turning to Stretch with a raised brow bone.Stretch took a long drag from his cigarette before responding, "Well, think about it. We're all used to being the protectors, the ones who handle shit. But with Lilly... she's on a whole other level. She's been through more than we can imagine, and she's still standing. It's hard for us to reconcile that with our instincts to protect her."Mutt nodded thoughtfully, "Yeah, I get that. We're used to being the strongest ones in the room, but she could probably dust us all without breakin’ a sweat if she wanted to.""Exactly," Stretch continued. "And that's not even considering her LV. We've all got our own baggage, but hers... it's on a scale we can't really comprehend. It's natural to wanna protect her, but we’ll end up pushing her away if we aren’t careful. She probably doesn’t mind be spoiled or taken care of, it’s treating her like glass that's the problem. Assuming she can’t handle or do things on her own is gonna bite us in the coccyx.”"How About We Just…Do Things With Her, Like When We Stocked The Library With Her?" Blue suggested, "She Said She Liked Hanging Out With Us Like That, And She Even Fell Asleep On Black. It’ll Probably Give Us More Domestic Moments With Her If We Just…Hang Out With Her More, Rather Than Trying To Stop Her From Doing Things.""Yeah. She even asked me a bit about my time on the surface. It was…nice, just talking with her like that." Classic nodded, "We can still be there for her without smothering her. Just... be present, ya know?"The skeletons fell into a contemplative silence, each processing the conversation and watching as Lilly's coolant continued to drain. The steady hum of machinery and occasional beep from the monitors filled the room."Ya know, speakin' of domestic moments..." Red mused, breaking the silence. "We should probably start thinkin' about that cookout we were plannin'. Give her somethin' nice to look forward to after all this."G nodded, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Oh yeah, that's right. We were gonna set up a little shindig by the pool, weren't we?""It Would Be A Good Way To Show Her We Can All Get Along," Creampuff added enthusiastically. "And It Gives Us A Chance To Spend Some Quality Time With Her In A Relaxed Setting."Mutt leaned back in his chair, a lazy smirk on his face. "Plus, we get to see her in a swimsuit. That's a win in my book."Black shot his brother a glare. "Must You Always Be So Crass?"Mutt just shrugged, his smirk widening. "Hey, I'm just saying what we're all thinking.""Regardless," Aster cut in, trying to steer the conversation back on track, “We Should Set A Date For It. Maybe This Saturday? That Gives Us About Three Days To Get Everything Together. We Can Order Things Now, And Include Her In The Planning. Does Anyone Know Her Favorite Foods?”The skeletons exchanged glances, a sudden realization dawning on them. The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as they all came to the same conclusion—they didn't really know much about Lilly's personal preferences at all."I... I don't think we ever asked her," Classic admitted, his grin faltering slightly. "We've been so caught up in everything else, we never really got around to learning the little things about her.""Come to think of it, we don't even know her favorite color," Stretch added, rubbing the back of his skull sheepishly. "Or her favorite movie, or book, or... well, anything really. We know she likes survival horror games, but…"The weight of this realization settled over the group like a heavy blanket. They had been so focused on protecting her, on worrying about her past and her health, that they had neglected to learn about the simpler aspects of who she was.It was…pretty embarrassing.“Stars Above…You First Six Have Been Here A Full Month , And You Don’t Even Know That Much?” Aster sighed, shaking his head."Well, in our defense, a lot of that time was spent dealing with everything going on around here," Classic said, though he looked ashamed. "But you're right. We should have made more of an effort to get to know her.""This Is Unacceptable," Black declared, crossing his arms. "We Cannot Claim To Care For Her If We Don't Even Know The Basics About Her. We Need To Rectify This Immediately.""Yeah, but how?" Mutt asked, leaning forward in his seat. "It's not like we can just start grillin’ her with questions as soon as she wakes up. That might overwhelm her."G snapped his fingers, a mischievous glint in his eye lights. "What about that game of Truth or Dare my bro mentioned? We could use it as a fun way to learn more about her, and she can learn about us too.""That's... actually not a bad idea," Classic nodded, his grin returning. "It keeps things casual and fun, but gives us a chance to ask her about herself without it feeling like an interrogation.""Plus, it gives her the option to choose 'dare' if she's not comfortable answering something," Stretch added. "That way, she doesn't feel pressured to share anything she's not ready to."Aster hummed thoughtfully, tapping his pen against his notepad. "It's A Good Start. We Should Also Make An Effort To Pay More Attention To Her Likes And Dislikes In Our Day-To-Day Routine.”Edge huffed, a light blush on his cheeks, “I’ve Noticed She Has A Sweet Tooth. Specifically For Chocolates With Caramel In Them.”Red grinned, nudging his brother. "Aww, look at you payin' attention, Boss. Didn't know you had it in ya."Edge scowled, his blush deepening. "Shut It, You Imbecile. I Simply Happened To Notice Her Preference When We Were In The Kitchen Together.""Speaking Of The Kitchen," Creampuff chimed in, "I've Noticed She Seems To Enjoy Spicy Foods As Well. She Really Liked The Chicken Buffalo Dip We Made About A Week Ago.”“She Also Mentioned She Loved To Bake, But With Everything Going On She Hasn’t Really Had The Time Too. Apparently She Can Make This Crazy Dessert That’s Some Kind Of Multilayered Trifle. It Has Brownies, Whipped Cream, Cherry Pie Filling, And A Few Other Things.” Blue grinned.“Aw man, and she’s absolutely adorable when it comes to gaming. Even though she loves horror survival games, she’s always running off and building bases and farming. Her favorite thing to do in Minecraft is either build ridiculously large farms or cute lil houses.” Stretch snickered."Oh yeah, and don't forget how she gets all excited over the animals in games," Classic added with a chuckle. "Remember when she spent like an hour just petting dogs in GTA V? I swear I never laughed harder when she got done running over a bunch of people in a mustang then stopped to pet one. She got shot by the cops and panicked because she thought they’d killed the dog.""Oh man, that was hilarious," Red snickered. "And remember how pissed she got when she couldn’t pet the dogs in Skyrim, but could adopt ‘em? Made us download a whole shit ton of mods just so she could collect ‘em all.”"She Really Does Have A Soft Spot For Animals," Creampuff nodded. "I've Caught Her Laying Down By The Waterfall With Butterbean, Holding Him Up In The Air And Making Baby Noises At Him.”"Ya know, for all her badassery, she's got this adorable side to her," Mutt mused, a soft smile on his face.G nodded, chuckling. "Yeah, and have you noticed how she scrunches up her nose when she's really focused on something? It's fucking cute.""Or How She Hums To Herself When She's Working On Something In The Console Room," Sugar added with a smile, "I Don't Think She Even Realizes She's Doing It.""Yeah, and how about when she gets all flustered and starts blushing? Her coolant turns that pretty purple color," Classic chuckled. "It's adorable how easy it is to get her worked up sometimes.""Speaking of which," G grinned mischievously, "We should definitely include some flirty dares in our game. Nothing too intense, but enough to see that cute blush of hers.""Now you're speakin’ my language," Mutt smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I've got a few ideas already...""Just Don't Go Overboard," Aster warned, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice, “The Goal Is To Make Her Feel Relaxed With Us, Not Overwhelmed.”They continued to talk, ordering supplies, and prepping the menu for the upcoming weekend as Lilly’s coolant process continued in the background." Coolant Extraction 50% Complete, " the robotic voice announced, drawing their attention back to Lilly's prone form."Damn, time's flyin' by," Red muttered, checking his phone. "We've been talkin' for hours.""Well, At Least We've Realized We’ve Made Some Progress In Getting To Know Her Better," Creampuff said optimistically. "And We Have A Plan To Learn More."Axe, who had been quietly observing from his corner, spoke up. "Ya know, for all the talkin' we're doin' about gettin' to know her, we're forgettin' one important thing."The others turned to look at him, curiosity evident in their expressions."What's that?" Classic asked.Axe's grin widened slightly. "We gotta let her get to know us too. It ain't just about us learnin' about her. She's probably just as curious about us as we are her. Even if we’re video game characters here, she don’t know about our time on our surfaces.”"You're right," Classic nodded slowly. "We've been so caught up in her past and trying to figure her out, we haven't really opened up about ourselves either. She was more than interested when she asked me about the surface yesterday, but she also…" He trailed off with a slight uncomfortable look on his face."She also what?" Red pressed, leaning forward with interest.Classic sighed, rubbing the back of his skull. "She also said she doesn’t want us to feel guilty for missing our universes. Which was nice, but the way she talked about it…it was like she’s already come to terms with us leaving her one day, and her not being a part of our lives. It’s something we need to talk about anyway, whether we’d choose to go home. It isn’t like we can have some kind of multiverse custody over her. Which means we’d have to choose…and I think she fully expects us to leave her and pick our universes over her.”"Shit," Red muttered, running a hand over his skull. "I didn't even think about that. Of course she'd assume we'd leave...""Given Her Past, It's Not Surprising She'd Expect Us To Abandon Her," Edge said grimly. "She's Probably Trying To Protect Herself By Not Getting Too Attached."Stretch lit another cigarette, his expression troubled. "It's not just about us leaving, though. It's about her being left alone. Again."Blue let out a long sigh. "Even If All Our Friends From Our Own Universes Got Pulled Over Too And Are With Other Overseers…It Would Cause An Uproar If We Were Introduced To Society Here As Living, Breathing, Video Game Characters.""He's right," Classic said quietly. "As much as we care for Lilly, we can't ignore the fact that we don't belong in this world. But she-...with twelve soulmates, it isn’t like we could ask her to pick between any of us. It would probably destroy her.""So what, we just leave her behind?" Red growled, his eye lights flickering dangerously. "After everything she's been through, everything she's done for us? Yer askin’ us to leave our fuckin’ soulmate behind?""Of Course Not," Black snapped, "But We Can't Ignore The Complications Our Presence Here Could Cause. Not Just For Us, But For Her As Well."“But It’s Only Fair We Have An Answer For Her. She’s Already Told Edge, Blue, And I That She Would Never Ask Us To Pick Between Her And Our Universes, But Us Leaving Would Hurt Her Deeply, Beyond Anything We Could Imagine I Assume. We Reassured Her We’d Cross That Bridge When It Comes To It, But It Will Eat At Her, Possibly Cause Her To Retreat. I Wouldn’t Blame Her Either. We Have To Be Able To Give Her A Proper Answer” Creampuff sighed, looking over to her motionless form with a pained frown.“I’d stay. Even with Nightmares gang and shit, I ain’t got no fuckin’ reason to leave. All our undergrounds are here, and best our all? Our damn soulmate . Why the hell would we need to go back?” Axe snarled, looking between the group.“Because Horror , This Is The Creator's Universe. The Damage We Could Cause By Being Here Is Unknown.” Blue huffed, narrowing his sockets at him.Axe growled back, “Damage? What, by being accidental celebrities and the fandom freakin’ out? How the fuck is that our problem? I ain’t leaving my soulmate. I’ll take my chances.” “Same here,” Red nodded, “You’d have my fuckin’ dust before ya drag me back ta my universe. I ain’t leavin’ ‘er.”"Look," Classic cut in. "We don't have to make any decisions right now. But we do need to talk about this with her when she wakes up. We can't just leave her wondering and worrying about whether we'll stay or go."Stretch nodded, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Yeah, you're right. We need to be upfront with her. No more secrets or assumptions. We tell her how we feel, and we listen to what she wants too.""And What If She Tells Us To Leave?" Edge asked, his voice low. "What If She Decides It's Better For Everyone If We Return To Our Universes? You Know If She See’s Even A Moment Of Hesitation On Our Faces or In Our Answers, She’ll Tell Us To Go Back. If She Thinks That’s What Will Make Us Happy, She’ll Accept That Level Of Pain.” He grit out, clenching his fists."She wouldn't..." Red started, but his voice lacked conviction. "She couldn't just send us away like that...""You Know She Would," Sugar said softly. "If She Thought It Was What We Truly Wanted, She'd Push Us Away And Tell Us To Go, No Matter How Much It Hurt Her."Axe let out a low growl, "Well, I ain't givin' her the chance to make that decision for me. I'm stayin', end of story.""It's Not That Simple," Aster interjected. "We Can't Ignore The Potential Consequences Of Our Presence Here. But We Also Can't Ignore Our Bond With Lilly. This Is A Decision That Requires Careful Consideration From All Parties Involved."“Yer all thinkin’ way too into this. We’ve been here in this universe for three years already. If there were any consequences, we woulda already seen ‘em. Our entire undergrounds were pulled over, we ain’t got nothing left in our universes anyhow. We’re her soulmates, for fuck's sake, this shouldn’t even be a debate!” Mutt snarled, slamming his fist down on the arm rest of his chair."You're right," G said, nodding at Mutt. "We've been here for years already without any major issues. And like you said, our entire Undergrounds are here. There's nothing left for us back in our original universes.""Sure, But We Haven’t Seen The Effects It Could Be Causing On The Universes We Left Behind Or The Multiverse! If Dream, Ink, Error, Or Hell, Even Nightmare Are Here, There’s No Telling What Kind Of Damage It Could Do The Multiverse!” Blue hollered, standing from his chair and waving at the group.“Just fuckin’ say it Blue, yer pickin’ the precious multiverse over your own damn soulmate. When she wakes up, say that shit to her face.” Mutt snarled, glaring at him.The tension in the room skyrocketed as Blue and Mutt faced off, magic crackling in the air."That's Not What I'm Saying!" Blue shouted back, his eye lights flaring. "I'm Just Trying To Consider All The Angles Here!""Bullshit," Mutt growled, rising from his chair. "You're lookin' for an excuse to bail on her. After everything she's been through, everything she's done for us, you're ready to walk away at the first sign of trouble.""How Fucking Dare You!" Blue snarled, pointing at him. "I Care About Lilly Just As Much As Any Of You!""Then fuckin' act like it!" Mutt snarled, taking a step towards Blue.Blue met his stance, growling up at him. “We Can’t Just Ignore The Bigger Picture Here Mutt! In Some Universes When We All Get Pulled Over Into Another Universe Together, Our Original Ones Become Frozen In Time, People Trapped Forever! We Have No Idea What Damage The Rifts Have Done By Yanking Us Over Here!”“Bro, I get your job was running around the multiverse protecting people, but if the damage was being caused by Nightmare, and you all had that truce then…what’s the harm in staying? The danger is gone, the multiverse isn’t under threat anymore, and we…” Stretch trailed off, looking over to Lilly. “We have our soulmate. I don’t think it’s really a hard choice to make anymore. There’s nothing for you to fight against, but here? You can fight for her, not strangers. I’d say that’s a hell of a lot more worth it.”Blue flinched at his brother's words, a conflicted expression flashing across his face as he grit his teeth. His shoulders slumped as the fight seemed to drain out of him. "I...I Know That. Stars, I Know . It's Just...I've Spent So Long Fighting For The Multiverse, Protecting People I Didn't Even Know. The Idea Of Just...Abandoning That Responsibility..."“We’re All Abandoning Something By Staying Here With Her. But…” Aster glanced at Lilly as he paused, his brows furrowing. “I Think…It’s A Risk I’d Be Willing To Take. We Don’t Get A Second Chance. She’s From A Universe Separate From The Multiverse Entirely. If We Go Back, There Is No Lilly Waiting For Us In Our Own Universes. As Selfish As It Is, I Don’t Think I Would Ever Be Content Leaving, Even Considering All The Potential Consequences Of That Choice.”Classic sighed, rubbing his skull. "Aster's right. This isn't just about us anymore. We've got a soulmate now, one who's been through hell and back. Can we really walk away from that?""I don't think I could," Stretch admitted quietly. "The thought of leaving her alone again... it doesn't sit right with me."Blue's shoulders slumped further. "I...I Don't Want To Leave Her Either. I Just...I Feel So Conflicted.""Look, bro," Stretch said, placing a hand on Blue's shoulder. "All our friends and family are here with the other Overseer’s. The only thing back in our universes are maybe a handful of humans, but even then, we never really got close to anyone besides Chara. Maybe it’s time to stop being a hero for others, and be hers instead. I’m not one to believe in fate, but there’s probably a reason we got pulled over here, and there’s only one thing I can think of that fits.”Blue's eye lights dimmed as he contemplated Stretch's words. The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the steady hum of machinery and occasional beep from the monitors."You're Right," Blue finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've Spent So Long Trying To Be Everyone's Hero That I... I Almost Forgot What It Means To Be There For Someone Who Truly Needs Me. Who Truly Matters To Me."He looked up at the others, determination replacing the conflict in his eyes. "I'm Staying. For Lilly. No Matter What Consequences We Might Face. Fuck The Multiverse."A collective sigh of relief seemed to sweep through the room. The tension that had been building dissipated, replaced by a sense of unity and resolve."Well, glad that shit’s settled," Red grunted, though there was a hint of approval in his voice. "Now we just gotta figure out how to tell her and make sure she knows we ain’t fuckin’ goin’ nowhere.”“Honestly, she probably won’t believe us.” G sighed, lighting another cigarette. “If what Classic said is true, she’s probably already convinced herself we’ll leave given the first opportunity, and she wouldn’t stop us.”" Coolant Extraction 75% Complete ," the robotic voice announced, cutting through the conversation.The skeletons fell silent, their gazes drawn back to Lilly's motionless form. The sight of her, vulnerable and lifeless on the medical chair, seemed to drive home the weight of their discussion."You know," Classic said softly, "when I first saw her a month ago, I thought she was just another shitty human from the facility. I thought we were gonna be living through hell when we got here. You remember what she did for us?" He looked between his brother, Red, Edge, Blue, and Stretch.“She Prepared That Massive Table For All Of Us. It Had Piles Of Our Favorite Foods And Your Nasty Condiments.” Edge huffed, but there was a fond look on his face.“Damn, almost forgot about that.” Red chuckled, “I’d never seen so many flavors of mustard in all my life.”“Not to mention the size of the bottles? Every single one was family size.” Stretch grinned.“Stars Above, She Even Added Edible Glitter To The Tacos.” Blue chuckled slightly shaking his head. “Thank God I Don’t Keep Up That Persona Anymore, But It Was…Sweet Of Her.”Creampuf stood, slowly making his way to her side as he spoke. “From The Very Beginning, She Has Done Nothing But Tried To Give Us The Very Best…” He said quietly, gently taking a few of her fingers in his own.The room fell silent as Creampuff's words sank in. “Damn, guess we missed out on the welcomin’ party.” G chuckled, shaking his head.“Hey now, we got our own version. Bite-size there took out five people and blew the arm off another when she saw how they’d shackled and beaten us. I’d say that counts for more than a spread of food.” Axe grinned, leaning back in his chair.“That’s Quite A Statement, Coming From You Axe.” Black huffed, but he gave Axe a slight nod of respect.“I Know It’s Been A Month For All Of You Six, But For Us…Even After Less Than A Week Here, I’m More Than Happy To Agree. She’s So…” Sugar trailed off, his gaze never leaving Lilly."She's So...Genuine," Sugar finished softly. "Everything She Does, Every Kindness She Shows Us, It Comes From A Place Of Real Care And Understanding. Not Pity Or Obligation."The others nodded in agreement, a thoughtful silence falling over the group."Ya know," Mutt mused, breaking the quiet, "I think that's what makes her so special. She's seen the worst of us, knows all our baggage, and still chooses to care. To fight for us."“It’s Not Only That.” Blue began, a soft look on his face. “Everyone Here In This Universe Knows A Lot About Us, But She…After Everything She’s Been Through, She’s Always Just…Smiling, Trying To Take Care Of Us, Protect Us. I Don’t Think I’ve Heard Her Complain A Single Time Since We’ve Been Here. She’s Only Cried Once, And It Was After She Told Us A Little Bit About The Facility…”“And It Wasn’t Because She Was Upset Over What They Did To Her. She Was Crying Because She Thought We’d Hate Her For Her High LV. I Don’t Think We’ve Ever Seen Her…Vulnerable. Not Emotionally, Anyway.” Edged finished, sighing lightly.Classic nodded, "She's been nothing but strong for us since we got here. Even when she was telling us about the facility, she was more worried about our reactions than what they did.""Makes you wonder how long it's been since someone actually took care of her, you know? Really cared about her wellbeing, not just what she could do for them." G hummed, furrowing his brows."Probably never," Axe growled, gripping the arm rests of his chair harshly. "From the little we know about her family, and the facility? She’s been fightin’ for her life since day one.”“I don’t think she knows how to be upset about it. She probably thinks it’s normal, and has no regrets about everything she’s been through. That’s what a maxed LV will do to a person.” Mutt sighed, shaking his head."Shit," Classic finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's probably never known anything different. To her, all this pain and sacrifice... it's just normal .""Which means," Stretch added, his expression grim, "she might not even realize how much she needs someone to take care of her for a change."Red clenched his fists, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "Well, that shit stops now. We're here, and we ain't goin' anywhere. It's about time someone put her first for once.""Agreed," Black nodded, his expression determined. "We May Have Started Off On The Wrong Foot, But We're Her Soulmates. It's Our Duty To Ensure She Feels Cared For And Protected.""Yeah, but that’s the biggest issue.” Stretch sighed, lighting a cigarette of his own. “She doesn’t want to be protected, and honestly? With how strong she is, I know she doesn’t need to be. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to, though.”"You're right," Classic hummed in agreement. "We can't protect her in the traditional sense, but maybe that's not what she needs from us.""What do you mean?" Red asked, raising a brow bone.Classic rubbed the back of his skull, choosing his words carefully. "Well, think about it. She's spent her whole life being strong, fighting, protecting others. Maybe what she really needs is a safe place to let her guard down. To be vulnerable without fear of judgment or consequences.""I Think You May Be Onto Something," Aster agreed, tapping his pen against his notepad. "She's Been Conditioned To Always Be On Guard, To Never Show Weakness. Perhaps Our Role Isn't To Shield Her From Harm, But To Provide Her With An Environment Where She Can Truly Relax And Be Herself."“But That Would Imply She Hasn’t…Been Herself Around Us, All This Time. And I Don’t Think That’s True.” Creampuff frowned, still gently cradling her fingers."I don't think it's that she hasn't been herself," G mused, taking a drag from his cigarette. "It's more like... she's only been showing us the parts of herself she thinks we need or want to see."“Hell, she got nervous just askin’ for some of our clothes. She’s been too scared to even hold our hands, shit, I don’t even think any of us have even kissed her yet. But hell, we’ve done…other things.” Red grimaced.“She’s open to sexual intimacy, but…stars above, she’s terrified to even ask for a hug from any of us.” Classic sighed, shaking his head.Edge huffed, “Then That’s Where We Start. We Hug Her More, Kiss Her, Spend Quality Time With Her. Show Her She’s Allowed To Want Those Things From Us And We’ll Happily Give Them To Her. It’s Not Just Emotional Vulnerability She’s Afraid Of, It’s Physical.”Black pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yesterday When She Fell Asleep In The Library, She Hid In The Farthest Back Corner To Take A Nap. It Was Like She Was Scared To Ask For Any Kind Of Comfort From Us. Like She Didn’t Want Us To See It, But She Also Didn’t Want To Leave The Area Where We Were, Either.”“Stars Above, That’s…” Aster frowned, looking back to Lilly with worry etched on his face. “We Still Don’t Know Much Of Her Past Or Her Time At The Facility. I’ll Be Completely Honest With All Of You, If She’s Been Sexually Involved With Some Of You, But Not Necessarily Intimate In Softer Ways, It Points To A Very… Specific Type Of Abuse In Her Past.” He grit out, clenching his teeth.The room went cold at Aster’s words."You don't think..." Mutt began, his voice low and strained."It's A Possibility We Can't Ignore," Aster said grimly. "Her Behavior Suggests A History Of Trauma Related To Intimacy And Vulnerability. Whether It Was When She Was Younger Or At The Facility…There Is A High Chance Someone Exploited That. We Can’t Make Any Assumptions, But It’s Something We Need To Be Extremely Considerate Of Going Forward."The room fell into a heavy silence as the implications of Aster's words sank in."Fuck," Red finally growled, breaking the tense quiet. "If anyone laid a hand on her like that, I'll dust 'em myself."" Get in line ," Axe snarled, his magic flaring dangerously throughout the room."We Don't Know For Sure," Creampuff interjected, but his face was set in an angry furrow. "But...It Would Explain A Lot."Classic nodded grimly. "Yeah, it would…We’ve done too much out of order. She’s receptive, but it doesn’t matter if she’s terrified to even ask to hold our hand.”“Shit…” Edge grimaced, a guilty expression crossing his face that he and Creampuff shared.Blue winced as he watched them, knowing the level of guilt they were probably feeling.Red, Stretch, and Sans all shared one of their own as they all realized something.From the wall incident to the tentacles in the casino, it made their stomachs turn as they realized just how far they’d let things get out of hand.They’d let their horny brains and three years of improperly dealt with heats override basic dating etiquette, and while it had all been completely consensual…It didn’t alleviate the sickening feeling in their souls." Coolant Extraction Complete. Initiating Cleaning Cycle, " the robotic voice announced, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen over the room.The skeletons watched as the dark blue coolant finished draining from Lilly's body. A clear liquid began to flow through the tubes, flushing out her system."We can't change the past," Classic finally said, his voice low but firm. "But we can do better going forward. We need to show her that she's safe with us, that she can ask for affection without fear."Stretch nodded, stubbing out his cigarette. "Yeah, you're right. We gotta take things slow, build up that trust. Show her that intimacy isn't just about sex.""But How Do We Do That Without Making Her Feel Pressured?" Creampuff asked, his brow bones furrowed in concern.“I Don’t Think It’s About Pressure. Everything You All Have Done So Far With Her Was Consensual And Agreed Upon. She’s Just…Scared To Initiate. Like My Brother Said, We Take Things Slow. Hold Her Hand More, Ask Her If We Can Kiss Her, Hold Her…She Needs The Softer Forms of Intimacy. Whatever Happens After That Can Happen Naturally.” Blue nodded reassuringly to the five.The other six looked on in slight concern and lingering questions, but nodded in agreement."Blue's right," G nodded, "We need to show her that affection doesn't always have to lead to something more. That it's okay to just... be close.""And we gotta make sure she knows she can initiate too," Mutt added. "Let her know we're always open to her seeking comfort or affection from us."Axe grunted in agreement. "Yeah, and maybe we oughtta tone down the sexual shit for a while. Focus on the other stuff first."The others nodded, a sense of determination settling over the group."So, we're agreed then?" Classic asked, looking around at his alternates. "We take things slow, focus on building trust and comfort. Show her that she's safe with us, that she can be vulnerable without fear."A chorus of agreements echoed through the room, their plan set in motion.“Well, as shitty as the timing it is, heat season will be here in about two months, and we need a plan for what to do since none of us, including her, can leave the grounds. We have to talk to her about it. It could get… rough , considering she’s our soulmate, and it’s been three years of struggling with them with no access to suppressants.” G sighed, rubbing the back of his skull."Shit, I almost forgot about that," Red muttered, running a hand over his skull. "It's gonna be a fuckin' nightmare if we don't figure somethin' out.""We Can't Just Avoid Her For A Week," Edge pointed out, his brow bones furrowed. "Not Only Would It Be Cruel To Her, But It Could Be Dangerous For Us As Well."Classic sighed, "Yeah, and with her being our soulmate, it's gonna be even more intense than usual. We could end up hurting her if we're not careful.""Or Ourselves," Black added with a frown. "If We Try To Resist The Urge To Mark Her, Bond With Her…It Could Be Damaging In Ways We’re Not Prepared For.”"We need to talk to her about it," Stretch said, his expression serious. "Be upfront about what heat season entails and what the risks are. She deserves to know what she's getting into.""Agreed," Aster nodded. "We Should Also Discuss Potential Solutions. Perhaps We Could Set Up A Rotation System, For Those Not In Heat During That Time To Keep An Eye On Her.""That's not a bad idea," Classic mused. "We could also make sure there aren’t too many of us around her at one time. They don’t have suppressants in this universe, so it’ll be up to those not in heat to help the ones that are by making sure they stay away from her.""What about her, though?" Mutt asked, his brow bones furrowed. "Does even have a heat cycle? And if she does, how does it work with her being part machine?"“Well, Human Women Usually Ovulate Once A Month, But That Hasn’t Happened To Her Since We’ve Been Here. She’s Stated Before She Cannot Have Children, So She May Not Have The Reproductive Organs Anymore That Would Cause It, But…” Creampuff furrowed his brows as he trailed off.“It Could Be Different Because We Are Soulmates. Even if She Is Lacking The Traditional Human Organs, Her Soul…” Sugar sighed, shaking his head."Her soul might still respond to our heats," Classic finished, "Even if she doesn't have a traditional heat cycle, the bond could trigger something similar.""Fuck," Red growled, clenching his fists. "So not only do we gotta worry about our own heats, but we might send her into some kinda pseudo-heat too?"Aster tapped his pen against his notepad, his expression thoughtful. "It's A Possibility We Need To Consider. Her Unique Physiology Makes It Difficult To Predict Exactly How She'll React, Given She’s Partly Machine.""We need to talk to her about it," Stretch said firmly. "Be upfront about everything—our heats, the risks, the possibility of her going into some kind of heat herself. She needs all the information to make an informed decision.""Agreed," Black nodded. "We Cannot Keep This Information From Her. It Would Be Irresponsible And Potentially Dangerous.""So what, we just sit her down and say 'Hey, by the way, we're all gonna go into a sex-crazed frenzy in a couple of months and might accidentally bond with you permanently'?" Red asked sarcastically.G snorted, "Well, when you put it like that...""We'll need to be more tactful than that," Classic sighed, rubbing his skull. "But essentially, yeah. We need to lay it all out for her—what heat season entails, the risks involved, and our concerns about how it might affect her.""And what if she decides she wants nothin’ to do with it?" Mutt asked, his voice low. "What if she tells us to stay away from her durin’ it?"“Honestly, Knowing Pet? She’d Offer To Help Without A Second Thought, But Therein Lies The Problem, If We’re Assuming The Worst Regarding Her Past.” Edge growled.The room fell into a tense silence as Edge's words sank in. The implications of what he was suggesting weighed heavily on all of them."Fuck," Red muttered, running a hand over his skull. "You're right. She'd probably offer herself up without even thinkin' about it.""Which is exactly why we need to be careful about how we approach this," Classic said firmly. "We can't let her put herself in a potentially traumatic situation just because she thinks it's what we need."Stretch nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah, and we gotta make sure she knows she has a choice in all this. That she's not obligated to help us just because we're her soulmates.""But How Do We Do That Without Making Her Feel Like We're Rejecting Her?" Creampuff asked, his brow bones furrowed in concern. "You Know How She Is—If We Try To Keep Her At Arm's Length, She Might Think We Don't Want Her.""That's the tricky part, bro." Classic sighed, rubbing his temples. "We need to find a balance between keeping her safe and not making her feel unwanted.""Maybe we could set up some kinda... I dunno, safe system? If our heats are staggered, then if shit gets too intense for her, someone can come in and grab her and get her out. Safe words ain’t exactly gonna cut it when we’re mindless horny fuckin’ beasts with our damn soulmate under us.” Red huffed."That's actually not a bad idea," Stretch nodded thoughtfully. "We could have designated 'guardians' for each heat cycle—skeletons who aren't in heat who can keep an eye on things and step in if needed.""And we need to make it clear to her that using that system isn't a failure on her part," G added. "She needs to know it's okay to tap out if things get too intense.""Absolutely," Aster nodded firmly. "Her Comfort And Safety Must Be Our Top Priority. We Need To Ensure She Understands That Her Boundaries Will Be Respected At All Times.""What about bondin’, though?" Mutt asked, his brow raised. “Does she know what that means for all of us, especially her? We all got one soulmate, one bond, but she’ll have twelve, potentially more if the facility sends more pairs of our asses over.”"Shit, you're right," Classic muttered, rubbing his skull. "We haven't even explained soul bonding to her yet.""And it's not just the bonding itself," Stretch added, his expression grim. "It's the implications of it. For us, it's a lifelong commitment. But for her...""It Could Be Much More Complicated," Aster finished, his brow furrowed in thought. "Given Her Unique Physiology And The Presence Of The R.M. Fragments, We Can't Be Certain How A Soul Bond Would Affect Her."Red growled low in his throat, "So what, we just tell her 'Hey, by the way, if we accidentally bond with you during our sex frenzy, it might fuck you up in ways we can't even predict'?"Edge elbowed his brother, shooting him a soft glare."We Have To," Black said firmly. "She Has To Know The Risks Involved. One Bond Is Intense Enough, But Twelve? That’s A Lot For Her To Handle, Let Alone Potentially More.""Not to mention the potential consequences if something were to happen to one of us," Classic added grimly. "With that many bonds, losing even one could be devastating for her."Aster nodded solemnly, his pen tapping against his notepad. "The Emotional And Physical Toll Of Multiple Soul Bonds Is Something We Need To Discuss With Her In Detail. She Needs To Understand The Full Implications Before Making Any Decisions.""Fuckin’ hell. This shit just keeps gettin’ more and more complicated…” G sighed, rubbing his face slowly with a groan.The room fell into a heavy silence as the weight of their discussion settled over them. The steady hum of machinery and occasional beep from the monitors seemed to underscore the gravity of their situation." Cleaning Cycle Complete. Initiating New Coolant Infusion ," the robotic voice announced, breaking the tense quiet.They watched as the clear cleaning solution drained from Lilly's body, replaced by a vibrant blue liquid that began to flow through the tubes. The new coolant gradually filled her system, bringing a hint of color back to her ashen skin."Look," Classic finally said, his voice low but firm. "We can't solve all of this right now. But we can make a plan."The others turned to him, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity."First things first," he continued, "we need to have a serious talk with Lils when she wakes up. You know she hates being left in the dark and will appreciate it a lot more if we just lay it out for her. We let her know that everything goes at her pace, and whatever decisions she makes, we’re not just going to respect them, but its the only way we want to do things, with her in the lead.”There were several nods of agreement, no one wanting or feeling the need to argue against his point."Secondly, we need to make sure we're all on the same page about how we're going to handle this," Classic continued. "No lone wolf shit, no trying to be a hero. We work together, communicate, and make sure Lilly's wellbeing is our top priority. We’re a band, and we gotta act like it."Red nodded grimly. "Yeah, agreed. We can't afford to fuck this up.""Thirdly," Classic said, his eye lights scanning the room, "we need to be prepared for any outcome. Whether Lilly wants to help us through our heats, wants to stay away, or anything in between, we need to respect her decision and have plans in place."“Of Course.” Sugar nodded, and several grunts and hums in agreements rang out through the room.Classic let out a long, drained sigh.The others felt the same way.This shit was beyond overwhelming."Ya know," Axe spoke up, breaking the quiet, "for all the shit we're worryin' about, we're forgettin' one important thing."The others turned to look at him, curiosity evident in their expressions."What's that?" Classic asked.Axe's grin widened slightly. "We got a badass soulmate who's been through hell and back. She's tough as nails and smart as hell. Give her some credit. She might surprise us with how well she handles all this."There was a moment of stunned silence before a few chuckles broke out."Heh, you're right," Classic chuckled, shaking his head. "We've been sitting here worrying ourselves silly, but Lils has proven time and again that she can handle just about anything."Red grinned, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, spitfire is tougher than all of us put together. Hell, she'd probably laugh at us for frettin' so much.""Still," Stretch added, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice, "we gotta make sure we're doing right by her. Even if she can handle it, doesn't mean she should have to.""Agreed," Aster nodded, a small smile on his face. "We'll Be Prepared, But We Should Also Have Faith In Her Strength And Resilience."“Who wants to bet on it? I betcha Red’s right. She’s gonna laugh at our asses, considerin’ she already knows we’re all her soulmates.” Mutt smirked, and Black sputtered indignantly.“Mutt! We Said We Wouldn’t Say Anything!” He shouted, and a chorus of shocked sputters and gasp shot through the room.“You mean she…she knows you all are her soulmates too, not just us?! For how long?!” Stretch shouted, his sockets wide.“Yup. Found out the second day we got here, so about four days ago. To be fair, we ain’t exactly been subtle. She said she felt dumb for not realizing it sooner, but wanted to see when we’d come clean and admit it.” Mutt snickered, causing Black to sigh heavily.“She Truly Is Remarkable, And Quite The Little Minx…” Black huffed, but there was a slight grin on his face.“Told ya ta give her more credit, especially when she’s puttin’ up with all twelve of our dumbasses.” Axe snickered, and the group let out a collective set of chuckles and groans.At least it was one less thing they had to worry about.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lilly took a long, slowly sip of her moscato, leaning back in her chair as she twirled the glass. They were in the kitchen, the group prepping for dinner as she watched them all carefully.

It had been two days since her coolant change, and the boys were acting off.

Way more than usual, off.

After Mutt admitted to spilling the beans about the whole soulmate thing, she’d felt a bit of a weight lifted off her shoulders. She was excited to be open about it, and had teased a few of them relentlessly for it.

But now?

They’d started treating her a lot more carefully, touching her less, flirting less, sometimes barely making eye contact with her.

She narrowed her eyes at the group, slowly twirling her wine glass as she looked over the twelve that were mingling around the kitchen and dinning area.

Paps, Edge, Black, Blue, and Sugar we’re all making a few chicken roasts, double mashed potatoes, fresh rolls, and mixed veggies for dinner. They were talking amongst themselves, discussing various marinades and seasonings for the different foods.

Sans, Red, G, Mutt, Stretch, Axe, and Aster were at various tables around her, playing cards or discussing more theories regarding the R.M. fragments in her coolant filters, or Gaster’s weird code.

Not a single one of them was sitting with her at her table.

They were avoiding her, and it was starting to bother her.

A lot

.

“So…” she began slowly, staring into her glass with a bored look. “Does anyone care to tell me why you’ve all been acting like a bunch of skittish, kicked puppies around me for the last two days?”

The entire kitchen fell silent at her words, outside of the sound of boiling water on the stove.

The silence stretched, a taut wire ready to snap. Paps glanced at Edge, who said nothing and instinctively moved a step closer to the cutting board, aggressively chopping garlic as if it were somehow guilty of something. Blue shifted his weight from one foot to the other, avoiding her gaze altogether. Black and Sugar had stopped moving completely, seemingly frozen over the dough they were kneading.

Sans, Stretch, Mutt, and G all shared a look between one another, sweat building on their skulls as their eye lights darted back and forth. Aster and Axe looked between one another, blank, yet obviously tense looks on their faces.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

“Hm. Nothing to say? That’s pretty weird. You know, I could always just review the footage from inside the coolant room. You do remember that, right? The camera’s that I’ve got in there? Not only is it video and audio, but with my processors it would only take me a few minutes to fully review and understand the twenty plus hour long footage.” She hummed, her eyes narrowing at them all.

The tension in the kitchen escalated exponentially, each of the boys subtly retreating into themselves, as if hoping to become invisible. Mutt finally broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s not that simple, darlin’…”

“Oh? But it’s simple enough for all of you to avoid me like the plague. Whatever little plan or theories you’ve all spun yourself into a mess over, it’s

really

fucking backfiring on you right now.” She stated, a bit of anger seeping into her tone.

Aster cleared his throat, turning to face her in his chair across the room, though his posture remained rigid. “I Understand This Is Probably Frustrating, But As Your Soulmates, We Just Wanted To Give You A Mix Of Space And Independence. Given How A Lot Of us Reacted When Your Coolant Was Sluggish, We Thought…” He trailed off, looking more and more nervous as she stared him down.

She slowly placed her wine glass on the table, crossing her arms and legs as she tried to remain calm. “You thought the best way to do that was to completely 180 on me? You know, I might be a bit dense, and I’m sure as hell not book smart, but I’m not an

absolute fucking moron

.”

A few of them flinched at her words.

Good. Fucking dickheads.
She huffed, rubbing her face with both hands. “Look. I know all of you, and I know for a fact that you all probably sat there and came up with a bunch of different theories about our situation or me, and now you’re just assuming you’re right. You do know you can just fucking talk to me right? Stop assuming you’re right when you haven’t even talked to the one person you’re making assumptions about. Me. Your soulmate. In cases you somehow forgot that.” 
She narrowed her eyes again, noting how the entire group looked extremely nervous and guilty.

It was like she’d smacked the hand of a kid who got caught taking from the cookie jar.

Sans’s voice broke the haze of silence. “Okay, okay. You're right. We messed up.” He straightened up in his seat, running a hand over his skull. “We just… we didn’t want to overload you, Lils. You’ve been through so much, and we thought that maybe it would be better to…take things slow?”

She raised a brow at that, but said nothing.

Silence was the best way to get them to talk more.

Guilty people always tried to fill silence, and there was about to be a lot of talking.

Stretch cleared his throat, a nervous habit that had become all too common in the last few days. “Yeah, what Classic said. We were just trying to be considerate. With everything going on and some of the stuff we talked about-.”

Red elbowed him harshly in the ribs, making Stretch wheeze and glare at him.

She shot a glare of her own to Red, and he immediately began fidgeting and sweating.

“L-Look, sweetheart, we just figured ya wouldn’t like it if all twelve of us were swarmin’ ya, ya know?” He chuckled awkwardly, not even looking at her as he spoke.

She remained silent, and the room seemed to grow even more uncomfortable by her lack of responses or usual snarky remarks.

Finally, Paps sighed heavily, breaking the oppressive silence. “Lilly, We All Care About You, And With The Soulmate Thing... It’s Not Just A Casual Situation For Us. It's—” he hesitated, glancing at the others for support, “It’s Serious. We Wanted To Give You Room To Breathe Without Feeling Like We Were Suffocating You.”

Lilly pushed herself up slightly in her chair, still crossing her arms as she studied their expressions. She could see the sincerity in their eyes, but it was buried under layers of awkwardness and fear.

“Have I given any of you reason to believe I’d freak the fuck out? Have I done any of that so far?” She picked up her wine glass, sipping from it slowly.

“Not really, no,” G admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “But this is different. The soulmate thing, and a lot of other shit, it…changes things, right? We just… we didn’t want to overwhelm you with too much.”

They were still beating around the bush, so she let out a slow sigh. Sipping from her wine glass, she pulled the security footage from the coolant room up inside her head, filtering it through her processors as she listened to what exactly they’d talked about.

She blinked a few times, watching and absorbing the information from two days ago.

She tensed slightly at Aster’s assumption regarding her past, a flash of hot anger rolling over her as she took in their past expressions and conversation.

“Lilly…?” Sans asked, looking at her with slight concern as she was bought back to the present.

With a heavy sigh and turned back to the boys. “So. You all wanted to tiptoe around me because you just assumed I was sexually abused in my past, huh?” She stared at Aster, his face falling in deep shame at her words.

His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. The rest of the group shared nervous glances, shifting uncomfortably at the accusation that hung in the air like an impending storm.

“Lilly, wait—” Aster finally managed to stammer, but she held up a hand, cutting him off.

“Be. Quiet.” She hissed.

How fucking

dare

they.

“You know, if you had just asked, just come to me, you do realize I would’ve talked to all of you, right? I’ve told you countless times, from day one, that all you have to do is communicate with me. This is your biggest problem, all of you. You run off with these horrible, panic inducing theories, and you assume you’re right. Then, you make judgment calls without ever talking to me about them. You make decisions on

my

behalf.” She glared, her coolant shifting to an angry red.

The tension in the room became almost palpable, each skeleton bracing for the storm that she had just unleashed.

She leaned forward, her gaze piercing through them as if she could see into their very souls.

“First, the whole heat season thing in two months? Of course I’m fine with helping out. Bonding? Sure, let’s do it. I know the risks. You’re in the universe of the creators, and while I don’t want to assume things either, I have a massive amount of information at my fingertips that would’ve helped me understand if you’d just talked to me.” She grit out, anger flushing over her skin and making her feel warm.

“Second? I appreciate you trying to find a balance between wanting to protect me and giving me my independence.

That

is the right answer. It’s fine to worry over me, I worry about all of you too. What I

won’t tolerate

is you trying to control what I do. I also appreciate you discussing what to do if you had to go home, truly, it means a lot, but it doesn’t make up for this last bit.” She narrowed her eyes, watching as the group seemed to shrink further and further at her words.

“I had a great support system. I had an amazing therapist named Carol that helped me process and deal with my trauma. I’m over it, and I don’t let it define who I am. The reason I get nervous asking to hold your hands or for ‘soft forms of intimacy’, as you put it, is because I get

shy

around my soulmates. Just because I like being sexually intimate with all of you, and more nervous around the little stuff, doesn’t mean I’m fucking traumatized or putting walls around myself. When have I

ever

stated I’m uncomfortable with anything so far? Do you not trust me that fucking much? Do my words mean that fucking little, to any of you?”

She stood from her chair, glaring at them all as she chose her next words carefully.

“So, as much as it pisses me the fuck off to say it under these circumstances, you were right Aster. I was raped as a kid from the time I was eleven until I turned seventeen. That’s how I got my scars. My dad was selling me to different men of the church, and when I finally stood up for myself, he attacked me in a drunken rage.” She grit out, slamming her fist down on the table.

Every socket in the room went dark at her words.

She was fine talking about it, hell, they had a right to know.

But they had no fucking right to assume and make choices for her.

It was like spitting in the face of not just her therapist Carol, but in hers.

On all the hard work she’d put in to healing and moving on from that trauma.

The sound of her fist hitting the table echoed through the kitchen like a gunshot. The boys flinched, a few instinctively stepping back as if they could physically distance themselves from her anger.

“Lilly, We—” Edge started, but she cut him off again, her voice unwavering.

“No. You sit here and constantly make assumptions about what’s best for me. For my happiness, my comfort, blah blah blah. Well, congrats. The only thing you’ve done so far is piss me off, and make me want to stay away from all of you for a while. So, listen really fucking carefully, because for once, you’re actually going to hear what I want instead of assuming. Give me some fucking space, from

all of you

.” She practically snarled the words, teleporting away from the kitchen and into her bedroom.

She landed face down on her bed, unmoving.

How could they just do that to her.

Talk about that kind of shit while she had been laying only a few feet away, in shutdown.

Her chest ached.

This was so unfair.

They

had been unfair.

She wanted a hug.

But she couldn’t even ask for one because she was pissed off at the people she wanted it from.

Fucking.

Assholes

.

She let out a long, frustrated groan, not even sure of her own feelings at this point. After reviewing the footage, she was mixed between being ecstatic, pissed off, and really fucking sad.

She was deeply worried about Blue’s involvement with the Star Sans’ and Axe being with Nightmare’s gang, especially with how Blue seemed pretty torn up about the multiverse issue.

Not that she blamed him in the slightest, because it was something she was worried about too.

If only the stupid fuckers had talked to her about it, then maybe she could’ve helped!

She rolled over onto her back, staring up at the ceiling.

Her brain hurt.

Of course she’d help them with the heats.

Of course she’d be happy to bond with them.

Of fucking course she’d be happy if they’d just respect her autonomy while still worrying over her!

The problem was the assumptions of her past and trying to control what she did.

Assuming she was purposefully withdrawing when it came to the little things because of her trauma? Come on! Who cared if she was doing things out of order? Yeah she was nervous to hold their hands, but not because she was getting some fucked up PTSD flashbacks, but because she was just shy!

Who fucking would’t when their favorite fictional characters come to life, declare themselves your soulmates, and walk around as living breathing people?!

She wasn’t doing it on purpose, she was just a shy woman. Relationships had never been her priority once she got out of therapy, and it wasn’t like she’d been interested in them in the first place. This was just as new to her as it was to them.

The only thing she’d ever been worried about was trying to explain that she had a sexual history before, but obviously not on purpose.

Well, at least they knew now.

Fucking

dicks

.

She rolled her eyes with a huff, covering her face with her arm as she felt a twinge of guilt. She knew they were probably tearing themselves up inside right now, possibly destroying themselves with guilt and shame.

It didn’t make her feel any better.

It wasn’t like she enjoyed this.

She loved them, no matter how stupid they were sometimes.

A few hours passed with her just lying there, unsure of what to do. There wasn't any anger left in her, no more fight. She was just…

Tired.

There was too much going on, too little they knew.

If they kept trying to spin wild theories and freak out over every little thing, then she was actually gonna go insane. Why couldn’t they just have a nice, relaxing time without thinking about the world ending constantly? Sure, there were a lot of problems brewing right now regarding HQ, Gaster, and whatever the fuck else, but…

What the hell were they supposed to do about it?

The only thing they could do, right now, was work on Gaster’s code and fucking enjoy themselves. Yet, in classic Sans’ personalities fashion, they seemed dead set on working themselves into a god-damned mental breakdown.

They’d somehow managed to overthink things more than she could, a high-end super processing cyborg.

She would’ve been impressed if it wasn’t driving her absolutely fucking mad.

With a heavy sigh, she pushed herself up from the bed, rubbing her face as she tried to shake off the weariness that clung to her like a second skin. She glanced at the clock; it was almost 8 now. The boys were probably still in the kitchen, filled with that shitty atmosphere she’d left them in. She didn’t want space anymore, but she also didn’t really know what to say to any of them.

Her feelings felt like a dead weight in her chest, heavy and oppressive as she tried to think of anything to do.

She needed her cat, Butterbean.

With another huff, she teleported from her bedroom and into the garden. The cool misty air felt heavenly on her warmed skin, easing some of the tension in her muscles.

Walking slowly past the statue of the gods, she allowed the sounds of nature and the waterfall to ease her mind. With a quick scan, she found that Butterbean was lounging on one of the rocks by the waterfall. Little guy was probably staring at the fish again, and a small smile pulled at her lips as she walked down the pebbled path.

As the wide space of the large pond came into view, she spotted him.

Making her way over, she plopped down into the grass next to the edge of the water and the rock he was resting on. With a soft, startled meow, he stretched and made his way to her lap.

“Hey Butters…I missed you…” She mumbled softly, gently lifting him and cradling him against her chest.

God, she really needed this. The sounds of the falls, the soft purrs of her little kitty, and nature all around her…and no panicking skeletons to flip the fuck out over every little thing.

She found herself frowning at the thought, slowly stroking Butterbean’s fur as he curled against her chest with contented purrs.

She closed her eyes, allowing the gentle rhythm of his purring to soothe her frayed nerves, and for a moment, everything felt perfectly still. The chaos of the past few days faded into the background, replaced by the tranquil sounds of nature and the soft warmth of Butterbean nestled against her.

“I could use a little of your magic right now, Butters.” she whispered, burying her face into his fluffy fur. “The boys are being sooooo fucking stupid right now, and I have no idea how to deal with it.”

Butterbean responded by nudging her chin with his tiny head, and she chuckled softly. It was amazing how something so small could make such a big difference in her world.

Her little treasure, her only family.

Well, not anymore…

Her mind drifted back to the boys, their fears and assumptions swirling in an endless loop. A part of her wanted to forgive them immediately; they were just worried about losing her, but another part felt stung by their lack of communication.

It would’ve been so easy if they’d just said something,

anything

, really.

Sure, she was definitely traumatized in different ways, but that hadn’t stopped her from living her best life. It felt like they wanted her to be more upset, more angry, more…fuck, she didn’t know. It was like they were searching for any signs she was lying, waiting for the pin to drop and her mental health to crumble.

She’d already been there and done that.

They were the ones who weren’t coping well, like they couldn’t wrap their heads around the fact that she was okay with everything. Sure, when she’d found out about the first six, she’d panicked, definitely. But after that?

Fuck it.

Panicking was gonna get her nowhere. She couldn’t change anything that was happening, so why not enjoy it? Why was that such a bad thing? What, because it wasn’t normal?

None of this shit was fucking normal, so why would it start being normal now?

She let out a frustrated huff, pressing her face into Butterbean’s head as he let out a soft ‘mrow’.

“Damn them,” she muttered softly, feeling the warmth of Butterbean against her chest. The little cat seemed to sense her turmoil, letting out a soft purr that vibrated through her. “They think I’m secretly hiding all these complex traumatic feelings, when I just don’t fucking care…They’re giving me way too much complicated character development.” She snorted, rolling her eyes.

With a sigh, she leaned back on the grass with Butters in tow, staring up at the canopy of trees above her. The leaves rustled gently in the breeze, and for a moment, it felt as though nature was reminding her to breathe, to take things one moment at a time.

“I just want them to understand,” she whispered to Butterbean, who began kneading into her collar bones and making biscuits. “I’m not their victim; I’m their partner. I want us all to be happy together. Why can’t we just have silly little dates, cute moments, and also fuck each other's brains out? Why is this so hard?”

The cat chirped softly, nudging her chin with his head as if sensing her need for comfort. She chuckled lightly despite herself, running her hands down his back.

“They’re gonna make themselves sick if they keep doing this shit, Butters. I think their anxiety is worse than even mine, can you fucking believe that?” She grinned slightly, and the only response she got was more kneading and purrs.

“See, why can’t they be like you? Chilling out and just doing whatever the hell you wanna. Laying in the sun, playing around, and eating lots of food sounds fucking awesome.” She grumbled.

“Because We Are, Unfortunately, Not Cats, I’m Afraid…”

Aster’s soft voice cut through the air like a knife, startling her and causing Butterbean to hop off her and make his way back to his rock.

She didn’t move, deciding she was gonna keep laying on the ground.

Bastard.

He was the reason she was as angry as she was.

Well, anger was only one of the feelings she had.

Everything else felt like a jumbled ball of strings, knotted together.

“What do you

want

, Aster?” She sighed, keeping her gaze to the top of the Garden’s glass dome.

“I Wanted To Apologize,” Aster said, his voice gentle. “For Assuming Things About You, For Not Coming To You Directly With Our Concerns. We Should Have Trusted You More.”

She didn't move, still staring up at the glass dome above her, watching the first stars begin to twinkle through the panes as dusk settled in. Part of her wanted to stay angry; part of her wanted to just drag him down beside her and let everything fall away for a moment as she curled up next to him.

She could hear him take a cautious step closer. “I Came To Check On You…To See If You’d Reconsider Your—”

“My decision to stay away from all of you? No.” She interrupted, still refusing to look at him. “You really want me to just sit back and let you all spiral into a pit of self-doubt and guilt because you thought it was best for me? I’m not about to do that.”

“There’s More At Stake Than Just Your Feelings, Lilly,” he replied, his tone softening. “We Need To Talk About What You Said Back There. We’ve Been So Caught Up In Our Own Fears That We Didn’t Stop To Consider How We Might Be Affecting You.”

She finally turned her head to look at him, her brow furrowed. “Exactly, Aster. That’s the fucking issue. You guys just panic and panic and think and think…but you never just talk. Actually, no, you do talk. You talk to each other, but then not with me.” She huffed, turning her head back to stare at the massive ceiling.

Aster shifted uncomfortably as he stood behind her, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. “You’re Right,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “We’ve Been So Focused On Protecting You That We Lost Sight Of The Most Important Thing Of All: Your Voice.”

She kept her gaze up, the fight leaving her. “Look, I get it. You all care about me, and I appreciate that… but if we’re going to make this work, I need you to trust me. Trust that I can handle my own feelings and decisions.”

Aster sighed slightly, moving to sit down next to her on the grass. “I Want To Trust You More Than Anything. But After Everything You've Been Through…”

“Exactly! Don’t you think I deserve to be treated like an equal?” she interrupted again, frustration creeping back into her tone as she turned to look up at him. “I did years of therapy, Aster. I worked my

ass off

to move on from my trauma. You guys making assumptions that I’m some fragile, mentally ill little girl about to break at any second, shits all over all the hard work I put in.”

Aster looked down, guilt crossing his features as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I— I Never Meant To Imply That You Were Fragile. It’s Just… Sometimes It’s Hard For Us To Reconcile The Things You’ve Been Through With How Strong You Are Now. Our Instincts Kick In, And We Want To Shield You From Any More Pain.”

“Shielding me isn’t going to make my past go away,” she shot back, her voice firm. “It’s part of me, but it doesn’t define me anymore. I’m allowed to be happy, Aster. I’m allowed to want this, all of this—being with you guys, bonding with you—without dragging my past along like some heavy anchor. If I didn’t want something, or you all made me uncomfortable, I’ll fucking tell you. Just like I told you all in the kitchen, and I’m telling you now. I’ve done nothing but be honest from the start, be completely open, which I’m fine with! I’m not doing it to protect any of you, I’m doing it because I’m comfortable with who I am, shitty past included.”

Aster's shoulders sagged as he absorbed her words, the weight of her honesty pressing down on him. "I Understand," he finally said, his voice steadying. "We’ve Let Our Fears Cloud Our Judgment, And I See Now How That Must Feel To You. You're Right; We Should Be Treating You As An Equal Partner In All Of This."

Lilly shifted slightly, propping herself up on her elbows to get a better look at him.

The sincerity in his gaze was softening the edges of her anger, but the frustration still churned within her. "It’s not just about trusting me, Aster. It’s about recognizing that I can make my own choices—choices that might not fit into the neat little boxes you all want to put me in. I know it’s hard for all of you to hear about the horrible things I’ve been through. With my past and at the facility, it’s a lot, but if something was actually wrong, you all would be the first to know. You all are trying to create problems out of nothing because you want to solve something, when there’s nothing to solve in the first place."

Aster flinched slightly, guilt and shame written all over his face.

She sighed, flopping back down onto the grass.

“I know you all care, and I love you all for it. I’m not gonna ask you all to not be mad on my behalf, or to not want to protect me, but you can do it in other ways. There are hundreds of things I wanna do with you all, and you’d be surprised to hear that most of it

doesn’t involve thinking about the world constantly ending

.”

Aster shifted beside her, absorbing her words with a seriousness that made her heart swell. “I’m Sorry…You’re Right. We’ve Been So Caught Up In The Chaos That We Forgot To Enjoy The Moment And The Time We Have Together. We Want So Desperately To Protect You That We Lost Sight Of Why We’re Here In The First Place.”

He paused, glancing at her with a hint of warmth returning to his expression, but he still looked conflicted. “You’re Our Soulmate, Lilly, Our Partner. You Deserve To Experience Joy And Love Without Being Burdened By Our Fears. I-...I’m So Sorry, Little Flower.”

She felt her gaze soften at the nickname, looking at him with slight worry. “Thank you, and I accept your apology, Aster. Just please remember something, your fears aren’t a

burden

to me. If you’re scared about something, just talk to me. I’m your soulmate just as much as you all are mine. It…” She trailed off, realizing something.

“It hurts a little. The idea that you guys wanna protect and shield me from everything, but then won’t just sit and open up with me either. This may be the universe of the creators, where all your stories come from, but you’re living, breathing people. I wanna hear about your lives. I wanna know what scares you, what makes you laugh, what kind of hobbies you like, I mean…

fuck

. You guys don’t know my favorite color, but it’s not like I know yours either.” She sighed.

Aster blinked down at her, a slight lime blush on his cheeks. “I Didn’t Even Realize That…That You’d…” He stuttered slightly, and a small smile formed on her lips.

“What? That I’d wanna know everything about my soulmates? I’m just as curious about you guys as you are me, dummy.” She huffed, her smile growing slightly. “Just because I know about your universes and your characters, doesn’t mean I know you as

people

. And guess what? I’m not gonna assume. I wanna find out on our own terms.” She chuckled lightly, raising a brow at him.

His expression softened, and the corners of his mouth turned upwards into a tentative smile. "I Suppose We’ve All Put Ourselves In Boxes, Thinking We Know Each Other Better Than We Do. It’s Easy To Forget That We’re Still Learning About Each Other Every Day."

She felt a warmth spread through her at his words.

They meant well, they just really didn’t know how to go about it all.

To be fair, she wasn’t exactly…normal.

“So let’s stop tiptoeing around each other like we’re walking on eggshells. If we want to avoid misunderstandings, then let’s just talk. Like right now.” She leaned up on her elbows again and looked directly at him.

He nodded, his expression more earnest now. “Okay… What Would You Like To Know?”

"Everything, duh." she snorted, a grin breaking across her face. “But let’s start with something simple: what’s your favorite color, Papyrus?”

Aster reared back slightly as she used his real name, not his nickname, his blush deepening. “I-…Um… I Prefer Oranges And Yellows,” he finally stammered, a mix of surprise and amusement in his voice. “It Reminds Me Of The Sky And The Stars. It’s Why I Like…Sunsets And Sunrises.”

She smiled warmly at him with a nod, “That’s really pretty, and very fitting. I love it.”

Aster's expression brightened at her words, his tension easing slightly as he relaxed against the grass beside her. "What About You? What’s Your Favorite Color?"

“Mine's pine green. It’s like the color of a rainforest, but I also love light blues, like that waterfall. I always loved nature, how calm and undisturbed by humanity they can be. It’s why I built this place.” Her expression softened as she gestured around the Garden Perditus. The waterfall that cascaded down into the pond in front of them made a peaceful hum, giving the place an almost ethereal feel.

He followed her gaze, taking in the vibrant greenery and the tranquil sounds of water flowing. “It’s Beautiful,” he said, his voice filled with warmth. “You’ve Created Something Truly Special Here, Lilly.”

“Thanks,” she replied, a shy smile creeping onto her face. “I wanted a place that felt safe and peaceful; somewhere I could be myself without all the noise.” She hesitated for a moment, then added, “I’m glad you’re here to share it with me.”

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

She wasn’t good with mushy words, but it felt right.

Aster smiled softly, his gaze lingering on the lush greenery surrounding them. "I Feel The Same Way. This Place Is Like A Little Slice Of Heaven; It Makes All The Chaos Seem Distant."

A comfortable silence settled between them. The sounds of the waterfall blended with the occasional chirping of birds, creating a serene backdrop that enveloped them both. Butterbean had returned to curl up near Aster's feet, and she couldn't help but smile at him.

Little goober.

“Okay, my turn again,” she said, straightening up and propping herself on her elbows. “What’s your favorite food?”

Aster blinked, clearly taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation. “Food? I-I Suppose…I Really Enjoy Spaghetti. I Also Found That When We Got To The Surface…I Really Like…Sushi.” His cheeks flushed slightly as he spoke, almost as if admitting a secret.

“Oh, sushi? That’s really cool! I wanna like sushi, but the fishy flavor of seaweed make me sick. Which sucks, cause I hate being picky about food. One time, I forced myself to eat an entire little baggie of seaweed snacks to try and…I dunno…make myself like it. Exposure therapy, or some shit. I just ended up really sick.” She snickered.

He let out a soft, genuine laugh, his eyes lighting up at her story. “You’ve Got A Unique Approach To Food! I Admire Your Dedication, Even If The Result Wasn’t Ideal.”

“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t recommend it,” she chuckled, shaking her head. “What about dessert? Because we both know that’s the real important question here.”

Aster paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. “That’s A Good One. I Enjoy Chocolate Cake—Something Rich And Moist. There’s Also This Crêpe Place I Visited A Few Times On The Surface; They Had Delicious Strawberry Crêpes With Whipped Cream...”

“Now you’re just making me hungry!” She grinned, imagining the warm crêpes drizzled in syrup.

“What About You?” Aster asked, leaning in slightly as if eager to hear about her favorites.

“Me? Oh god, where do I start?” She smiled wide, feeling her enthusiasm bubble up. “I love anything spicy. Hotpot and buffalo wings are two favorites of mine. As for dessert…I really like tiramisu. Before I joined the Overseer program, I would go to this little coffee shop by my apartment. I became friends with this single mom who worked there, Megan. She was also into the undertale fandom, and she would save me pieces of left over tiramisu while we’d sit and talk after hours. I miss that crazy bitch…and her kick ass tiramisu.” She snickered, shaking her head.

Aster listened intently, a warm smile spreading across his face. “She Sounds Lovely,” he said, his tone sincere. “It’s Clear She Made A Big Impact On Your Life.”

“She did,” She replied, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. “She would make fun of me for being obsessed with you guys, while I would make fun of her for being obsessed with the grillby’s. We’d also do the stupidest shit together. One time, we stole a bunch of traffic cones and would prank each other by putting them in the most ridiculous spots in each other's apartments. She glued one to the top of my car and I couldn’t get it off for

three days

.” She laughed fully this time, remembering how hard Megan had laughed at her when she’d tried to yank it off the top of her car and fell back on her ass.

Crazy bitch…she missed that woman.

“How about you, any good memories or humans from your time on the surface that you had?” She tilted to the side to look at him, watching his face.

Aster’s expression shifted slightly, a thoughtful look crossing his features. “I Didn’t Spend Much Time With Humans On The Surface,” he admitted, sounding almost regretful. “Most Of My Memories Are... Less Than Pleasant. But There Was One… A Child, Actually. A Little Boy Named Eli.”

Her brows knitted together in curiosity. “Eli? What about him?”

A fond look rolled onto his face as he gazed out at the waterfall. “He Was Fascinated By Monsters—The Stories People Told, The Art They Created. He Would Come To The Library I Was Helping To Maintain And Sit At My Feet, Asking Questions About Everything Under The Sun. He Was So Eager To Learn.” His voice softened as he reminisced. “One Day, He Drew Me A Picture Of What I Looked Like To Him—A Tall Skeleton Wearing A Cape, Standing Heroically. It Was Really Sweet.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet…” She smiled, “And what you’re saying is we need to get you into that costume now, huh?” She playfully nudged his knee with her hand, giving him a smirk.

Aster chuckled, shaking his head. “I Don’t Think I Could Pull Off A Cape Like That, But I’ll Keep The Idea In Mind For Future Costume Parties.”

“You know I’m gonna hold you to that, right?” She snickered, sitting up fully and crossing her legs.

The stars had fully come out, and the night lights of the garden began flickering on.

Aster glanced around, taking in the beauty of the garden illuminated by soft, ambient lights that twinkled like stars against the lush greenery. “This Place Takes On A Whole New Life At Night. It’s Almost Magical.” His gaze returned to Lilly, a softer expression crossing his features. “Thank You For Sharing This With Me.”

She smiled, feeling warmth spread through her at his words. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve worked hard to build this space; it’s nice to finally share it. You guys can come out any time you’d like, you know. I actually…Hold on. Come with me.” She stood, turning and holding her hand out to him on the ground with a smile.

He blinked, a hint of confusion and interest on his face as he took her hand, allowing her to pull him up from the grass. "Where Are We Going?"

"Just trust me," she said with a grin, holding his large hand in hers as she led him back towards the second level of the garden.

As she made her way up the stairs, she felt a small blush on her cheeks.

His hands felt really nice in hers.

The way it dwarfed her own, and the warmth of his bones against her own skin made her heart beat skip a little.

This

is what she had been wanting.

Soft, tender moments with her boys.

She led him to the second level, turning and heading to the right. Moving past Butterbean’s shed and through a handful of dense foliage and flowers, there was a large, circular open area. The cobble platform had various benches and vintage styled lamp posts around, but there was something in the middle of the area she’d gotten just for them.

A large telescope.

She didn’t know jack shit about stars and astronomy, so if the guys wanted to get a full observatory in here, she’d make it happen.

But for little moments like this…well, it worked.

“Here we are!” She exclaimed, the excitement in her voice ringing through the tranquil night air. She stepped into the open space, her heart racing as she turned to face Aster.

He stepped forward, curiosity glimmering in his eye as he examined the telescope. “You’ve Set This Up For Stargazing?” he asked, a hint of awe threading through his voice.

“Yeah! I know it kinda makes me a hypocrite, you know with assumptions and all that, but…from what I know in the fandom you guys really like the stars. You can open about ten of the glass panels from the little terminal next to it so you get a clear view.” She moved over to the telescope where there was a small podium next to it.

On top of it was a waterproof case, which she quickly opened to reveal a small serious of controls. With a few quick presses of the buttons, a large section of the Garden’s glass panels began to slide open, revealing more of the clear night sky above them.

The cool night air rushed in as the glass panels slid open, the sound of mechanisms whirring softly filling the space. Aster watched in wonder as the stars twinkled brightly above, their glow piercing through the garden’s dark ambience.

“Lilly,” he breathed, stepping closer to the telescope. “

This Is Incredible

.”

She felt her cheeks flush at his word, watching his face as he studied the sky above.

It was so..surreal.

Seeing him alive, in front of her, his green eyelights flicking back and forth over the night sky made her heart skip. The way the soft lights of the garden reflected off his face and glasses, the calm of the waterfall and leaves in the background.

It was almost overwhelming how full it made her heart feel.

“O-of course…I made this place for you guys after all, even if it is just a glorified bird cage. Being stuck on the grounds like this, dragged into a universe you don’t know…” She trailed off, looking up at the night sky.

“The least I could do was make sure you all we’re happy…” She said softly, her eyes focusing on a section of clustered stars.

It really was unfair to them.

They’d been ripped from their homes, picked her over their own universes, and she had yelled at them for caring about her.

They’d never get to see their own sunrises ever again. Their own stars, no matter how similar the ones in this world might be, would never be the same.

Her face fell the more she thought about it.

About what she’d dragged them into as their soulmate.

Aster’s soft voice yanked her from her thoughts.

“Lilly?” he asked gently, taking a step closer as concern flickered across his features. “What’s Wrong?”

She bit her lip, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. “I just…I forget sometimes,” She said quietly, keeping her eyes on the stars above. “I forget how hard this must be on all of you. Getting dragged into a universe where your existence is nothing more than fiction, being separated from you friends since they’re with the other Overseers, leaving your universes behind…The amount of sacrifices you guys are making is…a lot. And I went and got angry about how much you all were worried about me.”

She grimaced.

Hearing the words out loud really sobered her.

Any anger she had left quickly died out like water being poured over a fire.

Aster had suddenly moved in front of her, his face looking over her in a mix of concern and warmth as he cupped her cheeks in his hands.

"Lilly," he said softly, his voice steady and reassuring, "We Made Our Choices. We Chose To Be Here With You. You're Not A Burden To Us; You're The Light We Follow Into This Unknown."

She felt the warmth radiating from Aster’s hands as he cupped her cheeks, grounding her in the moment. His sincerity washed over her like a balm to her frayed nerves. She searched his eyes, wanting to find some flicker of doubt or resentment, but all she saw was…a deep tenderness.

"But you gave up so much," she whispered, feeling a familiar ache in her chest. "I don't want to be the reason you regret your choices. If you ever wanted to go home, please know that I would never stop-"

Aster shook his head, his grip on her cheeks tightening ever so slightly as he cut her off, “

No

, Lilly.” He stated so firmly she almost flinched. “We Don’t Regret Being Here. You Need To Understand That. We Chose This Because We Believe In What We Have Together, Even If It Means Facing The Unknown.”

His words enveloped her like a warm blanket, staving off the chill of doubt that had begun to creep into her heart. “But what if it’s too much?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if I can’t give you all what you need? There’s only one me, and twelve of you.”

Aster’s eyes softened as he brushed a thumb over her cheek. “You’re Not Responsible For Our Happiness, Lilly. You

Are

Our Happiness. We’re Here To Support Each Other, Not Just You Taking Care Of Us Or Us Taking Care Of You. That’s What Being Soulmates Means.”

Her eyes widened slightly at his words.

He continued, his voice unwavering. “We’re All In This Together. We Are Your Partners, And You Are Ours. The Weight Of Our Choices Is Shared, Not Solely Yours To Bear. You Don’t Have To Shoulder Everything Alone.”

“I just want you all to be happy,” she confessed, her voice trembling slightly. “I don’t want to drag you into whatever this mess is with HQ or even Gaster. You’ve all been through so much already.”

“You’re Not Dragging Us Anywhere.” Aster smiled as he leaned closer, their foreheads nearly touching. “You’re Inviting Us Into Your Life. Into Your World And Your Soul. And We Wouldn’t Trade That For

Anything

.”

He was right.

And most importantly…

He wasn’t lying to her.

She brought her hands up, resting them on top of his that still cradled her face, and then she leaned forward.

The kiss was soft at first, just a gentle mingling of warmth and breath, but it ignited something deeper within her—a yearning that had been simmering just beneath the surface. Aster leaned into her, his hands moving to cradle the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss, like he was trying to pour all of his reassurance and affection into that moment. It felt like the weight of the world melted away, leaving only the two of them suspended in a bubble of warmth and understanding.

The tension that had been building inside her muscles, inside her very soul, seemed to melt away as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled him close, afraid that if she let go he’d float away from her, ripping her from the dream she felt she was in.

His warmth enveloped her completely, and at that moment, everything felt right.

The chaos, the assumptions, the hurt—all of it faded into the background as they lost themselves in each other.

It was just them beneath the stars, a universe just for two.

When they finally pulled apart, breathless and a little dazed, Aster’s eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and elation. He smiled softly, his fingers still resting against her skin like a promise to never leave. Her coolant was a shimmering purple and pink, reflecting from the chambers in her arms and casting a beautiful glow against his skull.

“That Was…Um,” he began, blushing slightly as he searched for the right words. “That Was Wonderful.”

She giggled softly, feeling warmth spread across her cheeks. “Yeah, it really was. I’ve been wanting to do that since you all came here.”

“To Clarify,” he said, his tone teasing now as he raised an eyebrow playfully, “You Mean Since We Entered Your Life As Soulmates Or…?”

“Don’t tease me after we just kissed, you bonehead!” she sputtered, her cheeks heating up as she playfully swatted his arm.

Aster chuckled, “I’ll Take That As A Compliment,” he teased, leaning back slightly as he held her gaze. “But I Must Admit, I’m Curious About What Else You’ve Been Wanting To Do.”

“Okay, Mister Smooth-Talker,” she shot back, crossing her arms playfully and leaning back against the telescope with a soft smile. “How about we actually use this telescope before I show you and we end up fucking, right here in the garden?” She smirked, watching as his face illuminated into a bright green blush.

Aster's eyes widened, a flustered expression crossing his face as he sputtered, “I- I Didn’t Mean To—!”

She burst into laughter, “Relax, I’m just teasing!” she said, placing her hands on her hips playfully. “But seriously, let’s check out the stars before we get distracted.”

Aster blinked at her for a moment, clearly trying to recover from her words.

They were smooth talkers, but she was a fucking

animal

.

Just the right amount of crazy to keep them on their toes.

As I fucking should be.

“Right! The Stars…” he stammered, turning toward the telescope with a newfound urgency. Her words seemed to have sparked something in him, and she couldn’t help but grin as he took hold of the telescope's eyepiece.

She stepped closer, watching as he adjusted the focus and peered through the lens. “What do you see?” she asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

He straightened up after a moment and smiled brightly. “There’s A Cluster Of Stars Just Ahead Of Us; They Look Like A Swirling Whirlpool Of Light. It’s Breathtaking!” His excitement was contagious, and she found herself drawn closer as he gestured at the telescope.

“Let me see…” she chirped, and he moved back so she could get a look. As she leaned down to peer through the eyepiece, the cold metal pressed against her skin felt oddly grounding. The universe unfolded before her in a tapestry of twinkling stars, each one flickering like a heartbeat against the darkness.

“Oh wow,” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. Each star felt alive, and while she was kicking herself for not using the telescope sooner, she was happy to share the moment with one of her soulmates instead. “It really is stunning up there.” She straightened up, glancing back at Aster, who was watching her with an expression that made her heart flutter—a mixture of admiration and affection.

As they took turns at the telescope, Aster shared bits of trivia about constellations and distant galaxies—the kind of knowledge that showed just how much he’d studied, and how interested he was in the world above.

She listened intently, occasionally peering through the telescope to catch glimpses of the wonders he described. Her heart swelled every time she caught Aster looking at her, his expression a mix of awe and admiration that made her feel seen in a way she had longed for.

“Did You Know,” Aster began, gesturing animatedly now, “That The Andromeda Galaxy Is On A Collision Course With Our Milky Way? In About Four Billion Years, They’re Expected To Merge. It’s Fascinating To Think About How Our Universe Is In Constant Motion.”

“Four billion years?” she echoed, giggling softly. “You think that’ll be enough time for some of the others to finally pick up their socks?” She leaned closer into him, enjoying the warmth radiating from his side as they both huddled around the telescope.

Aster laughed, the sound bright and genuine against the backdrop of stars. “I Imagine We’ll Still Be Finding Socks On The Floor Long After That,” he replied, nudging her playfully with his elbow. “But Honestly? I Think They’d Be More Concerned About Other Things By Then.”

“Like what?” she asked with a teasing grin, crossing her arms as she tilted her head up at him.

“Like How To Survive The Apocalypse,” he said dramatically, putting his hand to his forehead as if he were about to faint from sheer worry. “Or How To Navigate Interdimensional Tension.”

She laughed again, sending a few playful jabs into his side. “Okay, true! But it’s still a long way off for us, so let’s just enjoy being here now. You know? Just… be in the moment, all cheesy and silly.” She giggled.

He turned serious for a moment, glancing down at her with something deep in his warm green gaze.

“Lilly,” Aster said softly, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked at her. “That’s Exactly What I Want Too. To Be Here, With You, In This Moment. No Past, No Future—Just Us And The Stars.”

Her heart fluttered at his words, the sincerity in his tone washing over her like a gentle wave.

“I’m glad we’re here together,” she murmured, meeting his gaze. “It feels… right.”

Aster smiled, a genuine warmth spreading across his face that seemed to illuminate the space between them. “Every Moment Spent With You Makes This All Worthwhile—The Uncertainties, The Chaos, Everything.” He leaned a little closer, his shoulder brushing against hers. “You’ve Created Something Special Here, Lilly.”

Feeling emboldened by his words, she nudged him playfully again. “Flattery will get you

everywhere

, Aster,” she teased, enjoying the way his glasses reflected the stars. “Just wait until I tell the others about this little stargazing date we’re having. They might even get jealous, even if you are all a band.”

Aster chuckled softly, shaking his head. “You Might Want To Keep It A Secret For Now—Especially If They’re Busy Being Anxious About You.”

She tensed at his words.

Fuck, she really needed to fix things with everyone else too.

“Ah shit, yeah…I really gotta go apologize for saying all that stuff. You guys didn’t deserve that.” She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

“You Have Nothing To Apologize For. We Truly…

I

Truly Made A Mistake, Pushing You Into A Corner Like That Where You Felt You Had To Share.” Aster said softly.

“Yeah, but I shouldn’t have lost my temper,” she replied, her voice softening. “I know you all care about me, and while I got my point across, I don’t want you all to feel like you’re walking on eggshells around me.”

Aster nodded, his expression serious yet understanding. “It’s A Balancing Act We Must Navigate Together. Just As You’d Like Us To Trust You, We Must Learn How To Trust Ourselves And Each Other In This New Dynamic.”

She took a deep breath, looking back at the stars, feeling more grounded in the moment. “Okay, so how the hell do we fix this?”

Aster straightened up, his face more determined. “We Go Back Together. Open Up About What We’ve Discussed—About Your Feelings And Our Mistakes. It Will Help Us All Heal And Move Forward.”

She felt a mixture of anxiety and relief wash over her.

The idea of facing the others again made her stomach turn, but she knew she had to do it.

She was just really,

really

embarrassed.

“Fuck it. Together it is, then,” she said, her voice steadying as she met Aster’s gaze again. “After all… we’re a band.”

His smile widened, the warmth of it flooding her with reassurance. “Exactly. We’ll Face This Together. You’re Not Alone, Lilly.”

He paused, a slight smirk on his face as he took her hand in his. “Truthfully, They’ll Probably Be Begging For Your Forgiveness And Kissing The Very Ground You Walk On. They Won’t Expect You To Be The One Apologizing, Just As I Wasn’t.”

She sputtered at that, a giggle bubbling in her throat as they walked back to the stairs. “Y-you really think so?”

Aster nodded, his expression a mix of excitement and mischief. “Absolutely! They’ll Be Beside Themselves With Worry, And When They See You Again, It’ll Be A Whirlwind Of Guilt And Apologies. I’m Honestly Half-Excited To See How They Handle It.”

She couldn’t help but laugh at that. “God, you’re all such boneheads.”

“But We’re Your Boneheads.” Aster grinned.

She nodded at him with a large smile. “Fuck yes you are.”