Archive of Our Own

Work Text

The pain is a shock as I drop back.  Frankly I had always kind of thought this would happen.  I’ve always had this terminal need to help people, it was bound to get me in trouble.  I hated seeing others being hurt or taken advantage of, and oh boy do I hate fuckin’ racists.

Problem was, a lot of powerful people with guns… were racist.

It was kind of a problem with the world, with the cities.  I had heard that smaller quiet towns weren’t so bad. Skin color didn’t matter, species didn’t matter.  In little towns people were happy, they had homes and family and friends. They lived cozy unaffected lives.

It sounded way to good to be true, and hell it probably was, but a dream was a dream for a reason. Heck anything was better than this dump of a city anyway, I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out it was the bile of hate in the air that made Ma so sick.

I’ll probably never know now though.

What even happened?

As I’m laying there I tried to process what had just happened to me.  There had been an argument. Nothing new, frankly. I’d been studying a stall of really nice looking apples when it had started, Ma has a fondness for the green sour kind.  I’m not stupid, I don’t just jump into fights, boys would be boys after all and if a couple of stupid meat heads wanted to duke it out in the middle of the street that was their problem, not mine.

But then things escalated.

I still wasn’t to concerned until I heard the word ‘monster’.  Now this caught my attention for a couple of reasons. Monsters had been out and around for a few years now, well about 10 if I remembered right.  They had a whole section of the city to themselves and had spread, just livin, like every other poor schmuck. Because they had a good chunk of the city to themselves I didn’t see ‘em often, some of the more humanoid ones would come into this area though, sort of a grey patch where the human half and monster half met.

Secondly of course, there were monsters in the mobs.  There were two main families I knew about. The Dreemurs, they had been like monster royalty at one point then when things had gotten up here they’d just become a ‘family’.  Then there was another one, the ‘Asters’. Frankly I didn’t know much about them except apparently the guy in charge wasn’t just into crime but some crazy science to. Rumor had it he didn’t kill people who angered him, he used them in experiments.

Of course none of this really pertained to the matter at hand.

Some dumb ass of a human guy was on his high horse about a monster.  As I listened I gleaned the guy had just been strolling by, and Mr. Dumbass Human had been... what? affronted by his existence?  It was annoying… and loud. Placing three crisp green apples in a sack I paid the vendor and turned.

“Are you done?  We all got places to be and shit ta do and listenin to you spout all that garbage is givin me a headache.” I had said, at that point I couldn’t see much of the monster.  His back was to me big and broad, not fat but, I dunno, just big. I could see the silky fabric on the back of the vest, it was black but I could just see the dark red of the front panels where they met at his sides. He wore a black shirt and slacks, shiny black shoes, and gold cufflinks winked in the light… ooohh the monster was Mr. Fancy….

Eh, big deal..

I walked over slinging the bag of apples over my shoulder and looking at the kid, he was pretty scrawny but I recognized him.  It took a moment to place him but then I realised he was a kid working for Don Zora… damnit Lucian… I had thought he taught his punks better than this,  but apparently not.

The kid had sneered at me… what an idiot.

“You better stay outta this ya damn bitch, Ain’t got nothin to do with you.” he spat… hoo boy… what a brat.  Now don’t get me wrong the kid was probably 18-19 but at almost 30 myself, he was a kid, a brat and about to get his ass handed to him for mouthing off at me of all people.

“Look,

kid

,” I said saying the word clearly so he knew I meant business.  I stepped towards him and took a little pleasure in the slight shuffle backwards he made.  Leaning forward I was only about a head taller than him but it got my point across because he leaned back not appreciating me in his personal space I expect.

“You’re really givin me a headache.  So back off or I give your pal Lucian a call, hmm?” I said lowly he paled stepping back again, there we go, now that was the proper reaction.  I suppose I can’t blame him, there's no real way for him to know who I was but still. What was it with damn kids so ready to pick fights? Especially with a monster, who had magic!  I turn to the monster while I grab the kid by his scruff

“Sorry about the kid, don’ worry he’ll be dealt with. I trust this won’t be a problem?” I asked calmly, despite that manner I had felt a cold finger of dred slide down my spine.  The monster was a skeleton.

Shit

His cloths where very fine he had gold rings on his fingers and a gold tooth in his big grinning mouth… Double shit

“Say you’re sorry to the gentleman.” I said dropping the kid and grabbing the back of his head forcing him to bow

“Why should I?  Just another stinkin’ monster!  And what are you some sympathizin’ whore?  Is that it or you just like monster dick? Savin his ass won’t help you girlie he’s all bo-” He went flying from the force of my hit. Frankly, he brought that on himself.  He should have paid attention when I’d let his hair go. I felt the bone of his nose crunch under the back of my hand but really couldn’t be fussed to care to much, If he was going to survive long enough to be an actual family member, he was going to have to learn to think and act quickly.

“Idiot.” I sneered sighing  and glancing at the back of my hand there was a smear of blood which I rubbed away on the hip of my slacks, damn I hate punks like him. Looking up at the skeleton, who hadn’t moved during the whole exchange, I bow my head.  The things was, there were only three skeletons in the city, Count ‘em… three, Don Aster, ‘The Great Papyrus’, and the Judge, Sans.

Now the things was, Don Aster never went outside of monster territory, so I understood it. Then there was Papyrus was impossibly tall, that left only one option for the skeleton in front of me.

The Judge.

The Judge had a hell of a reputation and while I might have hated this stupid punk and what he’d said, I didn’t want him gettin offed for offending the big guy… god he was big.  He wasn’t even fat, just big, it was crazy. Trying to wrap my head around how a skeleton could fill out those clothes so much was just making my head hurt so I chose to just shove that aside.

“Please allow me to apologize for the kid.  He’s younger and newer, he obviously hasn’t learned.” I said shooting a glance back where the kid was stirring.  The large skeleton took a puff of a thick cigar and I kept respectful, I didn’t want to get toasted for this kid either frankly.

“Well…” the skeleton let out a long hiss of breath smoke pluming out between us it was weird though I almost swear I saw shapes in it, Magic cigar? Probably.

“I guess I can… overlook this little mishap. Nothin a good, refresher on manners can’t fix.” he said smoothly those sharp teeth where still twisted in a grin and it took every ounce of willpower not to snap, he was a skeleton, the skull had a shape, he wasn’t mocking me, he was just shaped that way that was all...

“Absolutely” I said firmly to the suggestion, oh boy kid was getting more than a refresher when I was done, and Lucian was getting a fucking earful, this was not my job!  Wrangling his people cause he couldn’t keep the youth in line? He was so damn lucky it was me.

“I hate to leave on bad terms.  Let me assure you then since you stepped in, I’ll let this one slide.  For you dollface.” I felt a tick and almost bit my tongue to keep from snapping at him.  No, it was fine, he didn’t mean anything by it, it was just one of those damn endearing terms men thought ladies liked that was all…it wasn’t like he knew my name, he wouldn’t know how to address me, simple as that.

“Thank you.” I finally managed to say once I got myself under control. I stood as a scream ripped out.  The skeleton had jerked his head up looking behind me and I had turned only to see that dumb ass kid... with gun in hand.

Fuck…

Damn it… It hurt…

I moved so fast, the gun shot had been like an explosion in my ears and as I pitched back I saw bones skewer the kid.  Stupid kid shoulda just stayed down.

I’m shaking to hard, grabbing my chest it’s hot and cold, it’s so weird, it’s not pleasant that's for sure,  I can feel something hands? Oh god, every breath hurt, I-I didn’t want to die here, what the hell had I been thinking?

“Easy kid easy I gottcha, Shit… Uh... “  My eye opened a fraction. The monster? He was moving my hand looking at the wound  My hearing was going tinny, damn I was dying here… my fingers shook on the handle of the bag... ma wanted her apples.  I had... I had to get the apples to ma… she only ever asked for those…

I could feel something odd on my chest it was a strange pressure and I thought maybe I could see green light but Maybe I was hallucinating, did you hallucinate when you died?  Fuck if I knew...

“A-apples…” I managed weakly the Skeleton looked at my face confused “Ma...ma…” I managed if he wanted to do something for me, he could take the apples to my ma.  Maybe let her know what had happened? Someone would take care of her… hopefully … someone… she… I…
 
❀
 
I wake to pain.

Pain and unbelievable pressure on my chest.

Am I dead?  I dunno but fuck me, if this is death somebody lied, cause this hurt!It was dark as well, I couldn’t move,  my whole body felt like lead. Christ if I was spending eternity like this I was going to get sick of it real fast.  I tried to speak but the effort just to get the air out was a straine and all I heard was a thready moan… Well I sounded alive, and pretty terrible.

“SANS THE HUMAN HAS AWOKEN.” God that was loud!  What the hell?!

“T-to loud….” I managed, hey, I could speak, maybe I really wasn’t dead yet!

“SAY THAT AGAIN HUMAN I COULD NOT HEAR YOU.” the voice said, it grated in my head so I just clammed up hoping if I didn’t respond who ever was talking would stop.  I heard footsteps rush into… wherever the hell I was. Good shoes on wood, then carpet as they got closer.

“She’s awake?  Hey, Kid can ya hear me?”  That voice, that was the skeleton from before… so it really had been the Judge!  Meaning the speaker was either Papyrus or the Don, and since I doubted a don would be reporting on my health I’d have put money on it being the brother.

“‘S it dark?” I managed to wheeze out, I had a frantic moment of thinking maybe I was blind but then I realised there was no reason I would be I was shot in the chest not the head and I hadn’t hit it when I fell.

“Oh! Heh, had to cover your eyes for a bit there.  You really pushed the line there kid, really thought you were gonna croak.” he said I can feel something being lifted off my face and slowly carefully open my eyes.  I’m on a bed… a nice bed. Everything's in dark strong colors, well color… It’s all red or black, there where accents of gold here and there but even the wood was dark, polished to a mirror shine.

“HOW ARE YOU FEELING HUMAN?”  that voice again, I winced and glanced over,  Sans is right by my head and a little behind him is the impossibly tall Papyrus… but he’s not that tall actually maybe six and half feet?  I’m pretty sure that king guy broke seven, but I don’t know for sure.

“Like I got shot, how should I feel?” I managed weakly, his voice is making my head pound, why was he shouting so much? Sans looked at me funny a moment before turned to the other skeleton,

“Why don’t you go get Dings?  He’ll wanna speak to her.” he said quickly and quietly, maybe he didn’t want me to overhear. To bad for him I had very very sensitive hearing.  To bad for me because his brother hollered once again declaring that to be a good idea and headed out of the room.

“Sorry bout him.  He’s not yellin he’s just got a big voice.” Sans explained,  H-had he noticed? I might have blushed but with so much blood loss I probably didn’t.

“I got shot…” I said again still kind of marvelling that I was alive at all. Sans chuckled

“Yeah kid… ya did. Wouldn’a happened either but you moved… in front o’ me.” he said giving me a complicated look before shifting pulling back the covers.  I’m surprised to see I’ve been changed I don’t know who did it and not sure I want to know. My old flannel shirt and slacks had been swapped for a red and silky mens dress shirt, it was big and I could only assume it must have been Sans as it seemed to wide for Papyrus who was very, very, skinny.  For a moment I tried to appreciate the quality of the material, this was probably the most expensive thing that would ever touch my body. Unfortunately there were more important matters at hand.

“Didn’t matter… Kids dead anyway.” I muttered bitterly, Sans sighed carefully unbuttoning the shirt.  Another woman might have been embarrassed and in fact he kept looking at my face everytime he slipped a button free as if expecting me to freak out at any moment, was he disappointed I didn’t?  Would he think that meant I was easy and used to men undoing my shirt? I doubted it but I also didn’t really care. Skin was skin, and the most logical explanation was he was checking my wound not being a pervert.

“Y-yeah.. Kinda… instinct ya know?” he managed was he trying to apologize?  I sighed and nodded, the fact is, he wasn’t to blame. I had done everything I could, and Sans had acted in self defense, the kid brought it on himself.  Despite knowing that, there was still guilt, settled like a thick bile in my gut.

“Yeah, I guess I do.” I said finally when I realised I had not replied and he’d stopped to watch me.  Satisfied he went back to his task. Soon he parted the shirt managing to keep my breasts covered and looked at the bandage on my chest.

“Clean shot?” I asked curiously he shook his head pointing, there was a blood stain where the wound was, just a bit to the left of my sternum right under the breast.

“Clipped your rib and got lodged in your left lung ya still gotta lotta healin to do kid.” he said carefully removing the bandages and beginning to clean the wound.  It was surprising how little the hole was for the amount of pain.

“How am I alive?” I asked reaching up I pushed hair off my face then I grew annoyed, just that simple motion was exhausting!  To take my mind off that I looked at him this was a pretty important question... at least to me, but he just shrugged.

“Magic.” he said I was annoyed but then I realized, he wasn’t kidding.  Monsters had magic I’d been magiced alive? I wasn’t sure what to think about that, but hell I was grateful.

“W-well t-thanks, I uh… jeeze If I know you could do that…” I sighed “I still woulda stepped in anyway.” I admitted with an internal scowl, I never learn.

“

I must admit that is refreshing coming from a human

.”  A strange voice comes from the doorway and startles me, Sans too apparently, because he stands abruptly

“Boss.” he said quickly and I realize I’m looking at Don Aster also known as Mad Gaster.

Oh shit…

“

She seems speechless, an unusual trait in a woman

.” he comment as he stared at me,  I flared instantly ready to rip him a new one... but the movement shifted the wound and all I could do was give a hoarse shout and sag against the bed.  It was embarrassing being laid out fighting for breath the pain had robbed from me, while this Elegantly proud skeleton stood there looking at me.

“

Oh… I offended her… I extend my apologies it was a poor attempt at humor

.” Aster said walking forward he stood patiently by the bed side while Papyrus grabbed a chair and dragged it over for him he sat, looking pretty spiffy in a neat black suit.  Everything was black except for a hot blood red tie that had a neat little gold tie pin with a red crystal set in it. They certainly had a theme...

“

I have been led to understand thanks are in order, not only did you step in on behalf of my son but you even took a bullet for him

.” He said calmly,  his voice was strange but there was a calm controlled cadence to it, it was both mystifying… and terrifying.  It was easy to see why this guy was in charge he just pulsed with power.

“O-h uh… I don’t... I mean…” I fumble this is not a situation I’m familiar with and the etiquette I usually relied on was failing me here.  Oh I’ve dealt with Family heads. (Never on my back with a bullet wound but..) This was a whole other level of danger. I was talking toa don, not just a don, but one of the top two monster dons!  On top of that not just any monster, but mad Gaster, and The judge was his son… this day was getting better and better.

“

Of course.  It being so unusual I am forced to wonder why you would do such a thing.

” He said drawing me out of my thoughts.  I caught his tone and scowled at the insinuation.

“Because I don’t tolerate racism… at all, and I sure as hell don’t approve of pissy little upstarts tryin to make a mess in the few violence free zones in my town.” I said shortly.  The lights in his eye sockets went small as he stared at me a moment, Papyrus and Sans both tense before the older skeleton laughed openly

“

Well well,  not afraid to voice your opinion I see.

” he said as his laughter eased to calmer chuckles.  I probably should have stopped there, but he’d rubbed a nerve and I was hurting, basically in no mood to play nice.

“It’s not an opinion it’s simply what it is, I defended him because he was a monster bein harassed by one of my people, I won’t have that, ever.  I don’t tolerate willful ignorance.” I said plainly, The Don nodded hands folding in his lap

“

That’s a good thing.  Human minds have great potential but things like prejudice shut off so much of their minds to possibilities.

” he said with some disgust I can’t help agreeing with him on that point.

“

So you would have protected any monster from ‘your’ people?  What family are you with?

” he asked.  Yeah knew that was coming should have worded it better but eh it was what it was.

“I’m not with any family, I know Don Lucian Zora, but that’s it.” I explained scowling Oh boy was he getting an ear full when I got up.

“

Zora? He is on the eastside by the waterfront yes? I believe I have met him,  an unusually agreeable human, I am glad to know he has people who are just as well mannered.

” the monster said and I’m forced to raise my hand to stop him before he misunderstands the situation

“I am not one of his people.” I said shortly,  the monster seems irritated but allows me to continue intrigued I guess.  He probably didn’t get talked back to often and the rational ‘I want to live’ part of my brain was telling me to quit while I was ahead… the rest of my brain just urged me on.

“When I say my people, I mean humans in general.  The whole species is circlin the drain fast and they seem to be tryin to speed up the process.” I said flatly and sighed my chest was aching from talking so much, guess getting shot in the lung was a lot worse than I thought.

“

I see,  I would continue to speak with you another time.  Human bodies are not very fond of magic, the healing process is going to take time. For that I apologize.

”  I’m surprised, his apology is sincere.  I don’t know why but I guess I took this as a man who didn’t apologize easily and I found myself shaking my head, it was hardly his fault human bodies where stupidly hard to fix.

“Don’t apologize, I’m alive, which is way better than I expected.  He could have left me there to bleed out.” I tried to joke to ease the older monster, I’m not sure why but I kinda like the guy, maybe because he seems relatively normal.  I had kind of built up this horrifying image in my head of some crazy scientist based on the rumors.

“Ah I wouldn’a done that doll face I-” Sans cut himself off when I shot him a look he seemed surprised.

“Ok, since we’re going to be actually interacting I’m going to say this now.  I’m not a big fan of pet names, I have a name already, I’m going to ask that you use it.” I said, I see the Don arch a brow from the periphery of my vision, Sans shrugged and nodded.  I give my name and sigh settling against the pillows I feel weak all of a sudden. So weak…

“Oh, I gotta tell Ma.” I said shifting suddenly and gasping at the sharp pain that shot through me The Don who had been walking towards the door paused glancing back

“

Your mother?

” he questioned I nodded

“She’s pretty sick I was out gettin her apples when this whole thing happened.  She’s probably worried sick, and I don’t even know what happened to the apples…” I said weakly damnit those things aren’t cheap either…

The Don frowned thoughtfully before looking to Sans

“

Since it’s your life she saved, you will take care of her,  your brother and I are going to go inform her mother, and pick up some replacement apples

.”  It was said so easily so plainly that for a second I didn’t process what he meant. The Don looked at me expectantly,  right… an address…

“W-well I don’t want to put you out…” I mumbled weakly but the amused look remained,  it seemed once the Don got his teeth in something he wouldn’t let go so I rattled off our address noting a look on Papyrus’ face.   I knew for a fact if I asked him he would be able to recite my address perfectly.

“U-uh her names Linda. She might be in her housecoat, She’s in bed a lot because of her health… Uh… I mean are you sure ‘cause I could um…”  I falter I can’t exactly call we haven’t got a phone… damn it.

“

Consider it restitution for you heroism.  I know if my child was laid up someplace having been shot I would want to know.  I shall reassure her of your well being

.” he said lightly, he didn’t even comment on the fact that my address was right in the middle of Lucians territory.  With out another word he turned and strode out, Papyrus followed him quickly leaving me and Sans alone.

“Hehe so, uh… that was interestin… Never seen anyone get mouthy with Dings like that and live.  Even if they did save our lives... well I don’t think that’s happened before to be frank.” he said scratching the back of his skull in an almost sheepish motion before he took his seat back and resumed cleaning the wound, all my movement had caused it to bleed again.

“It’s alright, he’s not so bad… I wasn’t expectin to meet him but laid out like this there's not much I can do but roll with what's tossed.” I said casually. Gasping as a particular dig sent pain through me I bit my lip hard

“Sorry Ki- uh…” he hesitated then said my name,  I smiled nodding

“It’s alright just hurts a bit keep at it I know it’s got to be done.  I didn’t ask before but is the bullet out at least?” Sans nodded

“Yeah, I was able to bring it back along the same path as well so it didn’t do any extra damage, the lung is mostly repaired another healin session and it’ll be as good as new.  Mostly it’s this part and the bone that’ll take longest to heal, but it’s the least dangerous part. You’re out of the worst of it so ‘Sans’ any horrible infection ya should be ok.” he was grinning, I couldn’t help snorting at the terrible pun as I settled.  My eyelids were feeling heavy but I didn’t want to sleep I was actually really enjoying this chat with Sans, So Don Aster was his father, and Papyrus his brother huh? What a family.

“You know, you kinda surprised me kid… no ones really stepped in like that before except my bro.  It’s kinda funny, when we were kids I was the one sticking up for him, at some point he got bigger then me.” he said though he seemed to be talking more to himself as he worked on cleaning away the blood.

“What was it like? You where a kid underground right?” I asked softly drifting, he nodded and began to talk.  He told me a few things, his dad had worked for the Dreemurr family when they had been little, slowly building a power base of his own because he didn’t like a lot of the kings methods.

Eventually there was a power shift something about human souls, I was too sleepy to really understand.  He described the area they had lived in called Snowdin, there was a place called waterfall which was the prettiest place according to Sans, crystals sparkled in the rock walls of the cave like stars.

“I was kinda disappointed how hard it is to see the stars here.” he said shifting his hands pausing, he seemed deep in thought and I found myself reaching up tapping his hand

“‘S the lights… Place… to see stars… I know a… place.” I mumbled god I felt so heavy and dopy Sans was looking at me surprised before smiling

“Oh yeah? Maybe when you wake up you can tell me about it… but your passin out kiddo… get some sleep.” he said chuckling his voice a low rumble in my head seeming to coax me deeper.

“N-not a… kid…” I managed before slipping off, I didn’t know it at the time but Sans had looked over me then and had agreed.  I was no kid.

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

Apparently finding my home had been pathetically easy (in Papyrus’ own words)  the fancy sleek black car had been admired and feared by curious onlookers. Needless to say my neighbourhood wasn’t the type that catered to nice cars and sleek suits. The ripple of startled excitement when two dapper skeletons had exited the car had apparently really padded Don Asters ego, even Papyrus had puffed up when he had caught twitters of some ladies commenting on the tall handsome skeleton.

I can’t begin to explain how relieving it is to know my neighbours had reacted well to the unexpected guests.

All of this was second hand from Papyrus later that day but apparently my mother had been ‘Suitably impressed and awed’ by their appearance at our home.  She had invited them in, as I expected in her nightgown and housecoat looking bedraggled and weak. She had offered tea, and had promptly been bulldozed into sitting with the don while Papyrus had made it.  I must admit I wish I’d had a hand to see the huge skeleton moving in our small kitchen making tea with my mothers pretty little china tea set.

While he had managed that The Don had sat with my mother in the little sitting room and explained everything that had happened.  Apparently they had a very good chat but No one would tell me much about it only that by the end of it The Don and my mother where laughing  And he had somehow convinced her to agree to let me stay at their house! It was bewildering to say the least and upsetting, she needed someone to take care of her!

Then somehow the elderly woman next to us got involved (hell if they’d tell me when she arrived) and she was apparently ‘More than happy’ To keep an eye on my mother while I was recovering.  Then to top it all off The Don… Mr. Rumoured to be a crazy mad scientist who experiments on humans and monsters… handed my mother a bag full of fresh green apples. A whole bag! Not three…

And told her he was grateful for me saving his son.

Frankly learning all this was massively confusing for me.  None of the other… hrmm no scratch that none of the human families would do so much for one person even if they did stop a son from getting shot.  Oh they’d try and take care of that person, and Maybe offer that person a favour but all of this? It was pretty excessive as far as I was concerned, and I was pretty concerned.

I learned all this when I woke up, According to Papyrus who was at the bedside I had slept for twelve hours.  He made some comment about how the human body was contrary, not accepting healing magic but taking so long to heal on its own.  I really couldn’t argue with that assessment. He helped me sit up and had set a tray on my lap. There was a plate of spaghetti and a glass of milk I questioned this.

“MILK MAKES GOOD BONES, YOUR RIB IS CHIPPED SINCE YOU WILL NOT ACCEPT THE HEALING MAGIC THIS MILK SHOULD HELP.” he said firmly.  I came to accept that Papyrus would always be relatively loud, it wasn’t so bad this time, maybe because I was in less pain?

“AH, I AM TO MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THESE TWO PILLS,  THEY WILL HELP EASE ANY PAIN.” he said extending a hand, two small painkiller sat in his palm I took them with thanks and downed them first with a hearty drink of milk, then I ate as he regaled me with the meeting.

I was surprised how good it was.  I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but since skeletons didn’t have tongues (that I’d seen at least) I wasn’t sure how they could taste anything.  Maybe that was magic to. I just didn’t know enough about monsters to say.

“I appreciate the food, you have a great cook.” I complimented,  he studied me for a moment before puffing up with pride

“OF COURSE WE DO HUMAN, SOMEONE AS GREAT AS I AM WOULD ONLY ALLOW FOR PERFECTION EVEN IN OUR MEALS.” he said firmly,  wait… he had made this? Now I was doubly impressed, especially since I could barely boil an egg. Well no that wasn’t true, I could cook some things, but a lot of it of easy stuff.

“I feel kinda guilty you guys doin all this for me, I mean… doesn't it seem excessive to you?  I mean I am grateful don’t get me wrong, But you could have just patched me up and sent me on my way you don’t have to… go this far.” I said gesturing, Papyrus nodded thoughtfully

“I AM GOING TO EXPLAIN SOMETHING ABOUT OUR FAMILY HUMAN,  I BELIEVE YOU WILL NOT TELL ANYONE ELSE, BUT IF YOU DO I WILL KILL YOU AND WHOMEVER YOU TELL.” he said calmly  I’m not offended, they are a mob family after all.

“MY BROTHER SANS IS… LIKE THE HUMAN BODY INCREDIBLY POWERFUL IN SOME WAYS AND INCREDIBLY WEAK IN OTHERS.  IF THAT MAN HAD SHOT MY BROTHER, HE WOULD HAVE DIED. EVEN IF HE WAS NOT HIT IN A VULNERABLE PLACE.” Papyrus explained carefully shifting a little he seemed almost… uncomfortable talking about it.

“WE TRY NOT TO CODDLE HIM BUT MY FATHER AND I OFTEN WORRY FOR HIM, BECAUSE OF THIS… CONDITION.  WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU BECAUSE UNLIKE A HUMAN, IF A MONSTER TAKE A FINAL BLOW, THEY IMMEDIATELY TURN TO DUST, THERE IS NO RESUSCITATION.” he explained monsters were pretty resilient it took a lot to kill them, their HP could stretch as far as they needed it to go… mostly.  But eventually they could lose hold on it, especially if they didn’t have any of their own food, which was apparently imbued with their healing magic.

“You wouldn’t have been able to use healing magic on him.” I reasoned.  Papyrus shook his head

“IT IS NOT SOMETHING I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT. BUT HE IS MY BROTHER, AND HE HAS ALWAYS… AHEM.  WELL, HE IS AN EXCELLENT ENFORCER AND DOES HIS DUTY AS JUDGE QUIET WELL.” he said stubbornly clamming up, but I had a feeling I knew what he had meant to say.

“Then I’m really glad I stepped in when I did.” I said honestly frowning at my hands “I just…” Papyrus looked up eyeing me questioningly when I cut myself off.  I wasn’t going to finish my thought but he prodded me.

“I just wish I had been able to stop it entirely.  That boy is dead I was trying to damn hard to keep him alive to…” I said softly sighing

“It’s stupid to feel guilty,  he’s the idiot who had a gun. Those younger ones aren’t even supposed to have them yet.  I can tell you now as soon as I’m on my feet Lucians gettin a kick in the teeth.” I said annoyance once again winning over guilt, Papyrus chuckled

“PERHAPS MY FATHER IS RIGHT, YOU ARE QUITE AMUSING HUMAN.” he said before standing and collecting the tray.

“MY BROTHER HAD WORK TO ATTEND TO, BUT HE WILL RETURN IN ABOUT AN HOUR, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE OR DO YOU WISH TO SLEEP?” he asked looking down at me.  I felt strangely vulnerable, stuck laid out on the bed staring up at this huge skeleton with his razor sharp teeth and hot red eye lights.

“U-uh, a book? I-if it’s not a problem.” I managed, he nodded

“MY FATHER HAS AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY, WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING HUMAN OR MONSTER?” he asked, I immediately perked up, a monster book? As in a book with a story written by a monster? Or a history of monsters by monsters?  That sounded amazing!

“Monster!... oh, uh, Please.” I managed sheepishly.  He nodded but seemed pleased by my choice. Or amused by my eagerness, either way he left with a smile.  It was weird I could tell when these skeletons where really smiling compared to when they just looked like they were smiling because of well their skulls.  I can’t even say it’s in the eyes because, well they don’t have those either, just the big empty eye sockets, and these lights. Maybe that's what it is? Something about the lights that Somehow is a tell?  I’m not sure so I leave it and shift to try and get myself into an upright position.

Moving isn’t so band, the arms move fine though my left shoulder is stiff and achy.  The pain hits when I try to sit up though, instantly there is a searing ache in my chest.  Never one to let a little (ok a lot) of pain get to me I pushed myself up determinedly, I was sick of being flat on my back like some invalid.  Suddenly I understood better why Ma pushed herself so hard, I could barely handle what about a day? And most of it sleeping.

A shadow fell across the light from the door but it wasn’t Papyrus, it was Sans again I was surprised and dropped against the pillows gasping, the sharp inhale of breath even hurt… damn.

“Hey hey easy, you’re still hurt ya know.” he said stepping forward quickly he set a book on my lap and helped me sit up right propping the pillows better so I was more sitting than laying like I had been before at a sort of angle to eat.

“I didn’t expect you back.. Your brother said you were… workin’.” I said shifting a little, probably best not to ask to much about that, last thing I needed was these guys to think I was trying to get information or something.

“I was, I finished so I’m back, Tha’ alright wit you?” he asked hands in his pockets he stood leaning back on his heels as he stared at me, he… he was trying to…? I snorted, I couldn’t help it, he was trying so hard to look intimidating and hell maybe it was the painkillers, or the pain but it just looked silly to me.

“What?  Don’ tell me I’m not scary enough for you!” he exclaimed with mock hurt but I could here the chuckle in his voice gold tooth winking in the light from the lamp. I sighed settling against the pillows, it… it had been nice to laugh like that.

“No no, nothin like that!  I am, suitably impressed by you.” I said lightly reaching for the book curiously

“Boss said you wanted a book.” he said conversationally I looked up confused

“Boss?” Wait wasn’t the Don the boss?  Was there a different system for monsters?  No no I was positive Papyrus had deferred to Gaster so..

“Yeah… He hates it when I call ‘im that.” he said grabbing the chair and turning it to straddle it arms crossed over the back as he looked at me

“So naturally I gotta call ‘im that whenever I can, just to get his goat.” At that I laughed again

“Oh yeah?  I guess that’s something older brothers have to do?” I asked though I did remember Lucia being sort of like that with his younger sister. He’d tease her, in a good natured way but god help anyone who teased her maliciously, even when we had been young he’d been a tough nut.

“You said before it’s just you and your ma?” he asked curiously,  It figured, after all I knew a lot more about him right now then he did about me, so I nodded

“Yeah, Pops was a sailor.  I was still a kid when his ship went down, takin everyone with it.  It’s weird I don’t know if it’s because I was just a kid, or if it’s because He’d been at sea so much my whole life already but, I didn’t and can’t say I do miss him now.  I was shocked yeah, upset, I cried because the man my ma said was my father had died. But I think, I was more upset for her. That look on her face when the soldiers came to the door, I’ve never wanted her to look like that again I guess.” I said musingly.  It didn’t hurt to talk about. Once I had asked Lucian if that made me a bad kid, for not missing my ‘dad’ but he reasoned that if I didn’t really know the guy, what was there to miss?

“So your ma raised you alone after that?  She must be a tough lady.” he complimented I nodded firmly

“Absolutely,  she was a hard worker, would probably still be workin if she hadn’t gotten so sick,  she was never one to idle about the house like some of the other Navy wives. She made sure I went to school, there was a lot more education available for me then there had been when she’d been a kid.” I said scowling slightly though most of that ‘education’ had been about ‘managing a household and cooking and being a mother.  Granted now I’m glad I know how to cook and budget ‘cause I can take care of Ma but still…

“So, what exactly do you do to earn money, it was the middle of the day when that whole mess started up.” he pointed out, and yeah he had a point, I figured they would know eventually so I took a breath

“I told you I know Don Zora?”  He nodded interestedly

“Well I’m not part of the family, but I will do some jobs for him. I’ve got some skills he values and When I want to I make a pretty good woman.” I said chuckling, Sans Snickered

“Oh yeah?  I couldn’t tell.” he teased before shifting a little he seemed to be considering something

“What exactly to you do for Zora?” he asked, yep, I sighed pinching the bridge of my nose

“Nothin good that’s for sure… Hell you’ll find out, I wouldn’t be surprised if Your dad hasn’t already looked into it.  I do, under the table work. Part of the reason I’m not with a family is to protect my Ma, the other part is so I’m not recognized by other families when I do my investigations.” I explained shifting a little

“No one really cares about women, and no one's ever gonna suspect some dumb blond of passing info t another family…. Or making a hit.” I said softly staring at the wall hard not wanting to see his reaction.

“Ma thinks I’m a singer, and I am...when I need to be, sometimes I’m a party girl, sometimes I’m an escort, what ever I need to be, I change my voice or well my talkin style, I change my hair I wear makeup I change my style right down to the way I walk the way I move.  It all goes into making me someone else. Invisible in plain site.” I explained shrugging then gasping yeah maybe don’t shrug bad idea. I glanced over nervously what would he think? Yeah he was the Judge but still… I can’t read his expression but his eye lights are gone and he's looking at the floor.  Of course he’s pissed he probably thinks the only reason I even got involved before was to get close to him or something? I just told him that I am a blank slate of a person able to be whatever was needed, who could trust… a person like that?

“That’s gotta be hard huh?” he asked looking up his expression… gentle

“W-what?  W-well yeah but because of it I can make sure Ma gets all the medical help she needs… hospitals and meds aren’t cheap after all… I can pay for our place buy food keep on top of the bills. And I cover anyone who can’t make the protection fees for our neighbourhood. Not that they know that. “ I chuckled a little

“Tell you what Lucian hates that, he says I’m lettin them use me but hey, I don’t mind it, I have everything I want my mas safe and gets her meds, her home is neat, I know she's safe in Zora territory.” I said brushing it off.  Did it bother me? Yeah, less than it used to but it did. I hadn’t really had a plan for my life, but I hadn’t exactly thought I’d grow up to kill people, no matter how bad those people where.

“The thing you gotta understand is Lucian is a Don with limits He doesn't traffic women, he doesn't tolerate rape, he limits drug sales to people old enough to make their own decision to have shitty lives.” she said looking at Sans seriously

“I kill people but I’d rather be the one who killed those pieces of shit, then having them kill innocent people in cross fires, or bar fights, or just because they don’t like how they look.” I said firmly to my surprise he nodded

“I get that.” he said calmly reaching out his finger brushed my cheek, just one following the curve of my face

“You think I’m gonna look down on ya because you killed some bastards who are better off dead?  Kid, I’m the judge for a reason you know.” he said easily smiling at me and, I found myself relaxing, it was weird, but… maybe having him say what I had always thought was comforting.

“Guess your not big on trafficking either huh?” I asked he shook his head

“Nope, pops doesn’t talk about it much but before we broke off, he used to work for the Dreemurs, seein what they did to kids it messed him up pretty bad, That’s why he got out, got us all out.  Everyone does shitty things but there are limits. Pops ain’t a good man, neither am I or the boss but we do some good things, when we can.” he said frankly,

“And his reputation for doing bizarre and dubious science experiments on people and monsters alike?” I questioned Sans laughed

“Oh yeah he does that, but like you, only the ones who aren’t worth keepin alive.” he explained easily.  We talked like that for a while, easy conversation, then he used some more of his healing magic, it was interesting to see it, the green glow, feeling him, it’s hard to explain but it was like I could feel him inside me, moving through my blood wrapping around the bones where I had been hit soothing the ache fixing what he could before my body rebelled and forced him out.

“That felt interesting.” I admitted as he came back to himself, he chuckled nodding

“It can, Healing is easier if you can see the damage so letting myself go in as it were I can get a better look at what wrong and how to fix it,  You must have some minor magic in you to feel it though, I could tell you where aware of me.” he explained. That was interesting then again ever since the monsters had come out Some humans had been showing signs of magic, or opened up about abilities they had kept hidden.  Some of them anyway, not everyone wanted to show what all they had.

“It’s possible,  that’s supposed to mean one of my ancestors was a monster or something right? It’s passed down?” I asked to clarify he nodded

“Before we got sealed thing between humans and monsters where pretty peaceful actually, Monsters and human getting married having kids, it wasn’t that strange.  The war did a lot of damage broke up a lot of families.” he mused then shook his head

“Before my time,  Pops remembers it but doesn’t like to talk about it, he was just a kid, he lost a lot of family.” he said trailing off then touched my shoulder

“Hows your chest feelin?” he asked changing topic,  sensing he wasn’t very comfortable I took it and smiled

“Better, still aches but it feels better.” I assured him, assured I was better he then helped change my bandages,  I had more movement but there was a stiff tightness in my chest. I lifted my breast with one hand to get a look at the wound when he removed the bandage scowling

“Damn… Little shits lucky he’s dead.” I muttered annoyed It wasn’t just getting shot, but that was going to leave a hell of a scar!  That kind of Identifying mark was going to be a problem… then again men who usually got that far didn’t survive much longer after so there probably wouldn’t be anyone who could ID me with it.

“Why’d you try so hard to save him?  I know you weren’t just looking out for me back then.” Sans asked as he cleaned away dry blood then recovered the wound and began to wrap the bandage.

“Cause he was just a stupid kid, I didn’t think he needed to die for being stupid.” I said with a sigh

“I’m not a member of the family but I’ve been seen with Lucian enough by his people, Us being friends isn’t a secret, we grew up together, but some of the newer younger ones don’t really recognize or know me, which is good but also a pain when crap like that happens.  The fact he had a gun is bothering me though.” I murmured thoughtfully buttoning the shirt myself this time as Sans sat back in the chair.

“Oh yeah why?  Didn’t surprise me just another mobster human with a gun.” he said with a shrug

“No, Lucian has pretty strict rules for newbies, to avoid anything like that from happening, Hot heads like that kid who think being part of a family gives them power.  Lucian doesn’t given them guns until they prove they understand they’re part of a whole part of a ‘family’, that includes not just going out and picking fights. That kid didn’t know who you where He picked a fight just because you’re a monster.  That kind of wild behavior if I hadn’t been there, could have destroyed the Zoras, I don’t doubt your family would have lashed back, and hard.” I pointed out at this he nodded beginning to see my point and Lucian's reasoning.

“Now gun store owners in Lucians territory are well aware of this rule they don’t sell to anyone under 30 unless they have a family pin, it’s just a small lapel pin with a fancy Z on it, gettin that pin is like a right of passage.  I know the kid didn’t have one, not with his attitude, so that means he got a gun outside the territory… or someone in the family is acting outside of Lucians control, neither are good options.” I said sighing as I leaned back against the pillows frowning as I studying the creases in the fabric of the canopy.

“You’re pretty worried for not being part of his group.” Sans said mildly I shook my head

“He is still my friend, besides if something stirs up trouble that’s a problem for the neighbourhood and my ma.  The whole reason I do any of this if to give her the best life I can, it’s pointless if she ends up collateral damage in some dumb turf war.” I muttered waving a dismissive hand, I was loyal to Lucian because he was my friend yeah but not to the Zora’s not the way Sans was thinking anyway.  The idea of a possible turf war was pretty nauseating, it was another reason why I wished I could move Ma away, but, she’d always lived in the city she liked where we lived, she was happy, How could I uproot her? Besides, If we moved I wouldn’t have the work to afford a place, doing something mundane like workin as a secretary or a call operator would probably drive me nuts.

“Papyrus told me Don Gaster and my ma agreed to me staying but the more I’m thinking about this the more I don’t think I can, I have to get to Lucian and tell him what happened, If it is someone inside though they’ll know me… shit….”  I sighed rubbing a hand down my face, this was not the kind of mess I needed in my life!

“You can’t do anything the way you are now.” Sans reasoned but when I turned to argue that I was shot in the chest not the legs and could walk just fine he plopped a bony hand on my head like a patient parent to a child.

“Hold it kid.  Look from what I understand Pops has some good regard for Don Zora, I’ll talk to him,  You’re not the only one who'd have problems if there was a turf war, and making a good connection could be in our favour anyway.” he offered all I could do was stare why?  I just didn’t get it why where they all so ready to help me, yeah I got it Sans had some sort of condition but this was getting excessive getting into inter-family politics like this?  If there was really something bad going on …

“Your going to try and help another family?  Why? Papyrus told me about why everyone's so glad I protected you, but this is really beginning to freak me out.” I said frankly  the Skeleton grinned

“I dunno kid,  you caught my interest I wanna help you out… besides,  If you’re feelin like you owe me…” he leaned forward finger sliding under my chin Leaning closer despite myself I could feel my heart hammering,  Playing the wilful seductress was one thing, being the blonde idiot and kissing who ever was easy… b-but here I floundered uncertain

“You’ve gone all red kid, don’t tell me you’re surprised.” he said softly Lingering close, I could smell the lingering scent of smoke and some kind of cologne I met his eyes  and said the only thing I could think of

“I told you not to call me kid… I…” he chuckled low

“I know, I know, you’re not a kid… trust me, I can see that.” he said shifting so he sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipped and I sank a little closer to him

“I like nicknames, what can I say?” he said softly brushing those wickedly sharp teeth against my lips, My eyes stayed open watching him as his other hand slid up cupping the back of my head gently.  When he murmured my name I shivered weakly Oh shit….

“You know, you can relax.” he said softly, and I did eyes closing I shifting into the kiss,  A healthy grown adult, with an attraction to another healthy grown adult… who was a monster, and who kissed way better than any of those fumbling idiots I’d had to kiss before.

It kind of surprised me how he could kiss me not having lips but he managed  the hand on my chin guided my face to the best angle and when a breathy sound escaped me I could hear him chuckling receptively before his tongue filled my mouth.  Well that was one question answered. Yes the Skeletons had tongues… oh boy did they have tongues.

I moaned again this time a little louder moving to grip one of his arms Taking something for myself for once.  Where was the harm really? We moved so that I was against the pillows him over me the hand on my chin had moved pinning my wrists so I couldn’t explore as he ravished my mouth in ways I didn’t know where possible, was this technique or a monster thing?  He was enjoying as well as far as I could tell breaking only long enough for me to catch my breath before diving in again. My blood was pumping in my ears he curled my fingers around the pillow above my head and I clung for dear life as he kissed me.

His hands held my wrists gently sliding down my arms moving up to hold my breasts squeezing each gently.  With only the soft layer of silk between his fingers and my flesh I could feel the way he teased my Nipples  leaving me panting and eager I wanted more I wanted so much but when his hands slid down gently grasping my side I yelped jolting and almost biting his tongue.  He knew instantly what he’d done and withdrew with several quick apologies.

“Well… t-that was… somethin…” I managed panting not moving I had released the pillow but my arms where still over my head relaxed

“No kidding, are you alright?  I can’t believe I forgot, I wasn’t tryin ta hurt you.” he said quickly his sheepish expression was kind of cute, which is a word I never thought I’d apply to a monster let alone a skeleton with sharp teeth.

“I’m great… I wouldn’t mind doing it again, without the whole sticking a thumb on a gunshot wound part.” I said chuckling,  He grinned apparently glad to see I was more then happy with our kiss, or maybe more his behavior… had he been nervous? I wouldn’t have guessed, then again I suppose it would make sense, I was human after all, and not being racist and being ok with kissing someone from another species were pretty different, maybe he thought I wouldn’t be into it?

Hell I never would have expected to be, but it was surprising how quick that kiss had shown me I was more than happy to.  But not right this second.

“Why don’t you get back to work Casanova, I want to read and rest a bit.  If you’re so determined to keep me here, I’ll need to get enough strength to at least call Lucian kater and explain what I do know.” I said effectively shooing him out, Sans jammed his hands in his pockets and grinned, he chuckled as he left the room with a last parting shot

“See ya Later then Kid.”

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

There was something to be said about being taken care of someone who wasn’t a nurse.  Either Sans or Papyrus popped in frequently over the next two days to talk, or sit and work quietly or even read,  I wondered if it really was to keep me from getting lonely, or, if they liked my company. I kind of hoped it was the latter, sitting and reading quietly or being asked the occasional question on my Opinion of certain Pastas, (I had no idea there were so many different types)  It was... nice.

Don Gaster had come in a couple of times,  He learned a bit about what I did for Lucian on his own Sans had told him the rest and he’d come to me for clarification.  He also told me he had spoken with Lucian and explained the situation, after all a monster had killed a human in his territory and one of his people,  Something had to be done.

Lucian wanted to see me as soon as possible apparently but also understood injured as I was I needed rest.  Though frankly I was already bored of resting and when I said as much to Sans, and Papyrus, and Gaster, each one had chuckled or laughed then assured me I’d be up and about before long so I might as well enjoy the break.

I liked these guys but they were beginning to get on my nerves!

Didn’t they get how boring it was just laying in bed doing nothing?  Reading was nice yeah but even though it only occupied me for so long.  Besides it wasn’t like I’d been shot in the leg I could obviously walk perfectly fine!, Ok so maybe I needed a bit of support getting to the bathroom but that was just cause I was tired Obviously…  I’d been awake enough to put my foot down on the idea of one of them staying inside the bathroom to ‘help’

“I can wipe my own ass just fine stay out or I’ll be the one shooting next.” I’d snapped, Unfortunately I’m not sure if my threat had been taken seriously or if they had just found it ‘cute’

Jerks

I understood that monster knowledge of the human body was limited and it was interesting reading some of Gasters work.  Correcting some of his misconceptions about how the body worked we talked a bit,

“A lot of this stuff I’ve picked up taking care of ma and from doctors.” I said idly when we had chatted the afternoon before.
“Oh?  If you find it so interesting why did you not study it?” he asked curiously I shifted a little sending him a sideways glance“You monsters are pretty progressive towards how you treat women, Humans aren’t in the same boat, and the money for that kind of an education, we simply didn’t have it.” I explained, Gaster had nodded in understanding“There are aspects of human society I still struggle with, treating Women or those of different race as somehow lesser, Expecting large amounts of money for education and medical aide…” he said and had sighed in disappointment.  
“Well what can you do?  Besides schooling like that would have kept me from Ma and taking care of her, so it works out alright.” I said trying to change the subject, social reform wasn’t really my favorite topic, yeah women got a bum rap, but because we were so overlooked I was able to do my job well and without much trouble, so eh.

“You are a fatalist?  Everything happens for a reason?” he questioned curiously I considered that a moment, was I?  Hrmm no that didn’t seem right so I shook my head

“Not really, I do think somethings are bound happen, and there's nothing we can do, but I also think there are things we can do, so I guess maybe 50/50?  I can’t change society by myself, but the way it is helps me so I work with it. I can make sure terrible people can’t do terrible things, if that means a body or two, I’ll live with that knowing Ma and many others are safe.” I said reasonably he nodded thoughtfully

“Look don’t get me wrong I’d never go out and murder on a rumor, Lucian has to present me with damn good evidence before I’ll take action and even then I’m with the target for a while investigating on my own before I act, We’ve gotten bad info before, rumors, mistakes, Wrong IDs.  We’re only human after all.” I said grinning, at that Gaster had chuckled I’m still not sure how to feel that he finds me so funny even though that isn’t my intention but hey funny was better then him seeing me as a threat so, I’ll take what I can get.

Of course now I was just getting frustrated…

“Look Sans I need to get out of this bed I am losing my mind here.” I said interrupting whatever he was working on for probably the third or fourth time, I’d lost count.

“Ki-... ah, Look I know you’re bored but ya gotta rest… look we managed to arrange for Don Zora to come here and speak with you.  Pops agrees what happened was pretty bad and that it’s important you tell this guy your suspicions.” he said,

“The last thing we need is a human monster turf war. You helpin me makes things a bit more steady, but I did still kill that kid it makes things awkward.” he explained, I wanted to point out that I knew that, I might not be a member but I understood interfamily politics well enough, then I realised he wasn’t saying it for my benefit he was talking it through himself… was he nervous? Guilty?  He obviously cared about his family Maybe he was worried that his actions had put them in danger or something? But they where a mob family Danger came with the job...

“He also thinks I should apologize for killing the brat. While I don’t think so, Pops word is law.” he said turning in his chair and shrugging, the wood creaked a little as he did.  He wasn’t wearing a jacket or hat today, just a black dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, and black slacks held up with suspenders in a hot red.

“Why do you think he wants you to apologize, it’s not as if you did it at random, he did shoot at you.” I said calmly Sans nodded

“Yeah he did, the little shit…  I dunno Pops said it’s cause I was to rash, I have the controle not to kill him, I could have wounded him.” he said annoyed at that I nodded

“Well then there you go, that’s why you have to apologize,  You have the self control but didn’t use it, Your Dads trying to teach you a lesson.” I said easily Sighing a bit It’s not that I don’t understand especially knowing about Sans situation,  rash actions can have severe consequences, if I hadn’t been there… I scowled thinking about it and decide to change the subject.

“So, Lucian is coming here?” I asked he nodded I glanced down at the overly large shirt I was wearing, it was clean yeah but, it was all I was wearing…

“W-well then I mean can I have my pants back at least.” I asked Sans nodded moving to a corner where my clothes had been placed by Papyrus neatly laundered and folded.  I had learned that Papyrus while intimidating and ready to kill if he had to, was kind of a homebody. He liked things neat and arranged a certain way, he cooked for them, and he did some home keeping tasks.  Ones that weren’t taken care of by a few lesser monsters who worked for them maintaining the house, I hadn’t seen them, apparently they had been given strict orders to leave me alone.

I had wondered if that was done for my safety… or theirs, but decided ultimately I wasn’t fussed either way, I was despite having helped Sans still largely an unknown in their home, and I could already tell Loyalty ran deep, these servants were just as much under their protection and anyone else in their area. It was kind of refreshing.

Getting dressed was more difficult then I want to admit. Sitting up sent an ache through my whole chest making it feel tight and uncomfortable.  I pushed through it though, for one I wanted to show I could and for two I…

Skeletal hands covered mine on the waistband and Sans leaned close smirking his gold tooth catching the light of the bedside lamp

“Ya’ know, if you need help you can just ask.” he said one hand sliding off mine to my hip and up a bit sliding under the shirt the tips of his fingers felt oddly cool but not unpleasant against my skin.  I hummed softly in contentment, I couldn’t help it.

“You’re not really helping…” I pointed out as the fingers of his other hand had hooked the waistband and where pulling my pants down again.  He smiled shifting forward so I flopped back grinning myself, the playful energy was contagious.

“Well, what can I say, I have more practice at one then the other.” he said with a low chuckle he moved to kiss me again...  A cough at the door caught our attention and Sans jolted up like he’d been burned stepping away and turning to look at his brother, who was standing at the doorway looking more bemused then annoyed.

I wasn’t sure what to make of Sans behavior but I knew I didn’t much care for interruptions to what little pleasure I allowed myself so propping up on my elbows I gave papyrus a bland look.

“Human custom dictates if you catch this sort of thing in action, you just leave it be, maybe quietly close the door...  Unless you want to join in.” I’d tacked on the last part to tease him and was pleased by the rush of red in his face as he fumbled for something to say before growling

“Don Zora will be here shortly I thought perhaps you’d want to told, but if you and my brother are busy.” he said annoyed and maybe a little embarrassed.  Before I could assure him we were done Sans cut in with a fumbled denial.

“I was just helpin her get dressed boss nothin to it, she was just having trouble is all… But, I think she’s got it now so, we should give her some privacy!” he said marching for the door and snagging his brothers arm promptly pulling him from the room and slamming the door.

What the heck was that all about,  it crossed my mind, maybe… maybe he was ashamed to be caught with a human?... was that it?  What an asshole! What a jerk! Oh I was fine to sleep with as long as it was a secret… ohhhh boy was I gonna lay into him,

Later

For now I had more important business to deal with, so shimmying into my trousers (Which actually was more difficult then I wanted to admit) and making sure the loaned shirt was buttoned and kept me covered I sat up fully wincing and looping an arm around my chest.  Damn, it hurt. I knew it ached a little when I was laying down and moved suddenly, I don’t know if it was just stiff joints, or achy muscles but something was not agreeing with my moving.

To damn bad.

I looked up as the door opened, Papyrus had opened it and standing there where Don Gaster, and Lucian.  It was a little odd to see lucian dwarfed by the two skeletons, He wasn’t a short man pushing 6’ 3” he cut an intimidating figure.   Very greek he had strong features and thick rich black hair that he had tamed into a slicked back ponytail. On seeing me his eyes softened and he stepped forward quickly

“Well well there you are.  Can you go a day without getting into trouble?” he asked teasingly, an old joke from our childhood.

“What can I say? Have you met everyone?” I asked he nodded but reached out touching my face gently concerned as he looked me in the eye

“Eísai entáxei to fengári mou?”

His quiet words are slow, He knows I don’t speak it well and I know he needs the reassurance of privacy I nod touching his hand

“Nai, eímai mia chará.”

I replied softly carefully, I’m not good with conjunctions so the words come out more formal then I want but he understands and smiles at me gently before he resumes his position.

“I am relieved to know you are in such good care.” he said standing fully and turning to Gaster with a grateful expression.

“I am thankful for all you have done for her.  While she is not a member of my family she is a dear friend I would have hated to lose her.” he said Gaster nodded lifting a hand as if to reassure Lucian it was no trouble.

“

And a valuable asset if I am to understand correctly.  I would be frustrated if I lost someone so useful

.” he said simply as he walked in, Papyrus pulling chairs for the both of them, Lucian cast me a look and I shrugged

“I was in their home and it’s not like they would ever be targets so I told them.” I said simply he sighed and shook his head but sat without a word about it.

“Perhaps you can tell me exactly what happened, I have gotten conflicting reports.” he said I nodded and began to explain how I was at the market, the fight, recognizing the boy as one of his new recruits.  Trying to diffuse the situation, more so when I realised it was the judge the kid had been messing with.

“

So my son has a reputation among humans as well?  I hadn’t realised

.” Gaster said with mild interest, Lucian nodded

“To be frank with you, all three of you do, perhaps because your so close to the edge of monster town so you’re seen more.  I am uncertain but certainly everyone in my family should know who you are. I don’t know why he wouldn’t have recognized the judge or at least known not to mess with a skeleton.” Lucian said shaking his head I could see the irritation on his face and the worry,

“That’s not the biggest problem Lucian.  The kid picked the fight, and he had the gun.” I said redirecting the conversation, to the real issue, Lucian frowned his attention immediately on me again

“What do you mean?”

“I mean the gun was his, you know how it is, that familiarity, he wasn’t sure enough with it, to shoot not enough experience pulling the trigger.   But holding it aiming it? He knew what he was doing, it was comfortable in his hand.” I explained. There were ways to tell these things. The fact that this wasn’t just some gun the kid had found that day and got lucky with was a major concern.

“I see, that is a problem.” he murmured annoyed rubbing a finger on his chin thoughtfully before gesturing me to continue

“There’s not much else, The kid didn’t know me, so my attempts to get him to knock it off didn’t work, I knocked him with a back hand when he pushed and I thought he might have learned his lesson I gave Sans my apologies when I heard a scream. I acted when I saw the gun, he was aiming at Sans, he wanted to shoot him. I don’t know if he knew who he was or if he was just determined to kill a monster but it was Sans he was focused on.” I explained shifting a little fighting the urge to flinch when the  uggg…

“How badly where you hurt?” Lucian asked immediately I blushed faintly I could have lied but I knew the skeletons would just out me anyway so I tried to downplay it instead

“I-it’s not that bad really, I mean I wasn’t even hit in any useful place my legs and arms are fin.” I insisted Lucian scowled

“Legs and arms?  Since you don’t have a hole in that thick skull of your where you shot in the guts?” he demanded angrily I winced, damn,

“No! No nothing that drastic just my chest that's all.” I said quickly, Lucian flared

“Are you kidding me?! You were shot in the chest and you’re complaining?! You’re lucky you’re alive, You…

Boreíte aperískeptos brat!

” I tried to point out he’d lapsed into greek But he held up a quick hand effectively silencing me

“No you listen anóitos, you’re not invincible! No matter how much you pretend you’re untouchable! Look at yourself, you are grey and I can see the pain on your face!” he raged Gaster watched amused as Lucian stood and forced me back against the pillows muttering in greek the whole time.  I felt like a chastised child and foolishly tried to reason with him

“I’m fine, I mean monster have this awesome healing magic Sans said himself it’s just my rib and the entry point left.” I tried he scoffed

“Just the rib you say! Just the entry point!  You were shot in the chest had a bullet in your lung and You try and tell me you’re fine?  You’re lucky you are here and not with me I’d tie you down!” he declared annoyed his accent came out more thickly when he got like this and there was a snap of impatience I recognized from his mother.

“L-lucian really I’ll be ok, I can’t be laid up like this forever. Besides we need to find out wh-” he held up a sharp imperious hand once more cutting me off

“Absolutely not!  We do not need anything, You will rest and I will begin an investigation into how one of my subordinates got a gun without my permission and why he lashed out at a monster.” he said firmly turning to Gaster

“You are certain it is no trouble for her to stay?  I am certain she will not be able to get around you the way she does my own men.” he said which was terribly embarrassing, I didn’t ‘get around’ his mean I just.. Kinda… shoved them out of my way... Gaster shook his head

“No no, she is more then welcome to stay as long as she needs.  She’s been a font of information about human anatomy and I believe my sons enjoy having a human to bounce ideas off of.” he said lightly, Lucian nodded I wanted to speak up, I don’t like being talked around, especially when people where trying to make decisions for me but I knew if I tried to interrupt Lucian would just have another go at me and frankly, I didn’t have the energy.

“Well if you are content to have her remain.” Lucian said extending a hand

“Please know should you find yourself in need the Zora family would be happy to accommodate you in anyway we can.” he said easily, Gaster stood nodding and accepting the hand offered

“I am grateful I hope our families can work together.” it was interesting to watch but..

“I don’t see why I have to stay in bed… I can walk…” I muttered annoyed the look I got from both men quickly shut me up…

Damn
 
❀
 
I must have passed out because when I came to it was late in the evening.  The curtains had been opened and the golden evening sun light filled the room with a warm fiery glow.  I groaned softly uggg my chest…

“Oh, hey you’re awake?” Opening my eyes and looking over I spotted Sans at the desk I nodded smiling a moment before remembering what had happened earlier and snubbing him

“You’re an asshole.” I muttered annoyed  he faulted frowning

“What?  Hey where did that come from?” he asked laughing though there was a nervousness to it that gave me the impression he knew exactly where it came from.

“Oh I don’t know maybe the way you jumped away like my vagina grew teeth earlier?  Or how you were desperately trying to convince your brother he hadn’t walked in on anything?” I was irritated and the words came out harsher then I meant but when Sans blushed faintly I knew they had had the desired effect there was shame on those bony features.

“A-ah that well look ya see….”

“No no don’t bother I get it, I’m just a human after all.” I said annoyed

“What?!  Nah nah Kid it’s not that I… nn… Damn…”  he shoved off the chair and stalked over, glaring at me the whole way, irritated I glared right back

“Oh yeah not that huh? Then what the hell is it?” I demanded irritated ,

“It’s not like there are a lot of other options, in fact I really can’t think of anything that would rationalize why your more than happy to fuck me wh-” he shoved me back and began to kiss me forcefully and… and fuck it felt good.  I struggled a moment in earnest I didn’t want to kiss him I was mad!

“You gotta big mouth, but it looks like that shut ya up.” he muttered breaking the kiss both of us panting

“It’s got nothin to do with you bein human or whatever other shit ya got in yer head.  You’re under our protection right now, and you’re still hurt. Those are two lines I’m not supposed to be crossin.” he said at that I frowned

“So you treatin me like a dirty secret was your way of not crossin the line?  That’s not helpin your case any.” I said flatly He flushed indignantly

“It’s not that I don't think of you like that!  That's why I don’t want Papyrus or Pops to think that.” he snapped irritated glancing away he huffed out a breath running a hand down his face he was… embarrassed…  and it was kinda cute

“Oh yeah?... so then what do you think of me?” I asked I had to admit I was curious, I’m not much for compliments but I wanted to know what he was thinking, what prompted him to want to kiss me before?

“You’re a fuckin weirdo.” he said annoyed Making me laugh That was honesty in its purest form alright.

“Oh yeah? Why is that?” I pressed, I wasn’t going to let him off easy and the scowl he sent me meant he knew it to.

“Well you took a bullet for me,  you’re not afraid of us, not even Pops, you just... You give as good as you get and well ya got some good ideas… and Papyrus is thrilled to have a human try his food and give him suggestions, Hell even Pops mentioned how refreshin it was to have you around.  It’s weird!” he declared shifting more to glare at me

“And then ya… have to go and be all… pretty…” he muttered under his breath I had to admit I hadn’t expected that last part.

“So Yeah I.. I respect ya, and don’t want anyone thinking this is just some easy lay or somethin…” he muttered annoyed his anger was coming back, it was funny how he tried to bury everything under anger and aggression it was like he didn’t know how to deal with his feelings, and thinking about it, Maybe he didn’t, from what I knew and had learned Life underground had been very harsh it had been a kill or be killed world down there, not exactly the kind of place to sit around and talk about feelings

“I’m pretty sure two consenting adults can to whatever the hell they want, don’t cha think?” I pointed out at that he grinned shifting I felt the mattress dip as he climbed further onto the bed swinging a leg up and over so he had me pinned looming over me,

“Well, that’s true, and since your healin so well.” he murmured leaning down, that playful look gave me shivers, and not the bad kind.  I shifted sliding my hands up his arms appreciating the strength in them, it was funny to think this man was the judge, strong arms where deceiving because I remember how careful he was when he healed me.  He shifted catching my hands with one of his and pinned them over my head again, He certainly liked to pin me down like this, I don’t mind to much to be honest.

“Do you have a bit of a power kink there?” I asked teasingly he shifting a bit grinning

“What you mean this?  Nah, I gotta make sure your hands are out of the way as I examine you is all, after all, can’t have your hands gettin in the way.” he murmured leaning forward nuzzling my throat. I could feel him graze his teeth over the spot where my neck met my shoulder sending shivers through my whole body.

“Ahh~ God, s-so, Are you going to give me a through exam?” I managed shifting a little more I wanted more I sighed softly gasping sharply as he bit down just enough to break the skin

“Hey! I thought you were supposed to be making me better?” I said moaning softly as he dragged his tongue over his mark chuckling lowly

“I am.. I’m checking your reaction time, you know, reflexes and all that.” he rumbled in my ear chuckling fingers slipping the buttons of my shirt open fingers sliding gently between my breasts pausing at the bandages, there was hesitation, I smiled.

“Let me show you just how much better I am.” I murmured leaning up with a grin, since Lucian had been and gone I wasn’t expecting any interruptions this time.

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

This wasn’t my first time.  Or my second for that matter, I am a healthy woman who can appreciate a healthy man after all.  Though there is something to be said for the stiff feeling of bones on my flesh the faintest scratching like being brushed by smoothed but not polished stone.

One hand is sliding down I can feel his fingers tugging at the waistband of my trousers then moving to cup my ass, his hand is so big.  His teeth part and his tongue slides along my lips coaxing my mouth open as it slithers in he tasted an odd mix of mustard and other spices.  It was delicious. His hand had left my bottom but I barely noticed enjoying the kiss as he fumbled with something then I could feel him wrapping something around my wrists My eyes opened and I looked up realising he's used his tie to bind my hands to the headboard, arching a brow I sent him a look

“Don’t ya trust me?” he asked, smirking as he moved teeth nibbling gently down my throat, never to hard, just light nibbles that sent shivers through me.  I want to speak but can’t seem to find my voice until his teeth faintly grazed a nipple stiff under the soft shirt. I grunted moaning in delight legs shifting slightly god damn…

He pulled away only long enough to unbutton the top few buttons of his shirt and slide the hot red suspenders off his shoulders that constant grin of his getting sharper as he looked down at me.  Not a passive flower by any means I lifted my leg sliding my foot up his thigh slowly digging my toes into his pelvis before he snagged my ankle hissing

“Careful there.” he said leaning over letting my ankle go as he kissed me again.  I’m surprised. The few times I had indulged it had been fast, get it done get back to more practical things, but here I didn’t mind savoring the slow pace.  He explored my body with an attention to every little dip and curve caressing and licking and grazing his teeth until not an inch of my skin wasn’t humming with pleasure and expectation.

Maybe it was because before I was always in charge, the slow savored domination had never been a thing.  Admittedly my partner hadn’t minded, but right now beneath him I found I didn’t mind Sans taking the lead, having control.

In his exploration he had steadily undressed himself and me so that when he sat back to admire his work I was stuck hands still bound with only his soft shirt on and that hung open pushed aside to show off my body to him.  Judging by his expression, he appreciated the view. Studying me like a starving man at a buffet trying to decide where to start now he had sampled.

I thought I should be feeling cold, being bare but instead I was warm, not just from the heat coursing through my blood from the arousal but just in general, the rooms air was warm.  I felt those hard bones press against my legs as he held them thumb of his left hand rolling slow circle across my skin as his other hand slid up higher and inwards until with a firm pressure he dragged two fingers firmly up against me drawing out a shuddering gasp that made him chuckle lowly

“Well, would ya look at that, Have I been teasing you to long?” he asked holding those damp fingers out to me, I acted.  Opening my mouth to suck them in, throaty little sounds escaping me as I swirled my tongue around the suddenly tense bones, I wanted in ways I wasn’t used to. His face had gone a little red, his magic dusting a blush across his skull before he pulled his fingers from my mouth his breath coming in harsh drags of air as ran his hand down my body once more pressing those same two fingers to me. He seemed to savour the way I shuddered before he added pressure pressing the two bony digits into me.  I gasped tensing and he paused watching my face there was a pinch of worry and I smiled

“You’re fine, you’re fine, feels good, d-don’t stop.” I gasped out encouragingly, it wasn’t anything he’d done it had simply felt, odd.  Needless to say bones slipping in there felt different to fleshy fingers and I was already so worked up from his foreplay. Satisfied I was alright he pushed his fingers deeper then pulled them out working out a good rhythm that had me rolling my hips to meet him clenching my teeth to stifle noises (we where is his father's home after all)

“God yer georgeus sweetheart.” he growled pleased as his hand worked me to a frenzy, at some point he’d adjusted his hand so his thumb could tease and rub the hard nub of my clit as his fingers plunged deeply almost making me shout, I chocked it back but it was a strain gah! Fuck fuck fuck…

I turned my head biting the pillow to muffle my scream as I came, my whole body shuddering tension releasing as pleasure washed over me.  I could hear the satisfied chuckles as he watched me strain against his fingers my toes curling. Christ that was… that was… Yeah.

I must have mumbled something along those lines because Sans laughed again moving over me pressing his forehead to mine and inhaling deeply.  This was curious, what was he doing? So I asked. Those red Eyelights met my gaze and he shrugged.

“Humans have a scent all their own, the smell you give off when you orgasm is pretty intoxicating.” he purred moving to nuzzle my throat his teeth gently grazing my skin as he snuffled at my neck clearly enjoying whatever the scent was.  It made me curious if humans had unique smells. For now I can’t imagine mine is much different from his since staying here I’m using their bath and soaps.

His hands glide up and down my sides making my already hyper sensitive body quiver with desire, His knee slide between my leg coaxing them open, we’re getting to the part I know best All the foreplay and tenderness is outside my experience, enjoyable but so strange to me.  He bites my neck suddenly making me gasp as he thrusts in at the same time making me feel utterly claimed as I jerked my wrists pulling at the tie I want to cling to hold him, but I can’t and I feel oddly disappointed by that. My disappointment doesn’t last long however as he begins to move. ‘He’ is thick and oddly cool, not unpleasant again, just, different. I whimper faintly as his tongue snakes out to lap at my neck, I know he’s drawn blood this time but I can’t say I mind it.

The movements are smooth, each thrust of his hips met by a roll of my own, he goes deep each time filling me so thickly I’d swear my stomach was bulging if I didn’t know better. It’s an erotic dance, our bodies moving, the speed increasing quickly as that wild need built hotter in both of us, I get the leverage to lean up teeth clamping around his collar bone drawing a shocked yelp from him that made me chuckle, ahh~ so bone could be sensitive.  This was a fantastic discovery as far as I was concerned.

Soon we are reduced to a wild mating there are no words, and frankly they aren’t needed as we ravish each other, well as much as I can with my hands tied.  Perhaps now was a good time to show him just what I can do.

It takes a moment, the knot he’s tied is strong and had been pulled harder from my movement but skilled fingers manage to loosen the silk.  I feel the way his body tenses when my fingers slide down his ribs, the shock on his face as he looks down at me before I grin wickedly and with a strong move roll us.  It’s a bit of a strained he is a big man after all, but I’m no weakling. He stares up at me a moment stunned probably still trying to process what had just happened. Happy to let him think I begin to move riding him eagerly until he forgets to try and think and just grabs my hips to pick up the rhythm between up happy enough with the turn of events now.

I can feel that hot tension humming in my blood again I know it’s coming and the sharp short grunts he’s giving makes me think he’s ready as well I bend over to kiss him lightly but his arms locked around me holding me to him as he holds and deepens the kiss our groans of satisfaction mixing as we peak together locked to each other I didn’t know how the room was suffused in a red glow until Sans told me about it later.
 
⚜
 
I’m not sure how much time passed but when I woke up Sans was still there.  He had rolled up as one arm was holding me close to him while the other was bent under his head.  It was weird. He did a lot of things I simply wasn’t used to, and being here after the fact was just another of those things.  Heck falling asleep together was odd in and of itself for me… I enjoyed it. His face is relaxed while his skull is still grinning the grin is relaxed I just sort of, tell.  Despite myself I reach up fingers tracing the bone curiously i’s sort of like skin, stiffer but not harder, there give there, that must be how he’s able to be so expressive despite being a skeleton.  It’s pretty amazing.

He snuffls, his face screwing up as my finger tickles the bone of his nose hell if I know what it’s called but I pull my hand away and watch his face relax chuckling softly, I wiggle a bit managing to get out of his hold (not an easy feat) moving to the edge of the bed I do the buttons of his shirt and standing wavering slightly my chest aches but it’s nothing like the pain it was before,  I can feel him on my legs still sticky. I needed a shower, and I had to pee too, so leaving him to sleep I wander from the room in just the shirt. It’s so long on me I’m not worried about flashing anyone, but it doesn't even matter as I make it to the bathroom without seeing anyone. Flicking the lock on the door so I can relieve myself and bath in peace. I’m a little tender, admittedly Sans was bigger then I’d had before and those hard firm thrusts had been quiet forceful… but oh so good.

I languished in the bath savoring the soothing feel of the hot water on aching pleasured muscles before dunking to wash my hair.  I was still submerged when I thought I heard a thumping, Maybe Papyrus? He was such a loud talker I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a loud walker to. Thump thump thump… what the heck? I surface and it’s silent so I shrug and dunk back under the water eyes closed, it’s nice to have a tub I fit in and I’m enjoying it when there's a louder thump and a crash my eyes snapped open as I’m suddenly grabbed and jerked out of the water

“What the hell?!” I gasped sputtering and coughing, the grab had startled me into inhaling bath water I glare up at Papyrus as he stares at me red faced and abruptly turns.

“Y-YOU ARE ALRIGHT THEN?” he asked stumbling as he tried to speak, wait what?

“I’m fine,  or I was, any explanation for smashing down your own bathroom door and assaulting me in the bath?!” I demanded too annoyed to feel even remotely modest.

“tHE DOOR WAS LOCKED AND YOU DID NOT RESPOND TO MY KNOCKING HUMAN!” he declared embarrassment being overtaken by anger as he spoke turning to me, I guess forgetting I was naked because her went a brighter red and turned away again

“Ok so the thumping was you knocking, I did come up but the thumping stopped I assumed you were just walking by.” I reasons he scoffed instantly

“I STOPPED KNOCKING TO LISTEN FOR ANY RESPONSE ALL I HEARD WAS WATER SPLASHING SO I KNOCKED AGAIN, WHEN YOU STILL DIDN’T RESPOND i GREW WO- UH… AHEM… CONCERNED YOU HAD FALLEN, YOU HUMANS ARE VERY DELICATE AFTER ALL.” ah, so that was why he’d grabbed me.  I noticed then the sleeves of his nice suit jacket and shirt are soaked. He hadn’t stopped he had bashed down that door saw me underwater with my eyes closed… and tried to ‘save me…

Damn…

“I’m sorry I worried you Papyrus.” I said relaxing moving to cross my arms on the edge of the tub Hiding my body so he’d be more comfortable

“I TOLD YOU I.. ER… YES WELL HUMAN I… I ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY.” he said glancing over he sighed seeing I’d hidden myself before lifting his arms scowling at his wet Jacket he slipped it off and stood hands on his hips glaring at the door.

“THIS IS INCONVENIENT.” he muttered (Yet somehow still loud) annoyed though he was talking to himself I couldn’t help feeling kind of guilty especially since it had happened because he was worried about me.  Man I’m developing all sort of soft spots for these boneheads.

“Look if you can hang a curtain, or stand by the door so I can finish my bath I’ll help you fix it.” I said frankly he huffed out a breath

“FIX IT? WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WE’LL SIMPLY REPLACE IT.” he said primly, I felt a tick of muscles in my face

“Why do that when it’s still a perfectly good door, you just need to fix the hinges it’s hardly difficult.” I said lightly I had learned to fix all sorts of things back home since we simply didn’t have the money to just replace what we needed in the beginning.  Now we did from my work but I still preferred to try and fix what I could. The door itself wasn’t damaged Papyrus had simply knocked it off its hinges, the lock might need replacing but I wouldn’t know till I got a look.

“WE MAY HAVE BEEN LOW BEFORE BUT MY FAMILY IS IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN AFFORD NEW DOORS AND THE LABOUR REQUIRED TO INSTALL IT, IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US AS WEALTHY MONSTERS TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES.” he said firmly and for a moment I’m struck mute  I had expected for him to go off on how he was a powerful mobster who didn’t do menial work like fixing a door or to say he was rich enough he could afford to replace it in a flippant dismissive manner.

“I-I think I get that…  Alright I won’t fix it, but can you at least prop it up or something so I can finish?” I asked finally Papyrus colored his whole skull going a bright crimson as he moved plucking up his jacket and the door stepping out and propping the door in place. Not wanting to get caught out naked again Or be a bother to Papyrus who I knew was standing guard at the door because whenever someone walked by he declared

“THE DOOR IS BROKEN BUT IT IS IN USE!” to whomever it was and I heard footsteps scurrying away. It was kind of funny in a way. Rinsing the last of the shampoo from my hair I climbed out toweled off and dressed before adjusting the door so I could step out towel around my neck I rubbed at my hair looking up At Papyrus with a grin

“Thanks for that, I can pay for the door if you want, since you did that worrying about me.” I offered but the monster simply shook his head then looked up and away from me still blushing, weird.

“THAT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY HUMAN, WE CAN AFFORD IT AND IT WAS MY OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION THAT CAUSED THE MISUNDERSTANDING.” he said I couldn’t help chuckling, it was weird thinking of this big tall monster saying he had an overactive imagination.  But he still wouldn’t look at me

“Have I offended you?” I asked finally on hand on my hip as I stared at him

“WHAT? NO WHY?” he asked, keeping his face turned away

“Becaaauuuussseee~” I said dragging out the word and stepping around him into his vision, “You won’t look at me, and frankly I don’t get why.” I said pointedly He swallowed thickly or at least it sounded like he did, he didn’t really have a throat for me to see moving.

“HUMAN… A-ARE YOU AWARE YOU HAVE… YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR PANTS.” he said.  Wait was that all I scoffed rolling my eyes

“This shirt long enough to be a dress and your worried about pants?  Fine, yes I am aware, I didn’t think it would be a big deal because I was just going to take a bath and go back to bed, I wasn’t really expecting all of this.” I said waving a hand before turning

“Anyway I’ll remember next time, sorry I offended your delicate sensibilities.” I said striding to ‘my’ room only for Papyrus to grab and spin me pinning me to the wall

“Papyrus… what are you doing?” I asked flatly meeting his long stare he leaned forward in haling slowly and I blushed, ah shit… h-how strong was the smell from that?  Strong enough because he recoiled and sneered

“I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED MORE TASTE FROM A HUMAN WITH SUCH GOOD IDEAS ABOUT PASTA MEALS, BUT IT SEEMS MY BROTHER CAN FELL EVEN HUMAN WOMEN.” he said with an almost disgusted tone. It was a physical struggle not to hit him.  How dare he?!

“Listen here buddy Who I sleep with is my business not yours.  I haven’t been Felled or any other crap.” I snapped he met my glare.

“IT IS MY BUSINESS WHEN MY BROTHER IS INVOLVED.” he insisted and at that I scoffed “Oh is that right?  So what you just stand and watch as he has other girls like a pervert?” I asked He smirked hand flat on the wall behind me as he leaned close and for a moment I felt a rush of purely feminine fear.

“OH NOTHING LIKE THAT, WE SIMPLY SHARE CONQUESTS…WALKING AROUND SO FREELY DRESSED THAT WAY, I SIMPLY WISHED TO HAVE THE FIRST TURN WITH SUCH AN EAG-UNG!” I hit him… crap.

He buckled hit knees hitting the floor as he grasped his abdomen my fist still poised where I had slammed it into his gut clearly winding him he looked up glaring and I saw the glow of red magic as a bone formed I stared him down when suddenly there was a familiar laugh and clapping Papyrus tensed going red and scrambling to his feet as I turned my attention to the Don.

“

Well done my dear, it is not many who can say they brought Papyrus to his knees… I would ask you to not be violent against my family however

.” he said calmly, though there was an underlying tone of menace.

“Then I would ask your son learn to watch his mouth, because if he infers I’m a whore again I’m going to do more then punch him.” I said shortly my temper loosened Gaster arched a brow looking to Papyrus

“

Is that true?

” he asked the simple question made the taller skeleton tense I almost thought he’d lie about it, he certainly fumbled his first few words but then again His father would probably know if he had lied, probably some monster magic thing.

“I WAS MERELY SUGGESTING IF SHE WAS SO EAGER TO SLEEP WITH SANS AND SHOW HERSELF OFF SHE WOULDN’T MIND SHARING HERSELF.” he said finally I saw Gasters eye lights narrow and knew that wasn’t a good sign so did Papyrus as he seemed to be fighting not to step back.

“

I apologize for my sons crass behavior my dear, but if you would please return to you room for the moment?

” he said probably as calmly as he could manage I nodded and turned pushing into the room, I was surprised the commotion hadn’t woken Sans, I realised why when I saw the empty bed, ah, he probably had work or something.

My chest was aching...

If anything good came from my bath and this whole incident, None of them had complained that I had walked myself to the bathroom and back without help.  Hopefully that meant I’d get a bit more freedom.
 
⚜
 
It was the afternoon when Gaster entered the room Papyrus stood behind him  one eye closed and bandaged Some one got and ass whoopin… I should probably feel bad, and I did… a little.  I had dressed or well pulled on some pants at least and was lounging on the bed reading on of the books I had been brought pretty well immersed in a murder mystery.

“

I thought you might appreciate a chance to sit in the garden.  It’s been almost a week and I imagine you are sick of being trapped inside so long

.” Gaster offered, I smiled nodding sliding the bookmark in place I held the novel up

“Do you mind if I take the book out with me?” I asked,  They were his books after all and some people had rules about them, and while I doubted a crime novel was going to have strict rules I’d rather ask.

“

Absolutely, there's a Patio with lounging chairs that I find is perfect for reading in the afternoon

.” Gaster said lightly and gestured for me to follow. Interested I let him lead me through the nice house, man I’m pretty sure it’s bigger than my whole apartment block!  The dark wood with red accentuation is throughout it seems, everything has an antique look but is polished to a mirror shine. The carpets are so thick I can barely hear my footsteps, he leads me down a grand sweeping staircase and through a fine reception room before Papyrus pulled back curtains covering big glass doors and opened them for us.  The garden was a marvel and I couldn’t contain my awe as I stepped out into the warm afternoon sunlight. It felt good after being stuck in bed for so long.

The thick smell of the flowers was enough to make a person giddy and I could hear the trickling of a fountaine somewhere among the plants.

“This is amazing!” I said stepping forward and looking around turning my attention to Gaster I smiled warmly as he nodded looking out at the garden with one of his rare real smiles.

“

Thank you, we are quite pleased with it, in fact part of the reason we have such a grand garden…

” he paused when Papyrus made a strangled noise I glanced back at him confused before returning my attention to Gaster who’s smile had gone wicked

“

As I was saying, the reason we have such a grand garden is because as a child Papyrus often lamented how there where only golden, and echo flowers underground, he wanted to see the ones in his books

.” Gaster explained and I smiled

“That’s so cute, and you did all this for him?” I said amazed Gaster nodded

“

He is my son, I was limited in what I could give them below, now we are here I have worked to help give them the things they dreamed of as children

.” he said with a note in his voice. I might not have really noticed it except my Ma sometimes talked like that it was a kind of loving nostalgia when ever she talked about me as a kid.

“Well I think that's what parents do, I know Ma did her best for me, she sometimes apologizes she couldn’t do more, So I make the best of everything, she gave me a great life.” I said musingly understanding suddenly part of the reason Gaster had said all that was to Embarrass Papyrus, probably as payback for embarrassing me with what he had said.  I accepted it but didn’t dig into it.

“

Your mother raised you on her own yes?

” he questioned beginning to walk again I followed along easily, I find Gaster is easy to talk to, he sort of reminds me of Lucian in a way, maybe a bit more aggressive but when he talks with people he listens to what they have to say, he doesn't treat anyone like they are beneath him.

“Yep, Almost from the beginning really I have some vague memories of my Pops but nothing to really tell me who he is, Ma has photos and she tells me about it but as far as I’m concerned, it's always just been us.” I said shrugging

“

I am surprised she didn’t ever remarry she seemed like a very intelligent woman when I visited

.” Gaster commented lightly I shrugged again

“I can’t say I know she did date a couple times but she never seemed very enthusiastic, I think after all this time she’s just still in love with Pops,  I don’t push anything and especially now she’s sick, I just do my best to make her life as comfortable as I can, I try not to worry her, you know.” I explained Gaster nodded

“

I imagine she worries anyway, since you are her only child

.” he said I nodded in agreement, couldn’t help that but I did what I could to make her less stressed.  As we walked I was aware of Papyrus walking behind us and through the foliage I saw a few monsters standing security nea black suits standing discreetly among the plants.

“

I hope you can forgive my son for his Inappropriate remarks.

” Gaster said suddenly and I smiled nodding

“Of course I can, I couldn’t hold a grudge after hearing all that.” I said glancing back with a smile as Gaster chuckled Papyrus looked away bright red.

“I’m assuming Sans had work?” I asked curiously Gaster nodded

“

Yes, for the moment I have him helping Zora since you can’t

.” he said easily, I nodded I don’t think Sans would be as discreet but I don't know, I’ve never seen him in action.  I kind of want to, I want to see what he can do.

“I appreciate everything you have done for me.  Papyrus explained about Sans’ situation, I was getting nervous about just how much you were doing for me.” I admitted, “That I’m on my feet is a great sign I shouldn’t trouble you much longer.” I reassured only to stop as Gaster paused in his walking looking over

“

I believe Zora plans for you to stay with us for an extended time following your recovery.

” Gaster explained gesture

“

You have information about that shooter, because of your theory of one of his people being involved for the moment Zoras people have been told you were killed when you where shot.

” he explained and I felt a shock of Ice run through my blood t-they had been told I was dead?  That was pretty extreme unless… Lucian had an idea of who the traitor was…

“Well then I guess, I would appreciate your continued courtesy while I’m here.” I said finally, if Lucian had an idea who was acting against him I should be there, that was the whole point, I was outside the family I could do things when his hands were tied… why...

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

It had been three days since the whole incident with Papyrus.  After the turn around the gardens Gaster had shown me to a nice shaded spot near a charming pond where I could read and relax.  Fresh air was good but it didn’t help with the worst of the cooped up feelings I had. I didn’t like being shut away, the sense of Cabin fever was going to drive me nuts before lng I’m sure of it. In those three days I hadn’t seen Sans either, I wasn’t too worried thought Gaster said he was working a job for Lucian, Some of my jobs had taken a month or more to complete so a few days wasn’t a concern.  The day after our little ‘fight’ Papyrus had come to my room and after some stumbling had asked about Pastas, and frankly I was happy to talk to him, the fact was, I didn’t hate the guy. Yeah he pissed me off with what he had said but that had been handled and so carrying it was pointless. I sighed, setting aside the book I was reading. Well not reading considering for the last little while I had reread the same sentence like four times and still couldn’t remember what it said.  I sat up elbow on my knee chin in hand watching the water of the pond, the weather was nice warm enough that bugs skimmed the surface only to be occasionally snapped up by some of the biggest damn goldfish I’d ever seen.  It was pretty impressive to be honest I never knew the things could get so big. Their scales shimmered under the water's surface in orange and white it was calming in a way to just watch them swim around when suddenly something blocked my vision.“Guess who?” the grumbling growl was obvious but I hummed thoughtfully“I dunno… I mean, this fingers are too big to be Papyrus, and I’d see through the Holes in Gasters Hands… But goodness who else lives here?  No one I’ve seen the last couple of days.” I teased Laughing as the hands fell away Sans dropping on the foot end of the lounger and dropping his head on my lap sighing “That’s cruel of ya Doll I get worked to the bone and Ya can’t even remember me?” he whined with mock hurt making me laugh, I can’t help it these bone boys are funny I’m enjoying my time here more then I imagined even if I was getting a bit stir crazy.“Hard work huh? What was the job?” I asked Sans sighed and explained, Lucian had a lead on a group of human traffickers, they were shipping young girls out to europe for a very tidy profit… Very young girls.  Lucian hated sex trafficking but the Young ones? Oh he really hated that, I knew he was looking into something but hadn’t realised he’d been that close to a lead, if I hadn’t gotten hurt this would have been my hit.“You cleared it?”  I asked gently stroking a hand over his skull he was big but he didn’t crush me the way he draped across my lower half, I had leaned back on the chair and his head rested on my belly as we spoke.“Yeah, Managed to witness a grab and followed them to the shipping  kept an eye out, but the top guy didn’t come out until right before shipping for the last details.  Once I had him I took ‘em all out, Kids are bein taken home.” he said scowling “I dunno how people do that… Humans aren’t like monsters yeah but doing shit like that to kids… fuckin sick.” he muttered angrily I smiled faintly“It is… that's why I do what I do,   trust there were no survivors?” I asked calmly he blinked looking p at me with unmistakable surprise“What?  You don’t honestly think I’d ever show mercy to a bunch of Bastards selling children off as sex slaves do you?  As far as I’m concerned animals like that need to be put down immediately… they don’t learn lessons, they just learn to cover themselves better next time.” I said never taking my gaze from those red pinpricks in his eyes, he grinned chuckling, I could feel the rumble of his laughter and it was nice.  Weird ‘d only slept with him, but I found now laing here with him I’d missed his company, He was good conversation. I sure as hell couldn’t say stuff like that around Ma.“Nah I guess You’re right I shouldn’t be surprised since this was only my job ‘cause o your health but.. Dunno Guess I didn’t expect it.” he said relaxing, I sighed letting my eyes close as we savored the warmth of the afternoon, and not having any demands weighing on either of us.  I am more than a little surprised by how relaxed I feel around Sans, I just feel… comfortable, he must feel the same because he seems to go boneless as he rests on me (Well in a figurative way.)“So… How ya been here?  Must be feelin better if pops let you out without boss over yer shoulder.” Sans drawled in a lazy way I shrugged eyes closed I kind of like the way my skin tingles in the sunlight, though I know if I’m not careful I’ll burn I’ll move in a bit. “Been good… quiet… You must have left while I was in the bath… had an… interesting conversation with Papyrus after he ripped me out of the bath.” I said laughing Sans looked up at me surprised so I proceeded to explain the odd sounds and how his brother had knocked down the door to make sure I wasn’t drowning “It was kinda sweet you know the way he’s pretending he wasn’t worried… That probably why I pulled my punch a bit when he called me a whore.” I said lightly, though the sudden tension in his brother made me acutely aware Sans had not been informed of anything that had happened. “He did what now?” he asked slowly his eye lights gone.  I’m not in the mood for this. I like the bed domination that was nice but I’m not playing damsel to some alpha male so I instantly shove a hand forward pushing at his face making him sputter.“Relax, we settled it… I guess the smell of sex is stronger for monster, he caught a wiff of us and made some smart ass comment I already forgot cause it was stupid, so I slugged him,  Gaster walked on us right in that moment I told him what happened and I’m pretty sure He also Kicked Paps Ass cause next time I saw him he was sportin some big bandages so chill.” I said sternly Sans scowled grumbling“But… he lay a hand on you?” he asked pouting as if he was mad he couldn’t jump to my defence… God damn it why did these two have to be so adorable….“Only to pull me out of the bath when he thought I was drowning.  Sans don’t get upset, Honestly I think he was just trying to, I dunno, put himself back where he thinks he should be.  Bigger than me.” I explained. Sans arched a brow looking up at me curiously “Oh yeah how's that?”“Ok Well this is how I thought about it, Papyrus is a guy always cool and in control right?  You’re all powerful monster so he can’t afford to show weakness at any time right?” I said Sans nodded silently encouraging me to continue. “Well Finding out he was worried enough about me a human, to break down a door must have been startling to a guy who doesn't like to lose his cool right?  Then having me brush it off as no issue, He must have felt like I’d tipped a balance. He was trying to put me back in what he thought was my place. By asking for sex, By calling me eager and making his insinuations, If I had acted on them it would have been fine because then I would have no meaning, he could reassure himself it wasn’t me he was worried about but a guest in his fathers home, Ya follow me?” I asked Sans frowned thoughtfully and nodded“Yeah… that makes sense actually.  The first few years after G left the Dreemurs weren’t easy by any means, Paps got a lot more protective because I wasn’t as careful as I shoulda been.  I almost took some bad hits.” he admitted crossing his arms on my belly and looking up at me watching my face“So G kicked his ass huh?” he asked after a long silence I chuckled nodding “I’m going to assume so, but he made me go to bed so I didn’t get to see it, but when I told him what happened He seemed pretty pissed.” I explained, Sans chuckled nodding and closing his eyes“Sounds about right, G’s a bit of a stickler for old traditions in some things and a guest in the house is treated with respect, period.” he grumbled out sounding half asleep I chuckled petting the curve of his skull in long slow strokes “Maybe but I’ll tell you what I never feel prouder than when someone powerful Like Your Don compliments my work.” I said with a laugh Sans smirked “Oh yeah? You did say you socked the boss right?  You wind him?”“Better took him to a knee.”  Sans shifted looking up surprised before busting out in a deep belly laugh that almost made him roll of the lounger “Damn I’m sad I missed it, I bet he took that well.” he said between half stifled chuckles I pushed a hand through my hair moving it back off my face and nodded “Oh yeah if a big glowing red bone with a stabby sharp end is an indication, Of course Gaster walked in right at that moment clapping like a boss.” I explained sending Sans into another fit of laughter as he pictured his old man swaggering in ready to kick ass.“I guess as revenge or repentance He told me Why you guys have sch a big garden.” I said smiling faintly “It’s really nice, Lucians got a garden to but nothing like this, I swear you gotta have a sample of every plant in the world here.” I said chuckling weakly Sans nodded“Probably, G wants us Happy, for me that was books and stars, for Paps it was plants and cookin, there was a lot he feels like he couldn’t give us as kids he works hard to try and make up for it now.” he explained, I nodded before sighing “This is.. The kind’a thing I want for ma, a big open place that just smells like flowers and grass, the city sounds are muffled here, she could just lay back and read and rest… get everything she needs…” I sighed weakly I’m a little surprised by the words that come out, I don’t like admitting vulnerabilities but how could I hold back when he opened up to me like that?“I’ve saved a lot so far… But sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get to that point,  And what happens after, If I get her a house in the burbs… or we move to some small town, then what?  I can’t work in a place like that, and Hell if I’ll ever work as a shop assistant or a phone operator, So… what happens?  I want the best things for her but I just don’t know how to get it… Sounds kinda stupid dosen’t it?” I said weakly Sans shook his head “Not really, You love yer ma, You want her happy I can respect that, Me and Paps ant G happy to.” he said  I found myself pondering something “Can I ask… about your mother?  I mean you don’t gotta talk about her or anything just I mean you  talk about Gaster but I don’t think I’ve heard her mentioned or even seen a photo or anything.” I said quickly “Nah it’s fine, there's just nothin to say, I never knew her.  Me an paps weren’t born normally even as far as monsters are concerned.  From what I know when G’s talked about it She did when monsters were first locked underground,  She hadn’t been the healthiest and losin the light killed her I guess, G kept her dust with him, and after working for the Dreemurrs and gettin access to a more sophisticated lab he decided to make her one dream a reality, She wanted kids… So he made me, and when I remained stable after a few years he made Papyrus usin’ her dust and fragments of his SOUL.” he explained, it was terrifying and amazing to imagine the amount of power that must have taken. “Do you look like her?  I mean Papyrus really takes after Gaster.” I said he chuckled "Nah but I guess I look like her bro so I’m definitely her kid.  G says she was sort of between paps and me, shorter but thin as a rail, Delicates a word he uses a lot if he talks about her, but he doesn't do that much really especially now we’re back above ground and, I don’t like pushin it.” he admitted and I nod, Losing his wife, then making children with her remains so she could achieve her dream even if she couldn’t live to see it “He must have loved her very much…  shouldn’t be surprised, He loves you and Your brother a lot to, that’s obvious to anyone.” I said musingly, Sans smiled nodding and scratching his cheek was he embarrassed? “Yeah I guess…” he mumbled softly resting his head against my belly again so I relaxed back, the more I learned about this little family the more I was growing to care about it… I wasn’t sure how to think about it.  I liked being with sans, I liked teasing Papyrus, I liked talking to Gaster, I can’t help hoping, when this whole thing with The Zora Mole is settled… maybe, Maybe we can still be friends. I can’t help thinking that I’d like that a lot.“I think.” I said after a long moment of silence feeling Sans shift I know he’s listening I open my eyes to stare up at the sky hand stroking his skull “I think you’re dad is really happy because he has you two.” I said letting my eyes close once I had said what was on my mind, It was easy to fall asleep with him warm weight on me,  I felt the way he seemed to thoughtfully tap the lounge chair before turning his face into my belly and mumbled what might have been a ‘thank you’. ❀ I don’t know how long we slept for  just know when I woke up I was back in the house I’d been placed on top of the covers and left in my clothes but my shoes had been pulled off.  A sock was half pulled but it was like who ever had started had given up. I sat up rubbing at my eyes My face felt a bit tender, Oops, Probably had a bit of a sunburn, My bad…“Ah, hey You awake?” I roll over to look to the door Sans stood holding a tray of food looking awkward, I nod moving to sit up feeling stiff but way better than I had in days. “Yeah, Thanks for bringing me in… what time is it?” I asked unable to find a clock He grinned settling the tray on my lap “Heh, Late, Your skin was going pink so I brought you in, it’s dark out now eight maybe eight thirty?” he said thoughtfully sitting by my feet as I tucked into the meal, it was a really nice creamy pasta with bacon and chicken and, not to sound like a pig but I LOVE bacon.“This here pink, It’s called a sunburn, it’s what happens if your out in sunlight for to long, I’m guessing that's not a monster thing?” I asked curiously Sans shook his head “Not that I know of so the sun hurts humans?” he said surprised I nodded “Yeah I’m not an expert but it has to do with the way the light heats the skin? It cooks you if your not careful, some people like to lay out because the light can darken the skin and they think it looks good, or because they work outside all day they get some color on ‘em to.” I explained Sans nodded “But think about it, you leave meat in the oven to long eventually  it burns right?” he nods then frowned “But you didn’t go dark your just pink.” he said I nodded “Yeah well some people, Like me, our skin is so naturally pale, We skip over browning and just go right into the burn, My face isn’t tender t just stings a tiny bit so ‘m not to badly burnt, The sun must of changed or you brought me in before it got bad… Normally I’m more careful but, well… we fell asleep.” I said with a laugh Sans nodded seeming impressed“Ya seem like an expert to me, I didn’t know any o that.” he said grinning I shrugged I could feel myself blushing I hope the pink of the burn hides it I’m not a blusher... “From my reading really learning the best ways to help ma... “ I muttered tapping the side of the plate with my fork Sans watched me a moment silently before shifting a bit “Can I ask a question? It’s been buggin me since earlier.”  I look up smiled happy to change the subject“Huh Yeah sure, what do ya wanna know?” I asked He shifted he seemed like he wasn’t sure how he wanted to ask his question before letting out a breath“W…. why didn’t you take him up on his offer?” he asked  for a moment I’m not sure I understand… or rather I do, but I hope I don’t…. “I don’t know what you mean…” I said My expression must have change because when he looked at me he floundered a bit but I wasn’t about to let him back track I arched a brow“Why didn’t you sleep with the boss?” he asked finally I sighed shifting and passing the tray to him calmly“I need you to get out, or I’m going to do something you might not survive.” I said it is a sharp strict control I have over my temper right now.“W-what… Why? It’s not an unreasonable question I me-” he was muffled by the pillow that hit his face, it was the only thing I could do that wouldn’t damage him. Damn his fucking 1 HP.“Out… Now you son of a bitch, How dare you, How dare you ask me that… What the fuck is wrong with you do I just look like a whore to you?  Do you think I’m easy? Or is it cause I’m a woman you just assume I’m going to fuck who ever offers… HUH?!” I demanded Oh I’m pissed and the struggle not to lash out is very real.“N-no it’s not like that it’s just…”“Just what?  I fail to see any other reason to ask that kind of question except that you think I’m some easy ride.” I said“I can’t get a read on you I-I don’t know I mean… I…” “Just get out, I am on a very fine thread of control right now… OUT!”  I Bellowed the last word when he didn’t seem inclined to move, He jolted and headed for the door seeming stunned “L-look I.. I’m… sorry…” he said weakly before shutting the door behind him, I huff out a breath crossing my arms as I turn my back on the door… Couldn’t get a read on me huh?  Well of course he couldn’t… I was a blank slate, it’s what made me so good at what I do, I could be anything I could be anyone… I was a blank slate, I was no one… and for once I hated it so much.

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

What I wouldn't know until well later, was that as Sans and I had our fight Don Gaster had been on the phone with Lucian.  He called once a day to check on my progress and The status of Sans mission.  Despite what I expected Gaster actually told Lucian about how I felt not knowing his plans, how hurt I'd been being left out of the loop.  Once he had hung up Sans had stalked in and from what I learned from Papyrus the conversations had gone something like..."Bloody woman."  Sans had bashed into the study grumbling, evidently he had been grumbling rather consistently to himself on his walk down the hall as Papyrus had heard him long before he entered.  As a result neither skeleton had been surprised when he had entered and flumped down heavily into his usual chair with a further wordless grumble."I would hazard a guess you spent some time with our guest?"  Gaster asked with mild amusement to his tone Sans made a face before huffing out a breath"Wasted time... I don't... she... it... I asked a perfectly reasonable question!" he had snapped fumbling over his words, he seemed determined to prove he wasn't at fault before even telling them what had happened, so when silence reigned he was prompted to explain shooting a glare at Papyrus"I asked her why she didn't take you up on your offer.  Not like other women haven't." he said cuttingly Papyrus,  apparently, still distinctly aware of the feel of my fist when he had made the offer pulled a face, he could only imagine what I had done to Sans that allowed him to survive."Brother as intelligent as you are you can be so exceedingly stupid." Papyrus said with a sigh, before Sans could retort Gaster was forced to agree."I would have thought it would have been obvious, this woman is nothing like women you have brought to the house before." The elder Skeleton said "Honestly my boy, Whatever she may have said following such a ridiculous question is well within her right.  Why are you both so hopeless with women?" the don asked with exaggerated annoyance,  both took offence, after all the reason Sans asked was because he had plenty of women over and Papyrus had rather efficiently seduced each one of them for a night in his bed as well, clearly they knew something!"Inviting a willing woman to your bed is hardly the same thing as what you have here.  Or are you saying you only view her as a quick fuck?"  Gaster sharp crude words drew a quick denial from his older son  Of course not, she was... Papyrus admitted to me he had stifled a snort at seeing his brother fumble over trying to explain me."She is different and from what I have observed she is rather fond of you, asking her something like that throws anything she has given you in her face.  It was bad enough Papyrus insinuated she was a whore,  I would have thought you knew better Sans.  I had thought at least I had raised you both with some common sense." His father chided.  At this at least Sans had the decency to look embarrassed."So what do I do then?  She kicked me out of the room... said she didn't wanna kill me on accident." He grumbled making Gaster chuckle"I get the feeling the fact she had said that meant she'd been perfectly ready to hit you, and hard but had the self control to stop herself." He said lightly then fell into a thoughtful silence before speaking again"Well she's been cooped up this long why not take her some... place?" Gaster suggested mildly "It's our turf if you stay close her cover shouldn't be blown.  I imagine she'd enjoy a night out after being stuck in bed so long." He mused opening a folder with a list of something the brothers couldn't see then waved a hand dismissively"I do have work now though so please do something that doesn't involve getting yourselves killed by our guest." He muttered half serious prompting the brothers to leave.❁I had propped up with my book again for a while but rereading the same line again and grumbling about Sans had led to me just closing it and covering my face with a pillow, Asshole, that was the only word for it!  How could he ask me something like that!No I know how, after all it was what made me so good at my job but still... I would have thought...Hearing the door open I pulled the pillow away and glanced over, the way the Large skeleton flinched I had the feeling I must have sent him one of my more intimidating glares."Yes?" I asked shortly I should let it pass, I wasn't a grudge holder I let things go, another useful trait I could be unaffected by things once settled but..."Yeah uh..." he coughed awkwardly and pulled on the collar of his shirt"I thought well I mean Pops thought that maybe well you're healin good and I mean I think we... uh." He stalled as I shifted sitting up properly so I could look at him arching a brow and nodding  He had my full attention now but he didn't seem like he expected it."There's a bar nearby run by a friend Uh They do food to so I thought you might wanna get outta the house... not just the garden but out, out...." he said trailing, out of the house, off the grounds?  I was ready to launch off the bed with an enthusiastic yes but I was still mad so I tapped my chin thoughtfully."Is anyone else coming?" I asked "I mean, you made a good point,  Papyrus is pretty nice when you get past that awkwardness... Maybe I should ha-"  I don't get a chance to finish the thought when Sans growls"No it'll just be you and me." He snapped angrily, and I broke, I couldn't help it,  the dork had played himself."Heh... Look at you, I was only messing with you, I'd like that, a lot in fact." I said shifting to swing my legs off the bed "Gonna need something clean to wear though you got anything spare?" I asked He nodded"I'm sure we can find somethin for ya... That was... Look what I said... I just..." he hesitated and I patted his shoulder lightly"You're used to girls going with him to, He said as much.  Look an easy lay with a floozy is one thing, But I'm not easy, contrary to what happened I don't actually just sleep with someone, I... we have I mean you felt it, this chemistry?  And hell you're an easy guy to just like, shoot the shit with." I said letting out a breath"Look lets go to this Place and relax huh? Forget about it." I suggested, Sans expression brightened and he seemed more than happy to do just that so with nothing left to say we set that mess behind us and went to find some clean cloths.❁ The bar, Grillbys was a neat little place, cozy atmosphere more friendly then I might have expected from a place run by a member of the mafia but hey that was great.  The way Sans explained it Grillby had been neutral for a very long time and was Sort of neutral now though he was close friends with had been for as long as Sans had been alive."It's a nice place." I murmured looking around,  Out of habit my eye found windows and doors assessed everyone in the bar, I couldn't escape old habits it seemed.  My hair was pinned up and tucked under a hat Sans was able to loan me some cloths they were a bit baggy but between his wide cloths or Papyrus' overly long ones, I'd found it easier to work with Sans.  Some suspenders and sleeve garters kept everything supported though it did give me the look of a scrawny boy. Eh that worked for me.Joining Sans at the bar I was impressed to find that the eponymous Grillby was in fact a fire elemental.  Crackling violet blue flames threw off warmth and gave the bar an interesting glow of color.  The elemental gestured towards me and Sans grinned"New kid in the group, You know pops always lookin to expand, I'm showin 'em around, the usual." He said Grillby nodded and I shot Sans a questioning look"Oh He don't speak much but I guess I've known him long enough I just sort of know what he wants to ask." He said shrugging, it was pretty neat actually but now that I thought about it, a lot of Monsters knew sign language... and a lot didn't speak... OH!"I feel like a dumbass." I muttered with a half laugh as Grillby sat two trays of Fries before us as well as a bottle of mustard. "Oh, hows that?" Sans asked as he removed the top of the mustard and..."Are you... drinking that?" I asked incredulously forgetting my comment, he was drinking mustard directly from the bottle... I mean I liked mustard as much as the next person it was just the right amount of flavor for bland food but... drinking it?"Huh? Oh yeah why not?" he asked and well he had a point why not.  So I reached out and stuck a finger in  watching his face I grinned and stuck the finger in my mouth shrugging"Not bad, I prefer it with fries though." I said drawing a deep rumbling laugh from the skeleton, it was nice, after that we settled into easy conversations about all sorts of things.  Sans told me a lot about monsters, explaining some things from the books I had read and hadn't quiet understood.  The fact was monsters as a whole where just fascinating, a lot more interesting than humans that was for sure, and for their weak points their magic sure as sell made up for it."Right so you and the Dreemurs are on... good terms?" I asked curiously  Sans waved his hand"Ehhh, more we tolerate each other.  The fact is if Humans weren't such a danger we'd probably be killing each other, but between us we have a front,  The Dreemurs Aren't my favorite people, but back when they were still royalty they did do good for monsters." He explained"Right, so how dd all this happen then, I mean the book say monsters are made up of love and compassion." I said digging curious about the history, Sans smiled"Well we are, but now that love and compassion is selfish, See way back before we ever got outta the underground the Dreemurs had a kid right?  That kid found a fallen human and took them home the Dreemurs adopted the human and everyone had this hope that the human kids acceptance was a sign that one day when the barrier broke we'd all be free." I nodded as he explained"Well That, didn't happen,  no one's really sure what happened, but the Human got sick, really sick, and died, when that happened the Dreemurs son Asriel took their Soul so he could pass the barrier and take them home, but the humans only saw a monster carrying a childs body, so they attacked him.  Asriel didn't want his sibling and best friend around such hateful people so he took them back home to the underground, he died and the dust and body where discovered by the king." He explained I swallowed thickly, I couldn't imagine that, finding your children dead? How awful"The grief of it drove him made with rage, He declared any human that fell would die, their SOULS taken to break us out of the barrier." I nodded I knew the rest,  It wasn't until the ambassador and adopted child of the Dreemurs had fallen that the killings had stopped, the compassion and determination not to kill had swayed the monsters of the underground,  Sure they were still aggressive and organized in gangs but not all of them where that way, just like not all humans where tied to the mafia. "I can't say I blame him, I mean  What do you do?  Your kids are dead, your peoples hope,  I think that would make anyone crazy." I admitted chin in hand, Sans nodded in agreement."Makes me glad I don't have a kid you know?" he said shifting he leaned back and I sent him a cocky grin"Oh yeah?  None of those Many many many girls Papyrus told me about got pregnant?" I asked exaggerating... a bit.  Sans sputtered going red"What?! No!  It's different for monsters anyway you gotta want it,  The souls gotta want it,  and not just one SOUL but both,  there are no accidents with monsters." He said scratching his cheek embarrassed, this was not where he had expected me to take the conversation clearly."Ohh?  I don't hear you denying the number though...." I said drawing out the teasing note in my voice as he went even redder his expression torn between wanting to brag about his prowess with women, and not wanting to make me mad, and being honest.  I couldn't help it, I snorted."Relax, I'm not going to hold it against you that you had partners before me." I said then slid him a look eyes narrow "Fully consensual over 18 partners." I said He nodded quickly "Jeeze Kid, Of course, I'd never I mean... hell I couldn't..." he said weakly quickly downing the bottle, Sighing and feeling merciful I pat his shoulder gently "I know, I'm just fuckin with you." I said stretching man it was nice to be out, the smells the sites the sounds, all different all fresh and new,  I shifted so I was leaning back against the bar looking out at the monsters and people mingling  I liked to watch people the different lives they led,  Not only was it good to collect details for covers but it was just fascinating, People where interesting."You know, this could be any bar on this side a town." I murmured looking at Sans with a half smile"Humans... monsters, we're not really all that different, Yeah biologically there's a difference but Our lives, our fundamental way of living?  Pretty much the same, Eat, shit, live, Sleep, do it all over again making friends and finding lovers along the way." I murmured"Makes me wonder why we bother with shit like racism and crap like that." I said shrugging Sans frowned thoughtfully before shrugging as well"Couldn't tell ya.  Ta be honest I don't get it myself but hey, it is what it is, but people like you, steppin in, tryna stop it? It makes a difference." He pointed out, his words making me smile, yeah, Hell I might only be one person but my actions did a lot,  I had probably saved more lives then I had taken, by cutting the heads off so many snakes,  "Heh, yeah, I guess your right... thanks." I sad tilting my head back and looking at him with a lazy smile.  It was funny, he could say some really stupid shit but... he also said these kinds of really meaningful things... damn he was to easy to like...❁ The time at the bar was great and the tipsy feeling running through my head was a good indicator I'd had a great time, Sans was half leaning on me face flushed red reeking of mustard, he'd drunk a whole two more bottles after that first one,  why it made him drunk, I had No clue but what ever worked I guess at least it smelled better then booze.He fumbled with his key as he unlocked the door rubbing a finger under his nasal cavity as I pushed the door open with my foot fighting to keep him steady.  Thankfully someone catch the door so I was able to drop my leg and steady myself before we both went down.  Looking at us Papyrus sighed"How many?" he asked as if this was a common occurrence."Three, but he did nurse them." I said trying to defend the big lug as he grasped at my face mashing his teeth against my cheek in a drunken kiss"Isn't sha…. Isn't… she great huh?" he mumbled trying to speak and failing to do more then slur out a few words, fighting not to laugh I guided the drunken monster inside  let out a sigh when Papyrus took and arm and helped me get him upstairs"Did you enjoy your time out?" Papyrus asked after a silent moment internally fighting with himself it seemed, I nodded"I did yeah,  Not that this house isn't fantastic and the gardens are huge but…""A cage is still a cage no matter how pretty?" he suggested softly I paused blinking surprised by his statement and nodded  well wasn't that a surprise, I never would have expected Papyrus to really understand but…"Our father wanted to talk with you when you returned." He said I glanced at Sans now passed out and snoring loudly into his sheets.  Before I could speak the taller skeleton shook his head"Just you." He said calmly and so I nodded letting him lead me from the room.  I wasn't sure why but this felt different  there was a calm coldness in my gut and I felt like I knew exactly what was coming.The office of Don Gaster was spectacular,  where Lucians was rather modern and bright Gasters was distinctly opposite, Heavy antique furniture in dark woods matching the rest of the house,  Book shelves weighed down with heavy leather bound tomes, not all of them in english… or even in any kind of language I recognized.  The carpet was thick and at the heavy desk the monster himself sat hands folded on top of the desk as he studied me.His request didn't surprise me, actually I suppose I should have expected it earlier, but I'd gotten comfortable.  As I stared at the older skeleton however I wasn't mad,  no why should I be?I smiled slowly head cocking to the side"Heh, No problem!"

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

I can't say I've ever objected to looking good it simply easier not to bother, as I leaned forward in the mirror carefully darkening my eyes making them all the more smoky and slumberous I'm reminded of the little pleasures of seeing my face change seeing the female come out.  I carefully drag red along my lips enhancing the color before shifting back, My hair is carefully pinned and curled, the dress is slinky and clingy in a shimmering gold with red feathers trailing down to the skirts hem, the slit riding high on my leg."Are you ready yet human?" came the loud demand of Papyrus.  I had gotten used to his voice though so it didn't startle me, I approached the door opening it"Yes but I need help can you get the buttons?" I asked turning my back to him ignoring his expression He was stunned to see me, and frankly I couldn't blame him, No one would ever look at me right now and know I was the same little urchin who had been in the Bar with Sans just the other night.  I lifted hair from the back of my neck so he could get to the line of small buttons that ran down my spine he coughed and I felt the rough tips of bone fingers working quickly while trying to touch me as little as possible.  I was deeply tempted to tease him but after the way I had been pissed at Sans for assuming I was an easy lay it seemed wrong… for now anyway."I-it suits you Human." He managed to stammer out roughly, and I was positive the poor lanky bag of bone must had been redder then a tomato."Thank you, I'm told you picked it, you have good taste, I think it'll suit the plan better." I said calmly before taking a breath I wasn't me anymore and as I let the breath out I drew my shoulder back, it was subtle, I know he noticed because his finger paused then quickly finished doing the buttons and drew his hands back sharply as if burned.  I turned to him slowly I did, she did, the woman who would grace his arm that evening,  not me.  No longer me.  I am nothing and she?  She is the one who is needed."What that look for now?  Don't tell me you forgot the dress you chose?" She said slowly her voice had a sultry inviting note to it husky and pleasant to listen to.  Papyrus shook his head quickly regaining himself as he studied her, she was, probably magnificent to him… or alien.  Either way."Boss, she all seeeee………" Sans walked in and she looked at him chuckling she smiled gently"Sans please, I'm sure you know better than to just barge in to a ladies room." She said smoothly collecting her gloves and slipping them on "Now why don't we head out hmm? " She said gently grabbing the arm of the taller skeleton and looking to Sans with a polite nod before Papyrus escorted her from the room.  There was a quiet crack that followed them out before Sans stepped quickly after them.  As they descended the main stairs a servant stood ready with a wrap for her to wear.  As Papyrus settled it over her shoulders Don Gaster emerged from the shadows moving to stand next to Sans placing a hand on the other skeletons shoulder as he looked over his younger son and his partner."Have a good evening Papyrus, Helen, I trust you'll have an enjoyable time." He said easily Helen smiled, because that was how she was polite and vaguely distant."I'm sure we will thank you for seeing us off." She said warmly as Papyrus nodded to his father and brother  offering his arm to her once more as the doors were opened and they stepped out to the waiting car.❀The restaurant was very much what she expected of Papyrus, elegant and dignified, she could easily see Don Gaster here as well.  Herself to, of course, Helen fit here, this was her world. As Papyrus escorted her inside she kept her gentle subtle smile as a man took her wrap while another in a neat suit escorted them to their table.  It was Papyrus who pulled her chair out for her before settling himself, without pause as one would expect of a dignified couple he turned to the waiter and requested a nice white wine."Such a lovely place my dear Thank you for bringing me, I've missed dining out." She said warmly keeping conversation light and easy as she looked over the menu.  Around them diners socialized quietly so that the volume was never louder than a quiet murmur of indistinct voice.She carefully filtered those voices, focusing on them as she spoke of trivial things and looked over the menu,  there was one conversation she needed to hear, one table,  and wouldn't you know, it was almost right next to theirs.  Four men in very fine suits sat at the table speaking and eating already they must have been there for a bit.One had looked her over appraisingly while she'd walked by and she'd nodded to him and smiled offering a flirty flutter of her lashes that had the red face of the man going redder.  It was that red faced man who was talking to the others, discussing the shipment of product due to arrive and plans for export.  She said nothing her expression never changed,  though she did glance over from her menu and offer the man another flirty smile,  he responded with a wink and a raise of his glass.  It wasn't subtle and she could almost feel the aura Papyrus gave off the annoyance.Through the meal, the play continued she'd meet the mans gaze and flirt with her eyes and smile, her teeth and tongue while Papyrus ate in silent annoyance, brushing off her attempts at conversation or shutting her down completely which it seemed, to only spur her more to flirting with the man who seemed to really enjoy his wine.It was a delightful meal and she savored eat bite though she was a lady so she didn't make a show of such delight, she did casually comment on just how juicy the steak she had was though when Papyrus murmured expecting only the best she agreed"It's so big as well,  I appreciate a restaurant that isn't shy about portions." She said warmly Papyrus snapping his glass down firmly"You're becoming annoying 'dear' if you could please cease your chattering." He said shortly, she gasped softly and glanced away  gaze meeting the red nosed man again he gave her a compassionate look which she smiled to before falling silent and finishing her meal.When the mens meeting seemed to taper off into casual conversation and Papyrus sat back with a satisfied sigh"I imagine your Human apatite will expect Some sort of dessert? I suppose it's no trouble while I have a coffee." He said as if he where granting her a great kindness her expression twitched,  before she smiled standing"Yes of course dear, You know what I like Can you order for me? I'll be right back." She excused to the skeletons smug expression sliding her chair in place and making her way towards the toilets,  the man barely waited before she heard him making excuses to follow, his companions joked but they meant nothing.the toilets where at the end of a long windowless hallway with a corner you turned to get to them, once she rounded the corner and waited leaning against the wall one arm around her chest while she rubbed her temple looking distressed, the slit of the dress to hang tantalizingly open as the man came around the corner he saw her and paused grinning as he swept a hand over his hair and approached"You seem a little distressed my dear." He said in a smooth voice that had likely lured many others.  She looked over and smiled waving a hand"Oh no no, it's fine of course… I simply, needed a moment." She said easily her lip trembling faintly as if she might cry before she let out a quick breath looking away embarrassed"Excuse me, I must have had to much wine.  I'm so sorry for being a bother." She said turning back to him once she composed herself.  The man preened she was beautiful a lady in distress, and the flirty way she smiled at him, obviously he was a better choice than some monster!"Is there any way I could help you?" he asked she paused thoughtfully."Well, I hate to cause trouble but… I am I was wondering if you could give me a little peek in the men's room, I'm curious. Is it as private as the ladies?" She said with a slow smile,  he moved forward touching her chin coaxing her to look in his eyes he was looking for something, but it wasn't there."Of course, I do love a lady who likes to learn." He said,  and with her on his arm he pushed open the mens room door it was empty as expected as planned and  she stepped forward"My don't the men get an attendant?" she asked amazed as the business man chuckled pulling at his tie."We do but it's usually some lazy kid or a monster.  Heh, best place for them.  Ah… excuse me, your partner is a monster." He said and she chuckled"Oh don't worry about that,  you and I both know business, is business,  obligations… work…  but, in quiet places I'm sure there is… fun to be had?" she said turning to him and smiling"Plenty of fun, plenty." He murmured walking forward he kissed her, and she let him, she kissed back, with all the appropriate eagerness of a dissatisfied woman seeking pleasure in the arms of another man,  and as they kissed she pulled a small pack from between her breasts, the baggie held a few pills"I like to have a lot of fun,  Nothing works quiet right on monsters the way it does a virile man, would you indulge a lonely woman her one pleasure?" she asked softly, he grinned eyeing the pills looked normal, he knew what it was, he'd had them at parties before and the rush was delicious."No problem let's make sure we're not bothered though."  With a grip on her arm he dragged her into one of the empty toilet rooms, and shut the door pressing her against it he mauled at her, hands on her breasts lips all over her face and neck before she pulled back opening the baggie and fishing out a pill, taking one herself first before offering him one,  he took it and swallowed, eager to experience the pleasure she promised.The effect was almost instant,  he frowned brows knitting  she touched his shoulder"Hey are you alright? What's wrong?" she asked worriedly."P-pill…" he wheezed out he was already beginning to foam at the mouth sagging back onto the toilet, she shifted fixing her dress"Oh?  No good?  Alright, I'll leave you here then to uh, Work it out,  maybe drop your pants?  So when you shit yourself you don't ruin that nice suit of yours." She said calmly stepping from the stall and with a file relocked it from the outside before making her way out muttering embarrassed to herself"Goodness the mens room I'm so silly!" she said to herself with a weak laugh before making her way into the ladies room and doing what she need thanking the attendant and giving a tip before slipping out composed not a hair out of place.  The men at the table seemed surprised but no one said anything as she sat a sliver of warm fudge cake waiting, ah what a delightful treat!Papyrus reached over the table stroking her cheek."I'm sorry for being so curt before." He said gently his voice softer kinder now she'd returned she smiled tilting her head into his hand"I know my dear, thank you for dessert you know just what I like." She said warmly her smile genuine as she ate and he enjoyed his coffee.  As she ate she didn't pay any notice to the men at the other table who began to shift and murmur confused,  when one called a waiter over, she only looked up when her attention was called."Excuse me miss, Did you happen to see the gentleman who was with these other guests?" he asked Papyrus looked up questioningly but Helen shook her head"No, not since I sat,  I've been sitting with my date, I can't say I've paid much attention." She said blankly The waiter nodded and pardoned himself before returning to the other table the men whispering growing confused and annoyed, of course such a thing wasn't uncommon for their partner it seemed."Didn't you meet him for some illicit fun?" one of the men demanded of her standing annoyed at her words not believing her for an instant she blushed hotly even as the waiter tried to calm the man down and Papyrus stood towering over the man disgusted by the man's outburst"How dare you make such accusations." He said shortly,  the man paled but stood his ground Helen wasn't impressed by the posturing and touched the skeletons arm gently."You monsters are bloody blind, she's been flirting with him since you got here." He said spitting the words,  Helen sighed standing taking the silence as a chance to defend herself."I smiled, but that's not flirting I was just being polite because he smiled at me.  Dear I'd like to leave I think I'm finished." She said shortly Papyrus nodded placing a hand around her and looking to the men"One thing I've noticed about Human men, is their inability to understand their women, perhaps that's why they prefer us." He said shortly before glancing at the waiter expression easing a touch "I trust these… men will not be permitted back, I am fond of this place I'd hate to never return." He said coolly, the waiter nodded quickly before waving over a few other, one man rushed over with her wrap while the manager was quick to rush over and apologize assuring Papyrus that such accusations were not acceptable and the men would not be permitted back to the premises.  Satisfied he was quick to hurry off to the table as Papyrus escorted her out.  The car pulled up promptly and he held the door for her before slipping side himself nodding to the driver as they pulled from the curb, she shifted slipping pins from her hair"My bag please." I said softly as I shook my hair out, my scalp ached but the night wasn't over,  with drawing the baggy and file from between my breasts I dumped them in the bag and quickly stripped Papyrus looked away his skull a hot red.  I had to give him points for being a gentleman. I still wasn't to used to that, but I didn't have time to think about it, with the dress off I was quick to slip on the baggy clothes of the urchin who was needed for the second half of the night, because red nose wasn't the only target of the night, or of the group, but two in a restaurant would be far to telling.  As the car went on I scooped soot from a container combing it through my hair and then on my skin and cloths I can feel him waiting and as I tuck my hair under the slouching cap I'm not me again, he is there opening his eyes and slouching on the back seat tapping the toe of a mismatched boot.❀The building they approached was fairly nice, too nice for what the man did for a living.  There was a special place in hell for men who bought and sold women and children like products.  The conversation overheard at the restaurant had sealed his fate as much as the other ones so The urchin felt no guilt or sadness at the idea of killing the man,  hid hand on his gun was steady and firm and everything that he was, was ready to kill a real monster, not the people who had come from the underground, but someone truly disgusting.The kid said nothing sitting on the desk one leg dangling off it As Papyrus settled in the fine leather chair going through the papers he had dug out of a formally locked drawer.  The kid knocked lightly on the desktop as a shadow passed over the glass of the door and it swung open revealing the face of the half sauced man."The hell 're you doin here?  Bad enough I can't enjoy my fuckin shteak no more cause o yer date what the fuck you doin in my office." He slurred out annoyed, he wanted to be mad but the booze had dulled him considerably leaving him standing there half steady as Papyrus rested his chin on laced fingers."I'm here because we became aware that you deal in goods that we frown upon." He said calmly as if a teacher schooling a foolish child, the kid snorted lifting the gun lazily and pointing it at the man taking pleasure in the way he paled and blubbered.  Papyrus grunted and with a sigh the gun lowered"Easier ta just shoot him boss." He muttered,  he had to be in his teens still but there was an Icy edge to his voice that convinced the drunken man that he'd have to tread carefully or he'd be a dead man."Look Mista, I'm not ssure who ya think I am… I'm jusht an inveshter." He said carefully, a step forward had the kid lifting the gun again and he quickly back peddled a few steps."Oh?  Is that so?  And what was your meeting about tonight?" Papyrus asked,  they both saw the way the mans eyes brightened at the opportunity, both monster and boy relished knowing it was a fruitless hope."Shippin… shorry…. Shipping goodshh….  Gotta plansh to shtart, exportin." He explained he didn't need to go into details they were just goods, long forgotten over looked goods that no one cared about.No one would miss"Where did ya find 'em?" the kid asked,  the man scowled annoyed at the audacity and was obviously ready to speak but remembering the gun he instead looked to Papyrus imploringly"Thish ish just a mishundertandin, we can dic…dish… talk thish out without the kid…" he said but Papyrus shook his head"I believe he asked you a question, you best answer." He said calmly the man swallowing thickly her combed his fingers through his hair disheveling the already sweat dampened comb over."W-where elsh would ya get goodsh?  W-we're jusht export… compa-" he stopped talking as the kid hopped off the desk he was deceptively tall, the man had thought him a lot shorter but now he stood he felt more intimidated."Naw… see,  I ain't eve been a big fan 'o liars…  People like you? Ya make me sick really so why don't we cut the middle out, where ya pretend ya don' know what I'm about mm?  Where are ya getting the people your hoping to sell ya sack 'o horse shit?"  the man stuttered as the kid drew closer murder in his eyes,  he fumbled to speak to try and get angry to try and defend himself but before he could the gun cracked across his face making him stumble to the floor shocked by the force."Where…." The word was simple but the man knew it carried the weight of his life with it."S-sheltersh…. Sheltersh and off tha shhhtreetsh… Pleashe…." He whimpered he was scared he just wanted easy money he wanted to live a better life, he wanted to be rich and respected and.  The hammer pulled back with an ominous click that sent a warmth spreading through his pants.  He didn't have time to be ashamed of himself.  He didn't even really hear the shot."Shelters…" the kid frowned and temper getting the best of him he kicked the death slack face of the man once, twice, rearing back for a third time when a hand settled on his shoulder"Enough, I'm sure he's quiet dead, let's go." Papyrus said calmly, the boy sneered but nodded turning to spit on the body before following,  Laying neatly on the desk open was the folder names, ages, and dates of import and export listed, as well as initial bidder estimates based on looks and worse… virginity.  There would be no tears shed for that man when his crimes came to light, they had made sure of that.  The boy didn't disappear until we were back at the house, slipping off the cap I shook my hair out and sighed, I'd need a bath to wash away the soot, but it had been a job easy enough.  I look at Papyrus and smile,  he stares at me a long moment."How did you do that human?" he asked finally, I know what he's asking, and why,  but how do I explain it?"I don't know, I just was always able to, heh, Bet I'd have been a great actress huh?" I manage trying to laugh it off, but I know that look, and so I excuse myself quickly.  Don't look at me that way…  I find myself thinking.. I want to see Sans, Somehow I just know that'll cheer me up, wait I… need cheering up?  It's an odd realization,  I was normally just resigned but these people they made it so hard to remain detached.

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

Sans isn't in his room as I expected, frankly I kind of thought he might have just gone to sleep but no, in fact I was surprised to find him in what had become my room, he was sitting on the edge of the bed looking thoughtful when I walked in I know my face Is still dirty and the cloths hang off my frame in a loose ill fitted way but I wanted to see him, se even though I still looked a mess I was glad he was there."I figured you'd have gone to bed this late." I said shutting the door and flicking the light casting him a smile as he smiled back, but it didn't have the same feel to it.  I don't want him to look at me the way Papyrus did so I stepped forward quickly kissing his forehead in an act of affection I'm not used to, but…"Job went off with out trouble, no one was hurt who didn't need to be, and all the info was right where the don said it would be.  No ones going to miss that trash." I said lightly calm normal, just work.  Sans relaxed and his smile warmed, before I could step away to grab some clean cloths big hands grabbed my waist and he nuzzled the crook of my throat exposed by the sagging neckline of the shirt no longer held in place by the lazy tie."Tha's good.  Pops thought you'd manage it better, You're a lot more discreet then me." He said with a chuckle hand sliding up my back, I shiver the rough feel of his bones scraping gently against my skin."Well, two hits in one night from the same group?  It had to be discreet, we don't want these people following the trail back to you." I said leaning close, I loved the way his hands trailed over my body my breath caught in my throat as he scrapped wickedly sharp teeth across my skin. The sigh that escaped me was half moan before I pulled away laughing hearing him gag slightly"Right I'm still covered in costume, I need a bath." I said my hands on his shoulders,  smiling as his eye lights met my gaze"Join me?"  I suggested calmly.  The lights seemed to brighten a moment before he scooped me up drawing a shocked but delighted laugh from me.  Good god.  He'd carried me before but Both time had been when I was unconscious.  So being awake and fully aware as he effortlessly swept me in his arms cradling me close was such a thrill, and, internally I could admit, stupidly romantic.  I had kind of given up on the idea of something like this ever happening to me,  this was for good girls.  For soft gentle women."Heh ya think tha's fun close yer eyes a sec." he said grinning in a playful way.  It was interesting, even though his skull meant he was always smiling in a way I could see the differences the way the bone of his brown moved, the lights in his eye sockets, his body language.  I studied him a moment before shrugging and closing my eyes.I gasped weakly the sudden feeling of my stomach dropping  then a strange weightlessness and for an instant, just a moment, I… I wasn't.It wasn't like how I became someone else for work, My body existed and I'm in it, thought deep buried and waiting.  No, this was different, it was like for the barest instant I was nothing, there was nothing. Weightless formless. NothingThen it was over in a snap, so fast I could have convinced myself it hadn't happened.  But I knew it had and when My eyes opened we where in a larg bathroom, different to the one I had used before.  It wasn't hard to realise it must be Sans private bathroom but… how?"Heh, Pretty neat trick huh?  Tha's a short cut sweetheart, it's how I can get from one place to another so fast." He explained setting me down to look around as he ran water in a huge tub.  It was sunk into the floor and really fancy, hell the bathroom on it’s own was bigger then my whole apartment.  Even Lucian didn't have anything this big.  Then again Sans wasn't small.  Well Monasters where rarely small but he was bulky so I suppose it would make sense for him to have a bigger rooms.As he ran the bath I stripped and rolled my shoulders before glancing at myself in the mirror, the shot had lft a scar just like I worried it would.  I'm not happy with that but it's easy enugh to hide so I'd just have to be satisfied with that.  Despite that I reached up touching the puckered flesh.  It was so strange, such a small wound had come that close to killing me.It wasn't as if I thought I was invincible, I knew about mortality, With my life how could I not understand death?  But, maybe it was my own close brush with it,  being so helpless… I couldn't put my finger on it but I felt a shiver and dropped my hand away from it quickly.  As I did Sans came into view of the Mirror behind me.  He only had his slacks left on, suspenders hanging limply at his hips leaving the bare bones of his ribs for me to see, it was strange but not unpleasant.  He moved up behind me wrapping his arms around me and in an odd but peaceful moment I found myself closing my eyes and leaning back into him.We stood a moment in silence his big arms wrapped around me and I felt like I fit there, I should have been worried, I was getting attached way to fast I wasn't like this… was I? I knew so little about myself because so many people and situations needed me to be someone else… Was I getting attached to fast? Or where those the thoughts of one of my covers?  Was that what I was thinking because I didn't let myself get close to anyone other then Lucian and my mother?  I just wasn't sure, but I did know that I liked this feeling.  I liked the silence, I liked him holding me.  I liked… I liked feeling the anchor,  He wasn't holding anyone else, he was holding me."Thinkin some deep thoughts there, Heh your face twistied into so many different expressions for a second there." He said with a low rumbling chuckle, I couldn't help smiling"Nah jus enjoyin this.  Thinking how much I like it.  I haven't really experienced this kind of… thing before.  I mean, affection, lingering… I just, I like being with you I guess… I wanted to see you because, I knew I'd feel… better." I admitted watching his face in the mirror, his expression was complicated but then it softened and he pulled me closer nuzzling again"Well, tha's a good thing, I want ya to feel good around me.  I am kinda surprised though, never thought it would bother ya, you seem so unaffected." He admitted and I sighed nodding"I am to I'm… I'm not bothered by the work.  I'm not ashamed of what I did those men where terrible, and the lives saved by removing them is worth it.  I dunno… I guess, I get used to the way people look at me when I change, when they see me working, Even Lucian looked at me like that once and I guess I don't like it." I admitted  He frowned"Oh yeah how do they look at'cha?" he asked curiously and I smiled reaching up and back to touch his cheek."Well that would be telling, and besides.  You didn't look at me like that when you saw me earlier, in the dress.  When I was… Her."  I said softly shifting I turned slowly in his arms reaching up framing his face, no he didn't need to know the way others had looked at me, the way his brother had looked at me just a little bit ago,  Because I felt confident he wouldn't look at me that way, and I didn't want him to worry about it or try and stop himself.  What I was growing to adore was his honesty.  Even as mad as I had been about his question about why I hadn't slept with his brother.  He had asked, not to hurt me but out of an honest need to know."Come on big guy Why don't I scrub your back?" I suggested with a smile kissing him gently.  He seemed happy enough by the subject change because his arm wrapped more securely around me, finger burying in my hair as he kissed me back.What started slow and languid quickly became more and more heated I gasped out as he dragged me towards the bath the hot water on my feet was nice as he sank down into the tub I sighed shifting a little breaking the kiss only a moment to make sure I was comfortable on his lap, His slacks had vanished, I had no idea when that happened so when I settled on cool bone I shivered. They weren't freezing but compared to the water they where pretty cold."Ya good?" he asked carefully and I nodded moving to kiss him again,  one hand was stroking up and down my back as the other had slipped down rubbing my left thigh.  I sighed softly at his touch it felt so good thumb gently rolling circles on my inner thigh as his hand trailed up further untill he grasped my hip pulling me a bit forward his hand slipped down inward brushing against my core and I jolted hot water, cool bones, my ow heat, his magic.  It was a fantastic sensation that set my body on fire!His fingers rubs and stroked gently petting me before a finger slide inside making me whimper at the feeling. He slid it deep inside until the palm of his hand covered my mound his other fingers splayed as he held that finger deep inside me, just holding still and steady I was about to move when his other hand slid down to my hip pinning me in place"S-sans…."  He smiled kissing me lightly"What?" he asked with mock innocence before gently wiggling his finger inside me  Oh god, it was wonderful and awful the way he teased me"You got out of the tie last time, I thought I'd see just how creative you are." He said then inclined his head "Is that ok?"  His finger stopped moving and he watched me,  he wanted to play I wanted to play but he was making sure it was ok. "How creative are we talking?" I asked curiously, I was hot and eager and frankly I trusted him.  He wasn't gonna hurt me I knew that much, at least… no more then I wanted him to anyway.  He smiled and suddenly a rush of magic washed through me, he was deliberately channelling it through the finger inside me red magic manifested at my wrists and drew my arms up not to far though so my elbows had some slack and my shoulders weren't strained,  My hands hung above my head crossed inward."O-oh… Y-yeah that's ok…" I breathed panting oh god that was hot.  I was at his mercy and I wanted nothing more in that moment for him to ravish me."Alright then, no lets see where were we? Right… I was just about to make you scream my name." he said with a chuckle before he pulled his hand back and slipped another finger inside.  I cried out as expected hips jolting but he still had my hip pinned.  He dragged his fingers in and out slowly it was excruciating I wanted it I wanted him, it was so deep the ridges of the bones adding an extra rubbing feeling as he pumped in, out, in out more then a third finger and I gagged His fingers where so thick, and with three inside i-it was so much I strained whimpering."Please, please please." I begged weakly as he dragged his fingers out slowly"Please what?  I mean, I can't do anything if ya don't tell me what you want." He teased and I half sobbed in frustration"Please, let me cum Please I, I need it please." I gasped out I was shivering I was so close, so close but his teasing was just keeping me on the edge of it not enough to push me over."Oooohhh is that what you want…" he said drawing out the words as he kept moving his fingers slowly in and out before suddenly there was a vibration against my clit my eyes shot wide in confused shock wait what was?  I saw the red glow of magic and realised he'd formed.. something.  I barely had time to process that his magic was pleasuring me before his fingers moved faster the hand on my hip sliding to gently cup my ass releasing me to ride his fingers, water sloshing around as I humped against his hand eagerlyDeeper, harder the vibrations his thick fingers warm from the water and my own body God, he wiggled them and I was gone."SANS!"  I cried out his name as explosive orgasm had me riding his hand harder untill the rush passed and I sagged a bit panting weakly the magic gone my arms fell lax around his shoulder as I slumped forward aginst his chest I could feel the pulsing muscles work around his fingers untill he carefully slid them out leaving me feeling curiously cold in their absence."Yer so damn sexy." He murmured the hand that hand cupped my ass left the water turning my face up so he could kiss me gently.  I reciprocated of course sighing into his hold feeling wonderful.ꕥBy the time we were done washing each other we where both so spent Sans didn't bother lifting me, he just did that same teleport thing and dropped us on his bed.  I was a bit surprised by that I had sort of expected him to take us to my room, I thought he might want to keep this, me… something, out of his space.  But as he cradled me close his large form curling around mine I found myself smiling happily.  I wanted to be here, in his room, in his bed, in his arms.I couldn't really think of the last time I had ever wanted something for myself.  Part of me knew I should get up I should go to the don and tell him how the mission had gone, but I knew Papyrus would deal with it.  Frankly, I didn't want to move from Sans arm.  So I shuffled back and shivered lightly, out of the water I felt cold. "Heh sorry… these bones don't really feel it." Sans muttered apologetically as red magic enveloped his quilt pulling it over us.  It was thick and warm the one in my room wasn't thin or anything but his was… I couldn't put my finger on it but, nicer, I grasped it pulling it close and snuggling down with a grin"That’s it we gotta get married."  The skeleton choked as I rolled to face him, a cocoon of blanket with a face grinning at him."W-what wha… why?" he stammered his face enveloped in the red magic of his and I laughed"Duh because this blanket is perfect and your bed is much bigger then mine, why else?" I said lightly  He stared at me a long moment before letting out a loud laugh snorting and wrapping his arms around the bundle that was me and nuzzling my neck."I dunno if we can get married, I've got a skeleton of problems." He murmured making me snort faintly as I snuggled into his hold.  This, it felt.. right. So perfect. Not just the silly pun or the warm blanket or the big arms, all of it.  The work was just work, done by someone ease and here I was, me in his arms feeling so happy."That's ok Tibia honest I got my own." I responded making him chuckle,  though I had to admit I was hoping he didn't toss out any more, I had kind of stretched for that one,  I wasn't the best at puns… maybe I could find a book or something with them to boost my arsenal? "Yer slurrin words there sweetheart, why not sleep." He suggested his deep voice rumbled in his chest and even though there were no lung, there was no esophagus or vocal chords.  I could feel it and hear it in him as he spoke."Sounds good." I murmured in response.  I'd be more than happy to clarify anything the don wanted in the morning but for now, I just… I just wanted to savor my time with him, the quiet peace a world of just him and me., I didn't think that was too much to ask… was it?I had no idea then, that as I was happily snuggled in the arms of a man I was quickly falling deeper for, someone had taken it upon themselves to kill the only family I had.

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

I felt sick as I stared at Lucian.  He had arrived almost half an hour before, but I still couldn't process his words.  I-it wasn't right, it, this, it didn't happen it wasn't real… it couldn't be real…  I could feel Sans beside me the big arm that had been loosely draped around my waist when I had woken that morning held me to his side,  I could feel Papyrus' big hands on my shoulders.  He didn't seem to know what else to do, on a couch across from me the don talked with Lucian but the words where tinny in my ears.  I didn't want to believe it."O fílos mou?"  the words startled me drawing me out of my own head as I looked at the man who had been my friend since childhood.  Had he asked me something?  Said something?  I didn't know.I didn't…I couldn't seem to think of anything to say as I stared at him, I wanted to go back,  I wanted to wake up and find this whole thing was just a horrible dream.  Only a few hours ago I had been happily in the arms of a man I was beginning to realize I had feelings for and now I was sitting being told my mother… My mother was dead?!  It couldn't be possible.  It was as simple as that.  The apartment wasn't the biggest or the best but the neighborhood was safe.  Everyone in the block was nice.  It was safe, she had her medicines I had made sure of it… she…No it simply couldn’t be true."Stop lying… please." The words sounded broken, even to me as I spoke.  Was that thready sound my voice?  No I needed to be stronger more firm, this wasn't funny, I liked a good prank but this… this wasn't funny at all it was just sick, why would they do this to me?The room went tense as I pulled away from Sans I, I don't want to be touched, I don't want the anchor the skeletons offered because the anchor made it real, this couldn't be real I don't want it to be real!"Why would you say that?  There's obviously a mistake." I said, Lucian started to speak and I broke" My mother is not dead." I said firmly, I'm not sure who I was trying to convince though, them or myself.  I was shaking I know that much but I didn't realize I was crying, all I knew was my vision went fuzzy, there was pain it hurt, even worse than being shot, even worse than almost dying I felt… I felt so helpless"She's not dead!" I hollered this time at myself.  There's no need to feel this pain because she's not dead.  Lucian is wrong, he has to be wrong because I had worked hard, so hard to keep her safe. To toe the line, to make sure everything was safe for her, that she got her medicine that she had good people living around her!"I'm so sorry.  I am so, so sorry."  The words are gentle,  he's speaking Greek and I don't want to understand it, but I do and it broke me even more as big hands cupped my face forcing me to look at him.  Lucians eyes were so full of remorse.  He was a terrible actor, so I knew. His thumb rolled across my cheek gently he was murmuring gently but the words meant nothing.  How could this have happened I thought, why? Who?"H-How?" I managed finally Lucian shifted hesitant to speak of it but it churned in my gut I needed to know."How did it happen?" I said again, venom laced my words, I knew, I shouldn't be like this, it wasn't his fault
It's yours
I wanted to tell the little voice in my head to shut the fuck up.  No, no I had done everything I could to keep her alive an comfortable. I worked I had fought…"She was… shot… several times.  I… we.. have reason to believe it was a hit and not random." Lucian said finally I felt cold, the chill slipped down into my bones but I couldn't say a word, there was a reason. I knew there had to be a reason he thought my mother was the target specifically."A gun was left behind.  On purpose, it had been wiped of prints but it was the same type as the one the…" he glanced at Sans involuntarily…The same type of gun the kid had.  It knocked the wind out of me, it was my fault.  All my fault, she was dead, shot in her home in the safe haven I had fought for her… because of me.  They were talking around me again and I half listened, arrangements where being made.  My cover was being kept so I couldn't go to the house or deal with anything.  Lucian was handling everything anonymously one of his close men acting as one of my mother's 'distant relatives' for anything that needed doing in person.I couldn't even go see the body,  I wouldn't b able to do anything, nothing that could link me or any of my covers to her, to me…I was already out of the room before I felt a hand take my arm, I jerked away sharply turning to look at Sans, his expression was conflicted, he looked… guilty?  Why? This wasn't his fault.  This was mine, it was all mine. I scratched my arm absently where he had grabbed me.My blood bathed body had killed my mother.I was a destroyer…"Sweetheart…" he said carefully then when I didn't respond he sad my name gently and reached out for my face, I stepped back, no, don't touch me… I'll get you killed to.  I kill, and I kill, and I kill… it's all I was.  I'm a killer.I'm a real monster.  Not him, not them."I'm going for a walk... I, need air." I managed weakly, he seemed like he wanted to come with me, I could see the conflict before he nodded"A-alrigh' j-jus… comeback when yer feelin better… ok?" he said softly.  No expectation, no demands.  Just an open invitation to return when I wanted to.  I nodded smiling weakly before slipping out the door alone. ✥ I was such a liar… a stupid lying monster who didn't deserve him, or Lucian, or anything.  As I arranged my hair and pinned the nurses cap in place I struggled to bring her out, a nurse, I was… I fixed the name tag to my apron and fought again to draw her out.  I couldn't be me I needed to be someone else, someone else Someone else come on I felt stupid I could do this had done it for years why was I being so useless now?  I scratched at the spot Sans had grabbed me more, the skin had gone red a while ago but covered by the sleeve of the uniform I couldn't see it. Only someone detached could do this job, no one could find out the truth who was even remotely connected to me!  I couldn't risk my work… my work… it's all I was, blood and death. If I had never done any of this she'd be safe, she'd be alive she'd be happy! I should have been dead I was the monster I was the vile evil thing! Die! just die! Her hands shivered gripping the rim of the sink taking a deep breath, I knew I needed to focus she was there I was close, a breath, in, out, in out… in… out… In. . . O U T . . .She looked up her eyes where a touch red but she smiled,  a nurses work was hard sometimes,  she'd be fine. She just had to do her job.  The woman in the bathroom stall would be unconscious for a long while so she wasn't worried about her waking up and outing her any time soon, and she wasn't planning on sticking around after she verified for herself. Until I said my goodbyes.She shook her head clearing the thoughts and stepped towards the door pausing as it opened, another nurse looked at her and smiled sympathetically"You ok hun?" she asked a heavy southern drawl to her voice,  She smiled and nodded"Yeah sorry, Lost my first patient, I guess I needed a minute." She said sheepishly the other nurse nodded she had a wide friendly face and understanding eyes"Don't worry hun, the fact your still here is good.  You gotta focus on the ones you do save." He said comfortingly before stepping aside to let her out.  The nurse thanked her superior before making her way along the hall Pausing to answer a few patient questions about directions as she made her way along the halls, the confidence and comfort made it easy to blend in.  She paused to help a little girl reach a pamphlet to read in a waiting room before making her way to a receiving desk."Assistance was paged for Morgue documents?" she asked mildly confused the receptionist frowned thoughtfully before scoffing and shaking her head,  so much happened at a city hospital at times it was just impossible to keep track  She scanned the desk and the intake papers before grabbing a folder.  There were some files to be taken down as she had anticipated.  A bustling city had a busy morgue."Here, And when your down there can you remind them reception isn't their damn maid?" she said irritably, the nurse nodded"Yeah, god forbid we do Our work and not everyone else's right?" she said lightly the receptionist laughed nodding and waving her off dismissively.  She followed the halls, and surreptitious glance at signs and a wing map had her quickly in the morgue, she wouldn't have long so setting the file down she knocked on the autopsy room door and step in once called"I'm sorry but Dr. Fielding is asking for you, he said it's important." She said apologetically the man huffed shaking his head muttering something about always being interrupted while busy, slipping off his gown and face mask he stalked out.  Wasn't it lucky the attending physician for the patient with paperwork had been a Dr. Fielding?She moved quickly into the morgue, there was the cold storage but also carts with bodies covered by sheets,  she moved fast scanning tags until she found one time and dated for the night before.I flinched,  Sick bile crawling up my throat, while I had been with Sans My mother had been murdered…  God what kind of awful daughter was I?  Had she called for my help?  Had she begged?  My hand shook as I pulled back the sheet and looked at her peaceful face.  She was to pale, and her hair was limp and knotted,  why couldn't they brush it?  She'd always tried to put some effort into her appearance.  To be presentable.  She used to say that if she looked neat she felt healthier, if she had the strength to take care of herself then she was ok…  S-she wasn't ok though and seeing th tangles broke something in me.  Oh god it hurt seeing her laying there like that I rubbed her cheek gently with the back of my finger, it was so cold, no warmth, no give…"I'm so sorry Momma… Don't worry,  You sleep, Sleep and find Dad, you find him and those beautiful gardens and that perfect home you always deserved.  I'll fix it.  I'll make it better." I said softly kissing her forehead gently fighting back tears, the hot ball of grief in my throat, fix it? What a crock! How could I fix it, she was dead, there was no coming back from that… no coming back… No, I couldn't fix her… but I could make damn well sure the one who killed her never hurt another person… ever.The technician who had been performing the autopsy before the nurse had arrived returned mildly confuse, Dr. Fielding wasn't looking for him, but another Dr. had been so he could only assume the nurse had gotten names mixed up.  He never thought to check the bodies, though if he had all he would have found was a smudge of something on a recent bodies forehead,  not even worth noting if he had even bothered to check. The nurse was long gone. ✥ Sitting in a booth a young man laughed with a group of others as they drank jovially"Damn man, yer the generous sort!" one of them said laughing into his third beer the young man grinned back shrugging"Nah just lucky and I gotta celebrate, but it's no fun celebratin alone." He said chuckling drinking slowly he was still on his first and had been interspersing drinks of it with water carefully keeping up the playful tone as the others got more and more wasted.  He knew them, low level thugs who belonged to the Zoras, new kids who had joined and had no idea what anything meant.  Who had no loyalty to family or friend."So you guys are really… ya know." He said looking in awe, one of the other young men nodded shrugging trying to puff up with importance,  the kid laughed. Blood stained the sleeve of his shirt but between the dirt and rust on the old cloths it wasn't noticed by the others or if it had been it was passed of as some work related cut or something, who cared beer!"Man that's pretty amazin,  well the way I hear it that’s the kinda life that gets ya all the good stuff." He said with suitable amazement,  before shifting"But isn't, I mean don't people say that family don't carry guns?" he asked with a whisper there where grumbles of annoyed affirmatives before the guy in charge of the group grinned"Leas… that's the preference.  But ye see kid, not everyone thinks pacifism is the best way to do business." He said opening his coat and showing a gun before quickly closing his jacket the young man looked impressed"Whoa…." Was all he could say breathing out a low whistle before leaning back glancing around as well before leaning in"So are they changin?  Like, do I need to get outta down from a war or something? That’s kinda crazy." He whispered nervously.  Feeling sympathy of their new 'friend' and drinking buddy who seemed happy enough to pay for their drinks."Nah nah, yer fine, Some of us just think we need to take a harder stance,  there might be a bit of a… executive shuffle, but nothing should be an issue for someone like you." He said as if he was bestowing his new 'friend' with a great honor, the kid sighed relaxing and laughing taking a drink"Another round then to celebrate?" he suggested to the delighted agreement of the men as they called for another round of beers. They talked and they laughed and they drank, and he watched and listened and gently pumped all the information he could,  a trip and drunken dance of sorrys and the 'leader' was disarmed, none the wiser.Putting them down was easy enough they were drunk and stupid, inciting a fight had been all to simple.  Drunks had no control.  They had all be armed and ready to turn on each other in drunken anger.  Between that and his own skills they were all dead in short order, these violent wanna bes wouldn't harm anyone now.The scene looked like a alleyway drunken brawl that had gotten out of hand a bunch of dumb drunks who had for some reason fought and killed each other.  No one had any reason to assume anyone else had been there.  No one remembered how many guys had been at the table in the bar, and it wasn't like trouble like this wasn't uncommon.Investigations would close on this scene as nothing more than a gang in fight. ✥ I had him… I knew, I had suspected when Lucian had decided to keep my survival a secret.  Someone in the Zoras was responsible for the gun, for the pot shot at Sans and my mother's death.  I had him…  I had to find cover for the day,  I needed rest, and time to consider my next move. my arm was throbbing an I scratched more at the place where sans had touched me.  I could still feel his bones on my skin.  I needed to get rid of it, he deserved better.  I would just get him killed.Lucian would still be investigating, he couldn't risk making a move against someone that high in the organization.  He had a balance to maintain…  I didn't.  I didn't care about balance or fairness or anything.  That man was going to die he was going to suffer and I'd take real joy as I flayed his fetid skin from his vile body.I glance up at a sudden tapping at my shoulder.  My head was pounding from the night before.  Tempering the beer with water had helped but the crying hadn't.  I'd found a good little wooden crate to tuck into and sleep for the night, it was in an alley between two buildings and tucked behind a pile of rubbish, it would do for a few hours.  It was hardly the first time I'd slept rough while under cover but I wasn't expecting to be approached. Standing in front of me was a small girl, she couldn't have been more then 7 or 8  in a neat if slightly time worn dress she smiled when I looked up at her and she held out a hand holding a shiny red apple to me."You cried a lot last night mr." she said softly,  it was unexpected to say the least as she moved and pointed up.  I followed the gesture up at the building opposite, a window was open. I could just see signs of a girls bedroom beyond the floral curtain"That's my room.  I could hear you and mommy said you must be really, really sad. So she said we could keep an eye on you in case you needed help, but you fell asleep.  Mommy said we'd check on you but I thought you might be hungry so you can have this."  She explained in the guileless way of a child.  I reached out taking the apple fingers brushing the waxy peel and smiling what where the odds the kid would bring out an apple to a stranger? To me, grieving my mother, her favorite food?"Thank you…" I managed, my voice was raspy probably from crying, "Sorry I kept you awake… yeah, I'm hurting a lot." I admitted weakly and take a bite.  It was good, juicy and it was crunchy and cool.  Tears welled fresh in my eyes and the girl made a weak noise of distress"Oh no is it bad do you not like apples?" she said worriedly I wanted to reassure her but I couldn't really think of how to explain why I was crying to someone so young. As I thought about it and swallowed my mouthful of apple a woman rounded the corner of the building"Angela what are you doing!?  I told you I'd… Oh…" she grabbed the little girl pulling her back, subtly shifting so the child was behind her.  A good mom.  She wanted to help but she also wanted to protect her child. A good person."Sorry… it's ok… You've got a good kid… maybe teach her not to just walk up to random people and give them things but, she's got a good heart." I managed weakly voice wobbling the woman nodded and watched me a moment before she crouched to be eye level with me."Are you going to be ok?  Do you need to send for someone?" she asked I shook my head and she seemed thoughtful"What about a ride? A way to get home?"  she asked I shook my head again slowly but managed to offer a weak smile this time grateful for her gentle generosity."No… no thank you Ma'am.. I… no I just found out my Ma died…" I could see the way her expression twisted with shock and compassion, she looked like she was going to reach out but held back,  I didn't want her to touch me, she was good her and her child where… to good to touch me."You're daughter, the apple… they where her favorite food and it just surprised me." I managed the woman smiled gently and nodded with understanding"Oh dear, I'm so sorry… do you want to come inside at least?" she offered her kindness was touching but also reminded me of just what a terrible person I was.  She had no idea how much blood I was responsible for, if she had even an inkling of what I was she'd scoop her child up and run far far away.  Knowing what I am, I won't soil her home."No thank you.  I'm going to eat this and head home, I just.  I couldn't face it yesterday… I'm sorry for keeping your kid awake." I managed the woman sighed but nodded not pushing"If you're sure." She said gently before standing taking her daughters hand and walking her from the alley.  The girl looked back and waved and despite the pain I waved back smiling weakly.  Good hearts. Good people… I needed to remember that.  I ate the apple savoring the flavor before throwing away the core and standing wiping my face. One last step. One more body, so little girls like that, could reach out, and be kind without it burning her.Later when the woman went back to check, the boy was gone, not even a sign of him there, the crate he'd slept in had been tipped and stacked with rubbish bags for pickup the next day.  She had no name, no address so there was no way to check on him.  But she had a feeling that anyone who cried that long and that hard, probably wasn't going to come back, so she left it alone.  She doubted she'd ever see him again and quickly forgot he'd ever even been there.✥ His house is easy to find and it's easier to slip onto the grounds places where the rocks pocked out just well enough on the stone wall surrounding the property,  trees to close to the wall.  The place wasn't as big as Lucians or Sans and the grounds weren't half as grand, but he acted like it was better.  He covered the lack of size with exotic plants and fancy statues, frankly it was tacky as hell and looked like a museum was having a garage sale of ugly crap.  It was expensive ugly crap, however; so that had been good enough.He didn't have half the security Lucian did so avoiding who he did have was easy. As I slipped along through brush using the sunset to cover my movements I went from bush to shrub, then along the wall at the back of the house.  If I remembered correctly,  about this time of day he'd be in his study having a brandy, some sort of post meal ritual Lucian had commented about absently before.I thought I might need to break something to get in but to my surprise the big glass doors that opened into a back hall where unlocked.  I should have been suspicious then but I was only thinking of blood and vengeance, I ignored the door as meaning he was home.Making my way silently along I had to pause once to remember the house layout.  I'd been here once,  on a job of course, though obviously this man hadn't been a target then.  Lucian had me pose as a floozy date so I could scope out the actual target. That had been a couple years ago though.  It took a moment but I remembered where the study was so slipping my way along the hall eventually reached the tacky door.  The only good thing about this man's taste in the big and ugly was how easy it was to hide,  I opened the door and moved inside shutting it with a quiet click before locking it.There it was a big gaudy ornate desk with an equally gaudy chair turned towards the window, on the desk was a half drunk glass, humph,  good if I was quiet I could get out of here with out to much trouble. As I approached I noticed to late my reflection in the window from the light behind me… but he wasn't saying a word, had he fallen asleep?It didn't matter I'd wake him up and make sure he knew why I was doing this.I walked forward and turn the chair ready to strike the man responsible for my mother's death.And found a corpse.

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

Despite the shock of seeing the man I wanted vengeance on already dead, my mind was working assessing the lay out, He was pale, and a smell became apparent,  he'd been dead at least a day, long enough for his bodies last acts to become rather pungent, something I had missed… I had been sloppy not to notice when I entered.  His throat had been slit and the blood was congealed and dry in some places.  The angle of his head indicated he'd been struck from behind, by someone not yet used to killing, the line was irregular and hesitant, they hadn't had a good knife and hadn't expected the resistance of muscles in the throat.Why, who?  This was meant to be mine,  he was supposed to be mine! I seethed with anger as I stared at the corpse.  His troubles where over, he had gotten off to easy as far as I was concerned, but that raised an issue.Who had killed him? It was to coincidental for this to have been a random hit, to hesitant.  A professional wouldn't have made such a mess.  Only a professional would have been hired for someone as high ranking as him.  It had to be someone he knew, someone he would have allowed into his study in the first place.If he'd been working with a rival gang he never would have met anyone from another family in his home.  As much as I hadn't really respected the man he had been loyal to the Zoras since Lucians grandfather had been in charge, No this wasn't a family dispute kill…What where the odds this man and my mother would be killed so close to each other? Maybe even the same night?  What was this, what did it mean?  My head ached, I wasn't built for solving problems, I did two things, I determined if the men I needed to kill deserved it, if they did, then I killed them, simple as that, there was no piecing together vague puzzles and coincidences!When a sudden sharp knock rapped at the door I knew I was in trouble, a quick glance around the room showed a neat spiral stair that led to the second level of the study the walls up there also lined with books.  I climbed as quickly and quietly as possible  slipping along the outcropping of floor that ran above the door as it opened. The piercing scream that echoed told me it must have been a maid or his wife who had entered.  As soft thud followed, had she fainted?  I didn't know but I muscled my way through the top floor door and hurried along the hall.  damn it! I didn't know the second floor, there where footsteps rushing through the halls but they had to all be running for the scream so I just needed to get away from the study. Fuck… fuckity fuck fuck fuck.My mind raced with possible routs of escape.  The longer I took the harder it would be, between his security, cops, any members of the family, hell Lucian might even come to investigate or see the scene for himself.My heart was pounding, I'd had close calls before but never anything like this, I was still struggling with everything running through my head trying to understand what was happening, trying to figure out where I could go in a house I didn't know the layout of!It was a miracle finding the bathroom.  The huge tacky room was all marble and gold and glass.  It looked like a roman temple from those photosets the guys liked to ogle in their free time.  I didn't really care about that, what I did care about was the wall of glass blocks that rose up in the middle of the room separating the sunken tub from the door allowing for 'privacy'  above that was a sunroof! I scrambled up the wall of glass grateful for the thickness of the 'bricks' and followed the edge to reach the window, damn it, it had no way of opening!  I’d have to break it that was going to make noise no matter what I did but maybe…  I wrenched at the sleeve of my shirt ripping it from the seam and pulling the whole sleeve off before wrapping it around my hand between I was only going to get one shot at this, between the height of the wall and the thickness of the ceiling.  I hauled myself up using the ornate cornicing that edge the hole to wedge myself into the space muscles straining to hold myself up pressing hard with my knees against one wall my back against the opposite wall essentially pinning myself into place I took a breath closing my eyes I didn't need glass in them, turning my head and making a tight fist I slammed my cloth wrapped fist into the glass nothing… shit… I took a steadying breath, I had to get out I could figure everything out afterwards but right then my priority was escape. I closed my eyes turned my head and shifting the angle of my fist before slamming it up again, this time I heard the glass crack, Ok, good one more should do it, a good strike…"Kid."I was unprepared for the voice and looked down. I felt shock and relief as I looked at the skull the grin a twisted grimace as he looked up at me.  He looked so out of place in the gaudy room, I had a moment to take in his appearance before he opened his arms for me.  He was disheveled,  tie hanging loosely his nice shirt rumpled like he'd slept in it…  I hesitated only a moment before  I relaxed and let myself fall from the hole right into his open arms."W-what the hell are you doing here?! You gotta get out of here he, I… it's bad, I don't know what the fuck is going on." I managed looking up at him, I didn't know what to do or say, I was at a complete loss, I hadn't told him what I was doing, where I was going.  It had only been a day but I missed his arms, his warmth, the way he held me"Zora got a call and called us immediately, I used residual magic to find you." He explained setting me on my feet big hand on my arms as he stared at me "Sweetheart what happened? What the heck are ya doin here? Isn' this guy one o'yers?" he asked I nodded "Yes, but he's the one who'd been passing the guns out to younger members, He's why Lucian wanted me to stay down, He gave the kid the gun that shot at you his guns killed my mother he had to have ordered it it's the only explanation… He's dead… He's dead and I couldn't…"  I felt the thick bile I had fought so far building, Sans growled lowly before he growled and pulled me close against him."We'll talk but not 'ere." He said and we were gone.* When I opened my eye we were in the garden of his home.  Near the pool that just a few days before we had joked and chatted. He sat heavily on the lawn chair that was still there and had me easily perched in his lap.  He held me close rocking slowly.  My eyes and nose burned with tears as I clung to him.  Honest fear causing me to tremble, confusion, anger grief.  There was so much I could feel so much and I hated it.I don't know how long I cried for, I only know Sans held me the whole time.  If anyone came to investigate what where likely loud wracking sobs he gave no indication.  Eventually I tired out and still he gently rocked me in his arms I could feel and hear a low rumbling grumble in his chest and it took me a moment to realize he was humming…He was, trying to make me feel better.  Needless to say I was surprised but also so grateful.  With one hand gripping his shirt gently I just listened to his low rumbly hum the gentle vibrations of his chest was soothing."Ready to tell me what Happened?" he asked softly.  He didn't demand he made it clear in just those words and his tone he would wait.  If I didn't want to talk about it he wouldn't push… but…He deserved an explanation.  I had run off, I had done exactly what I was told not to do and was almost caught up in a murder as a result…"Stupid…" I murmured softly to myself  Sans shifted a little"Huh?""I was stupid." I said a little louder before he could protest I continued."I was… I did everything I know not to do… I Lied to you, I ran off and did so many reckless things when I know better." I managed weakly as I rubbed at my eyes"And what's worse I don't feel half as bad about that as I should… What I'm upset about is after all of that he was dead.  Someone got to him before me!  And looking at it, Seeing it… I think… I think he was killed the same time or around the time as M-" I choked I still couldn't say it…  even if I had seen her body with my own eyes.  It burned in my chest. I wanted…Suddenly we weren't in the garden."Sans." I murmured his name as he eased me back against his pillows running his hand along my face he smiled softly."Ya gotta let it out… You can keep cryin if you need to, you can do whatever you need to do.  If going to see her helped you,  if doing something proactive helped… I'm not gonna say you did somethin' wrong.  No one can tell ya how to grieve." He said gently the tips of his fingers are strangely soft on my eyelids as his thumb rolled across my cheek. "Don't let go."  My voice didn't sound like mine even as I said the words.  I couldn't be alone, I could spend another night alone sobbing until my head and throat hurt from it. I kept my eyes closed I as his hand slid away single finger trailing down to press against my lips gently"I'm not goin anywhere darlin." He murmured gently I felt him leaning forward and opened my eyes slowly meeting the warm red glow of his as he loomed over me.  There was so much empathy there.  How, how did this man, monster, whatever… how did he kill, how did he enforce.  How was he able to do all those things and be himself?  How did he maintain the man he was?"Yer thinkin real hard there…" he murmured softly his voice was low and I could feel his hot breath ghosting across my skin as he spoke."Sans." I murmured his name so softly and he was silent so long I thought maybe he hadn't heard me and was about to call out to him again when he spoke"What do ya need?" he asked gently no demands,  his voice gentle, no condemnation he was willing to give all I asked, but right at that moment I felt unreal, so trapped in something, some empty world.  I felt stuck and everything else was moving around me."Help me."I broke…The intimacy we shared was unlike anything I'd ever known,  His hands had ghosted across me, over every inch of my skin and yet somehow he never touched.   It was slow and gentle in ways I didn't know possible.  His fingers working away the grubby clothing then caressing my skin like it was a hidden treasure.I could feel him all over me, around me, inside me, but only his hands touched me, sliding along my skin exploring every inch I had to offer.  I couldn't understand it, and I didn't want to fight it.  It was beautiful,  I felt like nothing but he made me something.  Bone slid over skin teeth pressed and nuzzled as magic made my skin tingle."Do ya trust me?" he murmured at one point drawing my attention from where his hands worked the outside of my thighs"Yes.""Then just relax." He murmured I could swear I heard his voice not just with my ears but in my head, echoing through me.  I didn't know what was happening to me, it was like I was myself, and him.  I could feel his hands on me. I feel my skin, in his hands… my hands.I am
We
"There's nothing but us."I breathed in deeply shuddering , the smell, I want it, every part, the touch of softness under my tongue. I can feel the way I shudder under my touch.It mixes inside me, a mindless madness… am I mad?Is it bad if I am?I'm anchored, I am real, we are real.

More

Hands touched bone, slipping buttons free before they pushed the shirt away.
I love your hands on me.
Fingers slid between ribs as fingers dipped into the hollows of hips
Did I gasp or did he?
I felt the air pass my lips… his lipsBreath for me, hear meIt pulsed inside me, all around meA red glow, all over us
The world is empty beyond the light. 
There is only the red glow and us together meshed in a deep way

So much

Trust me

HELP ME

Feel me

DON'T LEAVE ME!

Be me

*
 I was exhausted by the end,  curled under his sheets I felt him pull them over me, protecting me.  Why did he shield me so much?  I wanted to reach out to beg him to stay but I was so tired I couldn't get the words out, let alone lift my hand to grab for him.When his fingers combed through my hair I couldn’t help smiling.  His touch filled me with so much warmth so much comfort.  I didn't always know who I was… I struggled with the idea of being more, but as I lay there I knew without question Me, who ever I was,  I loved him."I love you."  Say it now, I had to, who knew what the next day would bring,  How suddenly death became something to fear and hate.  His hand paused and I opened my eyes slightly,  the darkness hid his face but I could imagine the look of surprise, he probably didn't expect that.Even as I settled to sleep though a deep unsettled feeling was in me.  I couldn't see his face in the dark….Was it surprise he had looked at me with?As I sank into sleep I begged who ever would listen, pleasePleasePlease don't let him look at me like 'that'

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

I could have woken up to a lot of things but a bunch of flowers and a tray with food wasn't what I expected.  I was still in Sans bed but when I woke to the thick smell of lilies and a fried breakfast for a moment I thought I was back home.  Mom was healthy and making breakfast, and I was just a child…  but I wasn't and mom would never make breakfast again.I sat up slowly, I thought I would still feel soar and heavy but I didn't.  Maybe it was what Sans and I had shared the night before, or maybe it was because I hadn't slept in a box in an ally, but I felt better.  I pulled the tray over and ate as I looked at the flowers, Lilies and little blue one, it took me a bit to remember they where called forget-me-nots.  It was such a surprisingly meaningful arrangement and couldn't have been easy to get on short notice. I took my time savouring the meal, in part because I felt half starved and because it was really good and I almost cried again because of it.  There was something soothing about the home cooked meal, memories of childhood, simple pleasures, it could have been enough to make me start bawling again but, I felt like I didn't have to cry anymore.  Maybe just having Sans tell me it was ok had made it easier to get it all out in that one heavy heaving burst. I don't know.I was about to put the tray back on the table when I noticed an envelope.  Inside was a card that looked handmade I was startled to say the least.  I never would have expected anything like this but it was so sweet. It was fairly plain, sturdy white card with a sprig of Lavender tied with a pale ribbon stuck to it, inside where three short messages written for me, the first in a neat script was short but kind
'My short time with your mother showed me where your strength and dignity came from.  She was a good woman and I could tell she loved you dearly.'
I knew it had to be from Gaster and, it was considerate of him.  These didn't feel like empty words.  The next was written in a firm deliberate hand and oddly in all capital letters.
'I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DEATH AND CAUSED SOME MYSELF, BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT'S EFFECTS ON THOSE WHO SURVIVE.  I AM SORRY FOR YOU'RE SADNESS HUMAN.'
I couldn't help chuckling a little at that, Papyrus was so sweet even when he was awkward.  He clearly hadn't known what to say but he had put effort in and it mattered, it, made me happy because he tried.  The last was longest in a half careful half rushed scrawl as if he would be careful for a moment but as he got into what he was writing he'd forget to be neat.
'I never knew ma'  I don't know how she'd have been as a mother I hope she'd have been like yers.  Everything ya told me, everything about who ya are, tells me she was a great lady.  If ya hadn't been out buyn those apples I might be dead, so in a way, I owe her as much as ya for even bein alive.  I don't know what I'd do if I lost my bro, or pops, I'd be lost.  I'd feel alone and trapped.  I know ya probably feel stuck, and unsure what to do, but ya got me, and you got boss, and pops, and Yer gang. Yer not alone, I won't leave ya alone.'
I was crying by the time I finished reading it, hugging the card to my chest, They had gone through the trouble like this, for me? I looked at the flowers the food a card.  I needed to thank them,  so I climbed out of bed and dressed, I knew to expect something from Lucian… after he kicked my ass for deliberately ignoring his orders but for now I had to thank these skeletons.  Saving Sans had changed my life but it had brought so much good into it to.Shrugging on one of Sans soft red shirts and my trousers I shouldered open the door as I tucked in the tails I knew Gaster was probably in his study so I made my way there first, His words had really touched me he hadn't spent my mother but did he really see her in me?  It, gave me  a strange feeling, a sense of comfort and identity.I was surprised when he wasn't there, I knew Papyrus was likely with him and I wasn't sure where Sans might be… ok so maybe I didn't know them as well as I could with time.  I could find one of the people who worked here though right?  But that made me think I hadn't seen anyone, normally there was someone cleaning… something… where was everyone.  I made my way along the hall to the main stair case pausing when I heard raised voices,  that was Sans.  Tucking next to the wall I listened, I didn't need to peak just listen."Ya think ya can just walk inta our home and start throwin around that crap!"  Wow, he sounded pissed.  The man who replied didn't sound like anyone I knew, so this wasn't about Lucian or the Zoras…"Sir I've already explained we're here to follow a lead we received information that not only is she alive but that she was involved in her mother's murder and is hiding out here." The man said, shit a cop? How? Who the hell would give that kind of information…  Whoever had started this damn thing."Who exactly gave you such ridiculous information?  We certainly haven't had any guests.  My brother did ensure the woman who helped him got care but then he left her there it's hardly our fault if you lost it."  Papyrus' voice was calm and collected but there was a shrillness to it,  was I getting to know them better that I could tell that tone was different from his usual?"Looks Sans, Papyrus, we just need to talk for a bit.  Let's just sit and tell you what we've been told and what we know, then you can tell us what you know."  The voice now was just as harsh and gravely and Sans but it was feminine in a way, I fought my curiosity and held my place sliding to sit as I listened."Undyn, ya got… tch… fine  But I'm tellin ya right now.  After that Kid saved my bones I dun wanna hear this shit tryina say she'd go off her own ma. Not after she lost it savin me." He said disgusted the anger in his voice defending me made me feel nice,  even Papyrus seemed determined to act like I wasn't there.  I waited until I heard a door close, assuming they'd been shown to the parlor room before standing running a hand through my hair, I guess thank yous would have to wait until later.As I turned to head back I jumped startled to see Gaster standing there he was relaxed hands folded over the head of a cane he sometimes walked with. I mildly wondered how his hands could just sit on top of the cane like that with the big holes in his hands but it wasn't my place to ask."Welcome back." He said calmly, and I realized I had run out without a word to any of them been gone for two days… right…"T-thanks…" I managed weakly unsure what to say, he smiled gently and gestured for me to follow.  Right, with Sans and Papyrus trying so hard to claim I wasn't here it would be bad if those cop caught me just chatting in a hallway ten feet from the door."Do you feel better?" he asked as we walked down the hall I coughed a little awkwardly and fidgited. Did I feel better?  Maybe a little?"I think so?  I don't know really, I feel lighter.. but, more because I just… cried?  Sans just held me and let me cry and cry… and cry." I said blushing, Gaster chuckled"There's no reason to be ashamed of that my dear.  The only loss you've ever really been through was when you where to young to even remember, how could you know how to handle this?" What he said made sense and it was reassuring and kind of reminded me of what Sans had said before, no one could tell me how to grieve."I'm sorry I ran off…" I managed but Gaster only shook his head in response"Don't be, You had a target in mind and, I did think it was unfair to tell you, you couldn't even go see her.  That's the first thing you did when you left wasn't it?" he said calmly I knew he would see through any lie and frankly I didn't want to lie.  It was weird but I wondered if this was what having a father was like."Yes, I had to, I had to be sure it was true.  I know Lucian wouldn't lie to me, not about something like that but I also… I wanted him to be lying I wanted it to be wrong… but I knew it wasn't so I had to see her, I had to say goodbye… I had to apologize." I managed giving a weak laugh "Least I didn't kill anyone there." I managed weakly which brought that coughing chuckle from the elder man, he nodded before seeming uncertain" You are… pleased with our gifts?" he asked carefully and not for the first time I was surprised by the man, I know Lucian could be compassionate even as a boss, he made hard decisions but I had grown with him seen the good he was capable of, he was a boss to keep order and control in a wild world. "Y-yeah, I… I really did, do I mean, it's I never would have expected that." I admitted weakly Gaster nodded pausing"Human and monster customs are different, but we all wanted to do something for you, Papyrus bought the flowers, he thought they might make you feel better. We all agreed you needed to eat, humans require a lot more food than we do after all." He said I chuckled weakly nodding"Yeah we're fussy like that… I appreciate it all, that's why I was looking for everyone I wanted, to say thank you the card… everything just… made me feel better a lot better." I said honestly Gaster nodded "I understand your grief.  You had strived so hard to give your mother the best life possible.  I did the same for my wife, I loved her dearly she was my other half, and losing her drove me mad for a long time.  I wanted the best for her, to protect her, and care for her because of how much good she had done for me.  I failed, the pain, has never gone away,  and I cannot say it will for you but, in time you'll find reasons to feel joy again.  I found that in my sons, they have so much of her in them, they are my pride and joy." He said before beginning to walk again, Sans said he didn't like to talk about it, so the fact Gaster was telling me this,  empathizing, was important, I felt like I was part of their family in a way."Sans told me a little bit about it, not much but well since I didn't really have a dad and he didn't have a mom we talked about it…" I said weakly Gaster nodded"He has opened up a lot to you.  There's something about you that has brightened him in a way I've never seen before.  He's had friends, companions, but He acts different with you.  I think if I were to ask you for another favor I'd send you with Sans.  He understands work but he was quiet upset seeing you dressed up as Papyrus' 'date' that night." He said chuckling I couldn’t help smiling"Oh yeah?  Well I gotta admit I'm kinda glad, I… He makes… he makes me feel real.  I've been so many different people, whatever, and who ever I needed to be to fit the work, to do my job, I've never really known, 'me' I guess, so when he just treats me… like anyone else,  and when I feel things and he takes it in stride it… heh, It makes me feel like I'm not the masks I have to wear, but there is a me under all of them." Gaster paused to hold open the door to his study letting me walk in before following the door shutting and locking"I thought you would rather chat some place different then your room." He said I nodded the locked door would at least ensure no curious cops wandered in.I don't know how long we talked for, it was nice, We talked about a lot of things I told him stories about my mom and he told me stories about Sans and Papyrus when they had been young.  It was interesting, I was amazed to learn Sans had been involved in the sciences like Gaster I knew he was smart but wow.I was curious about it but a sudden boom and a rumble that made the whole place shake cut off our conversation, We both stood t the ready  but unlike me it seemed Gaster wasn't stuck by the locked door to my shock he turned into a black goo and simply slipped out leaving me locked inside, Crap the cops but What if they needed help what if Papyrus or Sans where hurt! The rational part of my brain told me these three men where mobsters and feared by both monsters and Humans there was really nothing to worry about because they could handle themselves.The rest of me couldn't fight the invading what ifs,  Sans had 1 HP  they'd explained that to me, and even if Papyrus was stronger Human intent was so deadly to monsters! All it took was a couple lucky hits! And if Papyrus was focusing on protecting Sans or something.NoI can't lose anyone else, not like this not without being able to do anything,  I rattled the door handle pulling and beating harshly at the heavy wood please, please I can't do it again not right now I can't handle it please just open please.I'm pretty sure I went mad for a bit there because I was pounding and kicking at those nice wooden doors desperate to break them down.  Logic meant nothing, there was no clear thinking or rationalization only the knowledge that something had happened and at this very moment Sans or Papyrus or Gaster or all three could be crumbling to dust and I was stuck unable to d anything.BreakJust break down it's just a stupid door why can't I break it?  I'm not weak I'm not I need to help them I need I need, My blood smeared on the door with each hard smash of my knuckles. Don't leave me like this.I reared my fist back to smash at the door again  when something covers my face, a big hand over my eyes tipping my head back as a slimmer but just as big hand closed over my fist"Easy kid easy it's fine, we're alright." "CALM DOWN HUMAN HONESTLY WHAT A DISPLAY!"The voices cut through the wild fear and I relaxed as the hand fell away from my face and I turned to them both Papyrus looking annoyed but also worried and Sans was looking over my hand"You're never gonna get through a door pops locks it's not just wood it's magic to ya know." He said h-had I spoken?  He moved reaching up big hands framing my face thumbing away tears"Probably shouldn't have left ya like tha huh? Sorry Sweetheart We're alright." He said gently.  I broke throwing myself at him and clinging hard shaking"Don't do that!  Don't lock me in like that I don't care about the stupid cops I don't care about their stupid accusation I thought you were hurt I thought… I thought… Don't leave me helpless like that again  please, I can't lose you to… Please." I said voice losing strength as the fact they were ok really sank in.  Before Either could speak I moved from Sans and wrapped my arms around Papyrus holding him tightly.  The taller skeleton froze in my grasp but didn't move as I held him tight"I was scared for you both well all three of you where Gaster went out there, what the hell even happened?"  I asked pulling back wincing my hand ached, as the fear faded the pain was hitting,  Sans sighed gently taking my hand and healing it as Papyrus moved across the study and poured himself a stiff drink there was a rusty dusting of magic, he was blushing,  He probably hadn't expected me to be worried about him as well."That Idiot lost his temper and almost speared a police officer." He said annoyed Sans scowled releasing my now healed hand I flexed and curled it, not even an ache, Monster magic was incredible."I woulda got him if you hadn't hit me." Sans grumbled annoyed as if he still wanted to kill the guy"Killing a cop is generally frowned on Sans, monster or not, there's some lines you can't cross." I rationalized he huffed"You'd have beaned him if you heard what he said.." he said defensively it was… cute, why did he have to be so damn cute when I had just been terrified out of my mind?!"What did he say?" I asked scowling a little,"Well there was an insinuation you'd gotten tired of caring for her and killed her because she was too much trouble." He said carefully flinching slightly when the glass Papyrus had passed me cracked from my grip it didn't shatter and I was quick to set it down and take a breath "yeah ok fair I would have probably thrown him out a window… I just caught you guys moving to the parlor I figured it was best not to be seen but it sounded like someone told them I was here." I said that was the most important point in my eyes Sans nodded while Papyrus walked over passing his brother a glass, Sans downed it and let out another breath as the three of us sat."Yeah, well according to them they had gotten a information from some bum that you had been seen running from your home the night your mother died, because We're still covering your survival so having reports of you being alive was confusing enough to be investigated, the hospital we claimed we sent you to was monster owned and they covered for us saying they lost your intake papers and just being all around unhelpful to human law enforcement, but they got curious enough to pull in monster side of the PD and investigate the claim." He explainedI was stunned to say the least, who the heck would make such a claim?... I had a hard time trying to figure out who'd say something like that, I knew everyone in my block, for safety and because Me and ma where only a few steps away from the situation if not for my work with Lucian it would have been us on the streets.   Any one of them would have known me well enough to know A I'd never hurt my mother, and B  never would have mistaken anyone else for me, not enough to file a claim with the cops… not with out motivation anyway."Someone had to have paid him off." I mumbled thoughtfully I was running through the guys in the area  which ones might have bent and for what when a voice echoed,"That is our best guess as well my dear." I yelped as a black figure rose from the floor taking shape as Gaster, he chuckled lowly and later I kind of couldn't blame him, the odd squawk of shock I'd made had been pretty funny looking back on it."My apologies my method of movement isn't as clean as Sans I'm afraid." He said lightly as if he hadn't just manifested out of some sort of black ichor like somethin straight outta hell… Jeeze…"N-no it's fine Just don't… don't lock me in again… I'm not…"  Gaster paused looking over me then two his sons"She broke down pretty hard Pops she thought we were hurt." Sans explained Gaster nodded"I see.  I am sorry I was simply thinking to check on the situation and keep you from being caught I hadn't considered your mental state, an error I apologize for." I shook my head reassuring him it wasn't an issue"But, that’s a big mistake we can use." I said thoughtfully grabbing the skeletons attention"Not a lot of people go out of their way to get to know the homeless in their area, and only someone who frequents my block would be a reliable witness right?  I know them,  and there's only a couple who'd roll over for the right price if we can find out who did we can find out who's trying so hard to lure me out." I explained,  Gaster nodded"It would be to suspicious if monsters started asking around, we'll have to contact Don Zora, I know you hate to discuss such matters over the phone Father but He cannot keep coming here there's only so long we can use the excuse of Sans attack to cover why he's come to us." Papyrus pointed out Making us all thoughtful ."We'll figure something out, what's important is we have a lead, before anything I think I need to make a list of who I know might be the most likely to have been bought off.  I don't suppose they told you anything about the guy who gave them the info?" I asked Sans shook his head, I figured it was a long shot but I had to ask. "There's something important though, that I wanted to say, I was gonna say it earlier but There where.. I mean…"  I shifted fidgeting again before letting out a breath  it had been a lot easier to thank Gaster, probably because while I was fond of him I didn't love him like I loved Sans.  And well Papyrus was just sweet,  I liked him to, that brother I never had kind of thing."Thank you… for everything, and for what I found this morning.  For a moment, it took me back to when I was little, it reminded me of some nice things I thought I'd forgotten abut and… I just…  Thank you."

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

What I wouldn't know until later is that as the Police where discussing their information with Sans and Papyrus.  Lucian was doing his own investigating.  He wasn't happy I had run off but apparently when Sans had brought me back, after I'd fallen asleep he had let Lucian know I was back and safe.  Apparently he was worried I had gotten myself killed… or done something to myself.   I know I wouldn't hurt myself like that, but Lucian was worried because I wasn't thinking straight.  He knew I only worked for him and did those things to earn money to take care of my mother.Now he had two big problems.  Lucians main suspect for who was causing all this trouble was dead, and obviously someone tipped the cops I was staying with the skeletons.  Thankfully it seemed Sans had managed to convince them that I had died but it didn't change the fact someone had known.  The worst part was, aside from the morning my mother died I hadn't left the house as me!  I had always been in costume, been one of the 'others'.  So either someone was guessing I was here because they'd seen sans carry me off…or…"I can't think how anyone would recognize ya sweetheart, I mean when you got all cleaned up the other night I didn't even recognize you for a second even though I saw you go in the room to change." Sans said that evening after the officers had come to question him.  We were in bed together his arm was laying around me holding me to him as I rested on his chest.  After the night we had shared I felt so much closer to him in a way I still can't really put to words. I knew he felt it to, passing lingering touches, how I would catch him looking at me if he thought I wasn't paying attention.  One day, and so much had changed, a dynamic had drastically shifted between us.  Gaster and Papyrus must have noticed because they had given us a lot of space.Part of me wondered if this was going too fast.  There was so much going on, the intensity of my feelings was this just some sort of grief coping thing?  I hoped not.  I knew it was fast but how I felt was so strong, I didn't want it to be some kind of bounce back I wanted it to be real.  When I thought about it, why couldn't it be?  I had started to build feelings for him before those had been real,  maybe… Ah I didn't know I was just doing all I could to try and rationalize how I felt.  Since Sans seemed to feel the same I wasn't going to question it. "I know a way we can find out." I said softly turning my face into his chest, I didn't really like the idea and neither did he that much was obvious but how else could we find out, if any of the skeletons started poking around it was just going to be all the more suspicious, why ask about a dead person?"Hrmm I dunno, I mean if someone really did recognize ya would it be a good idea for you to try? I mean, if someone is keeping an eye out fer ya…" he trailed, his concern wasn't misplaced, it was troubling not knowing how I had been outed.I sighed running my fingers over the bones, his ribs where smooth and large.  There were a couple nicks here and there, no different from little scares I had, though he had more.  He had lived a much harder life then I had."What was it like underground?" I asked changing the subject suddenly.  I, didn't want to think about going undercover again or death and plots and all these confusing things."A lot darker then up here that's for sure." He said with a weak chuckle, though it dropped off as I looked up at him, he sighed slightly leaning back against the headboard his thumb stroking my hip gently."It's not too far off really.  Being part of a gang, seeing all the shit that goes on up here… it's still better then it was down there.  I dunno if you know, When our gangs get inta fights up here, we only fight till the other side is down to one HP if we can help it.  Obviously it don't always work out that way but… we spent so much time down there killin each other, always fighting, it was all just rage and confusion." He sighed running his free hand down his face.  I reached up catching his hand trapping it between his cheek and my hand moving so my fingers laced between his.  He smiled faintly lifting my hand to press his teeth against the knuckles."Losing his kids, it messed up the king, the queen too obviously.  When Asgore lost it, she ran off, I don't blame her to be honest, how do you handle all that?  But the king,  one of the reasons he is king even though there are plenty of boss monsters, is because of how strong he is." Sans said pausing thoughtfully."He didn't used to do it, but after his children died, when he declared his anger and intent to wage war on you humans, before the kid fell.  His magic influenced us all.  Boss monsters where able to control themselves better, we have strong magic as well so we were able to, stay ourselves I guess?  I dunno,  But the normal monsters, they were easily influenced." He said I frowned curiously shifting rolling a little so I lay on his chest arms crossed his fingers sliding up and down my back."What do you mean by influenced, like, mind control?" I asked, I didn't know a lot about magic but he took my question in stride"Nah nah nothin like that I guess… uggg Pop is better at explainin this kinda thing I guess because his magic is so strong, if he wants to he could sort of.. guide your thoughts?  Not control them but sort of I dunno,  direct them in a certain way, they're still your thoughts, but even though you might have normally tried to forget the pain of being sad and angry, his magic kept it at the forefront, wouldn't let you forget?" he said seeming unsure if he had explained it right but it made sense to me."I think I get it, sort of like, if you ask for directions, and someone gives you the wrong ones,  you're ultimately the one that follows them?"  he grinned chuckling"Yeah I think, Honestly you'd be better off askin Gaster but that sounds right." He said I smiled fingers gently rubbing his ribs sliding along them slowly in a gentle repetitive petting,  it was a mindless motion but somehow soothing in its own way.  He seemed to enjoy it to because I felt and heard him give a big relaxed sigh."So, that's why things got so bad?" I asked  Sans nodded, "It didn't start out that bad, yeah we had been tasked to kill humans but we where killin each other at first.  But slowly things just, got worse, that anger and frustration wasn't fading, there were no humans so there was nowhere for those feelings to go.  The first time one monster dusted another it was shocking,  but when he justified it, it was like it opened the floodgates.  Suddenly any EXP was good enough, being weak was just a death sentence." He said scowling,  I knew I could probably prompt him to tell me more but, it seemed wrong to.  I didn't want to think of bad things, so I shouldn't make him do it so I didn't press.  I just snuggled closer nuzzling against his bones,  I suppose you could say they weren't comfortable, but frankly, they didn't bother me.  They weren't soft but I didn't need soft,  I did need him though.  It should have been alarming I suppose, how strong that feeling was but I didn't let it bother me over much, just savored the quiet together."It's going to get worse I think."  The words tumbled from me without warning I hadn't even meant to say them I just.  I felt a cold shudder and clung to his ribs feeling him twitch grunting faintly, I remember belatedly they where a sort of erogenous zone for him.  Wanting to get both our mind away from what was just one big shit show I began to rub my hands along his ribs grasping them with a firm grip I had a good idea of how to get our minds off our troubles for a little bit.*Time passed surprisingly fast, at first I thought only a day or two would pass before something happened before someone tried to make a move everything had happened in such quick succession after all… but nothing, days became weeks became almost 6 months, and still nothing.  I was going crazy from it, I took missions  as needed, at least it got me out, and I knew I was doing something good. Occasionally Sans would take the boy to Grillbys, I enjoyed those nights not just for the time with Sans but just the time outside.  I found myself more open as we spent time together.  The boy, becoming me. Or me becoming the boy?  I wasn't able to separate myself as easily as before, I laughed at his silly jokes because I thought they were funny, I told him about my childhood.  Carefully of course because we were out in public, but they where my stories, not the boys.I was finding it harder to sink into those people who I had relied on for so long.  But not impossible.  That helped.  I went out with Papyrus, I acted as an aide to Gaster, I was the boy guarding Sans, I was everyone I needed to be, but inside, I was warring with each of them, and my decisions, was it them who wanted to act, or me?  Was the woman being rational, or was my fondness for Papyrus causing me to act a certain way.  I just wasn't sure anymore and it was terrifying.  I didn't know myself at all, I never needed to, but the more I got close to this family, the more I loved Sans the harder it was to be anyone else but me. But…More and more I was seeing a distance on his face every time I took up a different mantle.  When I became the woman, when I became the boy, the business man, the clumsy waitress.  Even though I could feel myself slipping through each of these people, it was like he couldn't see it, instead he just saw all these different people…  I saw that look become more prevalent on his face and it hurt.He was losing me….It was coming, I knew it I was terrified,  Don't take him to, not now, I'm being myself I am me, I promise, I promise!He was pulling away slowly, or at least he thought so, but the fact was Sans was about as subtle as a brick to the head, I knew things where turning for him.  I could see it in his face, everyday, when he would look at me it was if he was trying to decide if it where me or someone else and… I couldn't blame him for questioning it.Intimacy became something we only did on days I didn't work, and then even less.  He was more reluctant to kiss me, to touch me after I had come back from work, and never when I still wore a mantle even if we had been working together. Part of me wanted to confront him about it, but I didn't want to hear him say it.  I knew that look, the way he acted, after all how could he believe anything I said or did if I could so easily become someone else.  He seemed most frustrated on nights when I took missions with Papyrus.  When the Lady went out with him Sans would get sullen and moody. I knew why, who would be happy seeing the person they cared about disappear only to be replaced by someone so obviously enamored with someone else?  He couldn't see the act, it was good and bad.It hurt.God it hurt so bad I found myself sleeping in the room they gave me on days I worked because I didn't want him to send me away. He took me out to Grillbys less.  ' We got so much work to do', he said,  'you're probably tired so I don't wanna stress ya out'.  I know it's not that though because he barely looks at me when he says it.  Some days when I come back he wouldn't look at me at all. He used to wait for me to come back but now he wasn't.  I knew that he was losing his faith in me,  why else would he distance himself from me.  Hadn't Lucian been the same?  A long time ago, when we'd been little we had thought we'd always be together.  But how do you love someone you don't know?*"Sans, are you sure you're ok?" I asked.  He broke me.  I couldn't take it anymore."Wha?  W-what are you talkin bout? Course I am sweetheart." He said quickly a faint sheen of magic on his forehead, he was nervous.  He was bothered… he wasn't ok."Well why don't we go out and walk?"  he shifted grabbing my hips lightly"Heh, why?  We can stay here, exercise some different muscles." He suggested pulling me close, I could have let it go, my mind was screaming at me to just leave it alone, don't push it…  but when did I ever listen to myself?"We could see if Papyrus need anything from the shop, it'll be a great excuse to get you some more mustard weren't you saying you where running out?" I tried again,  he shook his head to fast"Oh nah I picked some up already so I'm all stocked up." He managed grinning, he was getting tense "Look sweetheart I don't mind staying in, you've been working a lot, I know yer probably feelin a bit of cabin fever but you know why we gotta keep yer cover." He said with a weak laugh, then it hit me a sure fire thing he couldn't say no to."That's fair wandering around in the open is probably a bad idea even in a mantle..." I started he smiled relaxing and patting my hip lightly"Yeah 's right le-""Let's go to Grillbys then, we can chill but I still get out of the house." I said steamrolling what he was going to say.  He tensed right back up"Uhh  I dunno Sweetheart I'm not really in the mood for Grillbys." He muttered looking away… liar… you fucking liar…"I knew it…" I said softly drawing his attention as I sat up pulling out of his grasp"W-what? Wait sweetheart what're ya talkin about?" he asked scrambling up as I slid off the bed and started to dress."You don't want me anymore.  I guess we did move fast." I said, I was giving him an out, an excuse that didn't involve what I did… was it for him or myself? I really wasn't sure I just didn't want him to tell me the truth."Huh?  Nah Look Sweetheart I… no it's nothing like that,  When monsters really connect with someone it's well I… it moves fast that's not a problem." He said quickly sounding strangely desperate.  How dare he sound upset after how he had been acting?"Oh? Then what is it why don't you want to spend time with me?" I demanded rounding on him."What are you sayin, I just said we could spend time together here." He shot back quickly"Exactly here, but you won't have anything to do with me if we go out." He fumbled"W-well I just don't want anyone thinkin I'm gay or something like that I mean, No that I…" he fumbled.  I knew the idea of being seen as Gay wasn't as much an issue to monsters as it was humans,  they did not care about that it was all SOULS with them."What, what is it Sans, even here you pull away, you think I don't notice how you aren't there after I work anymore?  Or how you take fewer missions with me?  How you don't want the boy around?" I snapped stop it, just leave it alone."Y-yeah i-it's weird.. just…" he wasn't good at figuring out what he wanted to say that much was clear but I couldn't stop myself"What's weird? We know why I have to do this, it's not like you don't know who I am wh-""I don't know who you are!" he snapped angrily… there it was… I thought I was prepared, I thought I could handle it, Lucian had been the same, why should I be so hurt by what I already knew…"Who is that kid?  I don't know him?  Or that woman who clings and flirts with boss and goes out with him, or the man who started helpin pops Or anyone else,  Their al fucking Strangers to me.""Sans it's still me though, I'm still…" he snorted"Aren't you the one who said you become them?  That you disappear and become those other people, that you don't even know who you are? If you don't know how can I know?  What even is this, who's standing here right now? Is it really you or some other mask?!" he demanded the words cut like knives, accusations I knew and couldn't answer, he's right. He wasn't finished he ranted he raged frustrations that had built from the start,"How am I supposed to have any feelings for a god damned stranger?!" he demanded huffing out heavy breaths as he stared at me with the expression I had dreaded so much, he wasn't looking at me… he was seeing a stranger.Someone he didn't know."You're right." I managed I felt so cold, it didn't matter."what?" he demanded already winding down from his outburst not seeming to have processed all of what he had said.  That made it worse somehow, because it was so honest things had had tried to keep even from himself."I don't know whose here with you… I never knew who I was, I don't think this is even me, how can it be if I don't know who I am? That's why I can do what I do,  I'm sorry I confused you." I said softly turning for the door he was stumbling trying to think of something to say but I knew he wouldn't be able to say anything to cover how he felt. He let me leave.I spent the next week locked in my room, Gaster came in only once,  I told him I was sick, he didn't seem convinced but he didn't press, I had done a lot of work since my mother had passed, maybe all that grief had caught up.  He told me to take my time and left.  Papyrus brought food but left me alone otherwise. Sans never came.

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

A week passes before I emerge, I'd had enough of shutting myself away, I knew this would come eventually, nothing he said was wrong.  No matter how much it hurt I had to accept that, besides, the situation hadn't changed, there were still unanswered questions, Lucian was still having problems, more and more of his people where either disappearing or jumping ship.  It was getting harder to keep the trouble on the down low as well, if this kept up another family was going to make a move.  What was the point of me even hiding anymore?I tried convincing him to let me out, I'd found the punks from before I could find more, but Lucian and Gaster had both refused. It was to suspicious.  I hated it, I lost the one thing I really wanted for myself, because of these damn mantles and now I couldn't even act to help the last little bit of family I had?Frustration was growing, I wanted to act, but I had already seen what my rash actions had done before. If it hadn't been for Sans I knew I'd have been found r traced back from the manor.  It was so frustrating to sit on my hands knowing something was wrong and not being able to help!Gaster noticed, while he agreed with Lucian to keep me out of the issues in the Zora he was happy enough to send me back out with Papyrus or to take me out with him again.  I barely saw sans.  Between nights he would bustle off to Grillbys with little more than a grunt of acknowledgement and my burying myself in learning from Papyrus and Gaster, about anything and everything, we were doing pretty damn good avoiding each other in the same house.Of course the others noticed. After all we had been so close and now we found reasons to not even be in the same room.  Papyrus assumed we had simply separated, while training with him in their home gym (And my god was I happy to find out about that room) he had asked about it, Papyrus wasn't particularly subtle about it either.  As I punched at a hanging sack and he corrected my form he simply spoke while he adjusted my elbow"ARE YOU NO LONGER SLEEPING WITH MY BROTHER?" I hadn't expected him to be so upfront about it, though I probably should have been, Papyrus hadn't been the type to beat around the bush right from the very start.  For a moment I was silent striking the bag using the form he had shown me there was more strength in my blows.  I appreciated that even as I considered how I wanted to approach this."No, not anymore There's to much going on." I said.  I didn't want to say anything bad about his brother, despite his harsher ways and demands it was clear Papyrus held his brother in respect and frankly I didn't blame Sans for what he said, it was just how things where even if it did hurt me, I struck  even if everything he'd said felt like little knives slicing at me over ad over, I swung, Even if all I wanted was for him to see something I couldn't, but he was right I was a stranger.  I wasn't real was I?  No not at all so that why it was FINE! I slammed a kick at the bag jolting at a tearing sound where a seam pop and the bag jolted dangling awkwardly.I apologized profusely for it but Papyrus merely congratulated me on getting better.  He didn't press me for any details after what I told him, though he seemed frustrated but since I asked for space and he gave it, I didn't press him about what was bothering him.  It seemed only fair.Of course if Papyrus was going to ask about it Gaster would to, though when after the second week he said nothing I thought maybe he just wasn't going to bring it up.I really should have known better on that count as well frankly.It was returning from a simple exchange that he addressed it, stuck in the car there was no way t get around it, I mean I could have just popped the door open and rolled out but that was a little extreme even to escape such an awkward conversation."So, I would like to know what happened between you and my son.  He may not have the nicest face but I was under the impression you where getting along well." He said calmly, again that odd feeling of, affection? I know I can talk to him, that fatherly feeling."We were.  I… It's complicated." I managed lamely, how do I tell this man that my skills had been what had turned his son away from me?  That despite my hopes, I had always sort of expected it.  I had no faith."We'll be driving for a while, you have time to explain."  That shouldn't have surprised me.  I suppose he could afford the gas needed to just drive around as long as he liked.  How much more private could it be, there was a window that closed the back from the front so the driver couldn't hear us, and moving around like this Sans couldn't pop in either so I would have no way to refuse to answer.  Suddenly his choice to approach me about the issue at that moment made sense. Clever old man."I… will never be, me." I said after a long moment looking at my hands, stumpy well clipped nails tipped fingers with no jewelry, they where slender but not too much so.  Just right, the sleeves of the suit jacket where neat and with hair slicked back under a hat tied at the nape of my neck and wire frame glasses, the man who had started joining Gaster during his meetings as an aide was unrecognizable from the woman who went out with Papyrus."I have, always been able to do this, to become someone else, to be what people needed me to be.  Becoming someone else is so easy for me, sliding from one mind to the next without a hiccup in my thinking,  their thinking… It's  a skill that gave me a lot of opportunities.  It allowed me to help Lucian, it allowed me to do work for the money to care for Ma… it protected me, I never had to worry about hurt feelings or getting close because I'm not ever me, I'm always someone else.  Even with Ma, even with Lucian, I don't know if I'm being me, doing what I want to do or if I'm being the person they want me to be." I managed it was hard to explain but he seemed to be following along"There are times when I think maybe I am being me.  Like now, I'm wearing his look but I'm not him, I'm… me?  Maybe?  Or am I someone you expect?  Am I being the person Lucian has built and I wear his mask for you as well?  I just don't know." It had never been such a problem before it simply was.  It gave me everything I needed right? Gaster hummed thoughtfully as he considered what I had told him. Even as he did I just, kept talking though. It was as if now I had made that first hurdle of admitting how this bothered me, it was all tumbling out."I don't know if there was a me before, when I was a kid I mean.  I can't remember when I started doing this, it had to have been when I was young but then if that’s true then maybe that means there never was a me to begin with? But if there isn't a me why don't I feel satisfied with what I get when I do things for the mantels?  What about when I'm like this?  Who is this.  And he was right."  To my horror I felt the thickness for tears welling in my throat he was right…"Who was right about what?" Gaster asked simply, despite the question he probably already knew who I was talking about but he wanted me to say it for some reason."Sans… he was… he was right about me.  Who am I?  who was the person with him who cared about him so much, where those feelings real?  I thought they where I wanted them to be, but when he asked me who was even talking to him, I couldn't give him an answer because I don't know." I broke, why did this family make me so weak why couldn't I just be satisfied anymore?  Why did I want…"Whose talking to me right now then?  It's not you're… Mantle is it?" Gaster asked I looked over shaking my head"N-no not this one, he's not this I-I'm not thinking like him." I managed Gaster nodded"All your mantles have names yes?  Tell me, what name would you use right now?" his question confused me at first what name?  not acting as a businessman, I was… I said my name, slowly it sounded almost foreign but it was mine."Is this the name who saved my son?" he asked again his voice ever calm and steady I thought about it and nodded"Is this the name who loved her mother and did everything she could including taking these mantles, to make sure she had a good life?  What about Zora?  Is this the name that cares about him?" he asked,  I nodded more but I felt lost what was he getting at, didn't that just drive home this was a mantle, that there was no me?"This name, loves Sans, and it respects Papyrus, and it has respected me yes?" of course, and I say so but-"Then isn't that just you?" he asked calmly,  wait, no that didn't make sense did it? That just those where all the desires of that mantle… right?"Have you ever had moments where one mantle breaks through the feelings and thoughts of another?" he asked in an airy way, I scowled why would he ask that was he doubting my ability even after all this time seeing me work?"What no, I am completely the mantle when I work I would never slip like that when I…" I stalled but, hadn't that been happening?  Hadn't those thoughts slipped through, Sans would like that,  oh what a funny joke, thoughts of mom… things had been breaking through lately,  the mantle at the hospital had been so hard to sink into…"Oh? Is there something?" he asked his interest piqued he smiled faintly"I-it's not They don't cross over, it's just… lately sometimes I find the thoughts kind of… slip through thinking about Ma… or Sans, Lucian, b-but it's just." I stalled but it was just the 'mantle' I would use my name with… right?"And no other mantles break through others?" he asked calmly, no that never happened that was why it had been bothering me, because I was so wholly my mantle when I worked, having those thoughts breakthrough had been… alarming.  I couldn't think, what was he implying was it, was there really a me?  I wanted that I wanted to be me to know those feelings those wants that love I felt for Ma, and Lucian, and Sans to be real…"That isn't a mantle my dear." He reached out to touch my chin I had looked away ashamed but he made me look at him his expression soft in a way I wasn't used to."That is you, That name, those thoughts?  That’s all you there is a you, and that’s why you are so upset, why it hurts you when your doubted.  That's why you acted out when your mother was killed.  Those weren't the actions of someone playing someone else.  You have played others for so long you lost track of yourself, but you've always been there." He said gently the reassurance feels so… warm  I moved before thinking.  I moved, not a mantle, me, I hugged him burying my face in his shoulder.  He chuckled faintly and patted my back as I swallowed back the tears that burned in my chest  I was me, I am me.I was always me.  I could be all those others, but when that’s over, when that's done I'm me… and I loved Sans, I loved my mother and Lucian, that was all true and real and everything I wanted.  The grief of losing her was mine and it killed me, and made me stronger.  Wanting to work for Lucian, wanting to protect him with my skills, that was me.  Laughing at Sans' silly puns and training with Papyrus, that was me…"I'm real." I managed weakly was I asking him or reassuring myself, I wasn't sure but Gaster nodded slowly"You humans can be so surprisingly difficult. You struggle to know yourselves in ways monsters don't.  I suppose it's a side effect of not being as in tune with your souls the way we monsters are.  It's so easy for you to get caught up in your own heads, to listen to those doubts in your mind but unlike a monster you can't connect with your soul you can't anchor yourself to the truth." He explained lightly as I pulled away composing myself."Souls are a big thing with monsters aren't they?" I asked I hadn't really asked to much about it because it seemed so personal, the concept of the SOUL being more then what the church would say was, well a little hard to wrap my head around but since nothing I did involved them I never really thought to much about them."I would say they are a big thing for anyone.  A Soul is a culmination of your being, if there is a you, it is your SOUL, you can act as another person but your SOUL would always be yours.  Fortunately only monsters can see them and even then only during encounters, something we rarely bother with since coming to the surface." He said frowning"It surprises me that Sans would seem so uncertain of you after how close you have been, any doubts he had should have easily been put to rest upon looking at your soul." He said sighing "I suppose I made mistakes in raising my sons, neither of them really know how to do anything other than be in the moment.  The situation underground didn't help mind, but goodness I would have thought they would have learned to be a little less emotionally constipated since we came to the surface." He said making me laugh a little"It's not your fault I think you raised them well Sans is a good guy, I mean, relatively, None of us are really 'good' but.." I frowned thoughtfully considering what he had told me, how many times had Sans looked at my SOUL if he could see it but I couldn't?"Actually that makes me wonder, how would I even know if he's seen my soul if I can't?" I asked it was the first time I saw Gaster completely loose him composure his hand slipping off his cane he stared at me a long moment."Oh you would know, the unmistakable feeling aside, an encounter is something you know is happening. It's not something that you miss you are fully involved, you can't see your SOUL but you still act during an encounter it's not one sided." He said incredulously rubbing his chin"He hasn't even had an encounter with you?  I always told him… I explained how this works with both him and Papyrus I would have thought he… hrmm…"  he seemed annoyed and I wasn't sure what to say"It's… what caused the fight, I mean not encounters but.  He was pulling away, he wouldn't have anything to do with me when I had work he even stopped taking me to Grillbys because I had to be the boy… so I called him out and, well he asked how he could…" I paused glancing down again I was scratching my arm again, like the time when I'd run away."How could he have feelings for a stranger." I said softly Gaster swore pinching the bridge of his nose looking all the more annoyed"W-well h-he wasn't wrong I… it's not like he's the first to be honest…  Me and Lucian… a long time ago, but it was the same, sort of, he had a hard time believing in my feelings.  He said he didn't doubt we where friends, but was my love for him real or just a mask I put on so he'd be happy? So we broke up because I couldn't answer him, I didn't know." I explained quickly it was embarrassing to admit, or well it would have been with anyone else, but I knew Gaster wasn't going to be bothered by my admitting that sort of thing.Inner weakness, but still, I felt like I should say something, I was just talking and talking unloading all of these things on him that I didn't want to acknowledge half the time, was it really fair?"I'm.. sorry?" I managed weakly.  I felt bad and the more I spoke the more he seemed annoyed, by me or by Sans?  Probably me I mean Sans was his son,  this was something I had done wrong, right? Maybe I was supposed to give Sans permission or maybe because I didn't know about Souls and these encounter things he had chosen not to do it?  But Gaster shook his head chuckling"Oh don't apologize I'm just stunned at how foolish my sons can be at times." He said sitting back laughing a little more making me smile as well at least he wasn't mad"S-so if he did this… encounter thing, h-he'd know me?" I ventured carefully Gaster nodded"Absolutely, it's a very intimate thing I assumed when you started getting close he had an encounter and that why he got so close so fast.  As I'm sure you noticed Sans isn't really the type to do anything quickly if he can help it." That made me laugh to yeah he could be like that, Papyrus called it laziness but I liked to think he just savoured time… yeah that's it."I guess I'll have to talk to him, ugghh, You know sometimes I wonder why people have relationships, it's so much easier when there's none of this… stress, no worries…" I managed making Gaster laugh again"True it is simpler, but it's pretty empty, We can't be empty forever." He pointed out and I nodded smiling"I guess he's worth the trouble at least." I said at that Gaster puffed up proudly"Of course he is, he is my son, a chip of the old block I believe the saying goes." He said before lifting his cane and lightly tapping the window separating  the back seat from the driver.  I assume he must be signaling the driver that we could start going back home now because the car changed lanes for a turn as soon as he was done tapping."Gaster?.. I'm, sorry for letting that al out on you.  I just… I… mm…"  I wasn't sure how to say it but a hand settled on my shoulder"Do not apologize, I asked, I wanted to help.  Aside from what you did for Sans I have grown to enjoy your company, you keep both my boys on their toes and I appreciate yours skills." He said frankly "And I must admit it makes me feel needed again,  They never come to me with their problems like they used to, the underground was harsh and made it hard to be open with others.  I miss being able to help them when they struggles I would like it if they came to me more often.  But if I can help you then I'm glad." I was really surprised by that but I supposed it was a parent thing, and I guess after what Sans had told me, it made sense that they would have a hard time being honest about their feelings if it was so dangerous to be weak down there.We where silent on the way back I was lost in thought wondering how I'd approach Sans while Gaster… must have been very amused by something because every so often he'd struggle to stifle a burst of laughter.I slid back into the man as the car pulled to a stop in front of the home holding the door open for Gaster I kept the act until we were inside, sighing a little if I was going to talk to Sans I should at least wear something casual and not related to any of my mantles.  I was going to face him as me, and show him there was a me!Or that was my plan,  but after I changed and looked around for him Papyrus told me he'd gone out for some collections and had mentioned going to Grillbys afterwards.  Well that was fine, he was gonna get one more day then but tonight, Ooohhh boy tonight I wasn't gonna let him off the hook.  I had made mistakes to after all, but I wasn't going to give him up, I was me, and what I wanted for me, was Sans, and I was pretty damn sure he felt the same.

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

I was 16 when I killed for the first time.  It wasn't the smooth efficient kills I tended towards now, it had been messy and full of rage and fear.  Probably the only way I could do it.  It all started with Serena,  Lucians younger sister.  She was much younger, only ten at the time but so mature for her age.  Teasing them about who was the older sibling had been so funny.  We where close, Lucian teased her as I suppose an older brother does but she was never unwelcome with us... well, most of the time.We were older, we wanted to try being more then friends, more then what we were.  Feelings where there, so we went for it.  But having a little sister tag along on a proper date was embarrassing for him I suppose.  He hadn't been mean, no matter what he thought after.  He'd simply told her, no.  Despite her maturity she was still a young girl full of her own will and not about to be stopped by her older brother.Street kids had been going missing, we didn't know much just something Lucian had overheard his father speak of.  He talked about how, when he was in charge he'd never tolerate that.  It seemed so far away though, something distant that was happening someplace else. But it wasn't, it was in our city, our world... his home.We don't know and never did get all the specifics of how or when she was taken.  She was gone for two weeks no amount of searching or bribery or threats helped.  No demands were made, no ransom, nothing.  Two weeks...  when they found her, she'd been in the water for three days, but it didn't hide everything that happened. Serena had suffered in her last days.Lucian broke a window, his mother went catatonic, only his father held it together.  Determined to find out what had happened.  I wanted to help  to do something.  I wasn't ten years old but maybe I could be young enough, dirty enough... something to get some information. Anything that would help.So I studied, I asked around, I read articles, I listened to homeless conversation.   I found out what types where going missing, where, and how often.  I had always been good at being what people needed me to be, smothering everything under what was wanted, how hard could it be to do the same based on what I had learned?Not very hard it turned out.It was so easy to become the child, cute, innocent, I couldn't pull off 10 but 14 wasn't too hard and it was enough.  I didn't know who he was, but when he approached and said he had work I agreed and followed where he led.It explained so much, how he got them.  Paying work? For a kid on the street that was great.But it wasn't real work.  He was kind at first, he gave me clean cloths and let me wash my face,  He said I looked so pretty, so grown up when I was clean. But how could I work if I was clean and in nice clothes?  It was easy, I just needed to d what he told me, it was alright… it was alright.I knew it was wrong, I knew from the start but I followed, I told him ok and I let him take me home, I let him lead me where he wanted to go he was kind and gentle he offered me food and something to drink, and I played at eating and drinking until he seemed satisfied.  He asked me how I felt,  had he drugged it?  I rubbed my eyes, a little sleepy,  but I could work I promised.He chuckled and told me it was ok if I napped first.  He had drugged it.  He took me to a pretty room perfect for any young girl and told me it had belonged to his daughter.  So I curled up on the bed and snuggled down and waited. He left me alone for a half an hour, probably to make sure the drug was in my system, or maybe something had happened.  But it gave me time to study the room, to find the little trove of treasures he had kept.  They where little things all in a neat little box in a desk drawer, among them was a necklace I recognized instantly.Both Lucian and Serena had necklaces with a pedant of the families patron saint, among the buttons and chains little personal items, was Serena's.  This was the one.  I knew it before, but with the pendent I had proof, but what did I do?  I needed to leave, I needed to take it back to Lucian father tell him about the man, the necklace was enough, he had to act!But he came back.As I slammed against the door trying to get out he threw it open throwing me back with force.  I didn't have the skills I do now, I didn't  have the strength.He screamed angry vulgar names.  I screamed right back, maybe someone would hear us?  But no, he grabbed my hair and dragged me from the room.  Bad girls didn't get treated well, bad girls got punished.He muttered to himself as I struggled to escape then he made the mistake that would cost us our lives.  I say our because in that instant, mine ended to.  The life I'd always known.He was dragging me through the dining room, towards a door he hadn't opened before, a basement he had said, no a wine cellar, he'd made it sound very fancy and boring.  But as I staggered behind him I saw it, the food still laid out, his plate and dishes still sitting there, a dirty steak knife from his meal.This man had tortured Serena, and who knew how many others… he was going to do the same to me, because I thought foolishly that I could help.I remember my mind revolting at the idea.  No no fight and escape don't do it.  Then I remembered Serena.  I remembered Lucian, I remembered his mother and father… I remembered their pain and my own.  Serena the little girl who was the closest I had to a sister.  Who liked to play with my hair and build forts in the yard.So I grabbed it and I stabbed out.  I'm not sure what I hit, it started to get fuzzy, anger, grief, desperation clouding everything, I needed him to let me go, then I'd run away.He did, he let go holding his bleeding body and snarling angrily it sounded like a dog.  That is something I remember so clearly, the wicked dog like snarl of a mad man.Seeing me holding the knife, realizing what I had done, he lunged at me.  I was so scared,  and strangely calm as well, it all seemed to slow down, the world around me narrowing to a single point as this grown man rushed me. I slammed the blade down.I know, I'll always feel the resistance of his skull those first blows.  The way he tackled me, not on purpose but because the blow had cracked something and his momentum had thrown him into me.  On top of me he vacillated between a manic cackling laughter, and a terrible screaming.  He screeched about me being a 'bad girl' but his words had no meaning, he was sick, twisted.  His hands where on my throat his blood spilling onto my face into my eyes... I didn't want to die, I didn't want to be him, but I couldn't let him take anyone else so I kept my grip on the knife and kept stabbing, well, it was more of a smash.  Once, twice, his fingers went lax and I rolled until I sat on his chest and just kept slamming over and over the dull blade, not built for such violence, cracking bone and splitting flesh until his face wasn't different from minced meat. The manic cries and laughter where as dead as the man as I sat there for a moment staring at it,  could it even be called a corpse with what I had done?I remember throwing up… a lot.I remember the methodical way I had gone back to the room he had trapped me in, changed into cloths not covered in blood.  I found a bag, some kind of leather satchel he probably took to work.  Spilling out the contents and then using that same knife, I cut off the remains of the man's head and stuffed it in the bag Lucians father would need proof the man was dead… He'd fix it, he knew how to fix things.I shook the whole way to Lucians home carrying the bag hugging it close to my chest not daring to release it.  His father found me staggering through  the grounds of the estate.  It was late what the hell was I thinking, then he saw the state I was in, the blood, the bag."No one else.  No more children."  The words sounded so wrong I couldn't believe I said them.  He took the bag gently and guided me away from Lucians room to his own.  The moment Lucians mother saw me she was swift to my care whisking me off to the bathroom to wash away the blood on my face and hands, matted in my hair.  I held my hand clenched so tightly the chain still wrapped around my wrist.  She tried to open my hand but I wouldn't, couldn't, not yet.Clean and dry and dressed in an old skirt and blouse his mother guided me back to the bed room where Lucian had joined his father as well as one of the enforcers I recognized vaguely as working often with the head of the family.The bag sat on a plastic sheet on the table, unzipped."What did you do?"  I remember that question more clearly than anything his wife had asked while I had been in the bath, I couldn't speak, my voice was wrong.  So I walked to Lucian and grabbed his had putting the necklace I had clutched so long in his open palm.I don't know what I said only that I was crying as I slipped the chain off my wrist, I knew only I had brought Serena home.  So much was a blur after that, Telling Lucians father everything, what I had done, how, why.  The man where he lived, where the rest of his body was, I was sick again as I told them about it, I sobbed out apologies but Lucians father normally cool and almost grim seemed so gentle.  Killers guilt, he called it.  The body reaction to doing something so unnatural.They cleaned up the mess.I didn't understand it then, but no police came, the man was never spoken of…  Kids stopped disappearing. When Lucian learned what I had done, he asked me how and why.  So I told him what I was, how I would be what everyone wanted me to be how I used that to make a mask that man would want.  How I didn't set out to kill him, just find him so Lucians father could stop him.  After a long time he asked me who I really was and any hope for anything more between us died.  The last shred of who I had been making me who I am.It was two more years before I killed again.  Lucians parents died in a boating accident leaving him suddenly in charge of a very different world. He approached me and asked me something.  What I did to the man who killed his sister.  Could I do it again?I didn't know.  Could I kill again?  Could I be that person who slaughtered?  No I didn't want to do that I didn't want to be a killer.  Mother was getting sick though… getting weaker.  So Lucian struck a bargain.  I'd investigate the way I had before.  Find out everything like before, and he would pay me for my time.  I wouldn't be a member of the family, I'd just be helping a friend.  So I agreedIt wasn't just information.  The man I followed this time was hunting a murdering women, so I hunted and killed him.Next, a man led me to a group who prostituted young boys, so I killed them all and took the boys to Lucian.  On, and on, and on.  And I became a killer because it felt like there was no other option.  I killed, so no one else who was innocent died.The person I had been was dead and gone anyone I might have said I had been I believed shriveled and died with that man I slaughtered for Serena.Drug pushers who tried selling to kids. PimpsGangs who wanted to get into human market.  I killed so many and lost that guilt, all sense of pain and refusal that had haunted me that first time.I investigated, I studied, I learned, not from just them, but those around them.  I refused to risk hurting an innocent.  Rumors and hearsay was one thing, but entrenching myself into a life in any way I knew how even on the periphery allowed me to find out the truth. Allowed me to pass my judgment.❀"He's still not back?  I know he's been out like this before but don't you get worried after a couple of days?" I asked Papyrus as I rocked on the parallel bars strengthening my wrists and arms"NOT PARTICULARLY, I SUPPOSE I DO GET CONCERNED WHEN HE DOESN'T MAKE CONTACT BUT THAT COULD EASILY MEAN HE HAS A TARGET AND IS SIMPLY UNABLE TO.  I'M NOT REALLY WORRIED,  WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN ON A MISSION AND IF HE STUMBLED ACROSS A KNOWN TARGET AND WENT AFTER THEM HE MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SEND WORD." Papyrus said calmly, he seemed so unbothered, and Gaster didn't seem concerned either, I felt stupid they knew Sans better so why was I so high strung?  Three days had passed since Gaster had spoken with me, helped me see my inner truth my real self.  I had been so ready to confront Sans when he had returned from Grillby's but, he didn't return that night or the next.On the third day I was growing concerned, he'd never been gone this long for a job before but Papyrus seemed to think this wasn't uncommon… maybe it just hadn't come up while I had been with them?  But I couldn't shake the feeling of warning in my gut.  Had I become paranoid because of everything that had happened?  I hated this uncertainty, it was a splinter, something… wrong.  Papyrus must have noticed I wasn't really focusing because he eventually sighed pinching his nasal ridge in mild annoyance."WE CAN GO TO GRILLBYS LATER IF IT WILL SETTLE YOUR MIND." He said finally I probably should have felt bad but I just nodded quickly"Look your used to it but I'm not and after everything's that happened with Ma and…"  I trailed looking at the taller skeleton.  He nodded huffing out a breath"YES I UNDERSTAND, REALLY IF HE HAD JUST SOMEONE TO TELL US WHAT WAS GOING ON IT WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE SO HE'S BRUGHT THIS ON HIMSELF." Papyrus reasoned.  Happier now with a plan I returned my attention to the Work out he was instructing me through.   Working up a sweat gave me something to focus on, but even as I jumped and punched and kicked I felt that unease settle like a thick bile.I was ready to go as soon as we where done.  I bathed quickly and dressed gripping the edge of the sink, the boy I needed the boy, my concern for Sans was making it a struggle, so instead I turned it, The boy and Sans had been to Grillbys plenty of times, they hung out they where buddies… he'd be annoyed about his friend being gone… he was annoyed.Pushing from the sink he sighed pulling on the flat caps brim, stepping from the bathroom he glanced at Paps and offered a lazy smile"Man if he's passed out on a table from a mustard over does I say we steal his pants and make him walk home." He said drawing a snort from the younger brother as they headed for the door, the boys easy almost lazy gait was just fast enough to keep up with Papyrus' long legged pace.  He kept a hand in one pocket, I needed the anchor, then shook his head pulling his hand from it pausing when Papyrus cast him a look before shrugging"Nah nuthin." He said. The walk wasn't too long, Grillby's bar was only a few blocks from the Gaster  home, just how Sans liked it.  He had mentioned, one of those nights at the bar how in the underground Grillby's had been a sort of… neutral territory, basically because the violet elemental wouldn't tolerate any of that murder shit in his space. If you wanted to parlay with a rival, you went to Grillby's because it was safe ground.  That had been good but it had also been pretty close to the skeleton family home underground as well and as such had been sans regular haunt.Stepping into the bar the boy paused a moment, the was something comforting about the warmth.  Maybe it was that this place felt safe. Or maybe it was some lingering shreds of compassion monsters where supposed to be made out of but whatever it was, it washed over as soon as he walked through the door.The place was busy as ever, patrons in booths and at chairs a couple raising hands in greeting to him or to Paps, voicing surprise.  Apparently he rarely came here and now that the kid thought about it Papyrus had never seemed interested in coming out with them when him and Sans came here.  He had kind of passed it off as some kind of not wanting to be a third wheel."I'm surprised to see you here Papyrus, what brings you out tonight?" the barman asked as the two approached Papyrus shrugged"I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT FOR ANYTHING OTHER THEN WORK IN A WHILE, AND MY LAZY BONES OF A BROTHER HASN'T COME HOME YET.  I WAS HOPING TO ASK IF HE LEFT YOU ANY INFORMATION IF HE CAUGHT A TARGET." He explained, but something wasn't right Grillby had stopped cleaning the glass he was holding and cold dread slipped down my spine gritting my teeth to keep from saying anything not trusting I could maintain the boy, I'd already lost him as soon as I saw the surprisingly expressive flames face."Papyrus,  he left with a waitress the other day.  She hasn't been back since either." He said trailing off as I held out a napkin.  Any other time I might have been pissed, might have assumed he'd just gone to shack up with some chick, but nothing about this felt right, in that moment I knew for sure that wasn't the case Something was deeply wrong, and I was not going to fail someone I loved again."Adress."

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

I didn’t want to be right.  Knowing that Sans had gone off with a waitress didn’t bother me.  We had never really nailed down what our relationship was and after our fight?  Well simply put if he found himself sleeping with someone else to anchor himself I wasn’t gonna fuss about it.  But that wasn’t what happened. I was sure of it, and frankly it was clear Papyrus and Grillby felt the same because I didn’t need to clarify my meaning when I demanded the woman's address.  That bitch had done something to him.  I didn't even know who she was but instinct was screaming out that she had to be responsible.

“Who was she?” I asked as Grillby wrote he frowned thoughtfully “Not much really pretty enough and willing to work, she took orders well and tolerated the drunks if they got flirty but she didn’t stand out, pretty plain looking I guess she might have been pretty if she tried but she didn’t seem interested, mostly she just seemed kind of sad.  She smiled and laughed with people but didn’t really seem happy.  Everyones got their secrets I didn’t pry.”  he said simply I had the feeling he regretted that I knew Grillby and Sans where good friends, did he feel bad about this? Was he wondering what he might have done to stop it?

I wanted to reassure him, tell him it wasn’t his fault.  She had to have done something, why else wouldn’t she have come back?  If Sans had been attacked after leaving her on the way home then she would have been coming in.  She was the target… target, already my mind had erased her humanity… monster?  I didn’t know I didn’t care, monster, human, something else, I didn’t care if she had hurt him, if she had taken him from me, she would suffer.

I hadn’t felt this kind of burning inside for so long.  My need for revenge for Ma had been different, a heavy guilt and grief that had made me act, this wasn’t like that at all.  For one he was alive.  I had to believe that as firmly as the sun rising in the east.

He was alive,

For two, I was coming.  Not just me, obviously Papyrus and Gaster would probably come with me, but for now…

“You need to go home, Papyrus.” I said reading out the address, I knew the area… weird, it wasn’t close to my home but in the general area.  Something felt wrong about this whole thing… Was it a coincidence?

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT I’M NOT ABOUT TO LEAVE MY BROTHER TO ONE PERSON!” Papyrus protested as I turned to him

“That’s not what I’m saying, You need to tell your father, I’ll investigate the address, I know the area I’ll check out the apartment and be right back to give you the details.  I doubt she’s there but there might be a clue, while I do that you can get the details from Grillbs and explain everything to Gaster.” I said firmly.  Papyrus seemed about to protest before he considered my words, and the time, if he had gone off with that woman three days ago…

“I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW HE’S NOT DEAD, WE WOULD KNOW, BUT IT’S BEST NOT TO PUSH IT, FINE I’LL GO REPORT THIS, BE BACK AS SOON AS YOU CAN.” he ordered firmly.  I wasn’t even offended by the demand I fully intended to do so.  I’d already run off half cocked once and almost ruined everything.

I refused to do that now, not with Sans potentially on the line… but why

Something here wasn’t adding up, something was sticking out, but, everything that had happened so far had been targeted at me, why get Sans involved at all… I was dead right… and Ma…

I hated not being able to figure it out. I hated that I wasn’t smart enough… no, I was, I might not figure out the hows and whys, but I’d go to this woman's home, I’d tear it apart and I’d find a clue I would do this. I could do this.
 ✾ 
The boy was forgotten as I made my way to the district the woman’s apartment was in.  it was closer to the monster line then me and Ma’s place had been, it was a bigger building too.  While ours had been a long building with two floors, our small apartment on the second floor was more like an apartment building taller with only a few apartments on each floor.  The building was open in a way that the elevator in the center went up the building and each floor was an open walkway with a railing leaving an open atrium so you could look right to the top floor.

Her apartment was on the fourth floor and surprise, surprise the elevator was broken.  No problem, I took the stairs at a quick but manageable pace not wanting to puff out. I thanked the lord for my stamina and glanced once more at the apartment number even though I knew it by heart by now.  There was no one around thankfully so I approached the door silently.  I didn’t knock, just tested the handle, it opened, no chain no lock it just opened.  She hadn’t been planning to come back.

Easing the door open I slipped inside quickly and shut it before turning my attention to it.  It wasn’t great, heck mine had been better, this place was two rooms, a living kitchen dining area, then a Bedroom with a small bathroom crammed in what little space was left.  It was filthy, not in the “lived in and she just didn’t clean up after herself” kind of filthy either.  There was mold and a damp smell, this didn’t come from a few days,  the place felt… wrong, like it wasn't really lived in just, stayed in from time to time.

Damn it.

I wrecked, meticulously going through everything, turning out sheets, moving what little furniture had been crammed into the room, rifling through leftover papers, something wasn’t adding up here either, why the hell would someone stay in a place like this and go for Sans?  Ransom wasn’t the thing because there had been no calls or anything, we wouldn’t have even known anything was amiss if I hadn’t had this gut feeling and convinced Papyrus to take me to Grillbys.  So what the hell was going on, what was the end goal?

I was digging under the couch when the door slammed open, three men stood in the space.  There wasn’t much but they managed to fit grinning in a sick way that made my stomach curl with disgust...

Wait a second.

“I know you… hmph… wanna tell me why a coupla wanna be gangsters who didn’t make the cut are loitering around here?” I asked standing, three of ‘em all had been very very low members of the Zoras.  So this wasn't something related to the Astors, this was us again. Whys could wait however as there was a slightly more immediate problem.

Guns, all three of them had guns, cramped space, limited maneuverability, no weapon, shit.  Sans…

No, I could do this.

I was down before the first shot thrusting up the chipped wooden coffee table and ran forward using it as a shield and battering ram slamming forward into them right back out the door I heard a shout of shock and pushed off the table using my weight and the tables awkward shape to push sending the middle attacker over the railing and down to the atrium of the building, That one wasn’t getting up.

One of them might have said fuck but I wasn’t paying attion, with a swift move my foot snapped out in a harsh kick catching the guy on my right under the chin sending him reeling back stumbling several paces giving me time to turn my attetion on the third he took a shot grazing my arm, the sting was terrible but it barely broke through to my brain as I charged at him coming in low and surging up at the last second fist  slamming up into his groin.  I felt something pop unnaturally but wasted no time on the satisfaction.

As it was a popped testicle wouldn’t matter too much, as he screamed in pain I pushed against him, my forearm pressed hard against his throat as I shoved him quickly along the floor and into the wall parallel to the stairs.  he gagged once gasping out for air. Unwilling to give him time I drew back, he had a brief moment to catch his breath before I slammed my elbow into his throat crushing his trachea.  I was moving before the body hit the floor, the last man was recovering taking aime he shot, he had a better eye then his friend but a moving target was harder to hit. I was up, feinting to the left and grasping the railing. I swung my legs up slamming my feet into his chest while one of the bullets found their mark in my arm and sent white hot pain lancing through me.

I didn’t stop.

The man staggered back coughing from my second solid hit.  I released the railing and hit the floor. A sweeping kick knocked his feet out from under him and then, with a slam of my heel, I heard his neck snap body sagging limply.

Panting slightly I clutched my arm as the pain suddenly hit me now I wasn’t focused on the fight.  A trap?  Fuck, and I’d walked right into it, stupid stupid… but why the hell where Zoras here?  Low level sure. But, why? What was tying the Zoras and the astors together, why would Sans be involved in this?

I had to get back to the house and I had to talk to Lucian.  Whatever was happening was worse than I had imagined and if it was bad enough that three guys would try and take me out I hated to think what kind of deep shit he was in.  At least I had the relief of knowing he could fend for himself… but so could Sans.

Either way I wasn’t going to get any answers here, this place had been a set up.  Well, they had another thing coming if they thought a couple of Idiots not even worth the Zora name could take me out.  I stolle a belt off one of the bodies pulling it tight around my upper arm above the gunshot to stem some of the bleeding while I riffled through pockets, well well well, each of them had a card for a company that made fish pies,  wasn’t that interesting, there was no way these idiots where carrying these around by luck,  another trap?

It seemed stupid to lure someone here, no guarantee… What was going on? UUGGG!  No, now wasn’t the time, I’m not sure who might live in the building but with all that noise I didn’t have time to linger.  So, snatching the coat off the body of the man on the first floor and shrugging it on to hide my bloody sleeve I hurried from the building pulling my cap low and making my way back into the monster district. I needed to get back to Papyrus and Gaster as soon as possible, Gaster needed to call Lucian, everything felt wrong about this whole thing, if there were rats like that then it likely meant that the dead man wasn’t the source of the guns, it also meant that they hadn’t gotten whatever they where after yet.

I knew from the guys at the bar I had investigated, that plenty of new recruits didn’t care for Lucians policies, he had such a tight fist on the reigns of his people and the youth were chafing against the strict controls.  They had expected freedom to cause havoc and instead got even stricter rules then they probably had at their mothers skirts.  However that left the fact that Sans didn’t have anything to do with the Zoras.  He had only even learned about them because I had stepped in to stop him from getting shot by that kid.  Was it a coincidence that the kid would be there to pick a fight with a monster while I was there? Was it because I’d tried to protect Sans… or was Sans just the unlucky monster?  If I went that route, how much forethought was involved in this whole thing?  I didn’t want to just assume this was all on me but nothing else fit.  Sans and the Astor family in general had nothing to do with the Zoras and never had until I had stepped in to save him.

It brought to mind the thought that maybe Sans had been random. Maybe the iea hadn’t been to kill a monster, but to get my attention?  It’s not as if my displeasure with racists was a secret even if my job was.  What if to get to me that kid had simply been tasked to attack a monster close enough to me to get my attention with the knowledge I would step in to stop it?

Before I could consider much more a sleek black car that I had never seen before pulled up alongside me.

“Tra la la, The simplest answers are usually the correct ones.” came the voice of a hooded figure driving the car before the back door opened on it’s own… right, magic… on the front of the car I would swear I saw the face of a dog, not an actual dog but like the front of the car was somehow shaped?  I shook my head to clear it, I didn’t have the braine space to unpack all that.

“Who are you?” I asked skeptically I shouldn’t be wasting time but something about this made me feel like I shouldn’t just brush off the weirdness.

“Who am I, who are you, who are we all, these aren’t the important questions Tra la la.” the man? Hummed out musingly I glanced at the back seat.

“Can you get me to the Astors home?” I asked, I had to get going but there was a faint chuckle

“I can I will and for free to suit you, things are not as complex as they seem. Tra la la~” he said as I climbed in the door shutting behind me.  The car was moving, so fast! I didn’t know they could drive that fast!  Right magic.  In no time at all I was in front of the estate my arm was hurting the throbbing running to the tips of my fingers, but nothing was numb. I'm pretty sure that was a good sign.

“Thanks, uh… have a good day?” I managed as I climbed out the figure looked over to me.  Weirdly I couldn’t seem to see into the hood, it’s as if there was nothing there… what on earth?

“Tra la la, Good, Bad, it’s all the same in the end but your wishes are appreciated… You will have a hard day, but maybe not a bad one.”  he said simply before I could question him the door was slamming closed and he drove off as fast as he arrived.  Yah… I might ask Gaster about that later, but for now I took the steps up to the door two at a time, it opened for me one of the rabbit monster maids standing there as if she’d been waiting, and she probably had been.

“Where are they?” I asked quickly nodding as she pointed me towards Gasters study, I should have figured.  What I didn’t count on were the humans outside the door and along the hall leading to the room.  A couple tried stepping in my way to block me but I pushed past them when it hit me.  Wait a second I knew a few of them, these were… no I knew all of them, lieutenants of the Zoras, high ranked members of the family.  Despite my confusion I didn’t slow jogging through the group and to the study bursting through the door panting slightly as I shrugged off the coat.  Gaster stood quickly on my entrance, turning in chairs at the front of the desk facing him where two men I knew well.  One was the enforcer who had worked for Lucians father and now assisted him, the other Lucians uncle and second in command.

“

What did you find?

” Gaster asked, his voice might have seemed calm but maybe it was my time talking with him.  I caught the faint straine in his odd voice, he was worried for his son.  Even if I didn’t fully understand I pulled out the business cards I had pulled off the bodies.

“A whole lotta nothin in the apartment, it was a trap, a couple of lower boys attacked while I was there, but I found these on them.  It’s interesting all three of them would care about a business that makes fish pie.” I said walking forward and setting them on the desk. Should I tell them my suspicions?  What if I was wrong? No I needed to tell them if nothing else, maybe the other two would have some sort of idea.

“I’m sorry Gaster, but I think Sans has been dragged into whatever the hell is going on with the Zoras because of me.” I said ashamed, “I’ve been trying to think why he was involved, I was thinking that he had been a target from the start, that the kid had known him somehow and had picked the fight intentionally, but that makes no sense if I think about it from a family point of view, the zoras wold have nothing to gain getting into a fight with you, and who ever gave the kid the gun wouldn’t want a war on their hands.” I explained taking a breath, When none of them tried to cut in or stop my explanation I pressed on.

“It’s never been a secret that I am very vocal and physical in my distaste for racists.  I think Sans just happened to be a monster who was there while I was there.  So he was the one used to get my attention.” I said shifting. Everyone was silently thoughtful, I glanced to the right noticing Papyrus was in the room as well, of course he was.

“Unfortunately the Judge is not the only concern, This morning we received word, Don Lucian Zora has been taken from his home late last night.” This was explained by his uncle whose expression was grave.  I felt cold, it was like everything was happening at once.  Lucian as well?  Why?  A move for power?  None of this made sense.

“Alright that’s bad but why is everyone here?” I asked there was no way they knew about the Astors involvement in all this right? Or that Sans had gone missing at all.  The retainer shifted reaching for something on Gasters desk I hadn't noticed before and passed it to me, an envelope.  Inside was the same card, as well as Lucians saint pendant and a single gleaming gold fang.

“That’s a pretty clear message.” He said firmly as I studied the card.  He gestured so I turned to look at the back of the card and almost puked.  In a sharp handwriting I didn’t recognise was my name, and a time.  It was pretty clear what was wanted… but why?  All this because I saved Sans’ life?  What did it have to do with Zora? Lucian, why was I being singled out? I studied the card flipping to look at the front again it felt… there that tickle, something that stuck out something…

“HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF SOMETHING?” Papyrus asked, I shook my head pinching the bridge of my nose

“There's something bothering me, it’s like, right at the edge of my memory but I don’t know what it is, I want to think it’s nothing but it won’t go away.” I said letting out a sigh.

“Do either of you recognise the company?  It doesn’t strike me as something Lucian would have his hand in.” I commented, Both men shaking their heads

“As far as I’m aware we don’t have any kind of food processing, not even to cover the bootleggers.” Lucians Uncle said I glanced at the retainer who frowned thoughtfully really trying but nothing.  So it stuck out to me, but not them?  Maybe it wasn’t related to the Zoras, maybe it was just a card I’d seen before… but that didn’t seem right.

Aspects of this situation didn’t make sense, they didn’t mesh... they...

“Whatever the end goal is it doesn’t matter, we know where they are and what they want in exchange, it seems simple enough let me go get them back.”

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

I can’t say I was surprised that there was a resounding ‘no’ when I asked them to let me go.  I suppose asking was the wrong thing to do so I reworded staring at them though my eyes held Gasters, right now he had the most power, and right now he was the one who needed to hear me most.“I’m not asking permission, I’m telling you that’s what I’m going to do.” I said firmly.  We held gazes the protests from Papyrus and the two Zoras where muffled to me as he considered me the long silence between us only broken when he finally sat back and sighed“We can say no but you’ll do it anyway so instead we’ll make sure you, Zora, and my son are as safe as possible while your there.” he said steeping his fingers in thought I nodded and turned“I’m going to get changed and patch up my arm, you guys hash out what ever you want, but when I’m done I’m going, Fuck their schedule, if their not ready for me after three days then they never will be.” I said turning to leave my arm was burning, but my heart was more, They took Lucian as well, Why, why involve anyone if this was supposed to be targeted at me?  For god's sakes I had killed, my hands would never be clean but I never killed the periphery, I never killed the families, I never killed the friends, (well unless they were involved of course) and only with unshakable evidence.  I still wonder sometimes, if I hadn’t found Serena's pendant that day if I’d have killed that man so brutally.I was pushing open my bedroom door when a sound caught my attention and I looked up seeing papyrus half jogging after me. I waved for him to follow me in, tossing off clothes as I did so, I needed a bath but I didn’t want to waste time.  There was a bowel with room temperature water and a cloth on the vanity table probably for my arm. I used it to wipe down, surprised when the rag came away bloody.  A quick glance in the mirror told me it wasn’t my blood, but splatter. One of the me must have coughed up blood during the fight…“YOU AREN’T REALLY THINKING OF GOING THERE ALONE ARE YOU?  THAT’S PROBABLY EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO.” he pointed out.  Though his voice was quieter than I was used to, it was no less powerful.  I kept my back to him and knew from the mirror he wasn’t looking at me, still embarrassed by my lack of modesty as I wiped at my arm cleaning away now dried and sticky blood just a graze. I figured I'd be fine but it kept bleeding.“LET ME.” was all papyrus said before tying a shirt around my chest and dragging me to the bed to sit, pulling my arm towards him he looked over it before biting the finger tip of one glove pulling it off. I realised I’d never seen him take his gloves off before, weird.  They seemed like… such a part of him, his hands were different from Sans, Longer and slender, I suppose in another life they might have been considered what elegant? I took a breath and waited as he covered the wound with his now bare bones the same green glow of magic that I had seen when they healed my chest emanate from his palm.My arm warmed under the touch hotter and hotter until it was just on the cusp of painful… then it faded and he pulled his hand away from vaguely scarred skin.“I DID MY BEST FOR NOW, YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO WAIT FOR MORE FOCUSED HALING, SO YOU WILL HAVE THAT MARK.” he explained, wait, he’d healed me fast on purpose? Did that mean?  I glanced up at him and he shrugged“IT’S LIKE MY FATHER SAID, YOU AREN’T GOING TO CHANGE YOUR MIND JUST BECAUSE WE SAY NO ARE YOU?  YOU OFFERED YOUR LIFE UP ONCE TO SAVE MY BROTHER WHEN YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HIM.  I’D BE STUPID TO THINK YOU WOULDN’T DO IT NOW WHEN YOU KNOW AND CARE ABOUT HIM…” he said trailing off. Part of me wanted to move to get dressed and go but it seemed wrong to move right now.“WE CAME FROM A WORLD MUCH HARSHER THEN THE SURFACE, BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE WORRIED FOR MY BROTHER THEN I AM NOW.  I AM OFTEN AN… ASS I SUPPOSE.  I’M USED TO BEING HARSH AND EVEN UNFORGIVING, TO PROTECT HIM IT WAS THE BEST WAY TO BE, BUT BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY, I TRUST YOU.”  I remembered what Sans had told me about being underground how quickly things had turned to killing, how young they had been,  and Papyrus, a younger brother had taken on all of that?  I felt like I understood him a little better now.“I’ll bring him back, I promise Papyrus.” I said firmly before standing.  I changed to a clean shirt and trousers first rule, don’t let your opponent see you bleed.  With that in mind I wore one of the red shirts Sans favoured.  Partly because his smell was comforting to me, and partly because red on red was easier to cover right?  Yeah that was exactly why… nothing sentimental here…As I finished securing the suspenders My fingers lingered on the soft linen.  I was scared. Scared I‘d fail.  Scared I might do something to get them hurt, scared they’d be dead when I got there…  So scared.  I hated it, I’d never felt so vulnerable so weak.  Mas death had left me with a sense of impotence which I had tried to fix by doing something stupid.  But this was different, Here was the opportunity to act and save the two most important men in my life, and all these what ifs and fears just kept flooding my mind.I thought of all the things I had done over the years,  Had I ever felt this terrified before?  Yes, that day when I had set this whole life in motion, I’d been so terrified that day, but only for myself. Was it the distance of the memory or the idea of those two being in trouble that made this terror feel so much more raw?I had to focus, I was going to make a mistake if I kept up these thoughts I needed…I needed to not be me.  Once more I needed the mantles,  needed their help not to kill, but to save lives.  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, who could do this?  Who could approach them?  Who could save them?
I can…

I’m the one they want.
The little voice was so small, so used to being shoved down for the sake of everything else it never got to speak out.I can do it, because I am meThe mantles are good they have been what we needed, they have given us a way to help by collecting information and removing dangers.  They have always been and always would be a part of me, but this?  This wasn't a mission,  this wasn't a way to help the greater good, this was an issue focused directly on me, they had been taken because of me, and so I was the one who needed to do this.I lifted a hand staring at it a long moment before closing it into a fist and touching it to my forehead, MeI am meThere is a me, a person who loves deeply, a person with wants and a will I am me, I always have been,  the mantels may be a part of that but they will never truly be me, and it is me who is driven by the strongest desire I have ever felt in my life. I would save them.I plucked up the trousers I had been wearing before and pulled the card from the pocket frowning as I studied it.  It was several hours before the meet up, I didn't care, but I wanted to look at it one more time, what was it about it that kept drawing my attention,  I glanced at the handwriting again, no that wasn't it, it was the card, the company the logo… A dancing fishI closed my eyes taking a deep breath think think…. It stuck out painfully something I did? No, a mantel,  it rushed flooding me, I could feel them all moving through my mind at lightning speed rushing to me all at once and shoving him in front of me, and suddenly I remembered I knew… that was it, but what did that have to do with this?  Well I figured whatever it was I would learned soon enough.The door was locked, some pathetic attempt to keep me in, to stop me from heading off before they were ready,  I almost laughed and simply turned to the window I remembered another time another window, Sans had caught me then,  I wish he was here to catch me now, I was so scared I didn't want to have to do this.  Crawling out and hopping down was too easy, with everyone focused on the high ranking members inside there was little security in the gardens.  My wandering in them had shown me all sorts of nooks and crannies.  After this was over I'd show the security team the path and warn them how open it was to intruders… I had to believe there was an after.Once off the estate I hailed a cab, it dropped me off a few blocks from the district and I climbed out giving him all the cash Sans had in his pocket, more than enough for the ride an nicked his flat cap with a smile.  Pulling it on my head and jamming my hands in my pockets I took one more deep breath and made my way towards the warehouse. There was no resistance, though I noticed more and more kids.  I called them kids but between 16 and mid twenties they were actually men.  But not to me.  They watched more and more of then some mocking some muttering some lurching as if tempted to just take me out only to be held back by older ones, either because they knew me or because they had been told not to either way I was getting there.  I'd have killed them had they tried to stop me.  Not a mantel, no I would have killed them.Finally getting to the building there was a bunch of them a group thirty or more I couldn't be sure, Jesus how many had they turned?  I braced for a moment but they parted and invitation, I understood they were here to make sure I was alone.  I had hoped they wouldn't be ready for me, but I suppose if I didn't want to be known I should have been a bit more careful instead of just walking up to the front door, hindsight is twenty-twenty I suppose.There where big door for shipment trucks to go in and out but it was a smaller normal sized door recessed into one of those larger ones that opened, I watched it a moment before walking through, no time for hesitation.  It was better I came alone, who knew what kind of bloodbath might have erupted if they had sent their people with me.  This wasn't there problem.It was so dark inside and for a moment my eyes adjusted before suddenly big lights switched on blinding me a moment.  When my vision cleared from the sudden onslaught of light, I could see two dark figures. My  hands clenched tightly as I took it in, hanging from their wrists from one of the steel ceiling beams where Sans and Lucian.  The chains wrapped around Sans arms glowed with a pulsing magic… that explained how they were keeping him despite his teleporting ability…"Wow!  I gotta say I'm kinda surprised you actually came alone bitch." The  of the thickly accented voice brought my attention to a catwalk just behind them  leaning on the railing was a man I vaguely knew,  he was a lower enforcer of Lucians,  he couldn't get any higher, Lucian didn't like how eager he was. While he had never actively defied the Zoras, Lucian hadn't really be confident in his self control so he'd kept him in stagnant position."But of course seems like my queen was right, you came way to early, good thing we got things ready early.  She said you'd show up as soon as you knew and not wait till the time we sent you." He said what was his name?  why the hell was he doing this?  His queen?  My attention was drawn to a woman who stood beside him he straightened drawing her close and nuzzling her clearly he adored her it wasn't the gross kind of snuggling of a man on a disinterested woman but something felt wrong something about her bothered me."Fine I'm here, but why am I here, why do all this?  You're a Zora, and why involve him in this?" I demanded gesturing to Sans,  where they awake?  I couldn't tell with the light at their backs they were just black figures against the light,  I knew Sans had to be alive he wasn't dust but what about Lucian? And what if those chains where the only thing keeping Sans from actually dusting.  I wish I could see them better but I didn't dare move."I am, but that piece of pacifistic trash was never gonna let me be more, I fuckin deserve it I work just as hard as any enforcer I am a Zora but he was never satisfied.  It a Mafia not a fucking police force we're not here to protect people we're here to control them, we are the royal family of this city and we deserve all the power in it!" he snapped.  No… no that couldn't be it, there was no way such simple stupid motives where the drive behind all of this.I was stunned he couldn't be serious that was…"The stupidest fucking thing I have ever heard."  I said weakly before glaring up at him"Do you hear me?  You’re a fucking idiot!" I shouted shifting slightly but before I could act a gun shot echoed cracking off the floor close to my foot shit, I couldn't see where he was aiming with these damn lights."Ah ah ah, You're in no position to be insulting me.  You're just a wild animal our leader keeps on a loose leash.  Hell we're humans, even that bag of bones we know what he is, a monster but what the fuck are you?" he asked mockingly I could hear a foot tapping on the catwalk as if he wanted me to answer.  But he didn't deserve my words they were for Sans not this stupid self entitled son of a bitch."Frankly I'd have killed you before now but My beautiful queen asked for one thing, she wanted you to suffer isn't that right babe? Are you happy with ki-"The gunshot cut off his words.  I hadn't been able to see what happened because of the lights but the corpse tipping over the railing and falling head first two stories to a crumpled bloody heap on the concrete floor below was pretty definitive."You're not wrong…" the woman spoke finally waving a hand a couple lights turning off letting me see her better as she walked along the cat walk  on hand running along Sans' side them moving to Lucian Before I could decide what to do she walked past them"A lot of this was his idea actually.  He wanted to own the Zoras, frankly I don't care about that, I never did.  Queen?  What an idiot.  You know he really was convinced he deserved to be a king?  A real idiot but he did his job well enough." She said leaning against the railing She was like Grillby had describe, pretty but not 'pretty'  I got the feeling though she was playing down her looks trying not to be seen, I know it she's"I am genuinely sorry about your mother.  He arranged that without me knowing he thought it would please me because he knew how much I hated you.  But I never wanted that,  I watched very carefully she wasn't involved, she had no idea what you do, I was going to leave her alone." She said, despite the angry bile in my throat I found myself believing her, there was something there that I recognized and I knew right now she wasn't going to lie to me."You're like me aren't you?  Am I talking to you?" I asked calmly, she looked at me surprised then chuckled sighing she nodded"I guess so.  I'm the one who hates you, we all do, but I hate you so much I made them specifically to kill you.  You came here and didn't even hesitate,  you really are a goddamned monster… no, even their better then you… do you even remember this place?" she asked hands gripping the railing as she stared at me.. I did"I do." I said calmly I could see it in her, not her but someone else another woman, another time, so many years, not alive like this one, no, her body battered, bruised.  I had been to late, it had only been my second hunt under Lucian, I was still verifying"Then you know what you let happen.  You let him kill her." She said calmly moving across the cat walk again, she kept moving pacing?  I wasn't sure."I didn't let him, I would have stopped him when if I got there that was why I was hunting him,  I took the time to verify one last thing." I said trying to talk her down, she was to close to them and I knew she had a weapon I needed her to focus on me."Verify what?!" her sudden outburst scared me as she lurched at the rail holding it tightly as she leaned over it"He was a dirty rapist a murderer and because of you My sister died in horror and pain!  Because you took to long 'verifying'  and for what?" she demanded But I had asked myself those same questions and I knew why"Because I didn't want to kill an innocent man.  I never wanted to be a killer, I never wanted to be this kind of person, I fell into it, because I can do something no one else could.  I couldn't let anyone else have the blood on their hands, so I did it, and I still do it.  I'm sorry I was to late, I'm sorry your sister died,  I'm sorry anyone but he died, but I had to be sure I wasn't going after an innocent man." I said again reiterating that point firmly, that that was always my goal.  I always investigated, the mantels helped me but I was the one who demanded that certainty before passing final judgement."It's not good enough… Because you failed because you needed to 'be sure' she died.  She suffered…  I had to… to identify her!  What he did to her face and it's all your fault.  I don't care about all the gang garbage I don't care about ruling this stupid city all I cared about all I wanted ever since I heard the first rumor that you killed him, was to kill you, because you didn't think she was good enough to save." That wasn't true I was quick to try and say so but a shot went off I barely moved in time the burn as it tore through the shirt skimming my shoulder was sharp  same arm as the other shot, but barely a graze this time."So what are you going to do shot me like this? Why get them involved they don't have anything to do with this!" I snapped she smiled a little at that grabbing Lucians hair and pulling his head up, the big flood lights went out with a clunk as dimmer building light came on, I was surrounded, Lucian and sans where hurt I could see it now, blood trailed from Lucians temple down his face, head wounds bled a lot I just needed to remember that, something oozed from wounds on Sans I'm not sure what it was, Blood, Marrow… That ecto magic stuff? I don't know but my fear spiked, Papyrus said he only had 1 HP, if he looked like that he had to be hanging on by a thread.  No…"Because they matter to you,  because they are so very important to you and they are involved. They know.  This one?  This one failed.  He sent you after that thing to late, if he had acted sooner if he had sent you or someone more proactive My sister would be alive, she'd be fine.  But he didn't he sent you so he has to die.  And this one?" she released Lucians hair letting his head loll forward and wrapped her arms around Sans from behind Don't touch them, don't you don't get to touch them you bitch! Those thoughts raged as I struggled to stay in place I wanted to run I wanted to grab her and kill her right there."You where willing to give your life to save him,  you stepped in front of a bullet for him, but my sister?  You left her to die while.  One monster against a racist meant more to you then an innocent young woman.  So naturally he needs to die as well.  Both of them are going to die, and you're going to watch and you're going to suffer and then I'm going to kill you and you'll let me!" she screamed slowly getting more and more manic as she declared her ultimate intentions as she aimed at Lucian, no, no no no, I needed, I needed…"WAIT!"She stopped looking down at me her finger on the trigger so ready"W-wait… I'm the one who failed.  I had one job and I fucked it up, you're right, you're right absolutely but it's not their fault.  It's mine, just mine.  You said you wouldn't hurt my mother because she wasn't involved, and I believe you, you're not like me, your better y-you don't kill like I do, you just want revenge for her right? For your sister?" I said god please, anyone who ever was out there, who ever watched who ever guided… please let this work."Please, I'll let you come right here you can shoot me right between the eyes if you want, you can hit me do anything you want but don't kill them.  It will taint everything you've done,  It changes you, when you kill, you die as well.  That first kill it never goes away,  I swear to you, please, if you need to, if it is all you have then you can kill me but don't hurt them."  I said I begged I needed to get through to her I had to stop this.  If this was caused by my failure I had to fix it but to do that I needed her to come to me…She watched me a long moment before lowering her gun seeming to consider what I had said. After a moment she nodded and walked towards the stairs of the cat walk making her way down"You're right.  He trusted you, that wasn't his fault, you had him fooled.  And that monster, he was really just a eans to an end, I was sort of hoping you would die in the struggle, everyone knows what your like… I wanted to keep my hands clean, and that boy was so ready to kill, I thought if the two of you took care of each other I wouldn't have to… yes you are right." She murmured I glanced around, so many people some of them I recognized as former Zoras, some of them I didn't  why where they listening to her?  Couldn’t they see she was fucking nuts?"I need your word." I said as she walked towards me shoes clicking faintly on the concrete."Oh?  Ohh… For them?" she asked looking up at the two something caught my eye sans was moving I could just see the glow of red building in his eye lights."Sans…" I barely breathed his name, there was no way he could have heard me but he shifted looking right at me seeming confused then horrified"Y-Ya dumbass what th'fuck are ya doin here?!" he demanded angrily jerking, the chain didn't give and he looked up scowling that same odd not blood was dripping from where his fang had been ripped out."I had to come Sans, this whole thing was my fault from the start, the whole thing." I said smiling up at him he jerked Was he mad at me for getting him involved? Probably none of this would have happened if not for me."'S not true!  Yer not responsible for some psyco bitch!  Git outta here Fuck Jus get out!" He shouted as he tried to run me off, he wanted to protect me even after out fight?  The woman seemed annoyed but seemed content to let him yell"I guess last words are a kindness, I'm not like you I'll let you say goodbye at least." She said after a moment I looked at her she was still to far, the men around us had to be armed.  I had one shot at this if I failed… and there was a what 98% possibility I would, then I was going to die so I'd tell him now."Sans hey, You asked me before, who had feelings for you, which one?  I have an answer for you." I said he jolted gritting his teeth"It wasn't, I didn' mean it I was pissed jus said somthin stupid!" He said staring at me looking around frantically I could see red magic trying to flare only o cut off the stunned expression that he couldn't use his magic the horror of realization."Sans, you where right, there are a lot of mantels,  they've been so much a deep part of me I lost track of who I was.  But you know what I realized?  You brought me back out, Sans I love you ok? They all care about you because they are parts of me, But me, I love you all of me." I said finally  giving him my biggest grin Please believe in me, if he trusted nothing else, please let him know that was the truth,  let him know it was me and not a mantel, there was no act there was no other just me."You're such a good actress, even fooling yourself into thinking you're capable of loving someone?  Cute, but you're still an abomination of death." The woman said levelling her gun at me, No I wasn't acting, but she was I knew the person I was looking at wasn't her, she wasn't there anymore, drowned in grief, she'd given herself up to all of them and made herself into this thing an amalgamation of mantles and others… "I've had enough of this sentimental trash!  You can't love and he's an idiot to believe you,  No no one deserves mercy here, you them, all of you are going to die, NOW!"  there she was close I turned body cold, ready I watched her face… and smiled.  Her eyes went wide and we moved, a split second that’s all we had, an instant, who was better? Who was stronger? None of that mattered in that instantThe gun went off the same time my hand snapped out for her throat. I heard a hoarse shout of denial from Sans how it was my name he shouted over the blast of the gun going off.  White hot pain burned through my body and my fingers tore into soft flesh,  I am what I am,  Human, monster other?  I have no name for it but whatever I am I know now at least I am me. Despite all I had done I was still me.

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

Three weeks had passed since the warehouse. I really didn't know what to think about it.  Even after all this time it was difficult to process.  After saying something so heartfelt.  Then that last instant it could have gone on forever, one of those moment, you wished time would move slower just because you know how it'll end and you don't want it to.There was a moment of silence everyone still waiting but before any answers could come to us the doors burst open, the room flooding with monsters and men, ready to fight side by side.  It wasn't something I ever expected to see but…It was quick, and mostly bloodless without a leader the boys where disorganized and had no plan, some tried running but the place was surrounded Between Gasters orders and the Zoras they had completely taken control, the men outside? Already handled with a cold quiet efficiency and again, little bloodshed. It was as if they were trying to be as peaceful as possible.Like they wanted to show her something…I pushed open her bedroom door and settled by the bed.  She still wasn't awake.  Guilt ate at me, I'd been dumb enough to go off with that twit.   I was mad, and confused,  I hated seeing her hurting but what the hell was I supposed to do?  I knew what I had said was wrong I knew I needed to make it up to her. But between the mustard and the waitress, I still don't know what the hell she laced it with but fuck did it do a number on my head.No, that wasn't fair, if I was gonna be honest with her when she woke up I'd be honest with myself.  Yeah she laced the drink but I had enough cognition I could have taken a shortcut home.  I didn't need to leave with her.  I chose to, and fuck did I feel stupid for it.I reached out brushing her cheek.  She was so still.  I wish she'd move just a little bit even just a toss of her head, so I had more than the shallow rise and fall of her chest to reassure me she was alive.  Pops said it was called a coma.  Humans, if they got badly hurt could go into it, unlike when monsters fell down though Humans might wake up from a coma.  I guess it was a way for their bodies to focus on healing, since they didn't have magic.I tried, we all did, the room had been so full of green magic even Lucian had been healed and we weren't working on him.  It was hard not to be on a first name basis with a guy you'd hung next to in a warehouse for a day.What was worse about it all was that she'd been shot in the same place.  The bullet had followed almost the exact same path as the one that she'd saved me from at the start of this whole mess.  I'd healed it before why couldn't I do it now, why was she rejecting our magic?This couldn't last much longer, I didn't know much about humans yeah but even I know all this sleeping and not moving and not eating…  At least she was getting fluids,  Zora had arranged some medical equipment sent over so she had an IV dripping water and medicine into her.She was so damn pale.I reached out and grabbed her arm carefully lifting it and steadily put her through the motions Pops had shown me.Because she was laid out for so long she was at risk for thing like bed sores?  Wasn't it bad enough she was like this, shit could get worse?  So I had Gaster show me everything and he did.  Once I knew all I needed I barred Papyrus and pops from the room… mostly.  They came in to see her everyday Paps always brought flowers, not from the garden though but these fancy fresh cut flowers.Pops would sit and read for about an hour before he went back to work.But I took care of her,  I moved her limbs I Bathed her, I changed her cloths, She'd worn my shirt at that fight so I kept dressing her in them the softest ones I had, my favorites to that had my strongest smell on them,  Humans didn't have senses like monsters but Pops once mentioned the human sense of smell was one of their biggest forms of memory.  I thought maybe dressing her in my shirts she could smell me even if I had to leave for a bit, it might make her feel better.She said she loved me.I couldn't believe it still.  No not that she loved me I believed that I knew it felt it because damn it I loved her I loved her so much.I couldn't believe that right there knowing she might not survive she'd looked at me with that big beautiful smile and had said it with such confidence,  she wasn't questioning herself, she wasn't confused about who she was it was just her.  She had come to save me, She had come to tell me she loved me.  No mantel no disguise no other… just her.I carefully rolled her onto her side and with one hand on her hip to keep her steady I began to massage her back, encouraging the blood flow or… something.  I still didn't get it but if it helped it helped so I'd do it for her."Come on sweet heart, You gotta wake up soon,  If Boss keeps buyin all these flowers there's not gonna be any room for you to sleep for much longer." I said quietly, Pops encouraged talking to, I guess somehow she might have been able to hear me."He's been buyin 'em fresh, dunno from where but he must like something about the shop because he keeps going to the same place.  We'll have to tease him about it." I told her with a chuckle, once satisfied I carefully settled her on her back again and moved to massage her legs.  There wasn't any intimacy to the touch hell I'd go the rest of our lives without it if she woke up right now.  No I just worked the flesh, the muscles carefully pushed and pulled at the joints so they didn't stiffen up.  First one leg then the other. After I did all that I carefully opened the top buttons of her shirt and looked at the bandages,  She'd stopped bleeding a couple days after the shot, I don't know if it was our healing that did it or not, the only thing I know for sure he body hadn't rejected was when he'd carefully worked the bullet out of her.A knock at the door got my attention so carefully recovering her I stood and made my way over, I wasn't surprised to see Boss but I was surprised he didn't have flowers this time."Sans…"  The softness of his voice was still pretty weird  But he was careful to be quiet where ever he was near the room."You Have Some Work,  Or Rather… She Does…" he said carefully.  I glanced back,  since she wasn't waking up I was doing her work for Lucian in a way.  It wasn't the big kills, Mostly it was hunting down the last few people who had managed to slip away from the warehouse that day during the fight.  The fact I had work meant Lucian had found another one, or more for me to bring in to him.  I didn't know what he did with 'em.  Part of me wondered but I didn't ask, I think because if she woke up and asked I didn't want to be able to tell her.No not if, when, I needed to keep thinking that,  When she woke up I had to believe she would .With Boss reassuring me he'd stay with her I went out.  I didn't like leaving her alone but I didn't want any of them getting away with what they had done.  None of them had been the ones to shoot her true, but they had all been involved in that crap shoot so they'd all pay.I went and got the information Lucian had on the men I'd be after.  He had recovered well, not even a scare from where he'd been hit. Which surprised me considering how much blood had come out but Humans and blood where weird, blood wasn't always an indication of how bad an injury was, especially head wounds, those apparently just bled and bled.They were easy enough to find now we knew where they were.  The apartment was still in the city but from the look of things they had been planning to leave, if I hadn't shown up.I was able to catch 'em easily enough binding them with magic I delivered them to Lucian with a grin, but before I left he asked about her.  How was she? I told him,  I was honest, His supplies had helped. She had to wake up soon,  She was tough, she was strong!  She would wake up I was sure of it.Lucian gave me a complicated expression before he nodded and let me leave, he knew I was anxious to be back by her side.  Sure he had the men well in hand I took a short cut back home,  right into chaos.  The Staff was running around wildly and I could hear Boss screeching angrily"HOW DID SHE GET OUT OF HER ROOM LET ALONE THE HOUSE?!" he was demanding angrily,  a shiver of fear shot up my spine as I took a shortcut to her room she was gone, the IV line hung limply a small dribble of blood on the needle, it was alarming but more that she was gone then the blood she probably ripped it out or pulled it out wrong, she would.But why?  Why did she leave?  Why would she just leave right after waking up from a fucking coma? How did she even have the energy?!  Where the hell had Papyrus been… No he worked he could have been distracted this wasn't his fault it was mine, I never got a chance to tell her how I felt.  To tell her I believed her… fuck.I was trying to think where she might go when I noticed the window was open wider then it had been,  I probably only noticed because of how long I'd been staying in here. I made my way quickly over, a small drop of blood, the IV line.I shortcut from the room to the patch of lawn below and inhaled deeply, I could faintly pick up the smell of her blood, then it hit me, she was hurting, she was probably scared.  Unsure, sad…  I knew where she was…   *She was right where I thought she'd be, on the side walk across from her old building watching the door of the apartment she'd shared with her mother.  I guess I might have forgotten to tell her the apartment had be rented out.  Between her assumed death and her mother's actual murder… Lucian had all their stuff in storage."How long was I out?" she asked without looking at me Slipping my hands in my pockets I rocked back on my heels once."Few weeks… three actually, three weeks, two days, nine hours… Fuck… to long…" I managed muttering my hands were shaking so badly I was glad I'd shoved them in my pockets.  I wanted to yell at her be mad at her for running off, with that wound, without telling anyone… just…"You know.  Running off like that was pretty shitty, you're gonna get an infection if that thing opens back up." I said finally despite wanting to be mad I couldn't muster it,  I was just glad she was here and not someplace I couldn't find her."I'll be fine… The bullets out, my arms and legs work fine." She said softly, echoing her protests from before,  I chuckled a little and walked over touching her shoulder but she didn't look at me still watching the building.  I saw the door of her old home open a mother and small boy walking out."I.. I guess I didn't think it wouldn't be ours anymore.  It doesn't feel real… none of it does really I feel like, that whole thing was just a fever dream from getting shot,  I could come home and Mom would be right there." She said softly hugging the big coat around her, it was almost cute how my larger cloths dwarfed her smaller human frame."But it happened.  All of it, She died and you and I…" she hesitated,  did she remember what she said?  I moved to step in front of her settling both hands on her shoulders.  When she didn't look up I slid a hand under her chin so she'd face me."Yeah, it did… and you saved me again." I said carefully she nodded weakly"But I wouldn't have had to… she was right Sans it was my fault.  Back when I first started killing for Lucian,  One of my jobs was to investigate a serial killer, he was killing women, destroying their faces, always the same type to.  He had suspicions and what information he'd gotten from the police investigation but we weren't sure.  So, I took on a mantle,  and I began to look into it myself,  with confirmation I hunted him down, but he'd already found his next victim.  I found him and her in that warehouse,  She was gone and he was still mangling her he never had a chance I took him out quickly, and kicked his body off her, she deserved peace." She explained softly she had been so determined to justify her actions to the woman but now I could see through that façade.  That woman dying before she could stop a serial killer.  It ate at her.  She felt guilty."Ya can't carry that sweetheart,  You'd have felt worse if ya'd killed an innocent man." I insisted but she didn't seem convinced.  I couldn't really blame her.  All of this, her mother, my attack the attack on her best friend,  all of it was caused by that sisters revenge, of course she felt guilty because… damn it she was a good person even if she wasn't sure of herself at times.   I knew it, and I'd said such shitty things to her…"You and me kid, we got a lot to talk about." I managed,  the softness of my own voice was strange, I've never been much for being gentle but, I felt like right now if I wasn't she'd shatter, those last threads holding her together might give out and she'd just crumble.  She trembled, it was odd to see her so vulnerable, I hated to see her this way because she was so strong normally, then again not even monsters where unmoved no matter how strong we where, of course she'd be upset."D-do we?...  I…" she asked glancing away, she seemed hesitant, this beautiful confident woman I had grown to love her hands where curled to fists, she was scared to look at me."Yeah… we do,  You said something back in the warehouse but I wanted to clarify, so do you think… could'ja say it again?" I asked moving so my hands and framed her face thumb rolling across her cheek gently.  She reached up covering my hands with hers."I… I said, I love you,  'I' love you.  All of my mantels all those other parts of me love you to, but they love you because I love you,  I… I know me and I know my own heart… I love you Sans." She said softly "But.. if I need to work more… I'll have to I can't stop, if someone else like that comes… or if some idiot mobster starts selling little kids, or buying women or… I'm going to have to act I'll have to be them and find out what I can and then kill them!" she said shaking more"I love you I love you so much but I'm so terrified because I can't stop, if I did and someone died when I could have stopped it I'd feel so guilty!  But I know you hate how I work I-"  I covered her mouth to cut off her frightened rambling.  I could feel my SOUL pulsing with joy as I scooped her up laughing her expression was so surprised"I know sweetheart, and it's ok I don't hate it, it's just, it's just you, it's a part of you, an amazing wonderful part of you All those parts of you, are just more for me to love!" I said It felt so good to say it to get it out what had weighed on me what I'd fought back for some stupid reason.  She clung to me wincing faintly Oh shit! She still had a gunshot wound! I set her down quickly stumbling over apologies.  She started to laugh, it was such a perfect sound, damn I'd missed it."It's ok, I told you I'm feeling ok, I, I feel a lot better… Sans… I love you." She said warmly I couldn't contain my thrill hearing her say that I wanted to hear it for the rest of my life."I know, I know you do.  I love you to sweetheart.  My soul it's all yours, it was from the moment you stepped in front of me.  Shit Sweetheart it's probably been yours before I even met ya… I love you." I moved bundling her into my arms pressing my teeth to her lips in the most tender kiss I could muster.  She was here, with me, she loved me, Her and every beautiful aspect of who she was.  I'd never question that again.I loved this woman with my heart and soul.And that was all that mattered.