Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The bar was busy... Unusually busy for a Wednesday evening.

They couldn't all be here for your band, right?

You took a deep breath, maybe pretending that there was a mass wedding surge in Ebott city would help! Yeah, there are just a lot of bachelorette parties celebrating in this specific bar on this specific night.

It was a shitty lie, but it was good enough to settle the embers of panic in your chest.

‘’Hey, you’re on in a minute. You see all the people here for ya?’’ You looked up at a scruffy beard and warm brown eyes, Jesse, jingling a glass of neat whiskey in front of your face. What a sweetheart, even after helping you move into your shitty apartment, he was still offering you support... He even drove four hours out of the city to help you move back home after your grandfather passed.

‘'Gee, thanks Jesse,’’ You grabbed the glass from his hand, a playful glare pinned on him as he settled on the little bench beside you. ‘’And I just convinced myself that they weren’t here for me.’’

He laughed, loud and boisterous, like the absolute himbo he was. Giving you a soft punch in the arm. ‘’An’ why would you go an’ do that fer? I spent a little extra to get the owner of this fine establishment to advertise our bein’ here!’’

You heard a smash and a crowd of people burst into roaring cheers and laughter... You weren’t even sure there was this many people living in Ebott! It may be called a city but the last time you lived here there were no more than two thousand people and definitely no skyscrapers, it was just your minimally populated little nowhere town with, at a push, two local grocery stores.

You weren’t an introvert by any means, but the sudden switch in the atmosphere of your home town was enough to knock you off your usual loud and happy kilter.

The crowd cheered once more as the announcer stepped onto the little makeshift stage, thanking the previous little band for their cover of ‘Drop Pop Candy’.

‘’Y’ready?’’ Jesse smiled, settling your nerves instantly. You nodded, taking a sip of the cold drink in your hand and straightening up. You felt a familiar soft thrum fill your body, a smile worming its way onto your face as Jesse wrapped his hands around your upper arm and shook it in excitement.

‘’Let’s give it up for our next band!’’

You smiled back at your friend, already skipping his way toward the little platform, almost forgetting his guitar on his way over. ‘’Onward to fame!’’ The familiar southern twang was the comfort you needed to push yourself from the bench and follow him up.

And suddenly you realized the other reason the bar was crowded tonight.

Monsters.

The booming businesses, the reason for the skyscrapers, the increase in your tiny town's popularity.

The monsters that had appeared out of the national park's mountain.

They had surfaced 8 months ago, in the November of 20XX, with a blinding beacon of light and a thunderclap that Jesse said almost made him piss his pants. You had the TV on in the background that day, you were cleaning or something boring like that, it didn't matter, what mattered was that the show was abruptly cut off and replaced with an emergency broadcast of the sky practically breaking in half. It was incredible.

Whatever happened after led to the government quarantining the monsters in an underdeveloped part of the city now renamed ‘New New Home’ - Just until their ambassador was able to negotiate some civil rights for the newly surfaced species... And to allow tensions between humans to cool down.

Fuckin’ racists keeping these people trapped in the confines of a run-down area built practically on top of their previous prison home.

‘’Howdy everyone! M’ names Jesse and this here’s mah very good friend _____. We’re gonna preform a few songs for y’all. And yes, she is as good at singin’ as she is at lookin’ pretty!’’

The crowd cackled with laughter, a few too many drinks in a party of six near the front as they catcalled Jesse, who took it like a with a smile, tipping his ridiculous cowboy hat and sending them a wink.

You smiled too, your silly friend giving you an encouraging thumbs up as he stepped away from the microphone with an overly dramatic bow.

The crowd watched you in anticipation, a few monsters with brightly colored fur and feathers dotted between rows of people who gave them a wide berth. The dancefloor at the back of the bar slowly filling with people as you took a deep breath in.

So many people here just to listen to you sing your silly songs.

--

You were half way through your second song when a shiver ran down your spine, the sensation of being watched making the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

.. Of course there were people watching you, you held the note a little longer as your eyes darted around the bar, but this was a different feeling. You knew what the subconscious eyes of people listening to you felt like, you had performed in tiny bars all across Ebott – It was a familiar feeling! But this feeling was incredibly different, like they would be watching you even if you weren't singing.

Again, you searched the bar, darting over the faces in the crowd for one focused pair of eyes, finally settling at the bars counter. The stools were practically empty save for one, which held a very tall, very intimidating Skeleton.

The glowing red lights in his sockets were trained on you, raking up and down your form with a soft frown before they latched with your gaze. The familiar thrum in your body surged, sending pleasant zaps of lightning through your fingers and toes, catching you off guard enough to nearly miss a word.

He seemed to feel it too, jumping slightly and a stroke of crimson painting his ivory cheekbones, the little red lights in his eyes darting away from you and taking the feeling of his gaze with them.

What a handsome monster.

The thrill in your bones hummed happily, a flood of confidence carrying your words a little higher. You waited a few moments, watching him shuffle in place before his gaze eventually returned to you, widening once he realized you were already staring into his sockets.

Another wave of exhilaration filled your body, and in a moment of pure confidence, you licked your lips and sent him a sultry wink – pulling your magnetized eyes from his pretty red... lights? and returning to your song.

--

Finally done, you swept the sweat from your brow. Those fucking spotlights were gonna blind you one of these days.

Your throat ached as you finished your long since diluted whiskey, the ice having melted, but you were happy – the adrenaline the cheers of a crowd's applause making your head feel fuzzy.

Jesse kissed you on the temple as he said his goodbyes, leaving you to get some rest for a job interview tomorrow morning at some hardware store that had newly opened up.

You needed some water; you waved your friend off and made your way toward the bar, catching sight of the skeleton drumming his claws across the wooden countertop.

Huh. You thought he had left after your second song, but there he was. Tall, dark and handsome in every sense of each word.

His eye lights roamed the bar as he sipped from a martini glass, you took the moment to look him over... He was wearing a lot of leather, like A LOT of leather.

Leather boots, leather pants, leather jacket atop a dark red shirt with the words ‘Strong Boy’ embroidered across the chest. Very flattering. You covered your mouth to stop yourself from laughing, finally making your way over toward the cowering bartender.

‘’Is anyone sitting here?’’ You asked, tapping the clearly unoccupied stool beside him. He sneered and opened his fangs to retort, his red eye lights snapping to yours before his teeth clicked shut. He shook his head as he looked away, you hopped onto the stool, spinning slightly before tapping your fingers across the bar and ordering a bottle of water.

‘’Soo... you come here often?’’

You watch his teeth move slightly, hesitant to speak with you. Which you could understand somewhat. His eye lights scanning the bar quickly before settling on you again, a thrill of excitement shooting up your spine as your eyes locked.

‘’I HAVE NEVER VISITED THIS VILE PLACE BEFORE. I AM MERELY MAKING SURE MY GOOD FOR NOTHING BROTHER DOES NOT SHOW HIS SKULL AT THIS FILTHY ESTABLISHMENT.’’

His voice was a lot louder than you were expecting, with a certain gravel that made your chest feel light. His leather gloved claws gestured toward the crowd, a mixture of scantily clothed humans and a few monsters was a giveaway to what he was apparently keeping his brother away from. ‘’And you know he’s going to show up here because..?’’

You watched his fangs pull into a malicious smile with rapt fascination. Bones moving like a face was so cool!

‘’BECAUSE I HAVE THREATENED ALL OF THE OTHER FILTHY BAR OWNERS. NYEH HEH HEH..’’

Nyeh heh heh? That cannot be his laugh, seriously that is too cute.

You took a steadying breath to keep yourself from laughing at his adorable laugh, nodding along with his wiggling phalanges. ‘’I see where you’re coming from, but y’know, there are good things in this establishment as well. I saw you looking at the stage, you enjoyed the songs, didn't you?’’ The red returned to his cheekbones as he spluttered into his comically small martini glass. That had to be a skeletons version of a blush, you were sure of it!

‘’THE SINGING WAS... ADEQUATE. ONLY BARELY. YOU, HUMAN, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL THAT IS MY STANDARDS.’’ His cheekbones darkened and again he averted his gaze from you, his claw dragging a furious line down the side of his glass as he brought it to his teeth awkwardly.

You decided he was going to be incredibly fun to tease.

‘’Stars! To even get close to your standards is a testament to my skill, thank you for your praise.’’ You punctuated the sentence with an over-the-top bow from your stool, leaning yourself fully over with an arm across your sternum.

Your teasing rewarded you with another flustered splutter and a soft growl of embarrassment, slamming his martini glass onto the counter as he turned his skeletal body to face you head on, glaring at your smirk.

His blush cooled slightly, dusting his cheekbones in a soft pink. Though the way he held himself would trick you into thinking he was the painting of put together power and privilege.

‘’RIGHT.’’ He said it as if he had suddenly remembered something, wiping leather clad hands along his leather pants – what was this guy's deal with leather? ‘’IT IS A HUMAN CUSTOM THAT I AM TO GREET YOU WITH THE PROPER RESPECT. I AM THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE EX-CAPTAIN PAP- EDGE, YOU WOULD BE WISE TO REMEMBER IT.’’ He held a gloved hand up to his embroidered chest, posing in an imaginary wind that swept the collar of his jacket back. One socket cracking open to look at you, the wiggle in his pose telling you he was waiting for something...

Oh! Introduction!

You chuckled slightly, for someone who looked so intimidating and scary he was actually kind of a dork. You pushed yourself up, the back of one hand cupping just under your chin and one leg hooking over the other.

‘’Well, The great and terrible ex-captain Edge. I am the captivating and lustrous _____, it is a pleasure to meet you.’’

His ribcage puffed, fangs pulling into, what you would describe as, an evil smirk. He seemed to enjoy you playing up to his ego, and you didn't mind it much either. He held out his gloved hand, giving a loud, fake ‘AHEM’.

Stars, he was too easy! You gripped his hand in yours, turning it over and bringing it to your face, locking eyes as you brushed your lips against the soft material.

He pulled his had away, wide sockets, jaw slightly agape. He coughed into his fist, eye lights darting everywhere but your face as he leant into the neon lights to camouflage his cherry red blush.

‘’HUMAN, PLEASE, I KNOW I AM IRRESISTABLE BUT CONTROL YOUR FEEBLE URGES. WE ARE IN PUBLIC!’’ Though his fangs showed how he was really feeling, a soft smile gracing his teeth that he tried to cover with a sip from his martini. It was incredible to watch a skeleton move, sockets sliding closed in peace at the moment, the slight cringe at their edges purveying his distaste for the loud music and chattering crowd... Grumpy. You wanted to know every way his bones turned, each over the top word he spoke. You wanted to know him.

You spoke with him for an hour, asking every question you could think of – You had learned he and his older brother had arrived on the surface a short time after many of the first monsters had, the governments homing situation forcing them into a rundown lodge with their ‘STUPIDLY UPBEAT’ cousins. He was only in the main city because his brother, ‘AFTER A SERIES OF FAILINGS NOT UNCOMMON FOR HIS CHARACTER’, had taken to drinking himself into a stupor and filling his bed with ‘DISGU- HUMANS, THINKING THAT HE WILL GIVE THEM GOLD IF THEY FOLLOW HIM HOME’.

Clearly the minimal contact Edge had with humans was not good, but it seemed the longer you spoke the more relaxed he became. The rigid edge of his spine curving slightly, his smile more sincere.

It was wonderful, a pleasant buzz filling your body without alcohol. He seemed to think so too, leaning closer into you as he let out a hearty ‘NYEH HEH HEH’, his skull practically on top of your own. Soft red eye lights changing shape in his sockets, little stars reflecting under the neon strobes of the bar before he caught himself with a snarl, pushing away from you and averting his attention to the mingling crowd on the dancefloor.

A deep growl clawing up his throat, the strict discipline of is posture returning as he faced the populated dancefloor – lights locked onto another, much shorter, clearly intoxicated skeleton talking with a very ‘interested’ human woman. How was he so drunk? You would have seen him walk up to the bar!... How was he so short if he was the older brother..?

‘’I AM SORRY TO CUT OUR TALK SHORT BUT I BELIEVE I AM WATCHING MY BROTHER VENTURE INTO HIS NEXT MONEY DRAINING SEXCAPADE. I WILL BE HERE AT THE SAME TIME TOMORROW, IF OUR PATHS MEET YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BASK IN MY GLORY AGAIN... HUMAN _____.’’ He looked more pissed than he had when you first walked up to him, his pretty lights looking between you and his brother tripping over himself to follow the woman's glittery pink dress.

You smiled up at him, determined to end this night on a high, leaning back on the stool with the back of your hand thrown over your forehead – feigning faintness, one eye closed and the other partially open to watch his fangs twist into a grin and his cheeks dust cherry red.

‘’Till we meet again, Edge. I shall count the seconds we’re apart!’’ He chuckled, nodding at you. His stare hardening as he turned to the dancefloor, just in time to watch his brothers long red tongue travel across the woman's outstretched arm. He made a noise of disgust, yelling something that was quickly swallowed by the final band of the night, pushing his way into a bustling collaboration of couples.

A second later he was storming toward the exit with his brother's furry hood clutched between his talons, sending you one last look as you waved him goodbye – watching with a grin as he shook his skull, the grimace on his teeth softening into a half smile.

You watched his brother hazily study Edge’s face, confusion written across his skull before his wavering lights found yours, the few seconds marched between the dancefloor and the door spent looking between you both before narrowing on your face.

Golden tooth glinting in the colorful light as he snarled, the door shutting quickly behind them...

What an interesting night.

Chapter Text

After a week, you and Edge had a routine; you would sing around 4 songs and then join him at the bar, you’d talk until Red (His older brother, which you were surprised to learn) was spotted flirting and he gave you a goodbye and dragged him back to their home. you were starting to feel as though the more the two of you interacted the spark that drew you together grew, you found him funny and endearing and once, Edge had begrudgingly admitted that he found you interesting - of course followed by ‘For A Squishy Human’

…

One night though Red hadn’t been spotted in all the time you two had spoken, you were just talking and talking without end, and it was around the time where the staff were closing the bar.
You two hadn’t been drinking heavily, but even you, who had an incredibly high alcohol tolerance, became a little tipsy from the continuous drinks you had shared throughout the night.

You kept talking as you wandered the streets, peeking into bars to appease Edges suspicions of his brother. On your walk he told you about his favourite dish – Lasagne, his favourite colour – Crimson, ‘THE MOST POWERFUL RED’ as he called it – you felt like you were learning much more about him.
He was so much fun to be around.

‘’HUMAN. UHM.. I WOUL- I MEAN. YOU WOULD BE WISE TO SHOW ME YOUR ABODE, N-NOT TO HANG OUT! NOT AT ALL. ONLY BECAUSE I COULD SHOW YOU THE AREAS YOU ARE INEPT AT CLEANING.’’
His face was flushed red underneath the streetlamp, and you held a hand out for him. He had a grimace on his face, and he kept looking down every street as if he was worried someone would see him. You giggled softly at his sweet face, it was around three in the morning, and you felt more awake than that time you drank only coffee for a whole day with Jesse. He took your hand gingerly, still emanating confidence but you could tell he wasn’t all that sure of his actions, and you brushed your thumb on the back side of it soothingly – his hand could engulf yours easily, but he had a loose and gentle grip on you, what he had numerously described as, ‘Unkilling Meat Gloves’.
‘’Course we can, not too far from here. I’d love your expert opinion of my home.’’

…

The crickets and night owls filled the air with calming white noise and on more than one occasion you caught Edge staring toward the sky. You caught his eye light and gave him a questioning look.
‘’WE DIDN’T HAVE STARS IN THE UNDERGROUND. IT IS.. It Is An Unfamiliar Sight.’’

He sounded so defeated, his phalanges unhooked from yours to clutch at his leather clad elbows. His long heels clicked to a stop as he stared at the billions of stars that lit up the sky. His mind was racing and there was an almost pained look on his skull – as if the sky itself caused him pain.
You hadn’t even given thought to the small things that monsters didn’t have, no weather, no daylight cycle. Something so insignificant in every human’s life was probably a completely new experience to some monsters. It’s not fair.

‘’Right there is, Vega, Deneb and Altair and somewhere near there is Omega Centauri. And this huge light strip is the milky way, the galaxy that holds our solar system.’’
You waved your hands toward each constellations correlating stars.. you were so glad your dad was enough of a space nut to teach you this. His eyes watched your hands, and you helped him see what you were pointing at, resuming your walk as you told the stories of the skies you could remember from your childhood. You could see his little eye lights change slightly (into cute little stars!) as he listened and watched your crazy movements and even laughed aloud when you pretended to be Ursa Major in an explanation.

‘’MY BROTHER USED TO MAKE UP STORIES FOR THE CRYSTALS UNDERGROUND THAT RESEMBLED STARS WHEN I WAS A BABYBONES. We Do Not Talk As Much now..’’

‘’Baby bones Edge! Were you a cute baby? Oh, I bet you were the cutest baby!’’
You could tell he felt a little better at your joking, his chest puffing out as the tell-tale sign he appreciated your divergence of sad subject, instead he seemed to preen at your compliment.
‘’WHY YES, THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE EDGE WAS THE CUTEST BABYBONES THERE EVER WAS. SA-RED HAS A FEW PICTURES OF MY MAGNIFICENCE. THAT YOU WILL NEVER SEE!’’

The deep blush of embarrassment that suddenly erupted onto his face made you laugh; you were 100% getting those pictures. Again, you decided to ignore his name slip up as you had each time – you knew he was hiding something, but you knew it would take time for him to become more comfortable around you. And even if he said nothing about it, you could tell he appreciated your understanding.

…

‘’YOU ARE LIVING HERE..? HUMAN, I KNOW YOU HAVE NO STANDARDS BUT YOU MUST KNOW THIS IS UNHYGENIC – WORSE THAN THE GARBAGE DUMP UNDERGROUND.’’
Well, you kinda knew Edge wouldn’t like the Hotel you were staying at, paint was literally peeling of the hallway walls, but thankfully you had enough brains to pay extra for a nicer, cleaner room (mostly for the slightly bigger kitchen and living space), but the wary glances he gave every door and window drilled in how poor your living state was.
‘’Yeah, my grandparents house is under renovations so I’m hopping from Hotel to Hotel till they finish.’’ He hummed in understanding, clearly with the double meaning of ‘I Would Rather Sleep On A Pack Of Starving Dogs Than This Place.’

As he followed you into your room you were again about to promise that this arrangement was only temporary until you had to stop from pissing yourself laughing as his skull thumped against the door frame.
‘’Oh no, Edge, honey.. Pfft! Are you okay?’’

His face was red and he coughed to mask his embarrassment (from the pet name or the doorframe you couldn’t tell) , he obviously hadn’t gotten used to how small humans were and had gotten quite a rude reminder, he quickly shut the door and muttered something about ‘Stupid Human Smallness’ as he rubbed a gloved hand across his head.
You reached your hands out to him to which he tilted his head in confusion, which in turn, only made you laugh harder (You didn’t realise how much he looked like a cat!), and you gestured for him to come closer - still unable to speak without bursting into giggles. He growled as he placed his jaw in your hands, you smoothed your palm over his bumped skull, cooing to him how brave he was.

You could feel the magic rise to his cheeks – He liked praise. Something about this little darling desperately screamed touch starved. His cheeks warmed like human blush and there was a tingling feeling where your hand met the coalition of magic and bone.
But there was a deep thrum that you could hear almost as if..
‘’Edge.. Are you purring?’’

‘’NYEH! NO I- ITS NOT..’’
His magic deepened on his cheeks and the purr deepened, his eye lights shifted from side to side. Never looking directly at your face, he was embarrassed.
Your hands stroked across his cheeks and his purr fell into a soft rhythm.. you felt completely in tune with him, like you didn’t need to say a word because he already knew everything coursing through your head.

…

Then, almost by magic, you both leant in
and lips touched teeth.

~~~~

The kisses were slow and gentle, something completely unfamiliar to him and something you did not expect from such a tough looking monster. His gloved hands cradled yours to his face almost desperately as though if he did not keep him there himself you would suddenly be torn from him.
You both walked in silence for a moment, perfectly together until the back of his knees hit the edge of the bed.

Edge hisses as you peel away the leather jacket and gloves he was wearing, exposed to not only the chill of the room but also to that wandering, hungry stare of yours.
His rib cage was littered with scars, ranging from large gashed in bone to little chips and fractures that healed over time. More than ever, you wanted to learn about him.
‘’Do Not Stare Hum- _____, I Know My Actual Battle Body Is Impressive But I Think There Are More Pressing Matters To Attend To..’’

You ignored his dig at someone’s battle body and instead focused on showing this skeleton some love. You leant forward toward his clavicle, and you could hear his breath catch in his throat, did skeletons breathe?
You ran your tongue along the smooth surface, there was a hint of cherries on your tongue. How much better could this skeleton get? He seemed to think the exact same thought about you as his skull lolled backward, giving you more room to explore.

You clambered atop him and he spluttered in embarrassment, grabbing instinctively at your shoulders and hips for some leverage. His eye sockets were wide and his little eyelights had formed stars when he met with yours, his desperation for touch now unignorable as you could feel it thrumming against your thigh.
‘’Human.. Please…’’

How could you say no to that cute face?

…

You don’t remember the next flurry of seconds, only the scandalous noises Edge made as you tore the clothes from his bones. His hands quickly made work of your garments and suddenly you were both staring at each other with understanding and curiosity, the unformed magic in his pelvis seemed to copy your genitalia – almost as if Edge had no idea what he was supposed to summon in this situation.
You were close to each other, kissing along shoulders and chipped ribs. What you would give to live this moment forever. Your fingers entered him slowly, the growl of pleasure Edge let out giving you confidence to start moving them immediately.

You hadn’t pegged Edge as such a moaner, but with every thrust of your fingers and every nip and kiss at his scars he released a deep, guttural noise of pleasure. His phalanges tugged at your hair as he pulled you close, his legs raising to rest on your hips as you dove your fingers deep into the unparalleled experience of his magical cunt.

‘’I want to learn you- God.. I want to know what you fear.. I want to know what you love. I want to spend every waking minute with you just to see your smile… or hear that beautiful laugh.’’
You knew you were out of breath from the physical exertion, but you also knew that Edge would take the words you say and the intent behind them fully to heart (Or lack thereof).
His eye sockets filled with tears as he nodded, your eyes locked, and you hoped he could hear every thought of admiration and happiness you felt when you were around him.

How these were some of the best weeks of your life just because you had met him.

You could tell he was close; his bones were rattling, and the purring had gotten louder – his deep guttural moans now turning into squeals of pleasure. Your hand came to brush against his eye scar so softly and that seemed to be what did it, his walls crushed your fingers as he screamed in ecstasy. The room lighting up in red and golden hues.
The intense pleasure that suddenly engulfed you took you by surprise, the orgasm it ripped from you, even more so. You looked at Edge with confusion, to see if he had any idea what had happened.

But your answer quite literally floated before your very eyes.
Two little cartoon hearts hung in the air, an upside down white heart emitting a vibrant cherry red glow was spinning with the Golden heart that kept close to its side..

Your souls were connected..

Chapter Text

If you had told Papyrus two months ago that one day in the near future he would awake, held safely in the arms of a human; He would have laughed into your face and probably impaled you as a warning to the other monsters of his tolerance to jokes.

But here he was, skull resting on her chest and arms wrapped around her waist. He had never felt so safe, in his underground he had been prepositioned with courting by many a monster – but they only wanted him for the protection he could provide as co-head of the royal guard, he had never been able to relax or feel safe in the presence of another, not since Sans had taken to drinking his problems away at Grillby’s.

But now he felt safe, for the first time in so long.
His claws gripping her tighter and pulling her closer to his bare bones, He could see the deep orange of the sunrise from the crack in those.. filthy curtains. This had never happened before but, Papyrus did not want to get up. She was so soft against him; her face was relaxed, eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks and her lips occasionally pursed at what she was dreaming about, and he could not stop the uncontrollable panic that rose in his chest.. What if they were attacked? What if someone used this against him?

You are allowed to be vulnerable here.. with her.

He could again feel his sockets starting to droop, he was safe. Her soul was beating in time with his, he could feel the bond they had created, thrum and strengthen as they held each other.

He knew that when he arrived at the house later, the other Papyri and Sans would be in uproar over his absence. He could already hear Blue and Vanilla trying to pry where he was while they prepared dinner for the house.
Classic Sans would be pissed.

He would think about it later, his eye sockets clicked shut and he nuzzled into the crook of her neck. The soft purring that erupted from his soul made her hug him tighter.. and he fell back asleep.

…

When Papyrus awoke again he was alone, his claws brushed against the sheets for any sign of another soul. Only when he was sure his phalanges had searched the entire bed and he had called out through the bond, getting no response from anywhere in the room, did he finally get up.
His eye sockets opened to a still dark room, the curtains had been drawn together properly this time and his clothing had been folded on the wooden dresser by the bedroom door.. the sheets of the bed had been changed without him waking up?
Where was _____..?

He got up from the bed and dressed himself quickly, his claws digging holes into his back shirt.
He was an idiot, of course the human would not know the importance of soul bonds. She had used him and left while he was vulnerable.

He practically ripped the bedroom door from its hinges in his hurt, Undyne had warned him that humans held no compassion for monsters but the aching pain in his soul was so much worse than what he could have ever imagined. He spent years keeping himself safe from this type of pain and in a moment of weakness he made one of the most sacred bonds a monster could ever make.. and with a human no less.

You were supposed to be smarter than this Papyrus. What would the monsters think when they found out.. they would try to kill him.

Suddenly the smell of bacon and eggs filled his nasal cavity. His thoughts stuttered as he looked to the stove, his cheekbones immediately flooded with magic.
There she was, making breakfast in a tank top and short shorts looking over at him with that soft look.
‘’Edge! Good morning sleepy skull. I thought you’d appreciate clean sheets and some breakfast before you woke up.’’

And he had thought she abandoned him.
She was out here thinking about what he would want, he felt like even more of an idiot now. She seemed to see the expression on his face as she quickly approached him and placed her hands on his cheeks, her thumb stroking across the bottom of his scar.
‘’I.. I Had Thought You Left..’’

Her expression softened, cooing softly as she pulled him closer. His soul thumped as the bond between them strengthened.
‘’Come here and eat sugar skull.’’

…

Papyrus left an hour after food, you had spent most of the morning in silence – a comfortable one, the soul bond between the two of you felt like a conversation in and of itself.
He knew that you probably had no idea what it meant to create a soul bond, could you even feel it the same way he did?

He pushed away his doubts for now, instead focusing on the walk back to the house. The autumn leaves on the sidewalk crunched beneath his heels, humans and monsters crossed the street at his domineering presence.
The city had many little family shops surrounding the main bulk of homes and establishments, Muffets and Grillby’s (The ones from this universe) had opened up not too far from the lodge the skeletons were staying at.

Papyrus of course, despised the grease trap and the money hungry beast, but it brought him a sense of familiarity – It reminded him of when Sans would get (steal) him a spider donut when he was a baby bones or all the times Papyrus had gone to retrieve Sans after a long day at work.

His soul pushed against his ribcage and his glare hardened, patting a gloved hand against his jacket to quiet down the thrumming that had started in his chest. You would love that noise..
You had been so gentle and kind, even last night when you were.. together, the only emotions he could feel from your soul were aimed at protecting and understanding him. He was reluctant at first, getting close to someone and letting them know your insecurities was practically a one way ticket to getting dusted in his underground, but the INTENT of your words finally pushed him over the edge.

He had even started crying in front of you. You still didn’t think he was weak, you had cooed that he was so brave and that you were so proud. He was so overwhelmed that he thought he pulled you into an encounter at first but instead..

You two had merged souls…
..
YOU HAD MERGED SOULS?!?

…

He had rushed to the house, slamming the door open and already marching his way to his room.
‘’Edge? You’re Back.’’
His hand stilled on his doorknob as he turned to Black, he took an unnoticeable steadying breath and glared.
‘’YES, I AM. WHAT OF IT?’’

Black’s hands raised in faux surrender, the sly grin on his sharp teeth made Edge nervous.. did he already know?
‘’You Missed Our Morning Race.. That Is Not Like You. What Were You Up To Last Night?’’

It probably looked like a hostile standoff from an outside source, but Edge and Black had become something resembling friends the past month they had been up top. He had been the one to teach Edge how to act around the humans of the city and he had become his confidant when he couldn’t talk to his brother.
Edge gave Black a pleading look, his claws digging into the brass of the door handle, it would only be a moment of minutes or seconds to one of the other sets of brothers to spot them and delay him even further from-

‘’Tell Me Later. Blue And Papyrus Have Invited Us To An ‘Extended Family Lunch’.’’
Edge nodded, giving him a small thanks before rushing into his room and locking the door behind him.

His room was one of the largest in the house, as the tallest Papyrus living under this roof he argued for the luxury of it.
He had a painted black Ferrari bed next to his desk and a bookshelf of puzzle books and bed time stories against the wall near his closet door, it wasn’t exactly his room from back home but it was close enough.

Papyrus sat on his bed, taking off his loves and setting them on the bedside table. His phalanges were shaking as he brought them up to his ribcage, summoning his soul and holding it gently in his hands. For a moment Papyrus was terrified to look.

The red glow from the soul was the same, a good sign.. his eyelights flickered to the upside down hear for a second but even for that brief moment he could see it.
The magic welled in his sockets and trailed down his cheeks as he allowed himself to observe his soul, it looked perfectly normal from a far enough distance but from the close proximity he was at he could see that in the middle of his soul there was a fleck of gold..

Another soul.. A baby.

Papyrus hadn’t joined the other Skeletons for lunch, no matter how many times Black, Blue, Papyrus and even classic Sans himself asked and pleaded for him to come out.
He had laid on his bed and traced the little heart in his soul, it was like as soon as he was aware of the new life growing with him he was entranced.

He knew when two monsters were soul bonded there was a high likelihood of the creation of another soul, but that was only because both parents gave allowed their magic to mingle and mix – everyone knew that humans couldn’t use their magic like that, Sans had explained that’s why most of his female conquests were humans; ‘I’s like a natural contraceptive, no baby bones for this ol’ man’ he had laughed.

But now he was growing a soul.. from a soul bond with a human.
He’d have to tell _____, he was such an idiot not to get her number before he’d left.
He hoped she would understand, she hoped he wouldn’t be disgusted.. what if she was? What if when she found out, she didn’t want to be around him anymore and became date mates with that human man she sang with.

He would tell her when he went on Bar watch.

…

Edge had pulled himself out of his room for dinner, helping the cooking team (Him, Black, Blue and Papyrus) set up the table and dish out the food – all the while ignoring the questioning glances and actual questions regarding his absence and mood.

He had been silent as he sat at the table, and silent as everyone but his brother sat down. He looked around the table questioningly, Stretch chuckled softly, pointing to the two empty chairs.
‘’Reds bringing a guest to dinner tonight.’’

So now his brother was bringing his escapades to dinner..
He grunted in disapproval but said nothing else on the matter, he was running through every situation and conversation with _____ to ease his nerves. He could see the worried and questioning looks everyone was giving him but he had lost track of the world around him till he felt a new presence in the room, his body locked up.

He’s vulnerable.. the baby. Someone’s come to kill him while his magic isn’t at its strongest.

His eye lights darted toward the doorway, Red stood there with an easy smile on his face. His eye lights flickering to just beyond the wall.
‘’Heya, so I tol’cha all I was bringin’ someone to dinner. She’s real nice, so try not ta scare her off..
This really means you won’t have to go bar watchin’ anymore Boss, ‘m gonna be stickin’ closer to home more oft’n.’’

What..? But that would mean he couldn’t go out as much without the other skeletons coming with him, he wouldn’t be able to see _____ as much..

‘’Hi everyone! My name is Zara, its such a nice surprise to see you all!’’
Short blonde hair, small stature, kind deep blue eyes and array of multi coloured sweater and skirt assaulted his eye lights..
Not a threat to the great and terrible Edge by any means but his soul pulsed in warning, something wasn’t right and every instinct in his body was telling him that his offspring and himself were in danger.

Chapter Text

It had been a week since you had last seen Edge, at first he just wasn’t showing up at the bar.. you had searched for him and even Red those nights. But now you didn’t even catch glimpses of him during the day working or out with his family.
You didn’t know how to contact him, you had both forgotten to exchange numbers.. and you had assumed you could when you next met up.

Maybe you had done something to upset him? He seemed quite happy when he was around your place.
You pushed your cart down each aisle, a deep frown on your lips. Jesse was coming over - after you called wine drunk and crying that the handsome monster you had an unexplainable connection with wasn’t showing up in your life, so you had decided to go grocery shopping.
The fridge back home was empty anyway..

When you arrived at the supermarket you realized just how much your town had changed; instead of the unused bakery there used to be, half the store had been bought by the government and stocked with magic infused food so monsters could survive comfortably for the time being.
You could see many mothers pulling their children away from those aisles and many an old man sneering at the monster patrons..
Maybe it was a good idea to get some monster food.. for Edge.

Magic Lasagna was the obvious choice, he was a big fan of pasta dishes – he had shared his recipes while you ate breakfast that last morning (you learned he liked vinegar.. a lot.).
You worked your way through each aisle, picking up a few interesting items you thought he’d like before finding what looked to be the pasta section.

Agnolotti.. Sacchetti.. Farfalle.. Lasagna sheets!
As you reached for the box your hand brushed against bone.

‘’OH! EXCUSE ME HUMAN.’’
Your head swung around at a neck breaking speed; it wasn’t your skeleton but it was a skeleton.
A cute little blue one with stars in his eyes.

‘’I’m sorry, please – you have it.’’
He smiled and took the front box, placing it in his basket. His sweet smile shuddered a little, his face leaning toward you slightly.

‘’I AM SORRY FOR MY RUDENESS HUMAN BUT.. YOU SMELL FAMILIAR.’’
That was weird. You let it slide as you smiled, familiar wasn’t a bad thing right? And if Edge was cousins with this little sweetheart then he could recognise your perfume.
‘’Oh well, I’m sure I would’ve remembered meeting a cutie like you.’’

His chubby(?) cheekbones exploded with blue, his eyelights shimmering and darting away from your face sheepishly. His hands flung to his face to hide the ocean of embarrassment on his face, metacarpals brushing against the heated bone.
‘’W-WELL, I SUPPOSE THAT IS TRUE. THE MAGNIFICENT BLUEBERRY IS HARD TO FORGET! MWEH HEH HEH.’’

Did every skeleton have an adorable laugh?
‘’Sooo.. You like pasta?’’

…

You began to walk through the store together, chatting about food and dishes you could make. Blue loved Tacos and glitter glue.. which you had to ask if it was healthy for him - apparently it was, as monsters only needed to absorb the magic in food.
Which then drew you both into a conversation about magic.

‘’WELL, I LEARNED THAT ALL MONSTERS USE MAGIC DIFFERENTLY WHEN I WAS SMALL. OF COURSE, UNDERGROUND, ME AND MY BROTHER WERE THE ONLY SKELETON MONSTERS, SO WE HAD TO LEARN ABOUT OUR MAGIC COMPLETELY FROM SCRATCH.’’
That was also weird.. the only skeletons underground? From what you had learned from Edge, he had a lot of cousins – but from the way he and now blue had explained their and their brother’s situation it seemed as though they were all in identical but completely different areas.

‘’That sounds.. having to learn about yourself while looking after someone else – especially learning about something so crucial to monster culture..’’
His eyelights shimmered at your understanding, his skull nodding enthusiastically as he returned to the conversation.
You still didn’t understand how there could be so many skeleton monsters and no parents to be seen.. how did skeleton monsters re-produce?

‘’HUMAN? YOU’VE GONE RED.. AMAZING! I DIDN’T KNOW HUMANS COULD CHANGE COLOURS!’’
His eyelights had formed little pulsing upside-down hearts which only made the blush worsen, everything reminded you of him..

‘’There you are bro, I thought I lost you in the sweet aisle.’’
Now, THAT was weird.

A skeleton identical to Edge leant against the shop counter, a bag held between his phalanges and a sucker between his teeth.. something was 100% off about all these boys, if you saw another pair of skeletons that looked like yours, you would start crying.

‘’You okay there human?’’
You shook your head and smiled, reaching a hand out – which he took, a loud fart noise exploding from your conjoined fingers.. oh no.. shitty jokes..

‘’PFFTT! Yeah, just talkin with Blue.. Sorry for staring, you just look just like my.. good friend.’’
You took a deep breath to curb the laughter and blue had taken to scold (who you assumed was) his brother.

‘’A good friend huh? Your good friend as humerus as me?’’
The grin on his face was making it harder for you to hold in your chuckles, you shook your head and pulled your hand away to press against your chest.

‘’Definitely not, there’s not a funny bone in his body!’’
That did it, both you and Blues brother began to wheeze at the stupid jokes, Blue looked as though he was pained but the shuddering of his shoulders was a sign he secretly loved the jokes.

‘’You’ve Been Here For Five Seconds Pa-Stretch AND YOU’VE ALREADY CORRUPTED MY NEW FRIEND!’’
Stretch laughed harder as you began to self check out your groceries with Blue, there was something so amazing about spending time with these two – a pull, like what you had with Edge but duller.

‘’Its fine Blue, I’ve been a Cereal punner since I was born.’’
The shaking of the fruit loops looked like it was about to make Blue cry.
Stretch on the other hand had completely clocked out and was leaning over his brother – ‘Nyeh’s’ of laughter escaping him again reminding you of your boy.

…

‘’Hey you two, do you happen to know.. Edge? He’s a.. uh.. Big, tall and intimidating skeleton.’’
The laughter completely stopped then, Blues eye sockets were huge and stretch had a look on his face that you assumed meant he hoped this became a joke.

‘’YOU MET EDGE.. AND YOU SURVIVED?’’
Blue looked at you as though you had just defeated a dragon with your bare hands, you knew Edge was intimidating but with the way the sucker dropped from Stretches jaw - you thought that surviving wasn’t the way an encounter with Edge usually went.

‘’He’s been doing bad lately, moody and secretive.. you have anything to do with that honey?’’
There was an accusatory tone to his voice but Blue slapped him with the back of his hand, whispering something to him and looking toward your grocery bags.

‘’WOULD YOU WANT TO COME OVER TO OUR HOUSE..?’’

Chapter Text

Black knew something was wrong, he was perceptive like that.
Red’s human had been visiting more and more each day, she was polite company and it seemed as if the whole house adored her attention..
Except Edge.

Any time she came toward, his body froze up and refused to move, it looked as though the only thoughts running through his mind were a primal instinct of ‘get away.’

Black was, to say the least, conflicted. He had been away from his underground long enough that the presence of humans no longer affected him like that, maybe he was a little rusty with the way he was so lax around her – but Edge, co-captain of his royal guard, was overtly skittish around her taking measures of distance between them, even boycotting rooms she was in.

He felt a need to protect the alternate version of his brother, he understood that Edge was able to protect himself, but he also knew that if he was afraid – something had to be wrong.

…

Black knocked on Edges bedroom door quickly, brushing dust from his velvet shirt as he awaited an answer.

‘’GO AWAY.’’
That wasn’t an unexpected response, so black knocked again; he knew that the group downstairs was distracted by the human so whatever confrontation they were about to have would go unnoticed.

‘’WHAT DO YOU WANT YOU IMBEC- OH.. BLACK.’’
The door slammed against the wall with how quickly it was flung open but the skeleton behind it held no hostility in his face, his eyesockets had shadows even Mutt couldn’t compete with and his clothing had become loose and baggy.. his gloveless hands were squeezing his humerus tightly in a way he had seen prime papyrus do when he was nervous.

‘’I Wish To Speak With You. May I?’’
Edge studied his face, finding no lie or threat on him.
He look hesitant at first but relented quickly, grumbling something unintelligible under his breath while nodding and stepping aside quietly.

His room was a mess, his bed had been stripped bare and the bookshelf had been ransacked, furniture had been moved to one corner of the room where books and sheets had been piled..
Into a great big nest.

Black made his way cautiously toward the nest, keeping one eyelight on Edge to gauge his reaction. The blankets had been interwoven with the desk chair and books, pillows had been placed around the edges and beneath the soft floor and there was a smaller blanket folded neatly atop the desk.. that smelled oddly of strawberries.

He could tell he’d gotten a bit too close to the nest when Edge made a deep hissing noise, his phalanges flexing with the restrained urge to lunge.
‘’You.. Made A Nest..?’’

It was a bad attempt at calming him down, but it seemed to take Edges mind away from his accidental transgression, his face plumed red and looked off to the side sheepishly.

‘’I.. Have Been Having A Hard Time Recently..’’
His voice was unusually quiet, and Blacks investigative skills could see the little beads of magic sweat that collected just above his brow bone.

Black moved away from the nest and waved a hand to the blank mattress for him to sit.
Edge moved slowly, almost cautiously – always keeping his body turned toward him, before sitting down. He let out a deep sigh and his hands came up to press at his ribcage, rubbing over where his soul was almost soothingly.

‘’Is Something.. Wrong With Your Soul?’’
He tried to make himself sound softer, sitting beside him and placing a hand on his back. Edge took a shuddering breath and nodded once, letting him rub a hand across his baggy sweater.

‘’Papyrus, I Cannot Help You If You Do Not Tell Me What Is Wrong..’’

Edge looked toward him with wavering eye lights, tapping his ribcage and summoning his soul. His claws keeping it close, so if Black did do something he would be able to protect it.
There was a little golden soul snuggled inside Edges.

Blacks jaw went slack, looking between the souls and Edges face, his eyelights were sharp focused on the little heart and his body made a deep purr at the sight.
Edges claws traced the little upright coalition of magic, cooing softly – his whole attitude and body language completely changing as he looked at his baby.

‘’How Did.. Have Yo- Have You Told Anyone Else..?’’
The silence of the room was deafening, Edge was scared - He hadn’t been able to leave the house alone, he couldn’t even go to the bar to tell _____ what was going on.

There was a soft knock on the door and Edge froze up, his soul held close to his chest as he snarled at the wood. His long body hunched as he made his way to the nest, his eyelights had extinguished and his body curled ferally.
Black straightened, looked toward Edges nest, and moved briskly to the door. The events that had just taken place processing through his skull as he cracked open the door.

Zara stood there with a sheepish smile on her face, Black silently scolded himself for not hearing her footsteps ascend the stairs, with Edge on the verge of a breakdown without a protector who knows what could have happened if she just walked in.

Her small hands rubbed against each other meekly, the brightly coloured dress she was wearing swaying with the breeze of the open window. She cleared her throat and spoke with words that felt like honey.
‘’Blue says he wants you and.. Edge to come downstairs. He says, him and Stretch wanted everyone to meet their new friend. Red also wanted Edge to come down and spend some time with everyone.. We’re playing games!’’

The little wavering smile made Blacks soul pulse, he would explain to Stretch, Blue and Red that Edge was sick at the time being. He thanked her and stepped out of the room, she was in eyeline to his nasal cavity and she lad to lean back to look him in the eye socket – he could tell she was intimidated by him, but the sweet look in her deep blue eyes made his grin lose its sharp edge.

His hand came to rest on her lower back as they returned to the living room, Zara giggled softly as she made her way back over to Red, sitting on his lap and whispering to him. Blacks soul pulsed again but said nothing as he sat down.
‘’Boss not wanna meet Blue n’ Stretches new pal? Figures.’’

There was an air of disappointment in his tone but it quickly silenced when Blueberry bounced through the front door, placing his groceries beside him as his eyelights shook with excitement.
‘’WE HAVE A GUEST!’’

Vanilla Papyrus was clearly feeding of the excited energy of the room and nearly squealed as Stretch filed in, looking to the outside and whispering to the person on the other side of the door.
Zara looked between the two and began to shush them so Blue could introduce them.

‘’RIGHT, WELL EVERYBODY. THIS IS OUR NEW FRIEND _____! WE MET WHILE SHOPPING, SHES FRIENDS WITH EDGE!’’

Friends.. with Edge..?

The human that entered the room was completely different than the one currently there.
She had ____ ______ hair that curled near the ends, she was dressed in a comfortable looking sweater and had tight black pants on, and she towered over every Sans in the room. The squeak of surprise (or fear) that escaped Zara made everyone look to her.

She was cowering into Red, her eyes wide and shocked as she stared at the newcomer. The tension in the air was so thick, it was like swimming in oil, eye lights flickered between _____ and Zara to see who would move first.

In Blacks underground a standoff like this was common, but the look in _____’s eyes made even his bones rattle. They were trained on Zara and, it might have been a trick of the light but, her eyes seemed to glow gold.
‘’Zara.’’

Chapter Text

This. Bitch.

Your body ached with adrenalin, your fingers flexed with held back aggression.
You vowed if you ever saw this foul creature again you would do the world a favour and beat her ass.
‘’Hey.. _____, I didn’t know you were back i-in town..’’

Well, when you made that vow she didn’t look so pathetic. Cowering into Red and looking at you like you were the spirit of her great grandmother come to haunt her.
You realised there was about 5 pairs of eyelights on you and the confidence drained from your body, you gave Zara a once over before plastering a smile on your face.

‘’It’s been so long! I didn’t realise you were still living in Ebott.’’
You looked toward Blue and stood next to him was the softest Edge ever, his outfit a little like blueberry’s; a turtle neck and long, tight pants but instead of a blue bandana he had a red scarf wrapped around his manubrium.

Your attitude did a 180 as you bounced on the balls of your feet, it was a trick you learned back with your ex; the excitable energy you were exerting was a quick way to make other people calm, it overwhelmed the awkwardness and in this case, fed the happiness of Blue and his tall cousin.

‘’Sorry, sorry. I’m _____, its so nice to meet you all! Well, most of you, I’ve met Stretch and Blue and Red has been an avid customer at my place of work for the last month.’’
The glare Red was giving you probably would’ve killed you if it could, Zara was still dumstruck with your attitude.. So she does remember what she did..

‘’HUMAN! I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS, IT IS SO DELIGHTFUL TO MEET YOU! I CANNOT BELIEVE YOURE FRIENDS WITH EDGE, NOT THAT THERES ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT-!’’

Papyrus seemed embarrassed at his shock but you quickly laughed it off, patting him on the arm as Blue led you deeper into the house to shut the door. There was a large green sofa curling around the rooms wall (where Zara and Red sat), a coffee table separating the space between it and a large flatscreen tv covered in board games.

‘’No no, you’re right.. it took a while, but Edge can be great company. He’s really sweet.’’

They were looking at you like you had just told them a feral bear with rabies was the cutest thing you had ever seen, which wasn’t too far from the truth.
Papyrus practically beamed at you, gesturing to the other skeleton monsters in the room.

‘’YOU ARE FEARLESS HUMAN! NYEH HEH HEH, BUT LET US ALL GET FORMALLY INTRODUCED.. ER- THIS IS BLACK.’’
You giggled at his realisation that you now knew most of the people in this room, but the skeleton monster he had introduced you to was.. scarily like Edge. His eye sockets were narrowed in his direction as he looked you up and down, his outfit choices were also similar to an outfit you had caught Edge in many times – A red longsleeve tucked into tight leather pants all wrapped together with a skull and crossbones belt.

His attention turned to her face and outstretched a bony little hand, small skeles would be your all time favourite thing to secretly mush over.
You followed his lead and took his hand in yours, giving it a firm shake before letting go.

Edge had the same greeting, it was like a tactic for him to see if this person was strong enough to hold their own, and you seemed to pass as the untrusting almost protective look in his eyelights vanished.
‘’It Is A Pleasure To Meet You Human.’’

‘’Likewise.’’
The awkward air seemed to almost die there but there was still an uncomfortable, hostile feeling from where Red was comforting Zara. His eyelights were burning holes into your skull as Papyrus and Blue led you into the kitchen to unload groceries, Black following swiftly behind.

…

You had almost forgotten why you had agreed to come over, Blue and Papyrus had shown you every activity under the sun; the amount of board games they owned and then the home-made obstacle course outside was the minimum of your trip with the two excitable skeletons.

You stopped next to Papyrus in the living room, Red and Zara seemed to have fled a while ago so now the couch only hosted the new member of the skeleton household you had yet to meet.

A skeleton around the same height as Stretch lent across the pillows smoking what looked to be.. a dog treat.

‘’MUTT! NO SMOKING IN THE HOUSE.’’
The new skeleton jumped and as his jaw opened to retaliate he caught sight of you, half hidden behind the tall monster, waving your hand at him – his cheekbones immediately flushed a beautiful dandelion yellow as he stuttered something unintelligible and simply..

Popped out of existence.

‘’Wow.. why are skeletons so cool..’’
Your cheeks were hurting from how wide you were grinning and Papyrus, hearing your little whisper, beamed with pride, his ribcage puffing and his cape billowing behind him like a superhero. (There was no wind??)

‘’WELL FRIEND _____, OUR ADVENTURES END HERE FOR TODAY. I HAVE TO START DINNER PREPERATIONS, YOU’RE VERY WELCOME TO STAY IF YOU WISH.. WE CAN HAVE A SLEEP OVER AFTER TOO!?’’
Oh no, you had to resist the skeleton puppy eyes.. the sweet little whimpers coming from him and the clasped little hands..

‘’Sure Pap, I just need to call my friend to tell him where I’m going to be.’’
The expression on his face could only be described as true happiness, grinning at you and hugging you close, guess you had to cancel dinner with Jesse. Papyrus squealed as he explaining that you were going to have so much fun, eating dinner and then watching Mettaton movies till the late late time of 9:30 with him, Blue and Edge.

‘’Edge! I can’t believe I forgot! Pap, I need to see Edge.’’

…

You made your way upstairs and into a hallway of doors, each was uniquely styled or had little white boards hanging from them filled with either puns or pictures of spaghetti. And finally, you made it to what you assumed was Edges door.

Black, with a large ‘GO AWAY’ sign on the front. Definitely Edge.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

There were footsteps from behind the door and after a few seconds the tiniest sliver of door cracked open, the familiar eyelights wavering and shuddering unstably as he looked you over.

What you did not expect Edge to do when he opened his door was let out a cry of exhaustion and practically collapse into your arms.. He looked so tired, his bones had discolored, from the bright white to a sickly grey/yellow color and the bags under his eyesockets were so dark it was like he had fallen face first into a fire place.
His claws clutched at your clothes as you shushed him, hooking your arms under his weak legs and hoisting him up, his nasal ridge snuggled into your neck as you carried him back into his room.

If anyone hurt your boy, you were going to kill.

Chapter Text

Edge was so tired..
You could see the complete defeat in his body but his eyelights never left your face.

You held him close, cooing into the side of his skull and kissing his brow bone, rocking him gently in the large pile of blankets and pillows he had created.
His little whines and broken purrs made your heart squeeze, he was nuzzling into your body while chirping at you in what you assumed was words.

‘’Edge, honey, talk to me.. I’m here, I’ll protect you.’’
The thrum of his purrs grew louder, hazy eyelights shifting to little upside-down hearts. Chirping and grumbling, pulling you deeper into the nest. ‘’Safe..’’

‘’Yes honey, you’re safe. You wanna show me what’s been going on?’’
His flushed little face that hid in your neck was a yes, some sense returning to his eyelights as he pressed a gloveless hand against his ribcage.

The familiar soul manifested between his claws as he presented it to you, holding it in an open palm toward you, never failed to take your breath away.
But the Golden heart nestled inside was definitely new, pulsing in beat with his and swirling around.
His claw traced its outline, and you reached a hand out to touch, the surge of contentment and relaxation that flooded your body as you made contact with his soul was a surprise and the feelings that were not yours were a new addition.

He was happy you were here, to protect your mate and baby. He was happy you were going to keep them safe.

BABY?

You jolted back suddenly, hitting your head quite viciously on the edge of his desk, wide eyed and silent with shock. You two had a baby.. and he didn’t come to tell you? You didn’t blame him of course, his instincts had probably kept him in this room defending himself and a baby while you had no idea what was going on, but the thought that you could have been here and helping him stung guiltily.

‘’Are You Going To Leave..?’’
Edge was looking at you like you would run quite quickly in the other direction at any second, his eyelights were dull and wavering in his sockets. The two souls were pushed behind him.. like he was afraid you would lash out and hurt them too. You thought about what would happen if you did leave..

No Edge, none of the fun and loving feelings you felt when you were near him and with the state he was in without you here to keep him safe – you worried that, if you left.. he would dust without ever holding your child in his arms.
The thought of having a child was scary, of course it was, you were scared that the child wouldn’t like you or that you would be a bad parent and Edge would prefer another.. mate? To raise a baby with – but the family you could have flashed in your mind, Edge and you with a little babybones snuggled into his ribcage as you laughed and told stories.

That’s a life you would give anything for..

‘’I’m not leaving Edge, I’m gonna be right here. It’s just a bit of a shock, don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.’’
The look on Edges face was priceless, shocked but so incredible happy, the little red tears welling in his eyesockets and claws glowing green as he pressed his cool hands to your cheeks - the souls fluttered and rushed between you both, glowing both a deep red and a iridescent gold.
The deep purr that was emanating from his ribcage was enough for tears to start burning the corners of your eyes too, the soft thrum of magic like white noise as you peppered his skull in kisses.

…

‘’It Depends On The Magic Being Fuelled Into The New Soul, Monsters Are Made Of Magic And When They Are Born They Have A Certain Amount To Form But After That They Start To Produce Their Own Magic.’’

You hummed and nodded along with the lesson, Edge said he had learned about monster biology from a book ‘Alphys’ left at ‘Undynes’ house after a ‘Definitely Not Smooching, Study Session’’, and was now explaining that he thought your baby would arrive soon with the amount of magic he was siphoning into it.

Which you had reprimanded him numerous times for, the sickly colour of his bones and the deep bags under his sockets had scared you half to death but it seemed the more time he spent relaxing with you and the soul the more the discoloration faded.
Your hands traced patterns in his skull as it rested in your lap, he was now explaining that Monster instincts in his underground were particularly rough when it came to protection and so the quick birth of a child was ideal for magic replenishment and strength.

…

The loud pounding on the door made you both freeze up; Edge was quick to grab the souls and the end of your shirt and hide under the loose blanket – growling and snuggling into the corner of the room. ‘’Edge, its okay. Its probably Blue or Papyrus calling us for dinner.. Be right there!’’

You got onto your hands and knees and tried to beckon him out, but he continued to hiss as the pounding got louder and there was muffled yelling from behind the wood, you held his cheeks and gave him a quick kiss between the eye sockets – his eyelights were gone and he looked like he was on the verge of a panic attack, little holes had now started forming in your shirt from where he was digging his claws into the fabric. ‘’I’m gonna open the door honey, I’ll only be gone a second.’’

His little whines pulled on your heartstrings, trying to pull you into the little cave he had made. It took a little tugging, but you were able to get yourself free - the claw marks in your favourite shirt a sign of your victory.

The pounding hadn’t stopped, and it clearly wasn’t one of the cheery skeletons, the angry yelling and the shaking of the door handle was not friendly at all.
Edge was going through so much; he didn’t deserve this panic and fear. He was growing a whole other monster and was clearly drowning in traumatic instincts from the underground.

Just as your hand gripped the handle the door burst inward, flinging you to the floor as whoever was on the other side kicked it down. Deep growls resonated in the room and the high-pitched snarling of fear coming from Edge pushed a button inside you.
You got up quickly, the speed disorientating you for a second before flinging yourself in front of the nest, your throat scratching from the snarl that ripped past your teeth.

You were damned if anyone hurt your mate.

The world drained of colour, and the tension in your chest snapped as a glowing golden soul escaped. The embodiment of you thrummed in the air angrily, casting a glow onto Reds face.
‘’Get ta fuck away from my brother.’’

The bone attacks flung your way were hard to dodge, your hand coming up to block one from hitting your eye and instead going straight into the flesh of your forearm. You fell to your knees as the dark grey blood dripped down your arm while you screamed silently in pain, your soul shook at the feeling and from the corner of your eye you could see Zara grinning from behind the broken door.

You pushed yourself to get up, you couldn’t hurt him. Edge had told you that Red only had 1 Hp, he could die if you breathed in his direction wrong, and you knew that you wouldn’t ever forgive yourself if you hurt the family you had started to make.

*Fucking stop trying to kill me!
*I shoulda known you was tryna hurt him, you’ve been scopin him out at the bar and gettin him to trust ya just so you could kill him.

He clearly wasn’t listening to reason, so you’d have to try and incapacitate him without hurting him.
You lurched forward, hooking your hands under his bony little arms; his claws immediately ran down the expanse of your back, perfect twins to the ones Edge had left on your skin, and you held him close as he took hold of your soul with his magic and slammed you into the wall behind.

The air rushed from your lungs, and you silently gasped for breath, you still hadn’t let go of his body, his bony legs flailing in the air as he pounded his fists against your back. You gripped his shoulder blades as Blue and Papyrus rushed through the broken doorway, you could see Zara flinging herself at black as he marched behind them.

You pulled Red tight against your body.
You didn’t deserve this. Edge didn’t deserve this. This wasn’t justice, it was manipulation.
You gave a deep growl to where Red’s ear would be, your soul glowing a burning yellow, and you sunk your teeth into his collar bone while he went limp in your arms – gasping and shuddering as Papyrus pulled him away from you, the world returning to colour at his departure and the slow return of your thumping soul.

You could feel the blood soaking the back of your shirt and down your forearm, but you hoisted yourself up, breathing deeply as you staggered your way back to where Edge was staring wide eyed at you.
You probably looked either crazy or sexy. Maybe a little bit of both as you collapsed two steps away from your mate.

Guess that sleepover will have to wait.

Chapter Text

Sans pulled his ‘mate’ close to his chest, the little sobs that wracked her little body made his soul thump painfully against his ribcage.
He had been trying to get her to calm down and tell him what was wrong for around an hour now, he had luckily been able to calm her cries into little hiccups and sobs; her hands hadn’t let go of his sweater since they had ‘ported from the living room.

Pap's human had obviously done something to his sweet dove to make her react this way and he was determined to figure it out, not only to protect his mate but to also protect his little brother.
He had seen her at the bar countless times, mostly because the times he was in the bar all blurred together till Papyrus was dragging him home, but he had seen you with his brother every time.

He had never trusted you with his brother, his eyesockets narrowed each time you made eye contact with him, and he slurred profanities about you till Papyrus had threatened his spinal cord.
‘’W-we used to be f-friends..’’

The stuttering meek voice almost startled him, his red eyelights were quickly drawn toward Zara’s glossy, deep blue eyes. Taking her squishy face between his claws and wiping away the remaining tears on her cheeks to encourage her to continue.

‘’B-back in high school.. We spent every day together, w-we practically lived together but one day she accused me of awful things in the middle of school.. right in front of my boyfriend at the time..
She even threatened that the next time she saw me she would attack me.. I’m just so worried she might h-hurt you or me or anyone in the house..’’

Sans took a deep breath through his nasal cavity; he could tell she was leaving things out of her story, but he assumed the trauma of the experience held her back from telling him the full story.
His phalanges ran down the length of her back, soothing the last of her cries.

How could someone do something like that to someone so gentle and kind, someone he knew was good enough to go (semi-) sober for. Someone so dishonest and cruel had tricked his little brother into being her friend.

‘’I’m just worried she might do something to Edge.. I watched her make friends with a boy and when she didn’t like him anymore, she beat him up! I don’t know what happened when she walked in the house.. but you saw her too right..?’’

This _____, had come into his house and threatened his ‘mate’ and was now alone with another member of his ‘family’. She could be alone with Papyrus.. He was strong but even Sans knew..
Humans like that could kill with just one hit.

.

Zara gave Red the puppy eyes, her perfectly manicured fingers gripping the fabric of his sweater tighter. She could not let _____ anywhere near what she was building for herself.
She had lied to Reds skull, kissed up to him a little and told him that she was worried the intruder would hurt his big brother.

She’d have to cry to the other members of the house to completely isolate _____, Edge would obviously be the hardest to convince but she had turned even the strongest men to little playthings before. Clearly, she already had Red wrapped around her perfectly moisturised pinky.

She almost shit herself as the familiar face walked past Blueberry, the last time they saw each other _____ had threatened her life and now was staring into her being, 6’3” and strong – looking at her like she was a piece of meat.
She knew as soon as _____ was joking with Papyrus and Blueberry she was losing her grip on them.. She hadn’t spent a month of her life working her way into the skeleton household for it to be ripped away by an old victim. She wasn’t about to let the good money Red, and Sans were supplying her with go.

‘’I thought I-I heard her go into E-Edges room.. Y-you didn’t hear that-t..?’’
That bitch was rooting herself deep with the hardest member of the family to get along with, even Sans, who never left his basement, was easier to get to know then Edge.

Zara could tell she struck a nerve; Reds eyes had disappeared from his sockets and there was a deep rumble emanating from his chest.. perfect.
‘’Did-d you h-hear that loud crash?!’’

The squeak of her voice was clearly adding tension to his already tense mindset, the silence from the room next door was enough to make Red sweat, the little tears pricking in the corners of her eyes really rammed home the faux worry she was feeling.
‘’Red! W-what if she tries to hurt-t me through you guys.. I-I care about y-ou all so much.. if she h-hurts him I-I..’’
The second round of sobs finally snapped Red from his brooding thoughts, knocking his teeth against the top of her head as he slammed his bedroom door open. Zara smiled cheekily as she followed him out, trying to ‘talk him out of’ the crazy idea of barging into his big brother’s room.

Mutt had peeked from his room and had immediately gotten shouted down by Red when he had tried to intervene, and it took a few more seconds for Red to finally lose his temper and break down the door.

.

Red was fuckin’ mad.
This lady had wormed her way into his little brother's life and could now be trying to hurt Zara through Paps.

Her body slammed into the wall as she was pulled into an ENCOUNTER, her SOUL bursting from her chest as she staggered up to her feet. Her body lurched as bones erupted from the floor around her, her hands flinging to her face as he sent a stray bone attack toward her skull.
The silence of her screams made him grin, the muted grey of his golden tooth flashing in the light as he readied the next attack, he was going to throw at her.

He wasn’t about to let this lying snake hurt his baby brother, not anymore.

What he didn’t expect was for her to lunge at him, grabbing him by the ribs and hoisting him into her arms, holding him tight even as he took hold of her SOUL with his blue magic and slammed her against the wall.

He could practically hear the thumping beat of her being and the heating of her skin and.. the crackle of magic.
His claws ran lines down her back as he tried to force her to let go, the magic was becoming thicker to the point that each inhalation of air was coated with the dizzying feeling of magic.
His eyelights flickered toward her face and he froze as the red lights locked with the fizzing gold in her eyes.
The growl that escaped her throat made him squirm, again trying to push himself away from the hostile surge of magic coming from her body.

She was going to kill him! And then Papyrus too..
He was pulled from his thoughts at the feeling of teeth sinking into his collar bone, the feeling of his marrow filling her mouth and escaping him made his shudder – a choked moan leaving him as foreign magic warmed his bones and he went limp in her arms.

He needed.. to protect.. Pa.. pyrus..

Chapter Text

Edge watched from the floor beside the couch as Blue and prime Papyrus tried to heal the limp body that was laid across it, _____ had been unconscious for around an hour now – sometimes her eyes fluttered, or she would mumble something close to words before falling limp and dependant on the green magic her body was flooded with.

Red was sitting despondent on one of the leather arms chairs in the corner, his eyelights had been gone for around the same amount of time as Zara had been trying to coax him back to reality. He had been getting chewed out by Black while Mutt went down to the basement to inform prime Sans of upstairs issues.

Edges souls thumped painfully against his chest as he watched his mate’s wounds knit themselves back together, the green magic swirling across her skin casting a ethereal glow onto her blood splattered face. Edge was never going to admit that he found her incredibly sexy and terrifying as she marched her way to him with messy hair, blood smeared across her and a hard magical glare trained on his form. He would never admit it. Never. Not even if it was the first thing she asked when she awoke..

If she awoke at all..

‘’Edge..? Are You Alright..?’’
Prime Papyrus placed a hand upon his shoulder, slowly as to not disturb his deep concentration, his small white eyelights scanning his face for any hint of rage or sadness – instead he was only met with the sharp blank stare of Edges own almost identical red eyelights.
He had exerted a lot of magic just trying to stop the bleeding and blue was on the brink of collapse trying to sew her back together, he let his brother harm his mate, he cowered under a blanket as his mate risked her life for him and their child – he knew that humans were strong, but a human who didn’t have intent to hurt going up against such hostile magic.. If he kept her with him, she could be killed..

His brother knew the consequences of killing a human above ground but clearly had no regard for those rules – he knew prime Sans would never let any of them get caught by the police, he couldn’t risk the secret alternate universe merges and multiples of himself coming to light for all monsters and humans to stare and gawk at.

Edges jaw opened to answer but quickly clicked shut at the arrival of prime Sans and Mutt, Sans had his filthy hoodie on, hastily covering a probably equally stained shirt, and his bones had discolored worse than his, they were a deep greenish grey and his eyesockets were racooned with his eyebags. His eyelights were wavering as they took in the state of the skeletons and humans.

Black had leant himself against the farthest wall, staring daggers at Red, Papyrus and Blue were both still trying to keep _____ stable, Stretch was researching what humans ate when they were seriously injured while Red and Zara were in the corner, distancing themselves from the body on the couch.
While Edge sat uncharacteristically quiet at the side of the injured human.

‘’What the hell happened here..?’’

…

You awoke slowly, your hands clutching the soft covers over you as you pulled them over your head, grumbling softly as you tried to re-enter sleep to no avail. Wait.. you were 100% sure you were just at the skeletons place..

You pushed up from the mattress beneath, the blanket still covering your head before falling backward to reveal.. your hotel room..
That’s.. weird, you swore you was currently face first in the floorboards of Edges room.

You untangled yourself from the web of blankets and walked through your.. suspiciously clean room toward the rest of your temporary house, it was also suspiciously clean.. You knew for a fact that you had left this place with stray takeout bags and empty wine bottles scattered around the kitchen and living room.
Was there a mythical cleaning fairy that deigned to grace you with her pity..? and gave you amnesia..

Your eyes caught sight of a blinding white square sitting on the kitchen side, you moved closer to investigate and..
There was a note on your kitchen counter.

‘You Reach For The Perfectly Written Note, You Ponder If This Note Was Written By The Masterful Penman Pa—Edge. The Note Reads; Human, After A Mistake At The Hands Of My Brother That Almost Cost You A Limb, I Have Taken The Liberty To Keep You Safe By Banning You From Visiting Me Again.
This Is Difficult As Our Soul-ling Now Will Not Stop Being Angry At Me, But The Head Sans Of Our House Has Said That Having You Near Everyone Might Cause Several Problems – One Being My Brothers Murderous Rage For You.
We Will Be Unable To Contact Each Other Again Which I Am Sorry For, But If This Is What Keeps You Safe I Am Monster Enough To Know What Needs To Be Done.
Nyeh-fully Yours, Edge.’

Tears dripped onto the page and smeared some of the ink, your hands trembled as you placed it back onto the counter.
You had just found out that you had a family again and, again, because of that foul, conniving, evil little snake it had been torn from your arms and smashed against the curb.
Her manicured claws had already sunk into Red, but you were not going to let her hurt anyone else in that house, you would not be separated from the happiness you had been grasping at for weeks now.

Edge was trying to protect you.. you knew that but, it wasn’t fair – your soul burned at the words, thumping against your chest as you furiously wiped at your eyes. You were going to have your family; you were going to hold your Mate and child in your arms, and you were going to be happy with them.
You would be damned if that woman took another family from you.

You just needed a way to show Edge you were not giving up on him.

Chapter Text

‘’Darlin’, I booked a place for us to play at tonight.. it’d be good for you to get outta here.. Maybe do somethin’ else..?’’
Jesse kicked his leg out and a flurry of notes and scrunched up paper flew into the air, you sighed and leant back into the couch your arms outspread in the sea of plans you had constructed.
It had been around.. a week.. two weeks? Since you had last seen Edge and you were not doing so good, you had barely left the house and you’re pretty sure you’ve caused multiple forests to disappear with the amount of paper you had used trying to create the perfect plan to get your family back.

Jesse laid a hand on your shoulder, tufts of brown hair falling into his eyes as he gave you his signature dashing smile, you took his face in your hands and began to smoosh. ‘’You’re killing me, Jess. I’m literally dying here.’’
He chuckled deeply and took your face in his own hands – squishing you in retaliation till you began to laugh.

‘’Fine, fine. Where is this gig?’’
Jesse smiled and pulled out his phone, swiping quickly before shoving it in your face; there was a little building.. covered in snow with neon lights spelling ‘GRILLBYS’.

…

The bar was so.. amazing! As you entered, you were immediately comforted by the smell of great food and the warm orange glow – the curious stares were less welcome, but you understood their confusion as you realised you and Jesse were the only humans here.
‘’You okay whippoorwill? You just tell me if you gotta get outta here, ‘kay.’’

You shook your head, squeezing his hand as you made your way to the bar, your heart was pounding with anxiety you thought you had gotten rid of after high school, but you shook it off as you walked to the bar. There were two bird monsters sat on the bar stools and behind the counter was a tall fire monster polishing a glass, his flames hissing softly each time his hand made contact with the.. cool glass?

‘’Hello, I’m assuming you’re Grillby? This is a fire-place you got here.’’
You joked to calm your nerves and break the tension, shooting him awkward finger guns as Jesse smacked your arm at the rudeness – Grillby crackled in return, and you almost felt the words he was trying to speak.
‘’Grillbz says ‘you must be the band for tonight, you have jokes almost as terrible as another one of my patrons.’ He’s not much of a talker.’’
‘’ Well, they say that people who talk the least are always the hottest.’’

One of the Bird monsters supplied Grillbys half of the conversation as you worked out the plan for the night, the warmth of magic reminded you more and more of Edge but as you continued to learn and make friends, you felt like he was with you.
‘Fincher’ and ‘Birch’ had quickly become your banter buddies as Jesse and Grillby discussed where to set up your microphone and instruments.

‘’…’’
‘’Grillbz says you’re all set songbird.’’

…

You felt a sense of déjà vu as you took hold of your mic; the crowd was smaller and they weren’t cheering your name, you weren’t being blinded by neon lights every four seconds as you sang – but you could definitely feel someone’s eyes on you.

Again, people looking at you was not unfamiliar, but the feeling of these eyes sent a nostalgic buzz down your spine that was all too familiar. Your heart skipped at the thought of it being Edge and as you made eye contact with familiar slitted eyelights you almost faltered at your cue.

The eyelights were familiar, but the wrong kind of familiar – Golden fangs and a fluffy puffer jacket stood out as definitely not your mate. But it was Mutt, drinking quite heavily, watching from the bar with hazy purplish eyelights.
Your heart squeezed at the pitiful sight; you knew if his brother was anything like Edge, he would be worried sick if his brother was out drinking like a sailor without supervision.

As you finished your last song and the crowed began to cheer you made your way quickly over to Mutts hunched over form, giving Jesse a kiss on the cheek as you explained how dead you would be if you didn’t either protect this monster from preying claws or drive him back to his place.

…

‘’Heya Mutt, you remember me? It’s _____, the human that almost died at your house.’’

Mutts purple flushed skull lifted from the bars counter, his claws bringing a pint up to his teeth as his misty eyelights scanned over your face. ‘’Ohh.. the human! Sureee I ‘member you.’’

You could tell in his state he absolutely did not remember you.
But you gave him the benefit of the doubt as you pulled the glass out of his hands, his little mumbles about his unpaid tab making you laugh until your hands flew forward to try and catch him as he leant back too far and fell from his stool. You sighed as his hands came up to trace patterns in your cheek, his little purrs making your face heat up as you adjusted him to lay bridle style in your arms.
Grillbys eyebrows (?) raised as you leant against the bars counter, you grinned as you fished your wallet from your pocket – holding it between your teeth as mutt snuggled into your neck. His fire-y hand coming up to pluck it from your mouth.

‘’To pay for Mutts tab.’’

Grillby shook his head, the flames flickering and waving at the motion as he moved toward the cash register. His hands pulling out a couple bills to put into your wallet, you hissed and tried to awkwardly swat his hands away.
‘’ No Grillby! You’ve already paid us, no!’’

Fincher and Birch began to cackle as Grillby let out a loud crack of anger, gently gesturing to the money and your wallet as you argued with each other.
‘’ Grillbz said it’s for takin’ care of Mutt, saves him an awkward phone call with his brother.’’

You once again objected to the idea, hoisting Mutt against you like a koala as you snatched your wallet back. Your hand reaching out to grip Grillbys. ‘’ You can say thanks by letting me come ‘round and play for you all again.’’
He hissed happily and nodded his flickering head, his hands weren’t searingly hot as you first feared – your impulsiveness had led you to touching fire before so it would not surprise you – but instead warm, like holding a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

You said your goodbyes and had one final round of applause from the patrons of the bar before leaving, making your way to your old truck as Mutt grumbled into your sweater, his claws were clutching your scarred back and his legs were hooked around your waist, he reminded you of Edge in certain lights – Soft and gentle when he was being held.

‘’Alright liquid courage, time to get you home.’’

Chapter Text

Mutt had not let go of your hand, not even as you tried to explain that you ‘needed this hand to work the stick shift’ – he had nuzzled your cheek in response and given your hand a soft squeeze.
‘’Is warm.. th’t your doin’ hot stuff..?’’

Mutt had also been flirting; clearly not well, but it seemed that alcohol really brought out the Casanova in him.. he was very cuddly now too; you struggled to drive safely with his wandering grabby hands, but you were able to prop the wheel on your knee as you changed gear. It had been raining heavily as you turned into the long road that led to the base of Mt. Ebott, the dark trees surrounded you and there was the crackle of a distant storm getting closer.
‘’Heyyy, you’re Edges hum’n!’’

Finally, he was sobering up, you gave him a smile and a quick nod, squeezing his cute little skeletal hand in encouragement.’’ My girlfriends pretty scared o’ you.. She’s been hangin’ out wi’d Edge alotttt…’’
That was not encouraging.. Zara near you mate and child.. and was now dating Mutt? His jaw wiggled as he tried to form a sentence properly.

‘’You’re dating Zara, huh?’’
He hummed a yes, leaning his skull on your shoulder.’’ Yeahhh, shes been stayin’ at our place and then my bro.. and Red actually go’ wi’ her. Then it was Blue aft’r a bad dream she helped him through.. Papyrus next and I think Classic was already wi’d herr.. I can’ remember.. Then! Uhmm, oh yeah! Stretch took her out on a date, and I was at Muffets and we kinda all hung out togeth’r and got together at da end of the night..’’

So that little spider has become the whole houses girlfriend, you didn’t know how monster relationships when it came to polyamory, but you knew for a fact that this was just Zara trying to bury herself – you’ve seen her do it before - as quickly as she could into their lives in the two weeks you were gone.
Two weeks..?

Oh.. Shit, shit, shit, shIT, SHIT!

Edge was so far along with his pregnancy! And if he had continued to siphon magic like he had been before you found out..
What if he’s had your child? What if Zara was with your baby? you couldn’t let her- not again, not another.. Oh God please not again.

‘’Woah human, you alrigh’..?’’
Your hands were tight against the wheel and Mutts skeletal hand, you were breathing heavily as your soul forced its way out of your chest. You quickly stopped the car at the side of the road, unlatching your seatbelt and practically shoving your body out of the car and into the rain.
You couldn’t breathe and your mind was hazy. She couldn’t do it, not again. You couldn’t lose- You wouldn’t be able to handle it.

You stumbled away from your truck, hands clutching at the damp fabric of your sweater as you tried to calm the adrenaline and the memories that filled your head.
‘’Human! Hey, i’s dangerous! Come back.’’

Mutt seemed a little more sober as he stumbled after you, calling for you to come back to the truck and asking you what was wrong.
You felt like you were dying, the gold of your soul the only colour you could focus on as you stumbled over underbrush and roots, your breathing was shallow, and your actual heart was thumping dangerously fast.

You thought you had gotten over this, therapy was supposed to have gotten you over this, you thought you had locked those memories away for good – but as soon as that witch re-enters your life.. you- you were going to pass out in the forest.

You leant against a soaked tree trunk, your soul thumping steadily before your eyes as you slid down the cold bark. Your hand reached out toward the culmination of your being, bringing it closer to your face – as you looked closer at it you could see a spiderweb of whispery silver cracks through it, your breathing evened out as you traced your finger over the brightest one. Disappointing

You were not letting her take another family from you. You wouldn’t let her get away with it, you could feel the JUSTICE of your soul burn bright; you were not going to let her take what was yours. You were not going to let her take like that again, especially not to someone you care about.
You felt a trembling hand on your shoulder, Mutt was drenched. His jaw was shuddering as his teeth chattered, he is eyes were trained on your soul while his bones rattled.

‘’Oh Mutt, I’m sorry honey. You’re soaked to the bone.’’
He shook his head, placing a hand on his soaked jacket. His phalanges pulled out his own little white soul, the purple glow from it contrasting perfectly to your golden one.
He held a hand out to you and you hoisted yourself up with it, your legs shaking slightly as to tried to soothe your remaining shot nerves. You took a deep breath and smiled up at Mutt, his teeth were already turned up in a small smile – his cheekbones were dusted violet as you both began to stagger in the general direction of your truck.

‘’I’m sorry I kinda ditched you, I was just.. spooked..’’
He nodded, looking up at the clouds. His hand squeezed yours unintentionally as the sky roared with thunder, he leaned closer to you, his eyelights darting away from you.

‘’You wanna.. talk ‘bout what happened..?’’

You thought about it for a moment, you didn’t want to have a panic attack in the woods but as the golden glow of your soul mingled with the plum glow of his you could feel the tension ease from your shoulders. ‘’Okay..’’

…

You were 18, happy and cuddling with your then boyfriend. He was stroking your hair as you nuzzled into his chest, your weak nerd arms wrapping around his waist as you peppered kisses across his stubble. ‘’ C’mon now baby, y’know the guys make fun of me when I’m covered in your lipstick.’’

You thought your heart could explode; his soft brown eyes were staring into your own as he stroked a stray hair behind your ear. You felt at home in his arms, but you knew you had to let him go to his baseball practice – he had an important game in a week and had been trying to get in all the practice he could.
You whined a little, pulling him closer till he started to laugh, he pecked you on the nose and hoisted you off the ground to hold you close. You swayed in a dance before he set you gently on the ground, kissing your lips passionately as a goodbye.

You watched him get into his car, waving to him as he drove off – a frown settling on your lips..
You forgot to tell him you were pregnant..

You had found out that morning; after vomiting and having nausea spells for the past week you had decided to check and lo-and-behold you were having a perfect baby with your perfect boyfriend, you assumed you were around 4 weeks along (estimation from the last time you two had made love) andyou felt more ready for this than you did anything else in your whole life so far.
You looked back toward the couch and there sat his prized baseball cap; you knew he wouldn’t feel complete without it on the pitch, and it was the perfect excuse to go and break the amazing news.

You picked up your phone and quickly dialled your best friend (Just barely surpassing your friend Jesse), your soulmate, your sister basically and she immediately picked up – she had lived with you her whole life after running away from her home, she had been your friend since kindergarten and after you both turned 10, she was living with you, sharing your secrets and giving you some of your happiest moments to date.
You would explain your plan to her and get her opinion, then you would rush off to your knight in shining armour.
‘’Zara! I’ve got to tell you something huge!’’

…

After getting the congratulations of a lifetime and an A-okay go ahead for the plan you were practically buzzing with excitement. You drove to the field where baseball practice was being hosted, you couldn’t see your boyfriend as you got closer, so you made your way to the bench, tapping one of his fellow players on the shoulder to ask where he was.

‘’Oh, he’s in the changing rooms with his girlfriend. If ya know what I mean.’’
Your heart plummeted in your chest as he wiggled his brows at you, maybe he was mistaken or joking. You shook the negative thoughts as you thanked him and trekked toward the concrete building where your boyfriend was.

As you got to the open door you could hear giggles, groans, shrieks and moans echoing across the tiles.. Maybe you were having audio hallucinations..
‘’C’mon now baby, y’know the guys make fun of me when I’m covered in your lipstick.’’

A sharp pain shot through your body, you gasped and hunched at the excruciating feeling. The noises promptly stopped at the echo of your agony; you heard the quick footsteps coming toward you but the pain you were feeling completely incapacitated you from running away from the situation.

There stood before you was your boyfriend and in his arms, Zara, he looked shocked at your appearance while Zara looked.. smug.
He let go of her immediately, rushing to explain himself – you could see their ruffled clothing, lipstick across his face and neck, bitemarks across the exposed expanse of her collarbones. Your body ached, screaming in pain as you grabbed onto the soft fabric of your sweater.

Your boyfriend asked you if you were okay, but you swatted his hands away when he got too close, your eyes burned with tears of scorn and pain. From his expression you could tell the look you were giving both him and Zara was murderous.
You pushed yourself up, completely silent as you rushed from the changing rooms, you could hear them chasing after you; your ex-boyfriend trying to explain himself while Zara had on that condescending tone as she apologised.

You locked your new trucks doors, pulling away from the field as they chased after you, your eyes blurred with tears as you drove as quickly as you could back home.
The pain was worsening every mile you crossed, the agony you were in almost fuelling the fiery pain in your chest – it was like a pressure pressing against your ribcage, trying to escape.

As you pulled into your driveway you saw your parents outside the door already, the pain worsened again, and you felt like you were about to pass out.
You stumbled out of the car, crying and stuttering as you made your way to your Mom and Dad. They were blocking the door and in their hands they held an empty duffel bag.

‘’Zara called us, we cannot believe that you would be such a.. a-‘’
Your mother stumbled on her words, cuddling into your father’s chest as she began to weep.

‘’You slept with her boyfriend and now you’re pregnant! Do you know how stupid you made this family look, thank God Zara has agreed to still be apart of this family – she needs all the support she can get right now.’’
A new wave of tears trailed down your cheeks as you tried to explain that it wasn’t what had happened – that it was your boyfriend and she had slept with him, but you could see from your father’s stony stare and your mothers aversion to eye contact that they absolutely did not believe you.

Your body quaked with sobs as they handed you the duffle bag and gave you an hour to pack all your stuff and to get the fuck away from the family before you caused even more of a disgrace.
You were in so much pain, for 5 minutes you had laid across your floor in agony, your stomach was killing you and your head was spinning..

Your stomach was hurting..

You scrambled into the bathroom, you couldn’t..
You couldn’t let the stress be-…

You spend 40 minutes in that bathroom sobbing, blood coating the inside of your thighs as you witnessed the death of your family in less than a day.. because of someone you were supposed to be able to trust.
You had lost your entire happy ending because she decided that she wanted what you had, and she had taken your child in the process..

You called your grandparents; they were probably the only people in this town who didn’t believe the lies Zara had told – they never liked when she came over for family holidays and they never liked the attention your parents gave to her over you – those two and your friend Jesse.
As you stepped out of your truck you practically collapsed into his arms, exhaustion taking over your body as you began to dry-sob. You were pathetic, you couldn’t even keep the one thing that would’ve given you a silver lining alive – you were worthless for letting the stress take your child from you..

No.
You weren’t the one who was worthless. You weren’t the one who hurt your family – Zara was.

You promised yourself that day, blood drenched pants folded on you passenger seat and cheeks stained with tears, that you would rather kill than let that sake take your family away again.

You were going to get your JUSTICE, and you would never let anyone be hurt by her again.
That was your promise.

Chapter Text

Mutt stared at you in horror, the rain was still falling as you finally reached your old truck. As you got back in Mutt lurched from the passenger’s seat and pulled you into a hug.
Your souls mingled like they were talking, but you sat in silence – crying quietly as Mutt stroked his phalanges down your scarred back.

‘’I can’t believe your friend did that to ya, and that your family believed her over you! She must’ve made your life hell after that, goin’ to school together an’ everythin’.’’
Mutts purple eyelights stared deep into yours, the glow of your souls dimming as you calmed, and they returned to you.

You couldn’t tell Mutt it was Zara; you knew he should know – but if everyone in that household was with her you couldn’t let Mutts enlightenment become ammunition for Zara to turn everyone against you.
If he was isolated from the house because of you, they would all believe that you had twisted lies through his skull to ruin Zaras life – she was using those amazing people as weapons to destroy your life.. again.

You gave Mutt a gentle smile, thanking him for listening to your dark tale. He leant his skull against your forehead and heaved a deep sigh, his hand was clutched against yours again, but you didn’t mind, he seemed to be processing and was holding onto you as a lifeline of comfort.

‘’C’mon darlin’, lets get you home.’’ You put on your best southern accent, channeling your inner Jesse to lighten the mood as you practically pulled off from the side of the road with just your feet.

The remaining ride to the skeleton household was quiet, one of you made the occasional joke or one of you squeezed the others hand. But as you pulled up next to a blue motorcycle Mutt leant over and pulled you into another hug, his jaw brushing your ear.’’ Edge has been sayin’ your name in his sleep, he pretends he doesn’ miss you but he’s been havin’ a lot of nightmares recently – Its hard not to hear from across the hall.. He and Red haven’t been talkin’ after Classic made the decision to bar you fr’m the house. Red hasn’t left his room either but knows s’mthin’s up with his bro but he’s stubborn.. they both are.’’

You pulled him close, kissing him on the side of the skull.
‘’Thank you Mutt, I’m glad a little alcohol and a panic attack in the woods got you out of your shell.’’

His cheekbones bloomed violet, illuminating both your faces as you began to laugh at his embarrassment – he quickly pulled his hood up to try and stifle his blush which only made you laugh harder as the glow of hid face was concentrated in one beam of light.
You got out of the car, this time retrieving your umbrella from the back before you got soaked for a second time that night. Mutt was hanging close under it with you as you made your way up the porch.

The door opened within your first knock, Black was there – deep purple beads of sweat dotting his skull, a deep growl left his teeth as he registered yours and Mutt’s presence.
‘’I Have Been Calling Grillby’s For The Past Hour! You Didn’t Deign To Message Me That You Had A Means To Get Home – You Know You Can’t.. Drive While You’re Intoxicated.’’

Yep, Black was a worrier, just like Edge.
Edge! You smiled as Black ushered you both inside, taking both the umbrellas and leaving you in your soaked sweater and Mutt in a black tank top and sweatpants.
He sat you both on the couch, chastising Mutt as he left to the kitchen – you, Mutt and Black seemed to be the only ones awake, there was no footsteps from the other floors and the only lights on were the lamp in the corner and the kitchens main light.

Black came back with two mugs, handing one to each of you. ‘’Golden-Flower Tea, With Magic To Keep Either Of You From Getting Sick. As I Know Both Humans And My Brother Are Susceptible To Sickness.’’

You smiled and sipped at the boiling beverage, it was amazing – there was a familiar fizzing of magic on your tongue, but the mood was dying as you realised Black was watching you carefully. ‘’You Brought My Brother Home.. Why?’’

You raised your eyebrow at him, taking another sip as you looked over at a blushing Mutt.’’ Because I was worried he would fall into a ditch if he was left alone.’’
Mutt groaned in embarrassment, his hand coming up to cover his eyesockets.
Black watched him with a small smirk, taking a step forward and holding his hand out to you, you took it and after a small shake you pulled it to your lips and gave it a kiss.

‘’I Thank You For Your Concern.. I Must Inform You That I Am Now Date Mates With The Human Zara.’’ His skull was glowing an almost identical shade of purple to Mutt, and you had to hold in the wheezing laugh that had built in your chest.
‘’But As Thanks For Keeping My Brother Safe, And Bringing Him Home Semi-Sober; I Will Grant You The Highest Favour, Disobeying Classic Sans. I Will Allow You To Stay The Night.’’

Your eyes widened, shooting up from the couch. ‘’You don’t have to Black; I know that going against.. Classic is a bad idea.’’
Mutt nodded his head from behind Black, trying to convey through his expression how bad staying could be if Classic or even Red found out you were here – your back throbbed with the memory of the last time you had been here, but the thought of seeing and even holding Edge again was too tempting to pass up.

‘’I Will Handle The Consequences Of My Own Actions, You Cannot Drive This Late Or In This Weather So You Will Stay.’’
With one final nod Black took your empty mug and returned to the kitchen.
Mutt looked like he was stressing so you placed a hand on his leg, squeezing the thin bone in reassurance. ‘’It’ll be okay Mutt, I promise I’ll be alive in the morning.’’

He placed a hand on yours and gave you a sweet smile, nodding to the stairs as he offered you a shower and with a wink, offered you around an hour before Black went searching for you.
You gave him a quick peck on the cheek as you rushed up the stairs, keeping your footsteps as quiet as you could.

You made it to Edges room and gave a short quick knock in the tune of Shave-And-A-Haircut, your soul was throbbing in your chest with the anticipation of seeing him again. You heard shuffling from behind the door, the soft and slow steps that approached the door made sweat bead in your palm and as the door handle clicked open you felt like you could faint.

There, standing tall and intimidating, was Edge – Grey bones and dark circles under his eyes, only his pajama bottoms on, showing off his.. much thicker rib bones and through the tiny gaps between his ribs you could see the bright glow of Gold and Red.

‘’_____..?’’

Chapter Text

Papyrus knew the baby was ready - his ribs had become thick to protect the souls and without his mates magic he was using a lot of his own to keep his souling strong.
His ribcage had almost completely fused together, it was hard to wear anything over the top of it, so Papyrus had resorted to shirtless camping in his room.

His bones had grown sickly and grey, his eyelights had become dim and his head was swimming with warnings and instincts – he had been ambushed several times by the wench he had even been forced to- the souls thumping in his chest had not stopped screaming for him to get away, even as he joined the rest of the home and after a week he was entirely sure he was the only one not wrapped around her little finger.

He was laying in his nest, claws scraping against his ribs at the sharp shoots of pain emanating from his soul – the baby was definitely ready, he could feel the intent to go but also the reluctance to leave without both parents there.. he wished _____ was here..

The soul thumped in agreement, their form was ready and the only thing keeping them from being born was stubbornness.. It was almost comical; he could already tell Sans was going to love them.. they were an exact replica of him from when he was a babybones.
Papyrus’ teeth turned up in a bittersweet smile, Sans didn’t even know there was going to be a baby.. the only one in the house who actually knew was Black and even then he didn’t know how soon the baby was joining the home.

Knock-Knock Knock-Knock-Knock

Papyrus pushed himself up slowly, no one in the house was awake but Black; he was downstairs pacing a trail in the hardwood after Grillby hadn’t called and Mutt hadn’t arrived home.
His body moved sluggishly, bones rattling against the cold air, his phalanges gripped the cold handle and his chest cavity heaved softly as he pulled the door open.

The souls in his chest felt like they stopped beating, at first he thought he was hallucinating.. ______ hair, _____ eyes.. she was drenched but she was her.
‘’_____..?’’

The first thing she did when she locked eyes with him was to smile, that beautiful smile that kickstarted the hot flood of magic in his cheeks, he felt his knees buckle as she pulled him close – her warm body, her soft kisses, her whispers of reassurance and the slow ooze of magic that flooded through him.. he felt the little ruby tears collect in the corners of his eyesockets as his claws gripped at her soaked sweater.
‘’ Oh, my love, I’m here, I’m here. I will never leave you, no matter how far you push me away..’’

Tears started to fall steadily down his cheekbones, some collecting in the small chips and scars in his bone, her soft lips were kissing them away quickly as she hoisted him up into her arms. If he was half as energized he normally was he probably would have reprimanded her for picking him up like a child but the close proximity to her beating heart and her warm, gentle words made him melt into her.
He cannot believe he convinced himself that a life without her, even if it was to keep her safe, would be liveable.. He had tried to tell himself that he did not love her, that it was only because she was the first human not to shy away from his intimidating aura or abandon him when he exhibited actions from his underground, but now as she carried him toward his nest and as she snuggled in next to him, he could feel both souls in his chest push toward her and the overwhelming feeling of love fill his chest.

His phalanges entwined with her fingers, his eyelights searching her face for any other emotion than complete and utter happiness, the tears in his sockets beading down his face as he nuzzled his face into her chest. ‘’I’m So Scared..’’

Her hands cupped his skull, pulling it up to look her in the eyes, her questioning eyes completely trained to his.’’ I’m Sacred.. You’ll Get Hurt Because Of Me.. My Brother Could Have Killed You And Prime Sans Has Already Told Me To Keep You Away.. I’m Scared That If You Do Stay, I Could Hurt You.. My Instincts, My Training.. All Of It Could Be Used To Hurt You And If I- I Lose Myself I- I Just Don’t-‘’

Tears blurred his vision again, he was frightened to admit he was frightened, the entirety of his life he was told emotions like this made him a target for monsters and humans but now he was crying openly in front of the very creature that made his home the way it was – a vicious Mage, and more specifically the Justice Mage who killed thousands of monsters in the war, the Justice Mage who passed magic so powerful through the battlefield that monsters who had killed humans were murdered without a spec of dust falling to the floor – those stories he was told by the old turtle seemed so silly now as a Justice Mage held his skull in her hands and kissed between his sockets.

‘’Edge I-‘’
‘’Papyrus.. M-My Name Is Papyrus..’’

He could see confusion pass over her face, then the flittering glances at his skull – the way her eyes gleamed as she put the pieces together.’’ I knew skeleton genetics didn’t work like that! You’re all the same people, Prime Papyrus and Classic Sans, I knew those nicknames were weird! You’re all Sans and Papyrus!’’
Her hands squished against his bone, and he could feel her energy slowly siphon through him.. maybe it was because it was a different universe and they were considerably softer here, but he could tell that she was nothing like those stories, even as she was attacked, she had kept everyone safe.. she kept the fight enclosed in one space, she had kept conscious of her brothers HP and even as he looked away from the fight to watch Prime Papyrus and Blue rush through the door he could feel the non-violent intent sparking from her soul.

She kissed him against his teeth, and he melted into it, phalanges coming to press against her hands, he would fight the sun and every star in the sky if it meant she would stay with him.
He was ready to have this type of family, the love and safety that surrounded him was almost overwhelming, but he knew then and there, laying on the floor of his bedroom in a nest of mismatched blankets that he was ready to be happy in this little corner of life.

And the soul inside him thought so too.
His soul squeezed from his chest as a sharp pain shot through him, he gasped and gripped onto her hand. Immediately she gripped back, raising over him in panic.’’ Papyrus? What’s going on??’’

His free hand snatched the souls from the air, holding them out for her to take, he felt like the air had been knocked out of him as pain rattled his bones. ‘’Souling Is R-Ready..!’’

She held the souls in her hands gently, looking between them and papyrus in fear, he was spasming with the shooting pains as he gripped her legs and hoisted himself into a sitting position – his skull now resting on her shoulder as the Red and Golden glow mingled and beamed bright, the reflection bouncing of each end of the room – it was almost as if you two were back in that bar, meeting for the first time with lights dancing off his skull and from your glasses as you both drank and laughed.

_____’s eyes began to glow as her own soul popped from her chest, all three souls now mingling and spinning together as Papyrus heaved a shallow laugh – sweat was beading across his skull and tears of pain and joy dripped onto her still drenched sweater. _____ was holding him close, her nail gently tracing patterns into the side of his skull to calm him down as they both sat transfixed, watching as the little golden soul began to glow white.

Slowly it rotated, emanating the upside down orientation of a monster soul but still it kept the Golden coloring – the light was blinding and for Papyrus the pain of it all was excruciating, he would rather have 10 eye scars than go through this again and the deep echoing bellow of pain that escaped him was enough prompt for you to pull him in, cooing praises and urging him to keep going for just a little longer.

Her soul joined the two others hovering above them, encompassing both Papyrus’ and the soulings – it seemed to take pain away from Papyrus and be the final push for the baby to form, it looked as if dust was chipping from both his and her soul – and taking shape before them as a tiny skeleton.
The little golden soul wriggled away from both parent souls and settled in the ribcage of its own, Papyrus held his arms out as the babybones drifted for a moment – encompassed in the last remaining blue magic Papyrus could muster.

The few seconds of silence as their souls returned to them and there was no movement were the most intense seconds of his life – no stand off or fight in his argument could ever top the anxiety that filled his chest as he watched his baby’s unmoving body.
_____’s hand reached out and caressed the top of their skull and suddenly their little sockets shot open, a wail of life leaving them as their little golden eyelights were assaulted with colors.

Both Papyrus and _____ were crying with their child, holding each other close and they watched their child wiggle and whine little bones encompassing Papyrus’ much larger phalange.
‘’it’s A Boy..’’

‘’I think it’s a skeleton Papyrus..’’
‘’You Have Ruined This Momentous Occasion With Your Jokes. See? Now He Doesn’t Even Want To Know You.’’

She filled the room with the happiest laughter he had ever heard, cooing to their baby gently as his little skull stared at them both – little golden tears pricking the corners of his sockets still as he watched them. ‘’No Papyrus, can’t you see? He’s smiling!’’
‘’It Is A Pity Smile.’’

Papyrus couldn’t help but laugh with her, his hands rocking their babybones gently – his scratchy voice humming an old song Sans used to sing to him.
‘’He’s gonna need a name Pap. You got any ideas?’’

He nodded, watching as the little golden lights disappeared behind sleepy sockets – he would have to train the laziness out of him from a young age, maybe laziness was an older child trait..
‘’I Had Thought, Eras.. For A Boy.’’

She lolled it over in her mouth a couple times, reciting the name to the now sleeping baby with a smile.’’ It’s perfect for him.. little Eras.’’
All of them were quiet for a moment, taking in the absurdity of the last couple of hours – taking in the happiness of the last couple hours. Papyrus leant against the wall with your new child in his arms while _____ was watching him with a soft smile on her lips, her hands stroking his cheekbones and pressing kissed to his dark eyebags.

There was a loud pounding from the door, Papyrus immediately pulled Eras closer as he growled at the loud intrusive noise. As he looked at _____ he could see the angry golden glare that perforated the thick wood, he could feel the protective magic that encased them both, but he knew if she answered the door again, another fight would ensue.

He handed her the babybones gently, giving her a kiss on the head as he got up from the nest – his soul whined at the loss of contact from his mate and child, but he quickly shook it off as he opened the door.
Black was there, skull beaded with purple sweat, his fist raised to knock on the door again.
‘’Edge! You’re Alive.. Thank The Stars, Me And Mutt Thought The Human Had Dusted you..’’

‘’ Black.. I Am Fine, Just- I’’
Papyrus shivered as he grabbed the sleeve of Blacks shirt and pulled him into the room – it was almost pitch black from where they stood but the two pairs of glowing golden eyes staring at them was enough for Black to put the pieces together.

‘’..We Have To Tell Sans..’’

Chapter Text

Sans sat at his filthy desk, leaning his skull in his hands, his eyesockets shutting occasionally as the exhaustion set in – his phalanges were covered in oil and smears of silver from fiddling with that machine again; the lights on the old scrap of metal lit up for the first time in months, just as he had given up on it ever working again, Sans had immediately spent every hour after, testing for any anomaly or signal that could indicate progress of sending his and his brothers counterparts’ home or the opposite by another pair merging with their already cramped home.

‘’Sans!’’
His skull shot up from his folded arms, air flooding through his nasal cavity in shock as his head swiveled toward the piercing voice of Black. Sans groaned deeply, rubbing oil against his forehead as he tried to awake himself again, Black stood at the entrance of the lab – skull drenched in magic sweat and eyes darting up to the top of the stairs that connected the basement to the rest of the house.

‘’w’ats wrong black.. i’ve got to continue work.. to get you home ‘member?’’
The sharp glare sent his way did not stop the loud yawns escaping between his sentence, the panic on his own face was starting to freak him out less and less everyday – Blue had been wearing it ever since the mage had collapsed unconscious in Edges room after Hot Topic him had attacked them.

Zara had explained what had happened after Edge and the other skeletons recounted their side of the story, he could tell she wasn’t lying – he was perceptive like that – and even thinking of the little tears that reddened the deep blue of her eyes made his soul thump in pity.
He had told Edge to keep her away from the house - he could see the visible disappointment of more skeletons than he thought would want her around but the evidence that Red couldn’t control himself and the dangers having a mage around could do to not only the balance of the machine but also the dynamics of the household.

Red and Edges rooms had been locked since his verdict and her magic had practically vanished from the home.. until the prickling scent of magic drifted through the open door of the basement.
‘’Sans. There’s A Babybones Upstairs.’’

Blacks voice drifted off as he glanced back up the stairs and suddenly it felt like Sans had been getting good sleep for a year. He sprung away from his desk, falling backward and quickly teleporting before the alternate him.
He was sure that if it was an alternate him and Pap they would have appeared down here as all the others had done.. which means it wasn’t an alternate.
‘’The Human Is With The Child Upstairs. Edge Is.. Making Sure His Brother Doesn’t Wake Up.’’

Oh, thank the stars Zara was upstairs – he didn’t trust anyone past the swap brothers to even look at a babybones.. maybe it was her baby? No, it couldn’t be – he had read enough human biology books to know it took much longer than a month for babies to gestate and there were visible signs of pregnancy.. which meant it would be-

He ran through the doorway and appeared in the living room, startling the form on the couch – Golden rimmed eyes staring wide at him as they let a little Papyrus like baby suckle on their little finger.
The Mage.

Sans let out an unintentional spark of annoyed magic, why did none of the other hims listen to his rules? They were very simple. He would have to get her out of the house as soon as possible before any of the other skeletons in the house realized she was here.
The human was curling an arm around the child, looking at him with mistrust as he took slow steps toward them – the spark of magic that retaliated from her made him stop, hands pushing themselves into his worn pockets as he pieced minimal information together.
‘’heya kid, ‘m sans. sans the skeleton.’’

That felt familiar, greeting a mage with a silly gag – the now outstretched had already weaponized with a whoopie cushion.
She reached a free hand out to him hesitantly, a slow grin working its way onto her face as a loud fart perforated the rooms awkward silence. She chuckled a few times as she shook his skeletal hands.
‘’_____, _____ the human.’’

He CHECKED her quickly, eyes scanning over her information as quickly as he could without getting caught by her or her SOUL.

* _____ ______ ATK 189 DEF 40
* LV 2 HP 610/650
* Likes your jokes but wants to protect her child.

His bones rattled silently at the stats, the LV was worrying, and the HP level indicated that she was the human equivalent to a boss monster – his phalanges shook as he gestured to the child in her arms.. her child..
She gave him one last side glance as she turned the rest of her body to face him, showing off the baby that snuggled into her chest. Little golden eyelights peeking out to look at him through hooded sockets – it was dangerous how much they looked like a baby Pap.

A tired smile settled on his teeth, cooing gently as he reached out a distal phalanx to brush against their little skull – he could feel tension release from his bones at the feeling of the babies soft, warm bones encompassing his, they were looking up at him with a curiosity all too familiar to him.

‘’RED YOU FUCKHEAD, GET BACK HERE! I WILL DUST YOU IF YOU TAKE ONE MORE STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.’’
‘’Fucken’ Try It Boss! You Reek O’ That Human And I’m About Ta Enact Some House Rules!’’

‘’WHERE WAS THIS TENACITY FOR RULES WHEN YOU WENT ON PAROL?!’’

There was the distant sound of brother lunging toward brother, the familiar shattering of glass and the tell-tale sound of someone falling down the stairs. Red groaned loudly, trying to push himself up from the floor as Edge grabbed him by the scruff of his black turtleneck.
Black quickly grabbed them both with blue magic as every skeleton under the roof filed down the stairs and into the living room.

Zara followed down quickly, hand in Stretches as he rubbed sleep from his eyesockets. Sans pulled his phalange away from the babybones gently, looking toward the audience that had arrived.
There was the distinct sound of Sans’ secret get away plan flying out the window.
Red was swinging around slowly as the two fell brothers verbally abused each other, Sans physically recoiled at the strained relationship – The smell of the humans magic stronger than it had been a couple of moments ago.

Sans pulled his hands up to where his ears would be as he caught sight of his brother catching sight of the new baby. But instead of squealing as Sans thought he would, Papyrus let out a tiny gasp as his hands flung to his teeth.. He was being as quiet as he could as he slowly approached where they stood.
‘’Friend _____, You Have A Small Babybones In Your Arms.’’

Papyrus’ little eyelights had formed shooting stars in his skull as the tiny bones rattled at the sight of yet another skeleton, his brother was so cool..
The whole room had gone silent as they watched _____ show Papyrus her child, her soft fingers trailing up between their little eyesockets as they sneezed. ‘’This is Eras, Pap. You wanna see him?’’

Papyrus looked hesitant for a moment, the entire room had fallen silent as _____’s hand threaded through his Ulna and Radius pulling Papyrus’ hand closer to stroke the soft bone.
Edge whined and Black released him, he quickly made his way toward the couch. Watching intently as the baby cooed and rattled his bones at Sans’ starstruck little brother.
Blue had managed to sneak his way over too and was standing transfixed next to Papyrus, a small series of ‘Mweh heh heh’s’ leaving him as he looked toward Stretch. ‘’He looks just like you Pa-Stretch, the same as when you were a Babybones!’’

Sans still couldn’t believe it himself; a human had helped form a child with a monster and - from the way he was reacting – with Edge no less.
The burning heat of _____’s magic flooded the room; Sans could feel with each breath magic coating the inside of his nasal cavity and as he thought about it the heightened concentration of magic had started coming from all the skeletons.. Now that Sans’ mind was jumpstarting with adrenaline, he was figuring things out. The last time magic levels in the house increased another-

CRASH

The babybones let out a startled cry, the two parents looking to where the noise had come from. Each skeleton was watching either Sans or the basement door for reassurance while Red was staring blankly at _____ and Edge, Zara had also been unable to tear her eyes from the small scene.
But as the houses magic settled again Sans couldn’t help the anxiety that filled his chest, there was only one reason the machine would make that noise..

There were more.

Chapter Text

Mutt’s mind had been spinning ever since he got back in your truck, maybe it was the traces of alcohol still being processed in his system or it was the strong magic that coated every inch of exposed bone.
_____ had run into the forest and after a traumatic talk Mutt hadn’t been able to let go of her, more specifically, his soul refused to return to his ribcage – the stubborn magic was practically rubbing itself up on every inch of her Golden soul, coating him in her sweet smell of honey and salt that made his bones ache.

Mutt kept quiet the rest of the ride home, trying to cool off his fizzing bones as he tugged his soul back inside his ribs, his face was flushed bright purple with magic after being teased relentlessly and he could practically feel the magic trailing down his soaked bones toward his pelvis.
All Mutt could think of was how his brother recounted his first meeting with her, how she was ‘towering over him and unwavering as she gripped his hand firm’.

Mutt suppressed the shudder that ran down his spine, he knew as he sat beside her that there was an entire warehouse of magic in her that engulfed everyone in the house ten-fold. Her magic dwarfed each Sans and Papyrus, and she didn’t even realize..
He was transfixed as he watched the tears evaporate from her cheeks, the steam flowing elegantly from her eyes like an extinguishing fire – There was a deep, painful energy held within her soul.. he could tell as she recounted her story that each word was deeply rooted in pain that craved nothing more than to take back what had been stolen. Like a serpent coiling, ready to strike – but he could also see the vulnerability and weakness that made the coiled serpent barely a cocoon of shed scales..
It made the eventual strike even more surprising.

Stern golden eyes staring into his being, strong hands gripping his bones as dominating magic dripped from your form – the thought was intoxicating..

Mutt blushed as she glanced at him again, squeezing his bones in his hands – his sonnet stopping short as he realized what was happening. Zara was his girlfriend; he should not be fantasizing of your soul holding his captive as you held him down and..
He really needed to sober up.

He practically combusted as he saw the house, his phalanges gripping against the leather seat as the sexual tension on his part became unbearable.
If he was honest a very small part of him wished he wasn’t so wimpy when sober, he would even go as far as to say he was jealous of Red or even his brother for their natural charm.. he couldn’t get a full sentence out of his teeth before he stumbled and teleported away in embarrassment.

Mutt ran his free hand down his skull as he realized where his thoughts had brought him again, maybe spending time with Zara when he got in the house was a good idea – bonding with his date mate was an essential step in creating a true soul bond as his brother had told him countless times.
Mutt knew it was probably the affection deprivation that was causing his.. uncharacteristic ‘want’ for the human beside him. The only time Zara had spent with him after they had become date mates was when Edge refused to exit his room for date nights.

He still couldn’t believe that Edge of all monsters agreed to going out with a human, even after how much he had been yowling _____’s name in the middle of the night – It still shocked him how one morning Zara had requested two full plates of breakfast for Edge and herself, of course Red had been the first to laugh, assuming she was joking about her venture, but her stubborn soft blue eyes eventually pulled each skeleton over on the condition that she would have Blue and Papyrus there to keep guard of the door while the rest of them had gone to work,
For him and Red, in the basement.

His soul thumped traitorously again as _____'s hand brushed against his shoulder blade, the connection between them shooting sparks through his marrow and back down to where the magic had finally calmed around his pubic symphysis. He really had to spend more time with his girlfriend.. and maybe start drinking less at Grillbys.

…

Zara stared mindlessly at her phone screen, Stretch was fast asleep behind her, claws gripping dangerously close to her easily bruised skin – they had a date night that had escalated, and Stretch had tried to take bottom.. again. She shuddered at the thought. She still hadn’t gotten used to the feeling or sight of literal skeletons trying to win her undying devotion.
But she would sacrifice some part of her dignity to secure her finances – though she was lucky that was all she had to sacrifice; she was lucky Sans had undeniably been on her side as they explained what had happened to her childhood best friend, she was glad _____ was banned from the house. It gave her an opening.

.

After Edge had taken _____ back to her probably filthy hotel room he had locked himself away.. Refusing to come out if he even heard the creaking of floorboards, and after a week of keeping guard outside his room, making noises and talking gently against the newly repaired drywall, she knew he was probably starving and exhausted.
Perfect vulnerability for her to take advantage of.

She had put on her friendliest smile she could and knocked florally on the door, Stretch following close behind like a good guard dog and luckily for her, Edge hadn’t died in his room. His faded eyes looked at her without focus and let out one turn of rumbling happy growls.
She had followed him into his room, laying with him in his floor bed as he ate both portions of food she had brought. She was pissed, but allowed it, this was a one-time event and Blue or Pap could make her something better later during their training.

His growling became more recognizable as purrs as he pushed his skull between her shoulder and head, resting gently as his claws wrapped around her petit waist.
‘’_____..’’

Perfect again. Though it was a stabbing reminder of her meddling presence, this meant Edge was trusting and thought she was her – which was slightly insulting, she looked nothing like that beast.
‘’Mhm, it’s me cupcake. I have to go but I love you.’’

His terrifying skull bobbed up and down at her, whining softly as he collapsed into the comforter with exhaustion. ‘’ I Love You Too..’’ And as Zara left she could see the tilt of Stretches jaw, perfect~ She grinned, explaining with faux excitement that Edge had confessed in front of Stretch to Blue and Papyrus who were sat together on the couch – their childish excitement spreading to each other as they naively though of ways to surprise the rest of the house.

0 _____
1 Zara

.

There was a piercing yell of pain from the room down the opposite side of the hall, she stilled her body and hid her phone under Stretches filthy pillow.. She waited till there was quiet chattering from down the hall for her to turn slowly, pretending she had just been awoken by the loud noise. Grumbling softly as she rubbed her eyes and stroked a hand over his cold bones, his eyelids flickered open – his teeth opening and clicking shut quickly as he yawned.

Suddenly there was loud shouting and the sound of a fight, Zara had lived in a lot of frat houses to not startle but the cutesy person they had grown to love leapt from her chair and into the spotlight – a yelp leaving her plump glossed lips as she grabbed onto Stretches bare ribs.
He hissed in pain at the feeling of her nails digging into the bone, he tried to console her, clothing both her and him quickly and taking her hand in his.
‘’Its okay Darlin’ Nothin’s gonna get ya while ‘m here.’’

That didn’t make Zara comfortable, but she nodded meekly, hand now transferred to his own gross feeling one. They followed the crowd of skeletons that had been more organized with the destruction. They were watching Edge curse Red out and Edge sway slowly in the wind and black held their blue hearts. But the thing that most shocked Zara was the small cooing from the couch.

Her blue eyes locked onto _____’s form, her gaze flickering between Sans who stood quite happily beside her and the.. baby skeleton.
Pap had made his way over with blue, playing with the little bag of bones.

This girl was trying to weasel her way into her plan. Into her life.
She had a child skeleton in her arms and was talking to that idiot about God knows what, but Zara could see that under the surface this was all a plot to steal her life away. She didn’t like that child at all.. it was like a prop.
Edge was beside them in a second, Zara’s mind began to spin in different narratives she could take this. Rape as whoever their parent was, was vulnerable, kidnapping as she was technically banned from the home..

Each skeleton watched the disgustingly sweet exchange, eyes watching the care and compassion practically beating her plans to dust.. dust.
Oh, Zara you are gooood.

She didn’t register the noise of an explosion, her mind was plotting her best plan yet – she had watched a lot of murder documentaries to know how to frame someone for murder and if _____ was a creature of habit, she would run far from here if her baby died.

Score:
Zara 1
_____ 1

But not for long.

Chapter Text

You passed Eras to Edge quickly; you could see the remnants of instinct flashing in his eyelights and his immediate reaction to protect your baby. He cooed softly as he curled away from the crowd of skeletons surrounding the smoke-filled doorway.

You got up quickly, giving Edge a kiss on the back of the skull, following the Sans and Papyrus’. Prime Sans looked filled exhausted panic and you gave him a quick pat on the back, grabbing a thin blanket and making your way down the stairs.
You could hear the protests of the skeletons, but you knew if you wanted to stay with Edge and your son you would have to show them that you were capable and trustworthy.

You could feel smoke filtering through your make-shift mask, the hallway was pitch black – filled with smoke and, if the crunch of glass under your feet was any indication, smashed lightbulbs from the power surge.
You could hear slow shuffling and hacking as someone inhaled the thick smog.. You knew for a fact that each and every skeleton that you had met were upstairs probably assuming you were dead.

Maybe someone broke in? But from what you couldn’t see there were no windows in the basement.
You looked around the dark, open space – there was a soft yellow light blinking in the corner and you decided it would be the best decision to start from there but as you made your way over your foot caught against something stiff and you fell.

Your hand stroked the icy flooring before grasping the familiar warmth of bone.. Another skeleton?
Coughing sounded behind you, and you spun around, there was a large red wavering eyelight staring straight into your soul.
His teeth parted as if to say something but it fell lax when smoke flooded from his socket and maw, and you heard bone crack against concrete as his body lost consciousness. Your hands pulled him up and onto your back as you picked the much taller one up to lay bridle style in your arms.

Definitely Sans and Papyrus.. much bigger Sans and Papyrus. But still them.

You shuffled your way back through the doorway, scrunching the papyrus so he didn’t scrape his skull or long legs against the tight walls of the hallway, the stairs became a challenge but eventually you re-entered the living room.
Papyrus and Blue were opening each window to try and disperse the thick smoke, Sans was pacing before you as he spoke with Stretch and Mutt and Black was trying to coax Red to talk with Edge, who curled around your son.

Sans stopped as you appeared through the smoke-filled doorway, his jaw gaping as you set the two bodies on the soft carpet. It was a Sans and Papyrus as you thought but.. they looked so wrong.

They were larger, you knew that of course – bones held not a lot of weight, but the Sans’ ribcage could engulf your curled up body without problem and the Papyrus dwarfed even the original Papyrus, but their clothes were tattered – Papyrus’ ribcage was showing through his dirty handmade armor, and the Sans had the same blue hoodie as the original with a large slash down the front.
But the worst of it all was the crooked, stained teeth that poked dangerously from Papyrus’ jaw that looked painful to bite with and the large, concaved smash in Sans’ skull that trailed into his left socket.

You gasped as the Sans’ sockets shot open, the enlarged red eyelight locked with yours again and he lunged, gripping your throat and wrist – slamming you into the ground with a deep growl.
Prime Sans held his hand out, gripping the newest members soul, but he held firm – his dead socket a void contrast to the crimson orb that rolled around in his skull, looking through your very being.
You held your free hand out to Sans before moving it up slowly to his dead eye.

And you shoved your hand inside.

He yelped in shock and pain, flinging himself off you and into the smoke-stained wall, and you felt someone pull you over the still limp body of his brother.
‘’Friend _____! I Have Come To Assist You.’’

Blue had his hand on your shoulder, his usually bright eyelights were dull – presumably at the sight of his brother and himself in such a state. Now that you were free you realized the only skeletons who weren’t stuck still in shock were Blue and Sans himself.
You thanked Blue and pushed yourself up onto your knees as the Papyrus gasped for air, smoke filtering through his nasal cavity and from between the gaps in his crooked teeth. His little eyesockets flickered open, staring up at the blackened ceiling while his brother stopped fighting against the blue magic that surrounded them.

You gripped the tall skeleton, pulling him up to a point where the remaining smoke exited his body. He coughed and looked at you, his eyelights wavering as he took in your face.
‘’Hu-uma-n..’’

Suddenly a scream pierced the silence of shock, Eras squealed in fright as Zara stared bug eyed at the two skeletons, both brothers looking startled at the sight of the other human. The Papyrus in your arms curling away from the evil glare she was giving them and closer into the soft heat of your chest. You could feel the sharp points of his teeth rip through the fabric of your sweater and you knew that this sweetheart needed help.

The Sans finally shook the hold of blue magic from his soul and made his way to you and his brother, Blue stumbled back at the fast approach and suddenly the room disappeared. You pulled away from the skeletons and examined the familiar kitchen, Sans in his panic had teleported all three of you from the ruckus of fear and into the house’s kitchen?
Maybe they wanted to eat and calm down..

You got up slowly, Sans’ eyelight never leaving your body as you raided their cabinets and fridge – you would pay for everything you used later but for right now the only thing on your mind was making sure the terrified skeletons leaning on the linoleum tiles were not going to lunge again and this time kill you.

You moved slowly toward them; Papyrus had sat against the wall as Sans fussed over his blackened bones. You pushed the pile of food toward them, watching as Papyrus reached for a NiceCream bar while sans pulled his hand back slowly.
‘’It's safe, I promise..’’

Sans looked skeptical but allowed Papyrus to pick it up and eat.
‘’wha’ do ya want human..?’’
You could practically feel the malice and distrust that oozed from his bones, but Papyrus moaned at the taste of the chocolate covered treat and Sans watched as you smiled sweetly at him. ‘’I want you two to eat and be safe.. I don’t know what it’s like to meet yourselves and be in a completely different reality to your own but I’m sure it must be stressful.’’

Sans kept his eyelight firmly on you as he took a random packet from the pile and began to eat.
You could hear the uproar from the living room, more specifically, Zara’s screeching and the boys trying to calm her down.
Edge pushed through the doorway and rocked a crying Eras in his arms. His eyelights locked with your and his visibly relaxed at the sight of you mildly unharmed, his eyes passed over the other two out of habit and distrust but as Eras let out another shrill cry, he held his hands out to you.

You pulled your son from his phalanges, shushing him gently as you rocked him. ‘’I Have Never Had To Soothe A Child Before.’’
You smiled at your mate, kissing the bottom of his jaw as he sat on one of the counters stools, you moved to turn around but bumped into the large ribcage of the Sans. ‘’Were gonna have to get you a bell buddy.’’
You could see his teeth turn up in a smile, his eyelight wavering and forming a poorly shaped heart, his hands mimicked a holding movement, and you copied him – Eras’ cries shrinking to little sobs as you bobbed him in the new position.

You copied as the Sans mimed and watched as the Papyrus, skull covered in chocolate, stared at you and your child with wonder. The two didn’t talk much but it was a welcomed change from the yelling and fighting in the next room.
Sans watched as Eras fought sleep, his little sockets bouncing open each time it looked like he was about to fall asleep. The deep rumbling coming from his chest startled you but as you listened you heard a familiar tune.

‘’used ta use it on m’ bro.. always works on babybones..’’

Chapter Text

You could tell the new Sans didn’t like or trust you, but he was tolerating you, watching from the corner of the room like a hawk as you wiped the chocolate from his brother’s skull.
‘’ThaNk yOu HumaN. It HaS BeEn So LoNG SiNCe I hAd SoMEthinG SweEt AnD I am AfrAiD I gOt SLigHtly CArrIed aWaY.’’

You suppressed a shudder at the twisted and broken voice that curled past his teeth, you could tell that he was self-conscious now that he was fully realized to the situation he was in, his small eyelights constantly flickering from your face to the tiles on the floor as he awaited your response. You could practically feel Edges discomfort – He had whispered in your ear as he took back a sleeping Eras that these skeletons had done terrible things. ‘I Can Smell It Still.’
You knew Edge was rarely wrong when it came to judgement of character and deeds but from the way the Papyrus leant into the warm cloth that was stroking a chocolate filled scar across his cheekbone, you felt like these boys had only tried to keep each other safe.

‘’It’s okay Sugar, I get like that sometimes. You just have a sweet tooth is all..’’
You trailed off at the unintentional mention of his teeth and you could see him visibly deflate, and you knew if murderous intent could become corporeal, you would be dead ten-fold from the glare the Sans was giving you.
‘’Oh, I’m sorry Sugar. Wasn’t my intention.. Hey now, where’s that charming grin gone?’’

You could see blood orange tears pricking at his small eyesockets and you felt terrible, the Papyrus’ you knew were all so sweet and gentle and clearly this sweetheart was no different.
You had tried not to stare at their wounds, but it was hard not to, Sans’ skull looked so severe you thought he could dust at any second, there was definitely something traumatic behind those injuries and your soul ached at the thought.

Seeing such sweet boys hurt like this. Filled you with Justice.
You wouldn’t let anyone hurt them like that again.

You stroked your hands over his scarred skull, cooing at him softly as his wavering eyelights trailed over your face. He hiccupped and nuzzled his cracked nasal cavity against your hand.
The yelling had quietened down from the living room and there was soft murmuring from behind the double doors, you could hear the familiar grumble of Sans getting closer, so you gave Papyrus a gentle stroke of your knuckles across his brow bones as you got up and moved toward Edge.

Edge watched the Sans, his crimson eyelights matching the large monsters much larger one, you kissed his sharp teeth, and you felt the breath rush from between his fangs. You smiled, stroking his cheek bones as the tension diffused from his shoulders.
Eras grumbled in his sleep, letting out a little whine that sounded a lot like Edge cooing for attention, and you laughed softly at the way Sans in the corner began to instinctively purr.

The original Sans pushed through the double doors with each skeleton, and Zara, trailing behind him. They stared at the Sans and Papyrus as Stretch gave Sans an old looking clipboard.
‘’heya fellas.. uhh, nice of some more cousins to drop in.. unexpectedly.’’

You could see the new Sans’ living eyesocket narrow, staring into his twins own white eyelights with such distain that you could feel the anger from where you sat.
Blue sweat dotted the expanse of Sans skull as he glanced toward his clipboard. ‘’so, uh.. we’re gonna need some ground rules while ya stay.. maybe it’d be better if we spoke as a family.’’

He gave a pointed look at you as Blue lead Zara back through the house, Edge growled softly watching as his brother glared in your direction. The new Sans shook his head, hand outstretched as his brother shuffled close to his side. ‘’she stays.’’

You could feel pride brimming in your chest as Papyrus gave a firm nod.. they really needed nicknames, with all the Sans’ and Papyri in the room you could feel a migraine coming on from the confusion.
‘’not a good idea. i think it would be better if it was just us.’’

You huffed at Sans’ stubbornness, laying a hand on Edges femur as you waved a hand to grab his attention. ‘’I’m fine with staying, if it makes these two comfortable.’’
Sans’ smile twitched at the corners, but he relented at the deep growl his counterpart released. He sighed as he stepped closer, leaning against the dining table near them as each skeleton filed into the kitchen to watch the discussion. Your eyes roamed around the crowd, Mutt and.. Red blushing shades of violet and crimson as your gaze brushed over them..
Strange..

‘’as a famil- ‘’
‘’Sans, you don’t need to pretend you’re all cousins. I know you’re all each other.’’
His eyesockets bulged at the information, jaw wavering as he tried to make a sentence from his rushing thoughts.
‘’Sans, you all have identical brothers and I’m pretty sure that’s not even how monster genetics work. And there was no way those two broke in to the windowless, concrete basement. And Edge told me.’’

Red shot a glare toward his brother, grumbling to Stretch who was staring at you – as every other skeleton was, in shock and awe.
Sans shook his skull, nodding dumbly as he turned back toward himself.
‘’you’re gonna need names.’’

‘’sans and papyrus.’’ He growled back, hand coming up to claw at his dead socket. You flinched at the sound of bone against bone, but it seemed to affect the other skeletons more as Edge shuddered and his eyelights disappeared.

‘’nicknames, just so the human authorities and the guard don’t come sniffin’ around. we had our mate choose your nicknames to feel better about you guys being here so.. horror and crooks, welcome to the house.’’
You could feel anger shoot through your body, your soul beating like a drum against your ribcage as you pushed away from the counter – your finger was pointed at Sans’ face as you backed him away from the two shocked brother.

‘’Crooks? And Horror?! Are you kidding me??
How dare you even think those names are acceptable!’’
Sans stumbled over his words as he tripped over his own filthy, pink slippers. You could see the golden glow reflecting off his skull as you backed him up against the farthest wall of the kitchen, his knees shaking as you leant close to his face.

‘’You will not call them that, do you understand me?’’
His skull flushed royal blue as his skull nodded, you smiled, patting his chubby? cheekbone. You moved back two the two brothers, passing a crowd of slack jawed skeletons and your proud mate as you settled on your knees before them.

The Papyrus’ face was stained and blotchy with blood-orange magic tears and the Sans was watching you warily with his wavering, bulbous eyelight.
‘’How’s about.. Sugar and Axe? Perfect for puns and your love for sweets.’’

Sugar looked at you, his tiny grey eyelights shifted to little hearts as he nodded, that differently familiar smile graced his face again and Axe grinned, you could see the joke material running through his skull as he held out his hand.

‘’nice ta ‘meat’ ya human, I gotta ‘axe’ you where you got your namin' skills from.’’

There was a collective groan from behind you, even Eras from his little slumber, let out a little whine of disappointment. You laughed and shook his chipped talons, watching as his eyelight wavered too and formed a thumping heart in his socket.
‘’guess you gotta stay then kid.’’

Sans’ blue skull watched your interaction, his hands back in his hoodie as each skeleton began to approach their new house members.

You were not going to allow anyone to hurt your family, and you guessed, that included them now.

Chapter Text

Axe and Sugar had set up for the rest of the night on the long couch, Sugar had whispered quietly as you tucked him in that it was the first time he’s had a bed that’s fit him in so long.
And as you laid in Edges nest, your baby outstretched between you both, you felt the exhaustion finally set in from the onslaught of drama the night had brought.

Morning light was shining through a crack in the curtain but as Edges phalanges wrapped around your middle with a deep purr of sleep, you knew that sleep was going to be the only thing you were all going to be doing today.

…

And you were right. You, Edge and Eras slept till the next morning entirely, dreams mulling over the events you had experienced in the last 24 hours till you were awoken by the cries of Eras. You groaned, getting up to see your loving mate trying desperately to soothe your son, you smiled at Edges sleepy face as you pulled him from Edges arms – you knew Edge had work later in the morning and so you decided to take your whiny child and get him some breakfast.
‘’I have him love; you need the sleep.’’

He grumbled, eyesockets fluttering shut against his wishes, his phalanges reaching out to try and grab you both. ‘’Nooo.. The Great And Terrible Papyrus Will Not Be Bested By Minimal Sleep..’’
You laughed, stroking the back of his skull, whispering about how the great and terrible Papyrus had just given life to a whole new monster and needed sleep so he could go to the work you couldn’t talk him out of.

Again, he growled a stubborn ‘Fine’, his claws rubbing your arm gently as his skull tilted up. You kissed his teeth gently and leant Eras over so he could click his teeth against his forehead, watching as Edge got more comfortable in the nest and fell asleep again.

You wandered through the almost silent house; you could tell it was almost the same time you had gone to bed the other day, so you assumed mostly everyone was still asleep. But as you made your way into the living room you saw Blue, Pap and Stretch – You wandered in with a sleepy grin, Eras having calmed enough to only let out little sobs against one of Edges shirts he had leant you to sleep in.
Blue and Papyrus’ eyes shifted to little stars as they saw you enter with your boy, you sat in the corner of the couch, your brain finally catching up to the fact that Sugar and Axe were no longer laying across the sections, you gave a quizzical look at the only skeleton not fawning over your son.
‘’Sans has to run some tests, check to see if they’re human safe.’’

You frowned but said nothing else, watching as his eyelights shifted to your son quickly – clearly none of these skeletons could resist the absolute cutie that was Eras.
You beckoned him over, now surrounded by your new housemates.
‘’Human! He Is So Small, Sans Said That I Was Small When I Was A Babybones But I Am Sure – As The Great Papyrus That I Was Not This Small.’’

In retaliation, Eras pulled the phalange in his bony little hand toward his jaw and chomped onto Papyrus’ finger – chewing softly as Papyrus gasped and Blue and Stretched laughed at the grumpy baby. ‘’that’s Edges kid alright.’’
You nodded as Papyrus feigned being unable to pull his finger from the newborns grip, much to said newborns delight, the tears completely stopping to make way for squeals of happiness that sounded a lot like high pitched ‘Nyeh heh heh’s.

Blue again drew comparison to how, when Stretch was a babybones, he always had something in his mouth – stating that even know, gesturing to the sucker in between his teeth, he was still the same nibbling skeleton. ‘’I’m Entirely Sure It Was Because You Spent Your Spare Time With Alphys’ K-9 Unit. You’re Lucky You Didn’t Turn Out Like Mutt.’’

You all cozied on the couch; Eras now settled in Blues arms as he insisted on having too much energy not to play with the little bundle of bones. You had come to learn that this was their weekly Mettaton marathon you had stumbled upon, they had wanted to invite Sugar but, with both brothers’ disappearance, had decided a smaller gathering was better suited – especially because Zara refused to leave Blacks room after her encounter with the new ‘family’ members.
You nodded along, watching from the corner of your eye as a calculator-like robot transformed in a series of lightshows and smoke machines into a handsome man – completely unbefitting in style to the murder mystery the movie had been presented as. Papyrus and Blue both cuddling closer as they became more engrossed with the plot of the film.

Your blood still boiled at the fact that Zara was building distrust between skeletons and even boycotting her own ‘boyfriends’ to favor another who was wrapped tighter around her finger.
You could see circles of exhaustion, similar to Edges when you had arrived, underneath Blue and Papyrus’ eyesockets no matter how much they tried to convince you – or themselves – that they were filled with energy. And there was a troubled look on Stretches face, one that had eased as you joked with him, but it persisted till his eyesockets eventually began to droop.

You had seen the exhaustion Zara brought with her, the unconscious self-deprecation and hatred that you thought she eased with her presence – you had felt worthless without her, even years after what she had done. She was good at masking her intent like that – making you believe she was loving you and keeping you safe, while in a deep part of her mind she was plotting how to destroy you if you were of no more use to her. If you couldn’t supply her with what she wanted, if you had something she craved – she would damage you beyond recognition of yourself and cackle as you crumbled away without her.

You could tell she was feeling the consequences of your presence, how Edge and the newest members were an antithesis to whatever story she had concocted for the boys and how every moment you spent caring for them was another moment she wasn’t in control.
It was like a slow and steady stream of Justice flowing directly into your Soul and you refused to ever let the river run dry – especially when she was draining the life from people you considered friends and family, no matter how hard Red had punched you in the skull or the number of weary glances Sans and Stretch sent your way.

Papyrus finally succumbed to his own tire, his body slumping atop yours as you leant back – his skull nuzzled into the space between your collar bone and neck and a few minutes later you pulled a slumbering Eras from Blue who was now using your thighs as a pillow and was in-turn being used as a pillow by his little brother.
You pulled the finished sucker from Stretches teeth, adjusted Blue and Pap as Eras laid comfortably in the seat of your crossed arms – little high-pitched purrs escaping from between his teeth at the body heat emanating from the four of you.

And as your own eyelids fluttered shut, you could swear you saw a set of red eyelights staring into your being, piercing your soul as you fell asleep.

Chapter Text

Someone was in front of you, your eyes were still closed and your body in the state of sleep, but your mind was fully awake with the feeling of movement around your child. You waited a moment before lunging forward at the perpetrator and snapping your jaws just inches from their phalanges.

Your eyes, still sandy with sleep, caught up with your teeth as you realized the member of the house whose finger you almost stole – Edge watched you, hand retracted to his chest, smiling at you with pride as you displayed the protective instincts drumming in your soul.
‘’I Expected No Less From My Mate. The Great And Terrible Papyrus Only Chooses The Most Worthy Datemates.’’

Your face was graced with a sleepy smile, handing Eras as he gestured for him. Your head finally rushing with memories of the night as you shot forward, almost knocking all three of you on your asses. ‘’I forgot to feed Eras!’’

Edge looked at you with shocked eyesockets and furrowed browbones before registering your accident.
‘’baby monsters don’t need tangible food..’’
Your head whipped around, watching as Axe came through the kitchen doors with Sugar trailing behind him with plates piled high with food, Axe – as if to punctuate his words – practically inhaled half his plate as he sat down in a vacant space beside you, Sugar on the other giving you a sweet smile as he ate quietly – grimacing as he bit into a particularly crispy slice of bacon.

‘’baby monsters feed off pure magic, he’s feedin’ off magic intent - but as we get older, we lose some sense of tune wi’ our souls and have ta eat magic infused food..’’
He trailed off, big red eyelight glancing to the side as he took another mouthful from his plate – he was clearly trying to move the conversation along from food, so you quickly thanked him, looking up to a relieved Edge, his hands were cupping your son’s little skull, checking him over as he held a freehand out for you to take.

You took it and hoisted yourself up, following him into the kitchen as you waved goodbye to the brothers. It seemed as though everyone had left to work already, the only one left at the dining table was Red – who scowled, but ignored your presence for the most part, his claws reaching to itch at this neck while his cheekbones colored crimson.
He’s been acting a lot different than usual..

…

Red had not been doing too hot.

He watched as his brother entered the kitchen, babybones in arm and human in tow. He tried to ignore their appearance, his eyes hawklike upon his plate of bacon and eggs – or what remained after the freaks found the food before he did.
He had been able to pry himself from the aching clinginess he felt for his brother – even the pull of bonding that drew him to his nephew. But as he watched the human gather his lanky brother in a hug and kissed over his skull, he could feel the hidden bite-mark on his neck burn.

The past weeks had been almost unbearable, his soul was crying out for his brother each night and his head swam with fantasies and dreams of his brother’s human – he had tried to drown out these weak flaws with shows of strength or.. ‘Quality time’ with his girlfriend. But now as he felt the loving intent flowing from the family, he couldn’t stop his soul thumping in his chest.

He had tried to disperse the fiery magic that roamed through his bones, countless times each night – only to watch as it refused to leave, the golden glow surrounding the teeth marks in collar bone an embarrassing reminder of his defeat and vulnerability. He hadn’t been able to show anyone his familial deprivation, the soft thrum of foreign magic a secret he promised he wouldn’t reveal even to himself.
He was sure his body was refusing to let go of the bond because of his strained relationship with his brother, no matter how much he heated at the sight of the humans glowing golden eyes, ever since Zara had been introduced to the home his brother had refused to leave his room at all – leaving Red alone without so much as an explanation and was now dancing around the kitchen with a babybones in arm.

His soul cried out in sorrow that he quickly stifled, teleporting to his room before they could turn and see his misery.
Zara had been spending considerable amounts of time with Black and Stretch instead of him which he could also blame the neglect for his unfading claim, after the big fight she had been spending almost every night with them unless he took her out shopping or taking her to the ‘bone zone’ to which he would wake up alone in his bed each morning.

He was so stupid.. he shouldn’t be getting so worked up over his girlfriend spending time with her mates, he was useless anyway, he was lucky she was even giving him the time of day. Red’s self-deprecation led him to his closet, slumping as he shoved the door aside to reveal his own mess of blankets and pillows.
The claim had filled him with domestic urges, ones he knew he couldn’t let Zara see. It wasn’t comfortable in the closet, but he was entrusted to be the big strong alpha monster that showed no fear or pain – not even as his soul raced and his eyelights disappeared.

He could feel no ill intention from the human who had marked him. That was the blessing and the curse of being a Judge, he could feel the intentions of a soul much stronger than a regular monster.
But as his skull filled with stories Zara had told him of her, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread overwhelm him – he knew Classic, Black, Stretch and even Mutt weren’t about to let her out of their sights or even trust her so quickly, but the thought that her good intentions were void made him sweat.

He curled into himself as laughter reverberated from the kitchen, his judgment had failed him before. He had watched his brother fade to dust countless times, he had felt the grating slice of a knife through his bones enough times that he was sure he could get stabbed again and not even flinch at the feeling. And all the times his timeline had RESET, the kids SOUL was still humming with merciful intent – the loving kindness that emanated from the culmination of their being as they beheaded his brother was the one thing keeping him from seeing the light in this situation.

Mages couldn’t be trusted. She was just another Frisk.
Torturing his family with a kind smile upon her face.

Chapter Text

You sat on the soft rug in the living room, well fed and bouncing your baby boy on your knees, bored out of your mind.
Edge had left for work and wouldn’t be home for hours and the only other monsters in the house who weren’t at work and would actually want to hang out with you and your baby were down in the basement again for their last round of questions and tests.

You sighed, watching as your son suckled on his hand – his other holding a strand of your ______ hair, cooing at your bored expression. ‘’What should we do today, Hun? Hmm?’’
He babbled at you, kicking out his little legs as you stood up. You paced around the shining wood floor – you were so bored you had even resorted to cleaning.
You ran through plans in your mind, humming the tune both Edge and Stretch had taught you. Your phone buzzed on the coffee table and leaning over to see who messaged made a grin grace your face.
‘’I have an idea my love!’’

…

You walked down the street with your son strapped to your chest in a blanket you had stolen from the couch, waving frantically at Jesse who watched you with tangible shock as you skipped over to him.
‘’Howdy Cowboy! I got someone for you to meet!’’

You explained to Jess that these past couple days had been hectic and in the time, you had left Grillbys to now, you had a son and a new place to live.
Jesse was understandably shocked, silently gaping as you walked through your small town together, making your way to the only baby shop you had seen for miles.

Eras cooed, his bony little hand sticking out of his wrap to curiously grab at Jesses hairy forearm. You laughed at the girlish yelp that escaped him as he rubbed his arm, shooting a playful glare toward your baby as he finally snapped out of his stupor. His hand coming up to hold the tiny phalanges as you entered the quaint shop.
There was only one other monster parent in there, looking at all of the clothes nervously as women and men alike watched her with distrust and whispered their suspicions.

You huffed angrily at the prejudice and Jesse, who had already read your thoughts, dragged you over to her. She was a bunny monster, much shorter than you with a set of baby bunnies strapped to her back, her paws were shaking over a set of binkies while a woman, quite loudly, voiced her grievances of monsters procreating and the abominable thought of monster children associating with her own children.
You almost snarled at the hag, pleading to the stars above that her children were raised right. You tapped the Bunny on the shoulder, clearing your throat kindly as her head snapped to you, she had to tilt her head up to look you in the eye and seemed very intimidated by you standing over her like a menace.

‘’I’m sorry to disturb you ma’am, I would just like to ask if there are any products that you would recommend to a new monster parent.’’
You moved your body just enough for Eras’ golden eyelights to lock with her soft green ones, she looked frozen for a moment, flickering between you, Jesse and Eras for a full minute before one of her babies squeaked and reached for your own son’s grabby little hand.

‘’O-oh.. Yes! I-I mean, yes. Uhmm, h-here..’’
She moved toward the section of the shop filled with cute little outfits and accessories; you could feel the breath leave your lungs at the prospect of Eras wearing the little ducky costume sitting on the shelf.
Again, you held back a squeal, thanking the Bunny relentlessly as you piled clothes and accessories atop a hysterically laughing Jesse. She seemed much more comfortable now that she realized you weren’t going to discriminate or kick her from the shop, and after another minute she was laughing and fueling your motherly fantasies even letting you help her get down three of those baby rockers – two for her and one for yourself.

You learned her name was Mora, after you had invited her on your adventure of Ebott, Jesse had taken to holding his new nephew with a soft smile you hadn’t seen on him for years. You sat in almost every Café and restaurant your city had to offer and after a pause to bottle feed her young bunnies – which was an astonishing sight, seeing a monster siphon magic from herself into small bottles, the glowing green magic shining familiarly. You of course asked if that’s what you should be doing and she laughed, patting you on the back.
‘’Oh no dear, Mucha and Lessa are weaning onto solid magic – they’ve begun to produce mostly their own magic so they will need to start eating magic infused food instead of mine. Isn’t that right my babies?’’

You walked through each street, laughing together as you played with your children, until Mora took your hand and lead you to a newly opened establishment covered in deep purple.
She explained that she would treat you both for making her feel so included and safe in the new place, she was worried humans would be cruel and this was only her second day surfaced.
You hadn’t realized monsters were still underground – you couldn’t blame them though, they had lives down there and up here wasn’t worth it right now to leave.

You and Jesse followed Mora in, the establishment was warm and homely – a differently identical feeling to Grillbys, and as you made your way to the counter a little spider woman clapped her six hands together.
‘’Ahuhuhu~ Deary, you should have warned me you were bringing ingredients – I just put the donuts in to bake.’’

You were 100% sure you were the ingredients, but Mora laughed her off and so did you and Jess, moving closer to her as her eyes watched your troupe with suspicion etched deep into her dark purple eyes. Two of her hands shot out for you to take and you shook, trying to bring across that you weren’t here as threats and clearly your strong grip impressed her enough to reveal gleaming fangs with a sharp smile. ‘’I’m Muffet deary, welcome to Muffet’s. You are..? And how do you know my lovely Mora?’’

It smelt familiar in here and you suddenly connected that this was where Mutt and Stretch liked to spend their time, you felt a lot more comfortable than before, ignoring the fright that seized your body as a spider, the size of your sleeping son, scuttled through the swinging doors to talk? To Muffet.
Eventually you sat at a booth, Mora still giggling at your bewildered face. You were glad that she was coming out of her shell around you, and you exchanged numbers after she had ordered you all a Spider Donut and some Spider Cider.

‘’There are only two skeleton monsters in my underground, so. Which one was it?’’
She gestured to Eras whose skull had slipped from the blanket and was now resting atop Jesses arm, even in sleep his little phalanges were pulling on his arm hairs.
You smiled, buying yourself a way to explain that it was neither skeleton that she knew without revealing it was a skeleton that she knew but from a different universe.
‘’Oh.. uhmm, both Sans and Papyrus are so sweet but.. Eras.. is adopted..?’’

She clearly didn’t believe your poorly concocted lie but said nothing of it, even Jesse started to laugh into the collar of his flannel shirt at your embarrassment.
You stayed quiet the remaining time you were at Muffet’s, contributing to the conversation and complimenting Muffet’s food and drink when she asked how your meal was but all in all just soaking in the sweet moment and the riveting stories Mora was extravagantly telling of all the years she had been living just beneath Ebotts feet.

Eventually her eyes shot to the spider web clock that hung just above Muffet’s counter, gasping as she snatched up all her belongings. Hopping up and slamming a handful of gold onto the table as her fluffy feet tapped impatiently on the floor. ‘’My mate is home in a minute! I need to get back- I- Uh.. Thank you both for the amazing evening, w-we should do it again!’’
And that was all she said before she bolted through the exit.

Muffet giggled, a hand swiping the gold into her apron pocket while the other wiped down the table. ‘’She always loses track of time that one, very forgetful. I’m glad she’s up here though.. It makes this chilly city much more bearable.’’
You nodded in agreement, watching through the window as humans sneered and practically ran past the shop. Your Soul stung at the injustice of it, these monsters were just people who had been trapped their entire lives, trying to make a living in a new world they knew basically nothing about, and that was hard enough without protests against their basic rights or blatant boycotting and ridicule.

You thanked Muffet again as you and Jesse collected your belongings, getting up to leave while you took one of Muffet’s hands in yours – depositing a $20 in her hand just before you left.
‘’Come back anytime Dearies~!’’

…

Holding a baby and about six bags of baby clothes and equipment was not easy, you practically shuffled your ass to the front door as Jesse pulled away from the house.
You hadn’t had this much fun in ages, you and Jesse usually just spent time at your place ordering takeout and watching movies, but you could definitely see yourself doing today again, especially with your new mom friend Mora.

You smacked your forehead against the door in a makeshift knock, making Eras laugh as you hissed in pain – little sadist.
Waiting only a second before a frantic looking Papyrus opened the door, you were immediately worried but as his eyelights settled on you the tension immediately left his bones, placing a hand on your back as he led you into the living room.

Every member of the house was gathered, even Prime Sans who sat right next to Zara who was the farthest from Sugar and Axe.
And you didn’t realize that skeleton monsters had the most beautiful eyes..
And every single one was on you.

Edge looked panicked while the rest of the household either looked enraged or worried – or in the newest brothers’ cases, conflicted.
He immediately ran toward you, checking your son over as you dropped your shopping bags in surprise. The costumes and outfits spilling forth from the overturned bags as Edge seemed to clock onto what was running through his skull.
He pulled you both into a hug that turned into him picking you both up and leading you upstairs – leaving your discarded shopping on the hallway floor.

You didn’t realize that skeleton monsters had the most beautiful eyes..
If only they stopped glaring at you.

…

Edge cried into your shirt as you sat in his nest completely and utterly confused to the situation that had presided before you had arrived home.
Your soul thrummed angrily at the thought that Edge had gotten into a fight or argument while you were gone. Eras was in his own nest sleeping soundly on Edges discarded race car bed and so it was only you two wrapped in the familiar smell of family.

‘’S-She Said She Had Seen You Flee With Eras And That Human Man.’’
He spat ‘Human Man’ with such vigor that you would have to call Jesse later to make sure he hadn’t dropped dead from Edges intent alone.

You shushed Edge quietly, running a hand over his skull as his breathing levelled out. His claws had relented from your shirt, and he pulled away from you, his face was blotchy with crimson tears and magic, and you couldn’t help but feel angry.
You pulled Edge into a kiss so filled with loving intent it made him moan aloud, your hand gripping his hipbones tight as you pulled him closer while your other hand ran fingertips down his spine.

‘’I would never leave you. I promise you Papyrus, you are mine and I would do anything for you.’’
Another round of tears flooded down his cheekbones, his phalanges weaving into your hair as he nodded breathlessly. You pushed him into the pillows, a hiss of embarrassment leaving his teeth as your own explored the expanse of his manubrium, clavicle and each of his vertebra.

You could feel the pain and panic he had felt, coming home to you and your son gone without even a note to explain your disappearance and even Zara saying that she saw you with a stranger leaving to stars knows where with your only child.
You knew the feeling of losing a child and a love and you could never do that to Edge, your scary loving mate who had tried to protect you when he himself needed to be protected, your intimidating monster who cuddled and kissed when you were together.

Yours hands roamed over his ribcage, but his phalanges gripped them, pulling them to rest over his warm, beating soul.
He summoned it slowly, showing off the impressive red glow that housed your son just days ago.
‘’I.. It Is More Intimate For Mates To.. Soul Bond..’’

You had heard this phrase before and mulled over what it could mean in your head, each outcome an undeniable yes to your lovesick mind. You cupped his soul in your hands, and he flushed at the intent just flowing from your body – he sat up quickly and pulled your own soul from your chest, tracing a claw across the brightest crack through its centre.
You shuddered, accidentally pressing your thumb against his soul enough to make him squeal out – you couldn’t help but laugh at his flushed face and the cute grumbles telling you that it was sensitive.

You watched him as he meekly explained that for a soul bond to form the alpha monster of the relationship would mark their mate and their mate would in turn accept or deny it. It was an old tradition and very sacred, it was giving your undying devotion and intent to another, or as Papyrus put it ‘Saying You Would Kill For Them.’

He pulled his shirt from his collar bone pulled you close, making a little beat as he tapped a phalange against the warm bone. You followed his lead and placed your teeth upon where he had specified and as he took a deep breath in you bit down hard.
Your teeth cut through the soft layer coating his bones and with a little effort broke into the hard calcium. Bone marrow flooded into your mouth and Edge let out another squeak of arousal and embarrassment, pushing your shoulders lightly to no avail as instincts kicked in and you bit down harder until the energy practically drained from your body. You watched as his white soul was suddenly wrapped around the middle with a golden string of magic, smug satisfaction filling your body as you pulled Edge into another passionate kiss.

He cursed you under his breath, looking ravishingly dishevelled as he positioned you both comfortably in his nest – the bite was glowing an iridescent gold as his face was flushed a deep crimson, his own eyesockets were drifting closed in satisfaction as you pulled him into your arms – the taste of his bone marrow burning its way down your throat.
You laid there for a few seconds the same two thoughts running through your head as your body tried to replenish the energy it had suddenly lost:
1. Would the skeletons still like you after what Zara said?
And

2. You were more than sure you marked Red just like that…

Chapter Text

Sugar wiggled on the uncomfortable stool, an IV strapped against his radius as the Sans that wasn’t his brother bombarded him with questions. He was uncomfortable, his phalanges twitching with the need to grab his big brother’s hand for comfort - the original Sans had dragged them to the basement, still smelling of smoke, to interrogate them both of their universe and experiences and it didn’t help that there were wires weaving through his eyesockets and broken nasal bone.

His brother had taken to silence after a particularly rough set of questions of their Human friend, which left Sugar to answer the difficult questions of what happened after their departure – he could already feel the tears brimming and the phantom aching in his teeth.

He just wanted a hug..

…

Sugar cried into his brother’s shoulder, clutching to his tattered hoodie with such desperation that it tore holes in the back, his Sans had tried to comfort him but the fumbled memories in his mind made it hard for him to string a sentence together.
His breathing eventually evened out, eyelights returning and looking around the cramped pantry they had hidden themselves in – they had taken to the hiding place after the overwhelming panic of the skeletons surfaced memories that had hoped to repress.

The human girlfriend had arrived home, with many bags, and had informed the house gathering that she had seen the kind woman running away with another human man with the sweet child. Immediately the house went into uproar, even Axe had huffed out something along the lines of ‘humans never change..’, the Edgy him had shut off – magic pouring from him sluggishly as panic consumed the room.
Sugar and Axe were conflicted, the human woman was nothing but nice to them, – she even fed them! - but the absence of her and the child was not comforting thought.. it stirred a familiar feeling of abandonment in his Soul.

Sugar huffed, rubbing his disfigured teeth into the stained fabric of Sans’ jacket, it seemed silly now – the human.. _____’s Soul never stopped singing when she was with Edgy him and even when she spent time with the others of the house.. and even him and his brother.

There was a knock on the pantry door, Sugar and Axe focusing on the rhythm. ‘’who’s there..’’
Sugar had smacked his brother on the shoulder, chastising him silently for not only revealing their tactical hiding spot but also starting a terrible joke.
‘’I Am In No Mood, Prime Sans Wishes To See You.’’

Sugar had moved to get up but his brothers mischievous grin he sat himself back on his knees, the skeleton was the Edgy version of the small one – not very keen on either brother hiding away.
‘’i am in no mood, prime sans wishes to see you. who?’’

There was a grating groan from behind the hardwood and suddenly the door almost ripped itself from its hinges, the deep oak coated in blue magic as an unimpressed Black stared at them from above. Axe let out a deep growl at being startled, phalanges coming up to dig into the inside of his dead socket.
After a moment of tense silence, both brothers exited the pantry and made the now familiar trek to their landing zone. Until an arm fell before Sugar, Black keeping him behind a few steps, till his brother noticed.

‘’Only Axe.. Today, You May Wait Up Here ‘Sugar’.’’
He could almost taste the distrust and hatred that leaked from the nickname, his chipped phalanges coming up to pick at the new shirt the original him had gifted him. Axe refused to move any closer to the door and Sugar was torn, the first Sans made these tests seem detrimental, but he could already feel his ribcage restricting his breathing at the thought of being alone without his big brother – what if something happened.. like last time..

Sugar nodded at him, waving his tattered glove in a ‘go on’ motion as his brothers large eyelight wavered for a moment. As soon as he disappeared into the basement Sugar felt like the anxiety was eating him alive, moving wordlessly with Black as he settled him onto the couch – and as his job was done, subsequently teleporting away from the palpable distress leaking from every scar and crack littering Sugars bones.

It took him a moment to realize that he was not alone in the living room, huddled in the corner of the sofa was the human girlfriend.. Kara!
To ease his frantic thoughts, he brought his hand up for her to shake, maybe reconciling their first meeting would make the hours left alone at the very least bearable.

She shook his hand in hers warily, her chilly blue eyes darting across the room, as if looking for something.. And then a newfound vigor filled her body, like her Soul had been filled with the jovial playfulness on par with a child’s. She greeted him with a smile, stumbling over Crooks and Sugar for a moment – which he could forgive! He knew it was a mistake, even as she ran with ‘’Kreuger’’ as a mix of the two.

She had introduced herself as Zara.. which made Sugar blush out of embarrassment.. and had apologized for acting as she did when they first met – blaming her hysterics on the drama of the house as _____ had returned.
Sugar had tried to ask what she meant by ‘returned’ but she continued her tangent, her voice filled with a desperate worry as she explained to him that ‘Having her back in the house was a bad idea.. she had hurt people before and is an avid monster hater online no matter how well she acted around the others.

Sugar nodded along, half listening as her nice nails dragged soothingly across his bones, after an hour he had fallen into her lap and was purring brokenly as she told him of her worries and fears.
This was a completely different person to the one who had named him ‘Crooks’ and he was very much liking her company as she comforted and hugged him close, his bones rattling softly to the affection he hadn’t felt from anyone but his brother in years.

He watched as the sun began to set, his soul thumping faster at the thought of the food that was about to be prepared, the hunger was still burned into his every action and dream but now, on the surface, there was a surplus of it.
He pushed himself up but was stopped by the sharp nails of Zara digging into his Ulna, he hissed – looking at her with instinctual tears beading in his sockets.

She got up with him, apologizing profusely as she wiped the tears from the corners of his small eyesockets. She promised she would make it up to him and to come to her room so she could make sure he was okay and for ‘a truck load of loving’.

He nodded and was able to pry himself from her grip, promising that he would as his brother finally emerged from the basement. He took his hand, and they wandered back to the pantry, Axe whispering about how much of a prick the other him was and glancing up and the puzzled skull of his brother who hadn’t reprimanded him for swearing.

Sugar could feel the biting sting in his ulna fading as his returning magic tried to heal it, he was confused.. Humans showed affection after hurting? Clearly this was just a strange human custom that had been skipped in his dating manual, there was no intention to hurt potential mates.. it was just a jape that led to further comfort and affection.
But then why..?

* PAPYRUS – ATK 20 DEF 20
* HP 650/680 -30 HP
* Just wants a hug..

Why did it hurt him..?

Chapter Text

You awoke completely refreshed, Edge was holding onto you tight and some time within the night he had brought Eras to rest across your chest. You laid still for another hour, admiring your Soul Mate and your son - Eras had the same sharp cheekbones as Edge, the same sharp fangs and baby claws on his hands and feet, but he had a familiar bone structure to your own face, the same big eye(socket)s and nasal bone, the same determined look on his sleepy face.

Edges mark had a soft golden glow now, shimmering almost identically to the rising sun that peaked through the curtain, his skull had lost all the tension and sharp creases of intimidation and he looked so at peace as he chomped onto the pillow that had fallen too close to his jaws.

You wallowed in the moment a little while longer, you knew today that you had to confront Red and even keeping him still would be a challenge in itself – you mulled it over in your head as Edge stirred, from what you knew so far, a lot of the skeletons in the house could teleport which would prove to be the biggest pain in your ass, to date.

Edges eyesockets fluttered open, hazy eyelights appearing in the voids of black, he looked confused for a moment – nibbling onto the pillow, like a shark identifying something through their teeth and then flushed the prettiest shade of cherry red when he realized you were watching him. He grabbed the fabric and pulled it from his fangs, hissing profanities as the sharp ends caught on the loose thread and feathers fell into his lap.
You couldn’t help but laugh, feathers falling around the room as Eras squealed, newly awoken and blindsided by the snow of feathers that had covered his bones. Edge had become pouty as you and your son played in the feathers, Eras was kicking out his little feet and you were flinging the piles of feathers into the air.

You grabbed Edges hand and pulled him over, all of you now laughing as you laid together.
‘’Nyeh heh heh! As Much As I Adore This Familial Moment, It Is Day Break And I Have Work.’’
You moaned in annoyance, your baby copying you, crawling across the nest after Edge who had started to dress himself in a construction uniform – tight fitting and dark, except the bright red high-vis that reflected your son’s magic.
You whistled lowly, moving on your back to pull Eras to lay on his front, clapping your hands as you watched your Soul Mate dress – Eras taking a lot of joy in Edges embarrassment and your teasing as he also began to clap his little hands.

You took a screenshot with your Soul; this would be a memory for the rest of your life.
You never wanted it to end.

…

You waved to Edge as he pulled away from the house, you wouldn’t see him for hours as he worked on the complete other side of Ebott – away from any monsters who would recognize him; you also now knew that each skeleton that could was working on opposite ends of Ebott and even Classic Sans was working underground occasionally.
The house – exempt Zara, Red, Stretch, Sans and the new brothers – were seated in the living room, some ignoring you completely and others openly glaring at you.

Alright.. You rolled your sleeves up to your elbows, muscles rippling as you flexed your arms – the baby dressed as a little duck either a hinderance on your intimidation or a power play.
You cleared your through, crossing your arms and tapping one impatient foot. ‘’Well?’’

Black was the first to engage with you, setting his book down as he made eye contact with you, Mutt watched warily, sending worried glances toward you that Black quickly silenced with a sharp snap of his fingers.
‘’Human. Would You Like The List Written Or Worded?’’

You could feel the sting in his voice, watching you with distrust.
You wished you had left a note.. but you came back, they saw where you were and that you had come back to Edge and the house. This treatment.. it wasn’t..
Fair.

‘’Worded would be better Sans.’’
His eyesockets narrowed and he stood up, walking up to you with such power it didn’t matter that he was a full head shorter than you, he commanded the room.
‘’Well. Human. You First Torment My Mate; She Fears Each Room You Enter – Why Would She Do That? Second, You Mate With Edge In Secret And Then Abandon Him While He Drains Himself Of Magic Trying To Grow Another Monster And Then After You Are Invited To Stay, To Take The Child For A Day And Conspire Running Away With Another Human Man, My Mate Knows You Have A Relationship With.’’

You heard Blue and Papyrus whisper to each other, Blues eyelights never leaving yours. You watched as Mutt watched on helplessly, your soul thumped at his confliction – you were glad he was still slightly on your side.
You puffed your chest, and your baby, out in defense of yourself. Eyes dropping to lock his in place, your back erect with confidence while your son kicked his little webbed onesie feet out in protest to the sour plum magic that flowed from Blacks flickering eyelight.

‘’Sans, you made yourself seem smarter than that.
Why should it be any of your business who Edge or I mate with. And the only reason I wasn’t here to protect and help him with our child was because I had no idea in the first place, and then I was banned from the home.’’
You took steps forward, a golden glow shining off Blacks pristine skull, your finger was raised to his sharp teeth as you backed him into his chair again. He looked startled for a moment but was still looking defiantly up into your eyes.

‘’And I didn’t run away. I am here, I am with you all – I cleaned the house, I had nothing to do and so I took my child to meet his uncle, Jesse has been a friend of mine for years, and have a day outside.
Is that not allowed? Well, I am very sorry Milord, I will gain your blessing and the blessing of your mates before I even think about having a day with my family.’’

Black had blushed a fragrant purple at the nickname, looking quite uncomfortable as you told him off. Mutt was watching you with a wild blush coating his bones, rattling softly as white noise to your rant. Papyrus and Blue watched you with shock, understanding flooding their eyesockets as your breathing became heavy.
You bid them a good day when Black hadn’t responded and made your way into the kitchen, sighing heavily as you bounced a now agitated Eras.

Your head snapped to the side; teeth bared as the pantry door creaked open..
And for the second time that tense morning, you burst out laughing. It was like watching those clown car gags as a child – Sugar and Axe huddled comically, surrounded with empty packets of food as they watched you.

Axe had his signature manic grin on his face and Sugar was squinting to see who you were, you would have to get this boy glasses and a dentist appointment.
‘’What’s eatin’ ya kid?’’

You walked over, waving them further into the pantry as you crammed yourself in with them – shutting the door behind you and handing, a bewildered, Axe your little duck child.
You could see his grin soften, playing with your happy baby as you pulled sugar into your lap, cuddling him around his elongated middle as you angrily explained the houses problems with you.

You still had to chase down Red..

Chapter Text

Red was drunk out of his mind.

His skull was swimming, and his room was a mess, he could care less about the strong smell of magic whiskey from the puddle that had formed from its overturned bottle and the only part of his room that had gone untouched by his drunken rage and sadness was his hidden nest in the closet – it didn’t help that his magic wasn’t keeping the most of the alcohol at bay, his soul was preparing for his approaching heat and wasn’t able to filter magic as well as usual.

He was wallowing, and he hated himself for it.

He hadn’t stopped drinking since last night, a combination of sweet, gloating satisfaction when his ‘mate’ had come home to tell them that she had seen his brother’s human running away with their child, watching the complete and utter relief and overwhelming love fill his brothers’ bones when she unexpectedly returned home and the despair of the loneliness that had seeped into his skull.

He had been alone for a long while now.. He knew his relationship wasn’t the best with his brother, but he thought that a life on the surface, no matter how short, would break down some of the walls they had built to protect themselves back home.. but after weeks of helping the original him with the machine he had gotten antsy, taking to bars and the occasional hidden strip club he could sniff out to release the pent-up stress, which was a catalyst for the degradation of what little familial love they had left – His brother had expressed that the ‘disgusting hobbies’ he had made him a disgrace of himself, a harlot in and of himself.

He thought his brother would think better of him if he settled down, he met Zara at a bar, yes, but she was kind and gentle and caring when it came down to his drunken rambled and embarrassing cries. But he was too busy drooling over that savage mage, even going so far as to lock himself away whenever Zara came around.

And now even Zara was keeping away from him, never staying longer than their ‘sexcapades’ or eating all together as a household.

Red was completely and utterly alone.

Knock-knock

Reds drunken mind could only form one sentence, no ‘fuck off’ or ‘Get the fuck outta here’. His stupid intoxicated skull could only string together.

‘’W-who’s dere..?’’

‘’Hmm.. Leg.’’

‘’Leg who-o..?’’

‘’Stop talking and Leg me in you numbskull.’’

Terrible, absolutely terrible. But he couldn’t help but howl with laughter, his mind not registering the voice behind the scratched wood of his door as he opened it slowly.

His uncharacteristically high giggles breaking apart with hiccups of intoxication as he leaned into the wall and slid to the ground.

There was a sigh from his new guest, probably a reaction to the state of his room, but then there were strong arms hoisting him up. Reds eyesockets refused to open but he made gibberish noises of disapproval, smacking the persons back without force for them to let him down.

They laughed and Red thought it was the best sound he had heard in months, amused and teasing but not against him in any way – it was as if he was telling a joke that they loved, no matter how many times they heard it.

He relaxed in their hold, snuggling into the.. familiar smell..

‘’Sans, we have to talk about our fight.. about.. the bite..’’

Red flung himself back, but her hold on him was strong. He tried harder to push her away, pulling on her hair and lashing out with his claws – his eyesockets were opened wide but his eyelights were hazy and he wasn’t able to focus on small details, but he could see the three slashes across her chest, bubbling with her steaming blood and the sudden glow as her eyes ignited with golden flames.

She wrestled him with newfound strength, flipping him onto his front and shoving his skull into the ripped pillows atop his bed. ‘’Stop squirming! We have to talk!!’’

‘’GET TA FUCK OFFA ME. I DON’ WANNA TALK WI’ YA.’’

‘’You’re such a ba-‘’

She gasped as the air was sucked from her lungs, her head spinning as Red tried to short cut away from the touches that made his bones ache and heat up.

He scrambled across the hard wood of Mutts abandoned room, ramming skull first into a bedpost as she grabbed his legs and dragged him back toward her. Determination brimming in her eyes as she caught her breath again, only for it to escape her again as Red teleported again.

The void stealing the air from her lungs as she clung to him, Red tried to kick her off – if she got lost in the void, all of his problems would disappear, he would have his brother back and they would rebuild. They would become a family again..

* SANS!

He snapped out of his thoughts; the humans grip was slipping, and her face had started to turn a shade of purple from lack of oxygen. He panicked, he couldn’t kill her; Edge would dust if she died, their child would grow up without a mother and the mark would constrict till his magic stopped functioning entirely.

He flung them into the next open space his mind could think of, just as her fingers lost their strength.

He felt constriction around his spine, and his shorts slipping down as the human’s grip pulled them with her while she fell to her knees.

He held back a scream of panic and anger, trying to pull himself away from her, but realizing..

He was stuck in a wall.

Black always raged at Mutt not to teleport while intoxicated for this very reason, and now here he was. Close to his heat, trapped, shorts pulled down his femurs with a pissed of Mage at his tail end.

Mortification filled his bones as magic swirled in his pelvis, he tried to tell himself it was just the heat and not her firm grip on his legs or her hot breath that graced his coccyx or even the breathless laughter that reverberated through the drywall.

‘’Now. We can talk.’’

Chapter Text

’Now. We can talk.’’

You stumbled up, using the hot bone of Reds femur as a clutch to heave your breathless body upward. Your lungs felt like they were collapsing, and there was a vivid sunspot that glowed whenever you closed your eyes, your head was still spinning from the darkness of nothingness and the panic of hands gripping and pulling you in.

Your heart thundered and you were pissed, nails digging into the drywall that separated you from Reds front half. You huffed a laugh at the situation, Red was stuck halfway through a wall in such an embarrassing situation that he wouldn’t dare call for help.

You laid your head upon the wall, sighing deeply as you tried to form a coherent sentence.

‘’Sans.. You are such.. an ass!’’

You laughed heartily, the near-death experience and comedic moment before you was probably making you insane. You could barely catch your breath as you leant upon his heated iliac crest, laughing even harder as you heard Reds high pitched squeal – your mind slowly piecing the situation together.

You gripped his femur, pulling gently to see how much wiggle room Red had. It seemed that the teleport had given just enough room for the one vertebra that was stuck, to fit - the drywall was perfectly encasing his bone.

‘’I know I marked you.. We have to talk about it.’’

There was a small ‘Fuck off’ and you had to hold back your manic giggles, your finger running around the column of spine that was stuck, trying to see which options were plausible to get him out.

You felt his bones shudder, his leg kicking out and hitting you square in the tit.

Ow..

You gripped his femurs, spreading his legs and slamming them against the wall.

‘’That was not nice, I am trying to be civil and you’re kicking out like a baby. Not even my actual baby is this childish.’’

You could hear the stream of curses that left his teeth, his legs fruitlessly wriggling in your grip. You knew this was probably a bit strange and infuriating for him but from your experience with Edge, these brothers needed their walls broken down forcibly or they would stay aloof and angry forever.

‘’I marked you Red. Edge said that biting a monster is a claim, and I bit you when we fought.

I don’t know if you kept it or if you’ve made it disappear but.. I just need to make sure that you’re okay. That I haven’t hurt you.’’

...

‘’I- I kept it..’’

Your eyes bulged out of your head, out of every possible way this conversation could go, you did not expect Red to admit to keeping an intimate claim of yours on him.

You stopped for a moment, brain malfunctioning as you tried to rule out each possibility and reason as to why he would – if he hated you so much, why would he keep the dominating claim you had accidentally given him.

‘’Why?’’

…

You searched through Reds room, looking for anything sharp that you could use to get him out. Red had taken to silence instead of answering any of your questions, leaving you annoyingly in the dark.

His room was completely destroyed, smashed glasses and slashed furniture – you knew this couldn’t be from your scuffle earlier, which meant he had been in here, breaking everything.

There was also a heavy alcoholic scent from an open bottle next to a dark puddle of whiskey, except it was glowing bright purple.

Your hands itched with the sweet temptation of magic, but you kept calm and stalked away from the sweet aroma, you had searched – and cleaned, when you couldn’t stand the sight of his room anymore – until the one place you hadn’t checked was his little walk-in closet.

You walked toward it slowly and suddenly Reds legs flung out, you could hear muffled objections and the soft scrape of bone against dry wall. You tried to argue with him, but he was adamant you ‘could not go fuckin in there’ and so you conceded, walking toward his bedroom door with a pat on his femur.

‘’I’ll see if there’s anything out here that’s sharp enough to cut through wall..’’

You stopped just short of the scarred wood, a conversation rambled on outside Red’s door - Mutt and Stetch, and it sounded like they were about to enter.

You knew they couldn’t see you here.. what would they think, after you had a righteous go at them and their brothers, about you in Reds room with his bare ass hanging out of a wall with his room looking like a crime scene.

You gripped Reds blanket and covered his limp body, hissing at him to be deadly quiet as you flung yourself into the closet. Just closing the door in time as there was a little knock and the two Papyrus’ entered, you held your breath and looked away – Edge had a knack for knowing when people were looking at him, and you couldn’t take that chance that it was only an Edge thing and not a Papyrus thing.

You flung your face into the arrangement of clothes and pillows that sat in the corner of the small space, breathing as quietly as you could while Mutt and Stretch perused Reds shabby room.

‘’Nyeh.. Stars, what happened here..?’’

‘’You think a bear got in..?’’

‘’A bear. You numbskull, that would be un’bear’lievable.’’

There was an identical laugh that emanated past the crack in the wood, and you couldn’t help the silent heart squeeze that took hold of your muscles. Skeleton monsters were just so cute, you definitely wanted Eras to have that little laugh.

After another minute of speculating you heard their footsteps lead toward the door, but just as you were releasing a sigh of relief, they stopped.

‘’Smells like the human in here.. You think-?’’

‘’Dunno.. Guess we’ll have ta wait till they both re-appear again, to make sure they're not dead.’’

‘’I still can’t believe she put your brother in his place like that.. human mages am I right..?’’

Human.. Mage..? Their conversation trailed off as the door shut and they wandered down the hall, you finally released the tense breath of air. Collapsing into the soft sheets the made.. a nest around you..

You got up and out, flinging the closet doors open so that you could see what Red was hiding.

There was a little nest, all huddled together in an almost identical fashion to Edges much larger one; Chair legs, books, pillows and sheets all built the foundation of his small nest and clothes surrounded its exterior.

You looked at the squirming blanket, heart clenching at the secretive place his nest was deigned to be.. Edges nest was sitting proudly in the corner of his room, like a throne in a weirdly shaped throne room. But Reds was like a shameful pet shop, hidden away from any judgmental eyes but delightfully cute when bared to the world.

You made you way back over to the muffled shouting and the kicking legs, a little utility knife you had found underneath a pillow held tightly in your hand.

Red would answer all your questions. One way or another. About the mark. About the void.
And about Mages.

‘’don’t worry buddy, I’ll get you out of here – then we’ll talk. But first, stop squirming! I don’t want to hurt you.’’

Chapter Text

‘’Fine, if you answer my questions then I will answer some of yours.’’

Red and you had been having a back and forth as you tried to fit the knife between his spine and the open space, you had thought of just making a huge circle in the wall to get him out, but you thought of the wiring threaded through the interior or the privacy of both rooms.. and how Edge would react having a body length window into his older brother’s room.

You shuddered at the thought, finally sneaking the sharp edge of the knife in, just shy of Reds scalding hot bones – you had pulled his shorts up after he had yelled at you, and you had realized the actual indecency of his bare bones sticking out of the wall.

You began to saw at the dry wall, flecks of paint falling into the crevices of Reds spine making him squeal and squirm his leg swiping at you with his taloned distal phalanx. ‘’Fine. Ask! Just s-stop!’’

You quickly grabbed him by his spinal column, holding him still as you manoeuvred the knife away from the potential danger that was Reds uncomfortable wiggling.

Grabbing at a stray toothbrush and setting to work on clearing out his little scars and crevices, you knew you couldn’t ask him about the mark.. at least not yet. So, you mulled over potential questions that would get him to lighten up and feel at ease with you fondling a knife right next to his pelvis.

‘’So.. How’s it feel being stuck in a wall?’’

You heard the small huff of annoyance, and slight amusement, from him as he hung limp against the drywall you had returned to cutting away.

‘’Tha’ what you wanted ta ask me first? You really are thick Human.’’

‘’You better mean thicc with two C’s. I don’t go to the gym for this body for nothin’.’’

Again, he began to chuckle, femurs spasming with repressed amusement.

‘’ Feels like I’m bein squeezed round da ribcage while bein held wit blue magic.’’

You smiled, moving his pelvis slightly so you could see where you were cutting. Humming in understanding - you remembered the tightness around your body and the way you felt limp as you were thrown across the room with blue magic.

‘’My turn. Wha’s it like bein a monster’s parent? After all, you are a human and a mage at tha’.’’

 Mage. That would be your next question.

You thought about it for a moment, you didn’t think about being a monster parent – just a parent, to the cutest baby in the whole world, but just a parent.

You knew people stared at you when you went out with Eras, and that throughout his life there would be people with awful prejudices toward monsters – humans had no dignity when it came to discrimination, but you would never let him suffer or let people treat him unfairly. No matter what species your sweet son was, he was your sweet son.

And you told Red exactly that, your baby was the cutest ever and you were so happy that he was yours.

‘’Heh, Pap was cute too.. when he was small and not such a pointy asshole.’’

You could hear the admiration and love through the wall. These brothers really did care for each other, but they were stupid when it came down to expressing their feelings.

‘’You’ll have to show me pictures..’’

He hummed in agreement, kicking the leg you weren’t gripping as he awaited your next question.

‘’So, what’s a mage? Is it like the stories of magic wielding sorcerers or.. less majestic?’’

This time Red outright laughed at you, slamming his fists into the wall from his side of the wall.

You felt kinda stupid, clearly Red thought you were supposed to know this already.. People had called you magical before in bed but that was really it, other than the golden glow that you saw when you got passionate about something (Which you had chalked up to your own version of the red mist other people had) nothing you had would ever be classed as out of the ordinary – no one had commentated on your eyes before, always cowering away if you got pissed at them instead of trying to give you pointers on your magical potential.

‘’Hehehe! Wow, human- You’re clueless as well? That’s priceless, I knew tha’ humans weren’t as in tune wit’ their magic, but this! This is ridiculous!’’

His laughter slowed into those uncharacteristically high-pitched chuckles, you felt the heart squeeze and almost doubled over.

You couldn’t help but grin at his laughter, the hole you had made was now halfway around his body, a couple more questions would probably be enough to get him out.

‘’Mages are the most dangerous type a’ human. Got magic that could rival even da strongest of boss monsters, they fought the war and sealed monsters underground. And you’re a JUSTICE Mage.

One of the strongest kinds – From my universe anyway – rivalling all Soul traits, ‘cept DETERMINATION.’’

You listened, rapt attention as he explained the power you apparently possessed.

And suddenly the memories came flooding back.

Your grandfather always went on walks around Ebott, calling you his firecracker, talking to you when you were so young the memories blurred together – But each time, till you officially moved in, your grandfather would teach you traditions you couldn’t ever wrap your head around.

And with the new information, you realised that he was teaching you how to use magic!

Too bad you forgot everything you had ever learned.

You groaned, leaning against Reds shorts as you practically sobbed. You never thought that your baby brain would get rid of such important information!

‘’G-get offa me!’’

You clutched at his spine, whining into the fabric of his shorts with such incoherency that you didn’t even know what you were trying to say yourself.

‘’C’mon. Get off, hey. Ew.. you’re getting your tears onta my favourite shorts!’’

You finally got a hold of yourself, sullenly tapping on his femur to get him to ask his question.

‘’Oh.. Uh.. Wha’ do ya want wi’ my brother.’’

That certainly snapped you out of your depression, utility knife rounding out the last curve of your circle. You would ask Edge what he knew about mages.. and even if he could teach you magic later, now was the time for you to get to know your family and your new unwilling mate.

‘’I wanna love and protect him, duh.’’

Maybe you should try being a comedian, because the amount of laughter you were pulling out of Red was on par with an apollo show. He laughed as if you had said the stars were glasses and the moon was a plate, and you were about to treat him to an out of this world meal.

You could see where he was coming from, he still didn’t trust you, not even with his brother. So, hearing that the only thing you wanted was to love and protect his baby brother was probably the biggest joke in history.

But before he could laugh in your face, he fell forward, the wall coming loose as you finished cutting out the hole.

You quickly grabbed his pelvis, pulling him back till you fell on your ass. The drywall surrounding Red’s spine, hitting you square in the face before crumbling around you both.

Ow, again.

You held Red securely against your chest, laughing breathlessly in pain and amusement at the situation as Red tried to wiggle away from you.

You had magic, a family, sick ass abs and a cute little skeleton sitting angrily in your lap.

Chapter Text

You giggled, slapping Red’s shoulder as he grinned at you.
You had bonded over liquor.. unsurprisingly.
You had shoved the glowing bottle next to you into his mouth when he tried to bite your arm – which you deserved after you refused to let him leave your lap, and so now you were bonding over terrible jokes and shared silly stories.

Like the one Red had just told about Edges first steps, he had fallen face first into the snow and Red hadn’t been able to pull himself together when baby Edge had gotten up and given a stabbing glare at his big brother with snow stuck in his sockets.
You wiped away the tears in the corners of your eyes, taking a swig from the glowing bottle – magic alcohol was so much better than anything you had ever had, and got you less drunk than usual and less drunk than Red was.
‘Magic strength’ he had told you, tapping his collar bone while he watched you savor the spicy sweetness that was magic whiskey.

You were slowly easing the conversation into the marking issue, and Red seemed to be warming up to your presence – sitting comfortably next to you, even telling you a little about his universes Justice Mages – They were ruthless killing machines following a deluded sense of justice and had killed thousands of monsters, but it was still information.

‘’So, Human.. I heard ya sh-shoutin dis mornin’ to da guys downstairs.. How is ya not dead – Black doesn’t take kind ta back talk even from someone twice his size. Ha!’’
You wanted to point out that Black would be his height as they were the same person but thought against it, leaning your head against his tattered mattress as you passed the bottle to his grabby phalanges.

‘’Black has attitude, but he’s smart. A bit deluded and tunnel visioned to information, but he knows when to listen.’’
He nodded, bringing the bottle to his sharp teeth and taking a deep swig – he was swaying slightly, and his face was flushed completely cherry red, a carefree little grin plastered to his skull.
He leant against you shoulder, huffing out a defeated laugh.

‘’Zara doesn’t even talk ta me anymore.. dis is the longest conversation I’ve had in a week! Hehe.. heheheHEHE! E-even Sans doesn’t ask for my help wit the machine anymore..’’
You laid your hand upon his skull, watching as his drunken laughter quickly devolved into broken little sobs. His claws were clutching at your shirt and his red tears were soaking into its fabric, he was holding you like you were the last thing on earth.

‘’I got no one.. My girlfriend, my brother, even myself. No one- I just.. I just don’ wanna be alone..’’

You grabbed his ribs and hoisted him up, pulling him once again into your lap and holding him tight to your chest. No one deserved to feel that way, not even this little asshole – you knew how he felt, the depression that set in after you were kicked out of your home and how isolated you had become and the feeling of being pitied - like people were afraid to talk to you, as if you were made of glass.
Red was alone, he was afraid of being alone and no one was helping him. Not even Zara – you knew she wouldn’t – but if she was acting like the perfect girlfriend she couldn’t be playing favorites like she was.

His talons were gripping you tightly, crying into your neck as you tried to comfort him – whispering praise and shushing his sobs.
You felt a pull in your chest, the sight of Red crying as if you were the first person he saw after being locked in a room his whole life making your soul throb, you placed your freehand to your chest and pulled. Your Soul escaped slowly, and it stung, you clearly weren’t doing this right, but you knew that Souls were important to monsters, and showing off your vulnerability to Red would hopefully calm him down.

Reds wavering eyelights watched as your scarred golden Soul hovered in front of his face, the bitemarks still engraved into his bones glowing the same shimmering color. He sniffled gently, phalanges tapping at his own chest and pulling his upside-down Soul to show yours.
There was an identical band of your magic that surrounded his Soul, the perfect mirror image of Edges. But luckily the mingling of your Souls seemed to ease Reds crying, his breathing evening out as he tore his eyelights away from your Souls and locked them with yours, his eyesockets fluttering with alcohol and exhaustion.

‘’I dunno why I kept your mark.. I just.. It’s been so long since I’ve felt so safe..’’
His eyesockets finally closed and soft snores left his teeth. Wow, that was a lot.. You got up, Red held safely in your arms as you made your way silently back to Edges room.
You laid him in the barren bed, tucking him in with a stray blanket that Edge wasn’t using for his nest anymore – snickering as you looked through the hole that merged both rooms.
You were going to have a family chat later, but first you had to get your sleepy baby from the sleepy bear that was Axe.

You walked through the house quietly, watching as Black avoided you as you walked through the hallway. Mutt smiled at you from the couch, and you felt your soul hum happily, he was such a cutie when he was shy.
You waved at him, greeting Blue and Papyrus who were playing snakes and ladders on the floor – agreeing to a game after you had settled Eras and maybe even Axe somewhere you could supervise them both, to which they both grinned and nodded resuming their tactical chatting.

You pulled open the pantry door and there was Axe, attacking his brother with your squealing baby – making quacking noises as all three skeletons laughed and exclaimed happily.
‘’What the duck are you doing.’’

You laughed as their faces flushed in embarrassment, Eras wiggling his little hands in your direction when he processed your presence. You smiled, running a soothing hand across Sugars chipped skull and joking with a now pun crazed Axe. This was your family too, Sugar and Axe – aloof and scary looking but sweet altogether, untrusting but still caring.. especially when it came to your little duck baby.

You picked up your baby, laughing as he tried to quack at Axe.
That was a trick you were definitely showing Edge when he got home, you helped the skeletons out of the pantry and led them into the living room – Sugar going to play with Blue and Papyrus while you, Mutt and Axe doted on Eras who was swinging at Mutts golden fangs whenever he got too close.

This was nice.

…

You hadn’t realized how late it had gotten, Mutt leaving with a scowling Black a few hours ago and Blue and Pap having to go grocery shopping for dinner later. Axe had fell asleep on the arm of the couch with Eras snug in his warm hoodie, which left you with Sugar who was fumbling with his sharp, broken phalanges.
You smiled as he put all the game pieces away meticulously - definitely a Papyrus trait.

He got up rigidly, startling you with his speed, looking at the stairs and his brother, his hands were picking at the shirt Papyrus had given him – he looked inexplicably nervous for someone who was giggling and whispering playfully as he played charades. ‘’You okay Sugar Skull..?’’

‘’I.. YeS.. I WAs InVITeD To gO ANd.. SpENd TimE wITh ThE HuMan WoMAn..’’
You still winced at the painful movement of his jaw.. but he was going to see Zara, and from his nervousness and the way his hands were moving subconsciously to his ribs made you worried – you didn’t know if she was alone and if he went there, what she would do with him.
You pulled Eras away from Axe and motioned for Sugar to come over and pick his sleepy brother up.

‘’How’s about you spend time with this human woman? Have some cuddles in my room?’’
Edge wouldn’t be too happy with your guests, but you knew he would understand, he was thoughtful – even if no one else thought so.

Sugar looked torn for a moment but eventually picked his brother up and followed you into Edges room, casting nervous glances to Zara’s brightly decorated room.
You weren’t going to let her hurt your family anymore or ever again, you didn’t trust that woman with a cactus and you would never trust her with the sweet Soul that was Sugar.

Chapter Text

You snuggled Sugar into your chest, petting his skull and giving him the occasional soft kiss on his forehead when you weren’t conversing with a still half-asleep Axe.
You shuffled backwards on the mattress, making sure you didn’t disturb the black out drunk Red or your sleepy son who sprawled out like a star on top of him.

You heard the front door open, and tired steps coming up the stairs. ‘’Edge’s home.’’
And as if summoned by your words, he walked through the bedroom door and froze at the sight of the newest members of the home, your son and his big brother laying in bed with you.
You waved at him, kissing Sugar on the head and quickly scooting off the mattress to greet, and explain to, your shocked mate.

You pulled him into the hallway again, kissing his teeth gently as you welcomed him home.
‘’Hello My Love.. Would You Deign To Tell Me Why There Are Unwanted Guests Near My Nest, My Mate And My Baby?’’
You smiled at his only semi-annoyed grimace, holding his gloved hand in yours, you could hear conversations downstairs and the drifting smell of something Italian wafting through the stairwell – Your first family dinner.
‘’Well.. Me and Red had to talk – that reminds me.. I accidentally claimed Red during our fight, and he kept it.. then he got stuck in a wall after running from me – we’ll have to patch the hole up as well.. Then Eras was with Axe and Sugar while this happened, and Sugar wanted to go to Zara, but I knew something was up and I couldn’t let that happen… Welcome home..?’’

His eyesockets were wide as he took in your explanation, mulling over the fact that you left your child with more dangerous him and his brother and that you had claimed hiss brother in the most intimate way possible for monsters and he accepted it..
He grabbed your shoulders and moved you aside, quietly walking into his room and, after a few worrying seconds, came stomping out with his sleepy brother – walking into his room and then walking out once he saw the massive hole to march into the bathroom at the end of the hallway.

You wanted to take a shower before dinner..

…

You cooed at Eras as you made your way downstairs, Axe and Sugar fidgeting at the smell of food and the slow pace you were going at. You had tried to wait for Red and Edge but after Papyrus’ eighth call for dinner, you had decided leaving them together would be better for them and the hungry skellies that flung themselves into the empty chairs at the dining table.

Papyrus, Blue and Black had made an arrangement of Italian style foods; Arancini, Lasagne, Pizza, Gnocchi and a truck ton of spaghetti.
Sugar looked desperate, eyelights shuddering as sparkling little hearts while Axe was drooling manically – red magic dripping from between his teeth like blood as he eyed dangerously the tray of garlic bread papyrus had pulled from the oven.

You felt very out of place.. Every other skeleton was staring at you – Blue, Black, Mutt, Stretch and Zara’s eyes were trained on you and your baby as you took the closest seat at the head of the table. The only absences other than your mates (even if accidental) was Sans who you assumed was hiding away in the basement.
‘’Edge is with Red.. They’re uh.. talking.’’

…

Dinner was awkward, to say the least.
It seemed that each time you had tried to enter a conversation with anyone but Axe, Sugar and Mutt you were shut out – with a glare either from Zara or Black, you could see Paps and Blue looking worried at each other and Mutt was sheepishly eating his dinner after his brother had cut the conversation you too were having short.

Black and Stretch had been in a quiet and quite heated conversation in their corner while Zara sucked each member of the household of their energy.
Luckily it ended quickly, with the help of your babies’ sleepy whines and Sugar and Axes incredibly large appetite – luckily you had been able to save three plates of food from their carnage, one for each missing house mate.

Everyone but Zara thanked Blue, Pap and Blue for the food – she was already wandering off with Stretch and Black at her heels. You shuffled on your feet, handing a wiggling Eras to a happily fed Sugar and Axe as you tried to help Pap and Blue wash up.
‘’Thank you two for dinner, Black wont ever take it but I’m thankful to him too.’’

You could see orange sweat bead at Papyrus’ browbone, dropping the sponge in his worried fiddling. ‘’I-Uh.. Thank You Human. You Should Expect Nothing Less From The Incredible Spaghettors - The Magnificent Blue And The Great Papyrus!’’
You watched as his teeth twitched nervously; you could almost feel that something was wrong – not only at your presence but the underlying issue of the unknown.

Papyrus was worried about something Zara had said.

Wow, you really needed to get in tune with your soul more, seeing intent and feelings was so useful when it came down to deciphering these complicated skeletons.

You looked up at his flickering eyelights, Blue patting him on the back as he cleaned up the dinner table. ‘’Are you alright Papyrus?’’
He watched you from the corner of his sockets, whining softly under his breath as he began furiously scrubbing dishes. ‘’Nothing Is Wrong. Nothing Like Your Presence Bringing More Hurt And Stress Onto My Brother.. That Would Be Ridiculous.’’

So, she had tried to turn this sweet boy against you, and in turn Blue, by telling him your being here was hurting Sans..
Which might be true – you were more than 80% sure that Eras being born was a kickstarter in your soul for more magic to be produced and, in subsequent, the new brothers to be pulled through and probably more work for Sans to keep them secret and their family safe, and the not very well thought out family secret from Zara.

You hummed thoughtfully – That sneaking manipulator was half truthing her bullshit to hurt these adorable boys - finishing up the last of the plates you had been washing. You ran a hand soothingly across his ulna, picking up one of your preserved plated of dinner with a determined look on your face.
‘’I’ll go make sure your brother is okay and fed. I’ll do whatever I can to ease that stress off him, that wasn’t my intention.’’

You could see a spark of admiration gleam in Papyrus’ eyelights and the encouraging look from Blue behind him, a little nod and thanks from Papyrus was the finale of the conversation as his focus returned to the drying and sorting if the dishes and glasses.

You could hear pacing footsteps from the bathroom above you and could see Axe protecting Eras with his life as Sugar continuously tried to build a castle of cards, you waved at them making a ‘stay’ motion at them before gesturing to the basement – Axe gave you a mock salute and Sugar gave you a thumbs up, Eras squealing at you and slapping Axe on the side of the cheekbone repeatedly.

You grinned at the sight before turning to the dark stairwell.
Time to go help Sans.

Chapter Text

You coughed as soot flew into your nose, you could barely see the steps beneath your feet from the smoke stains and how dark the hallway was – the only light source coming from what looked to be a small lamps light shining from beneath the closed door of Sans’ machine room.

You knocked gently and waited a few seconds, without answer you jingled the door handle – locked and, from the rattling of chains on the inside, bolted. You looked back at the hallway, moving the tray of food you had brought away from your body – you gripped the handle, took a deep breath and pushed.

You heard the clinking of chains hitting the floor as you entered the room, your arm ached but you sucked it up as your eyes adjusted to the blinding light of the lamp. You walked over to the desk, moving stray papers and setting the plate down next to Sans’ sleeping skull – he looked so cute, chubby cheeks? Pressed against his arm, royal blue saliva dribbling through his open mouth as he snored and grumbled in his sleep.

He looked worse than the last time you had seen him, eyebags darker than the ash surrounding the machine and his bones had turned a shade of greying green.. he looked so tired. You pulled him closer, hoisting him into your arms without fuss, his bones were limp in your arms as you wandered around his ‘office’.

Sans snuggled against you as you examined the machine, you had no idea what these cogs and whistles on this thing did, but you could see the giant flashing light on the side. Sans rubbed his teeth against your shoulder, his hands pulling at your shirt as his legs locked around your waist – you tapped the light, watching as it turned from green to yellow.. oh, don’t touch that.

You looked around the small room, observing a messily made futon sitting in the corner – it didn’t look like a nest, so you made your way toward it, pulling the blankets back and holding Sans to tuck him in.. except he wouldn’t let go.

You tugged at him, gentle enough not to wake him up but strong enough to see how stubborn he was when it came to letting you go – Sans’ really were cuddlers.

You sighed, laying on the futon with Sans on your chest, looking to the blackened ceiling – you couldn’t hear exactly what was going on upstairs, but you could hear the muffled conversations they were having. Sugars scratchy voice, Axes deep growls and rumbles, Eras’ squeals and even the whispered barks of Mutt laughing – you smiled, petting Sans’ skull. Stars, you didn’t realize how stupidly happy these skeletons made you, even the bastard ones like Red and Black.

You wished you had approached Edge differently, about Red.. you were just so overwhelmed with what was happening and trying to keep everyone safe, you had probably overwhelmed your overthinking mate by talking so fast.

Keeping Zara away from Sugar was now a problem, clearly your sweet boy was trying to fit in.. or at least trying to feel normal here, in a new place, surrounded by hims and his brothers who crowded around that snake to feel loved.

And the way that Red felt also merged with your family now, even if accidental, the claim you had made on him made you responsible for him and in turn, keeping him happy – you knew Edge would never forgive himself if his brother dusted because of lack of loving intent. Monsters survived off magic, not only from themselves but from others, and Red had been isolated from everyone for who knows how long.

You didn’t know how much Zara knew of monsters, if she knew what she was doing or what she could do to harm them – you were afraid of what she would do or what she was doing where you couldn’t protect them. You doubted yourself.

You looked toward the broken lock, smiling slightly as Sans grumbled and yawned. You were strong and, if you worked on it, a powerful mage.

You had to call your grandmother.. It had been a long time since you had spoken with each other, after your grandfathers passing your mother had sought out her comfort and created a divide between you both – You loved your grandmother, dearly, but your grandfather was always the one who kept you safe and away from your family, he always said it was unfair.. and you kind of understood why, if he was a Justice Mage like you, he would have that same burning feeling in his chest that you did.

He left you their home, and fortune, and possessions in his will.. after they had moved into a care home – and when you stopped visiting, you would never forgive yourself for letting a man take you from your friends and family.. for hurting you like you thought you deserved.

You could feel the tears dripping down your face and Sans whined near your ear, you snuggled him close to your chest, hugging him to try and comfort yourself. You would always feel stupid for your choices in the past but thinking of the now and what you had built in such a short amount of time made you feel strong; You had a mate (Almost a husband in human standards) and a child, you had a giant house being built in the most beautiful part of Ebott and you had friends again – you were happy and powerful and you would do anything to protect this feeling.

Sans gripped your shirt, wiggling just enough for you to move with him. There was a soft crumpling from the old pillow, which was strange, and you reached under – pulling out a small, opened diary..

You shouldn’t..

‘entry number 7

another pair was brought through today, the machine was jumpstarted by edges human and her powerful magic. the sans and papyrus brought through were disfigured and broken but their universe is only one anomaly away from my own.. the kid left, without savin everyone and after a few months there was a malfunction in the core and food supplies ran short.

the papyrus told me that after a year without magic from the cores siphon, the queen was overthrown by their undyne - who was the cause for their damages - and the monsters underground resorted to cannibalism.. and eventually eating whatever humans fell down.’

You looked horrified at the information, you of course assumed those boys were starving – their hunger and comfort when surrounded by food was a large indicator of what they lacked.. but their underground was so damaged by one child that the only way they could survive was by eating friends and people they knew..

Those poor boys..

Your chest ached with untapped magic, the injustice of their situation pounding in your ears at the revelation – Axe was quiet but playful, punning and laughing whenever you spoke and Sugar was a little cuddle bug, always hugging or playing games with you and they both acted so gentle around you and your child, and they had to resort to something so damaging and traumatic to live.. and they were hurt by someone they trusted.

There was a loud scream from upstairs and the thudding of something falling to the floor, Sans startled in your arms as you flung yourself up – pocketing the journal as you ran up the stairs.

You shoved the basement door open, eyes searching the living room wildly.

Axe was on the top of the couch, Eras held far away from the rest of the room, growling deeply – red magic dripping from his gnashing teeth, Sugar was in front of him curled like a feral cat, hissing at Zara’s outstretched hands.

Mutt sat between the scene, eyesockets wide in shock as he almost pleaded for help.

You could feel the tears evaporate from your cheeks as your body burned hot with magic, your eyes dancing between Zara’s fearful gaze and Eras’ crying face.

‘’What is going on.’’

Chapter Text

Mutt watched with bated breath and flushed cheekbones as his human friend erupted with angry magic; Her hair was floating, her eyes were pure white and her whole body was surrounded by a blinding golden glow.
Prime Sans was clutching to her shirt in bewildered confusion, clearly just now jostled awake at the surge of magic and protective growling that was rumbling the very floorboards.

Skeletons flooded the living room as the horror brothers made their way behind the Mages dominating aura and fell to their knees, Axe and Sugar were holding the baby close to their chest with Sugars long, cracked phalanges gripping the back of her shirt.

Mutt was a little confused at what had happened; for the first part of this series of events, they were having fun – Axe had woken up fully and was playing with him and the baby, mostly showing off the kid quacking when he was wiggled around, and Sugar was on the floor with a dozen puzzle boxes piled around his lanky body..
Then Zara came downstairs with Stretch at her feet, he had the day off and hadn’t told anyone but their girlfriend apparently, she had immediately made her way over to the two horror brothers and asked Sugar something quietly to which he started to shiver at and had then held her hands out to Axe – Apparently Edge had specifically asked her to bring the baby upstairs because he was too busy with Red, she even offered to keep the ‘Little darling’ company while they waited for his daddy to finish up - ‘Aunty Zaza wants to spend some quality time with this little angel, such a sweet, little, baby.’

Mutt felt no ill intention off his girlfriend, he even thought about checking her soul, but he didn’t have time, as she leant forward, and the baby screamed.
It happened very quickly, Zara flung backwards into Stretch with her arms still outstretched and it seemed a switch was flipped in the brothers’ minds – they completely changed from docile and comforting to almost feral and bloodthirsty, they curled around each other and the crying child, like snakes, hissing and growling respectively like cats and dogs.

Mutt dropped his phone in shock, sitting stock still as his eyelights flickered between the two groups – Stretch was shouting at the two and Zara was still stood in shock and fear while Axe and Sugar snarled and hissed till.. _____ broke through the basement door.

Her soul was thumping louder than any boss monsters and even Black began to cower and shake with the overwhelming power that washed over them, as the skeletons rushed into the room everyone fell to their knees – Mutts Soul was heavy and hot as he hit the floor, even Red and Edge, who ran down last, were already shuddering and quaking at the knees.
The only one’s standing were the humans – except Sans who was shuddering and pressing himself into the Mages neck.

‘’ What do you think you’re doing? ‘’

Her voice echoed as she spoke, each word and syllable was coated thick with magic. Zara trembled just as bad as each skeleton, tears springing into her eyes as she whimpered into Stretches limp noodle arms.
Mutt thought that she would explain to her what she had explained to Axe and Sugar, but now, as Edge and Red were both downstairs she was silent. Mutt’s jaw trembled as he tried to speak up, but he could barely focus on what was going on around him – he couldn’t imagine what Sans, Axe and Sugar felt like being so close to that source.. though it seemed the kid was much happier being near his mother’s source of powerful magic.

‘’ I- I was just.. I thought- an.. um..’’ Zara stuttered, clutching to the hem of her dress. Black growled quietly at the hostile display; he was trying to crawl his way to Zara even with the blanket of Justice magic coating every bone.
Edge pushed himself up, both him and his brothers collar bones glowing the same gold that surrounded _____. He staggered his way over and fell into her snapping form, clutching her free arm and growling softly..

And then she spoke.
* She Hurt Him.

Edge shook his skull, eyelights shuddering as she spoke the skeletons native font – usually humans were unable to speak the monster language and as the monsters had surface their mother tongue was practically banned other than through Soul connections, having a powerful and kind mage, and for Edge, one that was your mate, speaking to you in a culturally significant and unexpected way.. It even made Mutts bones fizzle like he was in the thick of his heat.

Edge growled back at her, the soft noise of distant thunder against the roaring fire and smashing lightning that was her font
* HE IS FINE, CALM. WE CAN TALK!

Mutt never thought he would hear those words out of Edge but it seemed to work as her magic dimmed and appearance returned to normal – soft ______ hair and golden rimmed _____ eyes pulling herself back to her senses.
She gasped for air as her knees buckled, her hands gripping the limp Sans in her arms as she fell into Edges.

Axe, Sugar and Sans were all curled around and into her body – Whimpering and whining, less so the horror brothers but definitely Sans, Mutt could smell the heat magic from where he knelt.
Edge cooed gently as he pried his alternate brother away from his mate, she looked very pale, and her eyes were flickering as the adrenalin of magic and anger drained from her body.. but there was a pain in eyes that Mutt had definitely seen before.

He tried to think back as Edge and a half-conscious Axe hauled their small group away from the judgmental and harsh looks from the rest of the house.. Mut felt like smashing his skull into the coffee table, he wished he wasn’t so drunk the last time they had a heart to heart..

She ran into the forest,
He followed her,
They were walking back,
She told him a story..
The story!

Mutts eyesockets flickered around the room, recounting again and again the moments that had transpired today and her reaction..

…

Zara’s heart hammered in her chest as she knelt on the ground, her tears were genuine this time and she was shaking like a leaf against a similarly shaking Stretch.
She was living in a house with not only two, but three murderous, magical freaks; One solely fixed on destroying her perfect life – She shivered at the thought and with repressed laughter as she finally registered what happened, she was despondent as Black clutched at her face and begged her to say she was alright – Zara could see from the weak and fearful expressions on the skeletons faces that they were afraid of her – of her freak magic and anger that still filled the room.

Zara’s voice shook as she weakly asked if everyone was alright, her glossy deep blue eyes watching as they softened like putty beneath her gaze – Everyone except Mutt..

He was staring straight into her soul, and she felt a sharp uncomfortable feeling shoot through her body and suddenly his eyes narrowed at her, a mixture of shock and horror making its way onto his skull. She called out his name, asking him if he was okay – putting on her best pouty innocent face.. she was getting nervous as his eyes scanned her face and filled with purple tears. Black repeated her question, Stretch too but Mutt kept silent – tears flowing freely down his hallowed face.

‘’It was you..’’
And he disappeared.

Chapter Text

Edge watched as his mate tossed and turned in his nest, her brow was covered with a thin layer of sweat from her sudden fever.
‘’I mean wow, amiright boss? Her magic packs a powerful punch – I mean, look at those two. ‘’

As if drawing his attention over to the bone pile, Eras squealed happily in the horror brothers’ arms – Both brothers looked drained and exhausted, faces flushed respectively Orange and Red. Edge could still feel his knees shaking from the effects of her magic, even Red’s face was flushed the same deep crimson.
She huffed for breath in her sleep, her hands reaching for him unconsciously. He held her hand tenderly, sighing against her soft skin as he pushed his teeth to her knuckles.

Red was right.. Her magic was extremely powerful – Which should have been a frightening thought, but Edge couldn’t help the pride that filled his chest.. His mate was so powerful it sent the skeleton with the strongest magic into an early heat all because she heard their son cry.
Speaking of Red, he seemed happier now.. And as Edge held his mate close he realized that he felt happier too.

It was a shock when _____ dumped a mountain of information upon him, but he dragged his brother into the master bathroom, ignoring the massive hole that joined the two rooms, and they began to talk.
They had discussed for over an hour about the problems of their relationship and how they felt..

Red was confused, pained in the same way that Edge was himself. When they had first arrived, Red had thought that they would immediately be able to fix their problems – but Sans needed Reds help to send them back and he was drowned with work.. and instead of talking as brothers Red had sought out partners to relieve his stress and anger, until he met Zara.
Zara had made him feel loved and safe, she comforted him when he was vulnerable and protected him when he was weak.. And he wanted to share the comfort she gave, to his baby brother – so they could bond and maybe release the anger and pain that had built in them from their home.
But Edge already found that human, _____. She was already comforting him and breaking down his walls.. Edge was happier already while Red was still hurting.

Red was slowly realizing what Zara was doing, at least now he knew that she had fueled the jealousy of that happiness.. He didn’t even realize his brother was with souling or suffering when his mate had to leave because of him. And he had been marked by her.
Red looked so ashamed as he showed off the brand of magic, crimson tears pricking at his sockets. He had kept it because it made him feel safe, unlike when he was with Zara – He knew she wanted him to be the strong monster he made himself out to be, the monster he was back underground, but _____’s mark made him feel the kind of safe a baby bones felt.. Protected and vulnerable but surrounded with loving intention and he couldn’t bring himself to let it go.

What Edge did not expect from this conversation was his big brother falling to his knees on the bathroom tiles, crying and apologizing.. and Edge fell to his knees and began to cry too.

Edge knew that if they were back in their underground and someone found out, both of their lives would be in incredible danger – but they hugged like they had never lived in fear.
Edge loved his brother; he was so grateful that he had kept them both safe when they were children and even though they had to act like they hated each other he always loved his brother.

He found his happiness with _____ because he was trying to protect his brother, to keep him safe from humans, the ones from stories and folklore underground, who wanted to hurt him.. Red helped him become happy – not in the way he wanted with Zara, but by leading him to his mate and his new son.
He wasn’t angry his brother kept the mark; he knew it wasn’t his mate’s intention to bond with him, so he wasn’t mad at her either.. he was kind of happy about it. Happy that his brother was even receiving a fraction of the love and protection she gives him daily. He was happy his brother felt safe.
They were both scarred from the events that had taken place back home and they both knew that they had to talk about their issues and problems, to break down what remained of the walls they had built to keep themselves and each other safe. To build a relationship together so they could heal.

Edge couldn’t remember the last time he had cried and hugged his big brother.. it was nice.

They stayed like that for half an hour until Edges soul flooded with adrenalin, something was happening with Eras. Edge did not let go of his brother as he got up, his shorter legs dangling in Edges strong grip, nor did he let go of his brother when he rushed through the hallways and past each curious skeleton that wandered from their rooms.
But as his heels hit the wooden floor of the living room his soul and skull filled with intoxicating, dominating magic that almost brought him to his knees.

He almost went into a pseudo heat himself at just the sight; His mate stood tall, muscles flexing and hair blowing wildly around her grimacing face. She was holding Sans effortlessly in one arm as the horror brothers – Stronger physically than most skeletons that knelt around the room – cowered behind her for protection. The smell of honey and sea salt coated his nasal cavity as her magic pounded in his sockets and skull.

And now, he was sat in his nest with his phalanges interlocked with her unconscious one, Red cooling himself off with an also unconsciously panting Sans laying in a beanbag Red had dragged from his room and the horror brothers mumbling to each other and his son who had begun to cry.
Axe handed him over to Edge silently, watching as Eras’ demeanor immediately changed when his father brought him close to his ribcage. Edge felt his soul strum peacefully as his son settled between them, letting out adorable little quacks as he played with the collar of his shirt.

Edge would never admit to anyone how much his soul adored the sight of his son dressed as a little duck making little duck noises, he would take the squeezing of his chest to his dusting.

His eyelights scanned the room once again, really taking in the coup they had created just from the good intention and love his mate radiated..
Edges hands brushed against something hard in _____’s back pocket, which could not be comfortable – and as the best nurse in the universe Edge would remove it. His phalanges met the leather cover of a book and he pulled, Edge had never personally looked in Sans’ secret notebook, but he knew the font well enough to decipher that this was probably his.
He didn’t know what his mate was doing with this, Sans never let anyone even touch the stupid thing.. he looked through the pages quickly, each page documenting failed experiments and each skeleton that had been pulled through and then two new pages documenting.. the humans that lived with them.

His eyelights took in the sickly sweet hearts that Sans had drawn unconsciously drawn around the photograph of Zara and the little note in the margin of his notebook ‘Majority kindness Souls are trustworthy, CHECKed her when she first arrived. No need to be worried, she won’t hurt anyone.’
Edge grimaced at the words, huffing at the feeling in his soul that told him that was a completely wrong statement, and swiftly turned the page. He could feel himself warming at the picture Sans had chosen – It was one he had taken while she coming out of the shower, hair wet and muscles fully on display.. with scars marring her pretty _____ skin – which only made her more enticing..

Edge shook his skull, cheekbones flushing deep red as he turned his attention to the writing on the outskirts of the page.

‘Justice can be warped.. I have checked her soul and there is no indication that she has any ill intention toward the house.. but Zara has given me enough viable evidence from many sources saying she isn’t trustworthy. I’ll allow her to stay until she proves actively dangerous.

We can’t have another Frisk.’

Chapter Text

Mutt leant his skull on the hardwood of Gilby’s bar, the establishment had closed over three hours ago but when Mutt showed up at the door crying and mumbling incoherently.. Grillby had sighed and let him in.
For the first hour Grillby had refused to give alcohol.. but when Mutt tried to explain the situation and began t claw at his own arms and ribcage from the overwhelming anxiety that filled his skull he had given in and allowed a few bottles of green magic cider to help him relax.

‘’A-ann’ den, I figured it all out! Ev’rythin’ jus’ clicked in mah head.. A- an’ I CHECKed her SOUL. She was gonna hurt that kid-!’’
Grillby flared up at the confession, the top of his head scorching the white ceiling – Not only had Asgore signed a treaty that Monsters weren’t supposed to ‘violate’ humans by CHECKing them but with this violation of rules.. Mutt had found out his future mate was going to hurt a monster child.

Mutt heaved a dry sob, clutching the bottle in his phalanges so tightly it cracked. Grillby quickly levelled out his magic, the bright blue plume he had become gently softening to a deep red – as an elemental monster, Grillby was more in tune with his own and other monsters magic and was able to influence the magic concentration and feelings.. and his shock and horror had clearly hurt Mutt even more.
Grillby laid a flaming hand on his shoulder, crackling calming words in his font.

He should call someone soon.. it was coming up for 3:00am and Grillby had to open early tomorrow and if he was magic deprived, he would not be able to work with his usual bubbly efficiency his patrons were used to. Mutt laid in a puddle of his own plum-colored tears, sobbing gibberish into the hard wood of the bars counter so Grillby quickly reached under the bar and pulled out his ancient, beat-up landline – one of his most prized souvenirs from the underground – but stopped when he realized that Mutt would probably not want Black to see him drunk and crying.. especially if he was currently still skull in pelvis over that Jerry of a woman.

A card fluttered from underneath the phone, landing on the tiled floor. Grillby picked it up and flipped it over, his mind sparking as he realized who the card contacted – The Human _____ and her friend- Jeffery? Johnny? Jesse!

His finger dragged the dial through _____’s phone number, twirling the cord around his freehand as he waited for her to pick up.. but the phone toned with the tell-tale sign of a missed call, he huffed – looking over at Mutt who was now hugging the bottle close and whispering apologies, dialing the number quickly again.
And luckily, it picked up.

‘’WHAT?’’

That’s not a voice Grillby thought he would hear, and not a voice her had heard much at all. He shook himself out of his stupor and sputtered his name into the receiver. He could hear Edge mull his fiery tongue around in his skull before answering.
‘’ What Do You Want. _____ Is Unavailable Currently.’’

Mutt began to whine again, leaning across the bar to grab at Grillbys sleeve, begging him not to call Black – Edge sighed on the other end of the phone, shuffling and whispering to someone on his end. ‘’ I Will Be There In Ten Minutes Exactly. Have Him Outside In Eight Minutes.’’ He growled, barking something intelligible to an equally growly voice.
Grillby thanked him quickly and put the phone down, pulling Mutt back onto the bar stool, hissing that Edge was coming and not Black so he needed to be ready for him to arrive. He wiped the tears from his sockets with a napkin and pushed the puffer jacket back onto his shoulders, distracting him with a stray spark of flame so he could pry the bottle from his clutched claws.

Grillby waited outside with a wavering Mutt and just as Edge said, he arrived in exactly 10 minutes – Stepping out of the sleek, black sports car, sharply dressed for the hour and grimacing at the sight of Mutts tear-streaked skull and little grabby hands.
‘’Thank You For Your Hospitality, I Know My Brother Well Enough That Dealing With A Drunk Teleporting Skeleton Is Incredibly Hard.’’

Grillby nodded in appreciation, gently nudging Mutt into Edges outstretched claws, crackling how it wasn’t so difficult – except for some worrying information Edge should ask Mutt about..
Edge nodded as he hauled Mutt into the towel covered passenger seat, thanking him again for his help. Walking back to his side of the car with a final goodbye as Grillby congratulated him on his new child.
He could see the red glow of his blush through the tinted glass as they pulled away from the bar and made their way back home.

Grillby needed to tell someone of the danger those skeletons and human could be in.

…

Edge sat in silence for a few minutes, driving at a much slower speed as Mutt mumbled into the fluff of his hood.
Edge nagged at himself to ask what Grillby meant, what was wrong with Mutt and why did he refuse his brothers company – Red didn’t like getting a stern talking to by Edge, but he would rather have his brother take him home than anyone else, even if they weren’t on the best terms.

Edge took a deep breath in through his nasal cavity and opened his jaws. ‘’What Did Grillby Mean Whe-‘’
‘’He- eyyy, dis is where _____ An’ me ran inta da forest!’’

Edges fangs clicked shut, slowing the car till it was just crawling along the floor. He hummed to prompt conversation, allowing Mutt to continue with his muddled memories and thoughts.
Mutt frowned as he looked into the dark wood, his sharp claw pointing to a small break in the trees.

‘’ She was really fast.. An den she was panickin’ like I do- an she needed someone ta talk to and then she..’’
His eyesockets fluttered as they filled with tears, his skull leaning against the window as he stuttered through the beginning of his story.

‘’She told me dat.. Years ago, She and Zara were bes’ friends and-‘’

…

Edges SOUL growled in anger and pain.
He was going to gain some LV.

Chapter Text

Red watched over his..? human with apprehension, since Edge left she had been coming in and out of consciousness – growling something so quiet to herself or to him that he couldn’t hear a word.
His phalanges twitched as she pushed herself up again, her eyes barely open and blinking feverishly golden as she tried to focus on anything on the room. Her eyes seemed to lock with his and she stopped, swaying slightly as she practically peered into his soul.
‘’You okay..?’’ Red grumbled, clicking his claws before her emotionless face.. he didn’t want to get too close, not only the anxiety of overstepping any boundaries his kind-of mate had, but also the animalistic and magically heated sniffing she was aiming toward his close palm.

He was starting to blush; he could feel it on his cheekbones and even burning in his mark - her intense stare and the soft crackle of feverish magic that prickled against his bones making him squirm uncomfortably.
She grabbed his hand gently, her palm glistening with sweat but ice cold where his bone met her skin. Red grumbled something along the lines of ‘yer fuckin freezin’ before allowing her to drag him next to his brother’s nest, Red had to pry his hand out of her grip before she could pull him into the private collection of clothes and blankets (A sweet memory running through his skull as he realized his brothers nest resembled the one Red had taught him to make during his first heat).
‘’Can’t go in dere. I ain’t stupid, Paps would kill me.’’

She seemed to not be listening, tugging him once more before falling back into the pile of pillows that Edge had lovingly piled around her head. Her eyes blinked slowly, not really taking in anything around her, not even the thoughts in her own head it seemed.. Red shuddered slightly, pulling his tattered jacket close to his body as a chill came over him, he watched her settle again and fall asleep – the golden glow of her eyes still pushing past the crease in her eyelids.

Red was always fascinated with humans, the softness so unlike fur and the pounding of organs completely unique to the upperworld. He read his fathers books on humans before and after he disappeared, and now he was here – he sought many human comforts of course and tried to settle down..
But now he knelt beside one of the most feared fables of his home, bearing a mark that meant he was hers with heated crimson cheekbones and surrounded by hims and his brothers and even a nephew in the weirdest pack monsters had ever documented.

Red laid beside the blanket pile, staring at the cream ceiling with a clear skull, taking in the smell of Timber and Ketchup from Sans, mossy and something raw from both metallic smelling Horror brothers even the fresh magic smell, still deciding what it was coming from Eras.
Red was an idiot for wanting to get rid of the smell of Honey and Sea salt, now that he was practically next to it – the only one awake and basking in it soft warmth he couldn’t help but chastise himself.

He had tried to like Zara’s smell, he really did! her soul had chirped like the birds at dawn but had the smell of overripe fruit in a painfully hot sun. He tried to convince himself the submissiveness and smell were good for him, something to protect when Edge was independent.
He loved her, he.. still loved her – she seemed like she cared when they met. A-and he knows she treated him below the standard for a human pack / polyamorous relationship, he knew that competing for one person’s attention wasn’t healthy, but he couldn’t shake the anxiety and pain that filled his chest cavity when he thought about officially seeking comfort and protection from someone else.. he already despised himself for keeping his marking a secret, but he didn’t want her to abandon him if she thought he was unfaithful.

He felt broken when he found himself wanting her to be with him again, why couldn’t he get over it already – he wasn’t obsessed with her like that pompous general or following her around like Stretch and the lap dog.. he was just, wrong. Trying to find love from someone he knows can be awful to people – to the person who had reached over the nest wall and was now linking her fingers with his.

His mark burned again, a chill shooting down his spine as he pushed away from his self-deprecation. He squeezed her hand tight, pulling himself into the barrier that separated them. His eyes once again scanning their little sanctuary.
Sans was sprawled out on Red’s beanbag, huffing short fizzing breaths – Red has tried his best with blue and green magic, but _____’s magic had sent Sans into the early stages of his heat.. Red should know the signs, but it didn’t hurt to check – foggy eyelights. Check. Loud Soul. Check. The whimpering and whining. Yep. He was a horny little monster for the tall, scary mage.

And now he was thinking about heat symptoms.. it seemed he was too.
Sweat beading across his brow bone made him scarily aware of the succession of days where every skeleton in this house would either be at tooth and fang with each other or rubbing one out on a pillow. And now with two marks in the house – even if one was still widely unknown – magic levels, including subconscious protective, alpha magic from the mage squirming beside him, would turn this house into that one movie Mutt really liked.. Fight Place? Eh, he didn’t care to remember, he was barely watching it with Zara in his lap.

And Zara would be terrified, skeleton monster fights got dangerous, even for people outside of an ENCOUNTER. Humans didn’t have these instincts and cycles and even with minimal time on the surface, humans had already stigmatized it and made it taboo to talk about – something monsters used to be proud of, now a sign of weakness, like a twisted version of his home.
Zara wasn’t a big fan of monster customs either, no food that didn’t look human-like, no activities that weren’t suitable for human babies and especially no visiting any monsters other than his family.
She had only ever been to Grillby’s once.

Red wouldn’t lie, he was nervous about both human reactions – now that _____ was his technical mate, she had the responsibility of keeping him safe from hostility and any wandering monster from snatching him up and..
He shook his skull quickly, shrugging off his jacket as his bones flushed red. She also had the responsibility.. and right, to go on a sexcapade with him.
He knew she wasn’t like that; it wasn’t in her body to take without asking.. but with the slow fog that whispered in his skull and the sound of her drum-like soul beat thumping where his ears would be, he couldn’t help but feel a little unopposed to the idea..

His phalanges drifted slowly south absentmindedly, just teasing the waistband of his basketball shorts when he snapped out of his stupor. The front door slammed open, two very different sets of footsteps making their way into the living room.
The other skeletons in the room began to stir and awaken as well. Red pulled his hand back up to his chest quickly, huffing quiet and quick breaths to try and cool off his suddenly boiling bones.

He slipped his hand from _____’s, resting his radius across his sweaty brow bone as he silently berated himself. He had a girlfriend still for stars sake! He couldn’t be touching himself to the thought of his accidental and probably unwilling mate doing a painstaking job out of pity for him or his little brother.. who she actually loved.

What was he doing..?

Chapter Text

Edge growled under his breath, Mutt stumbling after him with his hand locked between the taller monsters’ phalanges. Mutt’s purple, worn sneakers making dirty tracks on blacks newly polished floor in his effort to try and stop the murderous skeleton.
‘’C’mon Edge! Stop. You promised you wouldn’t try an’ kill anyone!’’

‘’I LIED.’’
His usual harsh tone had returned, Mutts own grating voice an uneven match to the downright devilish anger that coated Edges fangs. His phalanges now gripping onto the wet leather of Edges jacket to pull him back from the stairway that glowed red with the glowing magic that dripped from Edges only remaining lit eyesocket. ‘’We can talk about it! I- I was overreacting earlier.. She pro-obably had no idea!’’
Mutt didn’t believe the words that escaped his teeth, he had seen his girlfriends SOUL. The culmination of her being. She had intended to harm the kid.. and had probably intended to hurt _____ back when they were friends. But he couldn’t just let Edge kill her! That would open a whole new, much harder to cover, can of worms.. Mutt shuddered at the thought of prime Sans finding out they had disobeyed one of his most sacred rules.

Where was Sans anyway?-

‘’Edge, Stop!’’
There was no stopping this skeleton it seemed, Edge growled as he pulled the whimpering pile of bones up the stairs behind him, his glowing eyelight casting an ominous light across the walls and shimmering in the reflection of the window in front of him. He couldn’t hear any movement from the rest of the house’s inhabitants, not even the scrabbling of bone on hardwood as he pounded on Zara’s pseudo room.
Mutt was still pulling on his leather sleeve; he would make him pay for it if it ripped – It was the first jacket he wore around _____. Edge didn’t have many significant items, but this was definitely one of them.
‘’LET GO OF ME DOG. OR I WILL HAVE YOUR COCCYX ON A SPIKE NEXT.’’

There was a deep growl from the shorter him. Though not as strong, Mutt had almost the same LV and EXP level Edge and Red did, they came from similar worlds and had to preform similar.. jobs.
He could feel the fizzle of magic run through his bones and in his marrow. ‘’Edge, you cant hurt her. You made a promise when you surfaced.’’

Edge grumbled, turning back to the eerily silent door. He knew Mutt was right, he wasn’t stupid. And Sans would have his skull if he hurt a human.. even if it was Zara (Especially if it was Zara since Edge was still sure they were together).
The grimace on Edges skull softened, his eyelighhts returning to their usual size and scowl. He was going to not kill the human who hurt the only person who he saw as his equal, his mate, the mother to their child.. he was just going to have an intellectual talk and maybe expose her twisted human ways to the rest of the home that was still stupidly blinded by a pretty smile and a flashy green soul.
Soul colors didn’t matter if the human themselves saw their actions as reflective of their primary trait.

‘’FINE. But This Matter Needs To Be Addressed Immediately, Before My Patience Runs Out.’’
Mutt nodded in agreement, pacifying the surface level anger that still bubbled in his eyelights.

Mutt moved forward, eyelights still trained on Edges taller figure. Surprisingly, no one had come to the door, not even with Edges not so quiet death threats and the presence of Mutts fizzling magic that clung to the carpet and curtains.
His phalanges knocked softly, tracing the woodgrain with his eyelights to distract himself of the anxiety and the still dizzying feeling of magic alcohol in his non-existent stomach.

After ten seconds of silence, Mutt could hear Edges foot start to tap impatiently, his fangs clicking together as he ‘tsk’ed and huffed.
Mutt gave him a nervous upturn of teeth, knocking again more urgently when Edges right eye flashed a dangerous red.

Again, there was no answer and Edges patience seemed to snap, the crackle of magic was Mutts only warning before the door was broken open with a large bone stuck through the center. ‘’Edge!’’
Edge either didn’t hear him.. or ignored him completely as he marched into the room, a magical bone clenched tight in one of his clawed fists.

The room was completely empty, all stuff (except a few stray makeup brushes and items of clothing) had been taken out of the room. Edge snarled deeply as he checked under the desk, behind the curtain and even in the giant wardrobe Blue and Paps had made Zara when she started bringing her stuff over to stay.
‘’The Rat Has Fled Its Hole.’’

There was slight shuffling from behind them, Edges eyelights quickly focusing on the newest member of their midnight almost-murder. Stretch groaned slightly, his fist scrubbing the sleep from his closed sockets. ‘’What’re you two doin’..?’’
Mutt flinched slightly at his friends accusing tone.. He knew this didn’t look good, especially when Edge had a record of not liking Zara, and Mutt had snarled and ran away from her like she had throttled his brother and threatened to dust him.
‘’Where Is The Human?’’

Edge demanded, the bone it his phalanges dissipating into the air as Stretch focused in on the crime duo. He looked puzzled for a second, scratching the back of his skull like he was waiting for it to click in their skulls, his eyelights pausing on both of their clueless expressions.
He sighed gently, still half asleep as he pulled out his phone. He turned the screen to face the pair, the background a selfie of him and Zara making Mutt want to retch and Edge want to smash the phone only the focus of their attention for a minute as their eyes locked with the time and date glowing in the darkness.
It was the first of October.

And suddenly something clicked, the overwhelming magic and the human gone..
‘’Black took her back to her place while we’re in heat. Don’t wanna scare ‘er off so Blacks gonna keep her company this week.’’

Edge watched as Mutt visibly deflated at the news. His brother had abandoned him for that beast during a week where the skeletons of the household were at their most violent, without even a text or note to be seen – leaving the news to be delivered by a half-asleep minion who never left his room. If Edge hadn’t broken the door down he was certain that Stretch wouldn’t have changed his filthy habits in the slightest to accommodate the relaying of betrayal.
Edge scowled at the laziest him, stomping through the empty door frame. His phalanges snagging on the hood of Mutts puffy jacket. He knew he would regret the number of skeletons so close to his mate, nest and child in the morning, but he remembered when his brother had started drinking at Grillby’s back home and had left him for days on end until his eight-year-old self had to brave the unknown alone. He didn’t want Mutt to feel as alone as he did.. not that he would ever admit it like that, to Mutt this was a tactical move by Edge to build a stronger allegiance to the monsters of the house that had grown to distrust the snaky human.

‘’Hey.. did you throw a bone through Z’s door?!’’

Chapter Text

Edge ushered Mutt into his room, his eyelights scanning the.. empty bed and beanbag..
‘’Sans..?’’
Red looked up to his little brother, phalanges ripping away from their entanglement with the humans. His body ramrod straight as his crimson eyelights locked with his brothers own similarly red ones. ‘’Oh.. Heya bro. Uh, I kept ya room clean – just how ya like it, ‘cept for the hole o’course.’’
Edges eyelights once again scanned the room, his leather jacket scrunching as he adjusted his hold on Mutt who was leaning despondently against the cold material.

‘’Where is everyone..?’’

Magic beads of sweat dotted Red’s brow bone, his body still rigid as Edge walked further into his surprisingly clean room. ‘’Well.. When-a ya got back Boss, ‘Nilla woke up and poofed, all flushed – then the two freaks made there way back downstairs under the cover of your.. whatever you was doing.. Somethin to do with.. uh- heat im guessin.’’

Edge ‘tsked’, pulling Mutt behind him as he made his way over to the nest. His mate was still out cold, but his son cooed and squealed when his little white eyelights gazed up at his tall figure, his teeny bones rattling as he became excited. Edges scowl dropped immediately, leaving Mutt to stand in his thoughts as he stepped into his nest.
His leather jacket was tucked into the side of the rest as he gestured to the empty bed and bean bag, effectively snapping the other papyrus out of his stupor and enlightening Red to their guest’s appearance. ‘’Mutt Will Be Staying Near Us Tonight. Either Here Or In Your Room – Blacks Thick Skull Has Driven Him From The House With.. Zara.’’

Red clocked the slight hesitation in his brother’s voice as he refereed to the other human in the house, either from forgetfulness or lack of needed profanity he did not want his cooing baby to hear. Mutts’ claws were pulled tight together, his sneakers rubbing silently across the polished hard wood of the floor. Deciding to lighten the mood, Red threw the taller monster a wink, patting the mattress with a summoned bone to direct his attention. ‘’I knew the house was getting’ a bit too ‘Hot ta handle’ but I didn’t realize the oncomin’ season would cause everyone ta start ‘roastin’ each other – Y’know, I think even Vanillas feelin the heat, bein in here an’ all when Zara was.’’

Edge growled out a silent curse, sockets narrowed in a deep scowl at his older brothers’ terrible puns, shielding the squealing baby like a snarling dog had lunged for them both – Even Red had to admit that the puns he was dishing out weren’t his usual sharp material, but with the small crack of a smile on Mutt’s teeth making an appearance, Red decided he could lower himself to that level.. Just once.
‘’Kinda thought ya’d want ‘em gone before ya got home.. ya know, time with ya family.’’

‘’You Are My Family Too.’’
Even though Edges skull hadn’t moved from its hidden position, Red could see the reflection of crimson magic on the skull of the kid. ‘’Awww Pap-‘’

Sniff..

Both skeletons turned slowly, twin pairs of crimson eyelights taking in the lavender tears that stained Mutt’s cheekbones. Mutt was crying.
‘’Ah shoot buddy, I didn’t mean ta-‘’ Mutt’s fist clenched the sheets, pulling them tight in his grip. His jaw clenched tight enough that purple magic had started to gather at the crevices of his teeth and the hinges of his jaw to soften the abuse. The plum-colored tears dripping onto the white blankets beneath him.

..He felt so alone..

Red’s gaze flickered between the distressed skeleton and his slightly shocked, and very uncomfortable brother that was looking at him in an almost identical worried and confused manner – Mutt’s magic had begun to fill the room, the smell of overripe plums and burnt barbeque, his SOUL pulsing through the fabric of his hoodie and trails of magic twisting around the cracks and splinters in his bones. Eras squealed, pulling all distressed skeletons attention toward him, his eyelights glowing a vibrant, and very familiar, gold.

After a minute Mutt’s panic began to simmer, his magic curling around his bones less like a hostile snake and more like the tentacles of an octopus moving across the seabed. The silhouette of his SOUL dimming to a soft purple that began to blend with his deep violet hoodie. Red appeared beside him suddenly, tentatively patting his back. This was not something Red had to do in.. what felt like forever..
Eras was cooing from his place over Edges shoulder, his eyes blinking through each shade of gold that he could muster in his young age. Edge was in his head, probably comparing the golden glow of his sons eyelights to the same golden glow that escaped past his still unconscious mates eyelids – probably thinking how he could tie gold into his own outfits, Edge was always a stickler for matching outfits, Red had been forced to wear a clunky, red dog collar for years underground, not only to symbolize Edges protection but to also match with the tattered red scarf Edge always wore underground.

Mutt’s sniffling had come to a stop, watching the edgy skeletons soft moments.. silent tears slowly drying against his quartz bones. His phalanges clutching his humerus as his bones rattled, the burning smell of magic began to settle in the carpet and curtains – the room smelling like a summer barbeque left out too long.

‘’M sorry.. alcohol, y’know..’’

Red gave him an unconvinced look, being very familiar with alcohol himself.. and equally as familiar with breakdowns, he knew this wasn’t because of alcohol absorbing into magic.. this was pain.
‘’You Have Been Acting Quite Sober When We Arrived. You Are Afraid Of What Will Happen; This Is Your First Heat Without Your Brother Here To Protect You.’’

Mutt went silent again. Reds eyes shooting to Edge with disapproval, even Red knew how to read a room – and he was the most inconsiderate bastard he knew!
Mutt gave a small nod, slipping off the bed and settling at the edge of the large nest, Red following close behind in disbelief. ‘’I’ve never been on my own.. Sa-Black was always there to protect me and help me handle the excess magic.. But he left me.. without even a note, f-fer someone wh-who..!’’

He sighed quietly, his clenched fists lowering into his lap, his eyelights raising to meet the comfortingly familiar face of Edge. Eras’ little skull peeking through the gap between his clavicle and the bottom of his jaw, a little golden tongue poking from between his sharp baby teeth. Mutt smiled and wiped the tears from his sockets, thanking both Red and Edge quietly, his eyes lingering on the soft movement from the humans’ chest.

A shudder ran down his spine, his eyelights disappearing at the startling shock of magic that built in his soul.. Panic raced through him as he realized, again, what day it was. A purple flush made its way onto his cheekbones, an uncomfortable feeling of intrusion as both Edges and Reds marks flared a deep red with their own surge of extra magic. Red groaned deeply, scratching at his sternum angrily as his SOUL audibly pulsed in his chest and Edge sighed exasperated with dull feelings of a not-quite-heat heat – Monsters wouldn’t have as much excess magic after they had a child, the excess magic still being siphoned into their new-born until they could eat magic infused food instead.. though, from the looks of Edges flushed skull, it seemed that there was still the undeniable, itch of heat deep in his bones.

The room filled with the scent of magic, strong and uniquely theirs – Plum, cherry and cinnamon mixing with the sudden overbearing and yet oh-so alluring smell of honey and sea salt.
The golden glow had dimmed from below them, the unconscious magic that bottled in _____’s SOUL now released as one protective wave of magic that coated and covered Mutts earlier distressed smell. A deep gasp escaped the humans’ lips, lunging up into a sitting position – eyes unfocused and blearily looking around the room, her hand flailing around beside her before Edge caught it in hiss free claws.

And suddenly, the memories came flooding back,
A dopey grin making its way onto her face as her mind processed the skeletons that sat beside her. Her hair was tangled and stuck out at odd angles and there was a small, dried spot at the corner of her mouth from where she had started drooling in her sleep.. and Mutt would never say anything aloud, chalking it up himself as his heat focusing on the first thing that gives him comfort instead of something serious..

But he couldn’t help but feel his SOUL pulse in tune with hers or the throbbing sensation in his magic and along his clavicle.. Just friends.

Chapter Text

A hand reached into the darkness, flexing and grasping at the dry darkness that surrounded it. Not yours, though very attached to the numb arm that led to where you drifted in the nothing. As if someone else was moving it for you..

Suddenly you felt the hot burn of a hundred needles poking the inside of your bones, the hand recoiling into your chest? you hissed but no sound escaped you. You tried to struggle, but you couldn’t move. You tried to call for help..

But nobody came.

The darkness was closing in, not that you could really tell, the blackness of the void never changing even though you could feel the void closing in. The darkness seemed to swallow the color from your skin. Dark, darker, yet darker. A familiar golden glow the only color keeping you from drowning in the sea of nothingness – almost an anchor compared to the chilling darkness that curled around your ankles and throat, tugging you in each direction almost testing you, watching for a sign that their imposing touches would drag you down.

You dared not move, your eyes staring solely at the bright.. that wasn’t your SOUL..?

A windless shudder flew down your spine, a breath of cold air rushing down the bare skin of your neck. You could feel nothing and everything at once, an undeniable presence snagging at your hair and whispering nothing into your ears. It was familiar, like a memory long forgotten coming back in small parts, like fragments of light shining through a crack in the wall of a cave..

The golden star pulsed above you. In your stupor you hadn’t realized how tight the presence had wrapped itself around you, how it had tugged and pulled and silently coaxed and cursed until you had lost focus and it had started to pull you down.

The hand reached out again, this time by your control alone. Your lungs had finally regained their feeling, though now each non-existent breath you took was by your own consciousness and the pressure now engulfing you turning an easy task into a painful battle. There was no oxygen here, you could remember the feeling of air ripping itself from your lungs as you struggled to hold on to something.. someone?

Your body jerked as you were tugged lower and away from the golden star, the grey skin of your hand blindly reaching out again – your mind finally focusing on the one goal, the hundreds of voices that silently whispered in your head, telling stories and puling your attention away, had become deafeningly loud - The pulling and suffocating now desperate and sorrowful, crying out. But you couldn’t hear them.. there was nothing there.

Your hand grasped the golden glow of the star, your finger smoothing over its glass-like surface. The pulsing of the star had not changed in beat or rhythm – it laid heavily in the cold nothing without bother. There was a deep heat within the star, trapped between the layers of crystal magic..

Magic?

Fear shot through your bones; you had lost focus again..

You flinched and cowered away from the expected onslaught of void that tried to take you.

But nothing happened.

Your feet floated beneath you freely, your throat now only surrounded with the memory of anger and cold. You pulled yourself closer to the star, curling around its protective aura as you sat in silence – not even your own voice to fill the empty abyss that covered the expanse of space and time.

You could feel your eyes shutting, sliding across your eyes like heavy doors. You tried to keep yourself awake, clutching the star once you realized your grip had loosened. The presence had returned, hovering above you as if sensing the creeping unconsciousness that muddled with your thoughts.

You couldn’t breathe, you could barely think.

You really wanted to go to sleep.

There was a soft lullaby buzzing in your ear, whispers returning as your grip loosened against the smooth surface of the star.

And suddenly you were falling again. Your fingers no longer pulling the warmth to your chest and instead floating at your sides.

The whispering now violent screams of desperation and anger and the lullaby ripping your eardrums apart – you screamed but no sound escaped you. Fingers of nothing grappled to your skin, tugging you down with newfound vigor and strength.

The body now surrounding you, in every airway and pressing into your eyes. There was no more gold, no more grey – not even as you brought your hands up to defend yourself.

You thought you could feel your hands sinking into the slime like flesh. You tried to recoil but you seemed stuck within the mass, sinking into the consuming nothingness.

Your eyes flew through the infinite, searching for a hint of safety – that little golden light.. But there was nothing there.

Your vision was hazy, and your body began to spasm, the mass now consuming half of your body and choking you slowly. Your lungs were weighed down with the void and your eyes were coated in the sticky substance of emptiness, your eyelids began to shut – the useless shield sliding over the painful coldness that swallowed you. You tried to pull way, you tried to hit the thing away.. you didn’t know your life, but you knew you couldn’t leave whoever was out there alone.

Stars.. Please..

…

‘’You Are My Family Too.’’

A pale hand pushed through the darkness, gripping your useless hand and tugging with inhuman strength. The thing screeched as it was ejected from your lungs, the stickiness from your eyes trailing down your grey cheeks in black tear streaks.

It lunged for you, ripping through your flesh and biting into the bone of your arm.

You screamed silently. The hand not covered in your cold, black blood finding leverage in an unexpected hole through the hand pulling you through the void.

You cried as the thing ripped the skin from your arm, the only thing now keeping you from passing out now was the stubborn, scratchy voice that echoed in the otherwise empty silence.

‘You Must Go Home. You Can’t Be Here Yet.’

You didn’t hear the voice like you could hear the familiar gravelling tone. Instead, you saw it.

An unexpected series of symbols and hand signs flashing before your still fuzzy vision.

Where were you..? Who was this..?

Where is your family?

You jolted in the persons hold, blood gushing from the open wound of your arm as you opened your mouth to speak. But no sound escaped.. of course, idiot, it’s the void. No air, no sound. Red told you something like that the first time you got here.

Red!

Your eyes were adjusting to the darkness again and they were immediately drawn to your savior.

They were cloaked in the nothing that surrounded you both and you were suddenly met with the familiar feeling of bone gripped in you fingers. You tried to look to their face, your pupil dilating as you took in one large crack in the side of their skull, but as you tried to take in more of their detail you were suddenly blinded again by the bright golden light of the star.

‘’You Must Go Now, Before It Comes For You Again.’’

The words commanded you voicelessly, a sharp phalange tapping the sharp tip of the stars point.

You looked at the smooth magic item, your hands cupping its pulsing form. You tried to leave but you didn’t know how.. useless.. worthless..

Stay here, you’ll never be worthless again.

They don’t need you. Stay with us.. You only bring them SUFFERING.

‘I Will Aid You. But You Must Go.

You Must Not Forget Those You Have Promised To Protect.’

A hand shielded your eyes from both the gilded light and the tantalizing darkness, reaching out to take your hand in theirs once again, the hole in their palm acting as a window to the safety away from here..

Stay..

You grabbed their hand hesitantly, pulling yourself away from the whispers that soothed the pain in your chest and wounds. You felt the aches return to your joints as they pulled you close, the thumping of a headache on the inside of your skull now putting pressure on your temples.

But you didn’t give it a second thought as you copied the persons movements, hovering your hand above the stars point and suddenly closing your hand around its glassy surface – smashing it between your fingers as a warm darkness surrounded you.

You looked up into the darkness, the sweet smell of fruit and forest filling your lungs as a stark contrast to the scentless, dry air of your dream.

Edge hovered over you, a cherry red blush upon his cheekbones – his eyelights dilated as he watched you come to consciousness. Eras was balanced over his shoulder, a golden tongue poking from between his fangs as he gave you a dopey smile. Red was watching you from beside Mutt, keeping his gaze off you as he subtly scootched closer and Mutt was watching you hesitantly, his phalanges shaking in a way that you thought he wanted to hug you.

Your head was pounding, and there was a painful ache in your joints. Your throat ached and there were phantom pains dancing across your unharmed legs and arm. You could barely move. But you didn’t hesitate to come back here.

You had to look after your family.

Chapter Text

Mutt’s head slumped against your thigh, his phalanges clinging to the fabric of your newly donned pajama shorts. Red’s hand was clutched the bare skin of your leg, pulling it just outside of the nest so he could cuddle it and snoring deeply against the soft material of Mutts hoodie.
So that left your small family awake.

Eras, who was now showing off a scowl so uncanny to Axes you could barely breathe, had stubbornly refused to go back to sleep, and Edge had decided to stay up only because ‘You Would Cower In The Dark’ without him.
You wouldn’t say he was wrong, the initial shock wasn’t there, but that dream – one you could now scarcely remember - had grabbed you by the shoulders and violently shook you, like you were an insignificant toy to a vengeful child, and now your mind was awake. But you were grateful for the company.
Especially one so cute.

Edge was blushing bright red at a less than family friendly flirt you had sent his way, waggling your eyebrows and shooting him a coy wink. Eras, taking joy in his fathers flustered spluttering, squeaked and bounced in his arms, tiny fists thrown in the air as he threw himself backward.
You, of course, tried to snatch your child from his free fall, but Edge, without blinking, scooped your baby back into his arms and up to his red painted face.

‘’You Have The Self Preservation Skills Of Your Mother.’’ He growled, giving you a very pointed look. You had tried to tell him you weren’t hurt from your burst of magic you could barely remember but you hadn’t moved your arm since you awoke. There was no visible wound, and Mutt had used green magic on you, so you knew it wasn’t broken, but there was a phantom pain that shot through your muscles and skin that made moving it.. less than ideal.
You tugged your boys close with your working arm laughing quietly as to not wake the exhausted skeletons. ‘’C’mon now, if I had self-preservation skills I wouldn’t have been dumb enough to woo you.’’
He took some pride out of those words, puffing his chest out and pulling your son closer to his, once again, vibrantly flushed skull.
How were you this lucky?..

His clawed hand brushed through your hair as he leant into your chest, the back of his skull lying in the crook of your neck as he bounced Eras along his ribcage. You smiled sleepily at your boys, kissing Edge on the top of his skull when your son decided to fling himself forward and press his little golden tongue against his father’s brow bone.
‘’See? He’s even got my technique down too.’’

Edges hand bounced against your skull in a mock smack, face flushing the most brilliant shade of red as you laughed. Clearly, he had taken your words in a less than family friendly meaning.
‘’Edge, you pervert! I meant my flirting, not my bed skills!’’ You all but gasped out, wheezing so harshly that the air in your lungs burned with amusement. Edges face was turning an embarrassed crimson at your words and at the realization that you did not intend to remind him of your sons’ conception.
‘’I- No, I WOULD NE- I-I Mean.. YOU- SILENCE AT ONCE. STOP. STOP LAUGHING.’’

This, of course, only made you laugh harder, clutching your chest with your painfully tingling fingers. And Eras, finding his fathers embarrassment and your laughter equally amusing began to giggle too, fingers gripping his father’s undershirt as he bounced happily in his arms.
You cackled unattractively, watching as Edges scowl deepened at your teasing. His hand pushed your cheek away, grumbling profanities quietly as you gasped for breath.
‘’Our Son Has More Class Than You And He Doesn’t Eat Solid Foods.’’

‘’You Are Insufferable.. The Sans’ Humor Is Better Than Yours.’’ His fangs twisted upward in a cocky smile, snickering under his breath as you gasped indignantly at him.
Your fingers flexed against your chest, grunting as you moved your aching arm to rest across your lover’s ribcage. ‘’You wound me my dear, I thought you loved me.’’ You whined against his skull, lips brushing over where his ear would be if he had any. His face bloomed a deep shade of red, avoiding your heated gaze as he nuzzled his spine into your chest, letting out a whine as he pressed his burning face into Eras’ little blue onesie - Eras gripped your hair in his teeny fist, giggling to himself as the strands ran through the gaps in his bones, his other hand coiling around Edges marked clavicle, his little eye sockets drooping sleepily.
This was perfect.

…

‘’I Love You.’’

You looked over at Edge, Eras now nuzzled against his chest cooing sleepily up at you both. His eyelights were tracing every detail of your face. His own skull now gently sharp, the harsh blush on his cheekbones now a soft pink as he held your hand to his chest tenderly.

You smiled, squeezing his hand – ignoring the sharp pain that shot through your arm – Leaning toward him and capturing his teeth in a gentle kiss.
He sighed against your lips, pressing closer to you still as he relaxed in your hold. You didn’t have many tender moments with Edge, there were only certain moments of the day where you could be ‘alone’ together - ever the workaholic, Edge was usually thinking about his job, or at his job.
‘’I love you too.’’
But you were glad that this moment was something your family could share – even with two sleepy skeletons still clinging to your legs.. and the sudden pressure of your human bodily functions.

‘’But I have to relieve myself, less the Great and Terrible Edge wants me to wet myself.’’
You cooed against his skull, watching as his skull scrunched with disgust – moaning about how gross humans were as he ushered you away from his precious nest and helped pull Red and Mutt off of you.
You blew him a kiss, watching the room flare red as you left.

You really loved what you had.. Even if you didn’t really understand why Mutt was there, he kinda just kept to your side silently, you were worried about him and you whispered that you would talk with him in the morning – he was usually hanging around Black or Stretch at this time so his clinginess to your side was welcomed, but unusual..

…

You walked through the hallway, quietly making your way to the bathroom with the soft ambience of Axe and Sugars snores echoing from the living room. You were quick in the bathroom, sitting quietly for a moment as the different smells of the house suddenly penetrated under the door and into your head.
You splashed water on your face, scrubbing at your eyes to refocus your mind on the menial task of brushing your teeth.. but the smell of blueberry muffins and caramel was really.. really strong.

You switched the light off, fingers pressing against your temple as you made your way back through the hallway, with the feeling of eyes upon your person making you walk slightly faster than you usually would. The smell of caramel and blueberry muffins suddenly crashing against your body as something, quite literally this time, crashed against you.

Arms wrapped around your body as you fell to the floor, you tried to yell but your senses were overwhelmed with the buzzing of magic so only a yelp escaped you. You tried to push the person.. persons? above you off, but your good arm was trapped beneath your chest and your free arm screamed with pain as you tried to move it.

‘’Terribly Sorry..’’

Chapter Text

There was an imprint of your body getting pulled across the floor, fading away already as you were dragged more kicking than screaming toward the dark void of someone’s room – you tried to grab the smooth floor, your hands sliding with a squeal as the foggy imprint, being the only evidence of your in-home kidnapping, disappeared.

‘’He-hey! Guys!’’ You yelped, disorientated as you were pulled into a very large nest – Immediately, with the help on a small nightlight, you could see the collaboration of oranges and blues that made up your very comfortable prison. ‘’Blue? Papyrus!’’

The offending skeletons ignored you as they snuggled into your body, purring sweetly into the side of your throat. You tried to get up, pushing yourself to your feet before immediately getting pulled back into Papyrus’ lap, Blues glowing magic tongue running through your hair as he groomed you.
‘’Boys!’’

Again, you were ignored.
The smell of their magic was making you dizzy, more so now that Papyrus’ jaw nuzzled against your clavicle and his tongue salved over the crook of your neck and Blue was licking over your throat and down toward your chest. Your face bloomed with your rushing blood as Blue made his way to the top of your breasts, your hand coming up to push Blues head up and to push Papyrus’ head away with an unfocused snarl. ‘’Enough!’’

If these skeletons were any animal, they would be puppies; Tails between their legs and ears pressed tight to their skulls as they whined, holding you close to both of their – unnoticed till now – shirtless ribcages. ‘’Please Human.. Stay..’’
You felt a jolt rush through your body - the whiny, desperate deepness of Sans’ voice against your neck sending electricity through your bones. ‘’Its Too Hot.. Human.. Stars..’’ Papyrus’ usually boisterous voice now quiet and breathy against your ear, his – luckily – clothed pelvis pressing against the softness of your hip desperately.

‘’You’re in heat, boys. Just, lemme get up and I’ll be able to get one of your brothers to help.’’
Blue let out a little growl, almost like a kitten, at your suggestion and Papyrus’ hold on you tightened. And something clicked in your head – Heats clearly put these skeletons into a primal state.. and with the way Papyrus was grinding his pelvis against your hipbones, they were clearly focused on going on.. a sexcapade with you.
You decided to experiment with their foggy skulls, it wasn’t like you were going anywhere. Your lips pulled back to bare your teeth, growling deeply in Blues general direction.

Someone give you a degree in skeleton taming because you were a stars damned genius!

Blue mewled submissively, pressing his nasal cavity against your neck as he fell silent.
‘’Human Nooo..’’ Papyrus moaned, chasing your body with his hips as you shifted away from his blush-inducing advances. You snapped your jaws in his direction and he quickly fell still, his face pressing into the opposite side of your throat.

..Now you had a second problem..
They weren’t going to let go of you anytime soon.

Blue had sheepishly returned to grooming your face and hair, luckily keeping it above the tank top this time, and Papyrus was nibbling against the skin of your shoulder - You gave a short sigh, growling each time Pap cantered his hips or Blue moved dangerously close to your cleavage.
Your eyes were drooping with the overwhelming sensation of magic buzzing in your nose and through your body, the smell of caramel covered blueberry muffins coating the inside of your mouth. Your hand found its way to Papyrus’ skull, stroking the vibrant orange magic that stained his cheekbones, groaning deeply as you moved your aching arm to rest against your stomach.

Blue whined at the lack of attention, pressing his skull into your stomach with a warbling sigh, grooming your arm with his fizzing blue tongue.
You hoped Edge noticed your absence soon.. Though he wasn’t the best at human biology, you hoped he would piece together that humans did not take hour long bathroom breaks.

Papyrus pushed his skull into your palm, little orange tongue poking through his teeth as he nuzzled against your hand. ‘’Human.. ‘S So Hot~ Please..’’ He begged, his lanky frame pushing your body over with a yelp. You tumbled into the pillowed floor of the nest, Papyrus caging you in his arms and Blue laying on your stomach – skulls lighting up the room with the intensity of their blushes.
‘’I know its hot honey, but I can go get someone that can help. I don’t know what to do – monster heats are not my forte..’’

Papyrus huffed against your hair, grooming the side of your face that blue hadn’t reached yet, his fingers tangling with the fabric of your tank top. ‘’Noo.. Stay.’’ Blue chimed, phalanges gripping at your pajama shorts.
With the attention now off him, Papyrus pushed close, pelvis starting up in a slow grind. You opened your mouth to tell him off, but Blue began you fiddle with the waistband of your shorts, phalanges dipping just below the elastic. The smell of magic pushed through your body, making your bone marrow thrum in time with the now audible beating of the skeletons SOULS.
Damn.. You should have taken your phone..

Phone!
You looked around the nests floor from where you laid, trying to push the skeletons away – but with one arm incapacitated you were pretty much useless against their needy touches. And suddenly you caught the baby blue case of a phone hiding underneath a pillow just out of reach.
You kicked your legs out, lunging for the phone as Blue yelped and Papyrus let out a displeased growl at your movement. You grabbed the phone and flipped onto your front, hissing as your arm sparked with numb pain. Blues grabbed onto you first, his body curled atop of yours like a cat, and Pap’s tongue was immediately running against the nape of your neck once he was holding you again, luckily, both skeletons seemed unaware of the phone in your hands.

You pressed the old looking number pad, the small screen chiming as it was opened – there was an adorably low-quality background of the two skeletons fondling your behind, side hugging each other wearing little chef hats - You cooed for a millisecond and worked your way a small box icon, pressing on it with the hope that it was Blues contacts.
The screen lit up with random words, ‘Papy’s Contraband’, ‘Secret Sugar Stash’, ‘Dating Manual’, ‘Sleepover Rulebook’, ‘blues heat help’ – Heat help!

You clicked on the file, relief flooding through you at the sloppy handwriting – hoping to the stars that this was Stretches younger sibling responsibility. What you didn’t expect was a pile of clothes to tumble out of the phone and hit you in the face. You shook the fabric out of your eyes, disgruntled from the but you gripped whatever was closest to you and flung it over your shoulder. You would question the magic later.
There was pressure on your back, and even though you couldn’t see, you could practically sense the tension rising between the skeletons above you – you kept silent, hiding your head under a pillow.

Blue growled first, then Papyrus snarled back. You winced as claws imbedded themselves into your back, magic flaring in an uncomfortable mix of burnt caramel and overdone blueberry muffins.
You hissed silently as blue leapt from your back, ducking to the side when Papyrus vaulted over your body after him.

You counted to ten in your head, the process of keeping silent and small was a distressing familiarity to your life away from Ebott, but you shook that thought away as the boys behind you began to scuffle. You tossed the pillow away, arm burning as you pushed yourself up and away from the nest – sprinting past the confused, mutually-headlocked, skeletons and into the dark hallway – your eyes glancing at what you threw at them as you ran..
That was your favorite bra?!

You mentally cried as you fled. You were devastated when you thought you lost that bra forever, turns out, Stretch magically stuffed it into Blues phone for his horny time!
But you had no time to mourn your lacy best friend as something slammed into the wall behind you, the scraping of claws on the hard wood after you as you flung yourself into the next open door you could see.
You slammed it shut behind you, leaning your forehead against the cool door with a desperate sigh – squeaking when something hit the wood with a pained groan.

There was scraping against the other side of the door, desperate whines echoing under the door as the skeletons rubbed themselves across the floor.
You took a moment to catch your breath, turning to the rest of the dark room with a sudden shudder.

Maybe you could crash at Jesses place for the week..

There were orange eyelights staring at you through the darkness, the smell of honey making its way over to your rigid frame. You kept still for around ten seconds before the snapping of fangs met your ears as well as a deep, angry growl.
You mentally sighed, why couldn’t you catch a break..?

You blinked and suddenly he was gone, you froze again, your breath catching in your throat when you felt hot air rush against the back of your neck.

Stars fucking damn it.

Chapter Text

Sans could barely breathe, not that he needed to, but the air that flooded through his ribcage from the act alone would have soothed the unbearable heat in his SOUL.

His dilated eyelights flickered around the room, a soft whine leaving his teeth when he realized that he was no longer in the presence of Honey and Sea Salt, no longer in the presence of. No, no no..

You shouldn’t be thinking about her. You have a girlfriend numbskull..

He buried his nasal cavity into the fabric of his hoodie, inhaling against the soft fabric to clear his head. His phalanges clutched at the strings, pulling them tight around his skull – only letting a blue stream of light escape the small gap in his hood.

His SOUL pulsed as her smell re-entered his foggy mind, the fragrance of her angry magic filling every crevice of his ribcage and spine. God.. his hoodie was soaked in her smell.

A purr rumbled in his chest, the blue glow of his soul growing brighter as he shoved the sweet-smelling material up to his face. Magic pooled in his joints, and he shuddered as the fizzing sensation crossed his pubic symphysis. His sockets were shut tight as he shrugged his article of clothing off, throwing the fabric against his bare pillow and throwing his body against it.

His bones were rattling, and his vertebrae rumbled with uncontrollable, deep purrs. His hand shoved itself down his shorts, his fingers desperately touching and scraping against the sensitive bone. He gasps and growls and thrusts his hips at every sensation brushing over his spine, his fingers hooked inside of his pelvis as he lets out a desperate cry – would she touch him from behind or would she watch him come undone from below..?

The thought was involuntary, but it was the only coherent thought that echoed through him, the only question that soothed the painful ache of tempered excess magic. Bright blue tears dripped from his sockets, staining the balled-up wad of sheets he had shoved onto the bed a few nights ago, his tongue formed in his mouth hastily, sticking out of his parted teeth with hot billows of air escaping with ever pant and wanton moan that escaped him. She would definitely be behind him, her hands teasing his hipbones as she watched him cry with need. He would beg her to let him come, uncharacteristically hyper when it came to the idea of her hands on him.

He snarled against the sheets, balancing his skull against the bare mattress as he shoved his shorts down and pulled the mass of sheets to rub against his thrusting hips. Or maybe he’d have her under him, begging for him to feel her, to caress her, to taste her.. he’d be in control, and she would smell so delicious as he took her through his heat.

He thrust one to fast and the sheets pushed inside his pelvis, snapping on the sharp point of his coccyx. His yelp became a whorish moan, one he wouldn’t be caught dead releasing otherwise, and pushed the sheets through the cavity of bone. His phalanges were twisted in the soft fluff of his hoodie, puncturing little holes it as drool and tears coated its front.

He would relish in her whines and cries.

Liar.

He would show her who was the boss monster in this house.

Liar.

She would press his skull into the mattress and pull on his tailbone, whispering against his steaming hot bones and dragging her honey tongue across the expanse of his spine. And he would whine and cry as she showed him who was stronger, and he would take it..

Like a good boy.

He jolted as if electrocuted, his thrusts now sloppy and tired at the friction of fabric stuffed through his pelvis – the after-shower picture he’d taken of her fresh in his mind.

His position had changed, one hand still pressing the fading smell of her magic against his face and the other braced on the bed behind him as he rode the bundle of sheets like an amateur pornstar. Her hands would be on him, on his hips, and her golden eyes would be locked with his hazy ones, the slit of his sockets making it hard to see anything but the blinding blue light that flooded the room.

He would hold his hand and coo sweet nothings to him as he rutted against her, obedient when she told him to stop and when she told him to go faster. He was tired, not only from the strenuous experience of a heat but from the mental toll the past months events had taken on him.. and she would make them all go away, she would hold him close, and her teeth would be ever so gentle as they sunk into his bone and shared their magic. He could already feel the sensation of her SOUL bonding to his own, thumping one.

She would grip him tight, almost suffocating as she called him hers, like a mantra as she kissed up his bones and growled deep against his teeth to cum.

His hips stuttered and he cried out as magic burst from his soul, coating the sheets inside him with the blue sticky substance of tangible magic. His teeth were open with erratic pants and gasps, his phalanges rhythmically clutching and unclutching the (luckily) unstained material of his prized hoodie, and a deep sorrow settled in his SOUL as he realized he was alone.

He had ordered Black to get their.. Zara out of the house. And now he was fucking himself to the thought of cheating, with someone he knew would never want him like that. A-and someone he’d never want like that himself.. this was just his heat.. a onetime thing that would never have happened if his girlfriend was here.

His head dropped against the hoodie pillow, his nasal bone burying itself in the smell that barely lingered on it. This was a onetime thing..

Until his heat returned.

Chapter Text

It had been an hour in the midst of skeleton heats, and you were already done with this territorial bullshit.

Blue and Papyrus were still scratching at the door like cats but now, you had a very pissed off Stretch very close to your throat, with his teeth.

There were no thought behind his eyes as he growled at you, his body hunched over animalistically as he observed the way your breath caught in your throat. His nasal cavity was pressed right over your jugular, hot breaths ghosting across your skin as he nipped at your throat.

This mother fucker.

You were afraid he was going to bite down on your throat in his haze - you were already bruising from Blue and Papyrus’ over affectionate advances - and now you were being subjected to Stretches outwardly hostile.. affections..?

You let out a choked sound as your fears came true - his teeth sunk around your larynx, and instinctively your hands flung up to push him away. But he held close till blood began to dribble down your throat. You shoved and squeaked, adrenaline shooting through you as he began to put pressure on the open wound.

You both stumbled backward, sliding down the door with Stretch still attached to your neck, your fingers were shaking as he began to snarl into the thick blood that pooled into the hollow of your neck. You gripped as hard as you could to his hoodie, his teeth relaxing as he looked you in your eyes, your heart racing as you looked into the flaring orange eyelights, blood coating the top of your tank top and the sleeve of his hoodie – The one coherent thought rushing through your mind was how beautiful they were against the blue light of the moon.

You grit your teeth in pain as you pulled him close quickly, slamming his skull against your forehead with as much power as your shaky body could muster. Luckily, he yelped as he threw himself away from you, hand rubbing his flushed skull as he hissed and growled.

Quickly, you used the door to push yourself back onto your shaking knees, Papyrus and Blue had become irritated and it sounded like they were rotating between throwing themselves at the door and snarling at each other. You stumbled forward, looming over Stretch with your voided arm limp at your side and drying blood flaking from your throat.

You could hear yourself growl, a sound deep in your throat as you snatched Stretches hood in your good fist, you pulled him from the floor, his body curling like a kitten as you shook him – Your body was trembling with adrenaline, your mind was foggy, and it felt as if you were half in control of your body and half running on pure rage and fear.

You just wanted to go for a piss.

Stretch swung at you with his claws, trying to swing his body around to snap his jaws in your direction. His eyesockets were wide and his eyelights were shaking and sharp, his legs kicking out and catching the side of his bed, propelling you backward and onto the floor with him atop you.

His claws caught the side of your face as you fell. ‘’Stretch you mother fucker, I’m going to absolutely beat your ass when you are out of this!’’

Your voice was hoarse as you yelled, you knew he probably wouldn’t register your words, but this was a backup plan if any other skeletons were sane enough to hear your profanities and came to rescue you. You caught the side of his skull with an open palm, shoving him away without much damage to him.. you didn’t want to actually hurt him, you knew this was some territorial heat shit and he couldn’t control himself, but your neck was really stinging, like a really, really bad papercut and you were pissed.

You were conscientious of his Hp as you threw yourself atop him, slamming your hands into the wood beside his head – your void arm buzzing in pain at the movement and you had to take your weight off it as the muscles cramped and it went limp – there was a golden glow reflecting off the ivory of his bones as you roared close to his head - His eyelights were pinpricks of light and a deep whine escaped his teeth, he was looking anywhere but at you, his eyelights flickering toward the ceiling and the loud cries that echoed from behind the door.

You were breathing heavily, staring Stretch down with a scolding look. Your throat ached as dried blood covered the shallow teeth marks, but you were angrier that your tank top was ruined.

‘’Fuckin’ell Sweetheart..’’

The rough voice pulled your attention away from the whimpering skeleton beneath you, knocking his knees to the side so he couldn’t kick at you while you were distracted.

You looked over your shoulder at the crimson flushed face of Red in the corner and you couldn’t help the relieved smile that graced your lips, exhaustion flooding through your body as the adrenaline wore off. You let out a whine as you leaned on your calves, your hand resting on one of Stretches knees as you beckoned Red over.

He wandered close, not close enough to fully alert Stretch but just enough to link your fingers with his own. He pulled you from the floor to lean your weight on him, Stretches whines turning into another territorial growl, and in a split second you were back in the void.

Your head was still fuzzy from the smell of magic and the blood in your head and arm were beating like a drum through your veins, but the calm foreboding of the void filled you with numb comfort..

Maybe you should just stay here..

Just as the thought crossed your mind you were out, gasping for your breath as Red sat you at the edge of what you assumed was the nest. Your migraine had returned full force at the return of the world, and you let out a deep, pained growl, your arm flung over your eyes as you fell back into the piles of pillows and blankets. ‘’I fuckin’ hate heats.’’

‘’Y’have no idea sweetheart.’’

‘’WHAT HAPPENED.’’

You peeked from under your arm at the sleepy skeletal face of your mate, his brow bone was furrowed and even with the scowl on his face you could see that he was worried.

You reached your hand up to caress his face, watching as his breath caught between his teeth. His phalanges reaching down to trail across the bloody bitemarks in your neck, and the bruises that littered your arms and the scratch across your face. ‘’don’t I look sexy darling..?’’

‘’DO NOT JOKE. You Look Terrible.’’ His eyelights flared green as he silenced you, pulling you closer to his body so he could heal your many cuts and bruises. Red huffed and reached over, holding your harmed arm in his hand – only one red eyelight flaring the soothing lime of healing magic. ‘’I fell.’’

Edge snarled at your quip, bapping you on the head as reprimand, only forcing a hoarse laugh from between your lips – You felt like shit.. but stars did he look beautiful like that.

‘’Maybe y’should stay at that other human’s place for a little while..’’

Huh..?

Chapter Text

Edge hadn’t let go of you all night, he had fallen asleep with his claws gripping your newly adorned t shirt while you laid with Red in silence and healed.
You laid awake with the dulling pain in your arm and heart. You didn’t want to leave your boys but.. you really didn’t want to ruin another one of your outfits with your own blood and the ‘FOUL SCENT OF LESSER SKELETONS AROUSAL’ as your lovely mate put it.

You packed your stuff slowly – or at least what little stuff you had brought over to the skeletons house – all with Edge hanging onto the back of your shirt. And you had waited outside for Jesse with Edge next to you on the porch, hand in hand.

‘’Have You Acquired All Of Your Humanly Items?’’ He grumbled; his nasal cavity pressed up against your throat. You nodded and pulled him into a side hug, Eras wiggling happily in Edges lap as you snuggled together. You nudged the bags on the floor, one full of your stuff and the other..
‘’I still don’t know why Eras is coming with me? I love our boy but he’s a baby skeleton, surely it would be better for him to stay with you this week..?’’

Edge narrowed his sockets at you, gesturing a gloved hand toward the faint sound of something smashing and the scraping of bone on bone.
‘’Point taken.’’
You nuzzled your cold nose into the warmth of his leather jacket, squeezing his hand as you heard the rumble of Jesses truck pulling into the entry of the drive. ‘’Then why can’t you come with us?’’

‘’Because My Brother Has Always Cowered With Me During His Heats And I Am Now The Only One In This Retched Place That Is Competent Enough To Keep Them All Alive.’’ He growled, his fist thumping against the glass behind you as Red and Blue fell through the stairwell and began tussling on the living room rug. ‘’I JUST CLEANED IN THERE.’’
You laughed as Jesse pulled up, his long hair pulled back in a ponytail and hid hairy arms out underneath his rolled up white button-up. Ever the charmer.

‘’Howdy! How’s it goin’?’’
You smiled and stood up, greeting your friend with a crushing hug. You sighed happily into his collar at the absence of pain in your arm and the familiar scent of your buddies cologne. ‘’Ah, Jess.. I missed you.’’
You let go after a minute and you couldn’t help but smile at his embarrassed flush, his calloused hand rubbing the nape of his neck as he sheepishly greeted Edge. Some things never change~

You picked up your bags and scooped up Eras from Edges crossed arms. Your son squealed angrily as you buckled him up in uncle Jesses truck, thankfully you had left your baby car seat with him after you went shopping.
Jesse bid his goodbyes to Edge and the growling menagerie of Skeletons pressed up against the living room window and waited for you to get in so you could get set up at his place for the week.

Edge bumped his fangs against Eras’ skull before shutting the door and looking deep into your eyes, his gloved phalanges taking your soft hands in his and whining deeply. ‘’I Do Not Want You To Go, And Yet I Am Afraid That If You Stay.. You Will Only Be Hurt.’’
His crimson eyelights were flickering and his claws were trembling in yours, his gaze flickering between your entwined fingers and the blacked out windows of the truck. ‘’Well, ‘tall, dark and handsome’, its only a week - and I would rather make sweet skelebabies with you more alive than half dead.’’

His bones flushed with magic and he shoved your hands away with an indignant huff, you laughed and snatched his hands back before he stormed off back to the house. ‘’C’mon Papyrus. We’ll be back before you know it.’’
His jaw was set in a frown, but you could see the worry in his eyes. He was such a scary softy.
You reached up and pulled his skull down to press your lips to his teeth, his bones were thumping with magic, and you could see the glow of his blush through your closed eyelids. ‘’What’s wrong? You’re looking less magnificent than usual.’’

You knocked on the truck window and gave Jesse a ‘One second’ gesture as you pulled Edge away – Jesse gave you a thumbs up, his body half leaning toward where Eras was squealing, with a goofy smile on his face.
You strolled closer to the porch with Edge in tow and you gave him a pointed look. He snarled at himself, and then you – his leather jacket squeaking as he ripped his hands away to fold his arms angrily. ‘’It Is Nothing. I Am The Great And Terrible Edge, Nothing Bothers Me.’’
He refused to look at you and was instead staring angry holes into the black paint of Jesses truck, he was ignoring Blue and Papyrus’ snarling from the window and he was refusing to scold them for smudging his perfect job of polishing the glass.

You gave him a disapproving look and he glanced at you equally as disapproving back, his phalanges tapping impatiently across his arm before buckling under the heat of your glare. ‘’You’re Going To Fall In Love With That Human While You Are Gone.’’
You looked at him in confusion but stayed quiet to let him talk.
‘’ Humans Don’t Have Heats Like Monsters, These Are Annual Monster Events – Your Government Is Arguing That These Make Us More Animal Than.. Human. And You Have Known Him For Much Longer Than.. Us – The Official Dating Rulebook States That Time And Information Is Key In A Successful Relationship.. And You Have Both Of Those With Him, More Than Us.’’

You cooed at his dejected face, your hand caressing his cheekbone as you pulled his skull to look you in the eye. ‘’I’m not going to leave you, we’re mates right? I’ll tell you what The Great And Terrible Edge, when we get back I’ll take you out on a date.’’
You grinned as his eyelights dilated, the small red dots absorbing the majority of his sockets as they transformed into wobbly stars. ‘’W-WELL OF COURSE YOU WOULD WANT TO GO ON A DATE WITH THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE EDGE.’’

‘’I’ll take that as a yes.. I’ll see you in a week Papyrus, don’t miss us too much. I’ll miss you enough for us all.’’ You could feel a lump forming in your throat at the goodbye and you couldn’t help but cling to Edges leather jackets as he led you back to Jesses truck.
‘’I Will Miss You Anyway – Only To Prove That I Am Better At Missing You And Eras Than You Are At Missing Me.’’

You smiled as you buckled in the passengers seat, the window rolling down immediately as Edge closed the door behind you. You leaned forward and Edge leaned down, kissing gently before separating and sending a cheeky wave toward the snarling, skeletal faces of Blue, Papyrus and now Red. ‘’We’ll see you in a week.’’
He gave Jesse a death glare before softening and nodding, moving away from the truck as Jesse started the engine and you began to pull away from the skeleton household.

‘’I’ll See You In A Week.’’

Chapter Text

You bounced Eras on your knees, cooing at him gently as he cried. ‘’My pretty skelly, please shush..’’ you whined, pulling him to your chest and wiping away his little golden tears.

Jesses head popped over the kitchen counter as baby cries continued, a dry stalk of spaghetti hanging from his mouth. A pot was boiling on the beat up stove top and there was a bowl full of mince, herbs and sauce teetering on the edge of the countertop next to Jesses hand.

‘’You want me ta take him?’’

You sighed but shook your head, leaning your head back into the itchy red pillow, Eras still crying in your arms. ‘’I just don’t know how to stop him from crying.. maybe it’s the new place? Maybe its cuz Edge isn’t here..’’

Jesse shook his head and moved past the kitchens island, plucking Eras from your hands with a small protest from yourself and returned to the stove to stir the spaghetti. You flung an arm over your eyes, a lump forming in your throat.. you were a bad parent.

You dug the heel of your palm into your eye to stop tears from forming as Eras continued to cry, as you realized how scared you were. ‘’Woah, hey, hey, hey. Its okay.’’ Jesse startled, hastily moving the boiling pot away from the burning hob and turning the heat quickly off. He rushed over to you, kneeling in front of you while bobbing Eras in his arms.

He reached upward slowly and moved your wrist to see your face. Tears were stinging in your eyes, your knees nestled against your chest as you cried. You grabbed Jesses hand and held it between your own, watching through your tears as Jesse smiled calmly and your son cried with you.

‘’It’s okay darlin’, let it out.’’

‘’I feel so useless.. I-I I’ve almost died like three times in the past two weeks and I’m so worried about all of them in that house – not just because of this heat.. Stars-..’’ You hiccupped, clutching Jesses soft hands to your chest with a deep breath. His thumb smoothed across the back of your shaking hands, whispering condolement and concern as he watched you break down, luckily his reassurances and words were all second nature to him.. you had been friends for years.

‘’I don’t know what I’m supposed to do Jess.. Eras- he’s.. I don’t know how to raise a monster baby! I don’t even know when he’s supposed to eat solid foods, or – or how his magic works. Stars! I barely know how my own magic works.’’ Almost as if summoned, Eras’ cries became louder, and there was thumping from the ceiling as the tenant upstairs finally snapped at the heart-wrenching sound.

Jesse pat your knee slightly, getting up off the floor and bringing you into a hug with Eras snuggled between you. ‘’We can call up that Bunny girl, see if she can help you with your motherin’ problems and I’ll be here every step of the way. You’re my best friend _____, you know that I’m here to help you.’’

You sighed and leaned into his hand that now cupped your cheek, nodding sleepily as a desperate exhaustion settled in your chest. Eras’ cries had thankfully died down, at least enough to keep the neighboring apartments from complaining or banging on the walls, and you took him back gratefully from Jesses arms.

He settled you onto the sofa and threw his surprisingly comfortable throw blanket onto you, giving you a soft smile and a head pat before returning to the cooling meal on the stove. ‘’Have a nap, I’ll wake you up when foods done, then we can call.. Mora..?’’

You giggled slightly and settled the silently sobbing Eras to your chest, laying down yourself and wiping the tears from your eyes. This was going to be a very difficult week..

…

‘’_____.. Hey, --ke up. _____!’’

Your eyes snapped open as noise pierced your dreamless sleep, your hand sped forward and chopped whoever had disturbed your sleep right across the face.

‘’Ow, darlin’. I thought you said you weren’t gonna do that again.’’ The familiar twang whined, and as your eyes adjusted to the light of the living room you could see Jesse frantically rubbing his nose. You gasped and apologized, free hand pressing against his to put pressure on the pain. ‘’Jesse! I am so sorry, you just startled me!’’

He chuckled at your guilt and waved your hand away, moving his hand away from his nose and gesturing to it from different angles. ‘’Do I still look pretty?’’

You sighed when he looked completely normal, no blood or crookedness, just Jesse. And as soon as you checked that he was 100% fine, you bapped him right in the face, knocking him on his ass as you laughed. ‘’Yeah, pretty fuckin’ stupid!’’ Your sleepy eyes wandered over to where your meal was still obviously cooking and whined, waving your hand angrily in his direction as he laughed, easily avoiding your pathetic attacks. ‘’You said you’d wake us up when dinner was ready!’’

‘’I know, I know. I just thought you’d want to know that you have guests.’’

You sprung up immediately, trying your hardest to not jostle the still sleeping Eras in your arms, your free hand coming up to smooth your hackled hair. You looked at Jesse angrily, reaching behind you to throw a pillow at his face. ‘’Jess! You should have told me you were calling Mora over now. I would’ve gotten ready instead of napping!’’

He looked sheepish for a second, running a hand through his curling brown locks as he watched you flounder to make yourself presentable for company. He sucked in a breath and grabbed your hand, pulling it down to rest on your lap. ‘’Well, luckily I didn’t do that.. These three just kinda.. Popped in.’’

Popped in? Your bunny friend was way too shy to come to someone’s house unannounced and you were sure she had no idea where Jesse was living, and there were three visitors..

‘’So, CaN WE SeE Our HuMAn FriENd..?’’

Your head spun over the couch to the familiar voice, a grin immediately plastering itself on your face as you saw Axe, Sugar and Mutt crouching in the doorway of the living room. You held back a giddy squeal and gestured with your head for them to come closer. ‘’W-what are you guys doing here! Aren’t you in heat?’’

Axe gave you a maniacal grin, his large red eyelight lolling in its socket as he looked between you, Jesse and Eras. ‘’nah, me and sugar.. don’t have heats anymore. we just came over to get away from the extreme heat of the house.’’

Sugar and Eras, still sleeping in your arms, groaned at the pun. Leaving you and Jesse to laugh, fueling a fire blooming in Axes eyelight. ‘’an’ we brought mutt here cuz he really couldn’t handle the heat, if you get what i mean. he didn’ feel cool enough round all those scrappin’ bone heads.’’

You nodded and gestured for a despondent Mutt to come closer, his hands shoved into the pockets of his stained hoodie and his hood pulled tight over his skull as he hid behind Sugars towering frame. You frowned when he refused to move, not even a shake of his skull or sound escaping him – just dull little eyelights staring holes into Jesses rug.

‘’Well, howdy, I’m Jesse - _____’s Best Friend. An’ you are?’’

You could see Jesses shadow engulf you, probably putting on his most intimidating face to protect you, like the big teddy bear he was. You smacked him in the stomach with the back of your hand and gestured to the three equally as intimidating skeletons before you.

‘’Jesse, this is Axe, Sugar and Mutt. They’re the good ones.’’

At that you could hear Jesses sigh of relief, intimidating posture dropping as he noticed the way you trusted them. These skeletons fell into the good category, a system you had to put in place after Jesse had countlessly forgotten which skeletons currently didn’t like you.

The ‘bad ones’; Stretch, Black and probably Sans.

The ‘I’m not sures’; Red, Papyrus and Blue.

And the ‘good ones’; Edge, Mutt, Axe and Sugar.

Jesse huffed out a small apology and held his hand out, moving away from Mutt after a few uncomfortable seconds of ignorance and letting his hand dwarf in Sugars much larger, hooked claws.

‘’We ArE SO GLaD TO MEet SoMEOne whO CaReS aboUt _____ aS MuCH as We DO.’’

You could see Jesses wince at Sugars garbled words, but you were proud that it didn’t faze the way he was greeted and treated. You really had to get Sugar to a monster dentist..

Axe seemed more relaxed when he saw how Sugar was treated and already had his hand outstretched for Jesse to take once he was done playfully talking to his little brother.

As Jesse wrapped his hand around Axes bony ones you started to giggle, a loud fart echoing through the room – loud enough for the upstairs neighbor to stomp on your ceiling in warning. ‘’the ol’ whoopee-cushion in the hand trick. ‘s always funny.’’

Axes grin was contagious, even Sugar refrained from scolding his childish joke to laugh alongside Jesse, who was howling with laughter like a child, not that you could say any better for yourself.

You settled into the couch as Jesse returned to cooking the now family meal, Sugar and Axe taking up your left side and Mutt on your right, having been dragged there by Axe when he refused to move. There was an underlying smell of overripe fruit coming from his silent frame and you softened when you could see the lightless void of his sockets and the dark sleepless bags. You really had to talk to him now, at least try and get him to join the conversation before tackling the difficult stuff.

‘’So, how’d you get permission to leave while Sans is in his heat?’’

‘’We diDN’T. AxE SnUCK us OUt ThiS mORnINg!’’ Eras startled and the proximity of the loud noise and Sugar immediately looked sheepish, apologizing quietly when your son started to cry. You shook your head and tried to bounce your son back to sleep. ‘’You snuck out of the house?’’

Little golden tears trailed down his little skull and your SOUL throbbed with the desire to stop his sadness, but with little knowledge on what he was sad about.. you could do nothing.

‘’well, were weren’t goin to stay in that cesspit of smells and hormonal us’s – i don’t think edge would like it if I had to smack his brother upside the head again for gettin too close -’’

You nodded along but your SOUL stung at the mention of Edge and apparently Eras’ did too as he screamed and tried to propel himself away from your chest.

You could feel new tears building up in your eyes, trying to keep your baby from hurting himself and the pressure of loneliness in your chest a perfect combination for another bout of crying.

Sugar gasped and reached over Axes skull to wipe away the tears in your eyes. ‘’OH huMan, We’RE so SorrY – If we KneW OuR ReCkLEsS Rule-BrEaKInG would disTRess yOU sO We NEVer WoULD hAvE LeFt!’’

‘’ uh- yeah.. didn’ know you was such a stickler for rules..’’

You sniffled and shook your head, nuzzling your screaming babies skull to your own to try and soothe the ache in your chest. ‘’No, I-I just. I miss the house; I miss Edge and everyone. I’m.. really glad you three are here.’’

Two hands plucked your son from your grip and moved him away, settling him almost immediately – the crying stopped and so did the frustrated little movements. ‘’We’re glad we came over..’’

Mutts little purple eyelights had returned to his sockets as he bounced your son, the smell of over ripe fruit turning into the sweet smell of plums at a barbeque – weird but pleasant.

You smiled and pressed your face into his hoodie with a small ‘thank you’.

‘’Alright y’all. Dinner is served.’’

Chapter Text

You adjusted Eras in your lap, his crying now done as he played with one of Axes hooked claws. You could only breathe a sigh of relief as you sat at the table with your little group of skeletons and Jess, the domestic moment making your soul thump happily.

Mutt had a hand attached to your long sleeve and Sugar was giving a very interesting explanation about how Edge was taking care of everyone in the house – breaking up fights and keeping everyone fed. And Axe had just finished his third bowl of spaghetti with one finger locked in your son’s strong hold – his other little hand desperately reaching for Jesses exposed arm hair across the table.

‘’eDGe Was InCreDible! hE WaS Able tO BrEAK up sTreTCh And reD WiTH oNe ATtaCk. MY MAGIc hAsn’t BeeN THAt StRonG iN YEArs.’’ He grinned, his jaw twitching awkwardly to fit his chipped and sharp teeth, his sockets squinting to make sure it was you he was looking at, and not the lamp he had mistaken for you earlier - You smiled and cooed at his blood orange blush, creating a small mental note in your head to look up Monster educated orthodontists and optometrists..

Your phone buzzed from the coffee table, and you excused yourself to see who it was, handing your little boy off to Axe as you led a silently compliant Mutt to the small divide of rooms.

You picked up your phone from the table and looked at Mutt, smiling gently at him as he fiddled with the cuff of your sleeve. ‘’You okay Papyrus..?’’

He shook his head softly and pressed his nasal cavity to the side of his hood with a sniffle, little violet tears pooling in the edges of his sockets. You sighed gently, setting your phone back onto the table as you yanked him close, wrapping your arms around his skinny torso in the best comforting hug you could.

He was silent for a minute, the only sound escaping him was the occasional whine and sob. Axe, Sugar and Jesse were watching you two with wide eyes, taken aback by the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

You waved a hand to the room Jesse had lent you with a small smile, waving at your baby as you snatched Mutts legs from the ground and carried him through the door for some privacy.

You sat him on the bed after you had shut the door behind you, stroking a hand down the back of his hood, watching as he now openly sobbed into the fabric of your shoulder. Your heart squeezed as you watched him gasp for breath and clutch to whatever he could reach on you, muttering broken ‘Don’t leave’s as you tried to maneuver yourself into a better position to help him.

Your hand snuck its way into his and you clutched it tight, your other hand caressing his tear-stained cheekbone with gentle words of comfort, his eyelights were almost transparent in the voids of his skull and you could see the heated puffs of air struggling to escape his jaw – you smiled at him gently and squeezed his hand again, grounding him enough to look you in the eyes.

‘’Mutt. You’re okay, can you say what you see?’’

His eyelights flickered around the room quickly before locking with yours again, his jaw moving without sound as he struggled to find his words.

‘’T-there’s a dresser, a r-rug.. and you..’’

You nodded with a whisper of praise, watching as his eyelights became more opaque as he focused, his hand shaking as he took in every detail of your face. ‘’Can you tell me what you smell?’’

The clouds of strenuous air dissipated as he took in the air more effectively, his jaw open like a cats as he took in the different smells in the air. You watched his nasal ridge scrunch.. which was awesome - the bone wrinkling slightly as his eyelights returned to you. ‘’T-the spaghetti.. everyone o-out there. And your magic..’’

You grinned as his hand squeezed yours in response to your silent cheer, the purple tears in his sockets slowing in their streams down his skull as he took his time to breathe. You knelt on the floor in front of him, clocking the irony of Jesse having done this for you a few hours earlier, and cupped his jaw in your warm hands, humming gently as his magic thrummed sluggishly through his bones.

‘’Do you want to tell me what’s wrong..?’’

Mutt nodded slowly, resting his head in your hands as the smell of his magic returned. ‘’I’ve never been alone during my heat before.. Black.. - before monsters had mates in my underground we sought protection from family otherwise their weakness would-.. Bla-Sans has been my only family for-‘’

He whined gently as tears burned in his eyes again, his phalanges reaching up to grip the ones holding his trembling jaw.

‘’I’m scared..’’

His phalanges dug into your skin and you winced but watched his face carefully for any sign he would fall into a panic attack. ‘’Sans always protected me.. every heat since my first, but now? I-I don’t even know where he i-is!’’

His teeth clenched angrily, his golden fangs gnashing against each other as he snarled, his sharp phalanges ripping into your skin as you watched him cry angrily.

‘’Black left you without a word?’’

‘’I found o-out from Stretch!’’ he growled, looking toward the ceiling as the smell of plums and burnt barbeque filled the room, the feeling of magic now drumming angrily across your palms. Little beads of red dotted Mutt’s phalanges as you winced, it felt like a large cat was kneading the fragile skin on the back of your hand.

You brushed your fingers across his clenched bones with a shush, pulling him into your arms. His ribcage was burning to touch and his claws latched into the thin fabric of your top, gripping you close as if you would disappear if he held you any looser.

You held him as he hiccupped and sniffled into your shirt, your fingers trailing across the back of his skull as he collected himself in your arms. Your forehead pressed against his, your nose brushing the tip of his nasal bone as you watched violet streaks of magic paint his ivory bones lilac.

Mutts eyelights were unfocused for the moment, the only sign he was still present in the moment was the way his skull nuzzled against you. ‘’..I just want my brother..’’

You were going to beat the shit out of Black.

Mutt pulled away from you slowly, rubbing his sockets with a fist as he focused on the old ceiling. ‘’And he’s with Zara.. And she was going to hurt the kid. My brother was co-captain of the royal guard.. he hated humans until months ago- a-and even then! He was barely tolerating them,’’ His hands gestured wildly in the air, fangs clicking together angrily as he laughed bitterly, closing his sockets. ‘’And the first human he makes a connection with turns out to be a grade A sociopath.. and he won’t hear a word of it – not that I can’t tell him now.. he won’t even answer his stars damned phone!’’

You pressed your fingers to his cheekbones soothingly, letting him cry for as long as he needed.

Skeletons didn’t have ears, but when you were done, Blacks would be ringing.

..~..

You tucked Mutt into your bed with a small smile, petting his skull softly and wiping away the small droplet of magic that sat in the chasm of his cheekbones. He must have been exhausted because as soon as he let himself relax onto the bed he had fallen asleep, the dark eyebags under his sockets seeming darker as his face calmed..

You closed the door quietly behind you as you left, thankful for the soft socks you wore across the creaking, old floors. You made your way to where the conversation was loudest with a tired smile, more than ready to have your baby back in your arms.

You collapsed onto the couch, your legs thrown over Jesses lap and your hands outstretched over Axes femurs. You mumbled something along the lines of ‘Black is an asshole’ which resulted in a laugh from Axe and the small sideways concerned look from Sugars squinting sockets.

Eras sat in the arched arms of Sugar, letting out small squeaks of happiness once he realized you had returned – your little boys phalanges reaching for you with a smile that made your heart melt, the angriness and unease you had felt now an insignificant puddle in comparison the love that filled your chest..

Especially as you realized he was dressed as a little sailor.

You spluttered through a smile, slowly dissolving into hysterical giggles as Sugar made his way over to you – Eras quacking when his little golden eyelights locked with an equally as amused Axe.

Jesse pat you leg gently as Eras was returned safely to your arms, watching you happily as you snuggled into Axes bony legs.

‘’You got a message Darlin’.’’

You took your phone from his outstretched hand, pulling Eras quickly away when his phalanges got dangerously close to Jesses arm hair. You ran a finger down the soft bone of your sons nasal ridge, watching lovingly as he shuddered and sneezed – the small noise not unlike a kitten.

The phone buzzed again in your hold and you finally pried your tired eyes away from the soft look in both Axe and Sugars skulls.. who could ever think these two were monsters..?

You scrolled through your notifications for the message you hadn’t been able to read earlier, the unknown contact having a further three messages when you hadn’t responded.

A smile wormed its way onto your face, the blessing of a happy event being the perfect thing your imperfect family could ask for right about now.

‘Good evening, this is Grillby. Your business card had your phone number, and I would like to book your band for Wednesday night. Food and drinks will be free for your band afterward, of course, and there will be payment up front. I hope to hear from you soon.’

Even your phone felt warm at his words. You could really use this break.

Chapter Text

You strummed the strings of your guitar absentmindedly, smoothing the fabric of your black dress as you watched Jesse joke around with the other patrons of the bar. Your family of skeletons were settled close to where you would be performing, even Mutt had pulled himself away from bed to watch you perform.
Grillby touched your shoulder gently, crackling, what you assumed was, ‘are you alright?’. You nodded and passed your hand over top of the soft flames licking at your shirt, the magic fire warm against your shaking hands.

‘’I’m fine Grillbz, just nervous. This is the first time I’ve knowingly preformed for these guys..’’

He fizzled comfortingly, patting your shoulder and gesturing to your small group. They were laughing and joking, Axe and Sugar in a beanie and a mask to disguise their wounds and identities as Mutt made a giggling Eras dance on the table, his arms holding his rib cage as they swayed back and forth. Jesse had made his way over and was passing out vibrantly colored drinks, making muffled small talk with them as he gestured enthusiastically to the small platform where you would be performing.

A small smile pulled at your glossed lips, watching with fondness as your family drank and played, waiting to watch you and Jesse perform.

Grillbys wasn’t exactly cramped, monsters and humans were comfortably intertwined across the homely establishment – the soft orange glow of Grillbys flame over your shoulder the same as the comforting orange glow of the bar and its inhabitants. You could see Fincher and Birch leaning against each other with sly grins and a pack of heavily armored dogs huddled together, tails wagging as they played snooker with a confused human man.

You took a soothing breath and let the smell of freshly served food coat your tongue. ‘’You’re right Grillby, nothing to worry about.’’ You smiled over your shoulder at him, and his glasses gleamed happily, fire dancing happily as he gave you a final pat on the shoulder before returning to the bar that was currently being attended by a sweet looking blue bunny monster.

‘’You okay there Whippoorwill?’’

‘’Just fine Jess, you ready to get this party started?’’ You plucked your guitar from the polished floor and passed the neck to him, the nervousness prior to Grillbys intervention had all but dissipated, burning away as one might say as you adjusted the bunched fabric around your hips.

You cleared your throat as you adjusted the microphone, just Jesse and you watching as heads, and skulls, turned to watch you curiously – some monsters already grinning when they saw your duo. You couldn’t help the soft happy beat of your soul; people had liked your music last time! Even Eras, squeaking and leaping toward you in Mutts arms was cheering for you and his uncle Jessie.

‘’Good evening everyone, my name is _____ and this is my best friend Jessie – Grillby has invited us to play a few songs for you all! Thank you again Hot stuff.’’
You winked in Grillbys direction and kissed two of your fingers to give him a flirtatious salute. People laughed and clapped, Fincher and Birch teasing Grillbys flame which had turned a beautiful flustered pink.

Softly, Jesse tapped his foot against the hollow stage, setting the beat of your first song as you purposefully avoided the entranced eyelights you could feel fizzing across your skin. You let your breathing and heartbeat fall in time with Jesses grounding taps, taking a deep breath as he strummed his guitar perfectly.
You called into the microphone gently, letting the sound burst from your diaphragm as you let the music build before opening your eyes, leaving them half lidded as the song soothed to a soft melody.

‘’I was given a heart,
Before I was given a mind.
A thirst for pleasure and war –‘’

You moved your head slightly, bringing your hands to your chest as you swayed, legs bouncing gently to the beat as you took a soft breath. You pulled your arm up and twisted it slightly as you brought it back down, lowering into a half curtsey as you sang.

‘’- A hunger we keep inside,
We fell from sky with grace.
And life gave us a sweeter tase,
You can drink,
You can feast~’’

You pulled out the last word, teasing the next line as you curled your fingers around the microphone again – the buzzing of confidence in your veins better than any drink as you finally glanced to where the skeletons had seated themselves.

‘’There’s beauty in your beast.’’

They all had their eyes glued on you.

‘’The flesh in the fruit
And the blood in the wine.’’

The music built quickly as Jesse strummed, plucking the strings quickly as you pulled the microphone from its stand with a twist – never taking your eyes off the unblinking sockets that watched every twitch of your muscles.

‘’Come and feel alive, lover.
Come and feel the love like a sinner.
Shout it louder.
Shout it for the ones who could never say –‘’

You could see Axes large eye light roll in his skull beneath the beanie to follow your floaty moves and twirls, the large red ball of magic dilating to fill his dead socket as he watched you – red slobber dripping onto the table from between his teeth as he grinned.

‘’ ‘’I won’t feel ashamed, mother’’.
‘’Can you break the chains of her?’’.
Not a sinner, she’s a lover.’’

Sugar had a claw over his mask, his cheekbones dyed a vibrant blood orange. His other talons were tapping the table nervously, the sharp edges biting into the warm wood as you teetered on the edge of the stage and winked in his direction.

‘’I was given a name,
Before I was given blood.
Like you were given your faith,
Before there was made a God –‘’

You turned your attention to the final pair of skeletons at the table, Eras and Mutt. cupping the microphone in your hands as you curled and danced toward Jesse, trailing a hand over his scruffy stubble as you leant into his large body.

‘’Young rivers in your hands,
And grass burning in promised lands.
You can drink.
You can feast~
There’s beauty in your beast.’’

Eras was giggling quietly to himself as you passed the closest point to their table on the stage, his golden eyelights glittering as he leant toward your voice. His tiny red suit was making him look almost identical to Edge, with just slightly smoother features that Edge shared in the rarest of moments. It made your heart throb dully in your chest as your remembered his absence but you smiled when your son squealed and kicked his little legs out happily.

‘’The flesh in the fruit,
And the blood in the wine.
Come and feel alive, lover.
Come and feel the love like a sinner.
Shout it louder!
Shout it for the ones who could never say –‘’

You fell into the steady rhythm of the repeated chorus as you danced across the edge of the stage, the song keeping its strong beat as it came to a close – just as your eyes met with Mutts glowing purple ones - His jaw was agape as he looked at you, golden fangs sliding across each other as he tried to conceal his shock and awe. A vibrant plum blush had covered his cheekbones in an identical manner to Sugars, watching, entrapped, as you curled around yourself and blew a kiss to the table, grinning cheekily as the three grown skeletons flared with magic and your tiny skeleton ‘nyeh heh heh’d’ to himself.

The songs slowed slightly as you drew out the last line, your eyes flickering across the bar to take in the grinning faces and the wagging tails and the premature cheers of Fincher and Birch, who were drunk off their tail feathers over the bars counter.
You ended the song with the soft melody from the start as your eyes met an unexpected, spiraling blue flame.

The flames were roaring high enough to reach the ceiling, scorching the white paint above the bar. You looked away as you continued to sing, adrenaline kicking in as you returned your curious gaze to the light blue light of Grillbys fury, the cloth usually twisted between his hands now alight over his shoulder.

You snapped from your stupor and bowed low with Jesse as he took your hand and lead you to the forefront of the stage, grinning at you as the bar erupted in cheers and applause, your little skeleton crew giving you a standing ovation to make you blush. You tried to enjoy the soft moment but the hissing of paint burning, and the crackle of irate fire pulled your eyes back to your friend, his fogged half-moon glasses were pinpoint at the entrance of the establishment, and you hesitated before you trailed Grillbys gaze and froze, hand clenching around Jesses as you caught sight of the intruders to your happy moment..

There, at the entrance of Grillbys bar, was Zara and Black standing hand in hand

Chapter Text

Black was going to die.

He knew it, he was very in tune with his SOUL. He just didn’t know he would die so soon.

This woman was going to kill him.

Zara had her fingers twisted painfully around his ribs as she rode him, a cigarette between her teeth as her sweat dripped from her brow and landed on the heavily stained and soaked sheets below – not even a towel to soak up their intermingled fluids.

Black was going to overheat and dust below his love; he hadn’t had a drink in hours and the built-up swirl of magic in his SOUL felt like it was about to burst and turn his living corpse into a regular corpse.

‘’So- Black- I wanted to- check out- Ugh~ this bar- tonight!’’

She was moaning above him, her newly done nails sneaking down to scratch his spinal column, painfully catching on his fractures and scars. She shuddered around his tangible magic as she finished again, continuing to ride his summoned shaft raw.

He nodded, hands coming up to hold her hips still, watching her with purple sweat rolling across his skull as she growled and tried to move herself forward.

‘’W-what bar, my Que-en..’’ He gasped, hot puffs of air escaping his fangs, letting her hips go as she dug one polished nail into the crevice between his vertebrae.

His heat was eating him up inside, even though she had been on him nonstop since they had moved her stuff to her temporary apartment – his SOUL was building more magic than he was releasing, unable to exercise and diffuse magic in the regular way was making his bones crackle and the marrow coursing within boil.

‘’it’s a surprise~’’ She shushed him, dragging her fingers up to his skull, pinching his cheekbones hard with a breathless laugh. His eyelights were flickering and he could feel the inside of his skull become foggy as she blew smoke into one of his sockets and watched him struggle and fall still, giggling softly as he lost consciousness beneath her ministrations.

Black pulled at the tight tie around his vertebrae, clearing his throat uncomfortably as it brushed against the various sensitive marks that covered its bruised expanse. The suit over his hot bones made him shift angrily, the pressing heat against his chest making him feel sticky and painful all over.

Hands slid over his ribcage and played with his already sweat drenched handkerchief in his breast pocket, newly painted acrylics matching the painful magic that thumped through his bones.

‘’You ready to go love, lets take the fancy car hmm~?’’ Zara cooed into the side of his skull, glossed lips pressing against his uncomfortably sweaty skull. He hummed and straightened his tie again, watching his sockets narrow and flicker uncomfortably. ‘’Come on love, we shouldn’t be late.’’

In exhaustion he nodded and followed her from the apartment, polished boots clicking against the damp path towards his favorite car. Thankfully it didn’t look scratched, from the side he was seeing anyways – Zara had been using his most prized possession to go out while he was passed out and had been hit by another car..

He tapped her hand against the hood of the car, breaking him out of this thoughts as she twirled the keys around her finger. ‘’I’ll drive. You know, since you have no idea where you’re going.’’

He hesitated but nodded, feeling a headache start to form behind his sockets. The pressure of his soul soothing slightly as he walked, the fresh air circulating through his suit was brushing up against his inner ribcage in a small act of relief.

There were hundreds of shopping bags and stray, newly bought clothes, strewn across his leather seats and there were three, half filled Starbucks cups balancing precariously across a makeup-stained dashboard.

Zara grinned at him from the driver’s seat, her soft blue eyes beckoning him into the car as she moved her legs, hiking her already short skirt up her thighs. ‘’Let’s get going~’’ She cooed, a snakelike smile splitting her lips as he sat next to her, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek as he settled with a groan.

He hoped they weren’t going to stay for too long..

‘’Do you think I’ll get pregnant?’’

‘’No, my queen, monsters only reproduce through intent.. do not worry.’’

Her lips pressed into a tight line, gripping the wheel tighter as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye. ‘’I thought this heat made you want a baby.’’

It was less of a question and more of a demand – like she was scolding him. The soft blue eyes that glanced over him now icy and cold, contrasting with the gentle smile she wore – the wheel spinning as she hastily parked the car before the familiar bar.

Her hands reached over and smoothed his ruffled suit, watching as he flinched away from her touch as she caressed his throat. ‘’We’ll continue this conversation later. I’m thirsty.’’

Black swallowed sharply and nodded, restraining his trained instincts from defending his SOUL.. lest she became angry at him again. His claws reached up and straightened his collar, letting her step away from the car before stepping out himself.

She had already pulled out a cigarette, and Black could feel the pain in his skull amplify tenfold from the memory of burning smoke inside him.

Black hadn’t been to Grillbys since the human had brought Mutt home.. Mutt. Blacks SOUL thumped angrily in his chest, he needed to get a phone so he could call his brother.. He needed to find where his brother was so he could apologies.

He hadn’t been able to go back to the house after Zara had begged him to help her move, and his mobile had smashed when she knocked into him when the Crooks snarled at her from the couch.. And he had been.. incapacitated for most of his heat so far.

A silent whine escaped his teeth as he listened to the muffled, music from Grillbys bar, letting the soft notes soothe his SOUL.. maybe that grease trap had finally fixed that ancient jukebox.

He missed his little brother.

‘’Alright, lets go.’’ She crushed the ember under her black heels as she walked over to him, smelling of smoke and noticeably calmer. He nodded and held his arm out for her to link with her own, smiling softly as she pressed a kiss to his cheekbone.

The music mellowed out as they entered the bar and an overwhelming calm flooded over his SOUL, instantly cooling the painful heat in his skull and ribcage.

The bar smelt of burnt paint and alcohol and as his purple eyelights roamed the establishment he froze.

Grillby was flaming a bright blue as he stared at them, little eyelights narrowed as his anger reached the ceiling and burnt away its fresh paint – luckily the bar was too preoccupied with their shock and awe at the performance to realize that Black and his mate were about to dust.

‘’Black.’’

Chapter Text

You took Jesses hand as he led you off the stage, your eyes still narrowed in the direction of Blacks last known location.
You could hear the distant sound of Fincher and Birches drunken mumblings and the soft sizzle of Grillby's flame settling, you hoped to the stars above that he had that situation under control so you could keep these boys safe..
Speaking of these boys.

Your little skeleton crew whistled and cheered as you returned to them, even your tiny son clapped his little hands along with their praise. You scooped Eras from Mutts arms and showered him in many little kisses, joy swelling in your SOUL as he giggled and squirmed in your hold.

Mutt, Axe and Sugar watched you with wobbly grins. You could see the outline of Sugars teeth through his mask and red magic was still dripping from between Axes teeth and Mutt was flushed a vibrant purple as he looked at you, lavender eyelights wavering and shaped like hearts in their sockets.
You kissed Eras’ skull again and leant forward pressing a kiss to each of their skulls – having to beckon a flushed Sugar down to your level to thank him for his support.

‘’Thank you guys! That’s one of the songs I was so nervous to sing.’’
Your cheeks hurt from smiling as Eras laid his little head on your cheek. Sugar pulled out a chair and gestured for you to sit with a loose arm, Jesse waving with a smile as he went to get new drinks and you all huddled around the small table.

‘’YOU wErE aMAZInG!’’

‘’Absolutley to die for.’’

‘’Ive never heard anythin’ like it! You were incredible.’’

Your cheeks flushed at the overwhelming praise and confidence that washed over you, it felt like your SOUL was dancing in your chest and it didn’t help that the skeletons before you seemed to get shy and flustered as you thanked them again.
Sugars hand tapped against the table and his eyelights shifted between you hand and his own.

‘’I hAVe NEVeR Heard aNyonE sINg Like that SinCe MEtTAToN StOPPpeD PERFoRMiNg.. it was, beautiful.’’
His voice trailed into a whisper as he leaned into you, taking your hand in his as he pressed his mask to the crook of your neck. You laughed gently as he nuzzled into the side of your shoulder with an incoherent mumble, you could hear Axe and Mutt joke and giggle together as Sugar started to snore.

‘’M’ bros a lightweight, don’ mind him.’’ Axe grinned, using the stained sleeve of his hoodie to wipe the remaining magic from his jaw. ‘’’ctually he only had one drink - Might be soul drunk..’’
You looked at the lolling eyelight that rolled across Axes socket as he watched his brothers’ soft movements and mumbles, Mutt looked more intrigued than anything and Eras had resigned himself to squealing as Jesse returned with two hands full of vibrantly colored drinks and a dark expression on his face.

You could see from the way he looked at you and the single singed hair on his beard that he had seen Grillby, and in turn, seen Black and Zara.
You shook your head as he nodded his head back toward the bar, his muscles contracting as he puffed himself up – like a dogs hackles raising when protecting someone they love.

You pulled him into the seat on the other side of you, luckily far enough that Eras couldn’t pluck off his arm hairs. You took a sip of the familiar vibrantly coloured magic and sighed, the same whiskey that Red had in his room when you first actually talked.
Your heart thundered at the memory and the sudden dread that filled your chest.

Black and Zara were sitting on the table directly in your eyeline.. facing you.

‘’-n’t have heats, strong magic connections make us go all fuzzy in da head.. not like tha’s any different than usual.’’
Axe giggled and rapped his knuckled against the beanie on his skull, winking at Mutt who was so effortlessly happy.. so carefree and kind.

Eras squeaked in your arms and hid his face in the side of your neck in a similar action to Sugar, who was still napping against you. His little hands were clutching a strand of your hair and he whimpered against your cheek and Jesse was already staring the culprit down.
You refused to look that way, these boys were happy for once. Your family was happy and unharmed for once. You refused to acknowledge that bitch and her lap dog – they were unimportant at this very moment as purple tears built in Mutt’s skull from laughing and Axes smile was genuine and Sugar was hugging you like a teddy bear against him.

‘’Darlin’ you wan’ me to handle it..?’’ Jesse whispered and you shook your head, taking another sip of your drink and adjusting both skeletons in your hold. You heard him adjust his position in his chair and lean toward the conversation the other two, slightly drunk, skeletons were snickering over.

‘’So, Mama, how’d you and the Edge lord get together? Even I’m more approachable lookin’!’’
Axe chuckled to himself and slapped Mutts back happily, almost spilling the purple drink that was pressed against his teeth.
You were glad for the distraction and sighed dreamily, remembering the first time you met your scary lover.

‘’He was staring at me like I was on his hit list~ Tall dark and handsome at the bar we were playing at,’’ You nudged Jesse slightly and he chuckled and nodded nudging you back as you leant against Sugars skull. ‘’I thought he was going to kill me, so I went over and gave him the best ice breaker.’’

‘’She has no self-preservation.’’

You smacked Jesses arm indignantly with a gasp, reveling in the way Mutt and Axe started to laugh hysterically.

‘’That explains why you’re livin’ with us now!’’

You laughed along with them, and your SOUL sung as they practically glowed with happiness. And then suddenly turned cold and hot, like a fever sweeping over your entire being and you felt your body shudder and curl protectively around Sugar and Eras who whined against you.
Your lashes fluttered and you could see the reflection of Golden magic in your glass as your eyes whispered across the bar to the only likely culprits and sent an angry glare over Mutts shoulder at..

Zara.
Eyes locked with yours with an evil smile as she straddled Black against the seat of the booth. Waves of discomfort smothered you as she licked her lips and stuck her fingers into Blacks eye socket.
You watched him struggle and tear holes in the leather seats of the booth, his legs outstretched and kicking to free himself or restrain himself you didn’t know..

All you did know was sudden silence of the bar, the sizzling of angry fire and what sounded like an angry pack of dogs snarling and growling in the distance.
And the small trail of dust that drew the attention of the bar.

Chapter Text

Barking, snarling, lunging.

Surprisingly not the dogs sitting at the table just beyond the whispering crowd, and instead from Mutt. Who you were holding onto like your life depended on it.. well.

Less your life than hers.

You could hear the threads in Mutt’s hoodie snap as he lunged forward again, his talons swiping to where Zara gaped.

Her mouth was moving but no sound was escaping her, and she was stood beside Blacks slumped over body, her hands were waving frantically between defending herself and tapping Black on the shoulder – as if she was trying to wake him up.

A steady stream of dust was leaking from a reopened scar just between his sockets and was staining the collar of his magic drenched shirt, his eyelights were almost completely transparent and green magic was visibly swirling around his skeleton from under his clothes.

You could feel angry magic pounding through your veins and the overwhelming instinct to protect was giving you a headache, but you couldn’t let Mutt actually kill Zara.. no matter how much you wanted to yourself.

But there was also the problem of.. Axe, Sugar and Jesse.

Less murder-y.. surprisingly, but the towering shadows and the blinding red light of angry magic was definitely giving you a lot more of an intimidating aura to the death glare you were sending Zara.

Jesse, however, was storming his way over before you could grab the back of his shirt, your SOUL was pounding painfully in your chest at this point.

His phone was raised in his fist, and he was practically wolf-like as he moved with a pack of heavily armored dogs trailing behind him.

‘’I’m callin’ the cops, do ya hear me? I don’t like tha’ motherfucker, but you hurt my best friends- MY family for the last fuckin’ time!’’

As you blinked in surprise the world suddenly went dark, the mass of bodies that surrounded the scene became void and the only light perforating the darkness was the amalgamation of multicolored souls that danced across the nothing.

Your hand, or what you assumed was still your hand, was rubbing roughly against your eyes to bring back your sight.. this was more than an ENCOUNTER. You’ve had many of those to compare this to.. no, this was more familiar, almost like..

A dream.

You stumbled back, releasing the purple thread that connected you and Mutts SOUL. Pain seared through your skull and a hand brushed against your throat, whispering nothing in your ear as you tried to escape.

You could remember this part from that night, the cooing voices and the numb tingling in your limbs.

Your SOUL became brighter, blindingly bright as you stumbled backward. It felt like hands were against you, wrapping around your waist and ankles and pulling you down.

The emptiness you balanced yourself on gave way and you fell, the golden glow of your SOUL lighting the surface of the floor you were clawing at, it felt like you were drowning, like water was invading your body as you tried to kick and scream.

You called for help; hand outstretched to the SOULS that floated above you.

But nobody came.

No sound escaped you and you began to choke on the thick darkness. Your vision darkened at the edges, and you began to fall further away from the surface until something caught your unfocused eyes and you looked up.

Your SOUL was glowing so bright and was surrounded with golden magic that curled and formed into.. you.

A glowing golden you that was marching her way to a dark green SOUL that was moving slowly backwards, thumping dangerously fast and filled with fear.

You kicked your legs and flailed your arms, your lungs burning as oxygen escaped you, the hands that grabbed your feet slowly falling away as you clawed back to the surface. Your hand brushed against something solid, just below your feet the invisible floor kept you trapped.

Her golden fist raised as two other SOULS rushed over and tied themselves around her arms and waist, pulling her away from the shuddering green SOUL. You pounded your fists against the force, you clawed at the barrier between you and freedom.. but nothing happened.

You called for help, you called for Jesse, you called for Axe and Sugar and Mutt.. You even called for Black. But nothing happened.

You called out your own name and she stopped, stopped fighting with the SOULS, stopped fighting to get away, and looked at you straight in the eyes.

Awe and fear coursed through your veins as pupilless golden eyes looked down on you. Pure magic, powerful magic echoed through the abys, sending ripples of thick darkness against your body.

You called out your name again, pleading her breathlessly as consciousness started to escape you.

Your vision blurred and began to darken as you looked up at her. At you. You body began to slip downward as exhaustion crept through your muscles and bones. You raised your hand to her as the darkness grinned and began to pull you back finally covering your vision entirely as you fell.

Down..

Down..

Down.

…

…

…

Axe grabbed your arm and pulled you back, grunting as you continued to move forward, as if he and his brother weren’t putting dents in the ground behind you.

Jessie had caught Mutt and was holding his body away from that cowering-

‘’bROtHeR ShE’s STilL MoViNg!’’

Pa- Sugar gasped as you snatched your arm away and lunged for the human again, this universes Grillby – face perfectly intact – who was glowing green as he healed the purple Sans, jumped as _____’s hand slammed against the table angrily.

The K9-Unit whined as they cornered the human garbage pile and Axe felt magic saliva start to drip through his teeth at the smell of fear that filled his nasal cavity.

‘’I know paps.. jus’ try get her waist. If her legs ain’t on the ground, how’s she gonna move?’’

Sugar nodded and lunged for your waist, yelping slightly as you spun to face him.

His mask slipped slightly and ripped on the edge of one of his sharp teeth as he attempted to lift you from the ground, only to have you do an incredibly impressive – in Axes opinion - twist and escape.

Axe and Sugar, taken aback by the strength and speed, were not prepared to grab you when you lunged again and raised your fist. Magic spiked in the room and Axe felt his SOUL thump with reactive magic.. for the first time in years Axe was afraid for someone other than his brother.

Magic – unnoticeable to the human eye – was coming off you in waves.

Intense, hot, angry waves that drowned out the painful echo in his skull and made his phalanges numb. And he couldn’t regain feeling quick enough to snatch her dress as she marched her way over, eyes glowing gold as she raised her fist.

Ah shit..

Chapter Text

Edge flipped the final page of his book and sighed heavily, his talons running along his temples as a headache began to form. Growling and something smashing in the living room was his only warning for an oncoming migraine.

Silently, he pushed the book onto the table and unfurled himself from his nest, passing a green magic covered Red on his empty bed as he made his way downstairs. The soft aura soothing his stiff shoulders as he glanced at his brother’s healing bruises.

His naked bones trudged angrily against the floor, the borrowed sweatpants and ripped t-shirt were the only things keeping him warm in the chilly home. The AC blasted just above his skull and siphoned an amalgamation of heated magic through his exposed cartilage and bone.

‘’YOU IMBECILES, HAVE I NOT DISCIPLINED YOU ENOUGH FOR YOU TO REALISE THIS FIGHTING IS USELESS.’’
Edge, of course, never thought he would say those words. But the way his world raised him was slowly chipping away – especially because of the irritation that began to associate with alternate hims and his brother fighting with one another.. he’s even started being nice to Red in his lucid moments.
And in those moments of gentleness, he couldn’t help but think of _____.

His SOUL ached for his mate and son, the distance and time away from them was painful.
Especially when his SOUL reacted to the excess magic in the house and all he could think about was her hands on his bones and the gentle whispers of love against his skull.

Edge grit his fangs together and shook his head, stilling his fizzing magic before flicking his fingers upward. Blue magic locked against two SOULS and pulled them from the ground.
Surprisingly, the two fighting were prime Papyrus and Stretch.
As a fellow Papyrus himself, fighting while in heat was incredibly uncommon, usually he kept to himself and curled in comfort until the burning magic passed.
Even then he’s only had to break up three fights involving Papyrus’ – and most of them were instigated by Sans’.

Even suspended in mid-air the two Papyri were locked in battle - Like the K-9 unit playing tug of war they were yanking on a piece of fabric between their teeth.

‘’WHAT DO YOU HAVE, YOU BOTH ARE ACTING LIKE BABY BONES.’’
Reaching up, Edge quickly snatched the fabric away – narrowly avoiding two sets of snapping jaws before raising the sweet-smelling cloth up to his sockets.

His SOUL began to thump quickly against his ribcage, the familiar graphic design and the sudden flood of sea salt and honey in his nasal cavity made his eyelights shake.
_____’s shirt.

He had found this shirt in his nest after she had left, it was the last thing that truly smelled like her. He was devastated when it mysteriously vanished, he interrogated every member of the house and turned each speck of dust over in his attempts to find it again, and now it was back with him.
Almost in a trance, Edge made his way back to the stairs, his claws gently stroking over the soft cotton, only slightly acknowledging the thud of his magic dissipating behind him.

A talon popped into his peripheral vision, and he had to duck slightly as Stretch lunged for the shirt, immediately having to snarl and pull away from the original Papyrus’ needy teeth.
Damn other hims, so obsessed with his beautiful mate!

‘’GET AWAY, ITS MY SHIRT.’’

‘’Edge~ Shareee..’’
Prime Papyrus whined and tugged on his tattered shirt, adding another sizable hole into hits midsection as he pulled away.

‘’Smells Good..’’
Was Stretches sultry input, honey colored tongue dipping out from between his teeth as he pressed his nasal cavity into the corner of the shirt – growling sharply as Edge ripped it away from his face.
Papyrus’ hand tugged on the shirt and nuzzled his cheekbone across its softness, purring softly before Edge pushed him away.

‘’So Sweet~’’

‘’Stars, So Good..’’

He was cornered by two hims – hellbent on stealing his mates.. intoxicating scent.
With a hiss he was pressed against the banister of the stairs, spine digging into the railing as both monsters corralled him into an inescapable prison.

Determination filled his SOUL, he wasn’t going to lose the only item keeping him close to Eras and _____. And in an act of smarts only the co-head of the Royal Guard could muster, and with a begrudging huff he built magic in his marrow and closed his sockets.

When he opened his eyes again he was back in his room, slightly groggy from the unfamiliar show of magic.

‘’Dang boss, ain’t seen ya shortcut inna long time.’’
Reds voice was groggy and raspy, wincing slightly as she chuckled at the scowl on his younger brothers face, the green magic surrounding him was dimmer – the bruises across his ribs almost gone. And he looked much more awake than Edge felt.

‘’I Hate Teleporting. It Is A Lazy Tactic To Flee From Confrontation.’’
Huffing softly, he trudged back to his nest. An invisible smile settled on his teeth as he pressed her shirt to his ribcage, letting his SOUL beat faster and dance with the scent of her so close to him again.

‘’An’ what confrontation didya have ta flee from boss?’’
With a small chuckle Red pushed himself up, wafting a hand through the air to rid himself of the remaining green magic. He looked a lot healthier now, and clearly felt less heated and livelier than before – at least lively enough to mess with his brother again.. like old times.
The thought made Edges SOUL purr, the feeling of family making him all mushy inside.. like a babybones in the aura of loving presence.

With a light-hearted huff, Edge held up _____’s shirt, finally settling back into the warm comfort of his nest. Red whistled low, gruff laughter escaping his teeth. ‘’Yer down bad boss.’’

‘’You Are ‘Down Bad’ Just The Same As me.’’
Both brothers laughed like children again before comfortably settling into silence.
_____’s shirt was pressed against his skull as he finally fell into pure relaxation.

Until his phone started ringing.

And Edge was able to ignore it in favor of his mate’s scent and the fantasies of her swooping him off his feet and stealing him away from responsibilities he would, in the past, cherish to have.

He was able to ignore it for a solid minute before searching the covers of his nest till his talons brushed against the cold, buzzing surface of his phone.
He promptly picked it up and chucked it over his shoulder to the bed, snickering silently at the small thud and pained groan of the cold glass smacking Red in the face.

Edges sockets slowly closed; every intake of air was bringing him intoxicating relaxation.. even the soft mumbles from Red on the phone were soothing him to sleep.
The phone call could not be as important as the feeling of his mate back in his arms.

Chapter Text

Red stumbled over his untied laces, his shirt catching on his arm as he flailed and swore.

Grillbys neon sign almost blinded him at the sudden light change, his shortcut taking much more magical effort than he thought, and he feared he was going to bash his skull against the drenched concrete before he was even able to see the described disaster inside his favorite bar.

He caught himself with a short cut just as quickly as he fell, his SOUL hammering in his chest at the use of exclusively heat magic that screamed for him to lay down and rest.

Red’s gold tooth dragged across his fangs as his phalanges clutched the cold handle as his magic hissed in alarm – the overwhelming scents and magic filling his nasal cavity so abruptly his knees shook with his effort not to fall down and nest.

Suddenly a hand grabbed his sleeve and pulled him through the crowd of humans and monsters, a human hand clutching a skeleton baby and Mutts empty hoodie.

‘’Wha’ da fuck is goin’ on! Where’s the humans, where’s black!?’’

His legs tangled and he allowed the bones below his pelvis to go limp in _____’s friends hold.

His bar friends barely gave him a glance, each patron – new and old - was intensely watching what Red could only assume, with his universe’s expertise, was a bloodbath.

‘’She won’ come outta it. Ive tried everythin’! I caint let the kid near her just in case she does somethin’ she caint control.’’

The human’s brown shaggy hair was matted to his forehead and chin with sweat, his plaid shirt was practically drenched – he looked like he had just taken a swan dive into waterfall with his clothes on.

The kid in his arms was so much like Edge it was unbelievable, same sharp cheekbones and pointy little teeth – like a living family photo.. except when they rounded a particularly large gaggle of froggits, his little golden eyelights wavered and shriveled with fear.

And Red couldn’t blame him.

It was if electricity was spiking from lightning, a beam of light so bright and so powerful it could dwarf the magic of every monster in the room tenfold – a justice mage like the one in the stories was throwing her fists at another human woman.. for the life and care of a monster.

When he got back to his universe no one was going to believe him.

Another punch was thrown, blocked by a thankfully sturdy table as Zara ducked and weaved, squealing for help from the human patrons – clearly seeing the shocked delight in monsters’ eyes as she screamed and used them as shields from the homicidal magical beast.

His mate..

‘’Hey! Uh.. _____, can ya stop smashin up Grillbys.. this is kinda my favorite place!’’

He jolted in fear as her head spun round and her vibrantly golden eyes locked with his, her back arching as she turned like she wasn’t fully in control of herself.

His hands flung upward defensively as she cornered him, sniffing and prodding his bones like an animal. He could see from the corner of his sockets that Zara was now sobbing into the shirt of a mean looking, burly human who was whispering to her with fear in his eyes.

Reds SOUL thumped in his chest with excitement, and pride.

His mate terrified even the strongest humans.

Her hand gripped his hastily buttoned shirt and pulled it to the side and for a second Red swore that he saw those _____ eyes return for a fragment of a second.

‘’We’ll I know I’m irresistible doll but- whoa! Hey now.’’

His phalanges clutched her shirt, trying to push her off him as her hands wrapped around his pelvis and her teeth ripped his shirt collar from his bones.

He could hear a few monsters – probably Fincher and Birch – whistling low and awkwardly chuckling despite the distant sound of police pulling into Grillbys parking.

_____ looked at him deeply, clutching him close with a soft trill from deep in her throat. The magic that coated the air around her began to dissipate as she stumbled, her eyes flickering between his dilated red eyelights and the vibrant golden glow of his claiming mark.

Heh, it almost looked like she was about ta-

Her eyelids fluttered and the golden magic that watched him like a predator vanished, her body lost its fight and she fell to her knees. Unconscious and relying on the blue magic of several monsters to keep her from giving herself a concussion on the wooden floor.

Ah damn it.

Your eyes fluttered open, though you couldn’t tell – the abyss that surrounded you was darker than the darkness behind your eyelids.

‘Finally, you’re awake..’

You spun around at the new presence, your eyes seeing nothing, but you could feel them.. like they were right in front of you, their words more a feeling than a sound. You called out to them, but no sound escaped your lips.

‘I know you don’t understand what is happening.. but I am going to help you control your magic.’

You reached out to them, flexing your fingers desperately - Panic was settling itself deep in your chest, the sudden overwhelming feeling of fading away dizzying your mind.

An invisible hand grasped yours, pulling you through the abyss, holding you through your panic.

Without anything to ground your senses you could feel yourself spiraling.

Until a skeletal hand entwined with yours, with the lack of sensation you could feel every detail and nick in their hand.. and the sizable hole in their palm.

‘You must take control of yourself again.. You must control your emotions, your magic.’

You grasped the cold bone between your invisible fingers, holding tight and nodding – the thick feeling in your throat making it incredibly clear that talking was futile. They held you close, laying a hand across the dark mass that was your chest. There was a pulling sensation in your chest and the feeling of your skull splitting.

There was a chill throughout your non-existent body, like a blizzards chill brushing up against naked skin – as a hollow silhouette of a heart pulled itself from your chest.

‘Your SOUL has taken form due to your emotions; you need to take control again.’

You steeled yourself to the cold, taking a mental breath and nodding along with their words. You felt them release a comforting chuckle, another set of holed hands cupping the glowing outline of your SOUL.

‘Right, you must close yourself off to the moment you lost control. Whatever set your SOULs magic into such a violent act of protection needs to be forgiven and released.’

Your eyes narrowed at the presence, or where you assumed the presence was. You couldn’t forgive what you had witnessed, you didn’t like Black by all means – he was an asshole. But nobody deserved abuse like that.. at the hands of someone you knew was the devil incarnate. You couldn’t forgive the trauma Mutt had to have gone through to see his brothers dust pooling beneath his skull, you couldn’t forgive the blatant disregard for other people’s life for Zara’s own selfish gain, not again.

‘Don’t look at me like that. I know what must have happened had to have been severe. But this is the only way to regain control of your SOUL.’

You shook your head firmly; stubbornness ran in your family, and you were pulling ancestry out of your back pocket. Grandpa always said to stick by what you knew to be right, and knowing he was like you – that stubborn, hot headed, cranky old man was a justice mage made you believe that giving into other people’s bullshit wasn’t the only way to regain control.

The hollow shell thumped heartily, glowing in the inky darkness. You felt strength return to your invisible body and the sudden warmth that flooded your veins.

You looked up at the presence, the soft glow of your SOUL illuminating the shocked purple eyelight and one cracked socket. They trailed up to you, half a smile making its way to their face.

‘You are more powerful than I thought..’

Their mouth refused to move as they spoke, the words drilling themselves into your skull. Their ‘voice’ amplified as the hollow silhouette filled with golden magic the more you steeled yourself to your ideals. You would bend for nobody; you would compromise yourself for nobody.. not ever again.

It was as if you were floating. The skeletal hand slipping from your grasp as you began to drift upward, you could see the distant shimmer of gold in the distance. Feet and legs, torso.. you.

You looked back at the skeleton, their face illuminated in the darkness by your filling SOUL as they let you go – Two cracks through their skull and a soft grin on their face, a floating hand with a hole through its palm waved at you as the darkness swallowed them again.. they looked.. proud of you.

‘Take care of my sons.. all of them.’

You nodded, the pieces clicking in your head as you neared the surface of the abyss. You called to them as their face began to disappear into the darkness, one question to make sure you never forget their comfort and help.

‘my name is.. ☝✌💧❄☜☼.’

Chapter Text

You gasped and spluttered as you adjusted to the bright firelight of Grillby’s slightly scorched ceiling, your ears were ringing and the sounds of sirens and Red talking just above you. Your fingers twitched, and your eyes fluttered – your SOUL was warm and thumping in your chest, you were in your body again.. and Red was here..?
Red and blue light flashed through the large windows across the establishment, police were here.. Oh!

Sound flooded through the filter in your ears as you shot upward, accidentally hitting your head against Red’s skull with a hollow thump. You scanned the room for any sign of the scene your consciousness had left as you clutched Red to your chest.
‘’ Damn doll! Wha’ the hell..’’

You locked onto the familiar silhouette of Jesse talking to an officer outside with Eras in his arms, Grillby standing just next to him under a large umbrella to shield from the soft spatter of rain that covered the glass. Okay.. you sighed in relief; those were three of your boys safe. Now to find the other.. 4.
You scanned the deserted bar with confusion, surrounded by mumbling monsters and a visible lack of any humans – and unable to find any sign of Mutt, Axe, Sugar and even Black – you returned your gaze to Red.

‘’ Are you okay? What happened..’’
Sudden dread filled you as your eyes flickered to a large dent in a splintered table and a few claw marks across Grillby’s formerly polished floor.
‘’ What did I do?’’

Red chuckled uncomfortably, phalanges scraping against the vertebrae at the nape of his neck. His dull red eyelights scanning your face with wariness and pride.
‘’ I only saw th’ ‘tailbone’ end of it.. but Imma smart monster an’ from context clues.. your SOUL was filled with too much magic, which made ya a hell ofa lot stronger, but.. ya weren’t in control of yourself.. I’ve only seen soul traits be that ‘alive’ once before..’’

His phalanges trailed across his collar to scratch at the small teeth marks that poke from his shirt, remnants of golden magic swirling around the indents.
You pulled him close to your chest, your eyes burning – he yelped and let out a muffled curse as you stood, almost falling with the familiarly new feeling of a corporeal body – a steadying feathered hand coming to your arm.

‘’Grillbz said ya might need some help..’’
Fincher’s slurred words paired with Birches beaked smile filled you with relief, the wing pushing you up and guiding toward an empty, and luckily not broken, table.
‘’ We’ll tell James you’re awake.. he’s been a real help, talking to the human guard. Even helped get Mutt’s brother some green magic in ‘im.’’

When you got home tonight you were going to let Jesse pick out whatever movie he wanted to watch, and you would throw in a free massage.

You set a bright red Red on the tabletop, ignoring the way he bared his teeth at a curiously smelling Birch. ‘’ Yeah.. thanks Finch, do you know where the rest of my skeleton crew went? ‘’
You were slowly regaining your strength, the fizzing numbness in your bones slowly dissipating into a soft thrum of discomfort, your voice became stronger with worry.

‘’Oh ye’h.. Birch knows where they are, right Birch? ‘’

‘’Birch?’’

You heard the growl underlined with a soft whine – familiar. Especially when you looked up to Red and saw his throat bared and his teeth snapping at a too close Birch.. oh shit.
Red was still in heat.. and so was Mutt and Black.

You pushed up quickly, shoving an arm between the monsters with a weak snarl.
‘’Birch. My boys?’’

His minimal feathers plumed with embarrassment, shooting Fincher a scalding glare as he laughed behind a red feathered hand and with an awkward cough he gestured to a door behind Grillbys bar with a featherless wing.
‘’Grillbz put ‘em back there. But Mutts bro is outside with the other human.’’

‘’And.. the other human woman?’’
You almost dreaded the answer.. any answer he would give you would surely fill you with fear/disappointment. If Zara was still alive or.. if she wasn’t.

‘’Outside with a few humans.. also talkin’ to the human guard.’’

You thanked him and picked Red up, pushing his still cursing skull into the crook of your neck and made your way clumsily toward the ‘fire exit’ – a stabbing pain of both relief and anger shooting through your skull, the beginning of a headache starting to form as you pushed through the crowd of monsters that whispered around you.

Axe was huddled against the corner of the dusty orange sofa, Sugar on the floor beside him asleep with his skull nuzzled against his brothers scarred knee. Mutt was leaning against an old coffee table with his sockets closed, dark purple half circles practically dying his soft bone lilac.
Your heart ached as you set Red on the floor – taking his bony little hand in yours when he shuffled closer to your side – and Mutt’s eye sockets cracked open, the dull purple eye lights expanding as they realised you were there.
You shuffled close and bent in front of him to rest on your knees, Red’s hand still entwined in yours.
‘’Mutt..’’

Your finger brushed under his socket, smoothing the stress from his cheekbones as this face became hot and purple, tears pooling in the corners of his sockets – his arms latched themselves around your neck, ignoring the small involuntary growl that escaped Red at the touch.
Your free hand rubbed his back soothingly, kissing the side of his skull as he sobbed into your neck.
‘’I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please, I’m so sorry..’’

Oh, your poor babies..

Chapter Text

You clutched Mutt to your chest with a soft sigh, Red’s phalanges entwined with your hair as he snored above you – skull resting on top of your head over the couches arm.

The purple tears had slowed, not stopped, against the small strap of your dress – and Mutts small whimpers and pleas had silenced to small occasional sobs.

Your head throbbed as you adjusted him in your lap, the small stabbing pain across the back of your skull making it hard to relax against Grillby’s old Couch.

In the time you had spent calming your skeletons enough to quiet them you were able to look around Grillbys home – Aside from the small living room you were imposing on, there was a small, warm coloured kitchen. The oven and fridge a matching orange and had an arrangement of intricate metal cookware, all burned with symbols and stars and beautiful flowers that you could only assume were handmade.

A small table was set with similar beautiful utensils and warm placemats and to the right, stood tall in the corner of the small room, next to a door that you assumed led to a bedroom, was an intimidating suit of black and gold armour branded with a symbol you didn’t recognise, the walls and the chest plate were decorated in a menagerie of multicoloured golden medals, all branded with the same unidentifiable symbol.

They looked ancient... and slightly scorched on the inside?

Clearly these were worn by your flaming friend, but... when would he have had to wear armour? From what you understood of your timelines underground, there was no infighting, no civil war beneath your feet. But the scars that pulled the metal apart in places was a violent indicator that these were used in a battle...

And the only battle you were informed upon that monsters ever participated in was... the war that sealed them underground.

Damn. Grillby’s a GILF.

.. a 1000-year-old gilf.

Mutt sniffled into your shoulder, his nasal ridge pressing into the soft skin turning it pale. You gave his skull a soft stroke, kissing the corner of his browbone as he gave a broken purr into the black strap of your dress.

‘’ thanks... again.’’

You looked into a soft purple eye light, the socket flushed a lavender by magic tears that had now stopped.

Pressing a kiss to his brow bone again and cupping his cheeks had his eyes fluttering closed, the soft purr becoming a healthier sound in his magical throat.

‘’Don’t thank me. You’ve done so much for me, you’re good Papyrus.’’

‘’But even after my brother repeatedly... was himself. You still tried to save him.’’

His phalanges entwined themselves in your fingers, pulling your hands to rest against his clavicle.

You hugged him tight and lifted him from the floor, the strength finally returning fully to your legs.

‘’You need to rest; you’ve had more of a stressful night than anyone. I’m going to try and get some answers from the police. Okay?’’

Settling Mutt on the couch between Red and Axe, giving each a soft pet on the head before moving back to the ‘Fire Entrance’ where soft mumbles were perforating through the scorched wood.

You pushed the door open as quietly as you could, adjusting quickly to the sudden brightness of Grillbys main room – Several officers sat at one of the booths, Grillby opposite them with a frustrated flare to his flame and beside him was an exhausted looking Jesse holding your sleeping baby in his arms.

The door clicked shut behind you, drawing the attention of the other patrons of this hellish night.

One of the officers and Jesse stood quickly, both for different reasons.

‘’ Darlin’, y’arlight?’’

‘’ Ma’am, could you please take a seat?’’

You nodded, feeling more exhausted with every step you took. You gave a weak smile to Jesse as you sat beside Grillby.

‘Are you alright dear?’

‘’I’m fine Grillby, just tired.’’

You looked toward the uniformed men... Who were looking back at you with mixed looks of confusion and shock.

Weird... But ignorable.

‘’ Is Black okay?’’

You were worried, obviously. Zara was nowhere in sight, and it seemed like the ambulance had left a while ago, presumably with Black in it. And it would be good to have some news to give back to Mutt.

‘’ Uhm... Oh! The skeleton? He’s gone down to Ebott General Hospital, they have a monster doctor in the temporary building.’’

The officer scratched his scraggly beard – he was referring to the dingy plastic shack that stood, barely, behind the widely renowned Ebott General Hospital... You were surprised that those racist bastards had the hindsight to hire a monster, but you would kiss their feet if Black came out of there safe... And without some unknown disease caused by the piss poor conditions.

But you nodded along, leaning into Grillbys warmth. The second officer leant forward, side eyeing you sweet baby and then Grillby – ignoring you completely to stare Jesse down.

‘’ Miss Dolion says that she doesn’t want to press charges, luckily. She offers a lot more compassion than I would have.’’

You looked up quickly, Zara.. Didn’t want to press charges..?

What was she playing at?

‘’An’ I told ya that we did. Did ya not see the condition our friend was in?!’’

The officer frowned and opened his mouth to reply but the other officer quickly cut him off.

‘’ Sir, I know that you want to press charges but right now you can't,’’

He sent a wary look toward Grillby before continuing.

‘’ Monsters are, at best, property in the eyes of the law currently and while you can file for..’’

He watched as Grillbys flame turned purple at its edges, flaring angrily.

‘’ ..Property damage, but you are very unlikely to win in a court of law.’’

Grillby turned purple with anger, sparking dangerously and waking Eras, the ends of his flame curled, and he roared like a forest fire.

The officers jumped back, hands flying to their hips, they were panicking which was making you panic which caused a definite shift in the aura of the room which made Eras scream and Grillby angrier.

‘’ Grillby please calm down! I know, I know.’’

You turned to him and held his shoulders, the flames that licked your fingers hurt, but not enough to deter you from comforting him – especially when the cops were threatened enough to reach for their weapons.

‘ We are not property! This is my establishment, and these are my patrons! I keep these monsters safe and- and that-’’

You pulled him to your chest, holding him in a firm hug.

Grillby was very protective of the monsters around him, and knowing he was a veteran in the war solidified his selflessness in your eyes.

He flickered in your hold, purple fire turning sickly brown to a calm green – the burns that littered your arms and fingers healing instantly as he hugged you back.

‘’ I know Grillbz, its awful and unfair. I hate it-’’

By the stars did you hate it, the complete injustice for an entire people and the affects it took on your family and friends.

‘’ But just relax. We can figure something out.’’

You looked toward the wary officers and moved back down to sit beside Grillby, hand on his back to reassure him.

‘’ That’s fine, it's okay – we won't press charges either. It’s alright, everyone just needs to relax – if everything has been settled, I think we should get home, is that alright with you, officers?’’

The officer with the beard nodded, patting the other cop's shoulder as they shuffled from the booth. Grillby gave a hiss and crack before heading behind the bars counter while you and Jesse lead the officers outside.

Eras squeaked as he saw you, little hands reaching for you and tiny eye sockets still drooping with tiredness. You plucked him from Jesses arms and hugged him close to your chest, finding comfort in the way his little nasal bone snuggled into your collar bone. You leant against Jesses shoulder as you watched the officers return to their car, whispering something between themselves.

You and Jesse turned to retrieve your skeleton crew so you could leave Grillby to relax but you stopped when you heard the other officer mutter, purposefully loud enough for you to hear.

‘Filthy monster whore.’’

You held your baby tight as tears welled up in your eyes.

This was not how you wanted tonight to go for your boys, tomorrow you’d do something to cheer them up.

No barfights or near-death experiences.

Chapter Text

8:26 am, the morning after your hellish evening yesterday.

Eras was strapped to your chest, teeth suckling on a phalange and his little hand playing with your hair which was pulled into a loose, low ponytail.

You stroked his skull gently as you moved through Jesses kitchen, pulling out all the ingredients needed for the good mood breakfast you had planned, making a mental note to go grocery shopping for Jesse after this – four skeletons and two humans ate a lot, especially Axe and Sugar.

Eras mumbled into your chest, hands smacking your chest as he pushed himself away – his little body leaning out and chirping inquisitively at the food on the counter, his little bobble skull looking at you for a suspiciously long time.

‘’ You okay honey skull?’’

His little sockets became half lidded and he moved slightly closer as you cracked the eggs into the bowl for the pancakes, giving him a side eye as you began to mix the batter.

His little jaw opened, his tiny, blunt fangs on display before he lunged, squealing and latching onto your cheek.

You yelped as he began to shake his little head, his little teeth tickling your face making you squeal along with him. His tiny baby attack filling you with so much love, your soul thumping happily, which made Eras even more excited, nibbling more and squealing louder, jumping in your grip as you laughed, moving away from the kitchens counter so you didn’t spill anything.

Stars, your baby was so cute.

‘’ No! You can’t eat momma!’’

Eras threw his little hands in the air, grabbing a little handful of your hair and holding onto the other side of your cheek to pull him closer, little golden tongue licking the side of your face.

‘’ Gross! If your dada caught you doing this, he would tell you off so bad.’’

Now that gave you an idea.

You grabbed your phone off the counter, Eras still latched to your face like the cutest little leech, pulling up facetime as quickly as possible and calling Edges phone.

You hoped he’d be lucid enough to answer.

‘’ WHAT?!’’

Your SOUL sang at that gravelly voice, Edges skull pressed against his phone's camera.

‘’ Papyrus honey, move the phone in front of your face.’’

You heard his breath hitch, red sweat beading across his skull before he moved the phone to the front of his face – his eyelights were fuzzy and in the shape of little hearts which grew larger when he saw Eras attached to your face.

‘’ You- What Have You Been Teaching Our Son? I Knew Humans Were Weird, But This!’’

His eye sockets scrunched and a small ‘Nyeh heh heh’ came from his teeth, and the small noise drew Eras’ attention from your face his teeth unlatching as he investigated the phone – you could see little teeth marks in your cheek and a heathy slather of golden magic saliva.

‘’ What Has Your Mother Been Teaching You? She's Turning You Savage!’’
Edges fangs were upturned in a loving smile, the sharp corners of his skull softening as he watched Eras squeal and babble, reaching for the phone with excitement.
'' When You're Back Here I Will Teach You How To Harness That Strength - You'll Be The Second Greatest Skeleton In Our Family! NYEH HEH HEH!''

You laughed, nodding along with Eras and Edges nonsense conversation, balancing your phone on the counter as you continued to make breakfast – Edge piping in with aggressive affirmations and advice and your heart took a screenshot every time you saw Edge looking toward you and Eras with that look of pure love.

After an hour Jesse shuffled into the kitchen, watching you plate up the piles of food. He moved up behind you setting a hand on your shoulder as he yawned.

‘’ Dang Whippoorwill, ya did all this fer us?’’

You smiled up at him, pink teeth marks still imbedded into your cheek – you heard a low rumble from your phone but ignored it.

‘' Jess, can you wake up everyone else – careful with Red, he’s still in heat – and so is Mutt.’’

He nodded, stroking a finger over Eras’ skull making him squeal happily, and giving a very grumpy Edge a wave before leaving toward the rooms where the other skeletons were sleeping.

You turned back to the phone with a knowing look on your face, eyebrow raised at Edge whose face turned a rosy red when catching your eye.

‘’ So possessive Papyrus.’’

You hummed, adjusting Eras in your grip who had taken the end of your ponytail and was now nibbling on the end.

Edge whined, the camera falling as he shuffled around, small chirps coming from the phone making Eras chirp in response.

You picked the phone up and moved Eras to sit at the table in one of the baby dining chairs Jesse had helped you assemble, kissing him on the head as you returned to the kitchen, Edges face back in view of the camera and you could see the familiar wall of his nest.

‘’ It Has Been Difficult Dealing With The Others, But I Thank You For Taking Some Of Them.. Especially My Fool Of A Brother.’’

‘’ You’re doing so good Papyrus.’’

You cooed as Edge whined again, more magic sweat beading across his skull.

You leant against the counter, watching Edge shudder under your gaze – now you were wishing you had stayed for Edges heat. He looked gorgeous.

You heard Reds grumpy mumbling draw closer to the kitchen, his little skull flushed a soft pink as he sniffed around the kitchen, eyes still partially shut as he shoved a piece of toast into his pointy maw and then latched onto your waist, nuzzling his face into your sternum.

You laughed and placed your hand on his skull, stroking in soft circles making him purr – Edge whined, needy for your attention which you wholeheartedly gave.

You whispered praise into the phone, watching as Edges face got progressively redder and his whines got louder.

Red seemed to have fallen asleep again against your chest, half koala hugging your lower body – luckily for you and Edge who had begun to pant and squirm over the phone.

‘’I Miss You.. So.. Much.’’

From between grunts and whines he managed to squeeze out, the cameras feed became fuzzy with the heat in Edges room.

You had about 2 minutes before the rest of the skeletons made their way into the kitchen, barely one till Eras got tired of chewing on the sleeve of his little blue onesie – you looked down at Edge, licking your lips – making him whine again and shift in his nest – your hand clutching the phone tight in your hand.

‘’ Papyrus when I get back, I am going to ravage you. You aren't going to be able move those skinny legs when I’m done with you.’’

You could see a slight reflection of gold across your phones screen as Edge yelped and his hazy eyelights rolled back into his skull, the small peak of clavicle you could see glowing a vibrant gold – Red whined below crawling up your body till he was bear hugging your torso and keeping himself against you all by himself, his clavicle glowing a similar gold.

You watched as Edge panted, phalanges wiping down his phone's screen from the condensation of his heat. He panted and stuttered, deep red tongue peeking out from between his fangs as he relaxed against the wall of his nest – his eye sockets closing and the unfocused heart eyelights dissipating and reappearing to look back at you, a fire of determination burning behind his eyelights as he looked at you.

‘’When You Are Back, We Are Going On The Best Date Any Human Will Ever Go on.’’

You nodded, the idea already filling your heart with happiness - You were gonna buy that monster a bouquet of flowers and the best night of his life.

There was a crash from Edges side of the call and the collective sleepy mumbles from the rest of the skeletons on your end.

You sighed happily as Axe and Sugar peeked around the kitchen corner, giving little waves as they made their way toward the piles of food.

Edge sighed softly, his eyelights fluttering closed as another crash echoed into his room – you smiled down at him, blowing him a kiss that made his cheeks flare and a shudder fall across his bones.

‘’ I’ll hold you to that handsome, I have to go – take care of yourself, okay? I love you.’’

Edges magic breaths stuttered, a deep purr just barely getting picked up by the calls microphone. His eyelights shifted away from the phone and then back to your face, a small smile on his sharp teeth.

‘’ I.. I Love You As Well..’’

He quickly ended the call after that, and you could feel your heart beating out of your chest.

Setting your phone down on the counter and adjusting Red in your hold, nuzzling his face under your chin as you moved toward the brothers who had piled their plates high with food – the immovable smile on your face and the spring in your step making Axe wheeze out a laugh and Sugar purred happily a blood orange blush coating his cheek bones.

‘’ WErE yoU On tHe pHone wiTh EDgE? YoU lOoK vErY HapPy HuMan- eR _____.’’

You nodded, stroking a hand over the side of his face as he leant down to be at your eye level – he nuzzled into the affectionate touch, purring happily as his eyelights became fuzzy in their sockets.

‘’ Yep, and I know the past couple of days have been hectic, but I am excited to see everyone at the house again – even Prime Sans.’’

Axe huffed at that, shoving a pair of sausages into his unhinged jaw with an air of disapproval.

‘’ Not that I don’t a-’gore’ spending time with you Axe,’’

It took a second, and then he almost choked on a corner of toast that he had stolen from another plate, his bulbous eyelight rolling to look at you from the corner of its socket, a real smile making its way across its teeth.

Such jealous skeles.

‘’ yeah, we ju’ gotta worry ‘bout what the rat queens said to ‘em - no doubt she's at least called baby blues guard dog.’’

Ah, right – the hardest foe of all.. Stretch.

But. That was not what this morning was about, especially when Mutt shuffled into the kitchen behind Jesse, his bones draped in a much too big t-shirt that Jesse had lent him to sleep in (Red was wearing one of your old Jesse t-shirts with a humiliatingly funny ‘save a horse’ tagline over the chest).

Mutt was clearly still half asleep, his eye sockets were barley open as he made his way to you, phalanges just barely sticking out of the shirt's long sleeve to grab the hem of your shirt.

You smiled, kissing the top of his skull to greet him, which made him hum sleepily.

‘’ You okay?’’

He nodded blearily following you around the kitchen as you made a plate for your son and the skeletons that were hanging onto you more than your baby had been all morning.

You lead your posse of monsters to the table, setting Red in the chair opposite yours so you could make sure he didn’t drown in the syrup slathered pancakes, with Eras and Mutt on both of your sides and Jesse, Axe and Sugar sat beside the practically catatonic Red.

‘’ Thank ya angel, tastes real good.’’

You heard Axe mumble out from between whole slices of toast and ketchup covered sausages, Sugar blushing as he swallowed down three syrup drenched pancakes at once.

‘’ YES, it IS DeliGhTFul. YoU aNd I COULd cook ToGeTHer! I- IF YOu’D LiKE tHAT.’’

Leant across the table to hold his long, sharp phalanges – from the corner of your eye you could see Axes hand clench, so you reached your other hand out to hold his as well.

‘’ Sounds perfect Sugar, we could bake something sweet together – and your brother could be the judge.’’

That made Axe chuckle and perk up, sending Sugar a wink that made his younger brother laugh with a undertone of knowing – a broken and choked sound that had to have hurt.

Mutt mewed quietly beside you, tugging on your shirt as he ate a.. barbeque sauce covered piece of toast. He smiled at you, the exhaustion from the week evaporating from his shoulder.

These skeletons were the single cutest creatures to ever grace your life.

A squeal of amusement from Eras pulled your attention to Red who had, with no surprise at all, fallen face first into his plate of pancakes.

Yep. You were the luckiest human alive.

Jesse wheezed hard, doubling over when Red sprang upward with an amber coloured blush glowing from under the syrup that covered his face.

‘’ Shaddup! You two kid.’’

His phalange pointed at Eras, which made the baby laugh even louder, throwing himself back in his chair as he chirped and gurgled.

Mutt hid himself behind your body as he laughed, his body shaking with the force of his giggles and Axe was almost under the table when Red turned his body toward him, and a fleck of syrup fell into his nasal cavity and Sugar was covering his mouth as he laughed, his shoulders hunched as he chuckled into his hand.

Stars, nothing was better than these soft moments – you wished you could be with Edge, but you only had to wait another day till the heat symptoms were dull enough that you could return home.

And when Zara finally left your family alone, you’d be able to share these moments with every Sans and Papyrus-

Your phone rang from the kitchen, quickly shoving the remaining pancake into your mouth you got up to answer it – silently hoping it was Edge calling back from earlier.

‘’Bring us back a towel will ya! I’m inna ‘sticky’ situation ‘ere.’’

You laughed and promised, struggling not to double over when Eras’ laugh met a new level of hysterical.

‘’ Promise Red, I’ll get you a damp one – just give me a minute to get my phone.’’

‘’Oh yeah, answer the phone first, not like I’m drownin’ in syrup.’’

You rolled your eyes as you reentered the kitchen, grabbing your phone from where you left it on the counter to see who was calling you.

Unknown number.. Weird.

You answered anyway, worst case scenario it was a scammer or someone who was delusional enough to think they could stalk you.

‘’Hello?’’

‘’H-hello, is this M-m-miss. _____?’’

It was a woman on the other line with a stuttering little voice, unsure and gentle as she spoke much too close to the phone – she sounded 3 seconds off of hanging up on you.

‘’ Yes, uh- speaking.’’

You heard a relieved sigh on the other end of the phone.

‘’ I-I am the doctor at E-ebott general h-h-hospital – uhm, in the m-monster building.. You were put down as primary caretaker by t-the police last night.. U-uh.. Ah, Mr. Gaster is a-awake now for you to come and pick him u-u-up.’

Chapter Text

You clicked Eras’ little buckle open, his sleepy little face greeting you once the car had stopped, his little fangs upturned as he gurgled at you – sweet boy.

You pulled him into your arms, holding him close to you so you could strap his little body to yours with his blanket.

The back of Ebott General Hospital loomed over the dirt parking lot and the small grey building, that looked as if it was one gust of air away from collapsing.. The monster ward.

You dreaded Eras ever getting sick if this was where he had to go.

Sugar stretched his back, the cramped confines of the car putting an ache in his elongated spine, a whine slipping through his mask as he looked between the two hospitals – clearly becoming worried at the prospect of going into the dingy little murder shack, not even the little upside-down soul on the door could lift the mood of the place.

Axe shuffled out of the car, still half asleep from the car ride – the bumpy road had made him sleepy just like a baby, His phalanges reaching out to find Sugars, who grabbed it and led him around the car to stand beside you.

The reason Axe and Sugar had joined you on your depressing little trip was so you could get their wounds looked after – head wounds, dental problems and every knick and scar that littered their light grey bones.

Sugars long pinky hooked with yours, squeezing it with unease as you all shuffled toward the abnormally large door.

The glass was practically black and there was a spiderweb fracture in the corner, but when you pressed yourself against the door it popped open without fuss and warm air slapped you straight in the face.

The interior of the falling apart cardboard box was a beautiful, warm orange and pink lobby – small chairs across the wall and many pictures and crocheted monster plushies littering shelves and tables.. It was much nicer than what you were expecting.

There was a large fluffy goat monster reading at the receptions desk, a large blue apron across a beautifully knitted red sweater and a nametag; ‘Volunteer Toriel’, decorated with flower stickers and quite a large pie sticker that covered the ‘V’ of volunteer.

‘’Well hello dears, how can I help you this morning?’’

Axe shuddered behind you, his eyelight dilating and shrinking rapidly as he practically crushed Sugars hand in his claws – and Sugar wasn’t really faring any better, his phalanges were shaking so much that they were causing your hand to tremble along with him.

Toriels eyes seemed to flash with recognition at your boys, which you weren't surprised by – they were alternate versions of her undergrounds Sans and Papyrus. But she seemed to understand as she got up, a small clipboard in her large furry paws.

‘’Oh! I’ll have to call Sans, you must be _____, and... Other Sans and young Papyrus... Oh! And a sweet child!’’

Her warm, horizontal goat eyes immediately widened at your sleepy sons golden eyelight peeking through the blanket, her fluffy hands placed the clipboard on the counter and moved around her desk the fabric of her apron – the room was warmer and nicer in her presence, like her aura was causing your soul to relax and everything suddenly smelled of butterscotch and cinnamon.

‘’I haven't seen a skeleton child in over a hundred years..’’

Damn.. MILF.

She moved toward you slowly, almost in awe and shock, but a deep whine from Axe halted her advance. A small cough from the door to the left of the front desk drew your attention, breaking the sudden awkward tension that arose, as a little yellow.. Dinosaur shuffled through the doorway.

They were wearing a little lab coat and about the same height as the regular Sans’ (Axe being the exception as he was half a head taller), with small front teeth that poked through the nervous smile on their face.

She was charming, with little glasses perched high on the bridge of her snout and a demeanour of helpful introversion – like a plush dinosaur come to life.

‘’U-u-uhm a-are you here f-f-for Black..? O-Oh! T-t-there are more of y-you.’’

She looked more anxious at the sight of Sugars spindling figure and Axes bulbous red eyelight, scanning her over with a glazed - dissociated roll.

‘’I’m _____, I think we talked on the phone?’’

‘’R-right, M-M-Mutt left your n-n-number as an emergency contact once Black w-w-w-woke up – H-he said his got b-broken last night – I-I'm Doctor A-Alphys.’’

You nodded, adjusting Eras against your chest as one of his little arms snaked outside of his wrap. The little dinosaur smiled awkwardly and ushered you into the little door she had appeared from, her tail swishing back and forth as the door automatically slid open to reveal two cramped hospital beds barely divided by what looked to be an old blue towel attached to the ceiling with a shower curtain pole; Axe (pulled through by his hood), Sugar and Toriel padding in to the room after you both, making the room feel even smaller.

On one of the beds Black was half laying across, a bandage over one socked and the other scowling in your direction, there was an IV that ran around his bones and under the old hospital dress to where you could see the green outline of his upside-down SOUL.

His non-existent lips turned up in a scowl, fangs sneering as you walked up to the bed, hearing Sugars small reprimands as Axe snapped out of his daze to chuckle and wheeze at the bratty display.

‘’It Looks Like The Freak Show Has Come To Do A Charity Visit.’’

Black bit out, his voice exhausted and gravelly – more so than usual, still refusing to look at you all, and even though the insult was aimed at you, you couldn’t help but laugh. Even after a near death experience he was still both an asshole and a Sans.

You could see the tips on his cheekbones flush a light shade of plum as you laughed at his ire, the scowl on his skull deepening as Axe and Eras joined in with the laughter.

You were about to retaliate when Sugars phalanges tugged on your sleeve, cautiously pulling you close so he could lean down and whisper into your ear from behind. You repressed a shudder and one of his bent teeth caressed the back of your ear, not from fear, but from sympathy as he let out a silent whimper of pain.

‘’tHE AlPHys of tHiS UnIvERSe KEePS staRiNg aT me aND SAnS- Erh, AxE - IF axE sEEs...’’

And as you looked toward the little yellow dinosaur you could see the scales on her cheeks pale and flush neon green. She looked sick looking at the splinters and caverns and cracks and bent bones that made up Axe and Sugar.

You reached a hand up and held his scarred cheekbone in your hand, Axe luckily none-the-wiser as he taunted a steadily seething Black who was flushing deeper purple at the conversation you weren’t really paying attention to.

‘’I-I undErSTANd IF shE WAs OogLiNg aT My gREaTness, NYeH hEh, BUt.. I'M noT gReAt ANymOre..’’

Sugars face pressed into your hand for comfort, like a cat wanting attention, and with the same rumbling purr too – though Sugars was filled with the need for comfort rather than just gentle pets.

‘’ h e y f r i e n d, w h a t c h a l o o k i n a t . . ?’’

It was like the warmth of the room disappeared, the laughter and angry huffing had stopped as Axes’ teeth scraped against one another like rusted metal across a stone floor, his bulbous eyelight rolling like a spotlight from Sugar to Alphys’ now terrified face, his eyelight was fizzing in his skull, a feeling of betrayal and anger filling the deep red ball of magic - You had to calm him down fast, the phalanges itching to grab hold of his dead socket and the other clawing at his empty pockets an immediate sign that if there wasn’t another explanation than Alphys staring in horrified shock, that would be the last expression on her face.

‘’Come now friends, let us not quarrel in the presence of the injured.’’ Toriels soft whisper just seemed to make Axe more uncomfortable and itchy, and Blacks weakened magic that began to crash against the angry, spluttering flare of Axes sent both Sans’ bodies visibly shaking.

Axes phalanges began inching into his coat, his other hand two knuckles deep in the void of his socket tug, tug, tugging until a fragment of bone splintered and faded to dust.

‘’Doctor Alphys was just thinking about a dental procedure that could help ease up the pain in Sugars jaw! Right doctor..?’’ The words fell out in a moment of panic – Axes hand giving another painful tug in his socket. Your eyes prompting Alphys with a silent plea to go along with it, Sugars hand tightened painfully around your bicep, cutting into the skin as the room went stagnant.

‘’R-R-r-right.’’

Chapter Text

Alphys was sweating, profusely.

Her tail swayed as an uncomfortable cat would, and her brow bone was twitching excessively at the noise of bone being filed away.

She was hunched over an unconscious Sugars face, a blue mask across her muzzle and a magic coated electric bone-saw between her claws.

And you sat beside her, both hands occupied holding Sugars... And Axes.

His eyelight was locked on every twitch of muscle and sweat slicked scale that clicked against Sugars open maw – Which did not help Alphys’ nerves.

He didn't trust her, clearly, and the air of that distrust at every flicker of her eyelids put you on edge and was putting Sugars impromptu dentist appointment at risk of an anxiety ridden accident.

‘’Sans... Let's just stand outside, okay?’’

Axe snarled deep, a rumbling sound that made Alphys jolt and slice a spare roll of tissues clean in two, your breath caught in your throat – if she was in the middle of filing Sugars teeth, she could have really damaged him. Your heart was practically in your throat as you stood up, clutching Axes hand firm in yours, and gave Alphys a sympathetic nod as you dragged Sans out, kicking and snarling.

 ------

Eras grabbed at Blacks collarbone, rocking back and forth with the leverage of healed bone between his little talons, Toriel sat beside the skeletons, her fluffy paw gently stroking the back of the babybones’ skull each time he turned to spout nonsense at her or latch his fangs into the corner of the book Black was reading.

‘’You can tell he is Edges child.’’

Toriel hummed questioningly, letting Eras grab her finger and pull it toward his wide-open little mouth.

‘’He is a nuisance when he sees people relaxing – too much energy and too much of a hard-ass to let anyone else relax.’’

Black placed a folded tissue in the space between pages and set it aside on the miniature side table (one that looked like it had been found in waterfall if the water damage was anything to go by). His eye socket flared with his unique purple magic, locking onto the baby's soul and lifting him into the air, saving Toriels fluffy claw from being chewed on.

‘’Well, I’m sure that many people would describe you as a ‘hard-ass’, Black. Maybe the human... Who drove all this way to come and get you, who you have insulted non-stop since she arrived.’’

Eras squealed as he spun in the air, hands and legs outstretched like a star as he twirled above Blacks sharp frown.

‘’I am recovered. All I needed was a car... Or even a taxi to get back to the house.’’

Black knew he was being unfair, no taxi company would send someone out to get a monster and even if his magic was almost fully restored, he could still feel an ache in the back of his skull that would have made it impossible to drive for longer than ten minutes.

‘’Perhaps. But after how you have treated the poor dear, do you not find it odd that she still returns to all of your sides. Stars knows how many times I’ve scolded Prime Sans for his conduct.’’

Toriels fangs set themselves in a thoughtful frown, her red eyes protectively latched onto the baby skeleton floating inches above her horns.

‘’He made her seem like a threat-’’

‘’She IS a threat.’’

Blacks magic seized and then spluttered out, dropping Eras into Toriels awaiting fluffy arms.

Puffs of angry magic left the gaps between his teeth as he fully sat himself up in the rickety hospital bed, his ribcage clicked beneath the uncomfortable robe as his bones knocked against one another. The purple magic in his socket was rapidly igniting and extinguishing in his exhaustion.

‘'A mage just so happens to find her way burrowed in our house out of coincidence. You must think me a fool. Edge has been blinded by childish love and my brother has turned to her only out of heartbreak.’’

Toriel adjusted an unaffected Eras in her arms, letting him play and bite her nametag as she watched Blacks bones harden into a scowl.

‘’And what of the poor dears that refused to let her leave them alone?’’

‘’They are damaged. Clearly, they have latched onto the closest thing to their world. Barbaric and unnatural.’’

‘’And what of your significant other, I am still the queen, Black. Grillby had informed me and every monster above ground of what happened the other night. How she harmed you and how the brilliant performer risked human prison to defend his patrons.’’

Blacks face flushed an angry lavender, his eyelights looked away from Toriels expectant and disappointed look.

He was the captain of his royal guard; he was loyal to his Queen out of both fear and fierce loyalty – it was entirely unprofessional of her to use their identical faces to her advantage.

‘’I was fine.’’

Toriels fluffy brow rose, her fangs pursing with a knowing look.

‘’She is a human; she had no concept of what could harm me.. Weak as I am. I had extra magic that needed to be expelled, my bones became brittle, and I passed out.’’

‘’She caused dust, Sans. You are smart. You know that she hurt you, Sans. She hurt you!’’

The room became warmer as Toriel stood, Eras in her arms with wide sockets – protective magic flaring as her eyes brightened. Black refused to look her in the eye, his teeth grit so hard magic was cushioning the hinges of his jaw to prevent damage.

‘’You must understand that she meant to cause you harm, a 0.5 more damage and you would have Fallen, Sans. Your brother, alone.’’

‘’Enough...’’

Toriels ears shook as she threw her head aggressively, her large hand had started flaring a deep orange.

‘’You make excuses for something I know you are smart enough to be aware of – All of the Skeletons in that house seem to think she's a saint, they’ve treated that poor child with so much distrust because you have all made prejudgments on her character-’’

‘’Queen Dreemurr, Stop.’’

‘’-But she has done nothing but care, Sans has tried to paint her actions as heinous, but I have heard from more than a dozen monsters in this city that she has been true and kind! You all must see that the pain caused by your significant other is putting your household at risk, your brother at risk, this baby at-’’

‘’ENOUGH.’’

Purple magic flared again, the SOUL monitor balanced next to Blacks forgotten book was beeping and vibrating rapidly.

Sockets narrowed toward the large Goat monster, the hostile magic making Eras whimper and curl into Toriels apron.

‘’So WHAT if I was damaged? I am captain of the royal guard; I am stronger than you could ever know in this soft universe. I have killed thousands, I command hundreds – I was the queen's right hand, in charge – I created routine, and I protected my family! And suddenly me and my brother are pulled from that, into a universe not torn in war and aggression,’’

Blacks' ribcage rose and fell quickly, his phalanges clutching the fabric that rested just above his pounding SOUL. His sockets were wide but his eyelights were unfocused, not entirely piercing into Toriels horizontal ones.

‘’And I found life hard for the first time in many years, adjusting to such a world after learning that change would have gotten you killed – thank the stars I had Mutt, some constant in this chaos. We were above ground and surrounded by the enemy, surrounded by different versions of me and my brother,’’

Black's teeth snapped against one another as he tried to find the words, his skull foggy as he sorted through his vocabulary, till he reached. ‘’I thought Edge and Red could relate to my stubbornness, to my fear of change - coming from a universe so similar to mine. But then they changed, they were the first to fully try and integrate themselves with the Humans, dating.’’

He spat the word, his eyes locking onto Eras’ whimpering little body hidden in the fluff of Toriels forearms.

‘’And Mutt followed suit, Zara was a new constant in the house, and she became part of the new routine, she was soft, like this world and she made each Sans and Papyrus melt with her patience and kindness. So, I tried that.’’

‘’And then Edges mage came about, I was civil, she took care of my brother even after she had been harmed and banned from the house. I allowed danger into the house because this world was making me soft.

And that little creature was created.’’

Black shook his skull as he finally locked eyes with Toriel once again, the Boss monster listening – as his queen used to..

‘’A mage near my brother, disrupting the routine, creating disturbance and creating another problem. Dragging cannibals, maneaters, into this world. Taming them like rabid animals – Turning my brother against the human we had integrated into this new life, stirring up a fear we had never seen in her, a fear in me..’’

Blacks' baritone voice cracked at the end, his magic dulling to a soft whisper of distress.

‘’I thought I could make that feeling go away, I refused to see the problems with my datemate, I refused to listen to my brother when he wanted to talk to me. I left because I was afraid, afraid of the sudden change and that because for the first time in my life I was more fearful to face my brother than the truth.. and I ran from the one monster I was supposed to protect.’’

Toriel sat on the side of the uncomfortable mattress, handing Eras to Blacks lax arms – though still distressed by the emotional magic, Eras snuggled into the familiar feeling of bone, purring happily when Toriel pulled them both into a motherly hug,

‘’Fear can make monsters do things they usually would never do.. Sometimes abandoning the people you love seems like the best option... but in the end, you will regret the hardships faced alone, you will blame yourself for the pain they feel. Even if they don't blame you. And maybe listening to those you have hurt can help you recover in turn.’’

Toriels warm eyes filled with knowing tears, her large paw cupping the back of Blacks skull.

Blacks head was lax in the crook of Toriels neck, his hands loosely around Eras, just like how he used to sit with Mutt when he was a baby bones.

‘’I’m sorry Queen Dreemurr.’’

‘’Toriel is fine, Sans. All I ask is that you keep yourself, and your family safe.’’

Her knowing look and parental advice was cut short as the Human marched out of the medical ward, her hand tightly gripping a feral looking Sans'. She was determined as she glanced toward the patient's ward, taking in every detail of the previously heartfelt scene before pushing through the exit and into the fresh, snow-covered parking lot.

Chapter Text

He lunged for your arm again, teeth snapping a hair's breadth away from your skin, just as you released him into the shadow of the looming hospital.

Fresh snow had finished falling across the old parking lot and across you both, the final stark white flecks settling along Axes' bones – emphasizing the grey of his bones and undertones of brown and red.

With the feral look in his eye light it was almost as if you could see that his maw and talons were stained with the ghost of blood.

You hadn't really noticed that before, but both Axe and Sugar were much greyer than the other versions of them... Nor did any other Sans and Papyrus seem as scary as Axe did right now.

He looked crazed. More crazed than usual.

Like he didn't know where he was.

He was muttering to himself, bulbous eye pulsating in his skull – his teeth were chattering, repeating something along the lines of ‘Not my eye’.

Your SOUL flared painfully as you watched him stumble in the snow, Axe was scary but in the way that a bear was scary – friend shaped but he was dangerous if provoked...

and you needed to calm him down.

‘’Sans, I know you’re worried about Papyrus. But he's going to be alright, we need to stay out here so Alphy's can do her job without you scaring her into accidentally taking his head off!’’

Bad phrasing.

Axe snarled, his hand reaching both beneath his hoodie and to cover his socket protectively. His face contorting into a frown that looked eerily uncanny across his usually smiling teeth.

You could see Toriel looking out through the chipped window, but you gave her a small wave to ease her panicked expression.. Even though you didn't feel as confident in yourself as you usually did.

You had to help him, he was your friend, and he was suffering.

‘’Wheres my... My e..eye..?’’

Sans whirled around toward the looming hospital, the frown on his face deepening as his glowing bulbous eye observed the pipes and loose wires that lined the back of the building.

‘’Core..’’

You watched him take a step forward, stained slippers gathering clumps of snow. His hands dropped out of his hoodie to swing limp at his sides.

.

.

.

‘’Sans?’’

‘’Where's my eye?’’

A shiver ran down your spine at the deep, neutral tone cut through the surrounding quiet, the eye in Sans’ socket snapped to you, unwavering as the pupil shrunk.

And it dawned on you what he was muttering about..

That wasn't his eye.

You had made that mistake the day you had met him and every day since. It glimmered with magic, yes, but it had a more physical look underneath the glamour, unlike the projection of magic in the usual skeletons socket, Axe’s eye was real.

Fight or flight kicked in, adrenaline shooting through your fingertips as you watched the slimy ball catch on the side of his socket. That wasn't his eye.

‘’I should’ve dusted as soon as I ended up here... Undyne.’’

He was addressing you, the eye – not his eye - was on you like a spotlight.

‘’The only thing keeping me alive, manifestation of physical magic – my 0.5 Hp. It's not in this universe.’’

You were almost tempted to call out to Toriel for help now.

Your heart stuttered as you now realized the eye in his head was dyed red with blood and not magic and each squishy turn it took to catch your eyes made you want to heave, but he did what he had to.

His world was hell, and he did what he had to, to keep himself alive..

It's not his fault, he's having a moment. You get like this sometimes.. In the woods - your SOUL battled against the ancient instinct to fight or flee and the voice that numbed the back of your head with fear and cowardice – his trauma is deep and scary, you rationalized.

So, so scary.

You knew the basics.. The starvation, the food. However, the intimate details were always silenced by Sugar, or prime Sans or even Axes deluded muttering when he began on the subject.

‘’Sans. I’m not-’’

Tears fell from his working socket.

It takes you off guard, enough to keep the words in your throat, especially when he doesn't seem to realize.

The world drains of color.

Your SOUL flickers into existence before you, golden glow illuminating the practically unchanged snow and shadows.

Axes eye flared with magic, the ball disappearing and reappearing with a second flare of almost blue and yellow specks of anger.

*SANS

*SANS STOP

An unstable string of magic shot toward you, fading in and out of existence and you threw yourself into the snow to save yourself another scar.

Your head throbbed again. There was nowhere to run.. And if you died, the police would take Axe, and you don't know what they would do to him. - Stars, they would dust him for an uncontrollable PTSD episode. What would happen to Sugar? To Edge and Eras?

*SANS!

His eye flailed around, the abyss of color lit up in several shades of red and blue and yellow as he shot another strand of unstable magic at you, and this time you were going to be hit – you covered your head with both your arms and turned onto your stomach to protect yourself as best you could.

*AXE.

The magic struck the floor next to your head, melting the snow and scorching the tarmac beneath.

Your heart hammered in your skull, rattling around in your fear – Your breathing was becoming erratic, panicked at the second near death experience you had this month, footsteps heavy in the snow as he marched toward you.

*i made them do it y’know

You took a steadying breath before gasping out - your focus returned to Axe who had impolitely snatched a handful of your hair, pulling your face out of your arms and out of the snow.

*i made ‘im eat it.

You looked up at him, one eye half closed due to a gathering of snow across your eyelid. Breathing heavily but no longer scared - your SOUL pulsed softly in time with the flickering magic that surrounded his not eye.

*they took my eye. i gave them a solution and they took my eye instead...

He gave a dark laugh, tears still trailing across his cheek bones, still somehow unnoticed by the crazed skeleton.

*alphys betrayed me. undyne betrayed me.

He looked as if he was starting to recognize you, the foggy look in his eye was sharpening as he took in the features of your snow-covered face, like he was no longer looking at this Undyne – and his grip on your hair loosened enough for a few strands to escape.

The beanie atop his skull had been abandoned in the snow and you could see that the sky was beginning to darken, but you couldn’t stop him talking just yet, he was opening up... in a painful and scary way – your SOUL pulsed – but that was just Axe.

*i destroyed the core. i made the announcement that we were to eat any kids that fell down. just to spite them. even after i destroyed our only means of continued survival, even after i scrambled that little monster's brains -

Tears pulled the magic away from his anger, the flame of red, blue and yellow around his eye drained into large red tears that fell into the snow.

His phalanges released your hair and you almost face planted into the ice with the sudden release of tension, his whole body was shaking, and you could hear the sound of his bones rattling together.

*- i made ‘em eat kids. like.. like a- a monster

His baritone voice let out another chuckle, tinged with pain and guilt and suffering.

*Axe...

His eye disappeared in his sockets, tears still falling.

*me and paps weren’t close.

Now that surprised you, even a little more than the child eating.

You picked yourself out of the snow, almost tripping over a numb foot as you stood yourself up in front of the crying skeleton, Sans’ head just slightly below your eyeline.

Axe and Sugar seemed like one of the closest pairs of brothers, they were always joking and hugging – never apart without a fight. They held hands and purred with each other.. Like large feral cats – like every Sans and Papyrus, you couldn't have one without the other.

*the hunger made us snappy, made us resentful and angry.

*he hates me

*because i hurt everyone we cared about
*an’ i couldn’t protect him because i was too busy ruining our future.

*ruining our lives and dooming the entire underground to die.

Your chest tightened and you watched his cracked nasal bone scrunch as he sniffled, his arms wrapping around each other in a defensive hug of sorts.

You tried to offer comfort, though his closed off stance was leaving little room for you to help him through his panic – and your SOUL was not eager to either.

*You were hurt.

Your SOUL protested furiously, the thought of so many innocent monsters doomed to die for actions they probably had no idea were occurring. But you bit your tongue; you had no idea what you would have done if a person you trusted attacked you and ripped out your eye... Especially after you had offered to find another solution.

His femurs shuddered and he stumbled back, phalanges clawing into his already tattered hoodie sleeves.

*we were all hurt.

*a-an' i made it all worse.. An’ i put myself on a pedestal, i gave pap human meat a-a-an' i refused to eat it!

He chuckled subconsciously, stuttering through his teeth and more tears began to spill, flinching back with a growl when your hand made contact with his magic-stained cheek.

*i lost count of how many kids fell, how many i butchered... enough that it became my nickname, i guess.

*an’ that stupid kid... Aliza.

His growling died in his vertebra, and he let you cup his skull. You heard his legs shake rather than saw it and then he began to sob openly, muffled when they finally gave out and his body dropped into yours.

*i hurt her so many times, pushed her an’ killed her but.. She just kept coming back and kept tryin’ to help.

You pulled his body up like you had watched every Papyrus do, his body heavier than other Sans’ and Papyri, but still made of bone.

His phalanges latched to your back, and you could hear his labored breathing.

Your mind reeled with his confessions, the thought of this child dying and ‘returning’ being stored in the back of your mind for later.

*Axe, your world was broken. You are a product of an unforgivable environment.

*What you did was awful...

A lump caught in your throat, your SOUL hammering outside your chest – its light bright enough that the monochrome scenery was glowing gold.

The little skeleton in your arms had killed countless children, children like your son. He had destroyed any hope for his underground's future, and he had made the decision in his underground to eat the children they killed. His underground was starving, and he had made it worse for everyone.

*And I don't think I’ll ever be able to understand.

Color melted back into the dreary shadow of the hospital, luckily no curtains had been drawn back and no security had arrived yet, and your SOUL slowly floated back into your chest – the loud thumping refused to dim and if you listened close enough you would be able to hear the sound perforating the layer of skeleton upon you.

‘’But you’re not there now.’’

Your hand went from his cheek to the top of his skull, the sky had darkened again, and a soft flurry of snow had begun to float toward you both. His skull was pressed tight into the crook of your neck, sobs still wracking his bones and hiccups making his ribcage bump against your chest.

You heard footsteps in the snow behind you, your back towards the Monster ward.

‘’And you have a chance to forgive yourself. Your brother depends on you, your relationship has begun again from its highest point – you are in a world where you haven’t done any of those things and the only reminders you have are scars, mental and physical... This is your chance to heal, the relationship and the pain and guilt.’’

You could feel the sting of tears in the corners of your eyes, your arm tightened around Axes body and the snow had begun to settle atop your hand. You couldn't believe you had almost died, learned about some of the most horrific actions someone you trusted committed and now you were having a heartfelt moment within the space of an hour.

‘’You can atone, you can. I know you’re struggling and seeing people from that past that have hurt you in ways I will never understand, but I know that this pain your feeling can be worked through – you aren't alone through this, you have your brother.. You have me.’’

You heard the panicked breath catch in his throat, the silence not unlike that of an encounter. His phalanges dug through fabric into your back, his deep voice crackling and broken.

‘’Help me...’’

Your vision clouded with tears as you hugged him, a whisper of ‘of course’ leaving your lips against the side of his skull and you pressed your cheek to his temple.

Your body shivered and snow fell from both your hair and the hand that protected the hole in Axes head.

You shushed his sobbing as you turned to the other figure in the snow, fuzzy claws clasp together over her muzzle as tears left her crimson eyes. She stayed silent, but ushered you both towards her, paws leaving her face so she could open them towards you.

You sighed deeply, stumbling through the snow to collapse in Toriels large fluffy arms. Your tired eyes catching a glimpse of Black and Eras behind her, purple eye lights dilated and shaped like sparkling stars.

‘’Alphys has finished with young Papyrus’ surgery.’’

Chapter Text

‘'HumaN cann I hold yur handdd?’’

A skeletal set of fingers curled in your hair from the back seat, scrapping gently against the back of your scalp before twirling around to collect a few strands between the cracks and crevices.

‘’Not right now Sugar, I’m driving. I’ll hold your hand when we get out.’’

You heard a whine of disappointment and a few whispers from Axe before the car was once again plunged into soft silence, Eras’ snores the perfect white noise as you reached the final 15 minutes of your return.

Black sat in the passenger seat beside you, his phalanges drumming anxiously against his femur while Axe and, a very out of it, Sugar curled around Eras’ baby seat where he slept soundly.

You were glad for the silence; it gave you time to think.

Mostly about how out of hand your life had suddenly become... You weren’t regretting how your return to Ebott went. You don't think you would ever regret meeting the skeletons and suddenly becoming a mom, but the aching of new scars and old ones may have knocked a little more sense into your head.

In the time of meeting these boys you had almost died, several times, and usually all by actions the skeletons made. You had been bruised and cut and scarred in ways that if someone were to see you naked as the day you were born, they would think you had gotten in a plane crash and spent a year on a deserted island fending off wild cats and bears.

All from 6 months of knowing these boys, you had found out that alternate realities were real, that this universe was one of infinite possibilities – your knowledge of existence as you knew it had been shattered completely.. And you had adapted.

You had become a mother to a little skeleton child and you hadn’t been the one giving “birth”. Your alternate timeline, scary, kings guard boyfriend/mate had, with the power of SOUL magic! And, again, you had adapted.

You had been stuck in a void as your body took a will of its own and tried to kill your old best friend turned rival/sister-in-law/enemy. You had magic powers of your own that you had no idea how to control and in moments of emotional turmoil would be set off in unexpected ways.. And you couldn’t help but feel scared at the prospect of not adapting.

These skeletons went into heat and were stealing your clothes for their beastly alone time, you had to fight them so you could escape into your poor best friend's house for a month – and even then, you couldn't fully escape.

And you had just fought a skeleton with magical laser beams and learned that his cannibalistic past had left all types of scars, and that the eye staring holes into your forehead through the rear-view mirror was stolen from someone else's head

Monsters were real.

Magic was real.

And it almost felt like you were in a state of shock and finally-

You pulled the truck off to the side of the road, silently turning the key and unbuckling yourself from your seat. You could hear each skeleton speaking but it felt as though they were underwater.

You opened the door and slipped outside, breathing deep and walking. The car door opened behind you but you were too exhausted to look, you felt cold and weak in the knees as you trudged alongside the road. Your chest felt heavy and you almost felt.. Guilty.

It wasn't their fault your life had turned out like this. You shouldn’t blame them.. And you didn't! For the most part.

You couldn’t stop the unconscious anxiety that crawled inside each time you saw them, or the unnoticeable flinches that rocked your body at flashes of blue or a sudden movement out of the corner of your eye.

You loved these guys; they had become part of your family. But you couldn’t always take the brunt of the anger and the fear and the sadness. These boys had each other and they needed to get away from any outside person, like Zara, who said they could become a middle man for them all.

Sans needed to get off his bony ass and tell his brother that he’s fine and that he’ll take a break from his work to take care of himself. Stretch needs to tell his brother that he’s struggling with himself and that he doesn’t know how to be in a healthy relationship because of always having to be the responsible one – and Blue had to tell him that he always acts so bubbly and care free because he wants his brother to feel less burdened by his problems.

Edge and Red may have started healing together but they still had hurdles that they’re both too emotionally constipated to jump together.

Sugar and Axe need to work through what they went through, whatever remaining fear and resentment they had toward each other needed to be talked through – it was the only way they could start to heal.

And Black and Mutt.. Stars knows how much shit they had to work through.

Your feet began to ache from the uneven ground, stones caught in the grooves of your boots making each step uncomfortable. It was almost fitting, each step you took forward with the skeleton's things seemed to get more uncomfortable and more problems started to surface.

You just wanted some fucking recognition for all the shit you’ve gone through. All the shit you've gone through to get where you are now! Trudging along the road having a fucking break down.

‘’Human.’’

A skeletal hand caught your wrist, you didn't move, refused to look in your pursuer's direction – the only response you gave was the stiff halt of your advance.

‘’Human, what are you doing?’’

The accusatory tone tipped off the owner of the phalanges. Black's lithe bones curled around your arm, his hand creeping down until, strangely, settling within your own.

‘'Return to the vehicle, it is colder than Snowdin out here.’’

He tugged you hand with an unfamiliar kindness, coaxing you back.

And you couldn’t help it, you really tried to stop the burning behind your eyes or the lump that was forming in your throat.

You felt Blacks hand tense but he continued to lead you back to the car as you cried, a hand trying to wipe the tears away to no avail.

‘’I’m sorry.’’

Through your tears you looked at Black, his back to you and his hand in yours. His head turned slightly, just enough so you could see his purple eyelights wavering in their sockets.

‘'You did not ask for our animosity, nor did you sign up to be our caretaker... and yet you are always the one to offer help. We.. Do not deserve you.”

You grimaced as more tears fell and quiet sobs finally left you.. And in a moment of emotional weakness, you pulled Black by his arm into your chest – still careful of his weakened state.

You cried into his shoulder as he squeaked in surprise, and after a few moments his arms wrapped around your back, his bones relaxing in your hold and a sigh leaving his nasal cavity.

‘’Let us return to the vehicle.. I am well enough to drive, you need to rest. Your mate is going to break a bone when he finds out you ran off into the snow..’’

His hand was still interlocked with yours and past the hand wiping the remaining tears away it almost looked like he was flushing purple.

Chapter Text

You slept for the rest of the ride; hand held by Blacks - who took over driving duty. The only time he let go was to shift gear, and even then, you had Sugars talons in your hair to soothe you to sleep.

Thankfully it was a dreamless sleep... You still had a lot of thoughts running through your head, but after your little cry you felt a lot better. Especially now that you knew your efforts did not go unnoticed by the skeleton you thought liked you the least.

Stars, the realization that they did appreciate all you did was enough to sooth your spinning head.

And after the shock had worn off and you had tired yourself out, you couldn't help but feel a little giddiness well up in your SOUL. You were going to see Edge.

You could feel the way the thread around your SOUL grew tighter, strengthening as each minute ticked down until you were jolted awake by the truck swinging into a space beside two delicate black sports cars.

‘’jeez, there’s a kid back ‘ere.’’

‘’Be quiet, I am an expert at vehicular manoeuvring. I would like to see you park as expertly as I can.. Baby! the baby is safer in this old truck than it is in a play pen!’’

You yawned and stretched, arms up and over your head while your head lulled toward the window, the bickering pleasant background noise for your sleepy brain.

The big house hadn't changed in the slightest... Apart from a very apparent new window pane in the kitchens frame. But that was neither here nor there, not when you could see a set of red eyelights staring from the large Livingroom window.

Edge.

And you decided in that moment, the uncertainty and apprehension dissipating as you looked into those large red lights, that you were going to fuck the shit out of that skeleton.

Black shuddered beside you, clearing his non-existent throat and flushing purple – his face slightly illuminated with a golden glow. You shook the thoughts from your mind and felt your face warm.

‘’Sorry Black.’’

‘’It is fine... It is an appropriate reaction to being reunited with your mate.’’

There was a twang of disappointment in his words though you couldn't pin point why. But Eras started to fuss and Axe was trying to lift Sugar from where he had fallen asleep – his new perfect teeth agape and snoring, a trail of blood orange colored drool slipping from his open mouth and onto Axe’s head.

‘’c’mon...’’

Awkward conversation forgotten, you unbuckled yourself and stepped out of the truck.

Axe was slowly buckling under the weight of sugar, his long body curling over Axe’s cracked skull until both of them were on the verge of collapse – and so, like the good Samaritan you were, you took over Sugar carrying duty.

With the still sleeping skeleton on your back you saw Axe shy under your gaze, the air still tense from your... Disagreement earlier.

Your finger swept over his skull, careful of his crater and the smaller, sensitive fractures that webbed the expanse of bone – collecting the vibrant saliva and giving him a smile, his face flushed red and he thanked you quietly, silently helping you unbuckle an awake Eras from his car seat.

Your son giggled, pulling a strand of your hair and cooing happily – you felt like a fire fighter, a baby in your arms and a man limp against your back. Black chuckled, and Axe was quietly snickering, and you thought they were giggling at you and the ridiculous situation you were in, but when you finally looked up it felt like the breath had been swept from your lungs.

Edge was stood on the last step of the porch, his fangs slightly agape as he took you in. It felt like the world clicked into place when you locked eyes, and it took Eras’ squeal of delight to snap you both out of your stupor – Edge, trying to look as put together as he could, took an elegant step toward you - Axe and Black reading the tension of the scene lifted Sugar from your back so you could sprint the distance between you, trapping Edge in a hug so full of love it felt like stars were exploding behind your eyes.

‘’Fuck I missed you.’’

It all came pouring out, the fear, the love, the tears you had been so scared to let loose – the tears that Black had finally allowed you to show, brought back tenfold once you had your mate in your arms.

‘’I Have Longed To Have You In My Arms Again...’’ Edge whispered, his arms tightening around you both as Eras squealed and bounced in your arms, his tiny bones latching onto Edge’s collar bone to hoist himself up and nuzzle his skull to the underside of Edge’s jaw.

You could see Black and Axe move into the house, Sugar floating in after in a mix of purple and flickering red magic. You could hear the quiet snickers as they went inside, the little whispers of having to take the rest of the skeletons on a trip while you got ‘reacquainted’ with your mate.

They might be right; with the way he shook in your arms – his ribs clicking together under his red sweater making a rumbling noise akin to a purr.

He cleared his throat and moved backward, his arm curling around Eras’ little body to hold him to his chest, his other hand interlocked with yours - a soft look in his eyes that made your heart flutter. You never knew bones could look so attractive.

‘’You Should Come Inside, Your Weak Human Immune System Cannot Handle This Type Of Weather.’’

He was right, you could already feel the tear tracks on your face freezing, the snow finally catching up with your journey as a few flakes landed on equally ivory bones.

You reached up quickly, your hand cupping the back of Edge’s skull and bringing his toward you, your lips pressing against his fangs – a quiet moan slipping through his teeth.

You laughed against his fangs, your nails massaging the back of his skull as he flushed a bright crimson.

‘’Come...’’

And finally, you were back in the house with your family... It smelled a lot stronger than list time you were here, mingling smells of varying familiarity – honey, blueberries... Cheesecake? and a sour smell coming from the basement where you could only presume Sans was still held up in.

‘’I Have Prepared A Room For Our Son.’’

You looked up at Edge, his face still flushed but trained on your son. He looked a lot like prime Papyrus with how soft his face had become, each hardened edge now smooth as he allowed Eras to babble and play with his fingers and teeth – his tiny hands latched onto one of his father's fangs and the other in his own mouth to touch the teeny points of his own teeth.

‘’HUMAN!’’

Your head shot up, Blue and Papyrus were stood at the entrance to the kitchen, skulls bowed and respectively flushed with blue and orange magic.

‘’WE APOLOGISE FOR OUR BEHAVIOUR DURING OUR HEAT. WE WERE NOT FULLY IN CONTROL OF OURSELVES AND PUT YOU IN DANGER.’’

You smiled, though you could feel the irritated growl of Edge behind you and the little imitation growl Eras let out.

They looked like kicked puppies, all sad and blushing, it was kind of really cute... and Papyrus had a cheesecake held between pretty red oven gloves – that’s where that smell was coming from.

‘’WE MADE YOU AN APOLOGY-’’ Blue started, his own blue oven gloves wringing together, ‘’SLASH WELCOME HOME GIFT.’’ Papyrus finished, holding out the amazing smelling dessert.

You laughed, walking over and taking the plate from Papyrus’ hands – giving him and Blue respective kisses on their cheekbones.

‘’Thank you, I forgive you. I didn't know how to handle the situation either – I know you couldn’t fully control yourselves; I don’t hold it against either of you.’’

You could see the admiration in their eyes, the lights forming sparkling shooting stars. You saw Blue elbow Papyrus in the hip, jolting him forward slightly.

The orange across his cheekbones deepened as he straightened his posture, his face becoming serious.’’ Me And Blue Would Like To Invite You To Our Weekly Cooking Class. My Best Friend Undyne Has Been Requesting Your Prescence... And It Would Be Nice To Have A Re-do With Our Friendship.’’

‘’I’d love to. Thank you, Papyrus. Here, I’ll give you my phone number and you can message me all the details.’’

You watched his body shake with excitement, fumbling with his gloves to grab his older looking red flip phone from his pocket – You put in your number and handed it back to his cupped hands, watching as he ‘Nyeh heh heh’’d triumphantly.

You turned to Blue and held out your hand, watching him realize what you wanted with a sans-like grin. He almost dropped his phone twice before he was able to place in in your palm. ‘’Thank You Human. We Shall Create A Super-Secret Group Chat So We Can Discuss The Details.’’

Number in his phone, you handed it back – with a fond smile you watched the excitable skeletons turn to each other and laugh proudly thanking you again before running back into the kitchen, ‘Mweh heh heh’’s and ‘Nyeh heh heh’’s fading as they left through the back door.

‘’Imbeciles. They Broke A Window After You Left, I Had To Replace It Out Of My Own Pocket... I Must Talk To Prime Sans About That.’’

You hummed in subconscious agreement, your eyes half lidded as you made your way back over to your grumpy mate, placing the cheesecake on the coffee table in your advancement - His angry grumbles continuing without realizing your approach.

You grabbed his hip bone and he jolted, wide sockets focusing on your face.

‘’Let's go put Eras in his new room.’’

He swallowed thickly and nodded, his red eyelights wavering and forming pretty pulsing hearts.

His phalanges grabbed the hand holding his hip, lacing your fingers together, he led you toward and up the staircase – his fingers fizzling with excited magic against yours.

Beside Edges room, where Reds previously had been - was a newly painted door, a sign hung on its face, like the other skeletons had, had the name Eras in spikey red letters, a tiny fanged skull next to a little chibi version of Edge’s skull and your own chibi-fied face - a little heart above the three of you.

You cooed happily, hand tightening around Edges who preened under the unspoken praise.’’ As You Can See, I Have A Skill For Design. Nyeh Heh Heh.’’

Eras squealed, copying the laugh quietly under his breath before bouncing in Edge’s hold. You opened the door to see a very Edge inspired room.

Black and red decorations littered the room, where the hole between Reds room and Edges had been there was a black dresser with clearly drawn on decals of lightening and fire. There was a crib beneath the window, red and black blankets and pillows created a nest and there was an adorable little handmade duck plush snuggled in the covers. There was a mobile attached to the ceiling and a red rug across the floor. A little box by the door was practically overflowing with toys.

‘’Prime Papyrus Leant Us All The Toys He Had As A Baby Bones. They’re Soft And Unlike The Tools I Was Raised With, However, They Will Do For Now.’’

‘’It's perfect, you did an amazing job Papyrus.’’

He visibly straightened with a happy purr, placing Eras on the rug with a few animal-looking soldier toys. He told you to wait and you began to play with your son while he rushed out of the room.

Eras had one figure in his mouth when Edge returned, in his arms was his half-asleep brother who perked when he saw you both.

‘’’ey you’re back..’’

Edge dropped him – gentler than he would have a month ago – and he shuffled his way over, laying himself over your back in a half hug before rolling onto his non-existent stomach in front of Eras, who jumped slightly and fell onto Red's face with a happy noise.

Your SOUL thrummed with the feeling of having both your mates close, but you shook the feeling off and looked up at Edge – His gaze was heated and pleading, hand outstretched for you to take.

‘’He Shall Look After Our Spawn.’’

You nodded, taking his hand in yours and hoisting yourself up. Taking one last look at Red and Eras playing with the figures doused in red magic, Red waved lazily at you, sending a wink of knowing mischief.

The door closed behind you and Edges opened.

You had a promise to deliver on.