Chapter Text
The pain is a shock as I drop back. Frankly I had always kind of thought this would happen. I’ve always had this terminal need to help people, it was bound to get me in trouble. I hated seeing others being hurt or taken advantage of, and oh boy do I hate fuckin’ racists.
Problem was, a lot of powerful people with guns… were racist.
It was kind of a problem with the world, with the cities. I had heard that smaller quiet towns weren’t so bad. Skin color didn’t matter, species didn’t matter. In little towns people were happy, they had homes and family and friends. They lived cozy unaffected lives.
It sounded way to good to be true, and hell it probably was, but a dream was a dream for a reason. Heck anything was better than this dump of a city anyway, I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out it was the bile of hate in the air that made Ma so sick.
I’ll probably never know now though.
What even happened?
As I’m laying there I tried to process what had just happened to me. There had been an argument. Nothing new, frankly. I’d been studying a stall of really nice looking apples when it had started, Ma has a fondness for the green sour kind. I’m not stupid, I don’t just jump into fights, boys would be boys after all and if a couple of stupid meat heads wanted to duke it out in the middle of the street that was their problem, not mine.
But then things escalated.
I still wasn’t to concerned until I heard the word ‘monster’. Now this caught my attention for a couple of reasons. Monsters had been out and around for a few years now, well about 10 if I remembered right. They had a whole section of the city to themselves and had spread, just livin, like every other poor schmuck. Because they had a good chunk of the city to themselves I didn’t see ‘em often, some of the more humanoid ones would come into this area though, sort of a grey patch where the human half and monster half met.
Secondly of course, there were monsters in the mobs. There were two main families I knew about. The Dreemurs, they had been like monster royalty at one point then when things had gotten up here they’d just become a ‘family’. Then there was another one, the ‘Asters’. Frankly I didn’t know much about them except apparently the guy in charge wasn’t just into crime but some crazy science to. Rumor had it he didn’t kill people who angered him, he used them in experiments.
Of course none of this really pertained to the matter at hand.
Some dumb ass of a human guy was on his high horse about a monster. As I listened I gleaned the guy had just been strolling by, and Mr. Dumbass Human had been... what? affronted by his existence? It was annoying… and loud. Placing three crisp green apples in a sack I paid the vendor and turned.
“Are you done? We all got places to be and shit ta do and listenin to you spout all that garbage is givin me a headache.” I had said, at that point I couldn’t see much of the monster. His back was to me big and broad, not fat but, I dunno, just big. I could see the silky fabric on the back of the vest, it was black but I could just see the dark red of the front panels where they met at his sides. He wore a black shirt and slacks, shiny black shoes, and gold cufflinks winked in the light… ooohh the monster was Mr. Fancy….
Eh, big deal..
I walked over slinging the bag of apples over my shoulder and looking at the kid, he was pretty scrawny but I recognized him. It took a moment to place him but then I realised he was a kid working for Don Zora… damnit Lucian… I had thought he taught his punks better than this, but apparently not.
The kid had sneered at me… what an idiot.
“You better stay outta this ya damn bitch, Ain’t got nothin to do with you.” he spat… hoo boy… what a brat. Now don’t get me wrong the kid was probably 18-19 but at almost 30 myself, he was a kid, a brat and about to get his ass handed to him for mouthing off at me of all people.
“Look, kid ,” I said saying the word clearly so he knew I meant business. I stepped towards him and took a little pleasure in the slight shuffle backwards he made. Leaning forward I was only about a head taller than him but it got my point across because he leaned back not appreciating me in his personal space I expect.
“You’re really givin me a headache. So back off or I give your pal Lucian a call, hmm?” I said lowly he paled stepping back again, there we go, now that was the proper reaction. I suppose I can’t blame him, there's no real way for him to know who I was but still. What was it with damn kids so ready to pick fights? Especially with a monster, who had magic! I turn to the monster while I grab the kid by his scruff
“Sorry about the kid, don’ worry he’ll be dealt with. I trust this won’t be a problem?” I asked calmly, despite that manner I had felt a cold finger of dred slide down my spine. The monster was a skeleton.
Shit
His cloths where very fine he had gold rings on his fingers and a gold tooth in his big grinning mouth… Double shit
“Say you’re sorry to the gentleman.” I said dropping the kid and grabbing the back of his head forcing him to bow
“Why should I? Just another stinkin’ monster! And what are you some sympathizin’ whore? Is that it or you just like monster dick? Savin his ass won’t help you girlie he’s all bo-” He went flying from the force of my hit. Frankly, he brought that on himself. He should have paid attention when I’d let his hair go. I felt the bone of his nose crunch under the back of my hand but really couldn’t be fussed to care to much, If he was going to survive long enough to be an actual family member, he was going to have to learn to think and act quickly.
“Idiot.” I sneered sighing and glancing at the back of my hand there was a smear of blood which I rubbed away on the hip of my slacks, damn I hate punks like him. Looking up at the skeleton, who hadn’t moved during the whole exchange, I bow my head. The things was, there were only three skeletons in the city, Count ‘em… three, Don Aster, ‘The Great Papyrus’, and the Judge, Sans.
Now the things was, Don Aster never went outside of monster territory, so I understood it. Then there was Papyrus was impossibly tall, that left only one option for the skeleton in front of me.
The Judge.
The Judge had a hell of a reputation and while I might have hated this stupid punk and what he’d said, I didn’t want him gettin offed for offending the big guy… god he was big. He wasn’t even fat, just big, it was crazy. Trying to wrap my head around how a skeleton could fill out those clothes so much was just making my head hurt so I chose to just shove that aside.
“Please allow me to apologize for the kid. He’s younger and newer, he obviously hasn’t learned.” I said shooting a glance back where the kid was stirring. The large skeleton took a puff of a thick cigar and I kept respectful, I didn’t want to get toasted for this kid either frankly.
“Well…” the skeleton let out a long hiss of breath smoke pluming out between us it was weird though I almost swear I saw shapes in it, Magic cigar? Probably.
“I guess I can… overlook this little mishap. Nothin a good, refresher on manners can’t fix.” he said smoothly those sharp teeth where still twisted in a grin and it took every ounce of willpower not to snap, he was a skeleton, the skull had a shape, he wasn’t mocking me, he was just shaped that way that was all...
“Absolutely” I said firmly to the suggestion, oh boy kid was getting more than a refresher when I was done, and Lucian was getting a fucking earful, this was not my job! Wrangling his people cause he couldn’t keep the youth in line? He was so damn lucky it was me.
“I hate to leave on bad terms. Let me assure you then since you stepped in, I’ll let this one slide. For you dollface.” I felt a tick and almost bit my tongue to keep from snapping at him. No, it was fine, he didn’t mean anything by it, it was just one of those damn endearing terms men thought ladies liked that was all…it wasn’t like he knew my name, he wouldn’t know how to address me, simple as that.
“Thank you.” I finally managed to say once I got myself under control. I stood as a scream ripped out. The skeleton had jerked his head up looking behind me and I had turned only to see that dumb ass kid... with gun in hand.
Fuck…
Damn it… It hurt…
I moved so fast, the gun shot had been like an explosion in my ears and as I pitched back I saw bones skewer the kid. Stupid kid shoulda just stayed down.
I’m shaking to hard, grabbing my chest it’s hot and cold, it’s so weird, it’s not pleasant that's for sure, I can feel something hands? Oh god, every breath hurt, I-I didn’t want to die here, what the hell had I been thinking?
“Easy kid easy I gottcha, Shit… Uh... “ My eye opened a fraction. The monster? He was moving my hand looking at the wound My hearing was going tinny, damn I was dying here… my fingers shook on the handle of the bag... ma wanted her apples. I had... I had to get the apples to ma… she only ever asked for those…
I could feel something odd on my chest it was a strange pressure and I thought maybe I could see green light but Maybe I was hallucinating, did you hallucinate when you died? Fuck if I knew...
“A-apples…” I managed weakly the Skeleton looked at my face confused “Ma...ma…” I managed if he wanted to do something for me, he could take the apples to my ma. Maybe let her know what had happened? Someone would take care of her… hopefully … someone… she… I…
❀
I wake to pain.
Pain and unbelievable pressure on my chest.
Am I dead? I dunno but fuck me, if this is death somebody lied, cause this hurt!It was dark as well, I couldn’t move, my whole body felt like lead. Christ if I was spending eternity like this I was going to get sick of it real fast. I tried to speak but the effort just to get the air out was a straine and all I heard was a thready moan… Well I sounded alive, and pretty terrible.
“SANS THE HUMAN HAS AWOKEN.” God that was loud! What the hell?!
“T-to loud….” I managed, hey, I could speak, maybe I really wasn’t dead yet!
“SAY THAT AGAIN HUMAN I COULD NOT HEAR YOU.” the voice said, it grated in my head so I just clammed up hoping if I didn’t respond who ever was talking would stop. I heard footsteps rush into… wherever the hell I was. Good shoes on wood, then carpet as they got closer.
“She’s awake? Hey, Kid can ya hear me?” That voice, that was the skeleton from before… so it really had been the Judge! Meaning the speaker was either Papyrus or the Don, and since I doubted a don would be reporting on my health I’d have put money on it being the brother.
“‘S it dark?” I managed to wheeze out, I had a frantic moment of thinking maybe I was blind but then I realised there was no reason I would be I was shot in the chest not the head and I hadn’t hit it when I fell.
“Oh! Heh, had to cover your eyes for a bit there. You really pushed the line there kid, really thought you were gonna croak.” he said I can feel something being lifted off my face and slowly carefully open my eyes. I’m on a bed… a nice bed. Everything's in dark strong colors, well color… It’s all red or black, there where accents of gold here and there but even the wood was dark, polished to a mirror shine.
“HOW ARE YOU FEELING HUMAN?” that voice again, I winced and glanced over, Sans is right by my head and a little behind him is the impossibly tall Papyrus… but he’s not that tall actually maybe six and half feet? I’m pretty sure that king guy broke seven, but I don’t know for sure.
“Like I got shot, how should I feel?” I managed weakly, his voice is making my head pound, why was he shouting so much? Sans looked at me funny a moment before turned to the other skeleton,
“Why don’t you go get Dings? He’ll wanna speak to her.” he said quickly and quietly, maybe he didn’t want me to overhear. To bad for him I had very very sensitive hearing. To bad for me because his brother hollered once again declaring that to be a good idea and headed out of the room.
“Sorry bout him. He’s not yellin he’s just got a big voice.” Sans explained, H-had he noticed? I might have blushed but with so much blood loss I probably didn’t.
“I got shot…” I said again still kind of marvelling that I was alive at all. Sans chuckled
“Yeah kid… ya did. Wouldn’a happened either but you moved… in front o’ me.” he said giving me a complicated look before shifting pulling back the covers. I’m surprised to see I’ve been changed I don’t know who did it and not sure I want to know. My old flannel shirt and slacks had been swapped for a red and silky mens dress shirt, it was big and I could only assume it must have been Sans as it seemed to wide for Papyrus who was very, very, skinny. For a moment I tried to appreciate the quality of the material, this was probably the most expensive thing that would ever touch my body. Unfortunately there were more important matters at hand.
“Didn’t matter… Kids dead anyway.” I muttered bitterly, Sans sighed carefully unbuttoning the shirt. Another woman might have been embarrassed and in fact he kept looking at my face everytime he slipped a button free as if expecting me to freak out at any moment, was he disappointed I didn’t? Would he think that meant I was easy and used to men undoing my shirt? I doubted it but I also didn’t really care. Skin was skin, and the most logical explanation was he was checking my wound not being a pervert.
“Y-yeah.. Kinda… instinct ya know?” he managed was he trying to apologize? I sighed and nodded, the fact is, he wasn’t to blame. I had done everything I could, and Sans had acted in self defense, the kid brought it on himself. Despite knowing that, there was still guilt, settled like a thick bile in my gut.
“Yeah, I guess I do.” I said finally when I realised I had not replied and he’d stopped to watch me. Satisfied he went back to his task. Soon he parted the shirt managing to keep my breasts covered and looked at the bandage on my chest.
“Clean shot?” I asked curiously he shook his head pointing, there was a blood stain where the wound was, just a bit to the left of my sternum right under the breast.
“Clipped your rib and got lodged in your left lung ya still gotta lotta healin to do kid.” he said carefully removing the bandages and beginning to clean the wound. It was surprising how little the hole was for the amount of pain.
“How am I alive?” I asked reaching up I pushed hair off my face then I grew annoyed, just that simple motion was exhausting! To take my mind off that I looked at him this was a pretty important question... at least to me, but he just shrugged.
“Magic.” he said I was annoyed but then I realized, he wasn’t kidding. Monsters had magic I’d been magiced alive? I wasn’t sure what to think about that, but hell I was grateful.
“W-well t-thanks, I uh… jeeze If I know you could do that…” I sighed “I still woulda stepped in anyway.” I admitted with an internal scowl, I never learn.
“ I must admit that is refreshing coming from a human .” A strange voice comes from the doorway and startles me, Sans too apparently, because he stands abruptly
“Boss.” he said quickly and I realize I’m looking at Don Aster also known as Mad Gaster.
Oh shit…
“ She seems speechless, an unusual trait in a woman .” he comment as he stared at me, I flared instantly ready to rip him a new one... but the movement shifted the wound and all I could do was give a hoarse shout and sag against the bed. It was embarrassing being laid out fighting for breath the pain had robbed from me, while this Elegantly proud skeleton stood there looking at me.
“ Oh… I offended her… I extend my apologies it was a poor attempt at humor .” Aster said walking forward he stood patiently by the bed side while Papyrus grabbed a chair and dragged it over for him he sat, looking pretty spiffy in a neat black suit. Everything was black except for a hot blood red tie that had a neat little gold tie pin with a red crystal set in it. They certainly had a theme...
“ I have been led to understand thanks are in order, not only did you step in on behalf of my son but you even took a bullet for him .” He said calmly, his voice was strange but there was a calm controlled cadence to it, it was both mystifying… and terrifying. It was easy to see why this guy was in charge he just pulsed with power.
“O-h uh… I don’t... I mean…” I fumble this is not a situation I’m familiar with and the etiquette I usually relied on was failing me here. Oh I’ve dealt with Family heads. (Never on my back with a bullet wound but..) This was a whole other level of danger. I was talking toa don, not just a don, but one of the top two monster dons! On top of that not just any monster, but mad Gaster, and The judge was his son… this day was getting better and better.
“ Of course. It being so unusual I am forced to wonder why you would do such a thing. ” He said drawing me out of my thoughts. I caught his tone and scowled at the insinuation.
“Because I don’t tolerate racism… at all, and I sure as hell don’t approve of pissy little upstarts tryin to make a mess in the few violence free zones in my town.” I said shortly. The lights in his eye sockets went small as he stared at me a moment, Papyrus and Sans both tense before the older skeleton laughed openly
“ Well well, not afraid to voice your opinion I see. ” he said as his laughter eased to calmer chuckles. I probably should have stopped there, but he’d rubbed a nerve and I was hurting, basically in no mood to play nice.
“It’s not an opinion it’s simply what it is, I defended him because he was a monster bein harassed by one of my people, I won’t have that, ever. I don’t tolerate willful ignorance.” I said plainly, The Don nodded hands folding in his lap
“ That’s a good thing. Human minds have great potential but things like prejudice shut off so much of their minds to possibilities. ” he said with some disgust I can’t help agreeing with him on that point.
“ So you would have protected any monster from ‘your’ people? What family are you with? ” he asked. Yeah knew that was coming should have worded it better but eh it was what it was.
“I’m not with any family, I know Don Lucian Zora, but that’s it.” I explained scowling Oh boy was he getting an ear full when I got up.
“ Zora? He is on the eastside by the waterfront yes? I believe I have met him, an unusually agreeable human, I am glad to know he has people who are just as well mannered. ” the monster said and I’m forced to raise my hand to stop him before he misunderstands the situation
“I am not one of his people.” I said shortly, the monster seems irritated but allows me to continue intrigued I guess. He probably didn’t get talked back to often and the rational ‘I want to live’ part of my brain was telling me to quit while I was ahead… the rest of my brain just urged me on.
“When I say my people, I mean humans in general. The whole species is circlin the drain fast and they seem to be tryin to speed up the process.” I said flatly and sighed my chest was aching from talking so much, guess getting shot in the lung was a lot worse than I thought.
“ I see, I would continue to speak with you another time. Human bodies are not very fond of magic, the healing process is going to take time. For that I apologize. ” I’m surprised, his apology is sincere. I don’t know why but I guess I took this as a man who didn’t apologize easily and I found myself shaking my head, it was hardly his fault human bodies where stupidly hard to fix.
“Don’t apologize, I’m alive, which is way better than I expected. He could have left me there to bleed out.” I tried to joke to ease the older monster, I’m not sure why but I kinda like the guy, maybe because he seems relatively normal. I had kind of built up this horrifying image in my head of some crazy scientist based on the rumors.
“Ah I wouldn’a done that doll face I-” Sans cut himself off when I shot him a look he seemed surprised.
“Ok, since we’re going to be actually interacting I’m going to say this now. I’m not a big fan of pet names, I have a name already, I’m going to ask that you use it.” I said, I see the Don arch a brow from the periphery of my vision, Sans shrugged and nodded. I give my name and sigh settling against the pillows I feel weak all of a sudden. So weak…
“Oh, I gotta tell Ma.” I said shifting suddenly and gasping at the sharp pain that shot through me The Don who had been walking towards the door paused glancing back
“ Your mother? ” he questioned I nodded
“She’s pretty sick I was out gettin her apples when this whole thing happened. She’s probably worried sick, and I don’t even know what happened to the apples…” I said weakly damnit those things aren’t cheap either…
The Don frowned thoughtfully before looking to Sans
“ Since it’s your life she saved, you will take care of her, your brother and I are going to go inform her mother, and pick up some replacement apples .” It was said so easily so plainly that for a second I didn’t process what he meant. The Don looked at me expectantly, right… an address…
“W-well I don’t want to put you out…” I mumbled weakly but the amused look remained, it seemed once the Don got his teeth in something he wouldn’t let go so I rattled off our address noting a look on Papyrus’ face. I knew for a fact if I asked him he would be able to recite my address perfectly.
“U-uh her names Linda. She might be in her housecoat, She’s in bed a lot because of her health… Uh… I mean are you sure ‘cause I could um…” I falter I can’t exactly call we haven’t got a phone… damn it.
“ Consider it restitution for you heroism. I know if my child was laid up someplace having been shot I would want to know. I shall reassure her of your well being .” he said lightly, he didn’t even comment on the fact that my address was right in the middle of Lucians territory. With out another word he turned and strode out, Papyrus followed him quickly leaving me and Sans alone.
“Hehe so, uh… that was interestin… Never seen anyone get mouthy with Dings like that and live. Even if they did save our lives... well I don’t think that’s happened before to be frank.” he said scratching the back of his skull in an almost sheepish motion before he took his seat back and resumed cleaning the wound, all my movement had caused it to bleed again.
“It’s alright, he’s not so bad… I wasn’t expectin to meet him but laid out like this there's not much I can do but roll with what's tossed.” I said casually. Gasping as a particular dig sent pain through me I bit my lip hard
“Sorry Ki- uh…” he hesitated then said my name, I smiled nodding
“It’s alright just hurts a bit keep at it I know it’s got to be done. I didn’t ask before but is the bullet out at least?” Sans nodded
“Yeah, I was able to bring it back along the same path as well so it didn’t do any extra damage, the lung is mostly repaired another healin session and it’ll be as good as new. Mostly it’s this part and the bone that’ll take longest to heal, but it’s the least dangerous part. You’re out of the worst of it so ‘Sans’ any horrible infection ya should be ok.” he was grinning, I couldn’t help snorting at the terrible pun as I settled. My eyelids were feeling heavy but I didn’t want to sleep I was actually really enjoying this chat with Sans, So Don Aster was his father, and Papyrus his brother huh? What a family.
“You know, you kinda surprised me kid… no ones really stepped in like that before except my bro. It’s kinda funny, when we were kids I was the one sticking up for him, at some point he got bigger then me.” he said though he seemed to be talking more to himself as he worked on cleaning away the blood.
“What was it like? You where a kid underground right?” I asked softly drifting, he nodded and began to talk. He told me a few things, his dad had worked for the Dreemurr family when they had been little, slowly building a power base of his own because he didn’t like a lot of the kings methods.
Eventually there was a power shift something about human souls, I was too sleepy to really understand. He described the area they had lived in called Snowdin, there was a place called waterfall which was the prettiest place according to Sans, crystals sparkled in the rock walls of the cave like stars.
“I was kinda disappointed how hard it is to see the stars here.” he said shifting his hands pausing, he seemed deep in thought and I found myself reaching up tapping his hand
“‘S the lights… Place… to see stars… I know a… place.” I mumbled god I felt so heavy and dopy Sans was looking at me surprised before smiling
“Oh yeah? Maybe when you wake up you can tell me about it… but your passin out kiddo… get some sleep.” he said chuckling his voice a low rumble in my head seeming to coax me deeper.
“N-not a… kid…” I managed before slipping off, I didn’t know it at the time but Sans had looked over me then and had agreed. I was no kid.