Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The skeletal mortuary assistant strolled through the park, the sound of his skeletal toes hitting the paved trail the only sound aside from locusts chittering. It was his day off and he’d decided that visiting a nature park was a good way to begin his day. Tucking his cell phone into his jacket, he sighed, inhaling the humid air.

He was startled when he spotted the bundled form draped over the seat of one of the park’s benches. It was covered in a waterproof tarp, curled up, and hanging limply down into the swaying wheat grass was an off-white hand. The phalanges were completely lax as a ruddy liquid trailed down them, plopping onto the foliage below.

Not one to pry, the retrieval specialist was hesitant at first–surely it was just a homeless individual taking refuge from the elements. He told himself this, but as he slowed, the sensation of unease intensified until his rib cage ached with it. Something wasn’t right. He trusted his intuition and experience in the morgue to know that much.

Warily approaching the still shape on the bench, the off-duty assistant leaned over, analyzing the occupant. Taking a cursory magic read and coming back with an absence of activity, he decided upon retrieving a magic level reading device from his pouch, extending it out over the prone form beneath the tarp. The device was silent, even as he took a second and third read from different angles. He clicked his tongue, tucking the device back in his bag before carefully peeling back the tarp. There was a face with a significant portion of skull absent around where the right eye socket would have been. It was so melted, the bone could’ve been mistaken for hot candle wax which had dripped and hardened. Along with this, the bench occupant’s exposed bones were bruised and chipped. Marrow dripped from the corner of the individual’s mouth, plopping onto the planks of the seat and down onto the ground below. The assistant scowled, pity welling up inside of his soul. He was used to his job, but sometimes seeing cases like this got to him.

Making a call to a few of his work colleagues, he helped to situate the skeleton monster into a body bag. Zipping it up and sealing the locks on the transport case, a portal was opened into the facility to bring the recently deceased to the head morticians. Glancing back at the site of the scene one more time, his gaze lingered upon two sizable stains on the seat of the park bench. He released a long exhale before helping his coworkers lift the body of the deceased through.

~

Reaper didn’t expect to have his leisure time interrupted by panicked exclamations and skull-piercing voices ricocheting down the hall. He rushed towards the morgue, throwing open the door to the room where everyone had apparently lost their minds. On the ground, writhing and squirming about, was a sealed body bag. Tearing himself out of his shocked stupor, Reaper moved in the direction of the thrashing bag, gripping the zipper after no small amount struggling to secure it between his phalanges, before tearing it open. Reaper’s eye lights shrank to pinpricks as the inhabitant launched themself towards him, scrabbling for purchase in their full fledged terror.

Reaper leapt back, wrenching himself from the grip of the unfortunate, very much alive skeleton who looked like he’d been through hell. One feverishly bright eye light scanned the room, the damaged skull swiveling to take in the gathering of astounded undertakers staring back at him. The floor-bound petrified skeleton grappled for something, anything, reaching in the direction of a metal table support before he realized he had grabbed the ankle of a morgue tech, who hit the ground like a sack of bricks. At least he wasn’t the only one on the floor now, the panicking individual thought, though it was barely any solace at all. Reaper moved in, snagging another employee to help him restrain their guest before the situation worsened.

Reaper was fortunate that the stranger had exhausted himself enough that his resistance was manageable. “Let go,” the injured skeleton spat, fear etched in his expression. Reaper held fast to the fearful skeleton’s forearms while his coworker secured his ankles to prevent the head mortician from being kicked.

“Hey, man, listen, I’m not going to hurt you. I just need you to calm down, that’s all. What’s your name?” Reaper asked, opting for something to distract the monster from the overwhelming situation. “Hey, bud. I just want to know your name. Can you tell me what to call you?”

The stranger’s face pinched into an expression of distrust. Scowling, the thoroughly rattled monster stated, “It’s Geno.”

“Very good, Geno. I know you’re scared and you have every right to be,” Reaper pointed out. Geno’s eye socket narrowed and he tugged against Reaper’s grip on his arms, “But I’m not here to hurt you, and neither is anyone else-”

“Oh yeah? Because I was just inside a fucking body bag,” Geno bit out, snarling as his fear evolved into anger. “I was u-up there on the tables with corpses! What if-i-if–”

“I know, trust me, I’m well aware. I opened the bag, remember?” Reaper commented, his smile straining as he pondered what the fuck he should say to this skeleton who’d been processed like a dead body. What could he do to make this better in any way? “I’m going to let go of your arms. I need you to promise me you’re not about to do anything stupid.”

Geno gave him an unimpressed glare before uttering, “Fine.” Scowling, he added, “Now get your hands off of me.”

Reaper let go, true to his word and Geno shakily got to his feet, putting space between himself and the bag that had been his prison upon waking from his near comatose sleep. He was visibly trembling. Reaper glanced around, as though he could detect the idiot who made the mistake of bagging a live monster by sight alone.

“Who retrieved him?” He asked the room, his voice deadly serious. When there was no immediate response to his inquiry, Reaper’s left eye light burned a vibrant cyan. “As much as I enjoy the sound of my own voice, I’m awaiting an answer. Whoever it is, if you keep quiet, I promise you will be sorry.”

“It was me. I brought him in.”

Reaper’s attention was grabbed by the in-training mortician, a young skeleton monster with piercing yellow eyes and a conventionally attractive face. He was sweating and by the look of it, he knew he’d fucked up. Reaper was in his personal space in an instant.

“Mind telling me how you screwed up this badly? How does one bag a living monster and not know?” Reaper asked, voice so strained it threatened to snap like a frayed cord.

“I-I checked him, sir. He had no evidence of magic activity, th-there was nothing, I swear,” the intern insisted, desperation lacing his tone. “I followed protocol, I made a decision based on the data I received, Stars, I checked multiple times–sir, by all means he was dead.”

Reaper regarded him for a moment, glancing over to Geno, who’d pressed his back against the cabinets and far away from the various bodies adorning the tables. “And yet here he is, clearly alive,” Reaper hissed. “Do you know the gravity of this situation? You put a live monster in a situation that could’ve ended with him actually dying! You absolute fucking moron!”

The apprentice cringed at the volume and intensity of his manager’s voice, but persisted. He felt his livelihood going down the drain, and he’d only gotten his foot in the door. “I know, I’m sorry, I–”

“No. Heh, no, you don’t get to be sorry. Take responsibility for your actions. Don’t grovel like a fool, do something! Contact Toriel and begin the incident report process, because this is…fuck. Fuck!” Reaper gripped his skull before taking a steadying breath. Morticians and the like had dispersed to handle whatever they’d been working on before Geno’s awakening. When Reaper looked up to see the assistant still present, he scowled. “I guess you missed the memo. You need to contact Toriel now –as in this very instant.”

“Right, right, okay.” The assistant rushed off, his soul uncomfortably heavy, like a stone in his rib cage. An early termination to his hopes and dreams was a reality at this point, and that terrified him.

“Geno. Come with me,” Reaper instructed, leaving no room for disagreement. Arms crossed defensively over his chest, Geno stood and followed the other, not liking the state of affairs one bit. He was being stared at, he felt like shit, and his soul hurt from the backlash of trying to essentially “magic” his way out of a body bag which ended up nullifying his attack completely. Exhausted, traumatized, and pissed was the culmination of his mood in a nutshell. Reaper opened a door to an office and Geno entered, taking a seat in the comfy chair adjacent to the desk. He watched the undertaker like a hawk, his single eye light trained on his every movement. Geno had experienced enough surprises today to last him his entire life, thank you very much.

“Do you like coffee, Geno?”

“Yeah...”

Reaper poured him a serving into a Styrofoam cup. “Do you take cream or sugar?”

“Sugar.”

“Say when.”

“That’s enough. Thanks.” Geno received the coffee offering, cupping the warm drink in his hands. He just held it close, enjoying the feeling of being in the open with something warm and tangible against his metacarpals.

“So, Geno, you obviously are aware one of my employees royally fucked up today. Which means it’ll fall on my skull. Oh, uh, the name’s Reaper, by the way.” The undertaker plopped down in his swivel chair, pinching the nasal bridge.

Geno grunted. “Your guy was misguided, not necessarily wrong. Doesn’t mean he had the right to nab me,” Geno commented, his brow furrowing as the memory of waking up in complete darkness entered his mind. Reaper tilted his head quizzically.

“What do you mean by that? Are you referring to the bullshit excuses he was spouting earlier or…?”

“It’s a chronic condition with no cure.” Geno slurped his coffee. “So, yeah, not all bullshit. According to medical dogma, I should be dead. But I’m not.”

“Seriously?” Reaper asked, half expecting Geno to snap ‘No you idiot, of course not’. But that never occurred. Instead, Geno leveled him with a neutral, albeit worn expression and shrugged.

“Yes, seriously. I can pull up documentation. There’s enough to fill a novel.”

“My supervisor will need that, actually.” Reaper tapped his chin before asking, “The injuries–are those related to your condition? None of those are from today, are they?”

Reaper waited, very concerned that there could be more Geno wasn’t telling him. He was met with silence aside from Geno clearing the last of his coffee from his cup. Reaper scoffed. “Listen, Geno, it’s my prerogative to assess your condition. I need to know the extent of your injuries.”

Geno regarded him critically. If nothing else, stretching the truth would get him accommodations and some food, so maybe being a squeaky wheel wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. Sure, Reaper knew his head injury wasn’t the fault of the transporters but he didn’t know that Geno’s condition caused his bones to bruise at the blink of an eye.

“My fucking spine is killing me and my rib cage feels like its been dunked in a boiling thermal spring for hours. Honestly, I could succumb to my injuries at any moment.” He donned a faux, sweet smile.

Reaper barely refrained from glaring at him. “You were just in a traumatizing situation and while I understand you’re distraught and confused–”

“Don’t you fucking patronize me,” Geno growled. “Distraught and confused doesn’t cover half of what I’m feeling after waking up in complete darkness and falling off of a table that’s had the dead all over it. I’m answering your questions, aren’t I? I just told you I’m in pain. What else do you want me to say?”

Reaper inhaled deeply before letting his breath filter out slowly. “Do you want more coffee, Geno?” Reaper asked, reminding himself to hold his tongue. That caught the other’s attention and his expression returned to an unreadable, neutral expression.

“I thought you’d never ask,” Geno grumbled.

Pouring another portion into the cup, Reaper handed it to the disgruntled skeleton. Geno grunted a ‘thanks’. Planting his hands on his desk, Reaper centered himself. He was used to dealing with both new recruits to the office and their post mortem residents–right now, though, he felt out of his element. “I’m going to take you over to the campus’ hospital and then we’re going to my supervisor. This requires your cooperation.”

Geno rolled his eye lights. “Can’t a monster enjoy his coffee in peace?”

“No, not you. Either you get up or she's going to be called over here, and she won’t be happy about it,” Reaper expressed. Geno sighed dramatically, before extracting himself from the cushion.

“Way to be a pain in the coccyx. Speaking of, my ass hurts after falling on tile flooring. Thought you should know.”

“Thanks for that,” Reaper grumbled, closing the door to his office. He despised the assistant that saddled him up with this individual. This was going to be a long, arduous process, and he was responsible for seeing it through. Toriel would be delighted, he was sure.

~

Toriel, ironically nicknamed 'Life' by her colleagues, was appalled after hearing that a monster had been mistaken for dead and shoved into a body bag. Upset didn’t quite encompass the range of emotions that were happening within her empathetic soul. She was beside herself with mortification as well as irate that a living being had been encapsulated inside of a carrier meant only for those who were blissfully unaware. It was unacceptable.

When she saw him accompanying Reaper, her instantaneous reaction was to hurry over, her anger intertwined with the compassion many knew her for. “Please, come with me this way. We’ll speak in my office.”

Geno planted himself in another comfortable seat, clutching another coffee which was thrust readily into his hands. Geno enjoyed the caffeine now pumping through his mana lines. Reaper took a seat close by, while Toriel shut and locked the door to her office suite, drawing the blinds so they'd have privacy from any passersby.

“My name is Toriel. I’m the Senior Manager at our establishment. First of all, I want to sincerely apologize for what you’ve gone through today. What happened was inexcusable, negligent, and absolutely appalling,” she stated, hands folded in front of her. Her eyes were steely. Reflective. “What can we do to remedy this egregious mistake?”

Geno was counting his lucky stars that an idiot had bagged him now. Couch hopping had been something he’d grown tired of after feeling he owed his dwindling friends and acquaintances for the time they had put him up for the night. Toriel and Reaper didn’t have to know that he had been down on his luck for a while and at the mercy of his mystery illness, which had essentially taken everything from him. No, he could use this to his advantage, and make something of a shitty situation. He deserved at least that, didn’t he?

“Nice to meet you, Toriel, I’m Geno. And you’re right, it never should’ve happened,” he agreed, scratching at his cervical vertebrae. “I think something can be arranged, though. After all, I’m in a lot of pain after that fall…”

“It wasn’t all due to the fall, though, was it?” Reaper cut in. “You mentioned a pre-existing condition, so claiming the mishap was whol ly responsible–”

“Reaper,” Tori interjected, sporting a glare fit to burn a monster to a crisp. “If you would, Geno, please continue.”

A smile curled at the edges of Geno’s mouth. “You’re right, Reaper. My condition was exacerbated by your assistant kidnapping me, shoving me into a glorified trash bag, and dropping me on the damned floor when I attempted to escape. My bones don’t exactly heal like a healthy monster’s do, but please, inform me about the extent of my illness.”

Reaper grunted, while Toriel took over the conversation, shooting the undertaker a look that said ‘Try that again and you’ll be packing your bags’. “I am here to work with you, Geno. Under our care, you were injured. Is that correct?”

“I was,” he replied

“Then we will proceed with a contractual arrangement,” she said, taking a seat at her desk and waking up her computer monitor. “Tell me what you require so as to not pursue legal action, and I will do what I’m able to accommodate your request.”

“Private accommodations,” Geno said without hesitation, a glint in his eye light.

“Tori,” Reaper interrupted, seeing how this could go south very quickly if there wasn’t some modicum of limitations present. She sighed.

“Yes, Reaper, what is it?”

“Can I speak with you for a moment?” He asked, his voice terse. She stood and walked to the door before opening it. “In the hall. Please?”

“Quickly. Excuse us, Geno, we’ll only be out for a moment.” The door clicked shut, and Reaper immediately jumped at the opportunity to add his two cents.

“What are we doing? He’s going to be milking this for all it’s worth. He hasn’t even been checked over yet,” he hissed. “And this isn’t a hotel. Private accommodations? Where?”

“That is for you to find out, Reaper. Your skull is on the line, here. If you think this is bad for me, you have no idea how close you are to losing your cushy seat at this company. This monster was wronged and unless you want him dragging the company name through the dirt, then you’ll have to deal with a little pandering,” Toriel snarled.

“Whoa whoa whoa, hold on, what? You’re going to fire me over this? Seriously? Tori.” Reaper looked for any sign the woman might have been bluffing, but there was none present. “This isn’t in my repertoire, I mean, he’s–”

“Don’t you ‘Tori’ me. This is what’s happening. He’s your responsibility. Figure it out,” she said, leaving no time for further discussion as she opened the door to re-enter her office. “Sorry about that, Geno. Where were we?”

“It’s quite alright. So,” Geno glanced over his phalanges, turning his hand so that he could look over the back of his metacarpals. “I’d like to discuss compensation.”

“Of course.” Toriel reawakened her computer screen. Reaper sat down in his seat, singular eyelight trained on Geno, who appeared just the barest bit more smug than before they’d left the room to speak. “What did you have in mind? I’ll have to discuss the details with the financial division of the organization, but to start we can draw up a contract.”

“$1.5 million.”

Toriel’s claws hovered above the keyboard before the clacking of her digits dancing across the keys filled the silence. She cleared her throat. “Is there a reason you chose that amount?”

“Medical bills, housing, and trauma resolution,” Geno said, stretching his fingers in front of him. His joints ached. “Although, we could handle this in court. That would be more official and I’d probably be able to receive a larger payout…”

“You little shit,” Reaper growled, his sympathy drying up faster than cool water on tarmac. Geno’s smile was smug as he glanced over at the undertaker.

“What did you want?” Geno asked. “Words don’t mean squat to me. You try being toted around in one of those things and you tell me you don’t want compensation. I probably breathed in noxious fumes and you’re telling me I can’t ask for what I’m owed?”

“Toriel, we need someone else involved.” Reaper stood, his anxious energy bubbling up and finally spilling over. “This is a huge liability for us. Get Asgore involved.”

“What part of ‘I have this handled’ don’t you understand? Sit down, Reaper, we’re writing out this document and we’re sending it to our attorney for review. I’m this close to dismissing you from my office if you can’t pull yourself together.”

Reaper slumped back down, pinching his nasal ridge. “Fine. Fine.”

“Geno, unfortunately if I am being completely realistic, I am doubtful I’ll be able to promise you $1.5 million,” Toriel explained.

“$1 million then,” Geno countered. Reaper was practically glaring a hole through his sternum.

“I’ll bring it to the mediation when we’ll have attorneys present to help us reach an agreement. Is that number up for negotiation?”

“No ma’am, the $1 million was the negotiation downward,” Geno said, casually cracking his stiff finger joints. The undertaker sitting close by looked ready to behead him. Toriel’s expression hinted at an unpleasant emotion brewing somewhere underneath her serene façade, but it was so slight that if Geno hadn’t been paying close attention, he would have missed it.

“I see. Very well then.” She finished the last few sentences of the agreement and set her hands in her lap. “Within the draft, it outlines your desired settlement amount and your explicit wishes to have private accommodations. While I wish we could’ve met on better terms, Geno, I hope that after we go through this process we can atone for this major wrongdoing.”

“I do as well. I should get your contact before I head out to arrange the settlement,” Geno stated..

“Of course, let me get that for you. I do have resources for attorneys as well, if that would be of assistance to you,” Toriel said, standing to hand Geno the slip with her information scrawled out in blue pen.

“I would appreciate that.” Geno pocketed the paper, offering the goat monster a tired smile. “By the way, where would a guy find a decent meal?”

“You know what? I have some leftover apple pie in the fridge. I’ll send some with you. Reaper will be your housing specialist and be handling your accommodations,” Toriel said.

“That sounds splendid. Thank you for your time, Toriel.” Geno sighed as the manager exited the suite, before tilting his skull in Reaper’s direction. “So, I’m lucky enough to be your responsibility. Tell me, what’s your plan?”

“Frankly, I don’t feel like “luck” has any part existing in this current situation,” Reaper grumbled. “You’ll have to make due with a guest bedroom for the night.”

Geno snorted. “As long as there is a door between me and the outside, I’ll consider it a success.”

Reaper wished he could evaporate into thin air without being fired. The Void beckoned him, yet here he was, unable to retreat through time and space, responsible for a stranger.

‘Brilliant. Just fucking brilliant.’

~

Death opened the door to his penthouse, unaware of the awe in Geno’s gaze as he looked around the nicest living accommodations he’d ever witnessed. Reaper’s first instinct was to open up the guest room for his guest of honor before retreating to the fridge in the kitchen to grab himself something to take the edge off. He was screwed, that was for certain. He didn’t know where to begin finding Geno suitable accommodations, nor did he really care.

“Your room door is open,” Reaper announced, sitting down in his recliner before releasing a monumental sigh. “I need some time to think things through and coordinate, so that will be your “private accommodations” until further notice. Got it?”

When there was no reply, he annoyedly glanced around the backrest of the chair to find that Geno was already gone, the click of the guest room door closing signaling his desire for privacy. So be it. Reaper wouldn’t complain.

Geno explored his new surroundings. It felt surreal, running his phalanges over the bedsheets and opening the closet doors. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d inhabited an actual bedroom. It had probably been a one night stand, and considering he rarely had the energy to do necessary things, that had been eons ago. Geno entered the restroom slowly, finding the light switch after a moment of probing the wall. It was smaller, modern and clean. A rush of excitement had Geno’s soul thrumming in his ribcage, the thought of hot water cascading over his aching bones eliciting an impromptu decision to strip.

Geno didn’t think he could feel this good, but thankfully some deity out there pitied him enough to offer him a taste of bliss. Not to mention, the sensation of soap in his joints and mousse to massage into his bones left him feeling pampered. It was soothing and refreshing simultaneously, the heat loosening the stiffest of his joints while chasing away the pain that typically lingered, no thanks to his condition. Geno paused as the muffled voice of his host caught his attention–or maybe he was to that point of tiredness in which his skull began creating sounds. He shrugged it off, not caring enough to check if Reaper was calling for him.

When the water began to cool, Geno stepped out, snagging a plushy towel from the wrack off to the side to secure around his waist. Peering at himself in the mirror, he frowned at the gnarly red smear stretching diagonally across his ribcage from an accident in the not so distant past. It felt like yesterday that he’d ended up nearly dusting. That had helped him to realize that sleeping anywhere accessible in the streets after dark was a no go. He’d been younger, definitely less streetwise, and he’d paid for it dearly. He traced the old, raised scar, recalling how it had felt to receive the initial wound. Turning to leave, he turned off the light and headed back to the bedroom.

Retrieving his dirty clothing, he dispensed them into the bathtub, running warm water over them. They smelled like grass and the wood of the park bench. Geno poured bubble bath liquid over them, stirring his stained, once white hoodie to disperse the grime. He jumped as a loud knock resonated throughout the room, drawing his attention to the fact that he was only in a towel with no other clothes to change into. ‘Wonderful.’

He made his way to the closed door of the bedroom before opening it a crack. “Yeah?”

“I didn’t see clothes or other necessities with you back at the hospital. Here.” Reaper thrusted the folded items topped with a toothbrush in the direction of the slightly opened door. “I don’t need them back.”

Awkwardly, Geno reached out for them, before nodding. “Um, thanks.”

“G’night.” Reaper was gone in an instant, disappearing as quickly as he’d appeared in Geno’s doorway. Geno shut the door and locked it, happy that he was at least afforded that much security. He spat into the sink, he noted the marrow tainted magic speckling the bowl. He washed it down, mind wandering to what tomorrow might hold. Hopefully Reaper had coffee stashed somewhere…

~

Reaper wrote a note detailing where food was as well as how to turn on the television, and left it on the kitchen counter before heading out to work. After experiencing a nearly sleepless night, Reaper felt like absolute and utter garbage. If he didn’t have the ability to teleport, today would be the perfect excuse to call off and mope about the situation at hand. Common sense told him Toriel would have him fired before 10am if he pulled a stunt like that.

Stepping into his office, he powered up his computer and reached for a clean mug. Wandering through the hall, he made his way into the employee lounge to caffeinate. Following his entrance, someone else entered the space. Reaper didn’t expect to be approached, nor was he ready to be confronted by the visage of someone who was familiar enough for Reaper to not want to see him. He didn’t get a choice in the matter, though. The skeleton set down his tablet and sighed.

“So. I heard you royally fucked up. I never could have seen that coming, in all my years observing your work,” the forensic pathologist stated. He pushed his oval glasses up his nasal ridge, ghostly white eye lights narrowed in on Reaper’s face. “Do you have a convenient excuse to explain it away? I’m eager to hear.”

“What a pleasure it is to see you, too, Sci,” Reaper replied, not bothering to meet his gaze as he prepared his coffee the way he liked it. “It just so happens that I don’t. Surprised?”

“Not at all,” Sci replied, picking up his tablet to open up his task manager app. “You really ought to have trained your employees better–this could be devastating to the company’s reputation, you do realize.”

“I’m aware,” Reaper growled. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have a job to carry out as well? Or are you my nanny now?”

Sci smiled. It made Reaper’s soul twist unpleasantly. He didn’t like that. “You and your compliance are my priority for the time being. It’s come to the attention of the board that you need a co-leader. I mean, in all of my years working here, I’ve never seen a live monster transported to us in a body bag. That, Reaper, is a new low for your team.”

Reaper couldn’t help but feel flabbergasted. After a moment of shocked silence and indignance, the lead mortician replied. “You don’t have to do that,” Reaper said, not at all liking the idea of being ordered around by the monster he deemed to be a self-assured asshole.

“Oh, I’m well aware, but Toriel insisted,” Sci remarked, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It just so happens I was the best candidate for the job of establishing how to tell if someone is truly dead or not. There will be intensive training, and you’ll be there to help me implement it. Maybe you should take some notes as well, hm?”

Reaper’s eye socket twitched as he contemplated the other taking over in his domain. He’d mentored his trainees well, educating them thoroughly on death and the telltale signs. The nature of their work was one which took attention to detail and a cautious approach, so he never thought he’d be in this situation. Yet, here he was, being told he was incompetent and careless.

“Wonderful,” Reaper uttered, turning on his heel with his coffee to retreat somewhere Sci wasn’t. The other followed after, greeting the first few apprentices who entered for the workday. Reaper had surely pissed off the wrong gods to endure this torture. He hoped a glass of something strong would be enough to drown out some of Sci’s incessant talking.

~

A week passed with his new “partner” essentially breathing down his neck–or at least it felt like it. Reaper missed his place as the boss in the underground levels of the building, but going against Toriel’s word was a recipe for disaster.

He entered his apartment feeling like absolute shit. There was no better way to say it, and even if there was, Reaper would’ve opted for describing his emotional burden as a shit inferno. His scythe apparated from existence, and he immediately went to the stash of alcohol slotted above his fridge. Plopping some ice cubes into a stout glass, he followed them up with some golden, pungent booze. He hardly realized Geno was sprawled out on his couch, multiple blankets stacked on top of him as he snoozed. Curiosity struck and Reaper quietly walked over, analyzing the sleeping skeleton. He frowned as he noted the trickle of blood trailing from Geno’s mouth which had been absorbed by the couch cushions. That was wholly uncanny, as was the hole in the guy’s face where his other eye light would’ve been.

The monster was still. For all intents and purposes, he appeared dead, especially with the multiple areas on his frame which leaked marrow.

Reaper retrieved the intended instrument from his cloak, deciding it couldn’t hurt to test his employee's claim that there wasn’t any sign of life when Geno was scanned. He held the tip of the monitor close to where Geno’s soul would be fluctuating, even at rest, and waited for the results to populate on the screen. The results (or complete lack thereof) were damning. The readings indicated Geno’s magic was so depleted that he was, according to everything Reaper had been taught, dead. The lead mortician studied the instrument in confusion, wondering how it was possible. Maybe it was the day getting to him-

“So. Are you finished being a creep?”

At the sound of his guest’s voice, Reaper struggled to hold onto the tool, which ended up clattering to the floor. He looked at Geno, his singular blue eye light a pinprick in its socket as he regarded the other. How long had he been awake?

“You…your readings say you’re dead,” he stated. Geno scoffed.

“I thought we covered this already,” Geno said, wiping away the trickle of blood from his chin. “And you never answered my question. Do you do this to everyone who stays the night, or am I just special?”

Reaper opened his mouth to respond before closing it. That had been weird, hadn’t it? Fuck. “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked permission, you’re right, I was being a creep,” he said, regretting his decision. The day had really gotten to him, but it wasn’t an excuse to treat the other like a science experiment.

Geno looked at him critically before stating, “You look like shit. Bad day I take it?”

Reaper’s expression soured. He supposed he deserved that. “Terrible.”

“If you’re going to drink away your pain, can I have a drink, too?” Geno asked, glancing towards the alcohol laden cubbies above the fridge. “It can be your way of making it up to me for being an asshole.”

Reaper sighed. “Sure. Why not? What do you like?” He asked, meandering back over to his booze stash. “Sour, bitter, sweet?”

“Sour sounds good. I like drinks with a little bit of bite,” Geno provided. He looked down at the couch, catching sight of his marrow stains in the cushions. Maybe it hadn’t been the best idea to lay down on the central piece of furniture. Cleaning it out was going to be a bitch. Reaper was in front of him again, handing him a full glass of something red and bubbly. “Thanks.”

Reaper grunted before taking a seat in his leather armchair. He all but melted into the cushions. He let out a hefty sigh. “I won’t do that again. That was rude of me,” he commented, taking a large gulp of his drink. “You can see where I’m coming from, though, can’t you? I mean, it shouldn’t be possible. According to your readings, you’re dead.”

Geno snorted. “Yeah, but I’m not. Or at least not all of the way,” he said. “I’m an anomaly, what can I say?” Geno wiped his jaw once more to clean off the blood, which never ceased to find a way to escape from his mouth.

Ire accumulated in Reaper’s soul uninvited. He took a deep breath and released it. There was no point in exploding at Geno, who’d been a model houseguest (aside from his continual bleeding which inevitably left a mess wherever he settled). “I guess you are,” Reaper grumbled, staring into his glass, which was already nearly empty. “I don’t understand why some of my employees are so thick-skulled. I never taught them to just take bodies, or work on their days off. He should’ve called in and consulted with me or another head undertaker. It’s fucking ridiculous.”

Geno laughed dryly. “You really don’t want to end up in one of those carriers. I’ve been in bad situations, but I think I’ve developed claustrophobia from that experience alone.” Geno beat him in finishing his drink, setting it down on the coffee table. “Did something happen?”

Reaper grit his teeth before gulping down the rest of his drink as well. “Heh, you could put it that way. The resident forensic pathologist bitch was designated to be my partner, which makes no fucking sense, but hey, who am I to point that out? I’ve only been an undertaker since I could wield a scythe.”

“Oh. Sounds lovely. Could I have more, by the way?” Geno asked, his face taking on a light flushed appearance. Reaper wasn’t sure if he realized he was hosting an easygoing smile. He was afraid if he mentioned it, Geno would eradicate the expression out of spite.

“He’s a pompous loser who gets off on being in a position of authority. It was a given that he’d be Tori’s choice,” Reaper growled. “And yeah, hand me your glass. D’you want the same as before?”

Geno shrugged. “Or you can surprise me. I’m not picky.” Geno shed his scarf, deciding he’d had enough of the blood-soaked sensation against his clavicles. He balled it up and shoved it in his pocket. “That really sucks…I mean, you aren’t the fucker who shoved me in a body bag. Guess that doesn't matter, though–they need someone to blame, don’t they?”

“Yep, that’s how it is. When your mentee is a fool, it directly impacts you. Wonderful, isn’t it?” He handed Geno something golden and slightly pungent. He accepted it gladly, holding it up to his nasal aperture to get a feel for what he was about to ingest.

“I feel like we got off on the wrong foot,” Reaper said as he sat back down. Geno tilted his skull, before shrugging.

“Sure. Let’s say that. What do you propose?” Geno asked, his piercing eye light, only slightly dulled by the booze, searched his host’s face imploringly. It caught Reaper slightly off guard.

As a thought popped into his skull, Reaper snorted, only barely restraining himself from sending his mouth full of drink through his nasal aperture. Geno pulled a face that made it hard to swallow–it was so unlike the impassiveness he’d been masking with before. “Pfft, it’s just a stupid thought. This stuff is stronger than what I typically go for,” Reaper said, feeling the effects of his drinks in full now. “It’s nothin’.”

A smirk appeared on Geno’s face and his eye light was half obscured by his half-lidded eye socket. “Nothing? I think it was something. Are you sure that’s the case?”

Reaper felt strange. No, strange wasn’t right–he felt kind of horny? Okay, that happened; when he drank he often found it a convenient time to tug one out. It was odd it was occuring now, especially since his guest was here, and it was a strong sensation. He crossed his legs, very aware of the boner he was undoubtedly popping, as his magic never took long to form.

“Seriously, it's just tipsy thoughts,” Reaper reassured his guest. Geno wiped a phalange across the edge of his mouth, catching the start of the marrow stream which had begun to accumulate once again. “They just pop in there, you know?”

Geno quirked a brow. “Just popped in there, huh? What was it?”

Reaper debated telling him about it before asking himself what harm it would do. They were both downing their second helping of spirits, so why not spice things up a bit? “Fine, fine. You asked what I’d propose–immediately my mind was bringing up bonding, then bondage, and don’t ask me why, but that’s what got a laugh out of me.” Reaper felt a blush pricking his zygomatic bones.

He didn’t expect Geno to bark out a laugh before coughing. He felt half bad, but it must’ve been something his guest was used to. It didn’t seem to phase Geno as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

“You perv,” he said, still feeling giggly as he washed away the itch to continue coughing with something cold. “Don’t tell me you think I’m good-looking. I bled all over your couch, just letting you know. I’ll clean it,” he added, becoming self-conscious as he was reminded how un-sexy his condition was. “I mean, fuck, you know I’ll clean that, right? I’m not going to leave it-”

“It’s fine. And…I dunno? Just nearing drunk, might already be there. I’m not trying to earn the title of a creep again.”

“Didn’t say it made you one,” Geno shot back. “Maybe you’re just a weirdo,” he added, his smirk a devious thing. Reaper chuckled. Geno was kind of pretty when he was loosened up like he was now. Sure, the blood was a little off putting, but he was an undertaker–he’d seen more than a little blood in his lifetime and he’d be seeing a lot more of it in the future. While he probably should’ve been queasy at the thought of Geno’s affliction, he wasn’t.

“Are you coming onto me?” Reaper asked, his voice slurring slightly. His vision wasn’t swimming yet, but it would be if he kept on drinking at this pace. He watched Geno’s face flush a vibrant red, and he felt his cock twitch. Damn, Reaper was in deep at this point, and it was all his own doing. Who the fuck asked questions like that? Who was he?

“Um, if you want? Heh, I mean, let me be transparent–not many monsters want to hook up with someone who’s going to bleed all over them. But hey, if you’re a kinky, consenting adult, then I’m game.”

Reaper snorted. “Why’d you say it like that? Holy hell, what are you, my biology teacher?”

“Could be if you’re into that,” Geno remarked. “Tell me about the powerhouse of the cell while you pound me, why don’t you?”

Reaper snorted and this time his drink did drip through his nasal cavity. “What is wrong with you? Look what you’ve done.” He wiped at his mouth and chin, focused upon cleaning up the mess he’d made. He was spooked by the appearance of Geno in front of him.

“Um, hey there,” he said, unsure of if he was ready for where this was going. This was someone vulnerable–annoying and manipulative, yes, but also in a precarious situation. “Geno?”

“Tell me if you’d like me to stop,” Geno stated, his cheeks flushed a pretty shade of red. “You can tell me to stop. Please tell me to stop if you’re not okay with this.”

“Wait, tell me what you’re doing right now,” Reaper said, his skull feeling pleasantly fuzzy. In his intoxicated state, Geno reminded him of an angel of death, the sanguine stains decorating his shirt somehow as attractive as they were imposing.

“I…” Momentarily, Geno asked himself what he was doing. This was a bold move. What if he was kicked out? Why was he doing this? Sure, he was horny, but why the fuck was he making it Reaper’s problem? His posture morphed into a more closed off position, and Reaper frowned.

“Hey, I don’t want to take advantage of you. If…if you wanna take a seat, by all means, take a seat,” Reaper expressed, his magic responding in clear interest. “I’m into it, just kind of drunk here .”

Geno took that as permission, shedding his shorts before climbing into his host’s lap. He was careful not to touch him with the parts of his frame which bled frequently. He lifted his hoodie enough to expose the red ecto which had settled in his pelvis. Reaper hungrily observed the slit he’d formed, plushy and slightly puffy with arousal. Geno’s ecto was attractive and he was certain it wasn’t just the alcohol.

“You weren’t kidding about wanting to be pounded, were you?” Reaper commented.

“Nope,” Geno stated. “You gonna just look? Or are you going to touch me?”

Reaper took that invitation eagerly, brushing his first and second phalanges through the slit. Geno shivered. Geno’s ecto was soft and while he didn’t have a lot of it, it was grabbable and vibrant. All reservations about getting intimate with his strange guest had dissipated, and he focused on thumbing the crimson clit which was exposed as he began to slip his longer digits inside of Geno’s taut opening. Geno made a strangled sound, before releasing an appreciative moan. Reaper sheathed his phalanges, curling them inside of Geno’s flexing channel before retracting them, and thrusting them inside once more.

“Oh…f-fuck,” Geno uttered, his breath catching as Reaper’s phalanges explored his insides. “Shit. C-can you curl your phalanges like–like that, yes.”

“You want me to fuck you?” Reaper asked, wanting nothing more than to sheath himself inside of that heat his fingers were surrounded by, but unwilling to cross any more boundaries than he was by letting this continue. Geno nodded.

“Yeah, yeah I’d like that a lot.” He rolled his hips, forcing Reaper’s digits deeper into his passage. It made him lightheaded as pleasure shot up his spinal column.

Reaper tugged the layers of his cloak to the side, allowing his shaft to jut out from its material confines. Geno watched with clear interest, clenching around Reaper’s phalanges as he imagined what the girthy, azure cock would feel like lodged in his pelvis. Reaper pulled his digits from between Geno’s thighs, tugging the other’s pelvis so that he was hovering over his rigid dick. He nudged the damp opening, humming in gratification at the thought of fucking the delicious cunt being offered to him.

Geno took initiative, seating himself slowly on the sizable cock. Reaper stiffened, skull hitting the headrest of his cozy chair as his guest swallowed him whole. “Oh, fuck,” Reaper uttered, throbbing inside of his guest as he took a moment to adjust. Geno fluttered around him, clenching rhythmically like he was trying to suck the life out of him through his dick. Reaper opened his eye sockets, observing the other, who had a determined expression on his face. “You good?”

“More than good,” Geno responded, rolling his hips. Reaper hissed, before grabbing the other’s hips and thrusting upward. Geno cried out, steadying himself using Reaper’s shoulders. Their movements were sloppy at times, but the pleasure wasn’t dulled by being uncoordinated. Geno was making breathy sounds, intermingled with more passionate vocal expressions, and Reaper was groaning as he fucked his guest hard and deep. Making a move to kiss Geno, Reaper was dissuaded by Geno turning his head to the side. “You don’t want to do that, I promise,” Geno remarked. While it stung slightly, Reaper focused on chasing his own pleasure. Not everyone liked making out during sex. That was fine by him.

“I’m close,” Reaper admitted, squeezing Geno’s hips. Geno nodded, taking his cock like he’d been made to do it.

“Me t-too.”

Reaper’s orgasm came quickly, washing over him before he could register entirely that it was happening. Geno seemed to have been keeping quiet through his climax, because he suddenly groaned as he clenched and released repeatedly around Reaper’s dick. His skull was thrown back, his thighs trembling as he rode his host through the blissful sensations he was feeling. His rib cage expanded and contracted under his stained hoodie, and he still held tight to Reaper’s shoulders, the tips of his phalanges digging into his bones. For Reaper, this was completely surreal. He was busy riding the hazy sensation in his skull, his own hands busy steadying Geno on his lap. He was still inside of him and they were both coated in sweat and other fluids that accompanied sex. So much for the longevity of his living room furniture.

“Stars, that was good…really good,” Geno said, his joints flushed with the glow of his red magic. “Though I think a shower is in order.”

“Yes, to both things you said,” Reaper said, exhaustion settling in his frame. Geno began to get up, his legs shaking as he tugged himself off of Reaper’s spent cock. He was still semi-hard and while Geno was a monster with endurance, he wasn’t about to push things too far. This was already a huge move. He didn’t need to give his host a reason to kick him to the curb. “Are you all good? That last drink you had usually knocks people off kilter.”

“Heh, don’t worry about me. I can handle my booze,” Geno commented, knocking his shoulder against the guest bedroom door frame. He cursed, and Reaper chuckled.

“Are you sure you can manage a shower? I don’t know if you’re handling the booze tonight,” Reaper said, turning out the lamp in his living room. Geno flipped him off and shut his door. Reaper snorted.

“Don’t keel over in the shower,” he called out as he passed Geno’s door. A distinctive ‘Screw you’ could be heard as he continued his journey towards his bedroom. While he currently felt more at ease than he had earlier, he was certain the feeling wasn’t going to last. He wasn’t that lucky.

~

Reaper awoke to his alarm alerting him it was time to go to work. He groaned, rolling over to find his phone. Feeling about, he wasn’t able to find it, and that annoyed him. Where could it have gone? Patting around the covers, he came across the culprit and swiped at the screen, dispelling the alert. He put a hand to his forehead and groaned. He didn’t know what possessed him to gulp down two glasses of one of the highest percentage alcoholic beverages he owned, but he was regretting it right about now. His skull ached. Maybe Geno was in the same boat. He reluctantly slipped out from under the covers of his bed and got ready for the day ahead.

As he entered the living room, he caught sight of Geno tending to the cough cushions with a damp towel and detergent. Geno glanced up, blushed and went back to his task of trying to remove blood from Reaper’s furniture. “How’re you feeling this morning?” He asked, deciding it was more awkward to pretend nothing had happened than to act oblivious.

“Kind of shitty. How about you?” Reaper asked, filling his coffee pot with water before grabbing the pre-ground coffee beans from the pantry.

“I’m fine. About last night-” Geno began, but he was cut off by Reaper.

“It doesn’t matter. We don’t need to make it into something when it isn’t. We fucked,” he said, massaging his temples. “It’s not a big deal.”

“I wasn’t going to insist that it was,” Geno said, standing up. He let the rag fall back into the frothy mixture of hot water and detergent, wiping his hands on the old tee shirt he was wearing. “I mean, damn, Reaper, what a way with words.”

So perhaps he’d been rude–he’d been told he was an asshole before. His head hurt, and he didn’t was to deal with any misconceptions, so bluntness was the route he took. Geno looked miffed.

“There’s no reason to get offended. It is what it is,” Reaper said, turning on the coffee machine. “It wasn’t meant to come off as nasty.”

“Well, what do you know? It did. All I was going to say was sorry if I was too forward last night. But hey, no need, right? Didn’t even get that chance.” He picked up his rag once more, squeezing the water out of it a little more aggressively than was necessary. He crouched down to continue cleaning the couch.

“It’s fine. You don’t need to apologize. I’m a consenting adult, you don’t think I would’ve told you if I didn’t want to fuck you?” Reaper asked, pinching his nasal ridge. Geno flashed him a glare, but didn’t reply. Reaper sighed. “Geno, it’s fine. By all means, it felt good, but I don’t want you to have…any expectations for more.”

Geno turned to him, giving him a deadpan expression. “Did I fucking say anything about more? Reaper, you made this conversation into what it is right now. All I was going to do was apologize for being a slutty guest, not bring up how I wanted you to put a ring on it because I sat on your dick.”

Reaper was silent for a moment, before he uttered, “Yeah, alright. As long as we’re on the same page, then I’ll drop it.”

“Thank the bloody stars,” Geno remarked, doubling down on removing the stains from the couch. Reaper grabbed some headache meds from the cabinet and washed them down with cold brew. He waited for his coffee to finish, skimming the news and occasionally glancing over at Geno while he continued cleaning. Sure, he’d been blunt and Geno didn’t like his tone, so he supposed he deserved the ire the other was giving off. The coffee machine beeped and Geno sulked back to his room with his cleaning supplies, closing the door. Reaper grabbed a travel mug and headed out.

Geno was pissed. He didn’t know what about it pissed him off–the tactlessness or the assumption of Reaper’s that he was going to think that sex had to mean something. What an old-fashioned fucker. He dumped the water he used to spot clean the couch down the drain and went to wash his hands. He glanced up at his reflection and scowled. He focused his magic until a pixelated patch covered the side of his face which gave off the impression of melted wax.

Geno stripped off his shirt, which had become sweaty and bloodstained in the time it took him to clean the couch. He decided to strip the pillow covers and throw them in the laundry along with his hoodie and sweaty tee shirt. Still feeling miffed at Reaper (who wasn’t really worth his time or anger, but tell that to his train of thought which kept circling back to the guy), he went to the kitchen to grab what was left of the coffee and brew more. If Reaper returned for lunch, he could make more.

Geno activated the washing machine before turning his attention to the door at the end of the hallway. He shouldn’t, but curiosity and boredom won over. He approached cautiously, as though Reaper would slam open the bedroom door. He gripped the handle and twisted, finding it unlocked. He eased it open, hesitating momentarily to listen for any sign of Reaper returning. Nothing. He entered, and was met with a black bedspread with a raven skull-shaped pillow topper sitting atop the haphazardly made bed. Reaper’s bedroom décor was modern and not overly lavish. Geno glanced at the dresser, where a few framed photos sat. He leaned down, observing Reaper, Toriel and others posing for a photo. It looked like a celebration of sorts. Moving to the next, he found another image portraying Reaper with an extremely tall skeletal monster with a kind smile. He reminded Geno of someone from his own past who he actively avoided thinking about. Moving to the last of the frames, he found an image of three skeletons who; the youngest in the photo bore a striking resemblance to the tall fellow in the last image. The other two were probably family members, most likely Reaper’s parents if Geno had to guess.

He decided he shouldn’t stay too long, so he took one more glance around the gothic style room and closed the door quietly, making sure it clicked before he retreated into the living room. Sure, that was kind of a shitty move, but Reaper had overstepped boundaries as well. At least for now he’d rationalize his actions. He just wouldn’t do it again.

The washing machine scared him half to death as it alerted him to the clothes being ready to be switched out. He let his skull rest in his hands for a moment, gathering his wits before continuing with chores for the day. While he felt that snooping about would satiate his curiosity, it made him feel overwhelmingly anxious. He decided that retreating to the guest room for the day wasn’t a bad idea.

~

Sci was as insufferable as ever, not that Reaper expected any different. He felt a little guilty for snapping at Geno earlier, but he supposed he could make it up to his guest. He had a meeting with Toriel discussing the housing situation, which Sci sat in on. He was clueless as to why Toriel thought Sci being a partner to him was beneficial in any sense, but his best plan of action was to deal with it for the time being.

“Have you found housing for Geno yet?” Toriel asked. Reaper didn’t see a point in dodging the question.

“Not yet. I’m working on it,” he said.

“So where is he staying?” Sci asked, tilting his head. Reaper sighed.

“I have a guest room–”

“You are not keeping him at your place. Reaper,” Toriel’s said, her voice filled with concern and irritation. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I am. He’s staying in my guest room until we find a suitable place for him,” Reaper stated, realizing that he should’ve thought of a better way to breach this topic. Sci looked equally disturbed.

“That is a monumental liability,” he said. “Is your place up to code? There are standards that need to be met, have you considered that?”

“I did what I could at the moment. I’m working on finding him a place that meets his expectations, but it’s not exactly straightforward. I’m not a fucking housing agent,” Reaper growled.

“Reaper. We need to compile a report on living conditions. We already have to deal with the initial incident. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire,” Toriel said, rubbing his forehead. A tension headache had begun radiating through her face. Lucky her.

“Take me to your place. We’ll get it done today,” Sci insisted. Reaper looked appalled.

“You have the license to verify if my house is up to code or not? You?” Reaper asked, looking to Toriel for assistance. She looked between them, sighing in exasperation.

“We’ll do what we have to. This is a mess,” she said, gathering documents from the folders in her desk. “Be thorough, please.” She stapled then handed a packet of papers to Sci. “If you can get these back to me before this evening, that would be lovely.”

Reaper appeared dumbfounded. “T-Toriel, we could get in huge trouble for this,” he said, apprehension gripping him as he looked between both Sci and his boss. “Is this really how we’re going to be doing things? Really?”

“I’d love to do things by the book, I really would. But we’re out of time,” Toriel stressed. “Reaper, this is vital that we have this documented.”

Reaper threw his hands up in defeat before walking out of his superior’s office. The universe really had a way of fucking him over swiftly. He opened a shadowy portal in the hallway, glancing over his shoulder at Sci, who’d followed him out. “Be my guest.”

~

Geno hadn’t been tucked under his bed sheets with his middle phalange shoved deep into his front entrance–nope, not at all, he wasn’t masturbating in his free time. Psh, who’d accused him of that? He heard the apartment door open and nearly fell out of his bed as he rushed to the restroom, snagging his clothing on the way there. ‘What the hell?’ It was too early for Reaper to be back, he was sure of it. The dense undertaker had apparently returned early, and from what he was hearing, there was someone else with him.

His soul shifted uncomfortably. Maybe this had been a mistake, living with someone employed with a big company, undoubtedly well paid–Geno felt out of his element. For all the bravado he could fake, he wasn’t going to be suave if Reaper was throwing a party or inviting fuck buddies over. He’d rather melt away than be surrounded by a huge group of strangers. ‘Fuckfuckfuck.’ He stood at the mirror, looking at the hole in his head, the gaping cavity in his face was staring right back at him–

A knock interrupted his panic, making him jump as he was drawn out of the spiraling train of thought. “Geno?”

So Reaper wasn’t scared off by his sudden bout of anger this morning. ‘Brilliant.’ Adjusting his shorts, Geno opened the bathroom door and proceeded to open his bedroom door. “What is it?” He asked, very aware of the horny-panicky-wrong sensations his soul was emanating. Reaper smiled awkwardly, and Geno caught sight of a skeleton monster donning glasses and a forest green, long-sleeved shirt. The stranger smiled, though it didn’t reach his eye lights. This monster had alabaster white eye lights, and no sign of magic tinting his face. Geno felt on edge.

“This is my colleague, Sci,” Reaper said, his voice taking on a strange timbre. “He’s here to make sure you’re not living in squalor.” Reaper’s smile signaled how uncomfortable he was and Geno felt an ounce of satisfaction. Geno shrugged, opening the guest room door to hold his hand out to Sci. He took Geno’s hand firmly, shaking it as maintained that disingenuous smile. Geno felt like he could relate to that smile.

Others had criticized his expressions before and then moved on to make a remark about his facial trauma. It was as though they thought it would validate whatever they were saying if they led up to it with a “you look so much better when you smile”. Geno didn’t feel as amicable after those around him seemed to focus more on the hole in his face than the remaining visage which was left behind. Momentarily he narrowed his singular eye, scrutinizing the stranger, before loosening up. “Nice to meet you, Sci,” he said.

“The same for you, Geno. Mind if I come in?” Sci asked. Geno backed up a few steps so Reaper and Sci could enter. “I hope this isn’t too jarring. My manager is insistent upon making sure you have adequate lodging for the time being.”

Geno chuckled when Reaper’s expression soured. “You have no clue the horrors I’ve gone through here. I’ll need therapy when I’m finished here,” Geno said, leaning against the doorframe. Reaper shot him a half-assed glare, perhaps worried that Geno’s tone would be misconstrued for truth.

“Oh?” Sci said, shutting the restroom door and checking a box off on the list. “Does that mean you’ll be seeking compensation from Reaper as well for the damages?”

“Not funny,” Reaper snapped, but Geno chuckled regardless of his response. He could probably be a prick in the workplace, but Geno liked Sci. It was refreshing to have someone joking around, even if the situation wasn’t the most comfortable to be in.

“Oh, definitely,” Geno replied, smirking at his host. Reaper gave him a pitiful expression before pinching his nasal ridge. “Don’t fret now,” he said to Reaper, who only sighed in response.

“This room checks out. Don’t mind me,” Sci said, taking his task very seriously as he made his way to the next space. It was strange seeing Reaper’s residence for the first time–it felt like the guy wouldn’t live in such an uppity place. Maybe he liked the privacy, or the location, Sci wasn’t sure. He headed into the living room to inspect it next.

Geno let himself relax slightly, and Reaper glanced over at the doorway, wondering if Sci would return for something. Geno rubbed his forehead. “So you’re home early then?”

“For a little while. When he’s finished I’ll clean up at the office and head back here,” Reaper said. “I noticed I…well, I was kind of tactless this morning. Wanted to apologize,” he said, keeping his voice quiet enough to avoid being heard by his coworker.

Geno scowled, before uttering, “Seemed like you thought I was a fucking idiot, you know?”

Reaper contemplated for a moment. “I can see that.”

Geno nodded. “The observant man is observant,” he commented, watching Reaper’s expression shift. He rolled his eye light. “Yeah, yeah, don’t treat me like a porcelain doll, buddy. I’m sure I have a few years on you. I’m sure I can take what you dish out.”

Reaper scoffed. “Oh really? How old are we talking? Thought you were younger than me, to be honest,” he said, a devious smile appearing out of nowhere.

Geno suddenly felt self-consciousness taking the place of his false confidence, but since he was the one to bring up the topic of age, he didn’t want to back down. “Forty five,” he remarked, feeling his face heating up anyways. It wasn’t as if he could control it, but he didn’t want to give Reaper the satisfaction of making him uncomfortable.

“Seriously? Alright, you’ve got me beat by five whole years. Look at you old man,” Reaper said, smile sharpening when he got a rise out of the other.

“Um, no, you won’t be calling me that, and don’t you doubt that I’ll make your life a living hell if you try,” Geno hissed. Reaper laughed, unsure why the sight of Geno becoming flustered and angry was so amusing. He’d have to do it more often. Geno was a prickly guy, so he was certain he could manage to bring that flurry of emotion to the forefront from time to time.

“Wouldn’t want that, anything but Geno making my life awful!” Reaper said sarcastically. “Hmm, what about…DILF?”

“Fucking what?” Geno asked, squinting his eye socket at the other’s mirth. “Do I even want to know?”

“You’re a ‘Dad I Like to Fuck’,” Reaper said matter-of-factly, and Geno turned beet red.

“Okay–what’s wrong with you? Who made you like this? And why?” Geno asked, putting his face in his hands. His face was on fire at this point. “I’m not a dad, you moron.”

Reaper paused momentarily, before his grin grew impossibly sleazier, before he replied, “I could make you one.”

Geno yoinked the pillow from his bed and launched it at Reaper’s head. For once, he had a decent aim. He could tell it made an impact by the grunt Reaper made before he laughed out loud. He didn’t stop laughing, like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. Geno threw another pillow, then another, both of the throws ending up missing Reaper, who was cracking up.

“Pervert,” Geno growled.

“Hey, you’re the one who said you could handle what I dished out. Are you taking it back? This soon?” Reaper feigned shock, before letting his eye sockets fall to a half-lidded state. He was getting a kick out of riling Geno up.

“You…” Geno began, trailing off as he glared at Reaper’s stupid attractive face. “Bastard.”

“Ouch,” Reaper laid a hand on his chest, right next to the raven skull which closed his cloak ties. “I’ve never been called that before. You got me good, gramps.”

“I’m going to murder you in your sleep. You’ll get to experience the inside of a body bag…soon,” Geno threatened. Reaper was belly laughing again, and screw him for that–his laugh was annoying deep. A chill skittered up Geno’s spinal column. He looked up at the ceiling, wondering what he did to deserve this. He couldn’t decipher if it was because he’d been so rudely interrupted during a personal moment or if he was so starved of attention that he’d vie for this fool’s company.

Sci appeared in the doorway, “Am I interrupting something or-”

“Yes, actually. I was enlisting him with some advice. He should really consider watching his back,” Geno muttered, flopping down onto the mattress. Sci looked over to Reaper, who had his hands propped on his knees as he recovered from his unending laughter. He wasn’t sure what exactly he’d walked in on, but if it had Reaper doubled over with mirth, he was sure it was questionable.

“I think he might actually be dying,” Sci commented, watching Reaper collect himself. Reaper turned his skull towards him.

“Are you finished?” Reaper asked, his good humor fading fast now that his coworker made a reappearance. Sci leaned against the doorframe.

“Nearly. Cut me some slack,” Sci said, running a hand over his cranium where sweat had begun to gather. “Your place is fine so far, Reaper. I’m pleasantly surprised.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Reaper asked, feeling much less amicable now that he was being offered underhanded compliments from his coworker. Reaper crossed his arms over his chest. “What, did you think I came home at the end of the day to a decrepit hole in a building?”

Sci smirked. “Maybe.”

Geno had slept inside an abandoned building before–many times, actually. It wasn’t as bad as people made it out to be. If there was no one else already there, and the structure wasn’t compromised, it was better than sleeping in other places where he’d be vulnerable. He wouldn’t willingly go back to that, not now, hopefully not ever. It was an extremely desolate, lonely time of his existence. Reaper and Sci were a breath of fresh air in comparison to the isolation of aimlessly wandering.

“Hey, what’s with the gloomy expression?” Reaper asked, securing Geno’s attention and bringing him back to the present moment. Geno crossed his arms as well, the pose giving him comfort as he composed himself.

“You’re the cause of it,” Geno replied, not missing a beat. Sci snorted in response, and continued down the hall to continue his quality assessment. Reaper's chuckle was dampened by a cough.

“You’re prickly, aren’t you?” Reaper asked, relaxing as Sci exited the space. Geno narrowed his eye.

“You’re doing a great job of digging your own grave, asshole,” he commented, readjusting his scarf and standing up once again.

“I’d like to see you try to dig a grave. I’d be impressed, honestly,” Reaper said. “You ever had to dig one before?” Reaper asked nonchalantly. Geno appeared to wince, but it could’ve just been another one of his expressions of irritation. He was silent for a moment.

“Yeah.”

‘Oh.’ Reaper felt his soul shift uneasily and he uttered, “It’s a habit–the joking about death thing.” Reaper rubbed at the back of his cervical vertebrae. “You don’t have to say anything. Let’s just move on from that-”

“It’s fine,” Geno said. “Sure, I’ve dug one. Was a fucked up time. I’d probably do the same if I were in your shoes,” he admitted, willing away the thoughts of a kind, familiar face, a tall stature, and a proclivity for giving the best hugs he’d ever experienced. It was painful, so he’d rather not.

“Want some coffee?” Reaper asked, understanding from Geno’s change in demeanor that he wasn’t keen on remembering his grim experience. Geno nodded his skull ‘yes’ and followed Reaper to the kitchen.

~

A month passed by quickly and Reaper had fallen into a routine. Geno had been living with him for long enough that it was becoming familiar, and he wasn’t sure what to make of that. Toriel had taken Sci’s assessment of his home and verified it in their digital records. Sci had become slightly less intolerable–Reaper couldn’t put his finger on it, but something had altered for the better. Maybe he’d just become desensitized to the guy’s attitude.

Toriel informed him that they were in a tight spot with legal proceedings. She’d been in contact with their attorney, but Geno’s demand for one million dollars was a steadfast demand. Geno hadn’t budged at all in terms of his financial expectations. Their company attorney brought up ways in which they could talk with Geno’s representative and pose alternate compensation, but there was no guarantee that he’d agree to taking a lesser amount.

Reaper didn’t bring it up outside of the meetings, except for when he was asked about it. It felt strange speaking about the guy who lived with him without him being present. He kept up a rigorous re-education system for the employees underneath him and while he loathed to admit it, having Sci there did alleviate the stress of handling the entire group of apprentices single handedly. Ever since the incident, Reaper’s team was increasingly diligent when it came to attention to detail and taking precautionary measures to ensure there weren’t any special cases.

“Hey, have these three taken the re-education course? If not, we need to have them take them asap,” Sci stated, reviewing the listing of employees under Reaper. Reaper made his way over to Sci’s desk, peering over his shoulder at the webpage. He scowled.

“It seems they haven’t. I agree, if you can shoot them an email, that’d be appreciated.”

“On it,” Sci replied, selecting the three contacts before applying a saved macro for the appropriate email. He sent it out before turning his chair around, finding Reaper preparing another pot of coffee. “Hey. Does Geno have a phone?”

Reaper turned around, expression unreadable. “Sure he does. Why?”

“Well, to give a little context–I was interested in figuring out what condition Geno might have. I found information that might help him out. I did a bit of preliminary research, but I’d like to have more insight about his condition. If that’s something that he’d be interested in, that is,” Sci added.

Reaper tilted his skull. “Well, that’s something…wait, when did you start looking into this?”

Sci gripped his chin as he thought about it. “It was early on. I began more seriously researching in the last couple weeks, but I was interested in the case immediately. It’s not something you hear about everyday.”

“From what I can gather, I think he’d want to hear about it. I don’t want to give away his personal information, though.” Reaper tapped the counter with his phalanges, considering his options. “How about you stop by for a view minutes after work? You could get his info from him, and tell him about your research.”

“That works,” Sci stated, leaning back in his chair. He needed a break. “I understand, I don’t want to overstep. I was just thinking that it could help with the legal matters as well. If I could make some progress helping him with his condition, maybe he’d be more open to talk about compensation.”

‘Oh. Ohhh.’ Reaper felt his chest tighten at the thought of it. “So…a different kind of compensation. Huh.” He bit the inside of his cheek, debating the ethicality of it. “How do you know you’re qualified for this? I mean, there’s no reason for Geno to consider anything. He’s been to countless doctors who couldn’t give him a definitive answer.”

Sci had been waiting for an opening to talk about his qualifications. “I was a doctor before changing careers. I’m confident that I can apply my skills and come up with an alternative approach. I think the others he’s seen have gone about it all wrong.”

Reaper sighed. “Well, let’s talk it over with him. There’s no guarantee he’ll agree to more tests, but there’s no harm in asking.”

~

Shortcutting back home with Sci in tow wasn’t as bad as the first time he’d brought him back to assess him home. Reaper was genuinely curious how Geno would react to being asked to take part in whatever Sci was planning. Part of him believed that Geno would shoot him down before Sci had a chance to explain himself, but then again, Geno had a way of surprising him.

“I’m back,” Reaper announced. The sound of a door swinging open alerted him to Geno’s presence before he exited the hallway. Looking at him groggily, Geno’s arms were crossed over his chest. He wore a black tee shirt with tapered sweats, the wrinkling in his clothes backing up Reaper’s theory that he’d most likely been napping.

“Oh. You brought back company,” Geno commented, approaching Reaper and Sci. “What’s the occasion? Another home inspection? News on the case?”

“Not quite,” Sci responded, setting his bag down and shedding his jacket. “I have something I wanted to discuss. Do you a moment?”

Geno raised his brow, before nodding. “Yeah. Wanna take a seat? Reaper?” He looked over, realizing that, no, it wasn’t his house, and if he was being realistic, Reaper had the final say.

“Sounds good.” Reaper sat on the couch, setting his work items aside for the time being. It felt nice to sink into the cushions and lean back. He might grab a drink after the conversation, he wasn’t sure yet.

“Geno, if you feel uncomfortable with any questions or you’d rather not move forward with the conversation, please let me know."

“Okay, understood.” Geno popped his phalanges. Sci offered a soft smile and the conversation commenced.

“Before my current position at the company, I was employed as a doctor. I’ve seen a few extraordinary things in my life, but your condition really interested me. I’ve been doing some research, and I believe I may be onto something as far as how to help manage your symptoms,” Sci said, watching Geno’s expression shift ever so slightly as he revealed his intentions. “The most important aspect of this would be working with you personally. If that makes you uncomfortable, I understand. I’d like to hear what you think.”

Geno released a breath he’d been holding. “I’ve been to many professionals–you’ve probably heard. I don’t want to be a test subject only to be told there’s nothing that can be done.”

Sci nodded, his brow furrowed in understanding. “And that’s completely fair. I’m sorry that has been your experience up until this point. I do have a good idea of where others went wrong when looking into your condition. I would definitely have to confirm the details of your illness with you and adjust my theory as we go, but my research and communication with some of my old colleagues have only increased my confidence that I can give you some answers,” Sci stated. “As I understand, many doctors have approached conditions like this the same way they do everything else. That’s not conducive to uncovering anything when vitals and magic are so unpredictable. Also, nothing about this is binding, Geno. If at any time you felt like it was too much, we drop everything. Just like that,” Sci emphasized.

Geno nodded slowly, digesting and deciphering what he was being told. Sci’s confidence in his abilities was infectious, and while Geno had seen many who told him his condition was an enigma that would be nearly impossible to solve, he wanted to believe it could be cured…or at the very least, managed.

“I don’t have the funds to pay for more testing,” Geno admitted, feeling the others watching him so much more acutely now. Sci held up his hands, grabbing his attention.

“You don’t need to pay me for this. Listen, count this as a passion project of mine–I’m not going to come back and demand you pay me or anything. We can sign an agreement if that makes you more comfortable. Seriously, no strings attached and you can back out at any time. If you don’t like the sound of it, just let me know. I just wanted to run it by you.”

Geno sat for a moment, pondering the pros and cons of what Sci was proposing. He wanted to have hope that his condition wasn’t chronic, but thus far, he’d had no one tell him otherwise. He released a sigh. “Theoretically, when would you want to begin the process?”

“Within the next few days, preferably, but I’m flexible. If you want to wait, we can do that as well.”

“I’ll give it a chance,” Geno stated. Sci’s expression brightened significantly at his response. Reaper looked shocked.

“Brilliant. If you have any reservations, please let me know. I want this process to be comfortable for you,” Sci said. “Mind if we exchange numbers?”

“Not at all.” Geno typed in Sci’s contact information and sent him a text that read ‘Hello doc’. Sci chuckled.

“Before I head out, is there anything you want to know? I’m an open book, here,” Sci said. Geno drummed his phalanges against his pant leg. He shook his skull.

“Nah. Not right now. I’ll text you when questions pop up.”

“Perfect. I’ll leave you guys to it, then. Thanks for giving me a moment, Geno. I’ll see you tomorrow, Reaper,” Sci said, before shortcutting out of the space. Geno blinked at the faded silhouette which dissipated before him. He used to do that, before his condition fucked up his magic. Maybe he’d be able to do it again someday.

“Hey. Are you sure you’re alright going through with this? Sci will survive if you turn him down, you know,” Reaper pointed out. Geno cracked his cervical vertebrae.

“I’m aware. I’m not going to wilt at confrontation, Reaper. If I really didn’t want to, I would’ve said no. I’m at least going to give this a chance,” Geno said. Reaper didn’t appear convinced, the big dummy. ‘Why are you like this’ Geno wondered.

“With what you said about past experiences, I wasn’t sure if it would be something you wanted to pursue,” Reaper stated. “I don’t doubt you’d put Sci in his place. You’ve never been afraid of giving me lip in the time you’ve been here.”

“Well, if you insist upon being a moron, I’m going to treat you like one,” Geno said, a mischievous smile forming on his face. Reaper looked up at the ceiling, groaning.

“What a disrespectful houseguest,” Reaper grumbled. Geno snorted.

“Says the guy who willingly put me up here and hasn’t made any other arrangements.” Geno traced his blood-stained lower jaw with his thumb. “Don’t sound so disappointed. I might start to think you don’t want me here.”

“Yeah, I know. I know,” Reaper said, a hint of frustration appearing in his tone. “I don’t dislike having you here. It’s different, but not bad, you know?” He said, and Geno tilted his skull. “I mean, fuck, I don’t know where they expect me to find a place around here that meets company standards and is within a reasonable price.” Reaper sighed in exasperation. “Toriel knows we don’t have the funds at the moment and yet-” he paused, horrified that he was about to spill more information to Geno–the guy suing his place of work. ‘Well fuck.’ “Dammit. Nevermind.”

“It’s not exactly a secret that your employer is hesitant about giving out one mil,” Geno stated nonchalantly. Reaper’s frustration escalated.

“Then why are you asking for that amount?” He asked. Geno’s expression hardened.

“Because I was shoved into a body bag and brought in for processing, you dumb fuck,” Geno snapped. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten, because I haven’t. It’s still a vivid memory, Reaper. So fuck you.”

Reaper glared at Geno. Geno glared right back. Reaper’s expression softened slightly, and Geno’s remained steely. Reaper was experiencing that feeling again–the one where he experienced a wave of excitement as Geno’s temper flared. He wasn’t sure how it came about, but there the sensation was, as clear as day, emanating from his chest cavity. “Fuck me, huh?”

Geno leveled him with a look fit to kill. “Yes. Fuck. You.”

Reaper couldn’t help it–he laughed. Geno’s expression darkened further, and Reaper felt a spike of genuine concern. “Gen-Geno, no wa-hait, Geno what are you doing-”

“Do you ever shut up?” Geno hissed, snagging a pillow from behind himself and pouncing. He smothered Reaper with the decorative pillow, which served to make Reaper buck his hips to throw the other off of him. Geno gleaned a massive amount of satisfaction from feeling Reaper struggling. He wasn’t actually out to harm him, though–he backed off, dodging Reaper as he attempted to grab at him.

“You little prick. What the hell was that?” Reaper asked, bristling now that Geno had made the first move. Geno looked down the hallway, then back at Reaper, before darting towards his room. “Oh, no you don’t.” Reaper shortcutted in front of Geno’s door, and Geno wasn’t quick enough to interrupt his momentum. He slammed into Reaper, sending them both tumbling through the doorway and onto the floor of the guestroom. Reaper rolled over on top of the other, pinning him by his shoulders against the black and white carpet.

“Get off of me,” Geno said, breathing hard.

“Yeah, no. You don’t get to commit an assassination attempt without paying the price,” Reaper said, his mouth curling into a sharp smile.

Geno rolled his eye light. “What’re you going to do?”

Good question. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. “I’m…heh, I’m still figuring that out,” he said. “Stars, you’re an asshole.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Geno shot back. “You’re not a saint yourself. You say stupid shit and expect me to go along with it.”

“Fine. I pissed you off. Then you attack me-”

“That wasn’t attacking you. That was shutting you up using something convenient and soft,” Geno said definitely. Reaper furrowed his brow.

“You’re pushing your luck, old man,” Reaper stated, a slightly playful tone surfacing in his voice. Geno looked pissed.

“I’m not that much older than you–now either get off me or give me a reason to be on my back,” Geno said, his eye light glowing fiercely. That caught Reaper’s attention. He didn’t want to assume, so he attempted to clarify.

“You want to fuck?” Reaper asked, his single blue eye light searching Geno’s face for any sign of a joke. Geno sighed.

“Here, let me make this easy for you–shove your cock inside me.”

“Or…?” Reaper asked.

“Or get off me and get out so I can take care of it myself,” Geno said, as though he was telling Reaper something he should have known all along. “Make your choice.”

Reaper chose sex. Why? Because he’d been horny and now that he knew Geno was also turned on, it somehow made the decision easier. He gripped Geno’s hips, elevating his backside so he could fuck him deeply. He was lost in the scent and sounds Geno made, and being sober while this was all happening heightened the experience. He wanted more.

“Gen, I want you on your knees. Wanna fuck you deeper,” he said, and with a little assistance, Geno was kneeling and spreading himself once more. Reaper slid his dick back inside, the walls of his cunt squeezing around him, the sweet heat making his mouth water. “There we go. You’re so tight.”

Placing a hand on Geno’s curvy abdomen and another between his legs against his clit, Reaper began to move his hips languidly. He could tell Geno appreciated this angle–he was trembling and uttering quiet praises when Reaper hit a sweet spot. Geno’s breathing became more labored as he neared his climax, and his insides tightened further.

“Y-yeah, Reaper, fuck,” Geno said shakily, one of his hands gripping the hand Reaper had planted on the ecto of his stomach. “A l-little harder, mhm, please,” Geno pleaded, his eye socket falling shut as he tipped over the edge, his frame shuddering as he was pleasured through his orgasm. Reaper was mouthing at his throat, his canines grazing his cervical vertebrae as he chased his own completion. Geno felt absolutely sapped of energy, but found it extremely hot that Reaper kept going, humping his lax frame harder. He noticed the way Reaper’s voice became huskier, his groans more desperate as he neared orgasm. The sound resonated within his pelvis, the nuances of Reaper’s deep voice making him wetter than he recalled being in years.

“Oh-oh fuck,” Reaper uttered, his hips stuttering as he came inside of Geno. He stilled, sensitivity prickling at the head of his cock as he shifted inside of the other. He caressed Geno’s abdomen, gathering himself as he came down from the sudden high. They stayed like that for a few minutes, silence permeating the space aside from the sounds of their steadying breathing. Reaper broke the silence. “That felt really nice after a long day.”

“I bet it did,” Geno replied, sounding blissed out. “I swear, if you lecture me about ‘how this means nothing’ again, I’ll actually smother you,” Geno stated. “And that’s a promise.”

“No, no, none of that, my rage-filled roommate. If you’d like to be dicked down, let me know, don’t try to unalive me,” Reaper said, chuckling as Geno made a sound of disapproval.

“Let’s get something straight, though. I get that you’re not happy about the situation–yeah, it fucked with your position at work. You now have me as a roommate. That doesn’t mean you have the right to shame me for pursuing compensation. Got it?”

Reaper was quiet as he contemplated for a moment. He nodded. “Got it.”

“Good.” Geno lifted himself off of Reaper’s dick, moving to cup the space between his legs. His eye light narrowed to a small, red pip in his socket. “Holy shit, how much did you pump into me?”

Reaper smirked. “Enough.”

~

Lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling in the dark, it occurred to Reaper that he’d wanted to kiss Geno. It had been an intense urge, which he wasn’t about to pursue because he was well aware from the first time they slept together that Geno didn’t want to do that. Which was perfectly fine. The fact that he wanted that so badly kind of scared him. The thing they had going was fine the way it was, he didn’t need more, which was why he was perplexed. His soul felt tight as he contemplated why he was obsessing over this. When had he decided that he wanted to kiss Geno? Why was it so significant now?

Fucking was fucking, it wasn’t a strings attached sort of thing for him. Maybe he was overanalyzing this. Geno was attractive. He was stubborn and intelligent, from what Reaper had gathered. He was also temperamental. On the other hand, he had a sense of humor Reaper could appreciate and an allure that he couldn’t decipher. Reaper rolled over, pulling the blankets up around his shoulders. Some part of him didn’t want to find another place for Geno, but that wasn’t up to him. He’d talk to him about finding a residence–involving him in the process might help move things along. He let his mind drift to something less stressful as the hour became later and his eyes fought to stay open.

Chapter Text

Geno scrubbed at his bones with a rag, annoyed at the blood from his rib cage and mouth transferring to everything and anything in his vicinity. He woke up feeling morose that day, which in and of itself wasn’t anything new. Today, in particular, he felt particularly down, though. Maybe it was the idea of resurfacing memories as he went through familiar tests. He’d done many rounds of them in the past in an attempt to uncover why his disorder had manifested the way it did. During that time, he also had to come to terms with losing someone he deeply cared for. It made enduring the long hours of procedures that much more arduous.

Sighing, he rang out the bloodied rag, rinsing it under piping hot water. He looked in the reflection, his crimson eye light scrutinizing the visage of the monster peering back at him. Reaper had fucked him twice now. He wasn’t sure how he’d managed to do that, with his permanent, ghastly wounds and the damage to his right eye socket. Reaper’s demeanor had changed the other evening when he’d gotten annoyed, and it seemed that everything fell into place following that. He liked it. He liked it a lot. Hell, at this rate, Reaper calling him an old man in that attractive voice of his might turn into a kink. That was if this continued. There was no guarantee that would happen, especially if Reaper found a place for him to move into.

With irritation bubbling up to the surface, he tugged on a tee shirt and shorts before heading to the kitchen. It was Saturday, which meant Reaper was sleeping in. Geno sulked over to the coffee maker before setting up a new filter with fresh grounds. Leaning against the counter, he watched the coffee begin to drip into the pot.

He’d been in contact with his lawyer on a regular basis to document all of the relevant details of his case. Realistically, he was going to be low-balled, but he’d uphold his demand for compensation, at least for now. Thinking about it made him uneasy, so he avoided doing so as much as he could manage. He breathed out slowly, focusing on the trickle of coffee.

“Morning,” he heard Reaper say from behind him. “Sleep well?”

“Eh. I’ve slept better.” Geno glanced behind him. “How about you?”

“It was decent. Thanks for starting the coffee,” he said, taking a seat on the couch. “I was thinking of going into town today. You want to come with?”

That caught him off guard. Geno found his voice again with some effort. “Yeah. That’d be nice.”

“Does heading out after breakfast sound good to you?” Reaper asked, picking at a loose thread on his robe.

“Sounds like a plan,” Geno responded, before heading to the fridge. He was thankful for the distraction. His day may actually improve.

~

“Do you come down here often?” Geno asked Reaper as they wandered through the area, passing by various shops and vendors. Reaper shrugged.

“No, not really. When I first moved here, I did.”

“How long ago was that?” Geno asked, finding comfort in the flow of conversation. He wasn’t hugely fond of crowds, but sometimes he just had to stick it out. Someone bumped into him, and he scowled, moving closer to Reaper to avoid another clumsy passerby.

“Fifteen years ago. It’s been a little while now.” Reaper glanced over. “Where’d you spend most of your time, old man?”

“I lived in a small town outside of a large city. It snowed often, there were a lot of mountains and deep caves. Heh, they called it Snowdin,” Geno said, and Reaper gave him a doubtful look. “I’m being serious, the town was kind of strange that way. I lived with my brother in a place we saved up for,” Geno said.

“Oh yeah?” Reaper opened the door to a cafe. Geno entered, thanking him as he took in the space. The place was vast, with multiple stories and a water feature situated at the center. “Is this an older or younger brother?” Reaper asked.

Geno’s chest tightened uncomfortably. He tugged at his crimson scarf, looking around as he contemplated how to end a conversation he’d essentially started. “He…he’s younger. My little bro’s the coolest guy I know. Heh.”

Reaper turned to him as slid into a mint green cafe seat. “So when will the ‘coolest guy you know’ be visiting you at the condo? If he has you singing his praises, he must be a spectacular guy,” Reaper said. He had this genuine, oddly charming smile that Geno wasn’t certain he’d seen before. Geno felt stuck.

He was quiet for a minute. Then another. He looked down at his hands, as though he’d gain some idea of what to say by staring at them for long enough.

“Geno? Hey, Geno?” Reaper asked, becoming concerned as Geno remained unresponsive. “Are you okay?”

Geno looked up, his red eye light shrunken in its socket. He nodded, before saying, “You won’t be meeting him,” he said relatively quietly. He paused, before stating, “Maybe I’ll tell you about it…some other time. Not now.” ‘I’m not ready’ was left unspoken.

“Yeah, okay, that’s fine. You don’t ever have to tell me if you don’t want to. Are you alright, though?” Reaper asked, sitting down next to Geno. Geno offered a forced smile.

“Sure. Um, g-give me a minute,” he said, closing his intact eye socket. He sat like that for a few minutes before inhaling deeply, then releasing it. He turned to Reaper. “So what’re we doing? Grabbing a bite to eat?”

Reaper searched his expression, his steely blue eye light eventually meeting Geno’s. Reaper could be intimidating if he wanted to. Geno wasn’t about to say that aloud, though. He couldn’t imagine how insufferable the other would be if he admitted to feeling chills up his spine when he looked at him like that.

“Yeah. The cafe here is really good. I used to come here to get coffee before work,” he said. Geno felt a bit unstable as he stood. Exhaustion had settled heavily in his bones, and mentally, he felt as though he’d just checked out. It reminded him of watching things happen rather than actually controlling his movements. Times like this, his body didn’t feel like his own. He didn’t know how else to describe it.

They stood before the counter, and Geno’s mind felt like mush. He squinted at the options, not really reading anything, before deciding on a cappuccino with caramel flavoring. The cashier smiled, and Geno wasn’t sure if he returned the gesture. Probably not–his face felt numb. He watched as Reaper paid for their food and drinks, and then he walked alongside him as they went to wait for their order to be prepared.

“Hey, I’m not trying to be an asshole when I say this, but you seem off. Truthfully, are you actually alright?” Reaper asked, keeping his voice down. Geno rested his skull against his hand, offering a small nod.

“This happens sometimes,” he said. Reaper’s brows furrowed, and he seemed to only become more concerned. “Just feel a bit…well, very out of it, I guess. It’s hard to explain. It’s like a super thick mental fog,” Geno explained.

“Is there anything we can do to make it less intense for you?” Reaper asked.

Geno shrugged. “I dunno. I’ve just dealt with it in the past. Maybe coffee will help.” He turned to look at the counter where a waitress was grabbing some drinks. Turning back to Reaper, he said, “Be careful, Reaper, I might begin to think you care about me.”

The edge of Reaper’s mouth turned downward. “This doesn’t seem like something to joke about,” he said. His posture was a lot more rigid than it usually was.

“Well, I could freak the fuck out, but I don’t really think that would help us in this situation.” Geno watched as a waitress set their drinks down on the table. He held his mug in his hands, enjoying the warmth radiating from it. It offered a small distraction from his distress. “I’m fine. I just have issues.”

That got a little chuckle out of Reaper. Geno wished he could’ve played it cool when his brother was brought up, but instead he clammed up and clocked out. He didn’t like feeling like this, but he didn’t know how not to let himself fall into this state. ‘Fuck.’ Maybe he needed therapy…or a hobby. He needed to learn how to talk again. He kind of wanted to talk to Reaper–really talk, about life and other things, but he felt like a barrier was separating him from tapping into that part of himself.

After enjoying their drinks, and making small talk, Geno and Reaper departed. Geno had grabbed another coffee after finding the first one too sweet. He decided to try something new and it backfired. Oh well. He bought the second coffee, feeling a little awkward that Reaper had paid for lunch. He requested less cream and no sugar for this one.

“Geno, you’ve got to try this!” Geno glanced towards the kitchen to see a tall silhouette. “I perfected it, I’ve really done it! Please,” the other asked, approaching him with a mug filled with something that smelled sweet.

Geno smiled, taking the mug from his brother’s hands. He inspected it, noting the small swirl of whipped cream adorning the top. He lifted it up to his face, inhaling the aroma. If he wasn’t mistaken, there was a coffee scent to it. “Paps, is that coffee?”

Papyrus smirked. “I’ll tell you once you taste it,” he said, his amber eyes gleaming with an emotion Geno couldn’t ever put a name to. It was wholly Papyrus.

Geno sighed, before taking a tentative sip. Holy shit, it was sweet, but beyond that, it was well roasted coffee with a touch of cinnamon. Geno swallowed. The drink warmed his bones. The expression on his younger brother’s face was so hopeful and open. Geno’s soul tightened, and he clutched the mug tightly. “That’s delicious, Paps. Mind if I finish it off?”

“You really want to?” Papyrus asked. “It’s supposed to be a twist on the lattes from the shop down the street. I know it’s not as good as theirs is, but-”

“You’re right, it’s not as good, it’s better,” Geno said, taking another, larger sip. It felt like comfort, the intent infused in the drink similar to a non-tangible hug. “Come on, don’t compare yourself to them, Pap. If this is one of your first coffee creations, imagine how much better you’ll be in no time.”

“You’re right. I’ll try to be less harsh on myself,” Papyrus responded. He looked at Geno, his expression falling a bit. “You should do the same.”

“Do what?”

“Be more forgiving with yourself,” Papyrus said. Geno remained silent for a moment before chuckling.

“Are you saying I’m a little hypocritical? Because you wouldn’t be wrong,” Geno remarked, staring off towards the rerun of one of Mettaton’s hits playing out for the umpteenth time on the other side of the room. He sighed. “I’ll try. Promise.”

“Geno,” someone called, and he was sucked back into the present, wondering when he zoned out. His mouth felt dry, and his eye socket felt moist. “Geno, drip coffee for Geno!” They called again, and he stood up to go grab his drink. He felt unsteady on his feet, but he played it cool, thanking the barista and proceeded to look around for Reaper. He didn’t feel good, but he also didn’t want to go back. He didn’t know what the fuck he wanted. He hadn’t experienced a memory so vivid in months. It was almost as though he could hear his voice, and as scary as that should have been, he felt nostalgia well up within his soul. He missed his brother more than words could convey, but he didn’t want to get lost in his grief–it had been long enough, he should know how to deal with the pain of losing him.

He forced himself to think of anything else, and walked around, trying to spot the undertaker in the crowd. While glancing about, he stumbled, knocking into someone else. Embarrassed and acutely aware of how out of it he was, he immediately apologized. “Shit, I’m sorry-”

“Hey pal, it’s alright. You okay?” Someone said, their low, nonplussed voice refreshing to hear after assuming he was going to get chewed out by an irritated individual. Geno glanced up to see another skeleton, only slightly taller than himself. He was donning a worn-in, blue hoodie with shorts and a pair of fuzzy slippers. Geno was lost for words for a moment as he realized this guy had worse fashion sense than he did.

“Y-yeah.”

The stranger furrowed his brows as he took in the blood trailing from Geno’s mouth. “Hey kid, you’re bleeding. You need help?” he asked.

“It’s fine. I’m fine. Uh,” Geno realized he’d dropped his coffee on the ground. ‘Well shit.’ This wasn’t his day. “I have a medical condition,” he blurted, before smacking himself in the forehead. “N-not like that, it’s not contagious or anything, just fucking gross looking–”

“There you are.” Reaper’s voice was a beautiful sound to behold, especially as Geno felt himself floundering for words. “I was looking all over the cafe for you. Way to give me a soul attack.”

“Here, how about we start over? The name is Sans,” the other skeleton said, smiling and holding out a hand to Geno. Geno blinked, before taking the hand, which promptly produced a farting sound. Reaper lost it, laughing out loud as a few passersby glanced over in shock and disapproval. Geno’s eye light was comically small in his eye socket. “Just the ol’ whoopie cushion in the hand trick,” Sans said, chuckling as he turned his palm up for Geno to see. Geno blinked at the small thing, wondering how it was so loud.

“What the actual fuck?” He asked aloud, before snorting out a short laugh of his own. “Do you just have that strapped to your hand regularly?” Geno asked.

“At all times. It’s a useful tool,” Sans said.

“I bet it is. My name is Geno. This is Reaper,” he said, turning to look at the other. He was still smiling, but it felt a little off. Maybe he was still shaken from not being able to find Geno after being separated.

“Nice to meet you, Reaper.” Sans held out a hand, and Reaper took it, though the whoopie cushion only made out a small squeak after being squished again so soon. The guy seemed very familiar to him, even though he’d never actually seen him. Maybe he was a friend of a friend.

“Likewise. Do you live around here, Sans?” Reaper asked, trying to place where he’d seen the guy before.

“A little ways out of the city, yeah. How about you guys?” Sans asked. His eye lights were a pale white. They reminded Geno of Sci’s.

“East side of town,” Reaper replied. “Do you know any good places to go outside of the city? Work has been taking over my life recently and I’ve fallen victim to having no work-life balance.”

“Flame and Ore is pretty good. They’ve got a really talented bartender and the food hits just right,” Sans said. “You both should make your way over there. It’s a great way to kill time.”

“We should,” Geno agreed, thankful that his tumble had turned into such a wholesome encounter. “Do you mind if we get your number? You sound like a great resource,” he remarked. “And I’m sorry I fell into you again. I hope I didn’t get any blood on you,” Geno said in a relatively quiet tone.

“You’re alright, no harm done, Geno. Listen, if you did bleed on me, I’ll just tell my buddies it’s ketchup. I’m a freak–I use it on everything. They won’t notice a thing.” Sans grinned.

“Everything?” Reaper asked, scowling slightly.

“Don’t come between me and my ketchup or we’re gonna have a problem,” Sans said jokingly. “Feel free to text me. I probably won’t respond right away, but I’ll get back to you.”

“Great,” Geno said, feeling a little more alert. “We’ll see you around.”

“Nice meeting you guys,” Sans said, before snapping his fingers, leaving empty air where he once stood. Geno turned to Reaper.

“Can we go back to your place?”

Reaper nodded, before offering Geno his hand. Upon taking it, they traveled via Void back to Reaper’s abode. Geno promptly made his way to the couch and flopped onto the cushions. He just needed a few minutes (or hours) to recuperate–then he’d be good. He just needed to vegetate for a while.

~

Geno gradually awoke to the soft hum of something playing on the television. He blinked his eye socket, squinting into the light of the screen. Lifting his skull from the stained couch cushion, he caught sight of Reaper, his skull tilted back and his frame completely lax. His chest rose and fell with the breaths he took, some slipping from between his teeth as soft snores. There was a half-empty drink on the table and Geno surmised Reaper had probably had more than one. He groggily sat up, wondering what time it was, since there was no longer light coming in through the windows.

He wondered how long he’d been out for. The day sucked the emotional energy from Geno in one fell swoop. At least now he felt as though he could think semi-clearly again. He sat for a few minutes, gazing idly into space. He was distracted by Reaper moving in his sleep–or at least he had been asleep, but was now looking at him with his icy blue eye light.

“Hey,” he said, his voice raspy from sleep.

“Hey, yourself. How long was I out?” Geno asked, rubbing at the injured portion of his skull. Reaper yawned, stretching his arms above his head.

“All afternoon. I tried calling your name at one point, but I gave up. You’re a deep sleeper sometimes,” Reaper said. Geno shrugged.

“Yeah. It’s an art I’ve perfected I guess,” Geno muttered, succumbing to the urge to yawn as well.

Reaper was quiet for a moment, before he asked, “Are you actually alright?”

Geno sighed. He supposed acting obtuse wouldn’t end the conversation, so he addressed the topic with relative nonchalance. “That’s debatable. I do just fine, usually. Today was…well, it was a difficult day. I haven’t felt like that in a while.”

“I’m sorry you had a bad time earlier,” Reaper stated. “I’m not going to pretend I have advice on how to make you feel better. You can talk about it, but you also never have to–I just wanted to put that out there,” Reaper said.

Geno observed him with a neutral expression, considering his words. It felt like an invitation–for all intents and purposes it was–but he was good at burying his feelings until they festered. He smiled softly. “Thanks.”

“Geno?”

“Mhm?”

“You know…you don’t have to find another place,” Reaper said. Geno’s expression shifted, his eye light widening slightly. “By all means, if you want to move out, I will find you somewhere appropriate, but I also don’t mind you staying here,” Reaper said, his voice slurring slightly. He blinked, considering his mental state. “Is that fucking strange of me to say?”

“A little bit…but I want kind of want to stay, so maybe we’re both fucking strange?” Geno said, chuckling as he watched Reaper’s searing blue eye brighten. “I’m going to ask you something.”

“Shoot.”

“Why are you alright with me staying?” He asked. Reaper paused to think. With the alcohol blurring his thoughts, he filtered through the irrelevant clutter that circulated his cranium.

“I’ve been alone for a while. I liked having my space to myself, don’t get me wrong, but it’s also been nice having someone around.”

“Oh? So you don’t despise my presence?” Geno asked, looking at Reaper from under a half-lidded eye socket.

“I never said I did,” Reaper responded, chuckling at the expression the other was making.

“You didn’t have to say it, numbskull. You sulked around the place like it was your full time job, Reaps,” Geno said, including the nickname which had been rolling around his thoughts for the past few days. It sounded like it fit the other’s personality, and it was a convenient time to try it out. Reaper crinkled his nasal ridge.

“What did you just call me? Reaps?” He laughed aloud. Geno grinned wickedly.

“I’ve heard you call me, Gen, don’t pretend like you haven’t. Consider it vengeance,” Geno joked. Reaper slapped a hand to his forehead and groaned dramatically.

“I take it back, you’re kicked out. Pack your bags-”

“What fucking bags?” Geno asked, laughing along with Reaper. “Shut the fuck up. Respect your elders.”

Reaper wheezed. After he settled down and caught his breath, he responded, “Nah, I think I’d rather fuck my elders.”

That caught Geno’s attention. He felt his face heat up as he attempted to come up with a witty comeback. Reaper was aware of his struggle, because he was smiling, clearly proud of himself. “Yeah? Where would you, uh, rather fuck them, hm?” Geno asked, leaning forward to rest his skull on his hand.

Reaper glanced around a moment, happening upon his hallway. While it could freak Geno out and be crossing a boundary, he decided to put it past him. “In the shower,” he responded, a lazy smile present on his face. “It’d be nice and steamy.” Geno stared at him with an impassive expression, before rolling his eye light.

“As in your shower? Or mine?” He asked.

“Mine is spacious and has a ledge to sit down on, if that’s what you want to use it for,” Reaper replied. “No pressure, by the way.”

“If I didn’t want to, I would have said so by now. To be honest, a shower sounds nice, and I haven’t gotten tired of your dick quite yet,” Geno said casually. “Was that a proposition for right now?”

“It can be.”

“Well, I’m sold. Lead the way.”

Reaper’s bathroom was modern. The shower was lined with sleek, black tile, and the water looked tempting as ever as it cascaded down, a perfect pressure of continuous, heated rain. Reaper shed his clothing, nonchalantly hanging his cloak on the hooks next to the door. Geno proceeded to do the same, not wanting to overthink the act of disrobing in front of the other. It made him feel extremely vulnerable as he took off his hoodie, exposing his blood-stained tee shirt underneath. He then lifted that over his head, glancing down at his rib cage. The gash spanned from the left upper portion and continued downward in a diagonal fashion. It was the area which bled the most, contributing to his ‘fuck it’ attitude with his limited clothing selection–if it was going to be tarnished by his affliction, why try?

Reaper slid his pants off, revealing his deep blue ecto settled in his pelvis, formed and ready. Taking a glance at his dick, Geno noted the thickness of the shaft and the sizable tip. Geno allowed his own ecto to settle into place in his pelvis. His abdomen and thighs also formed, giving shape to a dick and shapely backside. He’d been called fat before, but fuck it, he had what he had. He didn’t care enough to change the shape of his ecto–this was what he was comfortable with. Reaper didn’t seem to mind. He gazed at Geno appreciatively as he passed by him to step into the spray. He sighed as the hot water warmed his bones.

Geno followed after him. He was tempted to cover the gash on his torso, but he felt as though it would only bring more attention to his discomfort. He wanted to fuck, not give Reaper an excuse to back down from the best distraction Geno could ask for. He tugged the shower door shut, before joining Reaper under the water. It felt divine.

“Can I try something?” Geno asked, figuring he’d start. Reaper shrugged.

“Go ahead.” He watched as Geno got down on his knees, his skull level with his erect dick. Geno looked up, as if asking for permission. “I’ll stop you if something’s not up my alley, alright?”

“Okay,” Geno replied, before taking a hold of Reaper’s cock. It twitched in his hand, and he stroked it, thumbing the tip before spreading precum down the shaft. He parted his teeth, tongue grazing the underside of Reaper’s dick as he felt the tip bump against the roof of his mouth. Swallowing, he took him down the ecto of his throat, enjoying the burn as he pressed forward until his nasal aperture connected with Reaper’s pelvis. He felt tears gathering in his eye socket and the phantom prickle of tears in the other, which no longer existed. He pulled back, only to gag himself on Reaper’s dick again, moaning as he wrapped a hand around his own cock, squeezing from the base to the tip.

“Ohhh, yes. Hell yes, Gen, choke on my cock,” Reaper said, his voice husky with lust. He thrusted forward gently, testing the waters as he watched Geno swallow his dick. When the other groaned, he figured he’d try it again. Geno’s eye light rolled upward, towards the buck of his skull, and Reaper caressed his skull. “You like that, huh? Do you like it a little rough, babe?”

Geno trembled, and Reaper felt his throat flex around him as he moaned softly. ‘Holy shit.’ He was filled with arousal as he thrusted in and out of Geno’s mouth, keenly aware now from the way the other was reaching between his legs that he was fingering himself. That turned him on even more, the thought of Geno experiencing pleasure from being used fueling his own satisfaction. Not wanting things to end so quickly (but also very much wanting to cum when Geno was looking at him like that, making those sounds), he halted Geno’s efforts. Geno scowled, but obliged.

“Are you stretched enough?” Reaper asked, more than willing to help the other out with that. Geno nodded, clearly wanting to get to the main event. Propping a knee up on the ledge while one of his feet remained on the tile floor, Geno arched his spine, glancing over his shoulder. Reaper’s self-restraint died as he took in the image of Geno presenting himself like that.

“Do you want a photo? It’ll last you longer, Reaps.” Geno remarked, still slightly breathless from gagging on the other’s dick. Reaper lined his cock up with Geno’s ass before sliding inside, the entrance so tight it made stars dance in his field of vision. He groaned, grabbing Geno’s hips hard as he pulled out slowly and thrusted pointedly back inside. Geno was loud, and it was amplified by the shower walls, creating echoes that surely traveled beyond the restroom. Geno sounded blissed out, the way he was pleading as he was pumped into was something Reaper would be dreaming about later.

“Fuck yeah, Gen, you’re so good. I’m not gonna last long if you keep squeezing me like that,” Reaper growled, his hands feeling up Geno’s pliant abdomen. His stomach was such a turn on, as was his ass–fuck, Reaper needed to study up on Geno’s anatomy, because there was something he’d been missing in his past bedmates. “Say my name,” Reaper coaxed, fucking him at a deeper angle now as he repositioned himself.

“Reaper,” Geno whimpered, his voice wavering as he held back a moan. “Reaper, REaper, I-I’m–” he was cut off by a slightly pained vocalization as he came. It was intense. Reaper could barely move as Geno clamped down, his frame trembling in his grip. “K-keep going, please.”

Reaper did. He took it slow for a moment, teasing Geno as he sought out his still hard dick. Geno hummed in approval, arching his back further so they were closer. Reaper stroked Geno’s dick with his thrusts, immensely enjoying the fact that he was causing him to feel this way. He was approaching his own end, and he wanted to get Geno over the edge as well. He pumped his dick, keeping consistent pressure on his shaft as he fucked him hard. Geno all but wailed, nearly slipping at one point as he lost his balance, but Reaper kept him standing. They ended up cumming not far apart from each other, Reaper holding out only to see that Geno came undone that one last time.

Geno’s vision was blurred as he stared up at the ceiling, lost in the haze following the second orgasm. He could register Reaper’s hard breathing, the sensation of his cock still lodged inside of him, twitching as he was filled, and the echo of the bathroom fan somewhere above. He felt both weightless and incredibly heavy, his limbs refusing to cooperate even as he pointedly attempted to move. Reaper’s breath tickled his clavicle, and Geno closed his eye socket for a moment, enjoying the wave of post-coital bliss that enveloped him.

“I like this idea of fucking your elders. When you’re up for another elder-fucking session, please let me know,” Geno said, his voice hoarse. Reaper chuckled.

“You’re at the top of my list of DILFs,” Reaper said. “Are you able to stand up?”

“You’re going to have to give me a minute…or five. Can’t feel my legs,” Geno admitted. “You fucked the feeling out of my lower half. Congrats.”

Reaper snorted. “What can I say? That ass was too fine.”

Geno squinted his eye open. “You really put your back into it, Reaps. You’re to blame if my pelvis is bruised to shit, just letting you know.”

“That’s fair.” Reaper pulled out, feeling Geno clench as he did so. Blue magic trickled from the puckered opening, and Geno shivered. “That was really sexy, by the way.”

Geno scoffed. “Really? I planned it to be revolting. I’m disappointed my intentions were so misconstrued,” Geno said, a fake pout on his face.

“Oh, excuse me,” Reaper said, holding back a laugh. “It was sickening. I’m going to wash my dick in bleach and hide in a closet, if you’ll excuse me.”

Geno sputtered and laughed aloud. Reaper followed suit, unable to stifle his chuckles as they both recovered from their shower tango. “Fucking hell, Reaps. Can you help me up? I feel like my bones are the consistency of a runny egg,” Geno stated. Reaper did, steadying the shorter skeleton as they both began to wash up. Reaper wouldn’t admit it, but he was feeling strange–not necessarily bad strange, but out of sorts nonetheless. Maybe the stress from work was getting to him. It could be that he was coming down with something or another. He felt moroseness, and a strong sense of longing–it wasn’t a sensation he was familiar with. In a way, it hurt. It wasn’t like a wound, not a physical ache, but it was reminiscent of feeling hollow. It was as though his soul had been scooped out of his rib cage sometime in the past day or so without him noticing. Now that he did notice, however, it was distinct.

He prepared himself to remain awake in his bed after the other retired for the night. He took what enjoyment he could, rinsing his frame of soap. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he caught Geno watching him. Even if it was a trick of the mind, he liked to pretend he was.

~

It was the first day Geno was scheduled to meet up with Sci. He teleported to work with Reaper, who’d looked especially tired the past few days. He wondered if the lead undertaker was under the weather. Maybe something happened that Reaper didn’t want to discuss. Geno could relate to that, and he wouldn’t fault the other for desiring privacy. Walking with Reaper into the breakroom, Geno felt eyes on him–he got it, he was that guy who was mistaken for dead and toted to the facility inside a body bag.

He focused on the stream of piping hot coffee filling his mug and Reaper’s presence next to him. Reaper was mixing creamer into his coffee along with some natural sweetener. There were dark circles under his eye sockets. Geno scowled.

“Hey, are you okay?” He asked quietly so as to not attract unwanted attention. Reaper glanced over.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Why?” Reaper asked.

“You seem tired,” Geno remarked, grabbing two packets of sugar from a jar. Reaper smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Don’t worry about it.” Reaper capped his drink and plopped a stopper on the top. He’d spilt hot beverages enough times to know his grip wasn’t trustworthy. “Come on, I’ll show you to Sci’s office.”

Sci’s space was large and smelled of rubbing alcohol and sanitizer. He was dressed in a white lab coat and red tinted glasses which sat low on his nasal ridge. “Good morning, Geno. Top of the mornin’ to ya, Reaper.”

“Keep me posted on how things are going. I have to oversee a cleaning,” Reaper said, turning on his heel to retreat the way they’d come.

“Certainly,” Sci said in a singsong tone. Geno took a seat, waiting for the other to give him instructions. Picking up a tablet, Sci approached. “To start off, I’d just like to measure your vitals. Is that alright?”

Geno nodded. “I’ll let you know if I need a break, don’t worry. I’m not shy when I’m in pain,” he said.

“Good to know,” Sci remarked. He opened up a screen where he’d built a profile for Geno. He grabbed a few monitors and laid them out. He’d gone ahead and sanitized his equipment in advance. He plucked a clip from a hand-held, disc-shaped machine.

“I’m going to attach this to your sternum. All it’s going to do is sit while we conduct other measurements. It shouldn’t cause you any discomfort.”

“Okay.” Geno watched him clip the neon green clasp onto one of his thinner ribs close to his clavicle. He let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, and Sci waited to apply the next monitor.

“Okay as in “I’m all good” or okay as in “I’m needing to take a moment”?” Sci asked. Geno offered an awkward smile.

“I’m alright, really. I don’t exactly have the best memories tied to having tests done,” Geno stated. Sci nodded in understanding.

“We’ll go at your pace. I’ll explain the purpose of each aspect of testing and you can decide if you want to proceed. Alright?”

Geno took a deep breath and released it. “Yeah. That sounds good. Thanks, Sci.”

“No need to thank me.” He opened his palm and asked for Geno’s forearm. “All this is going to do is measure the density of your marrow. The most you’ll feel is a little bit of static, if that.”

Geno felt much more at ease as time went by. Sci was willing to wait when Geno spotted a needle and felt his soul shudder in apprehension. Sci left the IV in its package as he strode back over to Geno. He took a seat in his chair, settling his hands on his thigh bones. “Take as long as you need. We don’t have to do this. You call the shots,” he reminded Geno.

“I know. I...I want to do this. I’m hopeful,” Geno said. “It’s just–it’s not even the pain, it’s the needles themselves, you know?”

“I do know,” Sci said. “I used to fear needles. I used to bolt from the doctor’s office. They’d have to restrain me to give me vaccines,” he said with a chuckle. “During residency, I gave myself loads of shots. I’m not going to say it was a piece of cake, at first, but eventually it became less and less triggering.”

Geno contemplated, before commenting, “That makes sense. Could I hold it? I kind of just want to see it.”

“Sure.” Sci went to retrieve the IV before handing it to Geno. “If you’d like to, you can open it up. I have more.”

Geno’s hands were trembling lightly as he held the item up to inspect. His eye light zeroed in on the need, before he looked at other parts of the device. He had begun to sweat upon seeing the needle to begin with, but now he felt only moderate discomfort. “I can open it?”

“Sure can,” Sci replied. Geno pinched the edges of the plastic seal and tugged. The thing fell out, the thin tubes connected to the end flopping to the side as they hit the small counter attached to the arm of his chair. He picked it up, turning it over in his hands, squinting at the sheathed needle.

“Can I open it?”

“Go ahead.”

Geno plucked off the cap, exposing the needle. His soul clenched in apprehension, but he focused on observing the needle without thinking of the doctor’s who’d wielded them in the past. He glanced at Sci before looking back at the device in his hand. “If you can talk me through it…I think I can do it.”

“Are you sure?” Sci asked. Geno nodded.

“Yeah. Ac-actually, if you can talk about anything else while you put it in, that would be great. I kind of just want a distraction,” Geno said.

“Certainly. I’ve been told I’m good at that,” Sci said. He disposed of the IV Geno had opened and began prepping a new needle. “How have you liked living with Reaper? Tell me honestly.”

‘Oh. Of course he’d ask that. Well, shit.’ “Honestly? It’s not bad. He’s kind of quirky, sometimes he’s moody, but he’s got a good sense of humor.”

Sci wiped down Geno’s elbow joint with an alcohol swab. “Yeah? Tell me about it.”

“Well, uh, it’s situational, you know? He’s a smartass sometimes, and other times he’s got this way of…I dunno, he makes me laugh. You’d have to hear him after he’s had a few drinks.” Geno chuckled nervously as he watched Sci unsheath the needle.

“I’m pretty sure Reaper would off himself before asking me over for drinks, buddy,” Sci said, chuckling as he imagined it. “This’ll sting just a little, alright? Just a pinch.”

“Yeah, heh, I-” Geno inhaled, acknowledging the second of pain in his joint before it faded. “I think he’d invite you over. I’ll put in a good word for you.”

“Will you, now?” Sci remarked, snorting as he taped the IV in place. He stood up to gather the attachments and to grab Geno a cold bottle of water. “Did he tell you when he’s going to find you a place?”

Geno paused, wondering if it was wise to spill the tea on the situation. He decided a half truth was acceptable. “Not yet. He’s working on it. The housing market apparently hasn’t been too approachable lately.”

“True that. I’m still cohabitating with my bro. Let me tell you, a house or apartment to myself sounds like a fine deal, but you settle for what you can afford. How are you feeling?” He asked Geno, handing him the water. Geno gladly accepted it.

“Talking helped. Thanks for that.” Geno took a big swig of water.

“Of course. You did great, by the way,” Sci remarked.

“What’s your brother’s name, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Nah, it’s no problem. His name’s Sans.” Sci grabbed his tablet and typed in a few notes. “He’s a nerd, like me. Works at a lab downtown.”

Geno perked up. “Hey, I met a guy named Sans a little while back. Well, I tripped into him, actually,” Geno said, remembering how foolish he felt at the time. “He seemed very down to earth. He had this whoopie cushion in his hand-”

“Hah! No way, you actually met him,” Sci said, a genuine smile gracing his features. “That’s awesome. He’s actually my twin,” Sci stated. “Fraternal twin. He got the short end of the stick,” Sci joked.

Geno couldn’t help the laugh that came from him. “Dude, don’t let him hear you say that.”

“Oh, I’ve told him many times,” Sci said, enjoying Geno’s look of secondhand embarrassment. “I'm ten minutes younger than he is. It’s my job to keep him on his toes.”

They lapsed into silence for a little bit. Sci was inspecting a bag filled with a glowing blue fluid. Geno supposed he was reading the label and the directions. He seemed like a “by the book” kind of fellow. Sci approached once more, hanging the bag on a pole. “This is a magic hydration fluid. This is what EMTs would use if you came in with severe dehydration. All this will do is give you a bit more energy. It’s temporary, but I’d like to see how it affects your vitals. We’ll go from there. Does that sound alright?”

“Yeah, sounds fine. Hit me up with some intense hydration, doc.”

“Pff. That title makes me sound ancient,” Sci said. “How old do you think I am? Trick question, don’t fuck it up.”

“Uh…thirty?” Geno guessed, not sure whether his estimate was anywhere near accurate.

“You’re close. I’m thirty two.”

Geno scowled. “Fuck. Why do I have to be the old one in the room everywhere I go?”

Sci tilted his head. “How old are you?”

Geno groaned. “Forty five.”

“Oh wow. You’ve got thirteen years on me and my bro.You’re not that old, though,” Sci said, chuckling as he watched Geno’s expression turn sour. “I would’ve never guessed that’s how old you were, if it makes you feel better.”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s not like I’ve heard that before,” Geno said, fighting the smile that threatened to appear on his face. “Fucking hell.”

“Hey, speaking of hell, I’m starving. I’m bad about remembering to eat breakfast. Do you want something? The cafe a few floors up will deliver to my office. They’ve got great coffee and sandwiches,” Sci said, imagining the Caprese on ciabatta that he ordered at least once per week.

“I don’t have my wallet on me,” Geno said. “It’s alright-”

“Don’t sweat it, I’ll cover you. Here, take a look at the menu.” Geno accepted the phone, and felt almost guilty turning Sci down. ‘Just this once’ he decided, not wanting to take advantage of a guy with such good intentions. Scrolling through, he found a healthy twist on a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. He made up his mind and got a cappuccino to go. He wondered what Reaper was up to at this time of day.

~

Toriel sighed. She took off her glasses before folding them and set them down on the table. Her headache was bad enough now that she couldn’t see with them on, so why bother. She massaged the space between her eyes. “So, have you found Geno a place to reside?”

Reaper was tired. More than that, though, he was tired of hearing this question. “No, not yet. Even if there was a suitable place, where would the funds come from?”

“What kind of question is that?” His boss asked, narrowing her amber eyes. “I would provide you the money, as we discussed at the beginning of this mess,” Toriel stated. “Reaper, why is it taking this long? You haven’t found one place that checks all of the boxes? It isn’t realistic that you’re coming in here and telling me that there are no options.”

Reaper closed his eyes for a moment and released a long breath. “I’m tired,” he admitted. “I’ve done all that you’ve asked aside from finding a separate place for Geno to move into. Sci gave my home a passing score when he assessed it, and Geno has access to everything he needs for the time being-”

“Why are you alright with keeping him in your home?” Toriel asked, suspicion coloring her tone. “You clearly didn’t care for him at first, so why are you insisting that he remain in your guest room of all places? What is going on?”

“He’s content where he is for the time being,” Reaper said flatly. “It’s easier this way, both for me and Geno, if there aren’t more moving parts. I have a full time job to focus on, and trying to find a place for him at the moment is like searching for a needle in a haystack.”

“Do you even hear yourself right now? You're housing a stranger, who, by the way, wants to sue the company. You know, the one which supplies your full time job?” She leveled him with a disbelieving look. “Have you lost it?” Toriel asked, her expression disbelieving.

“It’s fine, Toriel,” Reaper remarked, his own skull aching as his stress increased.

She was practically glaring now. “No, it’s not “fine” –it hasn’t been fine for a while now,” she said as she plucked a file from her desk. “Clearly you’re burnt out. You’ve been working long hours with your team, it’s understandable. Here’s what’s going to happen: you’re taking a paid leave.”

Reaper stood up. “What?” Anger built up in his soul as he digested those words. “I’m–I don’t need to take leave!”

“You do, and you will.” Toriel wrote out some notes on the paper before scanning it into their digital database. “Take a break, get your priorities in order, and come back with results. I’ll transfer you the money and you’ll get Geno settled. This isn’t productive for you or for the case.” She handed him the printed copy, and opened her office door. “Please don’t make me take corrective action–I really don’t want to do that.”

Reaper walked out without providing any further response. He was pissed. He crumpled the paper in his hand, shoving it into the pocket of his robe. He tossed his now cold coffee in his styrofoam cup into the trash and stalked off to Sci’s lab. He was met with the smell of food and Sci’s theatrics as he imitated someone or another–Reaper didn’t care at the moment.

“Oh, hey, Reaper,” Geno remarked, before backtracking with, “Something happened, didn’t it?”

Reaper slouched into one of the seats. He nodded, not wanting to open his mouth and risk snapping at Geno for no reason. Geno frowned, noting the uncharacteristic silence from the other. Looking at Sci, he asked, “Can we wrap it up for the day?”

Sci obliged, noting the change in atmosphere. He had a feeling Reaper’s meeting with Toriel hadn’t gone well. He counted to three, slipping the IV out of Geno’s joint with practiced ease, before placing a bandage wrap over the area. Geno was already prone to bleeding, so he didn’t want to aggravate the issue on other parts of his frame. “Are you feeling okay? Do you need any more water or anything before you go?” Sci asked.

“Nah, but thanks. Text me when you’ve got freetime and I’ll let you know when I’m available. Like, actual freetime, though,” Geno commented. “Seriously, don’t burn yourself out.”

“Pff, alright dad. Later guys. Take it easy,” Sci said, waving as he gathered up the monitors and machinery he’d used to track Geno’s vitals. He wasn’t offended when Reaper didn’t acknowledge him. He’d find out later when Toriel briefed him on the upcoming week’s agenda what happened and why. He sighed, tossing his gloves in the trash. Geno would at least feel some kind of relief for a few days, if not a little longer; he’d have to see how his condition took to the mixture. For now, he’d enter the information he gathered into the system. Then he’d report to Toriel.

~

Reaper flopped down on his bed, not caring that he still had his work clothing on. He still hadn’t said a word to Geno, since he didn’t want to be an ass to him. Geno didn’t deserve his ire. He sighed, tugging the covers up until they hid his entire form.

He wasn’t sure how long had passed when he heard a loud crash and a soul-stopping thud, which shook him to his very core. A pained whimper from Geno had him launching out of his bedsheets and down the hall in record timing. He looked around, before spotting the swivel bar stool parked underneath where he kept his booze. Rounding the kitchen island, he caught sight of Geno on his back with a bottle of Reaper’s go-to liquor clutched against his chest. His face was scrunched up in a pained expression, and he hissed out an expletive as he squinted up at Reaper.

“Shit–shit, oh my Stars, are you okay?” Reaper asked, crouching down to take the bottle from him. Geno relinquished his prize, feeling like a moron as he watched Reaper glance over him.

“I think so…fuck, that hurt. It still hurts.” He attempted to sit up, before grunting. “Fuck, oh fuck, nope, we’re not going to do that yet.”

Reaper felt sick. “What hurts? Your spine?” He asked, his voice reflecting the panic enveloping his soul. “What happened?”

“My spine always hurts, Reaps,” Geno said, before watching Reaper’s brow furrow. “Alright, alright–my skull hurts. I hit my skull,” he admitted. “I was trying to grab you a drink. You always get this one down when you want to take the edge off.”

“I’m going to take a look at your skull. So you, what, climbed on my tall, swiveling chair to grab it?” Reaper asked. Geno’s silence was telling. Reaper sighed, gently turning the other’s skull so he could get a better look. Right away, the crack was visible. ‘Oh no.’

“How bad is it?” Geno asked, closing his eye socket.

“You…you fractured your skull, Geno,” Reaper replied. “Dammit.” Reaper pinched his nasal ridge, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “Let’s get you cleaned up. We’re going to ice it, and I’m going to call Sci.”

Geno obliged as Reaper helped him off the kitchen floor, groaning as his head throbbed. He held on, squeezing his eye socket shut as Reaper led him to the master bathroom. Instead of taking him into the restroom, Reaper sat him down on his bed before grabbing a towel and saline solution. He dabbed at the afflicted area, noting the dark bruising which had begun to bloom around the thin fracture. Geno’s breath shook and he gritted his teeth as pain radiated from the point where his skull was impacted.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “For this and whatever happened during your day. S-shit,” Geno muttered, flinching as his cranium ached fiercely.

“You don’t need to apologize for accidentally falling,” Reaper chided. “It was a kind gesture, just not well planned–it happens. I’ve had plenty of mishaps that were entirely my fault. I’ll tell you about them sometime.” He let the towel fall to the floor. “I’m going to grab you a compress. I’ll be right back.”

Geno let his shoulders sag as his skull hung forward. He counted the throbs as his cranium threatened to split open. He laughed, then regretted it as his back joined in on the aching. “Fuck.”

“Let's lay you down,” Reaper said, keeping his voice down. Geno chuckled, his miserable state reflecting in his cringing as he felt pain so intensely it occluded his vision. “Easy, easy. Can I help you get comfortable?”

“Reaps, I’m gonna bleed all over yer mattress. I should go to my room,” Geno muttered.

“No, you’re going to stay right here. The bedding will be fine. It’s all okay,” Reaper said. “You need to take it easy, alright?”

Geno sighed. “Can you help me get undressed? I feel clammy.”

“Of course,” Reaper replied, gently maneuvering Geno’s arms from his sleeves and his legs out of his slacks. He rolled off his socks, observing one of his ankles had swollen up. He must’ve hit it in the fall. “Your ankle-”

“It’s banged up. It’s not broken, though. I’ve broken it before.” He grunted as he laid himself down on the pillows. They smelled like Reaper. “Thanks. Can’t believe I did this on the day you were supposed to be cared for.”

Reaper positioned the compress under Geno’s skull, making sure he was careful all the while. He was glad to know that Geno hadn’t passed out, but the fracture was worrying. Geno whimpered softly, scrunching his face up as a wave of pain hit. “You’re fine, you don’t need to apologize. Here, take these. You’re going to want them,” Reaper said, offering him two round, blue tablets and a glass of water. Geno took them, swallowing a mouthful of water before closing his eye socket once more. He scowled.

“Reaper?”

“Yes, Gen?”

“Can…can you sit with me for a little while?” He asked, his voice frail sounding.

“Yeah, I’ll sit with you,” he said, climbing into the other side of the bed. “I texted Sci. He’ll be here soon.”

Geno offered a ‘mhmm’ before falling silent aside from his even breathing. Reaper tugged the cover up and over Geno’s prone form. Geno released a particularly heavy sigh before curling up.

~

Geno was awoken by the sound of voices. He scowled and groaned as he tugged the blankets up around his head. He heard one of the voices shush the other, which was distinctly louder.

“Hey, Geno, Sci is here to check your injury. It shouldn’t take too long,” Reaper said softly. Geno responded with a grunt.

“What time is it?” Geno asked, opening his eye to squint at Reaper and Sci. Sci was visibly concerned.

“It’s 6:00pm,” Sci said. “Can I take a peek at your skull? I want to know what we’re dealing with here and I’m hoping I can make you a bit more comfortable.”

“Yeah, go for it,” Geno grumbled, letting out a shaky breath as he sat up. He grabbed for Reaper, who helped to steady him. Geno’s vision swam and he closed his eye, furrowing his brow. “Oh…oh, shit-”

“Do you need anything? What can I do?” Reaper asked. Geno’s expression shifted, portraying intense discomfort. He opened his eye, looking immediately concerned.

“I’m…guh-gonna be sick,” he said, glancing around as the dizziness increased, clamping a hand over his mouth. “T-trash can, please,” he said, already feeling the accumulation of magic in his chest. Reaper dove for the trash, grabbed it by the edge and presented it to Geno in time for him to duck his skull down and heave his magic reserves into the can. Geno’s frame stiffened and trembled as he wretched, and continued to do so as he gagged without expelling anything else.

When the dry heaving stopped, Geno appeared utterly exhausted. He awkwardly held onto the trash can, acknowledging how gross it was but unable to muster the energy to be embarrassed. “Sorry,” he said, unsure what to do with the bucket.

“No reason to be sorry, Gen. Here, I’ll take it,” Reaper said, heading to the restroom to clean out the trash can. Geno felt guilt gnawing at his soul, but it wasn’t as though he could help it. He shakily lifted a hand to his forehead, wiping the sweat which had accumulated while he was face first in the can.

“I’m going to take a look at you now. Turn your skull a little to the left,” Sci said, and Geno obliged. Sci tilted Geno’s head by tilting his jaw carefully, and he was met with the fissure. Reaper had done a good job of cleaning it, and aside from the evident swelling, there was no sign of magic being released from his cranium. “So you hit your head on the floor, correct?”

“Heh, actually, I hit my head on the counter top on the way down to the floor. Smooth, right?” Geno said sarcastically. Reaper, who’d returned from rinsing out his trash can, looked horrified.

“You what? Geno, you never told me that,” Reaper said a little louder than he’d intended to. Geno winced and shrugged.

“I wasn’t exactly thinking straight at the time. After, you know, just smacking my head, ‘n all.”

Sci went to his work bag to grab out a few items. “I’m glad we gave you the hydration pack today. You definitely hit hard enough to fracture, and I can guarantee that you’ve got a concussion. You’re going to need to take it easy for a little while,” Sci stated. He walked back over, lightweight bandages, pills, and a small bottle in his hands. “We don’t want anything getting infected, though, so I’ve got some antiseptic. There’s also some pain meds here, and before I go, I’ll wrap your skull.”

Reaper breathed a sigh of relief, muttering ‘Thank the Stars’. Geno sat through having his wound disinfected once more and having his cranium wrapped in bandages which reminded him of stretchy, almost see-through cheesecloth. Sci plopped two large pills in his palm and offered him a water bottle.

“Thanks.” Geno took them, making a face as he swallowed the tablets, which seemed to leave a bitter taste all the way down his ecto. He hoped they wouldn’t be making a reappearance anytime soon. “Anything else I need to do?”

“You’ll want to sleep. Try eating small meals. Basically, don’t strain yourself and you’ll heal more quickly. I can pop back over in a couple days if you want.” He looked between Reaper and Geno.

“Yeah, that’d be great,” Reaper said. He meant it, too. He had been unable to relax until he knew that Geno wasn’t about to expire any minute now. As he walked Sci to the front door, he rubbed at his temples, the stress-induced headache which had come on hours earlier reminding him it was here to stay for a while. Taking a detour to the kitchen, he grabbed one of his unopened bottles which he’d been saving for something special. It felt appropriate to give Sci something, and he wasn’t about to pretend he didn’t appreciate him for coming over after a long day at work.

“Heh, what’s this?” Sci asked. Reaper cleared his throat.

“I don’t know if you drink. It’s a small batch whiskey I found at the market about a year ago. Thanks for coming over on such short notice.”

Sci’s expression shifted to one of understanding as he took the bottle, inspecting it for himself. “Of course. Although, I can’t just let you give me this without proposing we have a drink together when Geno’s recovered.”

“Uh, yeah. Yes. Let’s do that,” Reaper said. “Do you wanna invite your brother? He’s welcome to join,” Reaper pointed out. “By the way, why the sudden are you wanting to hang out? Is working together not enough for you?”

Sci chuckled. “Geno had the idea, actually. He said you were really funny and he enjoyed your company. I thought it was touching, honestly.”

Reaper felt his face heat up at that. Geno thought he was funny? He enjoyed being around him? “That’s…really kind of him to say.”

“Yeah it is. You should see him when he talks about you. Pretty sure he has the hots for you,” Sci commented, offering a wicked smile. Before Reaper could reply, Sci had snapped his fingers, and all that was left was a faint silhouette where he once stood.

Reaper slapped a hand over his face and groaned.

~

A couple days passed with Geno having absolutely no energy. He attempted to get out of bed a few times, but ended up regretting it when the room began to shift. Reaper had also given him a look fit to kill when he spotted Geno testing the waters, one foot placed on the floor while the rest of him remained connected to the bed. He’d begun to take Reaper up on asking for things rather than trying to do them himself.

He’d expressed feeling bad for taking up residence in Reaper’s bed, but the other wouldn’t hear it. He hadn’t wanted to make Geno uncomfortable, but he also didn’t want to leave him completely alone, so this was the best solution he could come up with. Geno had a front seat to Reaper’s stubbornness, so he soon threw in the towel and accepted that he was staying in the king bed, at least for now.

Reaper was awoken by the sound of retching echoing from the master bathroom. He tossed off the heavy blanket he’d covered himself with as he camped on the floor of his bedroom. He entered to find Geno kneeling in front of the commode, trembling as he rested his forehead on his folded arms. He didn’t want to frighten him, so he made himself known as soon as he entered the restroom. “Hey…I can see you’re having a rough night.”

Geno made a sound confirming Reaper’s statement. Reaper sighed. “I’m going to run you a bath, alright?” Geno uttered a strained ‘uh huh’. He couldn’t express how glad he was to have Reaper here with him. While he didn’t want to be see in this miserable state, it was infinitely better than suffering alone.

Geno flushed the toilet, scowling at the noise as it rattled the insides of his skull. He shakily stood, using the doorframe to help him into the main restroom space. “Fuck this. I did this to myself, heh, that’s the best part, isn’t it?” Geno said, his voice hoarse from being sick. Reaper’s expression reflected sympathy as he offered a hand to him, which Geno took without hesitation. He appreciated the assistance, he really did. “Thanks, Reaps.”

“It’s not a problem. Do you need help getting undressed?” He asked, not wanting to assume anything. Geno nodded, shifting his stance so Reaper could more easily relieve him of his shorts.

“You’re going to get into trouble for staying here with me,” Geno said, holding tight to Reaper’s shoulders. Reaper tilted his head, before realizing he’d never communicated that he was on leave to Geno.

“No, I’ll be fine. I was asked to go on a leave of absence,” Reaper responded, offering an awkward smile. “I was going to mention it before you had your accident. You could say I’ve been a little distracted.”

Geno’s expression turned morose. He looked even more exhausted with that forlorn appearance adorning his face. “I’m sorry. I could tell it really upset you,” he said.

“I appreciate that.” Reaper smiled. “Want to get in?”

Geno did. He leaned heavily on Reaper, who helped settle him into the bubbly, warm tub of water. Geno sighed in contentment, the relief immense as his aching bones were embraced by the heat. He leaned his skull back until it rested against the edge of the basin, letting his frame relax. “Do you know when you're going back?” Geno asked, opening his eye socket to glance at Reaper.

Reaper scoffed. “No. No, I don’t. Toriel basically told me it was mandatory and that I-” he paused, debating whether he should sugarcoat the fact that his boss had told him to find Geno somewhere else to live as soon as possible. He decided against it. “She told me to find you a place to live.”

Geno replied with, “Oh.” He was silent momentarily, before saying, “I’ll leave. Once I’m better, I’ll go. It’s okay.”

Reaper’s soul tightened. “No. You–I said-”

“Reaps, I know what you said. This is your job. I’m not putting your career at stake because I…” he trailed off, recalling his earlier interactions with Reaper. Their relationship was a ‘no strings attached’ kind of deal. He knew that. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

Reaper’s expression looked pained. “I don’t want you to go, Gen,” he said, his voice unsteady.

Geno looked at him, his own thoughts reeling. His soul stuttered as he contemplated Reaper wanting his company, his presence, him. “Why?” He asked, not knowing how else to respond.

Reaper sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was doing this. He was really about to do this. “I’m a fool. And an asshole…but I like you, Geno. I genuinely do.”

“Come again?” Geno said, his voice so soft Reaper would’ve missed it if he wasn’t sitting next to him.

“I think I have feelings for you. N-no, I know I do,” Reaper said, looking up to meet Geno’s gaze. “I’ve had feelings for you, but only now I’ve realized that.”

Geno was well and truly stunned. He opened and then closed his mouth as he sought out something to say. He needed to say something, though. “Reaps, I’m nothing special, alright? You might think you want to go this route, but trust me, it’s not a good idea-”

“No, don’t say that. This, this is me saying I don’t want you to go. Unless you want to…do you want to?” Reaper asked, suddenly looking like he’d realized that his interest in the other might not be reciprocated.

“It isn’t worth fucking up your livelihood for me.” Geno released a long exhale, closing his eye socket. “I like you, too, Reaps. But it’s not realistic–not with what is happening.”

“Let me decide for myself whether or not it’s realistic. I’m a grown ass monster,” Reaper said.

Geno rolled his eye light. “Oh, my apologies. Adults have never made regrettable decisions, ever.” He chuckled dryly.

“You can afford to be a little selfish,” Reaper said softly. “What do you want? Aside from wanting to preserve my career. Honestly.”

Geno huffed. He wished he could cover the side of his face where the hole was. He felt very vulnerable, like the injury somehow had the ability to expose him when he avoided telling the whole truth. “If there were no repercussions…I would be open to trying with you. I like you, Reaper, I do. I’m just…you were so firm in saying that there wasn’t going to be anything between us,” Geno pointed out. “I’m having trouble moving past that.”

“When you first moved in, I was pissed. More so, I was angry at the situation, but I took it out on you. I’ve been feeling this way for a while, I won’t lie. I just…” Reaper said, chuckling. “I felt like such a hypocrite after snapping at you about ‘nothing being there’ after getting plastered.”

Geno barked out a laugh, then winced as he was reminded how it felt for his own voice to echo around his cranium. “Sure, you’re a hypocrite, but so am I. So are a lot of monsters.” Geno shrugged. “It’s a good boundary to set, just not the way you did it. It’s okay, though–you’ve just got some moronic tendencies.”

“Tch. Alright, old man, let’s just air out my flaws, why don’t we? This judgment is feeling a little one-sided right now,” Reaper replied, having a lot of trouble tamping down a smirk.

“Oh?” Geno smiled, his canines peeking over his lower lip. “Tell you what, you turn on the hot water again and warm me up, and I’ll talk a bit.”

“Deal.” He took a moment to wander into the kitchen while Geno’s bath warmed, grabbing hot cocoa powder and milk. He put a cup of milk into the microwave for a short time before grabbing it out and mixing in the cocoa. He returned to the restroom, and turned off the water. “Here’s a little something for your troubles.”

Geno accepted the drink, holding it close to his sternum as he enjoyed the steaming bath water. “You do know how to spoil a guy, huh?” He let his eye socket fall shut, enjoying the scent of hot chocolate intermingling with the aroma of sandalwood soap. “So, on to the topic of me…” Geno released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “I guess to start off, my parents were the monster embodiments of shit. They were abusive–as in drugging me so I’d pass out when they couldn’t deal with my presence as a kid, or withholding food as punishment. My Pops told me he hadn’t wanted me. He wasn’t shy about the fact that he did drugs during my gestational period, either. When my brother Papyrus was born, I felt sick, because he was innocent. The little guy didn’t ask to be born. I didn’t want someone else to go through what my parents had done to me in my early years.” Reaper nodded, his attention unbroken.

“So when Pops turned back to the hard drugs–the ones he’d been doing before I’d even been conceived, by the way–it’s like he just forgot completely about his youngest son. When I found Paps, he looked b-brittle and ashen…he was so hungry. I decided I wasn’t going to let him go again. To be fair, I wasn’t sure if he was going to survive, but if I didn’t try to help him, no one would. So I dropped out of school and began stealing gold from my father.”

“He wasn’t home often at all. He claimed he was working, but what he meant was he was lighting up with his buddies and fucking around seedy parts of town. I stole from his stash that he kept in his closet. He began to blame Pops. It caused a lot of arguments between them, because he was convinced Pops was lying, but I didn’t care. I was keeping my little brother fed, clothing him, taking him to doctor’s appointments, everything he needed to survive, I did for him. As a ten year old, I was in the public library looking for a book on baby care, but it was in an age restricted section. I chose a book on how to raise dogs and cats,” Geno said, momentarily chuckling as he recalled the librarian’s face as he came to the counter with Papyrus in a sling tied around his chest. “I took Papyrus with me, because there was no way in hell I was going to leave him at home.”

“At ten you were his full time carer?” Reaper asked quietly. Geno nodded.

“Yeah. Pops probably assumed Papyrus was my kid with how fucked up he’d constantly be. It was unreal, honestly, the gall he had. Spending all the money that should’ve gone towards food for the family on drugs, and he was telling me how good parenthood suited me. I told him that he’d failed as a parent in every way, and he didn’t exactly like that. At thirteen, Pops held me down and injected me with something strong. I don’t know what it was, but I thought I was dying.”

He took a deep breath and continued. “My immune system was spent from not being fed enough–that and being a drug user’s kid. It fucked me up. It had me laid out on the floor for hours. All I could think about was how my little brother was going to lose his only source of safety because I couldn’t hold my tongue. I’m seriously lucky it only ate through one of my eye sockets and a fraction of my ribcage. It could’ve been a lot worse,” Geno said. “When I was able to, I dragged myself back to my room. I’d put Paps in the closet where I’d tucked him into some blankets earlier cause I didn’t want anyone finding him. He knew to wait for me there. I couldn’t help it, I just cried, because my bones ached and my skull felt like it was on the verge of exploding. I didn’t know I’d been disfigured yet, but I would soon. I wore a patch over one half of my face when I went out. Home wasn’t safe any longer. There was no way I was going to let those fucks lay a phalange on Papyrus.”

He took the rest of the money from the closet and dressed Paps warmly, making sure his hands and skull would be warm as they walked towards town. They slipped out of the house quietly, avoiding Pops, who was sprawled out on the couch, staring up at the ceiling with a blank, glazed expression. They walked until they could see the buildings in town, and Geno scooped Papyrus up into his arms to carry him for a while. He happened upon a cafe, whereupon he decided to enter. The warmth welcomed them inside, and a fire monster dressed in a dapper outfit waved at them from behind the counter. Geno waved back, uncertainty culminating in his soul. He approached the tall seats, placing Papyrus in one and climbing into the chair right beside it.

“How are you boys doing this morning?” The flame monster asked, his white eyes squinting in a “smile”. Geno cleared his throat.

“We’re really cold, mister,” he replied honestly. The man chuckled.

“My name is Grillby. Make yourselves comfy and warm up. There’s supposed to be a winter storm heading our way, so make sure to get back home before things pick up.”

Geno sagged in his chair upon hearing that. He didn’t know where they were going to stay, and now he had to contend with a blizzard approaching. He and Paps were homeless. Grillby tilted his head.

“Hey, are you alright, bud?”

Geno shook his head ‘no’. He was so tired and self-doubt crept up on him from out of nowhere. Little did he realize that Grillby would take them into the apartment above the cafe and settle them down in his living room. After finishing the day, he brought the two breakfast sandwiches from the shop, and sat Geno down to talk with him. Geno, for the first time, broke down and sobbed as he relayed to a complete stranger that they weren’t safe at home (not that they ever were).

“So you stayed with him?” Reaper asked. Geno nodded, taking another sip of his cocoa.

“Yeah. We stayed for a long while. I cleaned for him and when I was old enough, I began helping him run the shop. He paid me fairly and treated us well–far better than anyone else had in our young lives. By the time we moved on from Grillby’s, we were in a better place financially, so I was able to get Paps enrolled in school in Snowdin. Funny thing was, neither Pops nor our father asked after us. I never stopped worrying they might one day, but it didn’t happen, or if it did, nothing came of it. I rented an apartment in a rundown part of town, but it’s what I could afford, and Papyrus and I had food to eat.”

“I was able to get jobs, but it wasn’t easy. It was hard for Paps, and I knew it was, because for a while, he just assumed I was his biological parent. I told him about where we came from as he got older and could better understand everything. I didn’t mind being his replacement parent, but he deserved to know that our real parents wouldn’t ever be in our lives. Brother or parent, I wasn’t going to mislead him by sheltering him from the hell our childhood home was. He became fearful that I’d die after the impact of my disease really hit him, and for a while, it was hard to get him to attend class. He was stubborn and fiercely protective, and when he set his mind to something, good luck getting that kid to budge.”

“I was really good at hiding my disorder at first. I mopped up the blood and kept up with trying to look semi-normal. Papyrus was determined to find a cure for my illness when he reached high school. I told him to find a purpose doing something he loved, and he countered with ‘you made me your purpose, so why can’t I do the same?’. The kid towered over me and I was a whole decade older than him. I wanted him to go to college and follow his dreams, do what teens are supposed to do, dammit.” Geno sighed. “He was adamant that he would stay with me. So I relented and let him. By the way, could you add a little more hot water, Reaps?”

Reaper nodded, and twisted the knob. “Anyhow, Papyrus was the coolest. He was a jack of all trades, eager to learn and one of the most selfless monsters I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. He kept me sane. I was the luckiest older brother alive. But there was a lot he didn’t let me know about,” Geno said, his voice wavering slightly. “I wish he had talked to me, but I know him. He was too concerned for my health, when he should’ve paid more attention to himself. Papyrus…” Geno’s voice broke, and he steeled his nerves as best he could, “He killed himself. Left me this soul-wrenching note, which I should’ve been more careful with, but I couldn’t help but sob all over it. He had so much to give, but if I’d ever known he was at his limit, I would’ve done anything for him,” Geno admitted, tears trickling down his face now. Reaper offered a hand, which was taken and squeezed. “I…he told me not to blame myself for what he did, but that’s all I could do for a while. Do you know how hard it is to dig a grave when the ground is frozen solid? My phalanges were raw and bleeding by the time I was finished with the shitty trowel we had, and then it just f-felt wrong, so I waited to put him in. I just sat with him, and rocked him like I used to, telling him I loved him even after what he’d done, because how could I not? He was in pain, and-and I hadn’t seen it…”

“I’m here, Gen. I’m here,” Reaper said softly, rubbing his thumb over Geno’s fingers. Geno smiled through the pain, and nodded.

“I know,” he said. “You would’ve really liked him. He would’ve liked you, too. When you first let me move in, I…heh, I peeked in your room and found your framed photos,” he admitted. “Rude and not nice, I know. The photo with the lanky, tall skeleton in it–they remind me of Paps.”

Reaper nodded. “I know which one you’re talking about. That’s alright, I figured you might get curious.” He offered a subtle smile.

Geno took a calming breath in, then released it slowly. “My life fell apart after he died. I was homeless for a while. Those were some really dark days for me. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve felt okay.” Geno looked at Reaper, wiping away the tears welling up in his eye socket. “You make me feel…better than okay. Heh.” Geno wiped his face. “I’d like to try with you, but we need to go about this the right way. I’ll move out,” Geno said, and Reaper stiffened.

“Geno, you don’t have to-”

“Hold on, and listen. You have this job, you’re going to keep this job, and we’re going to comply with your boss’ orders. I’m still finding myself after all of these years,” Geno said. “I want you to be a part of my life, but I would like this to last. We need to give ourselves some space to breathe and process this development. So we’ll find a place for me, and we’ll see where things go.”

Reaper sighed, and relented. “Alright. That sounds doable,” he said. “Are you ready to get out?”

“Are you saying you didn’t enjoy my long winded reflection of my shitty past?” Geno asked. “I’m wounded.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Reaper replied. “Is the prince ready to exit the basin?”

“Only if you agree to not sleep on the floor, Reaps. The bed is plenty big,” Geno said. “Please?”

“You know what? Fine, you win.” Reaper helped him out of the tub and followed behind him as they prepared to lay down. Reaper assisted Geno into bed, rewrapping his skull before laying down on the other side and pulling the blankets around himself. He sighed in contentment, feeling a weight lifted off of his shoulders as he was lulled to sleep by the sound of Geno’s soft snores.

~

Reaper made plenty of phone calls to enquire about the real estate in the area. He researched condos, townhouses, and small single family homes, but thus far, he only had a couple that seemed promising. He considered the location first, and then the cost, keeping in mind the place should be close enough to the city that transportation wouldn’t be a problem. The housing gods must have been looking favorably upon him, because he found a lone standing townhome in a convenient part of town, but far enough away from the crowded city square. He didn’t doubt it would be snatched up in an instant, so he called Toriel, then texted her when she didn’t pick up. She returned his text within a few minutes, much to his relief.

Toriel: I took a look and it seems very nice. The asking price isn’t bad. Has geno seen?

Reaper picked up his laptop, locating Geno in his bed reading a book, which he closed upon seeing him approaching. His face was slightly flushed and–that wasn’t what Reaper needed to be focused upon right now. He presented the house to Geno, whose brow rose as he took in the details of the place.

“How do you feel about this one?” Reaper asked, trying to determine if Geno’s expression meant he liked it or despised it.

“I like it a lot. It looks really nice,” he said, scrolling through the gallery of photos. “Is this one a real possibility? Can we move forward with it?”

“We’ll want to check it out in person, and have someone come in to inspect it, but if everything goes well, this can be your place, Gen.”

“Yeah, yes,” Geno said, excitement evident in his face. “When? I mean, how long does it take to schedule someone to come to take a look?”

“It can take a few days, or up to a week, from what I’ve seen. We’ll make a move when we know it’s in good condition. In the meantime…” Reaper texted his Toriel back, emphasizing the fact that Geno really liked this one. “I’ll make sure to give the boss the go ahead.”

Reaper: He lit up when he saw this one. Can we get someone to check it out?

Reaper watched as Toriel typed her response, a bubble of three dots floating on his screen. He watched Geno fiddle with the front of his skull wrapping, tugging it down to sit more comfortably on his forehead. When he noticed Reaper looking, he offered a guilty half-smile, acknowledging that he’d been caught red-handed. “It’s itchy, give me a break.”

“How’re you holding up?” Reaper asked. Geno shrugged.

“Bored as hell. Otherwise, a lot better than before. I can read for short periods of time. I’d like another round of headache pills if you’ve got them on you.” When Reaper fished the bottle out of his robe pocket, relief washed over Geno. “Thank Stars.”

Reaper’s phone pinged, and he looked down to see his boss’ response.

Toriel: Someone can head out today. I notified the seller that we’re interested. I sent you the details and added your number into the contact form.

Reaper turned off his phone. He’d like to give Toriel a piece of his mind, but he wouldn’t. He’d worked hard for his position, and what Geno said had merit. It didn’t help the hollowed out sensation which felt like it had burrowed into his rib cage when he thought about the chance of Geno disappearing. Maybe it was irrational, but the idea of never seeing him again, or losing touch–it made his soul ache. He’d let Geno know when things began to progress. For now, though, he decided to sit on the bed next to Geno. “I can change the wrapping for you. Your skull probably needs to be treated again.”

“Fine.” Geno laid his skull in Reaper’s lap, looking up at him expectantly. “So, Dr. Reaper, what are you going to do again? I hit my head, you see, and it’s hard to keep my thoughts straight.” Geno smirked wickedly.

Reaper blinked, then snorted. “That was terrible.”

“That’s what you think,” Geno said, clearly satisfied. “Now are you going to kiss my ouchie, doctor, or are you going to look down at me like I crushed your hopes and dreams?”

Reaper snorted, unable to help himself. He could tell Geno was feeling better as his attitude and knack for spontaneous crude humor returned gradually. Geno relaxed as he cleaned the fissure, applying healing ointment and covering the afflicted area with a gauze pad before wrapping his skull once more.

~

The home checked all of the boxes. Toriel was quick to let Reaper know, and Reaper figured it was time to let Geno know that his future residence was in the process of being secured. Geno’s interest was palpable, and while Reaper was happy for him, he was also concerned. Geno was beginning to feel better, his energy levels returning to where they were before his accident in a month. He was back to drinking coffee, enjoying a glass of booze in the afternoon, and watching television without his skull feeling like it was going to split in half.

The day where Geno was able to inhabit the townhome was one that arrived swiftly. He didn’t have very much furniture, but the previous residents had left some of their furniture behind, which worked out well for him. Reaper, as a surprise, had invited Sci and Sans over. While he was apprehensive about losing his new roommate (and possibly more than that) he also knew that Geno got along with the brothers. After helping Geno unpack a good portion of what he would need that night, and doing some organizing so the place felt a bit more homey, they both heard a knock at the front door.

Geno made his way over and unlocked it, his face reflecting his surprise as he saw the two. “I wasn’t expecting this,” Geno said, a broad smile on his face. “Am I missing something or are you guys here to stay for a while?” Sci shoved a gift bag Geno’s way, and his twin presented a container filled with what looked like bratwursts. Geno tilted his skull, squinting a bit before just asking, “Are those hotdogs?”

“Heh, well technically, they’re sausages. Be careful, they bite,” Sans said, returning Geno’s enthusiasm with his signature lazy smile.

“So,” Reaper said, announcing his presence. “Are you going to invite your guests in for the housewarming evening or are you going to leave them standing on the steps?”

“Oh geez,” Geno replied, sputtering apologies as he cleared the way for the two to enter. “Ignore my lack of social etiquette and make yourselves cozy. Welcome to my abode.”

“Thanks. Nice place you’ve got here. How’s it feel to be a homeowner?” Sans asked, looking up at the modern interior. In his opinion, the atmosphere made it come off as a very ‘citified’ home. What he knew of Geno was based off of Sci’s prattling about how crass the guy was and how he definitely had a soft spot for Reaper. Sans could see where he got that from. The way they acted around each other made it seem like they enjoyed each other’s company.

“Being a homeowner…heh, I dunno yet, it’s too new. What is–whoa, hey, that’s a lot of booze,” Geno said as he pulled out four bottles, all different kinds of liquor. At the bottom of the bag, there was a rounded container with a cork stuffed into the smaller, cylindrical neck of the bottle. Inside sloshed a dark liquid which reminded Geno of coffee, but looked more like cursed grape juice. It was more black than it was purple or red, and something about it was foreboding. “Um, I don’t know what it is, but I kind of want to. Should I be worried?”

Sans shot his brother an accusatory look, his expression of ease shifting into a stony, judgmental visage in a fraction of a second. “You did not. What did I tell you about trying to brew your own stuff?”

“Well, to be frank, I don’t remember what you said, bro. But it’s good, trust me, I sampled it.”

Geno looked between them, then at Reaper. “Can this be ingested? I guess the better question is should it be ingested?” He stared into the opaque liquid, the shift in color daunting and fascinating simultaneously.

“It sure can, Geno, my man! Don’t listen to my bro, he’s just overly cautious,” Sci remarked, winking at Sans. Sans glared daggers at his twin.

“You better transcribe every detail of what is in there so he can be sure to sue you for attempted murder,” Sans said. Geno snorted, setting the container down so he wouldn’t risk dropping it.

Geno laughed. “I doubt it would send me to the hospital. I’m sure I’ve drunk worse,” Geno supplied. “Have you guys ever had the small-town stuff? Like, the kind they don’t even try to pretend is distilled correctly? Yeah, never will I make that mistake again.”

“I have,” Sans responded. “One of my many regrettable decisions. Haven’t touched the stuff since.”

“Alright, listen, if it freaks you out that much I can take it off your hands,” Sci said, offering a hand. Geno blinked before shaking his head.

“Nah, I think I’ll keep this.”

“Are you sure?” Reaper asked, eyeing the container. “Sci, are you positive this is safe?”

“Absolutely. If it makes you feel better, I’ll knock some back. Seriously, I know it looks a little dark, but it’s got a nice flavor and consistency.”

“Let’s break out the coffee mugs,” Geno said. He glanced through the leftover boxes, fishing out four of the largest mugs. They were the flawed, definitely handmade mugs from the market that he couldn’t resist buying for half off. He was a sucker for flawed arts and crafts. “Here is the sacrificial cup,” he stated, handing Sci one that looked like it had gone through many days in the scorching sun. It was made to look drippy, but something about it didn’t look entirely intentional, and the coloration being a grim grayish hue was the perfect finish. Geno loved ugly cups.

Sci adjusted his red tinted glasses, before popping open his homemade wine. With an ominous smile, he poured the liquid in, while his brother looked on in apprehension. “So, any well wishes?”

Sans looked unimpressed as he said, “You were a moron and you’re still a moron. Hopefully the gods have mercy on your pickled husk of a soul.”

Reaper laughed out loud at that, and Sci shrugged and said ‘I’ll drink to that’ before downing the mug in a few swigs. Everyone around him watched with bated breath. Sci chuckled.

“It’s a little sweet, but not syrupy. I did a good job. As I said before,” Sci said, pointedly looking at Sans. Sans sighed.

“Geno, do yourself a favor and–” Sans’ lost his ability to continue as he watched Geno take a swig from the flask before wiping the back of his hand over his mouth.

Reaper plucked the flask from him and took a sniff. He eyed the liquid before shrugging and taking a sip of it himself. “Oh. Oh. That’s actually not bad.”

“Yeah, you don’t say?” Sci remarked, taking a seat on a stray seat. “I didn’t come here to assassinate the guy. It was supposed to be a kind gesture.”

“And it is, I like it,” Geno stated, taking another swig. “Come on, it’s good, you were right.”

Sci smirked, saying, “You really know how to stroke a guy’s ego.”

Breaking out more drinks, they brought out blankets and sat in a small circle in the living room. Not being a huge fan of drinking, Sans lit up a joint and slouched in the loveseat he was perched in, his slippered feet propped up on a tufted ottoman. He watched as Geno began to loosen up considerably, his gaze traveling to Reaper when the other wasn’t looking.

Reaper began to relax into a state of comfortable intoxication, and he had this expression when he had Geno’s attention that Sci hadn’t seen before. He wouldn’t believe Reaper felt nothing towards the guy when he was so clearly interested.

Geno had just taken another shot of fruity booze when there was a knock on the door. Everyone turned to look in that direction, before Geno made the decision to make his way to the foyer. He unlocked the door and peeked out. Standing there was a skeleton monster dressed in a black bomber jacket, a red, v-neck tee, and black boots with platforms that could put a dent in someone’s skull. Around his neck was a spiked collar, which led Geno to his face, which complimented his attire. One of his eye sockets was badly cracked and as the guy opened his mouth to say something, a gold canine caught Geno’s attention.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Geno asked, hoping to break the silence. The stranger appeared confused as he looked behind Geno at Reaper and Sci who had come to inspect things.

“I, uh, it’s fine, man,” the stranger said, offering an uncomfortable smile. His teeth were all sharp–maybe he’d filed them down, Geno thought. “A friend of mine used ta live here. I can see he’s moved on.”

Geno tilted his skull. “I’m sorry he didn’t let you know.”

“Yeah, uh, I’d better–”

Sci butted in, sliding out of the door to stand next to Geno. “Anything we can help you with? Did you forget something here or need a hand?”

Sans scowled as he heard his brother talking to the guy, who he deduced from the conversation, was a stranger. Sci was past tipsy and he could rely on his twin to make bad decisions when he was intoxicated. He waited, hoping the group would dismiss the rando at the door and return to their previous activities.

“Well, I…ah, fuck it,” the stranger muttered, shrugging as he put his hands in his jacket pocket. “My drug dealer lived here before ya. Kind of just wanted to pick up some weed.”

Geno blinked at him and before he realized he was laughing. He didn’t know what was so funny. “Shit. I’m kind of drunk, sorry man,” he said. “What’s your name?”

“Friends call me Red,” he said, quirking his brow. “You?”

“Geno,” he replied, offering a hand that Red took firmly. “Just having a housewarming hangout. If you’re not an ax-wielding murderer you can stick around for a few. We might just have something to take the edge off.”

“Geno-” Reaper said, but Geno shot him a look. Reaper reluctantly quieted, letting Geno take the lead.

Red looked uncertain. “I don’t wanna intrude on nothin’. I don’t have anything to give ya, either. Kind of shitty of me to impose on yer party, Geno.”

“Nonsense. You live close by?” Geno asked. Red nodded. “Then hey, it’s a kind gesture from your new neighbor. We’ll set you up with something.”

While apprehensive, Red shrugged and followed the group inside. Geno went into the living room and Sans eyed the newbie warily. While Geno began placating Sans (or trying his best to), Sci turned to Red. “Hey. My name’s Sci. The guy dressed in all black is my coworker and Geno’s his…uh…” Sci paused, tapping his chin.

“Piece of ass?” Red offered quietly, making Sci laugh.

“Sure, let’s say that. Phew, that got me,” Sci said. “So, you came here to buy some green stuff, right?” Red nodded. “I’ve got a special strain. I nerd out when it comes to altering compounds and–anyway, how about a smoke?”

Red nodded, looking more than a little uncomfortable as he noticed Sans’ glare from across the room. He followed Sci out onto the back patio, accepting the rolled and reflective baby blue joint. It looked neat, like it had come out of some fancy lab. Red wasn’t sure he wanted to smoke it or display it. Who took the time to make this so flawless when he was about to burn the shit out of it?

“Want a light?” Sci asked. Red nodded, holding his joint between his teeth as Sci lit the tip. Sci didn’t hesitate in lighting his own, taking a long draw before letting the smoke spill from between his teeth and nasal aperture. “Tell me if there’s something you don’t like about it.”

Red thought about it as he exhaled smoke. It was a smooth hit, so smooth, in fact, that he wouldn’t have known it was kush if not for the taste. Even that wasn’t as strong, it was almost piney on his tongue. He held the joint up as though taking a closer look would cue him into what was so different about the joint. “Where’d ya get this stuff?” Red asked.

“It’s mine,” Sci said nonchalantly, a glint of something in those white eye lights. “Grew it. Took out a few traits I didn’t like, added a few I did,” Sci stated, his smile one of ease. “Kind of why I want to know if there’s something you don’t like.”

Red just looked at him for a moment, his singular red eye light dissolving into two white eye lights that matched Sci’s own. “Are you fuckin’ with me?” He asked, feeling a grin of his own creeping up on him. “Cause this shit feels nice. Hell, compared to what I was smokin’ before, this is divine.”

“Oh.” Sci was quiet for a moment, feeling his face heat up considerably. “Thanks,” he uttered, not sure what else to say. He suddenly felt a bit more clarity hit him, just for a moment, and he felt kind of bad for Red. “Do you want to leave? I understand if you do, it’s okay if you want to.”

Red shrugged. “Dude, I am fine right where I am. You feelin’ anxious?”

Sci remained quiet for a moment, before responding, “Only slightly.”

“Do you smoke often?” Red asked, taking a seat in one of the chairs on the patio. Sci followed suit, taking a seat in the chair beside him. His hands were trembling, which he hadn’t realized earlier. Maybe that first hit had been a bit bigger than he’d taken in the past. He’d already had alcohol as well, which made for a different sensation than being high while sober. Sci shrugged.

“I smoke a decent amount. I don’t usually drink and smoke,” he admitted. Red made a sound of understanding.

“So you’re crossfaded. That makes a lot of sense. Sometimes booze and smokin’ don’t mix well.” Red took another puff, which he held for a decent amount of time before breathing it out of his nasal aperture. “Are those your friends inside?”

“Well, the guy in the living room is my twin. Geno is an acquaintance and Reaper works alongside me at the mortuary.”

Red’s brows shot up. “You work with the dead?”

“Sure do. My job is to find out what killed them, actually,” Sci replied. “Never a dull moment in my line of work.”

“Neat. Uh, so is there a reason your bro was tryin’ to glare a hole through me?” Red asked.

Sci rolled his eye lights and chuckled. “I’m technically the younger sibling. He’s a dick, and he’s overprotective. A great combo, right?” Red barked out a laugh, and Sci caught himself watching the other with sincere interest. That was a gravelly, sexy laugh, in his opinion, and one that he wanted to hear more of.

“I’m an older brother. You probably wouldn’t know it, though. Lil’ Edgy shot up like a bean sprout and was taller than me before he was a teen.”

“Oh wow. And you’re not short, so I can imagine he’s tall,” Sci remarked.

“Well thanks, Sci. And yeah, he’s a big guy.” Red took another hit, and leaned his skull back a moment to look up at the stars beginning to appear in the dusk skies. “Do you wanna take a stroll?”

Sci nodded. They took the patio steps down to the gate entrance before heading towards what probably used to be a series of stone homes. All that was left was the bare bones of the interiors and a few stray walls. Foliage and greenery had surrounded a good portion of one of them, and while high, it looked like an intriguing place to inspect.

Sci slipped past a curtain of purple vines, holding them for his taller guest following closely behind him. Sci’s soul began to thud, but it wasn’t anxiety that had him feeling flustered. He was really fucked up, he realized, but aside from that, he really liked what he saw in Red. Red was his type, through and through, and maybe it was just him, but Red seemed to be on the same page.

~

When Sans got up to check on his sibling, he felt level headed. He had sat in the living room until he felt it was going to be productive to join in on the conversation Sci was having with the stranger, whose name he learned was Red. Geno had followed Reaper into the kitchen, and from what he could see, they weren’t there now. He could guess what the two were up to. He glanced out the back door and saw no trace of Sci or Red, and his soul felt like it had dropped out of his rib cage. ‘Fuck.’

He looked around the place, and pulled out his cell phone, calling his sibling. When it went to voicemail after ringing, dread pooled in Sans’ chest as he contemplated where Sci was. “Stars dammit.”

~

They wandered through the maze of flora and the worn down structure. There was a comfortable silence between them, until Red asked,“What made you choose yer job, Sci?”

“It’s fascinating and it pays fairly well. It hasn’t gotten boring yet, so I’m content.” Sci looked back at Red. “Where do you work?”

“Tech firm downtown,” Red replied. “It pays the bills and I’m decent at what I do. It gets kinda mind numbing sometimes.”

“Cool,” Sci supplied, watching Red. “I like your style. The spikes and whatnot, it’s-” Sci searched for the correct word, his mind hyperfocusing on Red’s jawline before his eye lights drifted down to his hands. They were big hands and the tip of each phalange ended in a bony claw. “Really nice.” It wasn’t his smoothest moment, but oh well. He had a lot of social failures, one more wouldn’t kill him.

In the dim lighting of the structure, Sci caught a glimpse of the crimson blush along Red’s face. “Thanks.” A moment passed, and Sci thought he might actually perish. He made this awkward. ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid.’ “I like yer glasses,” Red said, before adding, “Kinda like the guy wearin’ them, too.”

Sci felt his face heat up and he looked down for a moment, wondering if he’d heard that right. Red must’ve thought he’d crossed a line, because he said, “Look, s-sorry if that was outta line. Can we just forget that happened?”

“I didn’t mind it,” Sci said, stepping tentatively closer. “I kind of liked what I was seeing as soon as I saw you at the door. If someone’s a creep here, it’s not you.”

Red’s expression morphed into a sly smile, his eye lights fading so that one bold, crimson eye light could take their place in his left eye socket. “You don’t hafta be ashamed for lookin’, babe. I’m not tied down to anyone.”

“I’m going to be real with you. You’re my type,” Sci said, the shame he had earlier melting away with his altered mental state. “And I’m thinking, hey, Red is probably packing…” he trailed off, realizing he should probably be horrified at what was coming out of his mouth. “Are you?”

Red laughed. This guy was golden. He was quirky and cute and Red was tempted to bend him over and fuck him until his legs gave out. He didn’t want to scare him off, though. Sci seemed a little inexperienced, so maybe cautious was better. “You wanna find out?”

Sci nodded, his eye lights becoming brighter. “Yeah. Are you okay with that?”

‘Fuckin’ adorable.’ “Yeah, more than okay. You can do more than look, too, babe. C’mere.”

Sci closed the space between them, and Red dipped down so that he could kiss him. He tasted like sweet wine and smoke, and the way his tongue tangled with his sent a pleasant chill up Red’s spine. Sci moaned, his hands finding Red’s scarred bones and making their way to his rib cage. Red reciprocated, finding Sci’s pelvis and squeezing the area around his hips teasingly.

“Red.”

“That’s my name.”

“Fuck me?” He asked, the teal of his magic glowing under his clothes as his ecto filled his pelvis.

“Hell yeah, baby.”

~

Geno had gone upstairs to change his blood-dampened shirt, and Reaper had followed him up after realizing the other was no longer downstairs. What began as banter turned into closing the door to the walk-in closet and testing the durability of the shelving. While he worried for a moment they’d be heard by the others, he was drunk enough not to shrug it off, and Reaper didn’t seem to either.

It was dark save for the glow of the intermingling hues of their ecto. The space felt surreal to Geno as he indulged in the thought of taking things further, of becoming more to Reaper, of Reaper becoming so significant to him that he couldn’t (and wouldn’t) let go. The thrill of knowing he was wanted, even if only on a physical level, meant so much more than he could put into words, so he didn’t try. He couldn’t, even if he’d wanted to–his mind was swimming, his senses overwhelmed by the pleasure coursing through his mana lines.

When their amorous activities simmered down, and they were both left breathless and sated, they remained in the darkness for a while. Reaper had his arms wrapped around Geno’s back, and it took Geno some time to realize he was being hugged. He couldn’t help but notice the tears accumulating in his eye socket, or the fact that some trickled down his face, inevitably soaking into Reaper’s cloak. Reaper rubbed his back in slow circles, whispering in his comforting, deep voice. Geno hugged him back so tightly it would probably bruise, but Reaper couldn’t care less. Geno cried, and that was alright. He’d been needing to let go for a long, long time.

~

Sci’s back was arched as Red took him from behind, the other’s large, clawed hands pricking the ecto around his pelvis. While it had been a bit hesitant at first, it didn’t take much for him to convince Red that he liked it rough. Red looked uneasy at first when Sci had encouraged him to let loose, his inclination to believe that Sci was inexperienced holding him back from doing anything he might regret. Sci had leveled him with a deadpan look (one that was equally chilling and really nice to have directed at him) and said, “I know what I want. I like a bit of pain, Red. I’m not exactly shy about what I do and don’t like.’”

So Red indulged him, starting with intentionally a hard grip on his hips, evolving into jerking him around and pressing him into the nearest wall and nipping at his cervical vertebrae. Sci had summoned everything, being incredibly into the idea of androgyny, since he liked the way it looked on him. Red seemed to agree as he tugged on the other’s light blue dick, occasionally collecting slick moisture from the slit directly below Sci’s erection to use as lube. Sci tried to keep it down, he really did, but he was having a difficult time controlling his vocals. He bit down on one of his fists as Red lifted one of Sci’s legs to achieve a deeper angle as he fucked him.

“Nn’yeahh, keep it up, big guy, I won’t break on you,” Sci said, whimpering as Red struck something within him that had his eye light rolling back in his skull. “Pleeease.”

“You sure, doll? The way yer shakin’ right now is tellin’ me a different story.”

Sci jolted as Red delivered a smack to his ass, increasing the intensity of the pleasure he felt building up in his abdomen. As another, harder smack stung his ecto, he threw his skull back as he noted reality blending with the multifaceted experience of being fucked while high and wasted. Red put his teeth on his shoulder, the sensation tickling more than hurting, since he didn’t bite down. Sci kind of wished he would. He liked those teeth. He liked them a lot.

Red threw his jacket off onto the ground, and before Sci knew it, the world shifted so that he was laid out on his back with Red leaning over him, his expression lustful. The head of Red’s cock nudged at his ass again, and Sci tugged him down to kiss him. Wrapping his legs around Red’s waist, he cried out when he was entered once more and fucked at a brutal pace. He gripped Red’s shoulders, clenching his teeth and tensing as his orgasm hit him unexpectedly. He emitted an almost pained sound as he threw his skull back against Red’s jacket, twitching, clenching, and pleading as the bliss traveled through his mana lines and made his soul shudder. After a few more punctuated thrusts, Red pulled out and jerked himself through his climax, cumming across Sci’s pelvis and lower abdomen.

They both took time to catch their breath, Sci a limp heap on the ground and Red supporting himself with his forearms, observing Sci’s blissed out expression. When Sci opened his eye lights and offered a soft smile, Red couldn’t help himself.

“Can I have yer number, sweetheart? You’re somethin’ else.” Red smirked, retrieving his half-smoked blunt from his pants pocket. “And it wasn’t just the sex. While you’re a great lay, I kind of want to hang out with ya.”

“If you can manage to find my pants, that’s where my cell phone is,” Sci said. “I’d like that, Red.”

Red stood up, glancing around the space before landing on the slacks over where he’d had Sci pressed into the wall. He reached into the pockets, coming up with an Android phone, which lit up to reveal someone had been trying to get in contact with Sci for the last hour. Red scowled, before handing it to Sci.

Sci frowned, before uttering, “Oh shit.”

Chapter Text

When Sans heard movement in Geno's backyard, he snapped his skull in the direction of the window overlooking the patio. His brother had returned, walking back to the house through the back gate with him. Sans felt ire burn hot in his chest at the sight of his twin and the stranger chatting and laughing. Sci gave Red's shoulder a light shove, and Sans was genuinely surprised that he had enough self restraint to wait out Sci's leisurely pace. He sat himself down in the sparse kitchen at the table, waiting for them to enter. He flicked some of the ash from his joint into the small tin he’d brought with him, deciding to take a break from smoking until he had a chat with his reckless sibling. The door opened, and Sci met his gaze as he registered that his twin was perched in the kitchen, waiting for them.

“Hey, bro. We were taking a walk. Sorry I missed your calls. Is something wrong?” Sci asked, stepping inside so Red could follow suit. Red appeared uncertain as Sans' steely gaze fell on him, before he turned his attention back to Sci.

“Hm.” Sans spotted Sci’s forearms, which were scraped up, and there was a dark mark on his cervical vertebrae which he seemed to be unaware of. Sans narrowed his eye sockets. “A walk, huh? How’d you get banged up?”

Sci looked down at himself, turning his arms to get a better view of what his brother was talking about. ‘Oh. That.’ He recalled the stone of the wall digging into his bones as he was manhandled and fucked ruthlessly. “Tripped while we were near the woods." He shrugged before admitting, "I’m crossfaded.”

“Oh, okay. So, you couldn’t just shoot me a text to let me know you were safe? I don’t know this guy,” Sans said flatly as he beckoned to Red, clearly unimpressed with his sibling's choice of company.

“And I’m not your kid, Sans,” Sci said coldly. “I can handle myself just fine.”

Sans scoffed. “Clearly you can’t.”

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” Sci snarled. “Quit this shit right now. Just because you’re reclusive doesn’t mean I have to be. Lay off.”

“I can-” Red began to say, but Sans was quick to shut that down. He didn’t care what he had to say.

“What do you want with my bro? You came here lookin’ for drugs, yeah? Looks like you got them, pal. You should go.”

“Go fuck yourself,” Sci hissed, before pulling Red into a teleportation jump. Red, who felt the room dissolving around him and space warping in front of his eye lights, clutched onto Sci’s hand so tightly his metacarpals popped. Wide eyed and stiff, he found himself somewhere downtown. He blinked at Sci absently for a moment as he recentered his focus.

"You could've given a little bit of a warning, bud," Red said, his grip on Sci's hand loosening.

"Sorry, that was rude if me. I was tired of hearing his bullshit." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I, uh...you wanna leave? I can get you home, or-"

Red shrugged. "Do ya wanna come back to mine and watch a movie? I've got a streaming account and some giant bean bags, not ta mention Edge probably cooked somethin'. He's always cooking, I swear."

"You want to spend time with me? I'm basically a stranger to you," Sci remarked. Red chuckled.

"I mean, touché, but yeah, if you're down." Red smirked. "We could do other things, too, if that's where yer mind is at."

"Yeah. I want to." Sci’s expression brightened, and if that wasn't fucking adorable, Red didn't know what was.

"A'ight. But first," Red snagged his arm, before proclaiming, "Payback, baby."

Sci was dragged through time and space as they teleported to Red's home. It wasn't large, but not quite small either, the wear and tear evident from the rough state of the exterior paint. He stumbled and Red caught him before he toppled over. "Easy there. Ya good?"

"I deserved that." Sci mustered a smile through his vertigo. Red offered a toothy grin in return.

"Yeah ya did. But hey, we're even now. Payback is sweet, ain't it? C'mon."

They walked up the front porch steps and entered into a homey, yet well organized abode. There was a candle crackling on the coffee table and classical music was playing from the television. It reminded Sci a little bit of his home growing up. It always had a very calming atmosphere, aside from the times he and Sans decided to declare all out war on one another. He glanced into the kitchen, and was startled to find two crimson eye lights and the silhouette of someone very tall. Placing a hand on his sternum, he breathed out, hoping he didn't come off as rude. He was entering their house. This must be the "little" brother.

"Hello. My apologies, I've been drinking tonight. I'm a bit jumpy," Sci stated. "M-my name is Sci."

The individual stepped forward, closing the space between them in no time at all. He was sharp where Red was bulky, and he wasn't as filled out as his brother was. It didn't detract from the daunting air about him. "You may call me Edge. Are you one of my insolent brother's fair weather friends?"

'Whoof. Insolent?' Sci chuckled nervously. "Yeah. Nice to meet you. I, uh, heard you were a cooking legend."

Edge quirked a brow. "That's an accurate description of my skill set, I suppose. Red can't scramble an egg without burning it, so I've developed an interest in the culinary arts out of necessity."

"Ya make it sound like ya weren't fed growing up. That's kinda harsh, bro."

"No, that's not harsh, brother. What's harsh is the fact that you've pursued nearly everyone in this forsaken part of town and yet somehow you've managed to find someone who is far out of your league. He looks like he deserves better," Edge said with a smirk. Sci paled at that statement, glancing over to Red. Red clicked his tongue.

"Bro, while yer giving Sci here a great impression of me, I think it's time you kindly fucked off." Red smiled, but it was strained.

"Maybe his mannerisms will rub off on you. He seems respectable and rather fetching. Take some notes while you lead him on, why don't you?" Edge stated, before slipping past Sci and disappearing down the first floor hallway.

Sci was flabbergasted as he watched him disappear. He was too inebriated to come up with how to respond to that. He couldn't help the sudden chuckled which suddenly bubbled up from his chest. "That's your little bro? When you said little I thought...y-you know..." Sci stated in a near whisper.

"Heh, yeah, I totally get it. Can you tell he takes himself seriously?"

"Pft. How could I tell?" Sci plopped down into one of the beanbags, sinking into the plush material. "Our bros have something in common, I guess."

"Guess so. About what he said," Red began, "I won't be leadin' ya on. I've had some rocky relationships in the past. I know how it feels to be strung along." Red paused before saying, "I've learned a lot since then, but Edge had to deal with the shitty company I kept. I thought I could trust 'em, but monsters can be deceiving when they want somethin' from ya. Just wanted to clarify that much. Okay?"

Sci nodded. "Okay."

~

They got through a couple horror movies which ended up being more comedy than horror. Sci was giggling at the parts which were meant to be scary and Red couldn't help but laugh, too. At some point, Edge sulked through the living room and glanced over at his brother and his new companion. He didn't dislike this one, not yet anyway, but typically he had a good read on others. Sci was a stark contrast to the company his brother had been involved with in the past.

Red glanced over and he and Edge looked at each other for a moment. Red smirked and Edge continued his journey to the kitchen. A pleasant, delicious aroma made its way into the living room, securing Sci’s interest.

Edge returned a little while later with a tray of hot, spiced cider decorated with a dollop of whipped cream. Sci was not expecting this after what he'd said about Red, but here they were being offered exquisite smelling drinks.

"My day at work was awful, but there was no excuse for me to take that frustration out on you or Sci, brother." Edge looked away momentarily before asking, "Would you accept my apology ciders?"

Looking to Red, who gave a nod, Sci took a mug of warm apple goodness. "Thank you, Edge. I appreciate it. I'm sorry your day went poorly."

He didn't even have to ask if Red wanted one. He knew from experience that his brother would gladly take his culinary creations whether it was food or drink. "Apology accepted, Edgy. Lemme know if ya wanna chat."

Edge muttered something about not calling him that nickname any longer as he retreated back to his bedroom, closing the door.

"That was so nice. I don't know what to say," Sci stated, sipping at the cup of cider in his hands.

"He's all bark. Seriously, Edge is as loyal as they come even if he can be an asshole sometimes." Red sighed. "Ya don't need to say anything more than ya have."

"Alright. Hey Red, you know what?"

"Huh?"

"I have to work the day after tomorrow and that sucks." He threw an arm over his face after setting down his cider. "I'm so, so tired. Of monsters and their bullshit they expect me to solve."

"Yeah, you 'n me both, doll." Red slipped out of his jacket as the drink warmed him up. "You gonna crash here? Cause you're definitely welcome to."

Sci contemplated his options for a moment. He didn't want to face his brother again tonight. Sans would want to talk, or argue, and he didn't have it in him to do that right now. "If that's alright, I think I will. Thanks, Red. This has been a strange afternoon, but I'm glad it went down the way it did. You're a neat guy, you know that?"

"Tch. Shaddup, you don't know a thing about me," Red said playfully.

"I could find out. I'm...well, I'm not trying to be weird, okay? But I'm kind of fucking lonely."

"And here I am again asking myself how ya manage to read my mind," Red commented. "I'm here if ya wanna hang...or bang," Red said, smirking. "So don't be a stranger, Sci. Cause you made me laugh more in the last few hours than I have in years."

~

Reaper wished he could remain with Geno at his new home. Over the last few weeks, he'd helped him make the interior into an organized living space which was very much Geno’s own. When Toriel had alerted him his leave was coming to an end, he sulked. Geno poked fun at him, which made him smile, but it didn't erase the longing he felt.

He pulled himself out of bed upon hearing his alarm. He would’ve gladly remained in bed with Geno, but he had a meeting scheduled with Toriel. While he wasn’t beginning work again quite yet, he still had obligations. Geno whimpered and scowled as Reaper escaped his hold, pouting in his sleep at the absence of weight next to him. Reaper caressed his skull, smoothing out the furrows in his forehead resulting from frowning.

“I need to leave, Gen. Do you want me to come back over later?” Reaper asked as he searched for his cloak on the ground. Maybe if he’d been a little less excited to jump Geno’s bones he would’ve paid attention and made his morning easier. It was too bad Geno had him wrapped around his pinky phalange.

“Mhmmm,” Geno mumbled, hand reaching out for his missing bedmate. “Reap…Reaps, c’mere…”

“I’ve got to-” Reaper began as he was pulled into a half-awake, fumbling hug where Geno kissed him on the jaw. Reaper froze, a dark blush taking over his face.

“...you have big, black, feathery wings. Hm, huge n’ soft. You didn’t fly with them, you just…” Geno trailed off, his eye socket still completely closed. “Please…come back.”

Geno flopped back into the soft covers, his mouth parted in slumber. Reaper grabbed a piece of the sheet to dab at the corner of Geno’s mouth. He’d caught onto the fact that the sensation of the blood trickling continuously bothered him, so at least he’d be helping him sleep a bit longer. With one more caress of Geno’s skull, Reaper reluctantly left, his soul soaring at the fact that he’d received a kiss, even if it had been while Geno was half asleep.

His morning went decently enough. He grabbed a cup of tepid coffee in a disposable cup from the employee lounge and made his way to his old office. He organized for half an hour before heading up to speak with his boss. After knocking on the closed door, he was told to ‘come in’. He restrained himself from squeezing the life out of his shitty coffee cup and instead donned an air of nonchalance. Upon entering, he saw Sci sitting in one of the seats, flipping through a pamphlet. He waved, and Reaper waved back.

“Morning,” he said to Toriel. His boss observed him as he walked in and took a seat across from her. Reaper felt a twinge of annoyance as she offered a soft smile.

“Good morning. We’ve made progress with our legal team,” she said, her hands folded atop the desk. “They are proposing we set up a payment plan so that the impact of delivering compensation to Geno won’t set the company back financially.”

“And how do you suppose we breach this to Geno?” Sci asked, setting the pamphlet of bound documents down. “He wasn’t exactly in stellar health to begin with-”

“Oh, and that,” Toriel cut him off, her eyes steely. “He had underlying health issues which led to assumption he was diseased upon his discovery. That is what your employee claimed, correct?”

Reaper narrowed his eye sockets, but nodded. “He did.”

“How can we place all of the blame upon the apprentice? Was he not only taking the steps to care for a monster he perceived as dead? If Geno didn’t have any vitals or a magic signature, then we have evidence that he by all means appeared dead. By textbook definition, he would have been considered deceased.”

Reaper stared at his superior in shock. When did this 180 degree change in attitude occur and why? What happened to being aware of monster rights and following proper protocol for when a monster was put into a dangerous, possibly life threatening situation? What if Geno hadn’t awoken and they’d unknowingly caused him to pass away?

“No,” Reaper blurted. “No, that’s not–there’s no way we’re blaming him for being carted off in a body bag. What the actual hell?” He growled.

“It wasn’t Geno’s fault that one of our employees failed to identify an abnormal magic signature,” Sci stated before Toriel had a chance to deny that they were blaming him. “And there is no way that this argument would hold up in court. Disability or not, Geno was a living monster who was processed like a dead one. That isn’t something to be taken lightly, boss.”

“I did not say we were blaming him. Are you about to put him, the monster threatening to put you out of work, above your colleagues and your income? This is about job security,” Toriel said sternly. “It is reasonable to feel sympathy for what happened to him, but I won’t let my livelihood and the livelihood of my employees go down the drain for the sake of one monster.”

“Get another lawyer,” Reaper demanded. “This isn’t right. Fuck, Toriel, I care about my job, but I care about his wellbeing, too! What if it had been you in that situation?”

“Then I would recognize that my chronic condition put others at stake. We didn’t intentionally pick him up–hell, if he’d been recognized as any bit alive then he would’ve been sent to a hospital, not a mortuary. We don’t need another lawyer, we need to work on getting this resolved so we can move on.”

“What about him?” Sci asked, his expression unreadable. “He deserves compensation. I don’t care if he gets less than what he demanded, but he deserves a fair chance to recover after going through this ordeal.”

Toriel looked between Reaper and Sci. She huffed in annoyance. “He will get something.”

“This isn’t right,” Reaper growled.

“If you value your position, you’ll find it in yourself to look at this from a different angle. Or maybe you’d rather forfeit your career here? After all of the changes you’ve implemented in your department, it would be tragic to see you let go.”

Sci stood up. “Um, no. If you threaten his position, you’re threatening mine as well.”

There was silence as Toriel looked between them. Her brow furrowed and her amber eyes narrowed. “You have feelings for Geno. You've had feelings, haven't you?” She asked, gazing pointedly at Reaper. Reaper stiffened.

“I don’t need to justify anything to you,” he responded. “I’d stand up for anyone-”

“Don’t give me that bullshit,” Toriel spat. “I’ve seen you, Reaper. You treat the dead more kindly than you do living beings half of the time. Geno is a singular monster who was wronged. He deserves to be compensated, but not to impede the functioning of this company. I have employees to think about, dammit.”

“You know what? Fuck it. You’ll get your way no matter what, won’t you? What we say holds no merit in your eyes–because we’re your underlings. I used to see eye to eye with you, Toriel, and that frankly scares me,” Reaper said, gathering up his items. “Don’t bother calling or texting me again.”

“We’re not finished here,” Toriel began, standing from her desk. “You’re turning your back on your career, Reaper. Don’t you dare leave this room.”

“I don’t have anything left to say to you,” Reaper said, opening the door and letting it remain ajar as he strode out a few feet before teleporting away. Sci looked out the door, then to Toriel.

“I’m going. Don't wait for me–I won't be back.”

“Don’t you-” Toriel hissed, but Sci wasn’t there to hear the rest. He’d teleported to Reaper’s condo, where he nearly crashed into the guy. Reaper, upset and startled, conjured a fist before letting his hand fall to his side. Sci held up his hands in apology, not meaning to have frightened Reaper right after their unfortunate discussion with the boss.

“What are you doing here? You’re going to get yourself fired, you moron,” Reaper growled. Sci chuckled.

“Don’t you think I know that? I didn’t stick up for you under the false impression that I’d be keeping my position,” he admitted. “Things were going to shit while you were out, but they weren’t this bad. I didn’t think Toriel would take it this far.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“How about we sit down and I can give you an idea?” Sci said, his expression reflecting his tiredness. Reaper nodded before unlocking his door, making room for Sci to pass him as he did so. Sci uttered something under his breath before taking a seat on the couch. “Toriel already paid a large sum to the lawyer–as in much more than necessary for them to agree to take on the case. I heard his name was Asgore, and for what it’s worth, he’s doing his job, but it feels-”

“Criminal?” Reaper interrupted. “You know, actually criminal? He took a bribe and she is buying favors. This is fucked up.”

“It was a lot of money,” Sci said, looking down at the ground. “I wasn’t supposed to find out how much, but I got a good idea from listening to her phone conversation with the lawyer. We could’ve paid Geno his compensation and been done with this whole thing. I don’t know why it’s come to this.”

Reaper stood there and felt fury radiate through him. “We need to talk to Geno.”

“Hold on, hold on and hear me out, okay?” Sci requested, his tone sincere. “There’s some shady shit going on, and I don’t know how much more money has been doled out or to whom it was paid, but we need to approach this carefully. I agree that Geno should be told all of this, but I also think it could end very badly if he had the idea to approach Toriel or the others himself. He could be in real danger, Reaper.”

‘Fuck.’ “Okay. I don’t know where to start. What do we do?”

“Alright, this is going to sound like a shoddy excuse to visit someone I kinda like," Sci began, rubbing at the back of his neck, “But he is knowledgeable and could help us figure out the best way to move forward with this.”

~

Red wasn’t expecting company. He’d been napping on the couch, his mind drifting to the memory of Sci’s blue ecto in his hands, the other’s white eye lights hazy with lust as he slid inside of him rhythmically. He was abruptly wrenched from the dream when he heard a harsh knock on the front door. Sitting up, he readjusted his hardon so it wasn’t obvious he was popping a boner to whoever it was standing on the porch. Sighing, he undid the locks and squinted into the daylight filtering into his home. He blinked, taking in a figure with a black, hooded cloak and another who was familiar enough to be immediately recognizable.

“Sci? What's up?”

“Hey…sorry if we woke you up. Something happened. I thought you’d be the guy to offer some sage advice,” Sci said, his smile wavering. Red didn’t hesitate to invite them inside. Sci had dark circles under his eye sockets and the way he slouched in his chair had him concerned.

“What’s goin’ on?” Red asked, setting a tea kettle on the stove. Sci looked at Reaper before turning his attention to Red.

“It’s a long story.”

“And I’ve got time. Spill the beans, baby,” Red stated, plucking mugs out of the cabinet. So Sci did. He began with Geno arriving in a body bag and continued to the present day. Red nodded, his eye lights fluctuating as things clicked–Geno’s wounds, the melted half of his skull and his aura. Red hadn’t felt magic coming from Geno, which was strange, but he hadn’t questioned it. It would’ve been rude to point out, especially when Geno was inviting him to partake in celebrating his new home.

“Our boss told us today that she’d found a way to cheat Geno. I don’t know where she got it in her skull that it was a good idea to avoid giving the guy compensation for what he’s been through, but here we are. I don’t know who she’s paid, but I know she could’ve given Geno what he demanded of the company and been done with the whole ordeal by now,” Sci said. “Reaper walked out of her office during the meeting and I followed him. We’re…heh, well, we’re not going to have jobs to come back to.”

“Shit,” Red said, not sure what else to offer at the moment. He looked between them, before his eye lights found Sci. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah, us too,” Reaper remarked, massaging his temples. The kettle began to whistle and Red removed it from the burner, pouring the steaming water into the three mugs. He retrieved a tin and poured a tan powder into each of them before giving them a stir with a teaspoon. He brought them over to the kitchen table and took a seat.

“Are ya aware that she went out of her way to extend the case?” Red asked. “Because that would be very compellin’ for Geno’s defense.”

Sci nodded. “I didn’t want to believe it, but I am absolutely certain that’s what has been going on. I’m even convinced she’s destroyed some of the information vital to the case. I decided to make copies of the files I could find, but I had to be discreet about it. I didn’t get to copy all of the paperwork…”

“The fact that you copied any of it is a blessing,” Reaper commented. “I don’t…I thought she wanted to do this the right way. This is all kinds of fucked up,” he said. “What’s this drink, by the way?”

“I agree. The drink is a little homemade recipe for stress relief. I figured you’d appreciate it with everythin’ that’s goin’ on,” Red said.

“It’s good. All I drink these days is coffee, so this is a welcome change. Thanks.”

“It is. Is Edge here by the way?” Sci asked, rubbing at his forehead. Red shook his head.

“He’s at work. He’ll be back in a few hours, though.” Red sipped his own cup of semi-sweet beverage, humming at the comforting sensation as it warmed his soul.

“Okay,” Sci said. He released a deep breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “I don’t want to sound paranoid, but my concern for Geno feels legitimate and rational. I think you should communicate the news to him as soon as possible.”

Reaper felt the icy tendrils of dread invade his rib cage as he processed that. “I’ll talk to him,” he said. “I’ll…fuck, I’ll come up with something.” Reaper leaned his skull forward into his hands, exhaling as he contemplated how that was going to go. His frame felt heavy.

“Listen, I’m here if ya need advice or ya just wanna chat. I’ve dealt with some real unstable monsters and humans over the years,” Red explained. “I’d say you two need ta seriously contemplate lawyering up.” Sci couldn’t agree more.

~

Geno turned on the faucet of the bath and let it run until it was the perfect temperature. Shedding his tee shirt, he reached down to plug the drain and filled the tub with sandalwood scented oil. It shimmered on the surface, luminescent and rippling as the water flowed throughout the basin. Turning to the mirror, he set his hands on the counter, staring at his reflection. He summoned his ecto so that it coiled up around his spine, forming a torso to encapsulate his ribs. He stepped back to look at himself, taking in his now red accented bones. His hands found the chub around his midsection which formed love handles and filled out a soft stomach. He pushed down the waistband of his shorts until they pooled around his ankles.

His hands trailed lower, cupping his semi-hard dick before squeezing the shaft, stroking himself as he stared at his doppelganger in the mirror, half lost in thought. His mind drifted to the pleasant dreams he’d been having before he was awoken by an ambulance siren as it passed through town. He recalled the vividness of it–of Reaper tugging his hips back against his pelvis, grinding his erection along the side of his tail bone and inside his pelvic inlet. Reaper’s warm breath tickled his cervical vertebrae as he arched his back, the sharp tips of his phalanges ghosting over Geno’s lower stomach.

He turned off the water, taking a seat along the edge of the tub. Geno plucked a bottle of bone conditioning serum and poured it over his lower abdomen before closing it and setting down on its ledge beside the bath. A leg was hooked over the side of the tub as he slid down into the steaming water, anchoring himself so that he could keep his pelvis steady while he leaned back. He sighed as he caressed his ecto, spreading the serum over his now stiff dick. He wasn’t about to rush through this–his spine had been aching and he needed a moment to really reflect on the dream he’d been having that morning. He slid his hand over his erection, watching it strain as he reached the base, before gripping firmly upwards until the head slipped past his metacarpals. Geno’s breath trembled as he thrust back into his fist, groaning as he let his eye socket fall shut.

The slick sound of his fist gliding over his cock along with his wavering breathing echoed in the quiet space. He thought of Reaper watching from the side of the tub, teasing him and trailing a curious hand over his abdomen. He’d seen how the other eyed his ecto and the effect it had on him was lingering. He pretended not to notice, but it turned him on knowing Reaper admired his ecto body. He sped up the rhythm of stroking, his frame tensing as pleasure skittered up his spine. Seeing no reason to suppress any sounds while home alone, he didn’t bother filtering his expressions of pleasure.

Letting his skull rest against the edge of the tub, he bit his lower lip as he allowed himself to let go. He envisioned Reaper hovering over him, speaking in his deliciously deep voice and coaxing him to tighten his grip on his erection. He used his other hand to finger himself open, using the lubricating serum to fit one, then three phalanges inside of his ass. His breath hitched as he curled his digits as his other hand worked his dick, precum beading at the tip as he became more worked up. Geno whimpered at the intensity of the dual stimulation, wishing that he could have Reaper’s actual voice there to push him over the edge. The joints in his legs cracked as he angled his pelvis so that he had better access, and water sloshed out of the tub onto the tile. He couldn’t bring himself to care about anything but reaching completion at this point. He was so close, yet he couldn’t get close enough. Grunting in irritation, he unhooked his leg and turned over fully in the bath so he could lean his skull into his elbow as he propped it against the tub’s edge. He once again took his erection in hand and jerked himself with medium pressure but more quickly. He felt pleasure coil in his lower belly and loins, accumulating quickly as his frame periodically tensed and relaxed. His mouth watered as he approached orgasm, and the sounds coming from him would have been mortifying if he wasn’t alone. His hips stuttered, his rhythm becoming clumsy as he came into the bath water. Geno trembled through it, breathing hard as he leaned heavily against the side of the basin.

He undid the drain so he could refill the bath with clean water. He was unwilling to get out so he just let his skull fall back as he waited for the basin to fill back up to a good level. The afterglow left him blissful and less sore. He pondered the physical side of his and Reaper’s relationship, especially as the euphoric sensation lingered. His soul ached in response, and Geno sighed, running a hand over his eternally bleeding sternum, as though he could quell the emotional pain. His thoughts had begun to alter into something which slightly scared him. Geno was confident in his self control, but all of this attention on him, the idea that he was special to someone, had his soul yearning for more.

His breath hitched as he touched the sensitive ecto between his legs, where he found the soft opening. It was fun using all of his magic given assets at once, and not being shy about his gender contributed to feeling comfortable pleasuring himself in whatever way felt good on a given day. Slipping two digits inside, he sighed, letting go of the tension in his shoulders as best he could. The steamy water lapped at his joints, granting him reprieve from the small aches returning to his frame.

Geno had caught himself following a line of thought which made him uncomfortable. He was typically efficient at separating sex from his feelings and innermost desires, but recently he’d caught himself thinking about pregnancy–not only that, but he liked the idea. Shamefully, he realized he was more turned on when the idea breached the fortified parameters of his consciousness than not.

When he’d been in the walk-in closet with Reaper, and after that, he couldn’t keep the thought from making itself known to him during their heated activities. While Reaper was unaware, he was arching his spine and envisioning carrying a part of Reaper inside of him. He probably should’ve been revolted at the idea, but since he’d never been “fertile” according to doctors, he accepted it as a fantasy that would never take root in reality. Nudging the knobs of the faucet with his foot, he slouched back into the water, unhurriedly curling his phalanges inside of himself. Maybe it was time he just let himself feel what he felt. No one had to know. His anatomy was fucked up and there was no way that he’d create something in this sorry state. He could live a little, let himself imagine and play pretend–what harm could it do?

~

Reaper returned to Geno’s place in the evening toting a hot dinner from the supermarket down the street. He chose a savory stew, a baguette and freshly packed butter. He could bitch about the price later on, but for Geno, it was worth it. He was familiar with the other’s habit of forgetting meals and he wanted to soften the blow of his unfortunate loss of his job. Exhaling a plume of warm breath into the cold air, he unlocked and opened the front door, stepping into the dim foyer.

“Gen?” Reaper’s voice echoed, and footfalls could be heard above. The squeak of floorboards alerted him to the other skeleton descending the steps. Reaper smiled tiredly as he watched Geno step out of the hallway, rubbing at his eye socket. “Hey, you. What’s the old man been up to today, huh?”

Geno rolled his eye light. “Practically nothing. I bathed, does that count?”

Reaper snorted. “Oh, excuse me. You must be exhausted,” Reaper commented, making his way into the kitchen. “Which is why I, being the considerate monster I am, have brought you a meal.”

“Mhm. It does smell good, I’ll give you that,” Geno said, sliding into a seat at the table. “How was your day, Reaps?”

Reaper stilled momentarily before continuing to unload their dinner. He swallowed thickly, his thoughts racing as he contemplated the best way to go about telling the other that he was fired. “It was, uh…something.”

Geno tilted his skull. “That bad, huh? Do you wanna tell me about it?”

Reaper sighed. “Um, well…” Reaper worried his lower lip with his teeth, one of his hands busy with the back of his neck. “Fuck it. I was fired today, Gen.”

Geno stood up from his seat, effectively knocking the chair to the ground as he did. “What?”

“Sci was laid off, too. Toriel didn’t like what we said when she informed us she mishandled the case. I’m going to pursue legal action and I’m sure Sci is going to as well. I wanted to know if you’d be alright with me talking to your lawyer, Gen. If you’re not, I understand, I can find my own-”

“Talk to him, yes. As soon as possible,” Geno insisted, coming around the table so that stood in front of Reaper. “Reaper, I’m so sorry.” Geno hugged him, and Reaper didn’t hesitate in wrapping his own arms around the other. “Thank you for confiding in me,” Geno said softly, guilt gnawing at his soul.

Reaper chuckled dryly. “Of course.” ‘You’re kind of important to me, you know?’ Reaper inhaled Geno’s comforting scent, nuzzling into the side of his neck. “It’s not your fault, Gen.”

Geno released Reaper, anger accumulating in his soul as he thought about what this meant for Reaper. He expected the case to have roadblocks along the way, but this was another level of petty. “Call my attorney tomorrow. He should be able to take you on. We’re going to get this shit straightened out,” Geno growled. “Your boss can go fuck herself while we prepare for legal dealings.”

“Heh, yeah. We’re going to be alright. It’s just incredibly infuriating,” Reaper said, a wry smile curling the edges of his mouth. “Shit. And to think my day started out so well, too.”

“How so?” Geno asked, popping open one of the food containers and stirring the contents around with a spoon. The scent of curry wafted upwards, making Geno’s mouth water.

“You were very affectionate this morning,” Reaper stated. He observed Geno’s skull snapping up and his eye light zeroing in on his face.

“What?” Geno asked, his sudden anger replaced with anxiety. “What did I do exactly?”

A light blush sprang up along Reaper’s zygomatic bones. “Oh, nothing. Just kissed me on the cheek,” Reaper said, his smile reflecting his satisfaction. Geno’s face turned red as he processed what had been said. When had he done that? He didn’t remember anything along those lines.

“I’m-I what? Reaper I–” Geno smacked his hands over his face. “Hell, I don’t remember that. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?” Reaper asked, his brows pinching together as he chuckled. “I liked it. I wasn’t expecting it at all and suddenly you’re in my arms and…and you’re kissing my face.” Reaper’s expression softened. “I would’ve felt a lot worse off after my encounter today if it wasn’t for your presence in my life, Gen. I hope you realize how much I appreciate you.”

Geno reluctantly removed his hands from his face. He looked at the food on the table suddenly realizing that his hunger had diminished into a feeling of uneasiness. His soul was tightening and shifting uncomfortably as he pondered. Reaper still wanted to kiss him, but the idea of Reaper being disgusted with the way he tasted made him feel hollow. He didn’t know what he’d do if Reaper reacted negatively to kissing him, in all honesty. Geno already found his medical affliction revolting, so Reaper no doubt would be repulsed by the metallic, marrow tinged flavor when he tasted it. He released a breath, planting a hand on the table to steady himself. Geno paused, his eye light contracting into a pinpoint of light. His expression conveyed his discomfort as he rubbed his forehead, mentally warring with himself over whether to give in or push Reaper away.

To Reaper, Geno’s cherry blush was an extremely appealing sight. He felt a sense of accomplishment at bringing that mesmerizing, pretty hue to Geno’s face. “Why are you so into the idea of kissing me? Because you really don’t want to do that. I bleed, like, all of the fucking time…”

Reaper looked at him with a deadpan expression as he replied, “You? Bleeding? I never noticed,” he commented, unable to help the smirk that appeared as he did. “Geno, I’m well aware of that. Do you think I don’t realize what I’d be getting myself into? Is that it?”

He was met with silence as Geno looked down and away from him. Anywhere that wasn’t Reaper’s icy blue eye light was suddenly very interesting. Reaper tilted his head, trying to catch Geno’s gaze. He felt empathy as he identified Geno was probably very used to loathing his condition and everything that came with it. It wasn’t his fault, and if Reaper could, he’d shoulder the pain for him, but that was an impossibility. “Gen? Tell me how you’re feeling right now,” Reaper asked, his voice calm. “We’re talking–that’s all we’re doing, right? We don’t have to do anything else.”

Geno sighed, nodding. “Do you want to kiss me that badly, Reaps?” Geno asked disbelievingly. “You want the taste of blood in your mouth? Really? Because to me, that sounds like the opposite of a good time.”

“Listen, your boundaries are important to me. If you don’t want to kiss, so be it, but if it’s got something to do with the idea of me being put off by your condition, then let me show you how wrong that line of thought really is.” Reaper scooted his chair out, gazing at the nervous skeleton sitting across from him. “If you’re comfortable with it, I’d very much still like to kiss you, Geno.”

”Okay,” Geno responded, intending to slide fluidly into Reaper’s lap, but instead ending up trembling like a leaf as he positioned himself. His soul was a tense ball of energy, the sensation giving him the impression that it was liable to implode like a dying star. He shakily set his hands atop Reaper’s shoulders. He opened his mouth to talk, but when nothing came out, he simply nodded. Reaper smiled softly, his searing blue eye light observing the damaged side of Geno’s face before returning to the intact side. He leaned closer, waiting for any sign of discomfort or hesitation from the other. The only sound was their breathing, the rustling of their clothing, and the click of the heating as it turned on upstairs.

Reaper closed the distance between them, capturing the soft bone of Geno’s lips. Using the tip of his tongue, he traced along Geno’s lips before slipping inside. Geno whimpered softly, his grip on Reaper’s shoulders tightening as the seated skeleton groaned. Sure, there was a slight metallic taste, but it wasn’t necessarily off putting–he could detect Geno’s magic signature intermingling with his own as their tongues met. It was slightly sweet and entirely alluring. Reaper pulled away to check on Geno.

“You okay?” Reaper asked, excitement and breathlessness catching up to him. Geno nodded, his eye light contracting to a pinpoint as he registered blood on Reaper’s lips and teeth. Reaper caught on, bringing his sleeve up to wipe away the evidence of their smooch. “Shhh, hey. Look at me. I enjoyed it,” Reaper said. “How was it for you?”

“You’re…you’re bein’ completely honest?” Geno asked, his hands at his own mouth to wipe away any blood that had trailed down to his chin. Reaper nodded, his smile reminiscent of the genuine one Geno recalled from months prior. “I…kissing you is like-” Geno paused, looking skyward momentarily as he contemplated. “Like nothing else matters. Don’t crush my soul here, telling me you’re okay with this when you’re not, because that was the highlight of my day.”

“You matter,” Reaper hummed, pressed a kiss to Geno’s nasal ridge. Geno rolled his eye light. “You’re going to have to get used to compliments, because there’s nowhere I’d rather be right now than here with you.”

“Reaps, stop with that sappy bs,” Geno said, chuckling as he swatted at the other’s chest. “I’m…I’m not worth throwing your life away for. There are countless other monsters out there and you’re sitting here with someone who’s crippled and old–”

“No,” Reaper replied sternly, his grip on Geno’s thighs tightening to the point that it bordered on painful. “Don’t say those things. I want you, Gen. I got around in my youth. It wasn’t anything to write home about. I don’t remember names or faces, because they don’t fuckin’ matter, but you,” he said, one of his hands moving to cup Geno’s jaw, “You’re special. The way you make me feel is…I can’t put it into words right now, but I’ll find a way eventually, I promise.”

“You promise?” Geno asked warily. Reaper nodded. Geno sighed, lifting a hand to Reaper’s cervical vertebrae, rolling the necklace chain through his phalanges. “Okay, Reaps. Okay.” He leaned forward and initiated the kiss, which absolutely delighted Reaper. Geno let his eye socket close and relaxed into the firm hold, aware that his ecto had formed and that Reaper was very aware of that fact as he squeezed his hips.

They eventually moved from the kitchen into the living room where a couch had recently been planted the previous week. Reaper climbed over Geno, kissing him languidly as his hands roamed the other’s vivid, red abdomen. Geno’s arms were behind Reaper’s neck as he moved to mouth at Geno’s cervical vertebrae.

He didn’t mean to bite him as hard as he did, but it had Geno groaning obscenely as marrow met Reaper’s tongue. Reaper was quick to apologize, but Geno pulled him down, capturing his mouth before he could finish his apology. It was Reaper’s turn to hum in appreciation as Geno grew bolder, taking control of the kiss. It was kind of clumsy, but he liked the fact that the other was comfortable enough to take control. He rolled his hips downward, nudging his erection against Geno’s crotch.

The flavor of Geno’s magic was heady on his tongue as he asked, “Can I fuck you? Stars, I wanna fuck you so badly, Gen.”

“Yeah. Yeah, c-come on,” Geno urged, his face red with exertion and arousal. “Fuck me, Reaps, I need it,” Geno said. He nipped at Reaper’s jaw, wrapping his claves around his back.

Reaper lined himself up with the slick opening between glistening red folds, gathering lubricant as he guided the head past the lips. Geno shuddered, eager to feel the burn of being stretched after only taking a measly two of his phalanges today. “Please. C’mon,” he pleaded. “I like a little pain, you know?”

Reaper snapped his hips forward, sheathing himself inside of Geno in a singular thrust. Geno’s skull fell back against the couch cushions, mouth open as he let out a strangled ‘yes’. Reaper repeated a few similar thrusts before humping into Geno mercilessly. Geno was a sight to behold as he noisily expressed his appreciation for Reaper’s cock as it plunged the depths of his ecto. He clutched at his shoulder blades for support as Reaper slammed his hips against his ass. “Mmnnn, fuck,” Geno cried, whimpering as his insides accommodated the delicious girth of Reaper’s dick.

Geno arched up into Reaper, tears pricking at his eye sockets. His thoughts drifted as he watched Reaper’s lust riddled expression shift in intensity as he took him. Reaper was so attractive above him, taking his pleasure, his blue eye light like a beacon as he gave into carnal desire. Geno’s walls contracted as the sensitivity of his insides increased. The idea of being bred had his mouth watering, and somehow his ecto felt more accommodating as Reaper deepened his thrusts, the angle making the edges of Geno’s vision blur and spark with flecks of light. He was on the verge of coming undone, the tension in his abdomen spreading into his pelvis. They were kissing once more, the blend of sensations accumulating in a euphoric, all consuming experience. Geno cried out, his frame tensing up as he was pulled through a drawn out climax, and Reaper had no qualms about fucking him through it.

“Yes, mnnyes, fuck, Reaper, h-ye-hes,” Geno babbled, his skull thrown back into the couch cushions. Reaper continued, his rhythm thrown off as he neared his own end. Reaper snarled, chasing the end as he lifted Geno’s pelvis to attempt a deeper angle.

“You’re so good, Gen. My sweet boy…mmnnh, fuck.” As he climaxed, he kissed Geno deeply, shivering as he came inside of him. Geno felt as though he was floating outside of his frame as heat pooled in his lower stomach. He shivered as pleasurable tingles climbed his spine.

He came down gradually, the fuzz in his skull dispersing in bits and pieces. He felt drained but whole, satisfied and longing for something he couldn’t outright name simultaneously. “Holy shit,” Geno uttered. “C-can’t feel my lower half. I think you deserve some recognition for temporarily paralyzing me.” He laughed out loud.

“I’ll be your legs,” Reaper remarked, nuzzling his face into Geno’s neck. “Stars, you’re so good to me. I can’t even begin to tell you how hot that was, Gen. You drive me crazy in the best way possible.”

“Are you sure you aren’t just desperate?” Geno asked jokingly and Reaper scoffed in response. “Could you stay inside me for a little while? This feels really nice.”

“I can do that,” Reaper purred. “Do you want to lay on top of me?”

“How’d you know?” Geno asked, his eye socket half lidded.

Reaper smirked. “I just had a hunch. I thought you’d like to be the top for once. I know, I’m intuitive, devilishly charming and don’t forget smart.” Reaper stuck out his azure tongue, and Geno playfully poked it.

“Mhmm, right. Are you ready to be my body pillow?”

“You know it. I was brought to life for this sole purpose,” Reaper stated, flipping their positions with ease. Geno teasingly rolled his hips before resting his skull in the space where Reaper’s clavicle met his shoulder. “Fuck, Gen. Has anyone ever told you how pretty your ecto is?”

Geno lifted his head to look at him. “No, actually, I haven't.” Geno offered a satiated smile. “Thanks, Reaps,” he said softly.

Geno’s eye snapped open to a dark living room. Startled, he lifted his skull, registering that he was still tethered to Reaper via his ecto, which happened to stay intact along with his own. He didn’t have a clue how long he’d been asleep for, or when he’d actually drifted off. Reaper was still deep in sleep, snoring softly as his mouth hung slightly ajar. Geno spied the tips of his canines peeking over his lower lip. Geno reached up to caress Reaper’s jaw, observing the minute alterations in his expression in response to his touch. Geno couldn’t help the smile that curled the edges of his lips.

“Hey, um…I really care about you, Reaps,” he said softly alongside the other’s skull. Reaper uttered a breathy sound in his sleep, the corner of his mouth twitching. Geno felt giddiness manifest in his abdomen. He bit his lower lip. “Earlier today, before you returned home, I was thinking about you. I can’t catch a break, I swear,” Geno said gently. “You turn me on, but you know that…it felt like more, you know?” Geno whispered, trailing off. “I think I want you in my life…as long as you’d like to be, that is,” Geno admitted, his face burning as he blushed.

“Gen,” Reaper uttered, shifting in his sleep. In doing so, he bucked his hips upward. Geno grunted, barely catching himself before his skull would have connected with Reaper’s. Geno sat up slowly, determined not to wake the other as he dislodged Reaper’s dick from inside of him. He nearly lost his footing, but managed to catch himself, making his way towards the hallway. He padded towards the restroom, not bothering to turn on the light. He grabbed a small towel and doused it in water before wringing it out. He wiped his frame, getting rid of the sweat that had gathered and dried earlier on leaving a sticky feeling residue on the surface of his bones. He rinsed the cloth and wrung it out again, before hanging it on the rungs next to the sink.

He wrinkled his nasal ridge as an odd scent suddenly caught his attention. It was acrid, and he swore it hadn’t been there before. It began to make the inside of his mouth and nasal aperture prickle before gripping his soul, the intensity of the scent quickly becoming overwhelming. Geno’s eye sockets watered as he coughed harshly, his plan to stay quiet falling apart as he gave into hacking and gagging. He already knew there would be blood, so he felt around for the toilet before opening the lid and bearing the discomfort of the wet coughing fit. He could tell from the sound of the bathroom door opening that Reaper had arrived. Geno felt semi guilty but also exasperated–leave it to him to ruin a pleasant evening. His condition seemed to suck the joy out of everything.

“I’m here, I’m here,” Reaper said, exhaustion still thick in his deep voice. He rubbed Geno’s spine, attempting to comfort him while the other gagged and gasped. “What can I get you, Gen?” He asked.

Releasing a mouthful of blood into the porcelain bowl, and spitting out any remnants, Geno replied, “The ra-rag. It’s hanging…right over there.” He pointed towards the sink, and Reaper glanced around until he caught the damp cloth hanging alongside the sink. “Fuck,” Geno groaned, trying to catch his breath.

“Here.” Reaper handed him the towel and Geno wiped his face and chest. He took care to wipe around the toilet seat, knowing he’d probably made a mess of it as well. “Let’s get you something to drink. Come here.”

Geno nodded, grateful when Reaper helped him to stand. He leaned against him, exhaustion settling heavily in his frame after the coughing fit. They meandered to the kitchen where Reaper grabbed a mug, plopping some ice cubes in before filling it up using the water filter in the fridge door. Geno accepted the drink, praising the gods as it was absorbed by his sore soul. He set the glass on the counter when he’d drained it.

“Sorry for wakin’ you,” he said, rubbing at his forehead. “Heh, I tried hard not to disturb you for nothing it seems like.”

“Gen, you’re fine. I can go back to sleep just fine,” he said, his hand trembling lightly as he touched Geno’s jaw. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, the water helped a ton. There was an odd smell in the restroom and…I don’t know how to explain it except that it stung my throat. I don’t know if that makes sense,” Geno stated. Reaper tilted his skull.

“Sting where?” Reaper asked.

“Well, it started in my mouth and nasal aperture, then it moved to my soul. It’s not as bad now–in fact, it’s a lot less intense. Sorry for the scare, Reaps,” he said, placing his hand over Reaper’s, which was still flush with his cheek.

“A scent, huh?” Reaper’s brow furrowed as he contemplated the implications of a strange scent. While he hadn’t caught wind of it, it didn’t mean there wasn’t a suspicious aroma emanating from the restroom. “I’ll call someone to come take a look around. That’s really concerning, Gen. Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

“I’m just peachy,” he replied, closing the proximity between himself and Reaper. Before he could second guess his decision, he wrapped his arms around Reaper’s waist, his phalanges memorizing the divots and ridges of the other’s spine. “I think,” Geno said softly, barely stifling a yawn, “That we should go upstairs and go back to sleep.”

Reaper sighed, clearly still anxious after being abruptly torn out of slumber by the sound of Geno struggling to breathe as he coughed and dry heaved over the commode. “You’ll tell me if you need medical attention,” Reaper said, his eye light steely as he tilted Geno’s skull up by his chin. “Promise me you will.”

Geno was blushing again. He really, really liked Reaper’s serious side. A flash of heat traveled through him, pooling in his pelvis, and before he had a chance to be more mortified, Reaper smirked. “Are you feeling a little amorous, angel?”

Geno glanced down to find his red ecto formed, the lamp on the kitchen counter illuminating the layers of his magic induced “skin”. ‘So discreet’ Geno thought to himself, before looking away from Reaper, offering a stiff shrug. “Maybe.”

“Don’t go shy on me now,” Reaper purred, tilting Geno’s chin upward once more. “Where’s the brat I’m so used to?”

Geno narrowed his eye socket. “Brat? You said I was a DILF.”

Reaper grinned deviously. “They’re not mutually exclusive, beautiful.”

Geno’s face burned with embarrassment. “Sh-shut up!” He bit out, attempting to turn his head. Reaper didn’t allow it.

“Aww, is Gen getting off on something? You wanna tell me what’s got you so flustered? Or will I have to find out for myself?”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up,” Geno stated, his face cherry red. Reaper chuckled.

“Teasing aside, would you really like for me to stop? Because I will if this is making you truly uncomfortable,” Reaper stated. Geno sighed, his breath exiting his rib cage shakily.

“I…I like when you t-talk to me that way,” Geno admitted. “Your voice is extremely at-attractive, Reaps. You were so serious a few minutes ago and it really struck somethin’ within me.”

Reaper smiled wickedly. “I can strike something within you again, baby. What do you say?” Before Geno had fully responded, Reaper teleported them upstairs, landing them in the plush duvet of Geno’s bed. Geno gasped, before playfully slapping at Reaper’s sternum.

“You idiot! What if you had misjudged the distance?.”

“But I didn’t, did I?” Reaper remarked, thoroughly enjoying the exasperated groan from his bed partner. “I’m confident in my abilities. No need to worry your pretty, little skull.”

Geno and Reaper bantered, their growing comfort with each other evident as they locked lips. Reaper’s teeth eventually found Geno’s shoulder, where he bit down just hard enough to draw a moan from the other skeleton. Geno trembled, staticky flecks of stars dancing in his peripheral vision. “When did I become pretty, huh?”

Reaper rested his forehead against Geno’s. “You’ve been pretty since you first moved in. I was just too much of an ass to admit it.”

Geno didn’t see a point in fighting the kiss–he wanted it, after all. Reaper’s phalanges trailed down between his legs, circling his clit before moving lower to slip inside of his slick opening. Geno’s breath hitched, and he moaned into Reaper’s mouth. “You want me to keep talking like I was doing earlier, Gen?”

“Hell yeah,” Geno breathed, pecking Reaper’s lips once more. Reaper returned the favor, his peck turning into a much deeper kiss that had them both breathless by the time they broke apart.

“If we’re going to play, how about a safeword?” Reaper proposed. Geno shrugged.

“M’kay. How about lung?”

Reaper’s expression soured as he commented, “The fleshy organs that process oxygen? That’s your safeword?”

“Yep,” Geno chirped, perfectly content with his selection.

“Alright, fine. Lung it is,” Reaper said. “How about you lay back? Let me take care of you.”

Geno complied, and Reaper moved between his thighs, settling on his front between them so that his breath tickled Geno’s exposed slit. Geno felt very vulnerable all at once, but he wanted to see where this went. He had his safeword and he trusted Reaper to stop if he said it. Reaper dipped his skull lower, lapping at the nub of the other’s clit. Geno whimpered, and his hips jumped as pleasure ricocheted up his spinal column. Reaper took that as an invitation to increase the pressure of his tongue against his sensitive ecto, licking inside of his opening as though he was tasting something divine. Geno shuddered, letting out a few expletives as his voice wavered. Reaper was enjoying himself immensely. While he enjoyed receiving oral from Geno, giving it to him was making him feel euphoric. He himself was rock hard, his erection rubbing against the covers, and the fact that he was eating Geno out, making him devolve into babbling and pleading, turned him on even further. He gave Geno’s puffy clit a suck, not too hard, but with enough pressure to have his back bowing off of the bed. The cry that escaped Geno went straight to Reaper’s dick.

“Fuck, you’re perfect,” Reaper purred, crawling over the other so that his erection nudged at Geno’s plushy cunt. Geno whined, grinding his hips so that Reaper nearly slipped inside–and he would have if he hadn’t retreated, putting some distance between their hips. “Ah ah, patience. Can you be patient for me, baby?”

Geno groaned. “Come on, I want you, Reaps,” he whined.

“I’m well aware,” Reaper said, pressing a kiss to Geno’s mouth. “I’ll give you a reward if you’re good. How would you like that?”

“Fine.” Geno huffed, then hummed in appreciation as Reaper thrusted his cock through his lower lips, the tip nudging his clit as he withdrew, only to repeat the motion. Geno rolled his hips to match the motions, loving the sensation of slow, tantalizing thrusts against his core. “Oh…oh, fuck. Stars, Reaps, d-don’t stop.”

“Wasn’t planning on it.” Reaper nuzzled him as he added more pressure to his grinding, his own voice joining Geno’s as he expressed his pleasure. “You make me want to fuck you raw, Gen. Mnn, you make me want to knot you-”

“Don’t tease me,” Geno pleaded. “Please knot me. Please,” he begged, gripping Reaper’s back like he was afraid he’d bolt at his request. “I’ve been thinking about it–about you knotting me. I want it.”

“You sure?” Reaper asked, a hint of concern in his tone. “It’s tempting, but-”

“I can’t…you know, um…my condition won’t allow me to carry,” Geno admitted, an ache culminating deep in his soul at the admission. Reaper, aware of the shift in mood, pressed a kiss to his forehead and held the other close to him.

“I’ll knot you, angel, if that’s what you want,” he hummed, sensing Geno’s distress. He didn’t know how, since the other’s soul signature was so unpredictable, but he felt it clearly. “You want to be claimed, Gen?”

“Yes,” he urged, locking his legs around Reaper’s waist. “You don’t know how badly I’ve wanted this…fuck,” Geno uttered, the tips of his phalanges digging into Reaper’s shoulder blades. Reaper aligned himself with Geno’s opening before sliding his length inside, feeling Geno’s grip tighten on his back as he sunk into the warmth. His pelvis made contact with the apex of his partner’s thighs, closing his eye sockets momentarily as heady pleasure overwhelmed his senses.

“Do you like how I spread you?” Reaper asked, fully aware of the answer as he asked Geno. He fucked him slowly, languidly moving his hips as Geno began to whimper. Geno nodded, clutching Reaper as close to him as physically possible while being fucked in missionary position. Reaper groaned, then growled as he sped up, plunging his dick as deep into his partner as Geno’s pelvis would allow. Geno couldn’t hold his tongue any longer, crying out as he was slammed into. Reaper maintained that intensity, the glow of his eye light feral in the darkness surrounding them. “You take me so well, baby. The way you squeeze me–mnhh, fuck, Gen–”

Reaper massaged Geno’s chest, reveling in the sensation of his soft ecto against his phalanges, filling his hands so perfectly. Geno arched up into his touch, pleading for him not to stop. One of Reaper’s hands traveled down to grope at the cherry red ecto of his stomach, which shifted each time Reaper’s pelvis made contact with Geno’s ass. He felt the beginning of his climax approaching, the sensation of peaking coiling in his lower abdomen as he pointedly humped Geno’s tightening pussy. He made the decision to bury himself deeper before it became a hassle to insert the swelling portion of his cock. While he met some resistance, he found massaging Geno’s clit as he plunged the expanding portion of his erection inside of his partner worked like a charm. Geno’s vocalizations took on a desperate edge as Reaper’s knot quickly filled any remaining space inside of his pelvis. Geno’s mouth fell open as he came undone, his eye light rolling back into his skull as he nearly sobbed in appreciation.

“Yes, Gen, come for me,” Reaper growled, still grinding into Geno’s trembling form. “Fuck, baby girl, fu-huck,” Reaper’s voice broke as he came, shunting his hips forward and holding Geno as he shivered. His spine and pelvis was alight with sensation, his rib cage expanding and contracting as he steadied himself. He leaned down to kiss the other, humming as Geno responded with passion. He felt his dick throb, and a chill ran through him. He allowed himself to become lost in Geno, forgetting where he started and the other ended–he didn’t need to remember. When they settled and the sweat cooled on their bones, Reaper switched their positions with care, maneuvering Geno so that he rested on top of his sternum.

“Reaps,” Geno said, and Reaper opened an eye socket.

“Yes, Gen?”

“So, now I’m your baby girl, huh?” Geno asked, a teasing smile decorating his features.

Reaper returned the smile, his hands settling at the small of Geno’s back. “You bet.” Reaper’s expression became less relaxed as he followed his statement up with, “You fit so perfectly in my arms. I think I’ll keep you here.”

Geno huffed, before pressing a kiss to Reaper’s jaw. “I like it when you hold me, Reaps. I like it a lot.”

~

Sci groaned as he came across another job opportunity similar to his last position that fell far below his salary expectations. He wasn’t a fresh graduate any longer and he wasn’t about to settle for hourly pay even though he knew he was qualified for all of the positions being listed. ‘Fuck Toriel. Fuck her idiocy, fuck her stubborness and fuck her twisted morals.’ How had he missed all of the signs? Sans had called him daft before when it came to reading others, but he wasn’t that bad at spotting red flags. Sci scowled, pushing away from his desk. ‘Speaking of Red…’

He knocked on the Fells’ front door, clutching his burgundy sweater close as the chilled wind tried to steal it from his frame. He stood there, shivering like a leaf and crossing his fingers that he’d caught Red when he was at home. His soul felt considerably lighter as the sound of locks being undone resounded from the other side and he held his breath.

The door opened to reveal Red, the under-socket bags evident as he squinted into the outside light streaming in. A smile curled his lips as he caught sight of Sci. “Yer a sight for sore eyes. What’s up, doll?”

“Hey, Red. The same goes for you,” he replied, stepping inside without hesitation. Red locked the door and pulled Sci flush against him before dipping down to kiss him. Sci responded eagerly, his tongue meeting Red’s as he opened his mouth to deepen their oral greeting.

“Ya taste sweet, sugar,” Red purred, teasing the lower vertebrae of Sci’s spine.

“And you taste kind of high…with a hint of mustard,” Sci responded. His eye lights became partially obscured by his half-lidded sockets. “I’d really like a cuddle session, daddy.”

“I bet ya would. How ‘bout ya come cozy up in my lap and we’ll see about gettin’ you whatcha need, baby?”

Sci paused as his line of thinking became less innocent very quickly. “What about Edge? I don’t want to scar him irreparably.”

“He won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon,” declared Red, leaning into Sci’s neck to nip at his cervical vertebrae. “We don’t have to fuck, you know? Ya just turn me on is all.”

“No, I want to. Heh, please,” Sci responded, wrapping his arms more tightly around Red’s midriff. “I’ve had a rough day. I don’t feel like I’ve gotten anywhere and I’ve been scrolling through potential jobs all day. I’m feeling kind of defeated to be honest.”

Red clicked his tongue. “You poor thing. Big Daddy Red will always make time for you.”

e

“Do you promise?” Sci asked coyly.

Red’s toothy smile spoke volumes.

~

Sci shifted his hips. Red had given him a wicked smirk earlier before settling in and, well, settling. His dick was hard and throbbing, but Red was enjoying watching Sci’s confusion and discontent with the lack of stimulation.

“You good there, babe?” Red asked, knowing the answer was a glaring ‘no’, but it amused him to ask anyway. Sci groaned.

“What do you think? Use your head,” Sci remarked, rolling his hips to garner at least some friction against his insides. Red barked out a laugh.

“I am. It’s currently shoved inside ya,” Red retorted. Sci narrowed his eye sockets. “Alright, alright,” Red said, figuring he’d played this game for long enough. “Anyone ever told ya yer sexy when yer ticked off?”

Sci huffed and Red chuckled.

“I mean, overall I think yer incredibly sexy,” Red purred. “I know ya want me to dick ya down, though. Is Sci bitter? Big Daddy Red’s done pushing yer buttons. Promise.”

Sci growled, before stating, “You’d better be, or I’ll bite you. I mean it.”

“Oh baby, don’t threaten me with a good time,” Red responded, his voice dipping into a deep baritone as he began to elevate Sci’s hips before thrusting up as he pulled the other’s pelvis flush with his own. Sci let out an exclamation that would have sounded pained if not for the fact that it was laced with a distinguishable moan.

“Fuck–oh, fuck, Red,” Sci breathed, his face tinted blue. Red grinned wickedly, repeating the motion until he established an unhurried, but punctuated rhythm that had Sci biting his knuckles.

Red had found his patch of heaven on earth, he was certain. Fucking Sci was incredible, but holding close as he did so satisfied that craving for something deeper he’d been too afraid to explore. He kind of felt like he couldn’t let Sci go even if he wanted to. It would be the biggest mistake he’d ever make, he acknowledged, as Sci’s frame trembled, his arms draped over his shoulders. There was something so divine about hearing Sci lost in pleasure that he hadn’t felt with others in the past. As he thrusted into Sci, he lost track of time and what was happening around them–it was as though time ceased as they drank in each other’s bodies. All good things come to an end, though.

“Re-ed, Red, mnn,” Sci groaned, skull lolling back as he felt his insides stretch to accommodate the other’s dick. “Claw my back. Cut me up, I wanna hurt,” Sci said, his eye lights hazy with bliss.

Red obliged, although he keenly listened for any sign that Sci wanted him to stop. He concentrated on not going too far and only creating surface level lacerations to Sci’s shoulder blades and rib cage. Sci nearly wailed, and shivered as his mind warred with his soul to decipher what was and wasn’t pleasure. It was a delight, one that was wickedly appealing, and Sci didn’t want to have sex without a side of pain (even if it was only slight).

“Make me bleed,” Sci pleaded, clenching as Red thrusted deeply, striking at a sweet spot that had him coming without warning. It was like a tidal wave, the suddenness of it both breathtaking and intense.

He could hear Red praising him as he came undone, the other’s sharp phalanges stinging the bones of his back as he obeyed Sci’s orders to make him ache. It was rapturous, the end of Sci’s orgasm leading up to the peak of Red’s own, which left the larger monster groaning as he lodged himself as deeply as he could inside of Sci’s ecto. In that moment, Sci felt like perfection, and Red was convinced that he’d made the best mistake of his life the day he knocked on Geno’s door.

Sci smoked, all the while still in Red’s lap, his arms draped limply over the seated monster’s shoulders. Leave it to him to fall asleep while still sitting on someone’s dick, because that was how things went down. His skull lolled to the side as he drifted off, the culmination of weed and sex lulling him into dreamland. Red held him as he turned on the television, grabbing a blanket from the basket beside the chair to drape over Sci’s slouched form.

~

Red’s excitement wouldn’t be dampened by the weather. Sure, he’d expected it to be a little nicer than the icy gusts of wind that stepped out into, but his plans wouldn’t be thwarted. There was snow on the ground that had hardened into a layer of ice, creating a frigid shell over the front yard. Red blew a plume of smoke into the air, watching it hang in the chilled air. He turned around to look at the front door.

“Hey, babydoll, ya comin’?” He called. There was a response from within, and before long Sci appeared at the door, donning one of Red’s jackets, a red scarf and a black, knit beanie. Red was overwhelmed by the sudden temptation to pull him close. “There he is,” Red hummed, smiling widely. “Ya ready?”

“Stars, it’s freezing,” Sci complained. “But yeah, I’m ready. Lead the way.”

Red pulled Sci flush against him before teleporting them into the metropolitan area. Sci’s shoes slid on the pavement, but Red’s thick-soled boots kept him steady. He held onto Sci, leaning in to press a kiss to his nasal ridge. Sci blushed, pushing lightly at Red’s sternum as he looked around. He spotted a large, neon sign shaped like a coffee mug connected to a brick building. There was an array of plants crowding the windows. Even though they were out in the frigid air, the scent of pastries and freshly pulled espresso was in the air.

Glancing back at Red, he quietly asked, “Are we stopping for coffee?”

“That was the idea,” Red responded. “What? Ya don’t like coffee? They’ve got other options-”

“I like coffee, big guy,” Sci responded jokingly, pressing a kiss to Red’s cheek. “You’re sweet.”

Red found his face heating up as he registered Sci’s words. Never had anyone referred to him as sweet before. Sci linked arms with him, taking the lead as they entered the modern, yet cozy coffee shop.

“Hello,” one of the barista’s greeted as she met them at the counter. “Have you been before?

“I’ve been before. This is his first time,” Red responded, putting an arm around Sci’s waist. The human woman smiled.

“Well, welcome and welcome back,” she said. “Do you have an idea of what you’d like?”

Red looked to Sci, who was still busy studying the menu. He decided to order his regular cappuccino and cinnamon scone combo. “Any sweetener, sir?”

“Heh, no. Hold the sugar, please.”

“Alright, and for you?”

“The Twisted Honey Bee with an extra shot of espresso,” Sci requested. “Extra whip, too, please.”

“Mm, good choice. That’s one of my favorites,” the barista responded as she wrote the order on the cup. “Is this together or separate?”

“Together,” Red stated before Sci could interject. He pulled out his rewards card and his debit. “How about we find a seat? They’ve got one of those old fashioned wood burning stoves here.”

“Oh, hell yes.” Sci tugged the gloves off of his phalanges and shoved them into his coat pockets before settling in the seat closest to the aforementioned antique stove. Red waited for their order to be ready when the barista caught his attention.

“Are you guys together?” She asked. Red shrugged in response. “Sorry to be nosy. You, uh, look good together.”

“Thanks. I think so, too.”

“Here’s your drinks and the scone. Enjoy.” She handed them over to Red, who was looking forward to treating Sci, even if it was only hanging out in the quaint coffeehouse together.

“Warmed up yet?” Red asked, setting their drinks down on the tabletop. Sci nodded.

“I’m getting there. This is a cute place. Do you come here often?”

“Couple times a week, yeah. Maybe ya could start comin’ with me,” he proposed. “I could get my ass outta bed early if it’s ta see you, Sci.”

“Pft. I’m flattered,” Sci responded. He sipped his drink, humming in appreciation as the warmth was absorbed by his soul. “I’d like that.”

Red smiled softly at Sci’s response. He pulled out his scone and took the time to enjoy it. He wasn’t a sweets guy, but the cinnamon scones were very palatable. The sweetness was balanced with the cinnamon and it made for a great breakfast bite. “Being here is far better with company, in my opinion.”

Sci’s face flushed, and he focused on his coffee. His soul felt as though it would burst, but he wouldn’t let the other know. He was embarrassed. Red saw him as a fuckbuddy and he was thinking about…well, about how Red squinted his eye sockets when he smiled and the raised portions of Red’s bones which were undoubtedly scars from years passed. One of his sockets was damaged, the brow bone above chipped enough that it exposed a fraction of his inner skull. In Sci’s opinion, it added to Red’s appeal (as fucked up as that was to be turned on by someone’s injuries). He’d gladly explore every one of Red’s thick, scarred bones and commit them to memory if given the chance-

“Earth to Sci. Y’okay doll?” Red asked, drawing Sci’s attention to the fact that he’d been staring at the other for an indeterminate amount of time. He looked down, blushing fiercely. “Hey, what’s gotcha all flustered?” Red asked, his focus zeroing in on Sci.

Sci dared to look up, and realized he’d made a mistake. Red looked immensely satisfied, and it spurred on Sci’s blush. “S-stop that,” Sci squeaked out, hiding behind his coffee cup.

“Oh, so yer allowed to look but I’m not? Tch. Tell me how thas fair.” Red faked annoyance, before reaching out to remove the recycled to-go cup from in front of the other’s face. “There we are. I like it better when I can see ya.”

Sci didn’t have words at the moment. He probably looked like a fish out of water as he attempted to speak, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t utter a syllable. He brought his hands up to his face as he began to feel like the entire shop was watching him flounder. Red clicked his tongue before reaching out and taking one of Sci’s hands. When it did nothing to calm him down, Red made a decision. “Hold tight, sweetheart–we’re jumpin’,” he stated. He and Sci were teleported from the shop to a snowy, lightly forested area. It was quiet, and the snow was undisturbed aside from the area over the lake, which hosted a flock of geese pecking away and waddling around on the frozen surface. The flock honked at their spontaneous arrival.

Sci released a shaky breath and squeezed Red’s hands. “Sorry…I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I fucked it up. I fucked up coffee with you-”

“Psh, no, ya didn’t fuck anything up,” Red reassured him. “I could see how anxious ya were.” Sci looked at him with no small amount of guilt gnawing at his soul. He nodded. “Hey, Sci, listen to me–ya didn’t ruin a thing, m’kay? How about we take a walk?”

“Okay.”

They created footprints in the virgin snow, the crunch of it accented by the silence of the park. Sci leaned into him, wanting to hit his head against something for letting himself become so overwhelmed by something as menial and commonplace as a coffee shop. He was certain he’d blown his chances with Red, not that he stood a chance to begin with. He contemplated the possibility that his brothers’ approach to relationships had been the right way to go about things. Sans didn’t give others the chance to hurt him. He kept them at arm’s length and Sci could attest to how that felt, growing up alongside someone who was emotionally a complete stranger to him.

“I wish I could redo that…I liked the coffee shop,” Sci stated, looking down at his feet as they meandered along. “My anxiety has gotten worse over the years. I, um…probably should’ve said something.”

“You don’t need ta beat yerself up over this. It’s okay,” Red said. He gave Sci’s hand a squeeze. “How about we whip up some coffee at my place? Even better, Edge had some mocha powder we can stir in. How about it?”

Sci glanced up, searching Red’s face before offering a lopsided smile, and nodding.

~

Reaper reached out to Geno’s attorney, who agreed to meet with him once they discussed the connection between Reaper’s and Geno’s cases. It was beneficial for him to represent them both, and he didn’t see a point in turning down a guy who was witness to Geno's body bag event. They’d decided to meet at a cafe that was sparsely populated during the mid-morning. Reaper prepared for an awkward conversation, but the attorney made an effort to put him at ease.

The lanky, hybrid type skeleton monster laid out the documents which needed to be signed before proceeding with building Reaper’s profile and case. The surface of the individual’s “skin” flowed, iridescent and fluid while simultaneously appearing solid. It reminded Reaper of smoke reflecting light except it was held within a semi-transparent outer layer, which was supported by a black, skeletal structure inside which mirrored his own. The pen in Reaper’s hand scratched his signature on all of the required documents after he skimmed through them. Nothing in particular jumped out at him, so he proceeded to authorize all of the forms so they could begin their first discussion as client and attorney.

“Here’s your coffee, gentlemen,” a waiter said, settling the pot down on the table along with cream and sugar a good distance away from the paper documents. “Please let me know if you need anything else.”

Reaper muttered a ‘thanks’ before completing the last of his signatures and clicking the pen shut. “Alright. Is that all of it?” Reaper asked, ready to dive into the meeting. His attorney nodded, accepting the signed forms with one of his dark, outstretched hands.

“Yes, that is all,” he stated. “I’d like to cover your personal information before we proceed with discussing events. Does that sound alright to you?”

“It sure does. What is your name again, by the way?”

“Reid,” he responded. “And to jog my own memory, your’s is Reaper, correct?”

“That’s my name.” Reaper sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Listen, is my case even worth pursuing? If it’s not realistic, I’d rather just see that Geno receives his compensation.”

The monster stilled, his white eye lights narrowing slightly. “You haven’t even given yourself a chance. Give me a chance to advise you. If your case truly will not hold up in court, we will focus upon Geno solely. How does that sound?”

Reaper nodded. “You’re right. The stress is getting to me, heh. Sorry, I don’t mean to come off as hysterical, it’s just…I recently lost my job,” Reaper said quietly, as though ashamed to be admitting that fact to anyone but Geno. “It wasn’t something that I saw coming, but that’s why I’m here.” Reid nodded.

“I have gone through trying circumstances in my time as well,” he said. “I’m not judging you for experiencing strong emotions. You lost something that kept your life stable.”

Reaper scowled. “Thanks. That does mean a lot.” He sighed. “So, I guess you’d like to know about me. Where’d you like me to begin?”

~

Sci wondered if he was crossing an unspoken boundary as he approached Geno’s home. It was a bit too late, he supposed, as he rang the doorbell, alerting the other to someone at his stoop. Sci wondered why he thought it was a good idea to bug him as the door opened. Geno looked surprised.

“Sci–hey,” Geno said, his mind still processing that he was at his door. “How’s it going?”

“It’s-” Sci began, but paused. “How do you say ‘things are going to shit’ without being a complete downer? Because I’d like to know.”

Geno chuckled. “Do you want to come in? I just brewed some coffee.” Sci nodded, and followed the other inside. He looked around, spotting some new additions to the entrance of the home. He took a seat at the kitchen table.

“You’ve really been making this place your own. It’s looking good,” he said. Geno cleared his throat.

“Well thanks. I’m no interior designer, but I’m trying. What do you like in your coffee?”

“Cream and sugar, if you would. Trust me, I have no clue where to start with home decor,” Sci stated. He accepted the warm mug with a sigh. “Thanks. I forgot to caffeinate this morning.”

Geno’s nasal ridge crinkled as he uttered, “Oh, you poor thing.” Sci snorted.

“So, I suppose Reaper has told you about our shit luck?” Sci asked, and Geno nodded. Sci smiled even though he felt like everything he worked for was falling to pieces. “Our boss was making some fucked up decisions regarding your case…it was convoluted.”

“So I’ve heard,” Geno said, taking a seat across from the other. “Reaper is meeting with my attorney. I think you should get one, too. That was wrongful termination.”

Sci nodded as he took off his glasses. He set them down and leaned his forehead into his hands. “I think you’re right…that would be a good idea,” Sci agreed. He looked up, taking in Geno’s blurry visage. “Do you mind if I ask you something?”

Geno shook his head. “Go for it.”

“Are you and Reaper together?” He asked. Geno stiffened slightly, before letting his shoulders relax.

“We…we haven’t labeled it,” Geno said. “I’d say it was complicated, but it’s…” he sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I didn’t exactly expect to feel such strong emotions for him.” Geno blushed. “Is it that obvious?”

Sci smiled. “Yeah, only a little bit. That’s not bad, though,” Sci reassured him. “You both seem to enjoy each other’s company. It’s refreshing to see.”

Geno nodded. “He knows how to make me want to hit my head into a brick wall while simultaneously tempting me to strangle him…it just doesn’t feel like it makes much sense.”

Sci snorted. “Sounds like love to me.”

“What? I never said-” Geno began, but was cut off when Sci stood.

“You’re enamored with him.” Sci plucked his glasses off of the table and set them back on his nasal ridge. “You don’t have to be ashamed, it’s only natural, right? You feel safe with him around, you like how he looks, how he sounds-”

“Sci,” Geno said, beginning to laugh. “Shut the hell up! I’m not in love, you fucker.”

“Oh, I’m the fucker? Are you sure you haven’t sucked Reaper dry yet?”

Geno went slack-jawed in shock and it was Sci’s turn to laugh. He supported himself on the table as he doubled over, unable to keep it in as Geno’s expression burned itself into his mind.

“What, heh heheh, what’s wrong with you?” Geno asked, laughing along with him as his surprise at the statement wore off. “You say that like you haven’t been fucking Red since the night he joined the housewarming party.”

“H-hey, I never said anything about–we’re just friends,” Sci stated, crossing his arms over his sternum. Geno scoffed.

“You mean friends with benefits,” Geno corrected him. “Sans was fuming, so I don’t think “just friends” is exactly capturing what is going on between you and Red.”

Sci blushed and he clicked his tongue. “Fine. He’s a good fuck, not to mention that he’s very nice to look at. Sans’ opinion on who I hook up with is irrelevant.”

Sensing the tone change, Geno nodded. “I completely agree. I thought it was a bit overbearing when he was going on about you leaving with Red…” He rubbed at the back of his neck. “I think it’s neat you got with Red. He seems like a laid back dude.”

Sci offered a soft smile. “Thanks. Sans has always been a dick, he’s just good at hiding it around new people.” He sighed. “Red’s fun to hang out with. I’d like to get to know him better.”

Geno’s brows shot up. “Really? For serious?” Sci nodded, face flushed a vivid blue along his cheek bones. “That’s kind of fantastic. I’m glad you guys connected. Reaper was cautious, but he has his reasons,” Geno said. “He doesn’t have anything against Red–it was just that we didn’t know him. I bet he won’t be a stranger for long, though.”

“I mean, I like him, right? But I…this is kind of fast, right?” Sci asked.

Geno shrugged. “Yes, but as long as you’re comfortable with the pace, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Are you feeling pressured?”

Sci thought about it before shaking his skull. “No, I don’t feel pressured at all. He gives me a lot of mixed feelings. I’m not exactly a social guy, but he makes me want to be, but with him. Alone.”

Geno chuckled. “Hate to break it to you, but it sounds like you’re swooning over him.”

“I…am I? He’s…how do I say it…” Sci pondered, feeling flustered as he considered Red’s sense of humor, his gravelly laugh and the intensity of his magic. It gave him a rush like no other while also feeding that starved part of him that made him feel like he’d never be wanted by someone else–at least not in the way he needed.

“You don’t have to say anything. I’m here if you wanna talk about it, though,” Geno said. “It took me a long time to admit I began having feelings for Reaper. And I catch myself doubting that it would last if we tried. So I get it.”

Sci nodded. He lifted his mug of coffee up, taking a long sip. He released a heavy sigh. “You know, I’m sorry that I didn’t get to continue analyzing your condition. If you’d like to, we can continue looking for a solution when I secure another position. Or I can help you find support somewhere else-”

“No, nowhere else. I’ll come to you,” Geno stated. “I’ve had enough medical professionals fail me in my lifetime. I want to see what you come up with,” he said. “I’d be willing to start up again before that if you have the resources. Just let me know.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll do that,” Sci said, a spark of excitement evident in his tone. “Speaking of tests, I’d like your opinion on something.”

“M’kay. Tell me about it.”

“Well, there’s this…how do I go about this?” Sci asked aloud, clearly uncomfortable. “I guess I just need to say it–I have anxiety. It’s gotten so bad that I don’t feel like I can handle myself in social situations. One on one with Red, I’m alright–well, mostly…but I ruined our first date because I clammed up. I feel guilty,” he admitted, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Geno nodded, his expression neutral. “Anxiety isn’t something you can help, Sci. You’re fueling the negative feelings by blaming yourself, you know?” He asked in an even tone. Sci nodded, smirking slightly.

“Yeah. It’s a cycle.”

“I’m familiar with anxiety–it’s kind of morphed into something else, but that’s beside the point. I think if you communicate with Red, it’ll help you a lot. Or you can chat with Reaper or me about it. Anxiety makes even the minor things feel immense, doesn’t it?”

“It really does…I’m ashamed of it,” Sci stated. He traced the wood grains on the tabletop, avoiding Geno’s gaze.

“I’ve been ashamed of myself, too,” Geno said. He sighed. “I don’t want to give you the impression that I’m not takin’ this seriously, by the way. I know how real it is to feel out of control.”

“I didn’t get that impression. I, uh, haven’t talked to anyone about it…which is funny, because everyone assumes twins are close, right? Heh.” Sci wilted, plucking his glasses off of his face and pressing his palms against his eye sockets. “I feel like a fucking wreck…and I’m sorry that I’m laying this all on you.”

“What? No, no, don’t be sorry. There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Geno said, feeling his soul twinge a little at the apology. “Sci, listen, I’m here to listen. There’s no judgment here, alright?” Sci looked up, the dark circles under his eye sockets more prominent now that Geno was really looking.

“Okay. Thank you,” Sci said, scowling. “I…it’s been so long since I just sat and talked to anyone. My brother is an overbearing ass. He means–or he meant well at one point, but it's become controlling to a degree I can’t handle. He projects his hangups onto me and tries to convince me not to-to…I don’t know.”

Geno waited, envisioning Sans’ eyelights and two-sided personality. When he met him, he was easy going. He’d even call him welcoming. He saw another side of him at the surprise housewarming party–there was irritation and distrust where there once was that easy going demeanor. It was frankly unsettling.

“We had a dad. He wasn’t the loving type–you probably get it,” Sci said. “Sans tried, he really did…but then he became obsessive. I didn’t want that, nor need it. We’re the same age, for fuck’s sake.” Sci pinched his nasal ridge. “I can’t tell you how often I was pigeon-holed into following his lead because I’m weak minded,” Sci spat.

“You’re not weak-minded, though,” Geno stated firmly. “Emotion manipulation takes a toll, it really does. In my childhood, my parents failed me and my brother in every way. They caused me immense suffering,” he said. “Does it still affect me? Hell yes. Do I still have flashbacks? Heh, yes. You’re directly affected by your past. That doesn’t make you weak.”

Sci stared at Geno as he contemplated his statement. “How do you deal with it?” He asked.

Geno shifted in his chair, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Hey, how about we break out some of your wine? I like it a lot. Also, if we’re going to delve into the past and mental health matters, I’d rather have something to take the edge off.”

~

Reaper’s meeting with the attorney turned out far better than he was expecting. He’d received validation and was reassured that his case was one they could move forward with. He arrived back at Geno’s place and fished the key out of his cloak. While he was relieved, he was mentally exhausted after discussing the unfortunate events of the recent past. He turned the key, and stepped inside, not bothering to turn on any lights. If Geno wanted to be a creature of the dark, so be it, he’d join him. It would save them costs on electricity, so Reaper wasn’t complaining. He heard a chuckle from the other room along with another voice. His soul clenched as his mind raced. Who was over? Why were they here when Geno was alone? He briskly walked towards the sound of conversation, arriving at the entrance to the kitchen.

Reaper tilted his skull. “Sci?”

“Hey–it’s been a minute since I’ve seen you,” the seated skeleton remarked, offering a lopsided smile. “Geno has been giving me some life advice. It’s good stuff.”

Reaper blinked as he took in the sight of Geno with a bottle of bubbly perched on the table next to his half empty glass. “Are you day drinking?”

“We certainly are,” Geno said, lifting his glass to Reaper’s looming silhouette in the doorway. “Do you wanna come in? I haven’t seen you since the crack of dawn.”

Reaper entered, slightly apprehensive as he approached the table. He tugged out the chair beside Geno and settled into it, sighing as he did so. “That was a long meeting.”

“Yeah, I assumed it would be.” Geno swirled his drink around his cup before taking another sip. “So, do you want to pick your poison or are you too good for the day drinking committee?”

“Pft. Pour me a glass of what you’re having,” Reaper commented, his smile tired but charming. “I’m glad to be back.”

“Glad to have you back,” Geno said, handing Reaper his glass. “So, Reaps, how about–”

“I so fucking called it,” Sci remarked, a shit-eating grin taking over the lower half of his face.

“Hey, shut it, you,” Geno said, narrowing his eye at the other. “Don’t you–”

“I knew you two were something,” Sci stated, looking far too proud of himself. Geno smacked a hand to his face and Reaper looked between them, a wave of panic filling his soul.

“What…what’s that supposed to mean?” Reaper asked, not sure what else to say as his mind was reeling. Sci chuckled.

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I was certain you had a soft spot, Reaper. You may come off as cold, but the way you look at Geno speaks volumes.”

Reaper blushed fiercely before stating, “We’re, uh…we haven’t labeled it.” Geno sighed, clearly unimpressed with Sci’s excitement over knowing they were involved with each other.

“Are you done?” Geno asked, pointedly glaring at Sci whose expression reflected his feelings of satisfaction. “Dick head,” he muttered, moping as he took a sip of his drink. Reaper looked uncomfortable, and it made the depths of Geno’s chest ache. He tried to tell himself that it was merely that he was embarrassed, but it cut deep as he contemplated that he might have misread the other. Was he ashamed that others knew that they were sleeping together? Was he disgusted? Geno scowled.

Sci settled down and read the room. He tested the waters, asking, “Hey, did I cross a line? I’m sorry if I did…I’m really tipsy–or I’m drunk. I think I’m drunk,” he admitted sheepishly.

“Says the guy who claimed he could handle his alcohol,” Geno said snarkily. He sighed. “You’re fine. Just please keep that information under wraps, alright?”

“O-of course–I wouldn’t tell anyone. Reaper, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I think it’s great you guys are…you know-”

“Mhm.” Reaper took a swig of his drink. “It’s fine. Are you still attached to Red? Or was that just a fling?” He asked, a devious glint in his eye light. Two could play this game.

“Oh, you know…” Sci rubbed the back of his neck. “We get along.”

“I bet you do,” Reaper said. “I bet you get along just fine with big Red.”

Sci sputtered. “Hey now, let’s keep things PG-13.”

Geno barked out a laugh. “Oh, wow, you’re one to talk! So how many surfaces have you fucked on?” Reaper snorted, and Geno felt a little bit lighter. While the tightness in his chest hadn’t abated, at least it wasn’t so intense. Sci held his hands up in defense.

“How many have you? This sounds a lot like you’re projecting to me,” Sci said. Geno held back a laugh as he stood, leveling Sci with a faux glare.

“You can’t counter my question with the same question.” Geno huffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Look, Gen, he’s new to this. Maybe he’s into vanilla stuff,” Reaper supplied. “You know, lay in bed, open legs, insert penis here–”

“Fuck you,” Sci retorted, unable to help the laughter that bubbled up in his rib cage. “If that’s vanilla I don’t want any part of it.”

“I thought you’d like that sort of thing? You’re so strategic and practical,” Reaper commented. Sci rolled his eye lights.

“Yep, I treat all aspects of life like my job. Step by step procedures,” Sci said as seriously as he could muster. “If we aren’t counting the strokes, we start over.”

Geno and Reaper both laughed, and Sci felt a comfortable warmth pool in his soul. It felt nice. He thought about what Red might say if he was here. Sci could see him having a lot of fun with Reaper and Geno. They had a very compatible sense of humor. Thankfully there seemed to be no hard feelings for Sci’s earlier teasing about their complex, unlabeled relationship.

“I had to measure his dick first and foremost–length and girth. Then, while laying flat on the bed–”

“Alright, alright,” Geno said, wiping his eye socket as mirth induced tears flooded over. “We get it. You’re a kinky guy. Understood.”

Sci stilled as he debated whether he should take that as a compliment. He glanced down at his drink to see that it was empty. That was unacceptable. “I feel like I’m screwed either way, whether I’m vanilla or kinky.”

Reaper popped the cork off another bottle, helping himself to more. He snickered. “Yeah, that’s a fair assessment. Do you want more?”

He was answered by Sci plucking up his glass and setting it down next to his own. “Yes and thank you. Fill er up.”

~

Weeks passed by uneventfully for the most part. Reaper connected with his attorney when he needed more information and at times joined Geno in discussing the incident that brought Geno into his life. Otherwise, they developed a pattern of being near one another when they weren’t busy with tasks of their own. Geno had begun to deep clean parts of the home. While his energy reserves ran out quickly, he was still able to get in bursts of productivity here and there.

Reaper was going only slightly stir crazy. He occasionally went for walks, but lingering concerns often had him making his way back to Geno’s place. Geno wasn’t against Reaper spending time with him, but he could tell when he became antsy. He urged him to take a day to explore downtown. Reaper had shrugged and took him up on it, but insisted that Geno call him if anything came up.

So Reaper was out, his attention being grabbed by the multitudes of shops with the succulent scent of baked goods wafting out of the windows and into the streets. There were boutiques with handmade clothes and accessories, shops hosting a plethora of plants and many restaurants which he’d never seen empty since their conception. He wove around the crowd of others who were idly walking, window shopping or chatting with companions, interested in finding something. He wasn’t quite sure what it was he wanted to find, only that he felt pressure to do so before returning back to Geno.

He entered a shop with a raven skull adorning the sign. It was called Feather & Stone, and it seemed like a popular spot judging from the amount of shoppers inside. He slipped into the boutique, meandering around the perimeter to assess the wares.

He happened to find a pair of some of the softest socks he’d ever felt. Lifting one up, he realized it was a thigh high stocking rather than an average, everyday kind of sock. He felt a blush creep into his cheeks as the image of Geno’s ecto formed, the addition of the socks on his red thighs sending a wave of pleasure into his pelvis. He picked up the socks, folding them so he could avoid dropping them. He walked around for a while longer, the sight of a sheer, black crop top catching his eye. He felt the material, which felt buttery against his phalanges, and decided to check the price tag. Smirking, he found one in the right size, and carried his finds up to the cashier.

“Oh, good choice. These shirts have been a big hit since they arrived.”

“I can see why,” Reaper responded, pulling his card out of his wallet. “It’s a gift for someone. I think he’ll love it.”

“I don’t see how he couldn’t,” the woman replied. “Would you like this wrapped? Or we have gift bags for 2Gs more.”

“A gift bag would be great. Thank you.” He gave her his card and waited with no small amount of impatience for her to hand him the bag. He wished her a good day as he made his way back out into the pedestrian mall, his soul soaring as he toted the bag homeward.

He stepped into the house and immediately wanted to know where his brat had disappeared to. “Gen?” He called out, but received no answer. He listened for a moment, before shrugging and making his way deeper into the home. He walked upstairs, certain that if Geno was inside that he’d hear him. He walked towards the master bedroom, noting that the door was slightly ajar. As he approached it, he caught the sound of running water. He laid the bag of goodies on the bed before making his way towards the restroom, where he was confident he’d find the other.

He hesitated. His hand hovered close to the knob as he peered through the gap between the door and the doorframe into the restroom. The lights were turned off and a trio of lit candles adorned the counter. He could barely make out Geno’s silhouette in the mirror. His shape was occluded by the steam-covered glass of the shower doors.

It was wrong on so many levels, to be so tempted to walk in unnoticed and watch the other shower, but Reaper took one tentative step after another. He was certain that this was crossing a line. He wondered if he could retreat at this point (not that he wanted to). He decided to take a seat on the edge of the tub. While he didn’t want to scare Geno, he also didn’t want to alert him to his presence–not yet at least. There was something thrilling about the other not knowing he was looming in the dark, the thrum of his soul against his rib cage warring with the echo of cascading water against the tile. He inhaled the humidity lingering in the air, willing his cyan eye lights to disappear in their sockets.

The red glow of Geno’s ecto stood out, as did the deeper red hue of his soul. Geno’s back was pressed against the wall of the shower, the shower head detached from its perch and instead occluding the glow of Geno’s soul. Now that he was focusing intently, Reaper caught staggered, huffy breathing as Geno rested there, the spray stimulating one of the most sensitive organs housed by his skeletal anatomy. Reaper paid rapt attention to the change in pitch as the spray was angled to caress the other’s soul from a lower angle. Geno hummed in appreciation, bowing his spine as he ran a hand down his inner spine, dipping his phalanges into the section of vivid crimson filling his pelvic cradle. The whimper that echoed throughout the space was enough to have Reaper gripping the edge of the tub, inhaling as his own arousal permeated his sense of reason. What was so exciting about this? He’d seen Geno nude before, hell, they’d fucked many times, but with this, there was an element of risk. That was messed up…perhaps he was twisted, or sick in the skull, but the hold it had over him at the moment was too strong to resist.

“Reaps,” Geno uttered, the slick sounds of his digits curling inside of his sensitive ecto reaching Reaper, who had bit down on his tongue. It felt like the sweetest fever dream he’d ever experienced. Did Geno always look like some divine entity on display? When did Reaper begin fantasizing about the taste of him, the way he felt when he moved under him, the sound of his voice breaking up as he–

Geno moaned, the pleasure bordering on painful as his soul throbbed with overstimulation–that was before he was interrupted by a distinct crash. Geno was brought back to the present in no time at all. He promptly shut off the water, he snagged his towel and narrowly avoided slipping on the floor outside of the shower. He was met with the sight of skeletal feet, and the bottom of a familiar black robe, which led him to the rest of Reaper. He heard a groan from the basin of the tub, wherein Reaper was pressing his palms to his eye sockets. Geno took a steadying breath as he realized that the other hadn’t been knocked out by the fall.

“How?” He asked, both confused and concerned as he knelt down to help the other out of his awkward position. Reaper’s face was tinged a striking blue, which Geno supposed was out of embarrassment. “Reaps? Hey, are you okay? Did you hit your skull?”

Reaper shook his head. “No, but I slammed my coccyx and lower spine into the bottom. That felt wonderful,” he grumbled, taking Geno’s hands. Geno scoffed as he helped the other up.

“What happened?” Geno asked, readjusting the towel around his waist. “I thought you were going to be out for the afternoon.”

“Yeah, heh, I did spend time out of the house,” Reaper said, trailing off. He felt shame culminate in his soul as he contemplated admitting his voyeuristic behavior. He chewed the sides of his tongue. “Geno, I…I was watching you. It wasn’t very long,” he said, his voice lacking the confidence it typically contained, “I’m sorry. I know I crossed a line–”

“So, what I’m hearing is that you’re a perv. I mean, it checks out. I’ve known you were a horny fool for a while, Reaps.”

“G-Geno!”

Geno snorted. “So how long were you there?” Reaper looked away as he practically glowed with the blush that covered his face. “Mhm, didn’t say I didn’t like you takin’ a look, did I? I want to know how long you were sitting there,” Geno stated boldly, a smile gracing his face. The light of the candles illuminated his silhouette, and Reaper was entranced. “Were you jerking off as you watched? Tch.”

“Gen,” Reaper said quietly, looking at the ground momentarily. “Are you actually alright with…with me watching? It felt like I was deceiving you…it was also really hot, though.” He met the other’s eye light. His soul tightened at the sultry expression adorning Geno’s face.

“Hey Reaps, listen. It didn’t offend me, but if it makes you feel better, how about we lay down some ground rules for kinky shit?”

Reaper nodded. “Yeah…yes. I’d like that,” Reaper breathed. His eye light had reappeared, the bright, blue flicker of magic focused on Geno. “I might have gotten you something-”

Geno’s posture changed as he absorbed what the other had just said. “A something for me? Nuh uh.”

“Mhm. A something just for you, Gen.”

Geno’s patience was nonexistent as he wandered into the bedroom, catching sight of the bag with deep blue tissue paper. He looked at it in surprise, not quite expecting the ‘something’ to look so much like an official gift. “Can I?”

“Go ahead. It’s yours,” Reaper replied in a humor laden tone.

Geno was quick to pluck the tissue paper free before finding the first of the items. He held it up, his eye light bright with interest as he took in the piece of clothing. “That’s short…it’s supposed to be, though. It’s a cropped tee,” Geno said, his thoughts being spoken aloud as he smiled. “Mmm, it’s got a nice texture.” He pulled the shirt over his skull and smoothed the garment over his sternum. “Thank you.”

“There’s more,” Reaper said, observing the way the shirt rested along the other’s lower ribs. Geno turned his attention back to the bag and proceeded to feel around. He pulled the stockings out, his smile a prominent feature on his face. He rubbed the fabric of the stockings between his phalanges, before plopping down on the mattress. Reaper watched with rapt interest as red ecto flesh surrounded Geno’s frame, filling out the crop top in a way that had his slacks tightening. He worked one stocking up his calf, bit by bit until it was secured around his lower thigh. Geno admired the fit, running his hand along the length of his leg that was now wonderfully soft. He looked over at Reaper as he tugged on the second long sock, a rosy blush illuminating his cheekbones.

“They’re so comfy. The shirt got a little shorter, hehe.” Geno placed a hand on his stomach, which caused the shirt to shrink up considerably. “What d’ya think?” Geno asked, sliding off of the mattress to prop a hand on his cocked hip. Reaper felt like he’d won the lottery. Geno was fucking perfect.

“You’re stunning,” Reaper said, and he meant it. Geno clammed up slightly, but Reaper wasn’t about to let him hide from him. “I thought they’d look good on you, but hell, that was the understatement of the century.”

“Sh-shut up…” Geno retorted. “I really like them, too. So, do you wanna touch? Or did you buy me these just to admire?” He asked, smirking coyly. Reaper closed the distance between them, leaning down to kiss the other. He ran his hands over Geno’s chest, his hands cupping the swell of his breast before traveling down to caress his stomach.

“I’d kind of like to do a little more than touch,” Reaper purred. “What do you say, lovely?”

“Don’t be a tease,” Geno hissed, pressing his mouth back against Reaper’s. The sudden passionate move transitioned into Geno being pinned to the bed, his thighs spread with his knees tucked up against his ribs. Reaper lathered his stomach with attention, his blue tongue tracing the contours of his ecto. Geno squirmed, but allowed the other to maneuver his frame. Reaper looked genuinely tempted to bite as he moved to lap Geno's right thigh. “Reap-Ah!”

Reaper smiled deviously as he nipped the cherry ecto, licking the sore spot as though apologizing. “I couldn’t help it, babe. You taste sweet.”

“So I’ve heard,” Geno huffed. “What did I say about being a tease?”

“I like to savor the moment, my dear,” Reaper said, the baritone of his voice striking deep within Geno’s pelvis. He shivered. “If you’re polite, I might consider speeding things along.”

Geno whimpered as Reaper’s breath ghosted over the crux of his thighs. He uttered a curse under his breath before reaching down to cup Reaper’s jaw. “Please? Please, Reaps, c-come on, don’t be an ass.”

Reaper chuckled and dipped down to part the tender lips before sucking lightly. Geno’s spine bowed, the angle increasing the pressure of Reaper’s tongue as he lapped at his clit. After beginning his self care session in the shower, he was already twitching as his pleasure climbed. “You’re shaking already. I wonder,” Reaper hummed as he inserted two phalanges inside of his bedmate, “What will happen if I do this?”

Geno tensed momentarily before rolling his hips into Reaper’s hand. He watched as Reaper bit his inner thigh, the canines pricking his magic flesh and inciting a heady pain to pair with his pleasure. Geno’s focus dispersed as he neared completion before being ruthlessly denied. He was left a panting, trembling mess as Reaper watched him. He looked like he wanted to eat him alive.

“What…the fuck?” Geno hissed between his heavy breaths. Reaper only offered a wicked smile.

“I’ve changed my mind, angel. I’d like to see you on your knees. Work for your dessert, why don’t you?”

Geno peered at him critically before rolling over onto his belly and crawling over Reaper’s pelvis, his forearms trembling as he markedly scowled. “You’re an asshole,” he growled before dipping down and licking up the underside of Reaper’s erection. Reaper twitched in response.

“I never claimed I was kind. Your mouth looks far too good wrapped around my dick to not have you sucking me off,” Reaper said, his voice doing wicked things to Geno. He swallowed the head of the blue dick, moaning as his throat accommodated the girth. “Look at you, baby…mnn, yes, that’s it.”

Geno’s lips connected with the other’s public symphysis and he peered up at Reaper, his eye light obscured by the relaxed state of his upper eye socket. He took a moment to gather himself before withdrawing his skull and taking the entirety of the deep blue cock into the ecto of his throat once again. Reaper groaned and cursed, one of his hands reaching down to rest on Geno’s cranium. The sight of his dick being lavished in attention by Geno, whose eye socket had begun to brim with moisture, was enough to cause his soul to clench in his chest. Reaper sighed, becoming lost in the sensation of the other continuing to rhythmically suck and swallow his erection.

“Mmm, yes, Stars yes, Gen,” Reaper said, his voice filled with adoration. “So pretty and obedient–you, fuck, you deserve a reward, don’t you?”

Geno whimpered, nodding as he continued to suck Reaper’s dick. He was losing sensation in the ecto lining his throat, the friction over the magic flesh numbing it over time. He would have continued if not for Reaper inhibiting him from doing so with the hand on his skull. Geno wiped the back of his wrist across his mouth where he felt a trail of blood–surprisingly it didn’t cause him to shrink away. With Reaper looking at him with that expression of approval, Geno was securely under his spell.

Reaper pushed Geno’s thighs together before pressing them up against his rib cage. The tip of his dick nudged the soft opening before he sank inside, drawing a pleased sound from Geno. He squirmed, but Reaper kept his grip firm, holding his legs together and up. He was immensely enjoying the view of his shaft moving in and out of his divine pussy. He wondered if anyone else had ever seen Geno like this before a wave of jealousy overtook him. It felt simultaneously prickly and far too hot as he contemplated others seeing his Gen–no one deserved his surrender but him. No one would get to hear his unfiltered expression of pleasure, or see his flushed ecto as Reaper snapped his pelvis forward. Reaper snarled as he deepened his thrusts, allowing Geno’s legs to wrap around him as he focused on recentering his focus to be in the moment.

“Do you like how I fill you up?” Reaper asked, his hands busy with Geno’s sides. “How much do you think you can take, hm? Would you like to find out?”

“Yes. Please, oh ffhmmm.” Geno was soaring while he was kissed, their tongues twisting with one another and the pressure of his soul as the confines of his rib cage twinged–

“G-Gen,” Reaper said softly, slowing his thrusts momentarily as he noticed the fractured soul between them. He wasn’t expecting that, and it didn’t seem that Geno had been expecting it either. He stared at his soul like it was a parasite rather than a piece of himself. He almost looked scared. That wouldn’t do. “Hey, angel,” Reaper said, reaching a hand up to cup Geno’s face. “It’s beautiful.”

Geno looked disgruntled as he stated, “Please don’t lie to me.”

Reaper’s expression hardened. “Why would I lie to you?” He was silent, gazing upon Geno as he awaited an answer. When Geno looked away, Reaper clicked his tongue. “Gen, baby, I want you. You know that.” He waited for a moment, before asking, “Do you want me, too?”

Geno’s skull snapped to attention as he responded, “Of course I do. You know that.” Geno’s brow furrowed as he asked, “You do know that, right, Reaps?”

Reaper smiled, willing his own soul to phase through his ribs. It hovered there, catching Geno’s eye immediately. He looked shocked as he observed the physical embodiment of Reaper’s magic. Reaper rolled his hips, slowly reestablishing the rhythm of their activities. “I do. Do you want to touch me?” He asked, looking at their life forces in such close proximity. Lost for words, Geno nodded.

He hesitantly caressed Reaper’s soul, and after establishing that he wasn’t hurting him, he cradled it in his hand. He was caught between the pleasure in his core and the burning desire to have his own soul touched. Would Reaper want to touch it? Maybe he was horrified at the fact that it was so damaged. Geno bit his lower lip before blurting, “T-touch me…please? I want you to touch me, too.”

Reaper did. He handled the fractured soul with care, pressing a kiss to the crimson shell. It all moved fast after that–they began to lose themselves to the sensation, and without any hesitation, their exposed souls were pressed together, their sternums flush with one another. The pleasure ramped up, the intensity of their lovemaking reaching a fever pitch. Geno was the first to come undone, followed shortly after by Reaper, who couldn’t tell where his frame ended and Geno’s began. He breathed harshly, unaware that he’d let himself go completely. At some point he’d knotted the other, and now he was attempting to catch his breath, his frame shaking with exertion and the aftershocks of their shared bliss.

“Are you…heh, alright?” He asked Geno, whose eye socket was closed. He grunted in response, squeezing the rib he’d grabbed onto while they’d meshed souls. “That was mind blowing.”

“Was that too much?” Geno asked. Reaper shook his head. “Did I cross a line?”

“No. Not at all.” Reaper pressed a kiss to his face, before nuzzling his nasal ridge against Geno’s. “It was wonderful. Let me take care of you, Gen.”

Somehow, he did. Relinquishing control wasn’t Geno’s specialty, but he was so glad he did. It wasn’t natural to let someone else take care of him, but maybe one day it would be.

Chapter Text

Geno contemplated staying inside. It made things simpler, but the thought of holing up indoors for another day left an acrid taste in his mouth. His restlessness eventually brought him to the master bathroom mirror, angling his frame to the side to inspect the back of his outfit. He’d slipped on a black, one piece jumpsuit with a pair of sleek, chunky boots. He snagged his scarf from its resting place on the countertop and draped it around his neck. He tore open the package containing the eye patch he’d ordered recently from an online seller and was thrilled to see that it fully covered the damaged portion of his face. He fastened it securely around his skull, admiring the iridescent, black surface of the accessory. He’d made a good purchase, he decided as he smiled at his reflection. For once he felt like he looked decent, which was an extremely rare occurrence.

He stepped outside, locking the front door behind him. He didn’t worry about Reaper being that they’d recently copied the house key. He turned to see Sci’s silver sedan awaiting him in the driveway. He’d offered to drive Geno into town, since he was already headed that direction with the plans he had set for the day. Geno had gratefully taken him up on it, knowing that Reaper’s interview with the local mortuary facility wouldn’t be over for some time. It was an intensive, multi-step interview apparently, and it had Reaper panicked as he mulled over hand written notes the night before. Upon seeing him, Sci waved cheerily and unlocked the doors.

“Oh, wow, dressed to the nines, aren’t we?” Sci asked, tilting his red-tinted glasses to pretend to ogle the other. “Where are you going with that nifty eye patch, mister?”

Geno scoffed. “I didn’t want to be plagued with questions about the hole in my face. I thought this was a good idea.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. Where did this outfit come from, though? I like it, like, a lot,” Sci stated as he backed the car out of the driveway.

“Eh. I decided to put some effort into my attire for once. I’ve actually had this piece for a while,” Geno admitted. “Does it really look alright? You’re not fucking with me, right?” He asked, suddenly wondering if he’d made the right decision with his outfit. Was he too old to be dressing up like this? Would he get stared down or made to feel like an idiot because he was showing more than he usually did?

“Listen, buddy, you look great.” Sci slowed the car as they approached a red light. “Has Reaper seen your getup yet? Or am I the first witness to the new attire?”

“No, he hasn’t seen it. He left really early for an interview,” Geno replied, feeling his soul clench at the thought of Reaper seeing the outfit. “I think he’d appreciate it.”

“Um, yeah. Me thinks he would,” Sci said teasingly, focusing on merging after they started driving once again. “Where’d he go for an interview?”

“I dunno the name of the place. It’s a mortuary facility that’s closer to us. I think he’s got a fair chance at being offered the position,” Geno said, eyeing a crack on one of his phalange tips. He scowled as he inspected it from different angles before forcing his attention onto something else.

“Oh, got you. Well that’s great. I’m glad he's doing well with his job hunt.” Sci muttered a curse as someone cut him off before regaining his composure, “You know, you should send your loverboy a pic, don’t you think? Do you ever take selfies, Geno?”

“Not really–”

“Well, today’s your lucky day, because we’re about to change that,” Sci said.

As it turned out, Geno had little say in the matter. Sci insisted that they take a few photos, which turned into twenty, then more with the bustling downtown in the background. He excitedly showed Geno how to pose while taking a selfie, and Geno emulated it to the best of his ability. He was surprised to find that he liked what he saw, especially with Sci dorking it up in the background. Sci seemed smug as Geno scrolled through the photos.

“This one,” Geno stated, angling the screen for the other to see. He liked the way his eye light was prominent and the sunlight framed both the soft and angular parts of his skull. Sci agreed with his choice, and texted Reaper the photo to see after his interview wrapped up. Sci told Geno to text him when he was close to wanting to head back home before driving off. Geno bid his friend goodbye and proceeded to look around, taking in the myriad of shops and restaurants. He decided to visit a boutique with pastel colors hues on its exterior and ivy adorning the storefront.

Stepping into the store, he was startled by a soft trill. The door shut behind him and he was greeted by the sight of a chubby calico cat with round, amber eyes. He placed a hand on his sternum as he willed his soul to settle before greeting the four-legged doorman.

“Well hello,” he said, offering a hand for the cat to sniff. The feline bunted his knuckles with its soft forehead, purring loudly as it proceeded to lap at his phalanges. “Aw. You’re a sweetie, aren’t you?”

“Welcome,” a friendly voice emanated from further within the store. “She’s a people lover–I hope you don’t mind cats.”

‘Oh, so you’re a she.’ “I don’t mind cats. She seems very kind.” Geno lightly scratched the cat’s cheeks, watching her eyes shut as she enjoyed the attention. He made his way further inside, glancing around, aware that the cat had jumped down from her perch and was trailing behind him as he explored. He nodded as he caught sight of the store owner.

“Oh, you have no idea,” the skeleton in a deep blue, starry sweater replied. Geno thought the guy appeared intoxicated, but it could have been that he was just sleep deprived. He could relate to looking rough in his past after days on end of little to no sleep. “The name’s Rigel. I happen to co-own the shop next door as well.”

Geno tilted his skull. “I didn’t notice a shop next door. Is it similar to this one?” He asked while looking through a selection of colorful, warm-weather scarves. Rigel shook his head.

“Heh. Not quite. Would you like to take a glance?”

Geno shrugged even though he felt suddenly very uncertain that Rigel wasn’t up to something. “Uh, sure?”

Rigel chuckled before uttering an apology. “That probably sounded odd, right? If it makes you uncomfortable, you can come in when the store is actually open tomorrow. No worries.”

“Nah, it’s fine, I’m kinda interested in what’s over there now. Just don’t usually walk into closed shops with strangers.”

“Point taken. Alright, fellow stranger,” Rigel replied, grabbing the keys to the blue door separating the boutique from his favorite place. He’d only worked his entire life up until this point to be stable enough to pay rent in the city center.

Geno realized that he’d never actually given his name. He cleared his throat. “My name is Geno.”

“Ah, alright, nice to meet you, Geno. Welcome to my pride and joy,” Rigel said, his voice barely restraining the adoration he felt for the place. The patter of paws and excited trills could be heard as he closed the door behind his guest. Geno’s eye socket widened as he took in the sight of a room teaming with cats. They were all over the place, reclining in cubbies attached to the wall, squirming in flexible tunnel toys, and playing with one another. Geno’s soul ached as he digested the adorable view. “Don’t hesitate to tap out if this is too overwhelming for you. There’s a lot of em, I know, but with the way you interacted with Poppy, I thought you might enjoy seeing her buddies.”

“Oh…oh wow,” Geno uttered as he stared down at the cats that had begun to surround his legs. “So you own this place? Is it an adoption center?”

Rigel nodded. “I do, along with a friend of mine. It’s both an adoption center and a coffee shop. It’s always closed on Monday. Our employees enjoy their three day weekends.”

“Oh, nice. I bet they do.” Geno knelt down to give the curious felines his attention. One white cat placed its front paws on his leg to reach its face to his, where it could tentatively sniff around his nasal aperture. It made a huffy sound, and Geno chuckled softly.

“That’s Gar. He’s our blind boy,” Rigel stated, watching the interaction with a smile. “He’s typically very shy, but he seems to like you.” Geno gently patted Gar’s head, feeling touched that the cat chose to open up to him even a little bit.

Geno stood, before asking, “You probably need to go back to the shop, right?”

Rigel sighed. “I suppose. I’ll be honest, I take any chance I can get to come back to see these little buggers,” he said. “Thanks for humoring me, pal.”

“Yeah, sure,” Geno replied, feeling much better about the entire situation. Rigel was a cat-crazed, quirky business owner and not a murderer (as far as he knew).

They reentered the boutique, where Geno took his time glancing around, inspecting items that caught his interest. He felt the pressure to purchase something from Rigel, and while he didn’t doubt he’d find something, anxiety prickled at his cervical vertebrae. He browsed through silky tops, happening upon something stiffer that he recognized as steel boning after revealing the garment. It was a pastel blue highlighted by an orchid ribbon at the back. Geno’s interest was piqued and he didn’t hesitate in taking the corset off of the wrack and up to the checkout counter.

“Good choice. I’ve been waiting for someone to take this one home,” he stated before pulling out a gift bag and tissue paper. “That’ll be $50G with tax included. If you’ve got any friends who like cats, definitely spread the word. They’re all adoptable except for Poppy and Blob.”

Geno snorted. “I’ll be back to meet Blob, mark my words. Have a nice day, Rigel.”

~

Geno stepped out of the boutique and headed down the street to the open air market. It wasn’t as crowded as he suspected it would be, which he was genuinely thankful for. He meandered around, hoping that Reaper was playing up his charisma and charm like he knew he could. He eyed the plants a raven monster was selling, before being tempted into the small shop. He admired the fuzzy succulents on display, occasionally picking one up to see other angles before moving onto the next set of plants. When the vendor greeted Geno, it was with a smile that caused her vibrant red eyes to squint. He replied back with pleasantries before pointing to one of the small, fruit bearing plants which was less than half a foot tall. She lifted it in one of her clawed, scaly hands, her feathers reflecting the lights hanging above.

“Very good choice. Is this a gift by chance?” She asked.

“Yes, actually. It’s for my…significant other,” Geno supplied, blushing as he said the words aloud.

She rang him up and tucked his receipt into the plant carrier before bidding him a pleasant day. Geno’s soul felt light as he walked past a few blocks of fresh produce. As he approached the butcheries, he witnessed a decadent spread of various cuts. Geno was interested in trying his hand at cooking. He tried to recall Reaper’s favorite style of meat, but his skull wasn’t any help as he kept becoming distracted by conversations, music and the scent of savory foods being prepared. He shrugged and decided to wing it and deal with the consequences later. Worse comes to worse, they could make a stew out of the meat and make it tender that way.

He made his way over to a brightly colored butchery before stilling momentarily. He was certain he was seeing clearly, and to his ire, he confirmed that he was looking at Reaper’s bitch of a boss. Considering her height, thick, white fur, and her propensity to wear florals, it was difficult not to pick her out in a crowd. Geno sighed in irritation. He wasn’t sure why she was here on a Monday of all days, but he supposed rules didn’t apply to those who had a cushy seat in upper management. He grumbled to himself as he continued on, determined not to let the woman destroy his day.

He pretended not to notice her as he strolled towards the butchery, the scent of iron and spices intermingling with the savory aroma of searing fish from next door. Peering into the glass case, he took in the various cuts. He wanted something with a good ratio of fat to meat that was versatile (and that he couldn’t easily botch). He would’ve happily ignored the behemoth beside him if she hadn’t bumped into him, no doubt on purpose, causing him to stumble. He knocked into someone else who was kind enough to grab onto him before he could face plant into the market floor. He shot a seething glare in her direction, taking note of the human teenager standing a few feet back.

“Do you mind?” Geno hissed, readjusting the potted plant which had nearly ended up on the concrete. The goat monster snapped her head in his direction, having the audacity to look surprised at his presence. The shaggy-haired, vibrant-eyed teen with her looked like they wanted the floor to open up and swallow them whole.

“Oh my Stars, sir, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Toriel said, offering a forced smile. Geno wasn’t impressed. Reaper’s plant had shedded a few small fruits and it appeared slightly lopsided in its pot now that Geno could really inspect it. ‘Dumb bitch.’

“Mhm, I bet that was the case. You may want to invest in a new pair of glasses, because I don’t think your current pair is helping.”

The teen stifled their laughter and walked up beside Toriel to involve themself in the conversation. They couldn’t decide if it was the right decision, but if things got spicy, they wanted to be the first to know.

“There’s no need to be rude,” Toriel retorted. “It was an honest accident–”

“I’m not buying it,” Geno snapped. “Was firing Reaper an accident, too? Mhm, what about Sci? It’s not a good look, I’ll tell you that much.”

“Hey, mom, let’s go,” the teen urged as Geno turned to face Toriel head on. “Mom, don’t engage–”

“Dammit, Frisk, please, I can handle this just fine,” she bit out. She narrowed her eyes before stating, “It’s extremely unsavory of you to bring this up in public. If you wanted to discuss legal matters, we could’ve arranged to have a sit down with our legal teams.”

“Oh, don’t worry, ours will be in touch. If you weren’t so fuckin’ shady I would have settled out of court, you know? You’ve complicated this,” Geno said, sneering in anger. “Ain’t no way you’re going to cast the blame now.”

“Let’s get one thing straight–you were never realistic,” she snarled. “I wasn’t about to compromise the well being of the company to settle for an accident that occurred because of your pre-existing illness.”

“Mom,” Frisk bit out, looking helpless and concerned as passersby turned to look at the arguing monsters. “Walk away. People are staring–this is not good publicity.”

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll listen to the kid,” Geno growled. “Do me a favor and relieve me of your presence.”

Toriel shoved past him as she stormed off, and the small, fruit-bearing plant took a nosedive onto the concrete floor. The pot shattered on impact and the fruits popped off, rolling away into the small crowd that had formed. Geno felt bitter tears sting his eye sockets. The teen looked absolutely mortified as their guardian acted so unprofessionally in front of the market crowd.

“Shit. I’m so s-sorry,” they uttered to Geno before leaving to locate their fleeing guardian. Geno huffed, abandoning the ruined gift on the ground as he approached the butchery counter to order.

~

Sci pulled up to park next to a small coffee shop close to where he’d dropped Geno off. He opened the windows and leaned back in his seat to wait for the other to meet him. He took out his phone to take a selfie in response to Red’s last text, which detailed what Edge had cooked last night, followed by a photo of the beautifully homemade pasta dish. Sci offered a tired smile, snapped a photo of his face and hit the ‘send’ button. He jumped as the passenger side door opened, dropping his cell between the center console and his seat. He grunted, unimpressed at his luck.

“How was the day out on the town, huh?” He asked.

Geno let out a sigh, shutting the door with more force than was necessary. “Could have gone better. I’m glad you were close by. I’m ready to go home.”

“I hear you. I’m sorry it didn’t turn out, but there’s always next time. Let’s get you home, then.”

~

Sci was profusely thanked by Geno before the older skeleton grabbed his wares and slunk off towards his front door. Sci wished he could offer more solace to his new buddy, but he supposed letting Geno cool off was the best route to take. He pulled out of the driveway and headed towards Red’s home.

The overcast sky had darkened considerably, the air tinged with humidity as Sci turned the last few streets leading to the Fells’ household. His mind wandered to what his brother might be doing this Monday afternoon. He was still upset with him, but after years of living together it was difficult not to wonder what the other was doing with his time–not that he knew while he lived with him. Sans was always so secretive. If Sci tried to pry, he’d be shut down by an ill timed pun or a biting remark (always in jest, Sans would say). Thinking about it made him scowl. He was thankful to be pulling up to the familiar facade of Red’s house. He’d be glad for a distraction.

He gathered the sparse groceries from the trunk before locking up his car. A plop of water on his face caught him off guard and inspired him to walk faster up the path to the front door. He was further prompted by a flash of lightning, which seemed to illuminate every blade of grass along the walkway. Sci jogged up the steps and fumbled with his key, nearly letting it slip between his phalanges in his struggle. He huffed, slotting the correct key in the lock before pushing the front door inward.

Edge leaned out of the kitchen and visibly relaxed as he registered it was Sci. He stepped into the living room to help relieve the other of a few bags. “Welcome back.” As if to punctuate his greeting, thunder resounded from outside, causing the window panes to rattle with the intensity. Sci chuckled, although his soul felt tight. “How’s the day been?” Sci asked.

“Well, work was work. I only returned about two hours ago,” Edge said, putting cans away in the pantry. “Red was reading in the living room for a while. He recently went to lay down.”

Sci made a sound of acknowledgement. “Is he feeling okay?” He asked.

“He complained of feeling overheated,” Edge said. “I have a feeling his magic may be unstable. It happens every so often. It should fade relatively quickly as long as he takes it easy. That’s the thing, though–getting him to actually rest is a task in and of itself.”

“Is there anything that helps relieve the symptoms?” Sci asked, his soul twisting as he wondered if Red was in pain

Edge tapped his lower jaw for a moment before stating, “He mentioned ice packs. I don’t think he grabbed any on his way to his room. Would you like to bring him some?”

Sci nodded, taking a few cold compresses from Edge, before heading down the hallway and up the staircase. Part of him felt like it was intruding, while the other half was certain that Red would be glad to see him. He knocked on the door. There was a gravelly ‘What d’ya want, bro’ from the other side that prompted Sci to say, “H-hey Red, it’s me.”

He heard the creek of a mattress and sluggish footsteps as the other made his way to the door. “Who said ya had to knock, doll?”

“I…uh, no one,” Sci remarked, brushing against Red as he entered. His bones were hot to the touch and it surprised him enough for Sci to flinch. “Red–holy shit, you’re really hot!”

“It’s about time ya admitted yer repressed feelings,” Red joked, but Sci wasn’t listening. He approached, pressing one of the cold bundles against Red’s cervical vertebrae. It was Red’s turn to twitch as the cold touched his overheated frame. “Woah, hey, Sci, I’m fine. It happens sometimes–”

“You’re burning up,” Sci countered, clearly not taking Red’s word. “You need to lay down.”

“Sci, hon–”

Sci cut him off with a stern expression. “Your frame is strained, you don’t need to be exhausting yourself further for my sake. Lay down, Red…please?”

Red sighed before easing himself down onto his mattress. “Can you join me? I missed ya,” Red stated, not bothering to tug the blankets over himself. Boxers were enough when he felt like he was boiling. Sci looked uncertain.

“You’re not feeling well, I don’t want to–”

“Ya won’t hurt anything, doll,” Red said, causing Sci to blush fiercely at the nickname. Sci gathered the cold compresses and placed one on Red’s sternum, another along his spine and a third he tucked behind Red’s cervical vertebrae. Red sighed, letting his aching joints relax. “Can ya at least sit with me?”

Sci nodded before settling himself on the bed next to the other. “How often does this happen?” He asked. Red grunted.

“S’been happening for a while. My magic works overtime–at least that’s the way my specialist put it. I just run kinda hot I guess. Comes with havin’ excess magic.”

“So…you have an autoimmune disease?” Sci asked softly, thinking aloud. Red nodded.

“Yeah. Apparently our dad had somethin’ similar. It’s a gamble whether or not a kid’s gonna have it. It skipped Edgy, but I got the gene that did the fancy mutation,” Red said, his tone neutral.

“Is the ice helping?” Sci asked, his eye lights drawn to the scars littering Red’s rib cage. He received an ‘mhm’ in response before feeling Red’s phalanges intertwining with his own.

“You bein’ here helps, too.”

Sci felt warmth flood his cheeks once more. “I guess I’ll have to stick around then, won’t I?”

Red’s caught off guard expression morphed into a genuine, hopeful smile. Sci’s soul fluttered at the sight. “You wanna stay? With me?”

Sci nodded, settling down so that he was face to face with Red. “I would, yeah. Are you–I mean, would Edge, um, be okay with that? Is this moving too fast?”

“Do ya feel like it’s too fast? I understand if ya do,” Red said, squeezing Sci’s hand. Sci shook his skull.

“I just don’t want to…y-you know…” Sci’s sentence petered off, his brows furrowing. “I like what we have. A lot. I don’t want to screw this up.”

“Ya haven’t screwed anything up. And if ya did, we’d talk about it. I don’t need ya to be perfect.” Red brought Sci’s hand up to his mouth and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. Sci flushed, turning his head away as he felt his soul shiver in response to the affectionate display. “I like the version of ya I’ve seen when no one’s around. I think yer absolutely brilliant, Sci.”

“How? I’m a fuckin’ anxious mess. And how and when did the conversation shift to me? We were talking about you-”

“Uh, lemme see. Yer beautiful, creative and yer super intelligent,” Red said, his eye sockets relaxing into a half-lidded state.“Yer so far outta my league it blows my mind that yer still here.”

“Red…” Sci said, his cheeks aflame at all of the compliments he was receiving.

“Mhm?”

“I’d like to stay…if you’re alright with that,” Sci admitted, sounding so vulnerable that Red’s breath hitched.

“Yes. Heh, yes, I was okay with it yesterday,” Red responded. “And the day before, and the week before that…” Red trailed off, leaning forward to capture Sci’s mouth. Sci allowed it, melting into Red’s embrace as he battled his own disbelief. He felt lightheaded as he matched Red’s enthusiasm, holding him close while they sandwiched a cold compress between them. This felt right, Sci decided, so maybe he should give his love-starved soul a fighting chance for once. He didn’t need to be alone. He could give a little bit of himself to Red, because they both wanted this, so he let himself have it.

~

Geno ignored the restlessness of his soul over the course of the afternoon and into the evening. When nighttime came around, he’d begun to feel considerably worse. There was a pressure with the strange fluctuations of his soul’s interior and it was causing a sensation of vertigo to accumulate. Geno breathed out slowly, closing his eye socket to close out the sight of the room shifting unnaturally. Reaper had gone back to his own apartment after his lengthy interviews, and he’d decided to stay there for the night.

His day had taken it out of him, and Geno understood all too well what it felt like to be overtired. So Reaper was there via phone call, chatting with the other as they settled down for the evening. Geno suddenly sat up in bed, rubbing fretfully at his sternum as the discomfort radiating from within his rib cage increased. Reaper seemed to read his mind as he asked, “Is something wrong, Gen?”

“It’s just b-been a long day…it’s just the stress getting to me I think,” Geno stated. He took a steadying breath. It didn’t do much for him, unfortunately.

“Babe, are you alright? Tell me what’s going on,” Reaper urged, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.

Geno felt sweat beading up along the back of his cervical vertebrae while a wave of intense heat spread through his frame. “H-hold on.” His soul lurched, and he was on his feet in an instant, throwing the door of the master bathroom open before forcing his face into the nearest basin, which just so happened to be the sink. He wretched until his legs felt like giving out. His soul ached as he watched blood join the spent magic leaking into the depths of the drain. Gripping the counter like it was his lifeline, he let himself regain some semblance of composure before rinsing his face and returning to the bedroom. “That fu-ucking hurt,” he admitted, climbing shakily into bed to resume his conversation with Reaper.

There was a knock at his bedroom door and Geno let his limbs go completely lax as he uttered ‘Come in’. In came his shadow, his favorite specter in a long, black robe and that singular, icy blue eye light indicating the intensity of his current emotions. “I’m here, beautiful,” Reaper said, his wonderful, baritone voice so soothing and cherished, especially during times like this. Reaper pressed a kiss to Geno’s forehead, before holding the back of his hand to his skull. “Oh, Gen, you’re clammy…”

“You didn’t have to come over…you’re tired,” Geno rasped. Reaper scoffed in response.

“Of course I did. I’m not leaving you alone like this,” he said matter of factly.

Geno remained silent for a moment before asking, “Can you hold me, Reaps? I feel awful.”

“Come here, baby. I’ve got you,” Reaper cooed, pressing a kiss to Geno’s clammy neck. He ditched his cloak before climbing into bed, curling up behind the other. Geno relaxed against him, unapologetic about feeling as bad as he did. He stiffened momentarily as his chest twinged, before his magic settled into place, coating his pelvis with ecto flesh. He sighed in relief, the tension in his frame dissipating as he relented control of his strangely overactive magic. He was exhausted. He felt as though all of the sleepless nights from his childhood were coming back to haunt him.

Silence reigned for a while. Geno felt Reaper’s hand on his hip, his thumb stroking the thin layer of ecto clinging to his hip bones. Geno couldn’t sleep, although that was the only activity he wanted to partake in, other than being smothered in attention by the one spooning him. He decided chatting about his day might put his mind at ease. “Hey Reaps?”

“Yeah, Gen?”

“I explored today. I went out and found a boutique and a cat cafe that’s open on weekdays except for Monday. I wanna go with you sometime,” Geno said, recalling the swarm of furry babes swarming him.

“Cats and coffee, huh? It's a date,” Reaper stated, shifting closer to him. Geno hummed in appreciation.

“The day went well until I ran into Toriel–well, it was the other way around, actually. Fuckin’ bitch,” he muttered. Reaper stiffened.

“What?”

“She bumped into me on purpose. She claimed it was an accident, but it was obvious she meant to do it. It was certainly unfortunate that she decided to come my way,” Geno said, recalling how their conversation went down.

“What happened?” Reaper asked tentatively, feeling anxiety grip his soul. He didn’t like imagining his old boss around Geno.

“She tried to apologize and I told her to cut the shit. She’s in deep because of how she’s treated my case. To top it off, with the wrongful termination charges, I’m sure we’ll get to see her sweat when the court date comes around. I genuinely hope someone buries her alive.”

Reaper snorted, unable to help himself. “That’s rather morbid.”

Geno shrugged. “I can deal with her fucking around with my life but I won’t stand to see her tarnish yours. If the kid wasn’t present I would’ve felt perfectly civil kicking in her furry shins.”

Reaper grunted. “Oh, yeah, she does have a kid, doesn’t she? She was gushing about adopting a human a while back. I feel sorry for them.”

Geno chuckled. “You mean you wouldn't want her as your mom? Why ever not?”

Reaper chuckled. “Afraid not. That would be hellish. I’m perfectly happy with my lot in life.” Reaper gave Geno a squeeze. “Don’t give me nightmares, Gen. I’m a sensitive man.”

Geno rolled his eye light. “I seriously despise that woman. She deserves what’s coming to her.”

Reaper nodded, tucking his jaw into Geno’s shoulder. “Don’t give her a minute more of your time. I want to hear more about your venture downtown. What was your favorite part of the day?”

Geno told him about the shop without giving away what he’d purchased, only going as far as to say that he liked the decor and the aesthetic of the clothing he’d seen. He spoke about the market and the plant vendor’s stand, insinuating that he’d gotten Reaper something, before admitting that the interaction with Toriel had resulted in it breaking. He barely recognized that he’d begun to drift off, muttering about the outfit he’d worn before gradually falling silent. Reaper held him, lightly caressing the ecto along his hip bone. He hoped whatever was plaguing the other would pass by tomorrow. Maybe he could slip out of bed and put something together before he awoke. He inhaled Geno’s comforting scent, humming in contentment as he felt his own frame settle deeper into the mattress.

~

The first rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains roused Reaper from his slumber. He rubbed his eye sockets, pushing himself up and out of bed with care so as not to awaken Geno. He teleported downstairs, knowing full well the steps would creak and ruin his plan to spoil his partner. He opened the fridge and scanned the shelves before he came across a carton of berries. He dumped them into a bowl to soak before digging through the pantry.

Reaper never claimed to be a chef, but he knew how to follow written directions well enough. He whisked together the ingredients, heated up the stove and had a pan prepped and ready to accept the first scoop of what would be crepes (or so he hoped). He spread the mixture out on the pan like the directions instructed, watching to make sure he didn’t overcook it. When he completely botched the first as he flipped it over, he decided appearance was secondary and as long as it tasted good, he could live with serving it to Geno.

What felt like a battle in the kitchen yielded six imperfect crepes which looked as though they’d been through some hard times. Reaper accepted that this was his current level of skill and worked on spreading the light filling over the inside before lining the crepes with berries. To top it off, he added powdered sugar and a drizzle of honey.

He climbed the steps with a plate full of breakfast treats, fatigued yet excited to see his lover’s reaction. To his delight, Geno was beginning to stir. “Tell me, do you come here often?” Reaper asked, flashing his groggy companion a saucy smile.

Geno flashed him a look fit to flash fry an egg, before his expression softened, morphing into reflection of his confusion. “What is that? Did you make something?”

“I did,” Reaper said with no small amount of pride. “I made you breakfast, Gen. I know it might not be pretty but–”

“You…made me breakfast?” Geno asked, as though he expected the plate of goodies to dissipate into thin air. Reaper nodded, setting the plate in the other’s lap.

“Mhm. Do you want to try it? Or are you satisfied with looking?”

Geno picked up the silverware and cut into one of the crepes releasing steam and the berries that had been artfully tucked inside. Tilting his skull, he lifted a forkful to his mouth and hummed. He took another bite, before filling his fork with more.

“So, you like it?” Reaper asked hopefully. Geno snorted.

“No, not at all,” he snapped playfully. “It’s very tasty, Reaps, honestly. Thank you.”

“Of course. I hate seeing you in pain,” Reaper admitted, taking a seat on the bed. “I thought it might cheer you up at least a fraction. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

Geno cleared the plate, aware of the expanding sensation of fullness in his midsection as his ecto accommodated his hastily consumed meal. It was strange, since he hadn’t summoned his ecto, which meant it must have remained clinging to his bones during the night. Maybe his magic was strengthening. His magic levels had fluctuated before, so it wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities. He laid a hand on his abdomen, recognizing growing arousal creeping up on him. He handed the plate to Reaper who set it atop the armoire close by.

“How do you feel?” Reaper asked. Geno smirked.

“Honestly? Very horny,” Geno remarked. He looked at Reaper suspiciously and jokingly asked, “What did you do?”

Reaper clicked his tongue. “What do you mean, dearest? My soul is crushed at your accusing tone.”

Geno’s soul tightened at the timbre of Reaper’s voice. Why’d Reaper have to do this to him? His stupidly sexy voice and that singular blue eye light that flared when he knew he caught Geno in a compromising position always added to Geno’s flustered state. He sure felt it today, too, because he didn’t recall feeling this affected by Reaper in some time. He released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

“G-give me a moment. Wait right here. I mean it, don’t move.” Before Reaper could respond, Geno left the room and made his way into the guest room where he’d left the pretty corset. It seemed simple enough until he actually attempted to put it on. He entered the attached restroom and began to meticulously untie and retie the back once he’d gotten it loose enough to fit over his midriff. He was sweating and totally not having a mental tantrum at how contrived this design was, but as he took in his figure, he blushed for an entirely different reason. The way the design sat flush with the thinner ecto of his chest and emphasized his sturdier hips left him staring at his reflection in awe. He turned to the side and ran a hand down the taut, steel boned abdomen until his phalanges met the soft, frilled lace. He felt kind of…attractive? He thought of the implications of feeling such a sudden rush of excitement at the sight of himself in the corset. The blood that had dotted the pastel blue chest panel was purple from intermingling with the dyes, and the orchid bow resting at his coccyx just so happened to frame his ass.

“Hey, Gen? Are you alright?” Reaper called, breaking Geno out of his momentary trance. Geno blinked before making his way to the doorway and calling out ‘No peeking!’ Reaper’s deep chuckle caused a shiver to skitter up Geno’s spine. “I promise I won’t peek. I swear.”

Geno walked quietly back to the room to find Reaper’s eye sockets closed. He stifled a laugh, not sure that the other was going to comply, but glad he did. “Keep them closed,” Geno ordered, stepping into the room. Geno let his shorts fall to the ground, and he approached quietly, his soul fit to burst with anticipation. “Open,” he said softly. Reaper’s eye light seemed to pierce his frame as he took in the lingerie.

It seemed as though Reaper was stunned into silence, as it took him a moment to formulate words. “Oh, Gen, look at you,” he breathed. “Where have you been hiding this? It looks like it was made for you.”

“I just bought it, actually,” Geno responded, keeping his skull afloat even though internally he was drowning in the praise and the attention from his favorite monster. “I like it a lot.” He smoothed his hands over his abdomen once again, one hand traveling lower to grip his half-hard dick, his digits keen on dipping lower to find the slit in his perineum. “I dunno, I guess I like dressing up for you,” Geno said, looking up at Reaper coyly.

Reaper didn’t know when he’d closed the space between them, but he was now kissing Geno, who melted into his hold around his plush waist. Geno tasted just as he had in the past, but there was something other there that spurred Reaper on all the more. Geno felt it, too, because his soul was taut in his rib cage, the casing feeling too small for the contents of magic within. “So you think you can just waltz in here and tempt me, hm? Think that’ll convince me to fuck you, do you?” Geno breathed hard, smirking as he ran a hand over the erection Reaper was sporting. Reaper shivered. “Because it worked.”

“I thought it might,” Geno replied smugly. He groaned as Reaper backed him against the nearest wall and ground into the damp crux of his thighs. “Mn, what’re you going to do about it?”

Reaper knelt down, forcing Geno’s back against the wall as he gripped his thighs. Spreading Geno’s legs, he hungrily eyed the glistening, red ecto. Geno tensed as he felt Reaper take his dick into his mouth, sucking the tip gently before proceeding to swallow the rest. There wasn’t a whole lot to swallow, but seeing him suck him off was beyond thrilling. He was so worked up and rarely did anyone touch his dick aside from him. It quickly became overstimulating and Geno was giving Reaper warning as soon as he felt heat coil in his lower stomach. Reaper doubled down, bobbing his skull and swallowing around him and Geno couldn’t contain his composure any longer. He came, crying out as he threw his skull back. He hoped he hadn’t dented the wall, but if he had, oh well–Reaper was sucking him dry, causing his hips to jump and stutter. Geno’s spine bowed as Reaper slowed, running his tongue over the head before releasing the spent dick from his maw. He licked his chalk white lips, a wicked grin decorating his features.

“I’m not quite finished with you,” Reaper stated, listening for any sign of hesitation. When there was none, he lifted Geno so that he was on his hands and knees. When Geno’s arms trembled, Reaper snagged two pillows to place under the other’s pelvis. “What a perfect view. I hope you’re not too full from breakfast.”

Reaper sunk into the slick opening with hardly any resistance. Geno moaned earnestly, balling the covers in his fists. As Reaper pulled out and thrusted into him once more, he keened, trembling at the angle. “Reap–ye-yes, Reaper yes!”

“Good girl,” Reaper snarled, picking up his pace as he proceeded to drill Geno for all it was worth. He’d wound his phalanges around the orchid bow laced up Geno’s spine, using it as leverage as he thrusted into him. He loved to hear Geno babble as he got lost in the blissful sensations of their coupling. Call him a freak, but knowing that he was fucking someone older and attractive beyond belief stirred something within Reaper. One of his hands squeezed Geno’s hip as his breath caught in his throat at the realization that he was deep in it. It almost caused him to falter completely, but instead he doubled down, high off the sound of Geno’s pleas. He kept it up until the other’s frame tensed and Geno cried out, insides clenching around Reaper’s dick. Reaper let go, the sensation of Geno’s insides milking him too tempting to turn down. Time stood still as he braced himself on the bed with his hands planted on either side of Geno. It all began to fall into place as he looked at the stunning figure sprawled out below him.

When did one express their feelings? What if he was wrong? It would break Geno to be told he was loved then retract the statement later on. That didn’t seem realistic, but Reaper’s mind didn’t care–it hurled all possibilities his way. He was overwhelmed and hadn’t realized he’d spaced out until he heard Geno calling his name.

“Hey. Are you a little fuck drunk, big guy?” Geno asked, his post orgasmic glow evident from his dewy, flushed face. “By the way, that was fantastic, Reaps.” He pressed a kiss to Reaper’s mouth, a satiated smile etched into his features. “I thought you might have a thing for lingerie.”

“Geno,” Reaper hummed, focusing on the scent and taste of his lover . That was what he was, what he had been for a long while. It made Reaper’s soul stir when he considered that. “I want to tell you something.”

“Go ahead,” Geno urged, leaning his skull into Reaper’s shoulder as he hugged him. Recognizing the hesitation, Geno added, “You can tell me anything, you know?”

Reaper nodded, his vision blurring slightly as panic struck him. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He could do this. It was the truth, he could feel it, and while it scared him, it felt right. He breathed life into the idea as he finally said, “Gen, I’m in love with you.” There was silence for a moment before he felt Geno’s shoulders trembling. He was confused at first, unsure if Geno was laughing at him, but it occurred to him that wasn’t the case when he heard a choked sound. “Baby?” Reaper asked, rubbing Geno’s back as he hugged him close. “I’ve got you. I’m here,” he said, his voice a steady rumble against Geno’s skull.

“I-” Geno began, his voice wavering with emotion. “I d-don’t fucking deserve you. I’ve made a mess of your life ever s-since–”

“No,” Reaper insisted, lifting Geno’s chin so that they were eye to eye. “I don’t want to imagine life without you in it, Gen. I’m…I’ve been so in love with you,” he stated, cupping Geno’s jaw.

“I love you, too, Reaps,” Geno said, uttering a sad chuckle. “But it feels like I’ve trapped you. It hurts to think about, because I want to…” Geno trailed off. The word ‘belong’ was left unsaid, but Reaper could fill in the gaps. He thumbed away the tears on Geno’s face.

“You’re mine, angel. I want you. No one else holds a candle to you. No one ever will.”

Geno wiped at his eye socket, sniffling as he clutched Reaper to him. He didn’t know when he’d become so attached, but he didn’t want to entertain any thought contradicting Reaper’s comforting words. “Don’t let me go,” Geno pleaded, wrapping his arms around the other’s shoulders. Reaper held him close, pressing kisses and whispering soothing things against his partner’s skull. He eventually began to undo the tightly laced corset, reveling in the way Geno relaxed further into him as he released the pressure of the garment. Eventually, it was loose enough that Geno could slide it over his hips and step out of it. Reaper pressed a searing kiss against Geno’s before cradling him against his chest and making his way to the restroom. A hot bath with candles was calling, and there was no one more deserving than the perfect skeleton in his arms.

~

When Sci received a notification from Geno, he sat up, swiping up on his phone screen. He’d been awaiting a response to his text asking the name of the place he’d gone the other day. Apparently it was called Constellation Cat Cafe, which sounded like something he’d heard Sans mention in the past, but it could also be the community’s obsession with space. He texted him back to thank him before receiving a text almost immediately in return.

Geno: The guy’s name is Rigel btw. He gives off very stoned vibes. Tell him i said hi

Sci: Will do. Rest up and feel better btw

Geno: I’m trying. No promises

Sci pocketed his cell phone before heading to find Red. He came across the larger skeleton in the living room lounging in his recliner while a podcaster droned from the phone in his hands. Sci stopped in front of him, waiting for him to look up from the forums he was probably browsing. It didn’t take long for Red to offer a glance to the silhouette looming over him.

“Hey, sweet thing. What’s up?”

“I have a surprise for you,” Sci stated. “Are you up for going out?”

Red stood up from his cozy chair. “Sure. Ya gonna tell me where we’re going?”

Sci smirked. “Not a chance.”

~

Parking along the street, Sci paid the fee at the meter before leading Red towards the cafe. Glancing at the maps, he deduced it was right around the corner from where they parked. Intertwining his phalanges with Red’s, he anxiously excitedly glanced up towards the storefront. His soul tightened as they arrived at the door which he held open for Red. “Here we are.”

Red took in the scene of the eccentric, star themed coffee shop and cat sanctuary. He looked at Sci with a wide smile as he stated, “A coffee shop, huh? Ya know me so well, doll.”

Sci blushed as they approached the counter, where a laid back skeleton greeted them. His half-lidded eye sockets gave him the impression that he’d pulled an all nighter–or smoked something good quality. “Hi. Are you by chance Rigel?” Sci asked.

The barista offered an easy smile and nodded. “That’s me. Do I know you?”

“N-no, uh, my friend, Geno, said he visited your shop. He recommended I check out your cafe,” Sci explained, feeling his rib cage tense over his soul.

Rigel quirked a brow before snapping his phalanges and exclaiming, “Oh, yeah! Eye patch fella with the scarf, right?” Sci nodded, feeling relief wash over him. He was overthinking things, but hell, he was good at over analyzing interactions with strangers. “He’s a nice guy.” Rigel tapped the screen in front of him before asking, “What can I get you two?”

Sci ordered a cappuccino and Red got himself a tall latte with cinnamon before they meandered over to the room where the felines roamed. An employee opened the door for them, letting them know they could enter. Red was tugged along by Sci who grabbed his hand and guided him into the room with glass walls. He didn’t know if he was doing this right, but Sci managed to push through his apprehension. This was about Red. He’d make it a fantastic date for him. Then he realized he’d never actually asked Red if he liked cats. ‘Fuck.’

“Oh my Stars…there’s so many,” Red stated, a goofy grin on his face as he looked down at the gathering of feelines. It felt as though a weight had been lifted from Sci’s shoulders as he watched Red’s reaction.

“I don’t know where to go–that one’s legs are so stubby, no way,” Sci said before wandering over to the short-legged cat. “Look at you. Red, I’m going to die, look at this!”

Red belted out a laugh as he took in the cat. It was completely ridiculous looking, but utterly adorable nonetheless. “I’m gonna look for the grumpiest fucker I can find. I’ve got an idea.”

The grumpiest fucker ended up being a cat that was fairly new to the group with a mottled grey and white coat, a torn ear and a facial deformity that left him with two noses and a cleft at the center of his mouth. He was tucked away in a cubby and glaring at the rest of the residents of the cafe. Red was delighted.

“He’s the one,” he proclaimed, holding a hand out to the tomcat to sniff. While hesitant, the unique feline eventually did give Red’s ring clad phalanges a sniff, before placing a lick to the tip of his pointer finger. “Sci, it licked me. Oh, my soul,” Red said, looking like he was about to tear up.

“Wait, what? The one?” Sci asked, looking from the cat to Red. “Red, are you bringing this cat home?”

“Yeah, I am. Edge has talked about gettin’ a cat. I think this one is perfect for him,” Red responded, gently stroking the animal’s cheek. Sci contemplated that for a moment before hearing his name called from the counter.

“That’s us–I’ll be right back.”

“See ya, tootz. I’ll be over here with Mr. Fangs. Hey bud, your teeth are gnarly,” Red said to the cat, who was in the process of stretching and yawning. “My lil’ bro is gonna be crazy about ya.”

~

Their date consisted of sipping on coffee and signing adoption papers for the two-nosed cat. Sci couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the feline as it struggled, hissing and spitting as an employee tucked him into a carrier. Red chuckled at the cat’s antics, clearly convinced he’d chosen correctly.

“This was a great surprise date, doll. Thank you.” He pressed a kiss to Sci’s face and he blushed fiercely, relieved and overjoyed that the outing was a success. He felt like he could die happy in that moment, feeling triumphant as they made their way back to the car.

Upon arriving home with the wailing crate of cat, it wasn’t as though they could make a sneaky entrance and surprise Edge. Red’s younger brother was immediately made aware of a new presence in the home, and Sci struggled to keep a straight face as he narrowed his eye sockets at Red.

“Brother,” Edge snarled. “What have you done?”

“Something that’ll knock your socks off, bro,” Red stated, opening the top of the container so that the little beast could poke his head out. The cat’s eyes were saucers as it fearfully took in its new surroundings and owner. Edge scrutinized the feline, bending and then kneeling down to get a good look at it. He looked from the cat to Red, then back to the cat.

“You picked at cat with two and a half sets of whiskers, two noses, and an extra tooth dividing the two mouths…noses? Hold on,” Edge squinted and the cat shied away slightly, its pupils so dilated that the eyes appeared completely black. “Yes, two whole muzzles. What is the meaning of this?”

“Listen, ya said ya were thinkin’ about gettin’ a cat–”

“Yes, and thinking about it is all I was doing, brother.”

“Hear me out–he’s a tough nugget. He’s got double the sniffing and biting power. He’s a big guy, ya can’t tell all the way when they’ve folded him up in that carrier, but he’s an impressive cat. Ya should give em a chance, bro,” Red said, hopeful that his gift would be well received.

Standing up, Edge walked over to the counter where he’d been prepping for a recipe he was planning on tackling the next day. He plucked up a strip of chicken and brought it to the terrified animal. He offered it in the palm of his hand.

The cat was uncertain, but eventually sniffed around and located the meat before gobbling it up with his right-most mouth. Both tongues went to work to clean the fur around his maw and he stared up at Edge with slightly less fear than he had to begin with.

Edge sighed. “Very well. You will be called Doomfanger, my feline charge. I appreciate the gift, brother.”

Red’s smile was broad as he fist pumped, scaring Doomfanger as he did so. Edge clicked his tongue and rolled his eye lights before picking up the carrier and taking it to his room. Sci bit his lower lip as he watched Red celebrate his small victory. Sci couldn’t resist pulling his dorky lover in for a kiss, his soul singing in response to the other’s happiness.

~

[The next day]

Sci walked out of the mortuary facility doors feeling on top of the world and strangely numb. He’d just been offered a job as a lead forensic pathologist, which he hadn't ever been considered for under Toriel’s management. He walked robotically to his car before taking a seat in the driver’s side and buckling up. The interview had been a blur, and while he’d tried to be charismatic and knowledgeable, he thought he’d been fudging his chances the entire time. A sudden wave of giddiness gripped him, and with trembling hands he grabbed his cell phone. Turning the keys, he ignited the engine and pulled out of the parking spot, waiting for Red to answer his call.

“Hey, doll. How’d your interview go?” Red’s husky voice crackled over the speaker.

“Red, I don’t know how I did it, but I got the position,” Sci said. Red cheered and from somewhere in the background, Edge admonished his older sibling for being too loud and scaring Doomfanger senseless.

“Holy shit, yer serious? I knew ya could do it. I told ya, didn’t I? Stars, I’m so proud of you,” Red stated, absolutely beaming on the other end of the line. “I’m gonna treat ya tonight. Just you wait,” he said, the grin he was wearing conveyed by his tone of voice.

“Oooh, no way,” Sci commented, smiling in response. “Is this a surprise? Or can I know a little somethin’ somethin’?” He asked, not even blinking at the car that cut in front of him without signaling. Red’s chuckle filled him with delight.

“Nah, babe. I think I’m gonna make ya wait,” Red stated smugly. Sci groaned, before biting his lip. “Revenge for keeping me in the dark yesterday.

“Maybe I can convince you. Give me a chance, will you?”

“We’ll see,” Red said, pouring himself another cup of coffee. Edge mulled over the weathered cookbook he’d received as a child, pointedly ignoring his brother. He scribbled onto a sticky note before placing it over a section of the recipe that had been stained. He hummed in approval as he went to retrieve more ingredients from the pantry. “What’s yer ETA?”

“10 minutes. Do you think you can wait that long, big boy?” Sci asked teasingly. Red took a sip of his coffee before meandering back to his bedroom. He hit the speakerphone button as he worked on stripping the mattress of the dirty cling sheet.

“Ya think it’s cute to blue ball me, huh?” Red asked before scoffing. He pulled out a clean, folded sheet before opening it up. His shorts were a little snug in the crotch, so his statement wasn’t that much of an exaggeration. Sci tended to have that effect on him.

“Heh, trust me, I think it’s hilar–” the sound of static interference interrupted Sci’s snarky comment and the line suddenly dropped. Red’s brows furrowed, but he knew the city didn’t keep up maintenance on cell towers. He continued spiffing up the bed, knowing Sci would appreciate it when he came down from his serotonin high from being offered the job.

Red picked up the dirty blankets and walked to the laundry room, eager to hear the door open so he could gush over Sci’s accomplishment. He was so proud he could barely contain it, but he’d let Sci tell Edge he got the offer and watch the nerd’s eye lights shine as Edge congratulated him. Red had found that he’d started to plan future events around Sci, and that got him thinking about more. It hadn’t been long, but he was convinced that even if Sci confessed to something heinous, he was too far into this to walk away from him. Red hummed as he poured the detergent over the blankets before retreating to his bedroom. He opened his closet door and retrieved a gift wrapped package. He smiled as he placed it on the made bed, soul twisting with anticipation. He couldn’t wait to see Sci’s reaction to it. Just imagining the other’s reaction had him smiling. ‘Hurry home, angel. I gotcha somethin’ I know yer gonna love.’

~

Geno received a call while he was mulling over a bowl of tepid soup. He set the spoon down, glad to have a distraction from the scent of the broth which had begun to put him off eating entirely. He answered the call, muttering a ‘hello’ as he looked around for where he’d set his coffee mug.

“Geno?” A gravelly voice asked.

“That’s me,” Geno responded, pinpointing his evasive cup of caffeine on the far counter closest to the doorway to the living room. “Who’s this?”

“Hey, it’s Red. Sci wrote yer number down. Sci wouldn’t happen to be there with ya, would he?”

Geno felt uneasy as he responded, “No…no he’s not. Why?”

Red released something between an anxious sigh and a curse. “He was on his way back from an interview. He hit a patch of static and the call dropped. That was an hour ago…thought maybe he’d gone to tell ya about his morning.”

“No, I haven’t seen him. Where’d he say he was?” Geno asked, feeling his soul tighten. Red didn’t seem like a guy to get shaken up, so hearing the concern in his voice was unsettling.

“I think he was just about on the exit from the highway–the one closest to us. I forget what it’s called but I could point ya to it easily if we was drivin’,” Red stated, sounding a bit breathless. “I haven’t been able ta get ahold of him and, frankly, it’s scarin’ me.”

“Listen, I don’t have a car, but if you want support, I’m here. If you want to swing by and pick me up we can go around together, okay?” Geno suggested, the sensation of nausea intensifying as he thought about what could have possibly gone wrong. It wasn’t like Sci to remain silent. He was a punctual guy and it was out of character for him to not follow through with his plans.

“Alright. Yeah.” Red released a breath, and Geno heard the jingle of car keys. “I’m on my way. Thank ya, yer helpin’ me more than you know.”

“Hey, we’re neighbors, right? We’re going to find him. I’ll wait for you outside.”

~

Geno opened the passenger door and stepped in, before latching his seatbelt. He’d popped a couple anti-nausea pills before heading out and had shot Reaper a text letting him know where he’d be. Red’s skull was coated in a layer of sweat and if he gripped the steering wheel any more tightly, they’d be facing a vehicle without a steering function. “Ready,” Geno stated.

They drove in relative silence. Red’s phone rang and he immediately answered, voice unsteady as he greeted the speaker. “Hey, bro. Did he come home?”

His soul felt an icy sensation take over as his brother informed him that he still hadn’t seen Sci. Edge sounded upset as he opened the front door once again, just in case he might have spoken too soon, but there was no sign of the familiar vehicle.

“Where was he at, brother?” Edge asked, raising his voice to grab his older brother’s attention.

“He was-he was on his way back from the big mortuary on the east side–you know the one,” Red stammered, as darkness crept in from the periphery of his vision. “I’m pretty sure he was just exiting the highway–the exit by that one coffee joint, bro,” Red said, his voice trembling.

Geno thought he knew where that was. Red navigated the road deftly despite his obvious distress. He was concerned as well, but it wouldn’t be productive for him to fuel Red’s panic. Someone had to have a level skull to maintain some semblance of balance.

“Could he have gone to visit his brother?” Edge asked.

Red was silent for a moment, before asking, “Ya have a point. Do ya mind givin’ Sans a call, Geno?”

“Not at all. On it.”

As the phone line rang, they both laid eyes on the small gathering close to the aforementioned coffee shop which was accentuated by the flashing lights. Red had swung the vehicle to the curb and put it in park before he was out of the car, headed straight towards whatever was happening on the other side of the gradually increasing crowd. Geno felt his soul twist as Sans’ voice brought him back to the present.

“Hello?”

“Sans, it’s Geno.”

“Hey there. How are things?” He asked. Geno craned his neck to see if there was any evidence of Red returning to the car, but he couldn’t see past the onlookers. He exhaled.

“Well, uh–listen, is Sci there with you?”

There was complete silence before Sans responded, “No, he’s not. Why?”

Geno felt his chest tighten. ‘Well fuck.’ “Hold on a sec. I’ll be right back.” Geno muted Sans and stepped out of the car. He felt like time had slowed, his breathing far too loud as he squeezed past humans and monsters alike to gain an idea of what was happening.

Sci’s car was smashed in near the front passenger side where another vehicle had blind sided him. It was a fair assumption that Sci’s vehicle took the brunt of the damage, since there was no trace of the culprit anywhere. Geno noted that the driver’s side door was open and a group of medical personnel were doing a poor job at keeping Red at bay.

There. There was Sci, motionless on a gurney with EMT’s securing the straps over his prone form. “Woah there,” one of the officers said, blocking Red’s access to Sci. “Hey, you need to back up.”

Red, desperate to get to the other, responded with, “He’s–he’s my boyfriend.” He needed them to understand. “Please, you have to let me see him. Please let me go to ‘im.”

Sci’s movements were extremely sluggish from shock. He recalled the pickup truck in his periphery as it hit him, but other than that, he was drawing a blank. His neck and skull ached, and he wasn’t sure how he’d gotten out of the driver’s seat. Upon seeing Red pleading with the EMTs, he felt a surge of sudden awareness spike. ‘How long was I out for?’ “Red,” he rasped out, his cranium pounding as the sun assaulted his eye lights. “Let him–let him come.”

The medical professionals near him cued the others into the fact that Sci knew the frantic skeleton. Red was at his side in an instant, holding Sci’s hand as he stated.

Sci felt detached from his body as Red pressed his knuckles to his face, inhaling the scent of his bones in an effort to calm himself down.

“I’m…I was so fuckin’ terrified,” Red rambled, eye sockets brimming with tears. He stood to move with them as they maneuvered Sci into the loading dock of the ambulance. “I’ll be right here with ya, doll. I’m here now.”

Geno, feeling as though he'd just escaped from a tramce, unmuted Sans and asked, “How soon can you get to Lee’s Roastery?”

“What’s going on? Where’d you go? Where’s Sci?” Sans asked, his voice giving away his concern.

“He was in an accident–” Geno jumped as the air close to him warped, a blue haze following as Sans apparated into being beside him. “Holy fuck.”

“Where is he?” Sans asked, and while Geno pointed in the direction of the crowd, he noticed that the ambulance had pulled away, the lights and siren fading into the distance.

“Ambulance. Red just got in with him. Can you drive?” Geno asked and Sans nodded. He buckled himself into the passenger seat and gripped the seat for support as the other sped off without hesitation. “I’ll get the location,” Geno said, hoping today wasn’t the day he’d spew what little of his brunch he was able to keep down earlier all over the interior of Red’s car. Sans grunted, but other than that, he kept his focus solely on the road, his soul filled with crippling fear.