The War Amongst Us

by TheIndianaCrew

Summary:

(Y\N) is a young female spy and soldier fighting in the War of Humans and Monsters. She is fighting on the humans' side of the war until a turn of events when she becomes apprehended by the enemy. What will happen when a young monster scientist tries to change her views?

Chapter 1: "The Story Begins"

War, it is the absolute path of death and destruction yet, you are stuck right in the middle of it. Your name is (y\n) (l\n), you have been working as a spy and a solider in this war for eight months. Tensions between humans and monsters have always been high, even as a small child you were taught never to trust a monster. They were as slippery as eels and as untrustworthy as conmen. Every human knew that if you ever let your guard down when a monster was around, they'd steal your soul immediately without guilt. So, that's why mankind finally made the right choice of fighting the monsters. Once the humans were victorious, they'd seal the monsters under Mt. Ebott for centuries, millennia, maybe even a million years. It all depended if the monsters were smart enough to figure out how to break the magical barrier. 

But, even if they did figure out, it'd take many years to actually get out. Commander Dykstra said that in order to break the magical barrier that will seal the monsters underground, they'd need a great amount of soul power... Whatever that means. 

But, now wasn't the time to reminisce on the hostility between the two races. You need to walk though the camp your fellow soldiers were staying in to the main commander's tent. Commander Baskey was the leader of this band of military, he had ordered you to report to his tent immediately. He was likely going to give you a mission to act out tonight while in the dark, that was your specialty after all. 

You were well known for your wits, stealth and courage. You were one of the best spies in the human army, your expertise was sought after and you had gone from military camp to military camp helping out on missions. You had been at this camp for only two weeks, yet you've been on four spy missions. All have gone smoothly and you've been able to hear many of the monster's battle plans. That of course means the humans have successfully won many battles mainly because of you and your spy skills.

You grinned slightly as you made your way through the crowd of soldiers who were sitting around a campfire. You were taken back when Alysha Corbett grabbed a hold of your shoulder, stopping you mid stride. "Miss (l\n), before you set out tonight I have some vegetable stew prepared by the campfire for you to eat." She told you gently. 

She was wearing a proper blue and white dress, she was the cook for this lot. Her husband was John Corbett, one of the better soldiers in this army. He was a skilled swordsman and he had slain many monsters with his broadsword. Alysha wasn't the best cook, but she needed a reason to be here so she made food for the army. Her food wasn't as good as it had been at the last camp, but it was okay. You weren't here for the food anyway. 

You nodded at her, "Alright, Mrs. Corbett." you replied as you dipped your head in respect and walked to the army commander's tent. 

Women weren't usually allowed in the army since they are seen as weak but, you had always been known as a skilled thief. Most would sentence a thief to death, but the king had observed your sneaky ways and gave you a pardon. Well, that was under one condition, if you joined the military he'd clear you of your crimes. You didn't want to join the military but, it was either this or go to a dark dungeon and eventually have your head chopped off in a guillotine. It was obvious why you made the former choice and not the latter, you weren't ready to die yet. You still had plenty of life to live and you didn't want your life to be cut short. 

You grew up as an orphan on the streets so, you learned how to sneak food and money from people without them noticing, this went on for eighteen years of your life before you were finally caught in the act. You were finally captured when you were stealing a noblewoman's dress, her husband caught you and wanted to make sure you got the punishment you deserved. But, the joke's on him because you never got any severe punishment. 

And thanks to being in the military, dresses were very unsuitable for missions. That meant that for the most part you could wear men's clothing, that wasn't supported by many of course, but you didn't care. You strongly disliked dresses, they were too flashy and complicated. Not to mention, they were extremely drafty. 

You walked into your commander's tent and his brown eyes instantly looked up at you. He was sitting on the ground, a glass of wine in one hand and a dagger in the other. "Hello Misses (y\n). I have a task for you." His deep voice spoke. He tossed his dagger in the air and swiftly caught it again by the handle before he stood up and took a sip of his wine. 

"Of course Sir, what is this task?" You asked in response looking at his buttoned doublet quickly before glancing back up at his face. 

Commander Baskey, or, Evan Baskey is a Caucasian male standing at 5'5" with short blonde hair and brown eyes. He is well built and he treated you respectively, unlike most commanders you've worked with before. Whenever he saw a man disrespect you in the camp, he'd immediately interject and make sure they didn't do it again. 

Baskey took a step forward and handed you the dagger from his hand, "I need you to go to the west, past the big oaks that are near the mountain. The monsters have been spotted there and I need you to go there tonight." He spoke as he gave you a respectful nod. 

"You may take my horse, just make sure you don't get caught. Oh, and if you do get caught, it'd be best if you were wearing a dress. We don't want you getting recognized by the enemy, do we?" He gently spoke which made you groan in displeasure. 

"But Sir, you do realize how uncomfortable it is to ride on a horse with a dress on, right?" You complained. 

He let out a deep chuckle and lifted your hand to his lips, kissing it gently. "I wouldn't know, but I'm sure you can understand why I asked you, Miss (y\n)." He responded calmly. 

You blushed slightly, pulling your hand out of his grasp and nodded. "Alright, Sir. I will head out after I eat some of Mrs. Corbett's stew." You responded and he smiled kindly. 

"Be safe, (y\n). You're a very beautiful maiden and I don't want monsters to capture you." He replied. 

"I haven't been caught yet, so you shouldn't worry." You responded with a curtsy. 

"Goodbye, Commander Baskey." You spoke as you exited his tent. 

"Goodbye, Miss (y\n)!" He called after you as you made your way to the campfire. 

You didn't own many dresses, but it was likely Mrs. Corbett would let you borrow one of hers, that is if you promised to give it back. She did have this one dress you liked, it was a nice maroon color with golden accents that went down past her ankles. All the dresses you owned were for peasants, they lacked any intricate design and weren't as magnificent as a dress for someone wealthier than you. Well, all of your dresses had been stolen from people. Usually fellow peasants like yourself, you couldn't just walk around the streets naked so you stole from the easiest targets. That'd be fellow peasants, like yourself. Even if it was terrible to steal, you were just trying to stay alive so, you felt no guilt. 

Once you made it to the campfire, the familiar gazes from the soldiers were on you as always. These men couldn't see you as an equal, they only saw you as a churl. Not only did they see you as a churl, but they also saw you as a lady... A lady to not be respected. 

"(y\n), shouldn't you be at home tending to your husband?" One of the men mocked. The fact that you were a single lady was often commented about, most women would be stuck in arranged marriages by your age and you were only 19. But, since you had no family, no marriage could be arranged. You didn't mind that at all, though. You didn't want to be forced into marrying some snob. 

The men in this camp were almost all married to women through arranged marriages, it is common for the time, after all. Even Commander Baskey had been married when he was 22 to a 17 year old girl. From what you've heard though, he never had liked her. When he was away fighting in the war, his wife contracted smallpox and eventually passed away leaving him a widower. They had never had children and he didn't seem to like the idea of getting dragged into a marriage with someone he didn't know well. He was only 25 now and he didn't seem to want to marry anyone again anytime soon. 

You turned to the man who said that to you and glared at him, "Sir Griffin, I suggest you keep your mouth shut before I either pummel you or tell Commander Baskey that you're disrespecting me." you threatened coldly which left him silent. 

You walked over to the pot of stew sitting next to the fire and filled up a small bowl with it. You sat down on one of the logs sitting in front of the fire and began eating your dinner politely. You slipped the dagger Commander Baskey had given you into the sheath on your hip and looked up at the sky, the stars filled the sky and twinkled with all their might. The only things that were lighting the area around you were the moon, the stars and various torches scattered around the camp. 

For a autumn night, it was quite beautiful. You loved being out in the open, nature was a very wonderful thing and you loved looking up at the stars in the sky. Most humans would be cooped up in their homes, tucking their children into bed, unaware of the dangers you had to face every single day out in the open. Wolves, bears, poisonous snakes, et cetera, were all dangers you and your fellow soldiers had to deal with every day. Just last week you had to lay a solider to rest, Brandon Oakley. He was 30 years old, and he had died way too soon. He had been bitten by a poisonous snake and he eventually succumbed to the poison. 

You quickly finished your food and stood up, walking to the Corbett's tent. "Mrs. Corbett, may I borrow a dress?" You called to her from outside. 

She peeked out of the tent and looked over at you, "Oh, I'm afraid not. Especially not for a dangerous mission like this. I can't afford loosing one of my dresses, sorry." She quickly responded. 

You sighed and nodded your head in understanding, "Alright, Mrs. Corbett. Have a good night." You responded before you turned and walked to the tent you were staying in. You went inside and bent down as you opened a case of your belongings, pulling out a tan and brown dress. It was old and worn but, you'd have to deal with it. This way, if the monsters saw you, they would think you were just a peasant who got lost in the woods, or so you hoped. 

You quickly changed into it and brushed your (h\c) hair out with your fingers before you walked over to where the horses were kept and untied Commander Baskey's horse from the tree he was tied to. Unbeknownst to most, Baskey had named his horse. His name was Arthur and Evan Baskey had a very strong bond with his horse. You were honestly surprised he'd even let you take his horse, but you were grateful that he would let you. This way you wouldn't have to walk such a long time through the deep and dark forest. 

You carefully climbed onto the horse's back and held onto his reins before you tapped his side with your heel, signalling him to start walking. The equine instantly took off through the woods and you took a deep breath and prepared for the mission ahead of you.

Chapter 2: "A Ride Through the Night"

The equine galloped through the night, its black mane was being blown around by the wind of the night and you held on tightly to the dark brown stallion as it ran though the dark woods. 

The only thing lighting the vast darkness was the faint light of the moon and you took a deep breath, closing your eyes as you listened to the sounds of the night. Wolves could be heard howling in the distance and the hoot of a single owl was overhead. The crunching of the leaves echoed though the trees as Arthur ran and you eyes snapped back open to see a camp set up in the distance. You panicked and made Arthur stop by pulling on his reins hard. "I'm so sorry!" You whispered to Commander Baskey's horse before you looked over at the torches lit in the camp far away. 

You squinted your eyes as you observed the camp, it was hard to tell if it was for humans or monsters. You looked around, quite surprised no soldier had come and confronted you yet.  Somebody must've fallen asleep while on night watch. How despicable of them. 

You hopped off of the muscular brown horse and held your dress up off the ground. You looked around the darkness and tied Arthur's reins around the nearest oak. And with that, you went to investigate the camp.  

You began to tiptoe to the camp when you heard a stick break, you whipped around to see a burly man with a long red beard staring at you with a sword in hand. "And where do you think you're going, Misses? Identify yourself!" He demanded as he stomped his food on the ground. 

You gulped and held your hands in front of yourself neatly, "Hello sir, the name's Misses (Y\N) (L\N). I am a solider traveling from army camp to army camp on missions. I'm currently stationed in camp 204, that is the camp lead by Sir Commander Baskey." You explained to him calmly. 

He leaned on his sword as he tapped his fingers on his chin before he turned his gaze back to you. "A lady in the military? Since when?" He chuckled with a roll of his eyes. 

You adjusted your standing position and tilted your head as you looked to the man with a smart gaze. "Only since my King so kindly let me in to serve the humans cause." You replied to him with a sly smile. Sure, that's not exactly what happened, but it was somewhat close. I mean, you only left out the part that you were forced in, well, that and the fact that you were a criminal when the king had found you. But, that wouldn't help your case here so you kept that part out. 

"Oh, you were let in by the king himself? Well, then welcome, Misses (y\n)." The man replied before he put his sword back in its sheath. "I'm Sir Ross Stewart, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." He spoke before he bowed to you respectively. 

"It's very nice to meet you, Sir." You responded before you bowed in return. 

He hummed for a second and looked you up and down, "You aren't wearing a wedding ring, so I'm assuming you're a damsel?" he asked you. 

"Such an impertinent question so early in the conversation! How promising." You replied with a wink. 

He blushed a light red before he scratched the back on his neck, "Right, I'm very sorry, Misses." He apologized with a dip of his head. You smirked and curtsied as you looked at him with a calm glance. 

You were about to speak when you were cut off by the sound of horses galloping near. You and Sir Ross looked at each other, "Are those your men approaching?" you asked him and he shook his head. "No, all my men are here." He replied as he looked ahead where the noise was coming from. The horses neighed as they approached and Sir Ross pulled the sword from its sheath once again. "Stay behind me." He instructed. 

You huffed somewhat before you pulled the dagger Baskey had given you out of your boot swiftly and held it in your dominant hand, looking ahead, ready to attack if necessary. When the horses were within eyes distance, you were able to tell there were four horses and four men. Yes, they were men, not those dreadful monsters. But, Sir Ross kept his stance and stared the men down like they were criminals. When they finally made it close enough, he stepped out and glared at the men. 

"Stop, before you come any closer, identify yourselves." He demanded with his eyes narrowed suspiciously. 

The man in the lead on the horse raised an eyebrow and looked down at Sir Ross like he was crazy, "You don't recognize me, soldier?" he asked him in an annoyed tone. 

"Identify yourselves! I don't give a damn about who you a-" Sir Ross started before he was cut off. 

"Prince Noah Smith from Drayvil Castle, that's who I am." He interrupted him angrily. 

Sir Ross seemed to freeze, his pupils dilated and he took a step back, dropping his sword on the ground and instantly bowing down to the Prince. Prince Noah grinned cockily, "I came to deliver orders from my father, the king." he spoke smoothly. 

You stepped out of the shadows so you'd be in the faint light of the camp's torches and the soldiers lanterns. You curtsied to the prince and he smiled at you. "What is such a beautiful maiden doing out here in a peasants clothes? The men here haven't enslaved you, have they?" He asked you before he looked at Ross suspiciously. 

"No, Your Royal Highness." You responded to him with a dip of your head. 

"What is your name, Misses?" He asked you in a silky smooth tone. His men looked at him and shook their heads, not to mention Sir Ross Stewart was still bowing to the prince on the dirty ground. 

"I am Misses (y\n) (l\n), I do believe the king knows my name well." You replied to him. 

He noticed the dagger in your hand and looked at your face, "Ah yes, he did say you were beautiful, but I could have never imagined to this extent." he purred slightly. 

You blushed lightly, "Your Highness, I do believe you have a message to deliver here." you told him softly and he nodded and chuckled. "Of course, how could I have forgotten?" He replied with a grin before his gaze wandered back to Ross. 

"You may arise, solider." He spoke and Sir Ross sprang up. 

"Yes, Prince Smith." He replied with a bow.

"We had been told that you and your camp here need to pack up. A monster camp is only 3 miles north of here and this spot isn't safe. You must move by daybreak, king's orders." The prince spoke before he ran his fingers through his brown hair.

Sir Ross nodded, "Of course, we'll move as soon as possible." he replied. 

"Good, now... Me and my men must camp here for the night before we had back to Drayvil. Would Misses (y\n) care to join me in my tent?" He asked before his cool gray gaze looked over at you. You nearly choked when you realized what the prince was suggesting. "No, sir. I'm on a very important mission right now and I must get on it immediately." You replied nervously. 

Prince Noah hummed slightly and looked to the side, thinking for a moment before he nodded. "But isn't this your camp?" He asked you and you shook your head. "No, Your Highness. I accidentally stumbled across this camp and Sir Ross stopped me before you showed up. I'm currently stationed in Commander Baskey's camp." You explained and he nodded. 

"Well, you should be on your way then so you can complete the mission. Good luck, Misses (y\n)." He spoke before observing you one last time. After that, he and his men trudged forward with Sir Ross following close behind. You let out a sigh of relief and walked back in the direction you came from. It seems you still need to find the monster's camp before daybreak. So, you ran back to Arthur, put the dagger back in your boot and untied him from the big oak tree, hopping on and heading to the North. 

And now you were riding in the pitch black night yet again, the leaves were torn from the ground as Arthur ran through the forest. And with every gallop he took, the further into uncharted territory you went. You began to feel lost and you grumbled in annoyance. "Dammit!" You hissed under your breath. 

It seemed like you were lost and that actually worried you a lot, you'd never gotten lost before. But what worried you most was that you didn't have many survival skills. That was what worried you the most. But, you couldn't fail your king or your Commander, so by using the knowledge your many commanders had taught you over the years, you rode Arthur until you were back on track. 

And after around an hour of going North, you made it to the suspected camp of the monsters. Doing the same as before, you hopped off of Commander Baskey's horse and tied him to a tree so he wouldn't be able to run off if chaos broke out. And with that, you pulled your dagger from your boot and snuck into camp. A faint magical purple glow was coming from one of the tents but the rest of the camp was pitch black. 

You looked left, then right and walked right though the middle of their camp stealthily. It seemed nobody was taking watch tonight, which made it easier to gather information about their battle plans and war tactics. The closer you got to the tent that was glowing purple, the more you got intrigued. You walked around in a circle quietly around the tent and tapped your fingers on your chin. You stood still for a few moments before the light suddenly dulled to the point it couldn't be seen anymore. You froze and looked to the tent entrance but, nobody came out. You turned and continued snooping around until you found a brown leather journal set on a log near the campfire. 

You opened the journal and in the faint light of the moon, you could make out various odd shapes and symbols all written with a quill and black ink. You flipped the pages and didn't find it of any use, so you set it back neatly where it came from. 

After you had set it down, you turned back around and you froze when you looked up to see a tall green crocodile-esque monster staring at you. It had red eyes and short curly blonde hair and you backed up in surprise at the sight of the horrendous thing. 

"Who are you?!" It demanded and your heart began to beat fast. You looked around in a panic for possible escape routes and the monster took a step forward, conjuring up attacks as it snarled at you. You thought about what you should do and they reached out to grab you when you panicked. Your heart was beating fast and you were shaking. And suddenly, you held up your dagger and slammed it into the unexpecting monster whilst in fear and they groaned in pain as tears suddenly welled up in their eyes. They fell over and suddenly, they slowly began to turn into dust. You dropped the dagger on the ground and stepped back as the monster looked at you, clearly in pain. "H-How could you do this?" They asked you and you quickly turned and ran in the opposite direction, completely forgetting about the dagger you had dropped. 

You ran to Arthur, untied him from the strong tree and jumped onto him, getting him to run as fast as his long legs could carry him. He took off again into the night and you didn't care how much noises he was making. You just needed to get back to camp as soon as possible to tell Commander Baskey all that had happened.  

But, all that you could think about during the long and tiring ride was that you had just taken someone's life and they couldn't get it back. Someone had just been killed by your own hands and you felt it difficult to process. Had you just taken a parent from its children for life? Hopefully not, but the guilt attacked you and wouldn't let you erase it from your mind. This would be an extremely emotional ride back to camp.

Chapter 3: "Commander Baskey"

The ride back to camp was long and tiring. Timberwolves had nipped at Arthur's hooves as he ran for miles until the pack of wolves had finally given up. But, you could still hear the wolf pack howling among the trees, communicating back and forth amongst themselves. 

Regardless, the sun was now starting to rise and the morning was just beginning. You were late, you should've been back a while ago. You knew that Commander Baskey would be very worried. You hadn't ever been this late before. 

You couldn't believe that you had gotten caught twice in the same day. You were ashamed that your stealth had failed you. This was the first time you'd ever gotten caught, and it happened not once, but twice. And just to add to all that, you murdered an unexpecting monster. You had taken its life and there for no way for it to come back from the dead. Guilt was still weighing down your shoulders and you wished it'd just go away already. 

You had even dropped Evan Baskey's dagger onto the sandy ground in the monster's camp. Sure, it was just an object... But what if he expected it to return to him? Daggers weren't exactly easy to create after all. Hopefully Commander Baskey wouldn't be too upset. 

You rode into the camp absolutely exhausted and you turned to see your commander quickly dash over as soon as you arrived back in the safety of your temporary camp. 

"Misses (Y\N)! Where have you been? Are you alright?" He quickly asked as you got off of Arthur. You didn't respond at first before you made sure Arthur was back in his normal location and fastened him to a strong pine before you turned to your commander with a weak smile. "I'm alright, but we must talk immediately, Sir." You told him with your smile faltering. 

His brown eyes were filled with concern as he took your hand gently, "Let's go back to my tent so we won't have any eavesdroppers." He spoke as he began to lead you to his tent. You let him practically drag you to his tent as you blinked sleepily. When he walked in and sat down, he let go of your hand and nodded to you. 

You sat down as well and looked into your commander's gaze. He nervously began toying with his fingers as his eyes locked with yours. "So, what happened?" He asked you. Despite his efforts to hide his worry, you could see right though his disguise. He was very concerned about what you had to tell him.  

You thought back to the events that had happened overnight, from being stopped by Sir Ross Stewart, to meeting Prince Noah Smith to almost being captured by the monsters. You decided to not sugarcoat any of it, you didn't want to lie about what had happened, after all. So, you told him the entire story. You even left in the part about the mischievous prince who had tried to get you to stay with him. Commander Baskey's  expression was filled with shock, anger, fear and thankfulness. It was very hard to decipher every single emotion on his face, but it was clear he was thinking of what to say in response to your outlandish story. 

After a long pause, he sighed. "You could've died, (Y\N)." He spoke with a shake of his head. It wasn't often that he used your name without a title in front of it, your story must've really shaken him a lot. 

"I know, Sir." You replied nervously before looking away. 

"Well, I suppose all that matters is that you're alive." He sighed. 

 "You must be feeling guilty for taking a life, correct?" Commander Baskey quickly spoke, giving you a soft and gentle glance. 

You nodded in response and sighed, "I can't stop wondering if they were a parent, or if they weren't really going to hurt me. I could've taken a mother or a father from their child and I know what it was like growing up as an orphan." You replied to him.

"I know that it's tough when you realize that you just took someone's life, but you need to remember this is a war we're fighting in. Many human soldiers have been killed by monsters and vise versa. One monster killed by your hands in self defense won't change much. Keep in mind that you're on our side of this war, Misses (Y\N). You're supposed to take down the enemy, after all." Commander Baskey replied as he folded his hands together neatly.

"I suppose you're right, Commander Baskey." You replied with a slight nod, blinking sleepily. 

"Before you go on your next mission, I want to make sure you have a lesson in spying again. I don't want you getting found again, (Y\N). This military cannot survive without your help." He spoke calmly before he scooped up your hand and kissed the top of it. 

You found yourself blushing, your cheeks turning rosy as you pulled your hand out of his grasp, standing up straight. "I'm sure this lot and all the other soldiers could live perfectly fine without me." You quickly responded.

"Oh, but how I disagree." Commander Baskey started with a deep chuckle before a small smirk appeared on his lips. 

"We need a woman here to keep us straight. And, I don't mean a woman like Mrs. Corbett, I mean a woman who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. A maiden like you, of course." He explained and his smirk shifted to a smile. 

You let out a small giggle, "Oh, Evan... You know that you're the only one who can control these crazy men." 

He froze over you calling him by his first name but soon smiled even wider. "Oh, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to-" You started before your commander quickly cut you off. "No, don't apologize. I actually like that you called me Evan... Erm... You can call me that at any time when we're alone if you'd like." 

You grinned somewhat and nodded, "And well... Evan, you can call me (Y\N). You don't have go be formal with me, after all, I'm nothing but a simple peasant girl." You replied to him with a shrug of your shoulders. 

Commander Baskey stood up and walked closer to you, taking your hands in his. His rough hands held your hands in place as his brown eyes looked into your own brilliant (e\c) gaze. "But, Misses (Y\N), you're anything but a simple peasant girl. You are the strongest and most interesting maiden I've ever met." He spoke to you, his face not far from your own. 

You felt your cheeks  heat up, "I am anything but that." you quickly disagreed. He moved a hand and cupped the right side of your face, looking deep into your gaze. "But I disagree, (Y\N)." He spoke as his face slowly inched closer to yours. 

Realizing what he was doing, Commander Baskey quickly lowered his hand and stepped back. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what became of me." He quickly apologized as he scratched his neck in sheer embarrassment. 

"I-it's fine, S-sir." You stuttered in return, your cheeks glowing a light pink. 

"You should go get some rest, you must be exhausted." He spoke suddenly and you nodded. "Of course Sir. But, will you give me another lesson in reading tonight?" You asked him and he smiled slightly again. 

"I'd love to. But in order for you to learn, you must be well rested. Sleep well, Misses (Y\N)." He spoke before he sat down once more. 

You curtsied and smiled, "I'll see you later, Commander Baskey." You spoke before you turned and walked out of his tent. 

You made your way across camp to your tent, the cool autumn breeze blew in your direction and you shivered at the chill it sent you. The Eyes of the soldiers all turned to your direction as you walked past, not most here liked having a woman among their ranks.  But, most men of this age are completely sexist. It's normal for people to see women as weak and lesser than men. 

In fact, since you had grown up on the streets, you lacked even more education than most ladies do. And even then, that's not much. Before the king let you join in the ranks of his soldiers, he made sure you received an education. He made you learn how to read and write along with basic knowledge of mathematics in less than seven months. You still weren't the best with reading every single word, so Commander Baskey likes to help you learn sometimes. He said his favorite word is 'Cumbersome', whatever that means. 

He had once asked your favorite word and you didn't have a definite answer, but now you'd have to say it is a tie between "caterwaul" and "nonchalant". Sure, they were both random and not often used, but you liked how they sounded.  Caterwauling was heard around camp quite often when feral cats got into fights and most of the soldiers here could be very nonchalant. In fact, Commander Baskey is definitely the most nonchalant man in this camp. 

The men's gazes continued following you until you quickly walked into your tent. You changed out of your dreaded dress into a plain white night gown for you to sleep in and laid down onto the mat that you had prepared for yourself earlier that day. You turned onto your side so that the bright light of dawn wouldn't disturb you and you closed your eyes. The birds tweeted and chirped above you, but their songs only made you relax even more until you finally drifted off into a deep sleep. 

---------------------------------------------

All of the sudden, it was pouring down rain as a crack of thunder could be heard echoing across the forest. You instantly sat up from your mat, you were soaked and so was your dress and makeshift corset. You let out a grunt in displeasure when you suddenly heard footsteps approach your tent. They stopped once they got to your tent and you heard a familiar voice speak, "Misses, (Y\N)? Are you alright?" none other than Commander Baskey asked you. 

"Yes, Sir. Just a bit chilly now that all of my clothes have been soaked." You responded with a sigh. 

He peeked into your tent and held out his hand to you, "Come on, my tent is dryer." he spoke and you nodded, taking his hand. When he helped pull you to your feet, he overestimated his strength and you toppled over into his arms in surprise. His brown waistcoat was surprisingly dry as you quickly apologized for falling onto him. 

"Please, don't apologize. It was my fault." He responded as he helped you back to your feet. He took your scrawny hand and fondled it for mere seconds before he led you outside into the pouring rain. His boots splashed through the puddles on the ground as you stood on your tiptoes to avoid getting your feet too dirty. He soon noticed this and smiled slightly before picking you up and holding you bridal style. "You could've gotten your shoes on, (Y\N)." He joked as you wrapped your arms around his neck in surprise. 

"But they'll be soaked, so what's the point?" You asked and he shrugged. "That's a fair point." He responded to you which caused you to giggle.  You both turned you gazes towards each other and smiled brightly. You unwrapped one arm from his neck and gently ran you fingers through his short blonde hair. His brown eyes looked deep into your (e\c) eyes once more and his smile widened as his face neared closer to yours. The thunder cracked in the distance as your grip on him tightened ever so slightly, both of your faces were turning a bright red as your lips finally collided in a loving kiss. You kissed lovingly and passionately until finally, you woke up.

It had all been a dream. A sick and twisted dream designed by the depths of your subconscious to make you believe such a man would ever love you. But, it was a lie. A total lie and you felt guilty for wishing that it was reality, rather than imagination. 

Chapter 4: "The Scotsman"

You stretched and sighed as you stood up from your mat. You shook your head at how much you had enjoyed that dream. What was wrong with you? Crushing on your military commander is an absolutely despicable thing to do. You sighed and ran a hand through your long (h\c) hair. This was quite humiliating. But, Baskey liked you back, right? He did almost kiss you this morning, but he may not have meant it.

This to you is a clear sign that your time at this camp is nearing its end. You couldn't imagine what the comments around the camp would be like if you got romantically involved with Evan Baskey. He's practically your boss, friend, and teacher. You couldn't possibly add lover to his description. Plus, what high up commander would ever court a simple peasant girl? And, he's a widower likely still grieving the loss of his late wife. Even if they weren't the most loving couple out there, you figured he still loved her as a friend in the least.

But, now wasn't time to contemplate a move to the next camp. Nor to contemplate your relationship with Evan. You were fully rested and it was time to get things over with. Mainly a lesson in spying and your next reading lesson with Commander Baskey. You expected that the lesson would be pretty awkward after that dream you had, but you'd just have to ignore the lingering thoughts and hide the embarrassment.

You quickly slipped on your main work outfit which consisted of a man's outfit appropriate for the time. The tailor that had altered the clothes for you wasn't very keen on fixing up a man's clothes for a woman, but it was the king's direct order so he couldn't turn you away. Even if this outfit was intended for a man, you liked it much better than the long and drafty dresses you've worn your entire life.

You walked out from the tent to see it was late midday. The soldiers were all laughing and walking around the camp merrily. Most had a metal cup in hand, most likely filled with rum or wine. Commander Baskey wasn't among the soldiers, so you wondered where he was. Perhaps he wasn't in the mood to be jolly and drink alcohol. You didn't blame him though, it wasn't even nighttime yet.

"Misses (Y/N), you're awake at last! Please come here, Prince Smith brought fresh goose and the the finest wine straight from Drayvil castle." Mrs. Corbett called and you sighed. Of course the prince and his entourage would make their way here. Hopefully they won't be here for long, after all, you already know the prince sees you as a girl he can take. And well, you don't want to be taken. You aren't just property for some male to take. You are a human being capable of making your own decisions in life. You aren't going to marry some man whom you do not love. You'd rather be confined to a dark and damp dungeon than that. 

"Oh, how delightful!" You exclaimed, but in reality, that was a lie and really sarcasm. "He's talking to Commander Baskey about you I think, how peculiar!" She added and your heart skipped a beat. "Oh, why do you think that is?" You asked her worriedly and she shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not really sure. But it doesn't matter, just go get some delicious food in your belly!" Mrs. Corbett spoke before she disappeared into her tent to get out of the sun. 

You sighed and walked to the pan near the fire that had now been extinguished. You took one of the bowls and filled it up with some goose and looked to see a few bottles of wine scattered around. You quickly decided not to drink any. You weren't going to get drunk this early when you still had work to do. So, you made your way to the spring to the left of the camp and quickly filled a cup with the water from it. You took a sip of the water and picked up a piece of goose before tossing it into your mouth. You chewed for a second before gagging. You had never had goose before, and you didn't expect it to be so... Flavorful? You definitely would prefer goose to stay to the rich prince, in fact, you didn't want to have it again anytime soon. 

But, since food had to be caught here and didn't just show up on your plate, you decided to eat it anyway. You finished eating your bowl of goose and set the empty bowl back by the fire. You didn't like a single moment of that last meal, so you finished your meal with the rest of your cup of water. You put the cup with your bowl and started walking to the tent at the end of the camp which housed Felix Bordeaux. He was the sixty year old 'spying specialist' that had helped train you on how to be stealthy. Well he improved your skills in being stealthy. You had already been fairly good at sneaking around undetected. But, he helped strengthen that skill. He was like you and moved from camp to camp, and he was here for the next week or two. 

As soon as you walked in, you were greeted by his familiar appearance. The older man was tall and slender, having a long gray beard that hung off his chin. He had a receding hairline of gray hair and was dressed in a light tan jacket, waistcoat and a pair of brown riding breeches. Leaning against this side of his tent was a riding crop he used on his black horse and his brown eyes instantly met yours. Despite his French surname, Felix was from Scotland and had the famous Scottish accent you had come to adore. He set his cup of wine to the side, before he knocked it over with his fingers nonchalantly. "I prefer a nice glass of Scotch Whiskey, not this malted grape garbage." He grumbled out, his accent thick and you chuckled. 

"Do you not like 'the finest wine from Drayvil castle' sir?" You asked him and he beat a fist on the ground. "If I think the prince is rubbish, surely I won't think that his finest wine is tolerable!" He declared loudly and you held back a chuckle from his fury. He stood up from the grassy ground and brushed his britches off, "Anyway, Lady (L\N), I suppose Commander Baskey sent ye here for a lesson in spying, am I correct?" He asked you and you nodded. 

 

Felix was of multiple cultures, his mother was from Scotland and his father was from Sweden. And well, his father's father had been French. So he had a lot of mixed blood, but nobody thought of him of any different. Especially you. And he liked you so much that he started addressing you with a "lady" title. How that started, you weren't sure, but you liked it. It definitely made you feel less simple than some peasant turned solider. 

"Yes, Sir Bordeaux. He wants you to teach me some skills again, it seems some of your teaching has worn off." You replied with a dip of your head. He grabbed his hat, placed it onto his head and nodded. "Alright then, I suggest we get a move on." He spoke suddenly and you started walking outside. "Of course, Sir. I don't want to keep you all day." You replied and he simply shrugged. "I have nothin' else to do all day. So I wouldn't mind either way." He spoke in response. 

Before he had exited the tent all the way, he grabbed his sword and placed it in its sheath just in case he needed to defend you and him from an ambush of wild creatures or monsters. You could get your own weapon, of course, but there was no need. Especially since you were only walking a good ten minutes from camp. You both walked across the camp without exchanging any words, you were quite reserved and quiet and so was Felix. But, he would usually speak more than you, but he must just not be feeling up to it right now. 

You soon had some thoughts resurface in your mind, Mrs. Corbett had said Prince Smith had been talking about you. Was it possible that Felix, a sage in this camp knew why? You wondered if you should ask, but after pondering it for three minutes or so, you turned to him. Your (e\c) eyes were likely filled with concern and he looked at you and raised a furry gray eyebrow. "Well, what's got ye so fretful?" He asked you as he tilted his head to the side. 

You sighed as you stopped walking. "Last night I had the 'pleasure' of talking with Prince Smith and he... Was being quite suggestive. He suggested I sleep with him in his tent and... Now he's here talking to Commander Baskey about me. What do you think about?" You asked him and he stroked his beard. "Oh that wee little bas-" Felix started before he grumbled under his breath. "He's likely tryin' to get ye into his palace as a mistress." Felix explained and you nearly choked on your own saliva. "Me? What does he think I am, merely a prostitute who walks around from camp to camp?" You suddenly exclaimed in anger. "Prince Smith is a charmer, definitely stay away from that one, will ya?" He said and you nodded. 

"Oh, and if he doesn't leave ya alone, let me know and I'll kick his royal behind." He added as he spoke with distaste. You smiled at how funny his hatred for Prince Noah Smith was, you could relate though. You wondered where his hate of him had all started. Perhaps when he had met him before or just by hearing about him. Either way, you were happy to have such a nice and wise man to protect you from this strange creature of a man. And of course, you have Commander Baskey as well who'd definitely not let some prince take you away to his castle to do... Such things. 

But, pushing all your thoughts about the royal family aside, you relaxed and had a nice conversation with Felix for the remaining portion of the walk. And once you made it to his preferred training area, he turned to you with a focused brown gaze. "Remember to always be aware of yer surroundings, a young lad could always be behind ya. He could have his sword drawn long before ya know he's even there." He started as he quickly drew his sword. 

"And you know what could happen, yeah?" He asked and you nodded. "The implacable doom of death and destruction." You replied. 

His brown eyes stared into your own gaze before he lifted the sword to your throat. He held a hand signalling you to stay and you obeyed. "Not exactly, before they even killed ya, they'd chop yer head clean off." He replied and you lifted an eyebrow. "Sir Bordeaux, that'd kill me." You replied and he chuckled as he lowered his sword. "Aye, you're right about that." He remarked with a chuckle. 

"So, why did you correct me?" You asked him, quite confused at what the man was trying to say here. 

"I don't know, just havin' fun I suppose." He replied with a shrug and you laughed lightly. "Alright Sir, but we need to get this done as fast as possible. I have plans with Commander Baskey." You explained and he raised a fuzzy gray eyebrow before he stood back. "I recognize that look on yer face, it's the face of adoration! When will the wedding be?" He asked and you gawked. "Sir! Our relationship in no way is like that!" You suddenly spoke, maybe even a little too fast because Felix grinned. "Oh, sure. I've heard that a million times. Yer not going to be able to hide this from yer ole Felix Bordeaux." He spoke with a hearty laugh and you rolled your eyes. 

"He's my Commander and I respect him." You replied flatly and he grinned, "Ah, I see. Well, I know Baskey better than anyone in this camp and I can see how he looks at ya!" He spoke and it made your cheeks turn a light shade of pink. "Aye! I knew ye liked 'em!" He spoke with another hearty laugh and you sighed, your shoulders slumping. 

"Listen, can we please just get the lesson over with?" You pleaded and he stood there silently for a moment. "Alright, Lady (L\N). Let's begin, shall we?" He asked and you nodded. 

"Let's do that, Sir." You replied with a respectful curtsy.

Chapter 5: "The Enemy"

The training lesson ended later than you had originally anticipated, well, that was because Felix didn't want you around Prince Smith. You didn't mind that of course, you wanted to stay as far as possible from him as you could. 

But now the time was up and you had to get back to camp, it was probably getting too late for the reading lesson with Commander Baskey. So, you expected him to be fast asleep. You doubt he'd wait for you so late anyway. 

So, you and Felix made the trek back to camp, and when you got there, the prince was gone. That filled you with relief, but the day was late and just as you expected, Commander Baskey was in fact sleeping.  And so was almost everyone else, save a few guards. 

You and Felix looked at each other, "Well, I'd better be off, ya know. It's gettin' pretty late." He commented and you nodded. "Of course, Sir. Sleep well!" You told him and he smiled. "Goodnight, Lady (L\N)." He replied and you curtsied politely. 

He waved as one last goodbye and you sighed, rubbing the back of your neck before yawning sleepily. The training had left you absolutely exhausted, so you planned on going to sleep and doing whatever tasks you were needed to do tomorrow. 

But, as soon as you turned to head to your tent, you saw Erik Acton looking at you with a blank expression on his face. It didn't take him long to explain why he was there, in fact, it only took him mere seconds. "(Y\N) (L\N), you have to head to Ebott now." He spoke flatly which caused you to blink in surprise. "Now? Why?" You asked him in confusion.

He paused, diverting his gaze for a moment or two before looking back at your (e\c) gaze. "Prince Smith says that the king assigned you to spy there weeks ago. Apparently there is a huge number of the 'creatures' there." Erik explained in his Northern English accent. 

You nodded, "Whose horse am I going to take?" You asked him and Erik pointed to a brown horse tied to a tree near the entrance. "You're going to take Beckett's horse. It has been prepared for you." Erik explained and you nodded. "Alright, I'll go in a moment. Thank you." You thanked him with a curtsy as you walked to your tent to gather some supplies. 

You gathered your weapons, cleaned up your battle garb and collected water and other supplies that you'd need before walking to the horse you were assigned to. You took a deep breath, running your hands through your messy (h\c) hair to straighten it a bit. You weren't prepared for this journey. In fact, you were terrified. Any cockiness you had before you had been caught yesterday was seemingly gone. You had zero faith in your abilities and you were almost positive you'd fail this mission. 

But, now wasn't the time to let your self doubts get in the way of your work, you needed to get going. So, you quickly untied the horse, made sure you had all your things in the saddlebags and climbed on. After that, Beckett's horse began to run through the cold and dreary night. 

The ride took anywhere from three to five hours and you were exhausted by the time you finally made it to Ebott. You weren't expected back at least until late tomorrow, so you decided to sleep. You got off the horse and walked until you found a wooded area that seemed pretty empty. You walked in deeper so you couldn't be seen from the trail and you tied the horse to a tree before lying on the cold, hard ground. You curled up into a ball and closed your eyes, slowly falling into a very light slumber. 

However, the sleep wasn't pleasant. Nor were you sleeping long, for something woke you up not long after you had fallen asleep. Your eyes opened as you began to hear the whinnying of Beckett's horse in the distance and you sat up only to have your heart start pounding at what you saw. 

Three monsters dressed in armor stood in front of you. One was some humanoid turtle... Then there was a sort of- green fire... thing? And next was a beige feline creature. They seemed proud that they had found a human- or perhaps their newest prey. 

You gulped and quickly snatched a dagger out of the holster on your hip, holding it up threateningly. "Back off, you damned savages!" You growled and their expressions faltered. They all looked at each other for mere seconds before nodding. 

Before you could even react, the turtle thing had pinned you to the ground at non-turtle-like speed and the the weapon was snatched out of your hand. "Get off of me!" You hissed. "Gerson, what do we do?" One of the voices asked and the turtle shifted on top of you. "We ask the king, he'll probably want to question them." The turtle replied.

So, the turtle thing... His name is "Gerson"? What an odd and peculiar name for some bulky, green turtle monster. 

"Do you really think the king will want to question a simple peasant girl? She can't even afford women's clothes." The same voice spoke as before, but the voice was odd and crackled a lot. "Gregignatius, her clothes fit much too well to have been something she found somewhere. She has had it altered, see the stitches?" Gerson replied and there was silence for a few seconds. "I guess so, so she must be affiliated with the war." The voice responded and Gerson nodded.  "You're right there, soldier." He responded. 

"Alright then, Gerson. Knock her out." Another voice spoke and you were about to protest when he nodded you blacked out. 

--------------------------------------------

Your eyes slowly opened to see a new environment, it was dark and cold. You didn't remember much of the monsters who had talked about taking you to their king, just that they had taken you somewhere. You had been captured and you were likely going to perish. That made you frown, looking to the side. 

You sighed and you sat up. The room was incredibly dark and you could barely see anything. But what you could see were bunches of metal bars caging you into this area. You couldn't leave, you were stuck right here. 

You pressed a hand on the ground, it was cold stone. Definitely not a comfortable substance to sleep on, but now that you were imprisoned, you were positive you didn't have a choice. 

As you squinted your eyes, trying to see better around the dark room, all you could make out were a few funny shapes. One seemed to be boxy, another quite round. The silhouettes were provided by a small lantern in the corner of the room. But other then making weird shapes in the shadows, the light didn't help much. 

You turned the focus to the contents inside of your cell. You stood up cautiously and patted yourself down. All your weapons had been taken, these daft monsters were smarter than you expected. But, pushing that thought away, you walked to the right corner to see a metal bucket. You sighed, shaking your head as you looked inside it. But, you were surprised at the contents. It wasn't waste, just two pieces of the type of rock you can write with. You bent down and picked it up before turning to the dimly lit stone wall with a grin. 

You still didn't know how to write or read that well yet, but you could form some sentences, so you made a plan in your head. You took the rock in your fist and began to draw out the shapes of letters on the wall as big as you could. It didn't take you that long for you to finish writing, for all you wrote on the side of your cell was "This means war, watch your backs."

You grinned and chuckled as you stepped back, admiring what you had done. You dropped the rock back in the bucket and as soon as the clang of the rock hitting the metal happened, the faraway lantern suddenly went out. Your head whipped to where the light had previously been and blinked in surprise. "What the hell?" You questioned as you tilted your head to the side.

A faraway door shut and you gulped. You were filled with so many different feelings right now... Fear, anger, cockiness, sadness, annoyance, and the list only seemed to go on. You didn't know what these creatures would do, would they kill you, torture you, or just force information out of you? And is it a possibility that they'd do none of it? Well, whatever they end up doing, you're pretty adamant on remaining tight lipped. 

A whooshing sound was heard and you just sat down in your cell, looking down at your boots. That was, until you heard a clang. Your heart began to beat fast as you slowly looked up. But, there was nothing there. 

You stood up, letting out a grateful sigh. "Thank g-" You began before the sound of a finger snapping sounded and a lantern suddenly became illuminated. You once again looked up now that you could see and nearly had a heart attack.  

Sitting in a chair a few feet from your cell was a skeleton. A skeleton dressed in all black. He had his long legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap as he stared at you in a cold way. "That's quite the threat for some peasant girl, don't you think, human?" He spoke in a British accent and for some reason, that surprised you. 

"Hah, perhaps so... But my kind is going to wipe your entire filthy species out soon." You told the skeleton boldly and his expression faltered. "Is that so? Because I don't think your worthless people have enough willpower to defeat every single one of us." He shot back and you narrowed your eyes. "I have killed a monster with my own hands before and I'd be happy to do it again." You spoke flatly and the skeleton didn't even flinch. 

"Go ahead, try to get to me. I'd love to see you try." He spoke in reply with a grin. You huffed and ran forward, grabbing the bars of the cell in your hands. You let out a growl and he chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, this is lovely and all, but I have a job to do and I must ask you some questions now." He explained and you just glared at him. 

"I am Dr. W.D. Gaster, the royal scientist to Asgore Dreemurr, the king of all monsters." He started. "Now, who are you? I'll be honest though, we know you're not a dull-witted peasant so don't try that lie." He continued. 

"Why does this matter to you?" You asked him. "I must know to find out who exactly you're working with and why. Plus, you're a woman. Did your incompetent race finally find out about equality?" He snapped and you grumbled under your breath. You weren't going to talk to this bastard. 

You stayed quiet and scowled, baring your teeth and he just rolled the two white dots in his eye sockets. "Going to stay quiet, are you?" He spoke in an annoyed tone. You didn't say anything, just stared back at him directly. You stepped back and sat down on the stone floor, crossing your legs. All the while, you didn't take your gaze away from his.  

"You know, I will find away to get you to talk, human." Dr. Gaster spoke with a scowl of his own. "Oh, I'd like to see you try." You huffed and he looked up, grinning. "See, that wasn't that hard. Now, tell me your name. I told you mine, after all." He spoke in a seemingly silky smooth voice. You grunted, "You don't need my name." You spoke harshly. "Why do you think that?" He asked you in response. "Because I'm just going to rot in this cell until your inferior species gets defeated." You hissed. 

He chuckled to himself and tapped a fingerbone on his chin. "Oh, it's quite the contrary, (Y\N) (L\N)." He remarked which caused you to blink in surprise. Gaster laughed at your shock, he was grinning wildly. "How the hell did you know my name?!" You demanded to know as you stood up quickly, running to the bars, gripping them tightly. 

"You're not the only spy in this war, (Y\N)." Dr. Gaster spoke flatly. "Then why the hell did you ask my name if you knew it?!" You asked him angrily. "It was a test to see how adamant you'd be." He replied. "Well that's a very unintelligent test!" You exclaimed. 

Gaster just shook his head and chuckled as he stood up from the chair. He was very tall, at least 6'3". He was fairly lanky with surprisingly long legs and he looked quite smug. "Well, that's enough for today. I'll have someone bring you dinner eventually. I'll be back soon, (Y\N)." He spoke before simply disappearing into thin air. 

"What the hell...?" You questioned with a confused tilt of your head. 

Notes:

Welp, I haven't updated this in nine weeks... Sorry, life got busy and I had writer's block mainly affecting this story. I'll try to get better about updating this story, and all of my others in 2018... At least, I hope I can, because I know people would like faster updates. But this story in particular has the weirdest plotline that I've ever attempted, so it was never planned to be a fast update story. But to be honest, nine weeks is a bit overkill, even for me.  So yeah, sorry lol. But I really hope that you enjoyed this chapter, thank you so much for reading and have a fantastic day\night! Oh, and happy 2018!

Chapter 6: "Elementia"

It had been around an hour or so since that blasted Gaster had up and vanished from what you could only assume was some sort of dungeon or prison. 

And as much as being alone bothers you, it's better to be alone than to be with the abominable enemy. You'd much rather be back at camp talking with Evan Baskey, or perhaps with Felix Bordeaux. You already missed Evan's kindheartedness and the Scotman's witty charm. Hell, you even missed Marco Corleone, one of the men who disrespected you the most. 

And surprisingly, despite the hatred bubbling up inside of you, you began to feel sad... Your mood went straight from disgust to melancholy. Your thoughts wandered from the day you were caught stealing to the day you were on your first mission. How had this all happened to you? What would have happened if you hadn't grown up in poverty and on the streets? Surely you wouldn't have been dragged into all this. 

There have been many thoughts that you've pondered and struggled with for countless years. Like, where had your parents gone and how had you become an orphan? Are they still out there? And... Do you have any siblings that are lost on the streets as well? 

Those three questions are what kept you going. They kept you strong and determined. Well, that and the feeling that something better was drawing near... And to be honest, being captured and made to serve in the military was a blessing in disguise. You had finally gotten off the streets after so many years of stealing just to stay alive. And it had felt great.

But now, you feel as if everything you've achieved is being ripped from your grasp. And your mind is going back to the mindset it had been in before, some old repressed memories are even coming back against your wishes. 

You shut your (e\c) eyes for just a mere moment and suddenly, you couldn't help but relive an absolutely terrifying moment in your life. You were experiencing a traumatic flashback. 

---

"Get over 'ere ya little rat!" The man yelled angrily as he chased after you. In your hands, you were holding two apples and you bit the insides your cheeks as you ran away, hoping to escape his wrath. 

You had stolen two apples from his cart because you needed the food. You were starting to look like skin and bones with your severe case of emaciation. You were seven and had just lost the last person who had looked after you mere weeks ago. 

Beatrice Cotterill was like a mother to you, she had watched over you for around four years after she had found you scared and alone. She taught you how to live on the streets properly and helped feed and take care of you. But, that all changed when officials took her away. She had been the victim of a false accusation saying that she was a prostitute. She had been either imprisoned, or executed in a dark, damp, dirty dungeon. You were never truly sure of her fate, but the talk of the town was of her being slain. So, you gave up any hope of her ever coming back and began to live alone in defeat. 

But now, a vender was chasing you with a knife clutched in one hand just for taking two apples from his supply. And, he was catching up to your weak state fast. 

Within two minutes, he grabbed you and you kicked and screamed, causing yourself to accidentally drop the apples and him to accidentally drop you as well. You fell onto the dusty ground and coughed, looking at your lap. Your ragged and worn frock was simply lifeless. 

And after he threw a blow at you, you didn't think twice before springing back up and running, leaving those blasted apples rolling around on the ground. 

You didn't get to eat that day. You were forced to lie down near the forest, completely starved with no food around to keep you nourished. You felt so powerless and insignificant. That was the first day you ever felt yourself truly losing hope. 

---

And with that final thought, you snapped out of the flashback and wrapped your arms around your knees. Your eyes reopened and you blinked the tears that were welling up in your eyes away. You wiped your own tears away and took a deep breath. 

"Everything that I had finally gotten after years and years of God-forsaken struggles is gone..." You murmured and your voice echoed against the stone walls of your cell. "It's gone and I'm once again alone..." You spoke sadly as your head lowered into your knees. 

Tears began welling up in your eyes again and you couldn't stop them this time. You began to sob, your head buried in your knees. You felt so weak and foolish. How had you gotten yourself into this situation? Commander Baskey would be so disappointed if he knew that you'd been captured. In fact, you're sure that he's already recognized your absence. Judging by how much time you think has passed, it's already past when you should have returned and you're sure most people are worried as hell. 

But, will they try and come to your rescue? Will your commander truly be your knight in shining armor? You doubted it, he has many more people to watch after anyway. And why would he chase after you alone? For all he knows, you may have just decided to take the horse and abandon the job, to never be seen or heard from again. 

"Excuse me ma'am, I was told to bring you dinner by Dr. Gaster." A sudden soft voice spoke. 

Your head instantly whipped from out of your knees and you wiped the tears from your eyes as you looked to see who had caught you crying. "I'm not hungry..." You grumbled as your eyes met the face of another fire creature. She was made of orange flames and was wearing a pair of wire spectacles. You then looked to her clothes and saw she was dressed in a black dress, over it was a white 'long-coat' of sorts. 

"But miss (Y\N), you must stay healthy and strong! Even if you're in a cell." She spoke cheerfully and you rolled your eyes. "What's the point!? I'm just going to rot in here anyway! And I will not take advice from a monster." You huffed, crossing your arms. But, the female fire monster didn't seem affected much by your comment. 

"Rot? Of course not! Gaster may seem mean and all huffy-puffy, but we're not planning on letting you die in here!" She replied and you raised an eyebrow. This woman probably shouldn't be telling you this. 

"I'm Elementia, by the way! I'll be the one to bring you food three times a day, well, unless I'm unable... Then someone else will!" She chirped and you got up slowly. "Why am I here?" You asked suddenly, making sure any excess tears had been wiped from your face completely. "Oh! Well, that... I'm not completely sure of! But I can assume it's quite confidential anyway." She replied and you sighed. "Alright... But I'm not hungry." You muttered as you sat back down. "Come on, it's my famous bread and butter! Everybody loves it!" She responded as she smiled brightly. 

You thought for a moment and heard your stomach faintly growl. After a few more moments of thinking, you sighed. "Alright, I'll take it." You spoke in a weak tone. 

"Fantastic! Would you like some water along with it?" She asked cheerfully. 

It seemed odd to you that Elementia was being so... Polite to you. Especially since you'd blatantly insulted her only minutes ago. On top of that, aren't you technically her prisoner? Shouldn't she be treating you like some worthless being? 

"Uhm, alright... If that's alright with you, I'll take some." You replied reluctantly, as if you were half expecting her to poison it. "Of course! Here you go!" Elementia replied as she pushed a small tray through an opening in the bars. 

You stood up and carefully took it. After grabbing the tray, she handed you a glass of water as well and you sat back down. "Well then, would you like some company while you're eati-" She started before you cut her off quite brashly. "No." You spoke flatly despite the loneliness permeating in your soul. 

"Oh, alright then! Dr. Gaster will likely be back before the night is over. I'll see you tomorrow misses!" Elementia chirped and you grumbled. "Oh joy, the skeleton is going to be returning! It seems my luck is finally changing!" You spoke sarcastically, your tone filled with venom. 

"Miss, I know you're not very happy to be locked down here, but just give Gaster a chance. He isn't a very likeable fellow at first, but it'll be easier to get along with him if you both express proper manners. So, try to stay on his good side and he'll lighten up!" She spoke suddenly and you grumbled. 

"I'm not here to make the bloody fool 'lighten up'! I am here because I was simply doing my job and got caught. Nobody here should treat me politely since I'm their prisoner and I shouldn't yield to some optimistic monster's wishes jut because I am a prisoner." You mumbled and looked up at her with a hostile glare.  

"I'm not here to be anyone's friend, hell, I'm not even here by choice! Just execute me now! What's the point of me being here alive? Is it to act as some intimidation factor? Because it's not working!" You hissed and Elementia shrugged her shoulders. "You never know what'll truly happen, (Y\N). So why don't you just be your true self and not some hostile copy that you just made for the war. Would you rather feel a powerful monster's wrath, or be neutral with them?" She asked as she dipped her head politely. "Goodnight, (Y\N)." She added before quietly walking out, leaving you somewhat speechless. 

You suppose she does have a good point, but you don't exactly want to be polite to monsters... You've been taught that they're the scum of the earth, after all. Not to mention, at any moment, they could in fact kill you and take your soul. Then, they'd become godlike. So, perhaps you don't really want them to kill you. Heaven knows what they'd do with your soul if they got their grimy hands on it. 

After letting your mind wander for a few more moments, you decided to eat the food that you had been provided and wait for that sassy W.D. Gaster to make his 'grand reappearance'. And well, you can only hope that he won't take that long to show up because you don't want him coming in while you're asleep. 

--------------------------------------------

After an hour or more of lying on the hard floor, spacing in and out repeatedly, you were suddenly snapped out of your thoughts temporarily by footsteps sounding across the stone floor.

"I do hope I'm not waking you. (Y\N)." Gaster's British accent sounded across the room. "Oh, no, you're not waking me at all." You responded before promptly sitting up. "Ah, well that is quite convenient. I was hoping that you'd be awake." Gaster replied as he walked into view. 

He sat down in the chair that he had been in earlier and crossed his legs. "Good evening, (Y\N)." He spoke in a proper demeanor. You sighed, remembering what Elementia had said and nodded. "And I suppose the same goes to you, sir." You replied, the words almost getting caught in your throat. 

Gaster seemed surprised by your sudden mood change and tapped a finger on his chin. "Hm, I do hope my staff has been treating you well." Gaster spoke after a small pause and you raised an eyebrow. 

He watched you for a moment as he waited for you to reply and you rolled your eyes. "The only person other than you that I've met was the fire la-" You started and Gaster coughed, interrupting you. "Elementia." He spoke flatly. 

He is making it quite hard to be polite. "Right, Elementia..." You muttered in response and he nodded. "Well, then how was her service?" Gaster asked you suddenly. 

All of his questions are starting to make you quite uncomfortable to say in the least. But, perhaps if you keep calm and collected, he'll stop being so brash. Well, at least you can assume that's how it'll happen. 

"I guess it was good?" You replied with a furrowed eyebrow. "Ah, fantastic. We all want you to feel at home here, after all." He replied in a strange emotionless manner. "Oh, yes, of course, because being locked in a cell in a dark and cold room is just like home." You replied sarcastically, finally breaking your 'nice' act. "And there's the response I was expecting. Don't try to hide your true colors under some 'fair maiden' schtick." Gaster responded slyly. 

You were speechless for a second and sighed, shaking your head. "Fine, you caught me. I was trying to be nicer." You admitted and he folded his bony hands together, grinning triumphantly. "Well, there's no need to use some pointless façade. No matter what you try, you can't get me to like you." Gaster replied as he unfolded his legs. 

You gritted your teeth, "Do you really think that's why I was doing that?" You asked him. He stayed silent for a moment, letting out a quiet 'hmm' as he thought. "Perhaps a bit, but only in a way that'll make me go easier on you." He replied. "Well you'd be partly mistaken, sir." You grumbled and he tilted his head to the side. "Oh, is that so?" He asked you in a mocking way. "Yes. And just for the record, even if you did try to 'make this place like home' for me, I wouldn't be able to understand the concept. You see, doctor... Whatever the hell your full name is, I have never had a proper home before, so this place is honestly a godsend." You grumbled as you stood up, crossing your arms and staring him straight in the eye sockets. 

"You've never had a 'proper home', hm? Well, what does proper home define as for you, then?" He asked. You held a somber gaze as you looked down at your boots. "I was abandoned as a child, I grew up as an orphan... I have never had a 'home'. I've simply lived on the streets for most of my life. And even after I was given a job as a spy by my king... I just traveled from camp to camp as I was needed." You started off, your voice filled with passion. "So I suppose a proper home would practically define as anything for me, as long as it held a proper roof over my head and I was able to stay there permanently... Preferably with someone special." You sighed. 

"Ah, I see. An orphan. Well, at least you will be sheltered from rain here and be fed three meals a day. Not to mention, it's all free. Isn't being locked in a cell better than being in some deplorable military camp?" Gaster asked, showing little sympathy. 

You grumbled in response, "Not if you were captured by your enemies and thrown into the cell..." you spoke under your breath.  

"I suppose you have a point there, but you have no reason to be concerned. Us monsters have everything all planned out..." Gaster replied as he stood up, looking at you with an downright creepy grin. 

You blinked almost in shock at the quick turn of emotions. "Is that some kind of threat?" You asked him as you stepped toward the bars, furrowing your eyebrows once again. 

"That is for you to find out overtime, (Y\N)." Was all he spoke as his grin slowly lessened. 

You gulped, your (e\c) gaze looking him straight in his eye sockets as you stood up straight. Even if your heart was pounding out of your chest, you gathered up all of your courage and walked to the bars of your cell, grabbing onto them. "Well then, bring it." You challenged him firmly.

Notes:

At last, chapter 6!  At least it wasn't nine weeks this time! It was only five! XD

In all seriousness, this chapter was lots of fun to write! Elementia is probably one of my new favorite characters that I have created. She will definitely appear a lot in this story and I am hyped for that! 

Oh, and I'll be honest, the conflict was fun to write as well. Mostly the conflict between the reader and Gaster.  It's just... magnifique

Chapter 7: "It Progresses"

After Dr. Gaster had left you last night, you soon fell into a deep slumber. It was far from peaceful though. Your dreams were filled with the grotesque images of all your fellow soldiers being slaughtered by the enemy. One by one, they would fall to the ground, devoid of life. 

But, unlike most times when you'd experience such awful dreams, you didn't wake up. You were stuck in this terrible dreamland and you couldn't do anything about it.  

It lasted for what seemed like hours, but thanks to your internal clock, you suddenly woke up. You normally awake around 4:30 AM, unless you've been on a mission and must get all rested for another busy day. Then, it's anywhere from 12:00 PM, to 5:00 PM. But, it really depends on what time you get back to camp. 

"Oh! Good morning, (Y\N)!" Elementia suddenly chirped which caused you to jump in surprise.  

"Dammit, Elementia! You frightened me! Warn me next time, please!" You spoke as you placed a hand onto your chest, feeling your rapid heartbeat. 

"Oh! My apologies! I brought you breakfast! I hope that makes up for me making you jump, madam." Elementia spoke with a smile almost as bright as her orange flames. 

You let out a deep sigh, standing up, wobbling a bit since your body's still waking up. "What is it?" You asked, your voice reverberating across the stone walls. You slowly inch toward the cell bars, fixing your messy hair as you go. "It's an apple and more of my famous bread and butter!' Elementia replied as she walked closer. "Oh! And I brought you some water as well. I understand that you human folk need it to stay alive... Well, so do some monsters... But not my kind. We can live sustainable lives without drinking any liquids." Elementia remarked cheerily. 

"...What happens if you drink ale, will you combust?" You asked her with a tilt of your head. Elementia blinked for a moment, adjusting her wire spectacles. "(Y\N)... I'm already combusted. It'll just feed the fire for a short while and make the flames taller." She responded to your curious question. 

"Oh," Was all you could get out. Needless to say, you were embarrassed for asking such a foolish question. "Do not feel bad, miss (Y\N)! I assure you, I would have asked the same to you if you were made of fire!" Elementia assured you quickly and you just looked down, your (h\c) hair falling in your face. 

Elementia grew quiet, her flames grew less bright and they seemed to slow down. "Well," She began, pausing again for a moment as she seemed to try and gather her words. "Misses (Y\N), what happens if you drink water? You know, they say human bodies are 60% water, after all." She spoke, obviously trying to cheer you up. "Elementia- you don't have to try and make me fe-" You began before she cut you off. "Whatever do you mean? I really would like to know. It's been on my mind for a long while." She replied and you cracked a smile. 

"I suppose... It gets... Absorbed... Or drained?" You replied, not completely sure yourself and she smiled, her flames brightening up. "Alright! Thank you for the answer! Tis great to have this information after so long!" Elementia spoke as she adjusted her spectacles. 

You let out a small giggle before slowly growing stone-faced, "Elementia, please... Don't make me like you, it'd be easier on us if we just treated each other as enemies..." You spoke as you finished walking to the cell bars, looking at her though the gaps in the metal. "Who says it'd be easier? Being impertinent is not in my nature, Misses (Y\N)!" She replied as she opened the small opening in the cell door, sliding your small tray of food through it. "I said so. I shouldn't be friends with my people's rivals." You spoke with a frown darkly. She frowned at this too as you took the tray away. She soon swiftly handed you a cup of water as well and you walked to the corner of the cell, sitting down with your food. 

"But wouldn't you like some company today at least? I am free for a few moments, after all... I'd love to get to know you!" Elementia remarked, fixing her white coat cheerfully. "No... Go on, talk to someone else. I'd rather sit in silence." You sighed and she nodded in defeat. "Alright, well, I'll be back in a few hou-" she began before loud footsteps could be heard echoing around the stone walls. Soon, a male voice with a French accent could be heard calling out "Mademoiselle Elementia! Mademoiselle Elementia!" 

It wasn't long before a large bear monster ran into the room, clutching a letter in his brown paws. "It's..." He panted and Elementia looked into his eyes worriedly. "It's about Monsieur Inferno! He..." The bear monster looked down, unable to face her. "He has died... He was killed by the hand of Lord Arran in battle!" He exclaimed and Elementia's shoulders immediately dropped, her cheery aura completely disappearing out of thin air, being replaced with a form of melancholy. "M-my b-brother... He... Urso, was... Was Inferno r-really slain?" She asked in a state of disbelief and the bear–or perhaps Urso hung his head. "Yes, Mademoiselle... Your brother was very brave to be on the front lines of battle-" He began but Elementia instantly cut him off. "Asgore... King Asgore assigned him in the battle's front lines?" She spoke in disbelief, her voice filled with grief. "It was under your brother's own decision... He wanted to serve for his people-" Urso began and Elementia looked down at the ground, grumbling. "Fat lot of good that did..." She spoke under her breath. 

Urso frowned and so did you, sighing as you began eating the bread Elementia had prepared for you. "I cannot deal with this right now... I will be back... Sometime." She suddenly spoke and you looked up to see her dash out of the room, Urso soon following after her, calling out her name. 

Well, this is a very bad way to start a day, isn't it? Next thing you know, that Gaster fellow will show up again and make the day worse with his evil mind tricks once more. 

--------------------------------------------

It had been around four hours after the whole Elementia incident and no one else had come and interacted with you. You knew it was coming though and you were not looking forward to it. 

You silently laid out on the cold floor, feeling the coldness pierce through you all the way to your bones. You let out a deep sigh of boredom, staring up at the cobblestone ceiling. At this point, you wish that you could have some company, even if you'd never admit it. Being alone with your thoughts is not usually a pleasant experience. In fact, in the time that you've been here... You can't keep your head from wandering. 

Your mind still thinks back over your whole life, wondering who bore you, who abandoned you, why you hadn't died in the cold winter months, why the king had decided to punish you in this way, why you'd fallen for Commander Baskey... At times, it all seems like the plotline of a nightmare, or perhaps one of a tall tale. But, alas, it is all true. 

You let your eyes close, easing into the distant sound of the crackling of fire. Perhaps a nap could help stop your brain from continually giving you existential crises. 

"Ehem, I hope I'm not interrupting too much." 'He' spoke as you heard footsteps enter the room. "Go away." You grumbled, covering your eyes with your arms, hoping he'd leave. "As much as I'd love to, I must do my job in order to get my weekly pay, (Y\N)." Gaster replied as you heard him sit down in that same damn chair. "Surely they won't know if you even speak to me, so I don't care about you staying as long as you're quiet. I was just falling asleep." You replied, your voice a bit muffled by your arms. "Oh, what a shame. I am not going to just sit here silently while you sleep like a lazy ass." He replied, getting slightly ticked off by your suggestion. 

You sat up, looking at him straight in the eyes with an annoyed glance. "For God's sakes, you sure do have a big mouth don't you?" You spoke back in annoyance. He rolled the white pinpricks in his eye sockets and grumbled. "Well, now that you're up-" He started and you got an idea, so you quickly laid back down mid sentence and he fell silent. "I believe you're trying to be humorous, but trust me, I am not laughing." Gaster spoke as he tapped his foot on the ground impatiently, which promoted you to sit back up, crossing your arms. "Alright. Fine, just hurry up. What do you need, Dr. Gaster?" You asked, rolling your (e\c) eyes. 

"Evan Baskey, commander of a human fleet of soldiers... Do you know him? He seems to be looking for you, after all." He asked, looking down at you as you crossed your (s\c) legs. "Baskey? No, I don't think I've heard of this man before." You replied and he let out a rough chuckle. "You're a terrible liar, (Y\N). I could see your eyes light up at the mention of him from a mile away." He replied which made your heart drop out of your chest. 

"Alright, fine... He used to be a commander over me when I resided in his camp. We were friends and he helped teach me how to read and write. I have very fond memories of him, so that is why I reacted that way when you mentioned his name." You responded. 

"Alright, what are his battle plans?" He asked and you couldn't help but snort, shaking your head. "Why would I know his battle plans? I haven't seen him in months." You replied and he studied your body language to see if you were lying, before quickly looking back to your eyes. "Alright... I see." He hummed, tapping a finger on his chin in thought. "Yet, I sense a slight feeling of relief in your demeanor. Was Evan perhaps, someone more? Someone you felt was that 'certain someone' you mentioned that you wanted to live in a house with?" He asked, his gaze seeming to stare right through you. 

You tilted your head, it surprised you that this man had remembered such a strange remark that you had told him the day prior. "Dr. Gaster, you are wrong with your accusations. Don't you have anyone else to accuse with slanderous claims?" You replied with a huff. "Commander Baskey was my commander and friend. There were no traces of anything romantic going on between either of us." You lied, disguising the fib as a truth very well. 

"Very well, Miss (Y\N)." He spoke as he pulled a small sheet of paper from his pocket along with a pair of spectacles. He slid the glasses onto his skull and unfolded the paper, looking down at it. "My paper here says that you were spotted in Set's camp by... Yours truly." Gaster spoke as he looked up at you. "You killed an innocent man, (Y\N)." He spoke in a stern and judging tone. 

"Are you speaking of that disgusting crocodilian beast? He was threatening my life! This is a war, Gaster. He was my enemy, and in order to spare my own life, I had to kill him." You replied and he frowned. "Did he ever threaten you verbally, (Y\N)?" He asked, cocking his head to one side. "No, but he was going to att-" Gaster instantly cut you off. "No. He was going to apprehend you." He growled. 

"So? Should I care? His life didn't matter to me." You replied and he narrowed his gaze. "I can feel your guilt, (Y\N), so don't you dare say these damn lies." Gaster spoke in an angry tone. "He was a father (Y\N), a single father. Now he is deceased and leaves behind three children. You would think since you were an orphan you could feel sympathy for these poor souls, but apparently your heart is much too small to feel regret for taking a father from his family." He spoke in a denunciatory tone which hit you right in the heart. 

You were left speechless from his words and looked down at the floor, grabbing onto your arm as you felt tears form in your eyes. With a face filled with regret, you slowly looked back up to face him. "You're right... I should feel pity for them. But, I am a soldier. So no matter what, I can't let thoughts like that keep me from protecting my own people." You spoke flatly, though your voice quivered with emotion.

Gaster crumpled the paper in his hand, tossing it on the ground, still clearly livid from what you had said. "You may hold a point, but no matter how much you hate a group, you cannot denounce the people within it to the point of thinking that their lives are deplorable. They are living beings too, (Y\N)." He spoke, his voice echoing around the room hauntingly. 

He stood up from his chair, taking his spectacles off, placing them back into his pocket once more before staring at you. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm off to offer my condolences to Elementia. But rest assured, I will be back later. Goodbye." Gaster spoke lividly as he walked out of the room, leaving no time for you to respond. 

"Well, I can guarantee that he definitely doesn't like me now..." You grumbled under your breath, leaning your head against your palm.

Notes:

Sorry for the long gap of no writing! I've been through a lot recently and it's all been really tough. After my last Bone of Contention update, I lost all motivation to write again and dealt with a really bad case of writer's block. Then, after that came the loss of one of my beloved dogs. That only happened a week ago today, and it's obviously still hard to deal with. So, I'm not back fully, but I'm trying to heal by writing... So that's why I killed off Inferno, so... Sorry, haha. Anyway, I'd better run off and update my other fanfic sites with this story before it gets too late. Have a Sanstastic day\night! Ciao! 

Chapter 8: "A Peculiar Change"

Your eyes came open as quick as a flash as you sat up, placing a hand onto your chest weakly. Something's just not right... Your body is consumed by shivering and you can't get it to stop.

Still sleepy, you come to and realize you feel extremely queasy and your eyes go wide in a panic. You try to get onto your feet, but your muscles ached and feel as if you've been trampled by multiple horses. But despite the pain, you let out a grunt as you try and concentrate on keeping your last meal in your stomach as you pull yourself toward the waste bucket in the corner of your cell.

The mere feet seem like miles and everything's spinning. You almost thought you'd lost the battle before you lunged in one more great effort, grabbing the bucket just in time to heave all the contents of your breakfast into it. Tears streamed down your face as you lost everything that you had eaten, still gagging and heaving for several minutes after everything seemed to have been thrown back up.

You coughed violently, wobbling and falling backwards from the bucket. Your esophagus and nose feel as if they're burning and your coughs seem to get progressively worse–and louder as the minutes tick by.

You gag and throw up again into that damned bucket, your stomach twisting and turning at every heave and you begin to cry from the pain. In fact, you soon find yourself trying your best to curl into the fetal position, but you fail as it is only more painful to move.

And after many more minutes of alternating from the bucket, to letting out a raspy cough, to crying softly, you hear footsteps walking in the room.

"What is all the ruckus ab-" Gaster's voice came, but he stopped speaking mid-sentence and fell deathly silent. His shoes could be heard approaching the bars of your cell and you soon heard his bones clink against the metal. You tried to stop crying, but you couldn't until you soon experienced another coughing fit which made you look over at him. You tried to appear as threatening as possible, but in this state you must look absolutely pitiful.

He let out a deep sigh, holding his hands behind him as he disappeared a a quick flash of purple. Around 5 minutes passed and you slowly began to wonder if Gaster had even been there or if he was a just hallucination, but as you laid down, coughing more than you ever have before, you heard footsteps once again and the sound of clanging metal.

But the footsteps were heavier now, in fact, there seem to be more than two sets. But, at this point, you're too weak to sit up and look as the footsteps enter your room. "Is she alive, Dr. Gaster?" You heard a deep voice ask and Gaster's bones clinked against the metal bars of your cell once again and you could feel his gaze land on you. "Yes, secure her and take her to my lab, you two." His voice replied and your heart began to pound as you began to feel queasy again.

The sound of jingling keys rang out and suddenly, the cell was opened and two big solider monsters walked in. One gray creature with two horns on his nose and the other is what seems to be a certain type of dog monster. The dog suddenly knelt down beside you and swiftly, held you down which caused you to weakly fight back against him. But it was no use as you felt your arms being shackled forcefully and suddenly, with a sting of pain, you blacked out.

--------------------------------------------

Suddenly, your eyes snapped open once more and you sat up, looking around to see you're in some strange stone room with glass jars filled with various liquids and substances spread around. But something that seemed more odd to you is that several giant papers are on the walls. Specifically of humans, monsters and what seems to be a map of somewhere.

"Good, you're awake." Gaster's voice came from the corner and you turned to see him sitting at a table in the corner facing you with a book in his lap and a quill in his hand.

"What the hell is this?" You snapped in response and he carefully took the spectacles off his face, placing the quill back in its jar of ink on the desk and folding his hands in his lap.

"You were ill. I was treating you." He replied coolly.

"But why? I am your prisoner, Gaster. You shouldn't waste your resources on the enemy!" You growled in response and he leaned back in his chair, putting his book on his desk as he looked into your eyes.

"Do you want to die, (Y\N)?" He asked, His tone seemingly emotionless, yet judging at the same time.

You started to reply, but soon shut your mouth, sighing as you realized that you feel a lot better now. No more aching, your stomach has settled and the only thing you really notice is a slightly scratchy throat.

"I didn't think so," Gaster replied, reaching for his book once again.

"Why?" You asked and he cocked his skull to the side. "Pardon?" He questioned and you rolled your eyes at the daft skeleton. "Why did you tend to me while I was sick?" You asked and he moved his hand back to his lap. "You hold valuable information for us, I thought I told you that already." He replied flatly. "You're very insistent on that fact, doctor." You replied, narrowing your eyes. "Yes, because it is in fact the truth." Came his adamant response.

"But you know very well that I am not going to tell you anything else. So why are you so adamant about it, Dr. Gaster?" You asked him, your piercing (e\c) gaze looking into his bright white pinpricks. "Because you are like a code, the more time you spend on it, the easier it is to break. So if I were to let you die of some simple illness, then I may never get the information I need to save my people." He replied and you huffed in response, crossing your arms. "You won't be getting that information out of me, skeleton man. I am strong willed." You bragged, sticking your nose in the air.

Gaster audibly chuckled and you turned to see him shaking his skull. "And yet it is so easy to outsmart you. I have been able to trick the information out of you before it'll only be easier to do it again, human." He spoke in a derogatory tone. "Oh bloody hell, Gaster! You aren't as great as you think you are. You may have been cunning then, but I didn't know you. But now I know what nasty tricks you like to pull so I will not fall for them again." You replied, rolling your eyes.

"You have only seen a few of the tricks up my sleeve, (Y\N). I have plenty more where that came from." His responded, his voice laced with a strange coquettish feel.

And with the snap of a finger, Gaster was gone and you blinked in surprise, looking around. It seemed odd to you that you're just now realizing that you had been passed out on a padded table-or perhaps this is a 'mattress'. Not only that, but your wrists are still shackled and so are your ankles. Most likely to keep you from running about in this mysterious place.

You felt a hand brush across your neck and you jumped, looking around the room in confusion. But, you saw nothing. So, you turned back to his chair but he was still missing. You cocked your head to the side until you felt something on your leg. So, you looked down at your leg and saw a lone skeletal hand which caused you to scream. You nearly fell over from recoiling so much and you swatted it away. The hand rattled as it hit the floor, soon crawling away with you watching it in horror.

"Caught on to all my games, hm?" Gaster whispered into your ear, gently grabbing onto your shoulders. "I don't think so~" He whispered as he inched even closer, his nasal bones brushing up against the tip of your ear. His breaths are hot and warm on your neck, giving you goose bumps which causes your face to flush red and he chuckles as he stands back, letting go.

He paces around you and sits back in his chair proudly grinning, crossing his long legs as he looks at you smugly. "I have a lot of secrets not even those closest to me know, so don't act like a simple spy like you knows everything about me within a few days of even knowing of my existence." He remarked.

You mumbled under your breath and he snickers to himself. "If you hadn't been shackled, I am positive you would've hit the roof when you jumped." He mocked you, grinning wickedly.

You narrowed your eyes once again as you stared into his gaze. Your (e\c) eyes emitted an icy cold look and he seemed to shrink back at your countenance. "Go to hell, you bastard!" You hissed in retaliation which caused him to fall silent.

After what seemed like a long time, Gaster sighed and dipped his head. "I am very sorry, Misses (Y\N)." He started, "I definitely took things too far." He apologized and your gaze went back to normal but you cocked your head to the side in confusion. It's unusual for him to apologize to you. Perhaps his derogatory ways are coming to an end. But, that seems very odd for such an egotistical man. So, what could have sparked this new feeling of empathy? Perhaps you'll only know as the days pass by. But for now, you can only wonder.

Chapter 9: "Teivel"

The minutes passed by long and boring as you sat in the presence of W.D. Gaster silently. But, you couldn't help but watch as he was writing notes in his notebook. He even noticed you once or twice, but he never said anything and just went back to work. At least, until he left around an hour or so later, leaving you in this unfamiliar room alone with nothing to do. 

Well, nothing better to do than sleep at least. So, as soon as you made sure Gaster was gone, you laid down on the cot and fell asleep, dreaming of being back at camp with Commander Baskey and Felix Bordeaux. It ended up being quite an anomalous dream, featuring you and Felix practicing archery and Evan Baskey watching from afar. A spark of jealousy visible in his normally calm brown gaze. But, at the end of the dream, Evan had asked you to marry him, and to be frank, it didn't feel right, but you said 'yes' anyways. And even if that was just in a dream, it still feels like that now.

It's definitely quite a weird feeling. Especially since you still feel extremely fond of Evan Baskey. You long to hold him, but it seems as if something has changed in your head. Could it be possible that these monsters are poisoning you? It is definitely a suspicious possibility. 

But, before you could sleep for too long, you were quickly awoken by being poked slightly. As soon as your (e\c) eyes opened, they widened at the sight in front of you. A very tall cat monster with yellow and black patterns on some of its exposed fur. In fact, the patterns seemed to be jagged spots. But, the most overwhelmingly intriguing thing about this large feline is its bright yellow eyes that are shining bright due to the candlestick the beast is holding in its paws. Its eyes are wide and seem to stare right through you.

"Good evening, (Y\N). Dr. W.D. Gaster sent me to give you your dinner before he interviews you for the day. I'm Namir and I'll likely stay through the questioning to get a feel for the job." The feline spoke, its voice very masculine and deep. "Why isn't Elementia bringing my dinner?" You asked, not wanting to acknowledge him much. 

"Elementia is on leave at the moment for the loss of her beloved brother. She may be down for a while. She hasn't been taking it very well." He commented, sighing slightly. "I made you the dinner myself. Nobody else was willing to tonight and Gaster said I wasn't allowed to starve you, so it became my damn task." He grumbled before setting the candlestick on a table next to the cot. 

With swiftness, the tall creature walked across the room, picking up a tray with a bowl and a glass of water on it, then walked back. His long, spotted and striped tail swayed back and forth as he took his steps but he didn't seem to notice its movements. 

Once he set the tray beside you, you looked down and almost gagged at the sight of what he'd fixed you. A plain old broth with a very old looking ham bone sitting in the bottom of the bowl. The color of the broth was sickeningly brown, but you don't question it, you just turned up your nose a bit. After all, food is better than no food. 

"Why a broth?" You asked curiously, looking up at Namir. His clothes are almost as bizarre as him. He is clothed in a baggy, tan shirt with a brown belt around his waist, a pair of baggy pantaloons and black boots that go up to his knees. The sleeves to his shirt have been rolled up to expose his spotted fur and a tail hole has been cut into his pants. 

"Dr. Gaster said broth would be a good thing to soothe your stomach. After all, this is your first meal after expelling all of your last meal into a bucket. Don't want to eat anything too extreme." He replied, gently flattening the fur on his head. "Oh... I see. Thanks, I guess." You murmured and he nodded, silently walking to Gaster's chair, sitting down.

You lifted the metal spoon from the bowl, to your mouth, taking a sip of the warm broth. It wasn't as bad as you expected, but as much as you hate to admit it, you miss Elementia's cheer and her cooking. Even after only a couple meals provided by her, Elementia's company had proven entertaining and the highlight of your day in this odd and lonely place. 

"So, you're one of those humans, huh?" Namir suddenly asked. "Last time I checked, yes I do believe so." You muttered in reply. "How zany." He snickered to himself causing you to roll your eyes. "Pardon me?" You replied blankly and he grinned, the bony structure of his face really showing well. "Oh, it's not important. Just eat your broth, Misses (Y\N)." He replied, leaning his head against his palm, the slits in his eyes contracting in the light.  

Grumpily, you agreed and ate your meal. But mere seconds after you placed your bowl back onto the tray once you'd finished, Gaster walked in. In fact, it's such convenient timing that you began to wonder if he'd been secretly watching you. But, the genuine surprise and scorn he held toward Namir for sitting in his chair seemed to prove that theory wrong very quickly. 

"Namir Eisen, get out of my chair!" He spoke, his voice filled with a surprising amount of venom. "Yes sir!" Namir replied as he quickly jumped from Gaster's chair, walking past him briskly before leaning against the wall in nervousness. Gaster grinned at this in an almost egotistical manner, but the smugness on his skull soon disappeared as he sat in his chair, looking directly toward you. 

"Miss (Y\N), I must ask a favor of you." His slick voice spoke as he gazed upon you calmly. "What is it, Gaster?" You asked in a regular ole 'I'm annoyed' way. Gaster stretched, crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair. "I'm going to ask if you'll be happy to stay out of your cell for a day or two." Gaster asked and you narrowed your (e\c) eyes at him in suspicion. "What for?" You asked and he chuckled, shaking his head.  "You're far too chary of this, Misses. It's not as if you have a say anyways, you are my prisoner, after all." He remarked with a grin which caused Namir to snicker. That absolutely made your blood boil. 

"Well, perhaps not but I do have complying or giving you and your guards absolute hell as things to do depending on what the blazes you're suggesting. So I suggest you tell me, Gaster." You snapped, tugging at your chains. 

The tall skeleton sat in his chair, pondering what to do with a hand placed onto his chin. "Hmm..." He thought out loud which made you grit your teeth in annoyance, your eyelids narrowing into slits. "Alright, I suppose I will." He remarked before fixing the collar of his long white coat. "I am going to need to do some tests on you." He responded and your heart dropped out of your chest in worry. In fact, you could feel the color leave your cheeks as you imagined this man doing cruel and unnatural experiments on you for his own sadistic pleasures. 

"...Tests... As in..." You pause, swallowing hard before continuing on. "E-experiments...?" You asked and you could see a flash on sympathy come over his face. "What a dizzard!" Namir snorted, laughing at your fright. But, what surprised you was the look of anger blazing in Gaster's white pinpricks. Despite that, what was even more shocking was Gaster's scowl as he whipped to face his co-worker with a cold stare "That's enough." He spoke flatly to Namir. 

Instantly at the criticism, Namir's ears drooped and he nodded slowly and nervously as he sat on the floor. "Y-yes, Dr. Gaster." He murmured and Gaster nodded. "Good." Gaster spoke flatly. "Now, Miss (Y\N)." He started as he turned back to you, his gaze suddenly turning calm... Too calm. "Experiments, perhaps. But nothing that'll hurt you too much." He replied which made you shift further away, crossing your arms. "I don't trust you." You spoke in response and Gaster lifted a 'bone'brow. "That's good. You shouldn't. But, you can't escape this. It has to be done for the good of my people." Gaster spoke. 

"What about the good of my people? This war is two sided, Gaster! I just want to go back to my camp!" You exclaimed with a tinge of despair in your voice. "Your people are the ones trying to force us off our land! We have every right to live on this earth and they're slaughtering us like cattle!" Namir suddenly growled, his long tail twitching back and forth. "Your kind are killing my people too!" You argued in response. "This is a war! We must defend ourselves! If you kill us, we will fight back! It's not like we were the ones who started this war!" Namir hissed and Gaster suddnenly snapped, slamming his bony fist on the arm of his chair. "Enough! Clearly you both don't know the complete history of how this war started." He yelled, his eye sockets emitting a purple aura which faded quite like smoke in the cool air as it rose above his skull. 

He stood up, walking toward both of you, bowing his head before his notebook started floating up from out of his pocket, the pages turned, and turned and turned. Until, it finally opened to a page with an illustration of a goat-like monster with long, shaggy hair and a short, scruffy beard. With a flick of Gaster's wrist, he looked up at Namir, the white pinpricks in his eyes replaced by a strong purple glow that matched the aura from earlier. "January 16th, three years ago, a great monster known as Teivel began to crave power in dangerous amounts. He was an heir to the throne, cousin of King Asgore." He started, then he whipped his head around to face you. His blank look sending a shiver down your spine. 

Once again, a lone skeletal hand appeared out of nowhere, but this time it floated in the air, surrounded in a purple glow. At the new source of what you assume to be magic, Gaster's eye sockets once again started having purple smoke come from them. And with a flash, the pages in the book started flipping again and didn't stop for a good five seconds. But when they did, the lone hand's index finger slammed down against another illustration. It was of a ferocious beast with long claws, sharp teeth and long, curved horns. Its robe was hanging off itself in shreds and its eyes were shaded in to be dark with the whites of its eyes seeming to be slits. 

"Teivel wanted to inherit the throne, the grievous desire to hold power over his kingdom grew stronger and stronger with each passing day. And then, it happened. The need for power took over his entire being. It brought absolute chaos and in order to try and gain power to overthrow Asgore, he killed a human and absorbed its soul." Gaster spoke, making your eyes move to the book so you could study the drawing of the horrendous creature. The change that one human soul made to Teivel made you bite your lip in worry. Could this happen to anyone? 

"Teivel's plan ultimately failed, Asgore had to slay his own cousin for the fate of both kingdoms—but by then, the damage had already been done. The news of Teivel's corrupted attempt at a coup spread across all the lands faster than us monsters could control. Next thing you knew, the family of the man Teivel had murdered came forth and they started this revolution with every twisted word they spoke." Gaster grumbled, looking away from you and toward the wall. 

"What you humans don't understand is that this seems to be a single event in the history of humans and monsters. After living in harmony for hundreds of years, misinformation regarding our race spread all across this land causing widespread fear. All of monsterkind have been said to be untrustworthy and greedy for a long while now, so I suppose Teivel's evil plan was the final straw that caused us to be prejudiced against completely. And well—shortly after the news had spread to your king and beyond about the incident, the war began and widespread paranoia truly set in." Gaster sighed, shaking his skull back and forth, his magic stopping immediately as the book fell to the floor and the lone hand disappeared into thin air. 

"Hopefully you both understand why this war is truly waging now. I do not like hearing you both arguing over empty facts that hold no credibility. It only degrades both of our races, understand?" He grumbled as he rolled his now normal pinpricks and silence fell upon the room. 

"I wasn't told that story... Just what a monster could, uhm... Do." You spoke after a few minutes of silence. Gaster shook his head again, sighing. "Most haven't been. You humans aren't willing to listen to the whole damn story." He murmured as he bent down and picked up his journal. "Well... I did at least, right?" You asked, kinda unsure of what to reply with. But, it seemed you made the right choice because Gaster let out a single laugh, smiling a tiny bit. "Congratulations on being the first, (Y\N). Now, Namir...." Gaster spoke, turning to the spotted feline. "I want you to leave." He continued and Namir gritted his sharp teeth together. "But I was supposed to—" He began, clearly in annoyance but Gaster shot him a cold stare. "Go, Namir. Now." He spoke flatly and Namir stood up, turning to you. "You'll never make it of here and get back to your beloved Commander, (Y\N)." Namir spoke with a venom-infested tone, his tail twitching in anger again. "Kiss your dreams goodbye, because you'll rot in here. I'll make sure of it." He hissed, snatching the tray from beside you before running out, disappearing out the door in mere seconds. 

"I apologize for Namir's uncivil behavior. I suppose he is merely upset I'd rather send more time with you then him." Gaster let out a husky chuckle, causing you to furrow your eyebrows in confusion. What is up with this man and his constant differing feelings toward you? It's just so peculiarly odd. 

"It's fine, I suppose... Just... Just let's get this over with, okay?" You sighed, messing with your restraints again. Gaster nodded, walking over and taking a key from his pocket to unlock your chains. "Alright. I shall if it's what you wish. Just remember, you try to run and you're going to find it harder to ever make it back home. So, don't do that." He spoke in a genuine manner which just confused you even more. "Of course, Dr. Gaster." You sighed in response. 

Notes:

Heyo! It's been a while, it's been like 3 months or something like that, so I apologize. I don't want to use any excuses, but I think this is appropriate, writer's block sucks. Oh, and I was gonna get this out earlier on Sunday, but I got behind in my writing because I was painting with my mom Thursday-Satuday. But, I managed to get it up around 3:00 AM Monday at least. Oof. Anyways, I need to get going, but I just want to wish those of you who have—and are going back to school very soon good luck. Have a great school year, guys! Now, thanks so much for reading! I read an interesting argument about the true reason behind the humans vs monsters war occurring on a wiki page earlier (sadly I didn't save their users) and knew I had to incorporate something a tad bit similar. So, that's what I did with the Teivel thing. Haha. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day\night!

Chapter 10: "Growing Tension"

You gritted your teeth and held your tongue as Gaster set aside your restraints and helped you off your cot by the arm. His bony grasp was soft, but firm as he began to move you out of the room. Not steady on your feet quite yet, you were wobbly so he stopped and waited for you to steady before continuing on. 

As you passed through many narrow hallways, you observed your surroundings. The walls were all made from gray and brown cobblestone and every 16 feet a torch was lit which brightened the surrounding areas. No windows were present, and you began to wonder if this building is actually an underground bunker. It's always a possibility, but the army had not been aware of an underground fort held by the monsters. So, that'd certainly be breakthrough information if word got out. 

"I apologize for the walk, things are very much spaced apart in here." Gaster suddenly spoke up after around 2 minutes of walking. You didn't reply, just clicked your tongue, sighing. This made him shift his grip uncomfortably and he stayed quiet for the rest of the trek. 

A good 5 minutes passed before Gaster led you to a big, wooden door with metal latches. He paused his stride as he got to the door and unlocked it with his magic. And then, suddenly it swung open.

You were met with darkness and a long staircase that led into a pitch black abyss. It made your throat tighten up in fear, your eyes widening. Definitely not a welcoming atmosphere 

"What the hell is this?!" You demanded to know. "You'll find out." Gaster replied flatly. "What does that mean?" You murmured and Gaster let out an annoyed grunt. "Did you forget I'm taking you down there, princess?" He spoke, his voice laced with venom. You suddenly blushed at the nickname, then turned your head, growling. "Don't call me that again or I will-" You began, but he leaned on one hip, smirking. "You'll do what, hm?" He challenged and you merely sputtered in response. This caused Gaster's smirk to widen. "Ah, (Y\N). You're all bark and no bite. I'd suggest thinking out your threat beforehand next time, then I might be scared." He spoke and you huffed. "Well, I'm not in restraints right now. I could easily–" "And overpower my magic? Unlikely." He huffed, cutting you off. You rolled your eyes at this. How can this 'monster' be so insufferable? 

"We're wasting time. Let's just go." You spoke, your voice low and lethargic. "You're right there, (Y\N). It's this way. Watch your step." He spoke as he began to lead you down the dark stairs, closing the creaky door behind him. And with that, came complete darkness that made your heart start to thud. At least, until an orb of purple light appeared in the air, Gaster's eye sockets illuminating the room with a purple glow as well. That lit the narrow, stone staircase as you both went down, and down, and down each step, until after the 50th step, you reached the bottom. "There you are, welcome to my 'true' laboratory. Quite a ways down, isn't it?" He spoke smoothly and you gritted your teeth. 

"The hell is this? Why is it so cold?" You asked, a chill traveling down your spine and you looked to the side. "Don't tell me this damned place is underground." You continued and Gaster let out small, husky chuckles. "It's underground." He spoke despite your wishes, pausing to think. "In fact, this whole place is." He replied and you groaned. "And you lot don't even give me a blanket in my cell!?" You challenged and he smirked, shrugging. "Well, you haven't asked, have you now~?" He spoke with a wink and a sly grin. This caused you to freeze, then roll your eyes. "Why the hell would I ask for a blanket whilst in a prison. It's not a place of luxury." You huffed and Gaster simply shrugged again, lighting candles all around the room. 

"Perhaps not, but even prisoners deserve basic necessities. After all, you got sick somehow and with your immune system being weake–" He began and you furrowed your eyebrows. "What is an immune system?" You asked and he stopped lighting the candles, turning to you. "You don't kno–oh, right. Humans don't understand that yet." He spoke and you blinked in confusion. "What?" You questioned again and he pondered, his white pinpricks looking toward the side as he tried to gather his thoughts. "The immune system is what fights to keep your body healthy, but your people still believe mere bad smells cause sickness, but that's not exactly true. Sicknesses are caused by microscopic germs, bacteria and–I've lost you, haven't I?" He asked as soon as he'd noticed you'd zoned out. And this change of topic made you snap back into reality. "Oh. What? Sorry." You apologized and he sighed, rolling his pinpricks. "Small creatures are inhaled, digested, sucked, and absorbed into your system and that's what makes you feel sick." He simplified his explanation and you held a basic understanding, so you nodded. "Oh. I see... That's weird." You murmured. Gaster shrugged, then turned back and finished lighting the candles. 

Once he was done, he turned back to you. He thought for a moment, then his eye sockets became illuminated by that all too familiar purple glow yet again. And with a flick of his wrist, two purple circles formed on your wrists, restraining you yet again. "What the hell?" You asked him, eyes narrowing. "Relax, this is just the cumbersome part and I don't want you running from me and starting trouble." He briefly explained. You sighed, shifting your weight on your right hip but didn't argue. It's not like you have a choice anyway. I mean, that's what he's been saying, right? 

"Oh? Not arguing? Well, alright, then. That's new. Can you come here please, Miss?" Gaster asked and he beckoned you to come forward, his face partially lit by the dim candles. But, he must've decided he didn't have enough light, for he let out an audible "Hm." before simply snapping his fingers, and with a purple flash, somehow the candles brightened to the point they brought light to all four corners of the room and in between. 

Blinking at the new brightness you closed your (e\c) eyes, hissing slightly. "Warn a woman next time, will you?" You spoke, rubbing your eyes before sighing and walking over to the Doctor. "I cannot guarantee that, (Y\N), but I can certainly try." He murmured in response. 

The aforementioned light showed the room in a whole, shelves after shelves are pressed against the walls. Some are packed with books, others hold jars and glasses of liquids and substances. But, what caught your attention the most was an old, wooden desk pressed against the wall piled high with books, journals and quills. Laying beneath the books on the desk seems to be a large blue paper, but, you don't know what it is exactly. 

"Now, go ahead... Do your 'experiments' just make 'em quick." You spoke softly and he lifted a 'bone'brow. "Ah, you've given up fighting for real, have you now?" Gaster questioned as he sat you down on a chair, walking toward a cabinet to get something out of it. "Never. I just recognize that now is not the right time to act." You replied and Gaster let out a small puff of air, clearly a broken down laugh. "Ah, you waiting for Commander Baskey and his fleet?" He asked, shuffling through the contents of the cabinet. "No. They certainly don't care about little old me, I am independent and I can free myself." You muttered and he turned to face you, your gazes connecting. "Oh, it's unbelievable. What a forward thinking girl. You don't see that often in human communities." He remarked, but you couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic, or not sarcastic for the first time. "Gee, thanks, skeleton-man." You sassed in response and he let out another stifled laugh. "You're welcome, princess~" He laughed wickedly as he turned to see the fire begin to rage in your eyes. "Oh you absolute bast–" You began before suddenly, he pulled a long object with a needle extruding from it out of a drawer. That instantly made you hold your tongue, your throat tightening up just at the sight of it.

"Ah, see. You're a smart maiden. You do know when to shut up." Gaster commented and you scoffed, looking away with a faint pink glow radiating off your (s\c) cheeks. With the corners of your mouth turned down, you held back a more prominent scowl. "Won't you just hurry up, you insufferable demon?! Surely I will die of your bantering before you even do these damned experiments." You huffed, crossing your arms the best you could in this current position. "I believe it'd be more taunting than bant—" "DOES IT LOOK LIKE I GIVE A DAMN?!" You suddenly shouted, your jaw clenched and body shaking from the intense feelings racing through your veins. 

He seemed taken aback, a pang of sadness, perhaps even regret visible in his tiny white pinpricks. In fact, he didn't reply. He kept his teeth sealed, no further insults, nor apologies spewing from the monster's mouth. Just complete, and utter silence between the two souls. 

Minutes passed by, then he finally walked over with tools and objects to do his tests on you. His pinpricks met your cool (e\c) eyes for a split second. The animosity between you both thick in the air, almost like an early day fog. But, as the eye contact persisted, Gaster's neutral expression morphed into a warming smile that warmed your heart—perhaps even making it flutter. "I wasn't being 100% crude and bothersome, there held truth in my words... You are actually quite smart, so do not let me crush you... I recognize I can be much too uncivil at times, so please forgive me, Miss (Y\N)." He apologized lightly, his gaze softening as it studied your face, possibly looking for forgiveness. "Yeah... Sure." You muttered, turning your gaze away to break the eye contact. "Just get this test over with." You whispered, causing him to sigh gently. "Of course." He spoke, taking your arm, wiping the crease between your upper arm and lower arm with a cold liquid. It smelled, perhaps of vinegar or liquor. And then, fast as a strike of lightning, he had the needle in your arm, your eyes widening as you whipped your head around to see your blood filling the glass cylinder attached to the nozzle. 

It stung, not the worst pain you've ever felt in any way, but the pinch it delivered was definitely far from pleasant. To keep yourself from showing too much weakness, you held in a whimper by gritting your teeth together tightly, your body tensing up in response. 

"What could you possibly want to do with my blood?" You suddenly asked, quite confused. He thought of how to respond for a moment, humming as he gathered his thoughts together. "I wish to test it. I have a theory that I've been trying to test, and now that I have you, I might finally be able to turn that theory into something more credible." He replied, taking the needle out of your skin. 

Before you could see too much of the red liquid spill from your new wound, he wrapped a bandage around your arm, stepping back. "There you are. That may be a little sore tomorrow, but it shouldn't be that bad." He spoke as he stepped away, back to one of the tables in the room. 

You couldn't see what the tall skeleton did next, after all, his back is turned to you. But, regardless, you watched with interest as he seemingly moved the blood into a vile, popping a lid onto it quickly before placing it into a white box. "You know, your gaze is burning holes through my coat, (Y\N)." Gaster suddenly spoke, causing you to blink in surprise. "They are? How do they do that?" You suddenly asked, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Gaster couldn't help but let out a humored laugh as he spun to face you, crossing his arms. "No, no, m'dear, that's an expression. You weren't reall–" He froze along with you as soon as he realized he called you 'm'dear'. His cheeks turning a faint purple, and yours once again turning pink. 

"Oh." You murmured quietly and Gaster pulled on the collar of his coat. "Yes, of course... I was saying I could feel your uhhh—" "Gaze?" You interrupted and he nodded. "Yes, yes of course. Your gaze." He replied, getting quiet again. "A-anyways, any questions?" He asked, leaning against the table. "Are you really inside of me?" You asked and he seemingly choked, wheezing. "What—?" He asked, his pinpricks looking around the room in confusion. "A skeleton, I mean. You're a skeleton right? What else could I possibly mean? Why are you so flustered?" You asked, furrowing your eyebrows again in confusion. He remained quiet, but glanced down suggestively which made it click in your mind and you turned pink again. "Holy hell, I didn't mean that, you imbecile!" You suddenly blurted out and he looked away, the purple blush upon his cheekbones increasing little by little. 

"Well, that's what it certainly sounded like, Miss (Y\N)." He spoke, his voice surprisingly calm for the situation. "Well, you heard wrong! I would never–You're just a big a pile of bones—you know, nothing... A big pile of white nothing!" You spoke out suddenly, covering your mouth once the words had left your mouth. "Oh, how flattering. Thank you." His voice spoke in response sarcastically, standing up straight. "I'm saying this now, just because I'm a skeleton does not mean my kind is inside of you. That is a human skeleton, (Y\N). I am a monster skeleton." He began to explain, stepping forward and talking with his hands as he talked you through the science behind the differences between the two similar subjects. "Human bones are comprised of more or less 'physical matter', whereas monster bones are primarily made of magic." He explained. 

"Oh, but are the structures the same at least?" You asked, rubbing your sore arm. Gaster thought again, tapping a single phalange on his chin. "Well, why don't we find that out for good~?" Gaster spoke in a mischievous tone with a glint in his eye socket. That made your cheeks flush a bright pink as he slowly walked over, confidence in his stride. "What the hell is that s-supposed to mean???" You stuttered and he reached your side, bending down to be face to face. "Why don't I show you?"

Notes:

Oh, hi? Do I take longer and longer to update every time? Maybe so. That's a great hypothesis, self. XD It's been 4 months, guys. I am so sorry, it's been one hell of a year and I've been busy, had tons of up and downs, and didn't get as much writing done as I probably should've. So, my greatest apologies! 

I tried my best to make it up to you guys with this chapter! I had so much fun writing it and I threw my heart and soul into every word, so I really hope you all enjoy it! Please let me know if you're enjoying this progression, because I sure am! Oh, and sorry for that cliffhanger, I can't just give you all a super good chapter I'm proud of without consequences. I need to get some humor from it, and this way maybe it'll force myself to update fairly soon? Who knows. Only time will tell! Lol

Thanks so much for reading, and happy -almost- new year! See you guys in 2019! Love you! Have a wonderful day\night!

Chapter 11: "Good For The Soul"

Gaster smirked, his bony hand making contact with yours as you just stared at him in a mixture of horror and shock. You could swear your blush is as bright as a sun ripened strawberry. But, instead of going away, it only intensified as Gaster stood back up straight, his hand and eye sockets lighting up with a purple flame as he lifted you up in the air. Your heart was now visible as a rich blue. What the hell is this crazy man doing?!

You looked down, quite frightened of this new feeling of weightlessness caused by his magical hold. The feeling persisted and became more uncomfortable until Gaster moved you closer to a desk in the corner. He set you on your feet and you stumbled backward into the desk, holding yourself up by your elbows. Then you stumbled back a little more when Gaster snapped his fingers together, the purple restraints disappearing from your wrists. He soon laid his gaze on you as he took off his long, white coat and draped it against a nearby chest. Then he began to pull on the sleeves of his tunic-esque shirt. But, he stopped in the middle of the process and walked to the side. 

To be frank, you felt borderline terrified of what he's planning. Your heart's pounding in your chest and it sounds like the thudding of a war drum. Adding to that, your pupils are slowly dilating as you see him shuffling around in the corner. But, that didn't last too long, for soon he walked back, wheeling this strange device over with him. It appeared to be made of brass and Gaster slowly toyed with it before soon pulling off his tunic, leaving him in his pants and shoes only. 

"What the hell are you doing?!" You shouted in an insulting way. "I don't want to see you naked!" You added and he turned to you, furrowing a 'bone'brow. "Oh, really? Then why are you all red?" He questioned and you cursed under you breath. "BECAUSE YOU'RE NAKED, BASTARD!" You suddenly yelled at him and he grinned. "Partially, but not fully. You're not wearing pants." He pointed out and you grumbled. "Oh, you im—" You began, but soon a ding sounded across the stone room and Gaster smiled. "Aha! There we are." He spoke, then messed with the device some more. 

You'd be lying if you denied that you weren't looking at him shirtless, because once you stood back up straight, you observed his skeletal figure with much intensity. Inside his ribcage was a small white heart that seemed to emit a faint glow. Could that be his soul? 

You leaned your head on your palm as you watched him mess with the mysterious gadget. He slipped his spectacles onto his face, humming before he turned to you which caused you to stop mid-stare. "You know, there are better things to do than stare at me, (Y\N)." He spoke bluntly and you rolled your (e\c) eyes. "Like? Last time I checked, I'm a damned prisoner, nincompoop!" You hissed, talking with your hands and he crossed his own skeletal arms. "Ah, yes. Let's play 'what word can I use to call Dr. W.D. Gaster idiotic today'. You know, I am convinced more than half of your vocabulary is merely insults." He shot back and you scoffed. "No, I just know more insults than you because I actually fought in this battle." You narrowed your eyes and Gaster grinned. "And that got you where, Princess?" He chuckled deeply, shaking his head. "I have done just as much for my people as you have, (Y\N). You don't have to be a solider to serve your people." He commented and that took you aback. He was right. He was so right that you pushed aside your firebrand attitude and remained silent for a good while whilst he changed his focus back to his machine. 

But, after a good 6 minutes of staring into nothingness, pondering his words, you turned back to him. "What if I like staring at you?" You asked and he looked back at you slowly. "Pardon me?" "Well, I mean... There's a lot I've not seen before and I'm intrigued. I am having trouble looking away." You tried to explain and he stayed silent, then walked to you. "Did you want to feel my ribs?" He asked and you eyed him up and down, then nodded as you reached forward, brushing your hands against the smooth bones. They felt slightly warm to the touch which surprised you. But, perhaps skeletons somehow magically radiate body heat like humans do. But, not wanting to be too awkward for too long, you moved your hand away quickly, and he nodded briskly. "Does that feed your curiosity?" He asked and you shook your head. "Not completely... But, that's not important." You responded and he paused, then turned his heels before walking back to his device, moving it closer. "Stand still and look at me. We'll be able to compare the bones once and for all then." He remarked and you complied, standing straight as you shifted to stand in front of him. 

He took off his spectacles before he pressed a few things, then suddenly whirring and grunting from the contraption filled the room. Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion and you couldn't help but mouth 'what the Dickens?' in response to the bizarre noises. Gaster must've seen that, for he began to explain what he was doing. "I make these things that are very advanced... I call this a 'Bone Capturing Device', it is able to see through your skin down to your bones. So, that way I can answer your question to the greatest extent." He explained, and suddenly a plain humming noise replaced the racket from earlier, white puffs of steam filling the air as a paper began to emerge from the thing. As soon as it halted, he snatched it up and began to study it. "The technology reacts with magic, which in turn causes a quill to move and sketch out any being's skeletal figure. So, here is the skeleton truly inside you." He spoke before handing over the paper with the drawing of your skeleton. "It doesn't look too different than you, Gaster." You remarked as you studied the image and he walked forward, all the way until he stood behind you. He pointed at the crotch area on the photo, narrowing his pinpricks as he stared intently. "That area right around there is called the pelvic bone. Mine differs from yours somewhat." He replied, then looked at it more. "Our radius is shaped somewhat different too." He added, pointing to your lower arm. As he continued, he pointed to your skull before standing back up straight. "Our skulls definitely differ as well." He pointed out and you nodded. 

"You missed one thing," You began and Gaster cocked his head to the side. "Pardon?" He questioned and you spun around, causing him to take a step back in surprise. But, as you pointed to the small white heart in his chest, you looked up at him in interest. "I know us humans are controlled by our heart... But, that isn't a heart." You spoke softly and he shifted on his feet. "Well, yes. That's my soul. Just as the heart is what keeps you alive, the same is for my soul." He explained. "It has a few more purposes than your heart does though. It is magic, so it controls my powers, eye glowing, et cetera." He continued on. 

"Can I touch it?" You asked and he hesitated, his pinpricks darting around the room as he thought. "Well, it's just a bit sensitive. Be gentle, but otherwise... Alright." He spoke and you took that one step forward, reaching your hand into his ribcage and gently pressing a finger on the white heart. It turned a faint purple at your touch, until suddenly, the color intensified rapidly until your vision suddenly faded to white and all sound faded from your senses. 

"Great," You thought. "this numbskull's soul made me blind." You huffed. But, suddenly, a field came into view, and a little skeleton walked amongst the wheat, playing with a few stones he had found on the ground. With curiosity, you walked to him. He was adorned in rags, but it didn't phase him at all. He looked full of joy, at least, until a taller skeleton leapt from the crops, tackling him to the ground. "Father! I was playing with Steven and Marco!" He whined, his accent absolutely melting your heart. "So? Are Marco and Steven better than your own father?" He questioned and the little skeleton thought, letting out a long, drawn out hum. "No, father! You will always be the best!" He spoke, grinning. That made his dad smile from cheekbone to cheekbone. "And I think the same about you, little W.D." He told him lovingly, and with that, the scene faded to white. 

But, it wasn't over yet. The next thing you saw was him crying, the little skeleton was now older, around teenage years. Younger Gaster, bawling his eye sockets out. That surprised you until you saw it, a pile of white dust laying on top of a blanket. A female skeleton soon stepped forth to console him. "W.D., it's alright... H-he's not suffering anymore." Her voice wavering, filled with grief. But Gaster wasn't having it, he whipped around, grabbing her by the wrist. "I-I was so close to finding a cure, mum! And now he's gone! He trusted me! Now all of us are going to be wiped out!" He shouted and his mother flinched backward. "No, son! You can cure this awful plague! We believe in you!" She tried to reassure him, but Gaster just got up sorrowfully. "He believed in me too, and look where it got him." He spoke darkly, his voice breaking as he began to push his mother out of the way, fresh tears streaming down his face. "I give up! There's no reason to try anymore!" He shouted before running off. This left his mother looking down sadly, clutching her skeletal hand as she let out a pained sigh. 

And then, you came to, stumbling backward as you panted. Gaster soon followed in your footsteps, his pinpricks wide as his chest cavity rose and fell rapidly. "Blimey-! I-I-" Gaster sputtered, not able to get an actual sentence out of his mouth. But, you couldn't either. Your mind could only process what'd just happened. Had you exchanged memories somehow? 

As the thoughts swirled around in your head creating a maelstrom of confusing emotions. You looked up to him and your eyes met instantly, your gazes connecting together like two magnets. "Did you–" He began to question, but froze again. You knew what he meant though, so you bit your lip and nodded shyly. But, as you continued to ponder, you realized he must've seen something too and your heart sank. What if he saw something that could give the enemy power? What if he would now abuse this strange ability? 

Not wanting to take the chance, you stumbled backward again, wanting to get away from him and this caused Gaster's eyes to grow wide and his countenance became melancholic and pained. "I.. I am sorry, I didn't know how bad your childhood really was. Beatrice... She was taken from you too soon. My greatest apologies... I–" He turned his head in shame and you swallowed hard, standing back up slowly. The fact he only mentioned your old caretaker definitely lessened the anxiety a smidge. Perhaps he didn't see anything too personal. "And I'm sorry about your father, Gaster... I could tell you two were very close." You spoke quietly and his shoulders straightened, looking to you, a sad look present in his gaze. "He was my best friend..." He let out a breathy sigh, then took in a deep breath. "But I was forced to accept the fact he wasn't coming back. It was hard, but he was at peace, just as mum said." He spoke, but despite him trying to seem like he was over it, he clearly wasn't over it completely. "And, I'm sure Beatrice is as well." He added, then coughed awkwardly. 

He shuffled on his feet, then took a few strides over before pausing in front of you. "But, you know... Even if our best friends are gone, they shall never be forgotten. And, they'll forever hold a place in here." Gaster spoke softly as he gently reached his hand over, touching your upper chest where your heart is... Careful to not touch any of your natural 'padding'. And, at his touch, your heart began to glow purple just like his earlier, but he didn't let his phalange linger long enough to snap back into a trance. Once he lifted it, the light faded back into your inner most being in a swirling pattern and he looked down at his black shoes. Your face turned a faint pink, and you exhaled softly. "You're right... Thank you, Doctor." You spoke, the words nearly getting caught in your throat. 

And as you both stood there silently, conflicting feelings moved around in your chest. They caused your (e\c) eyes to explore the room nervously as you felt more of a heat rise to your cheeks. But, not being able to hold back much longer, you lunged forward, not exactly sure what you were doing as you pulled Gaster into a hug, wrapping your arms around him silently. He tensed up at the sudden hug and he froze, his arms merely hovering in mid-air. He seemed conflicted, silently trying to figure out what was right and what was wrong for him to do in this situation. But, after a good 15 seconds of you squeezing him tightly, he finally gave in and hugged you back. His arms looped around you and his fingertips clung to your clothing, almost as if he hadn't hugged a single soul in a millennia. 

And as his hold grew longer and longer, it became more desperate as well in fact, pretty soon he bent down and buried his skull in the crook of your neck. But, you didn't mind. The only thing you did mind was the growing blush on your face, it's a complete nuisance after all. What purpose does it serve bothering you now? It's not like you fancy Gaster right? Well, at least you can tell you're not alone with being bothered by this annoying blush. Gaster's skull is hot against your neck, and it continues to grow more and more as the hug continues. 

"Gaster, what is the meaning of this?!" A sudden deep voice spoke and Gaster once again tensed up, pulling away as fast as he could to meet the gaze of the man that'd interrupted your friendly moment. "N-n-nothing, S-sire " Gaster stuttered, and as you turned to see him yourself, your mouth dropped open in surprise. There stood Asgore, The King Of All Monsters himself, and he didn't look very happy. 

Notes:

Guess who? Yeah, it's me, bois! And I'm back with a new update! Have I ever mentioned how much I love writing this story? I think the plotline of this story may be my favorite of all my works. I used to think nobody would like it as well. After all, Gaster X Readers aren't super common, nor are medieval romance stories based around Undertale. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong but I've never seen any fanfics that focus on this exact idea before, so I thank "Hacksaw Ridge" for giving me the concept of a story based around the old timey war in Undertale! (Even though that was a completely different time period, haha) 

Anyway, writing this chapter was a blast and I hope you guys enjoyed reading it! Sorry that nothing too 'spicy' happened, but that ain't my style really. Haha. It's always fun to hint at it though! Especially with their teasing and insulting.

But, I digress, sorry if that 'memory sharing' sequence was kinda cliché! I was gonna take it out for a while, but after I read it again... I kinda fell in love with it, and my best friend agreed I should keep it in. So, there we are!

Oh, one last thing, would you guys be interested in the next chapter being in Gaster's POV? Or the normal POV? Lemme know your vote down below in the comments! 

Thank you guys for reading and for being patient with me! Have a great day\night!  <3

Chapter 12: "Fatuous Accusations"

[Gaster's POV]

 

"Oh, King Asgore! I-I was just doing some experiments and such." I suddenly spoke, trying to justify my foolish actions. Hugging an enemy prisoner? Why in hell would I have even considered that? I sigh gently at my denseness, feeling slight beads of sweat forming on my skull. I bowed to him, and he walked closer, patting my back. "Gaster. What experiment requires you to be shirtless whilst hugging your prisoner?" He challenged in a calm tone. I about to reply, but it seems the human has beat me to it. How delightful. 

"Well, Sir," She began, meeting his gaze. Interested, I stood up straight to watch this all unfold. "He was studying the differences between our skeletons, oh he took my blood earlier too... Dammit, my arm's still sore." She explained, then rubbed her arm and Asgore raised a furry eyebrow, his gaze landing on the image of her skeleton. "Ah, I see.... But that still does not explain the hug." He spoke, his voice deepening as he turned to me. His gaze darkened as he crossed his arms. 

"W-well... That one is a lot harder to explain, Sir..." I began, then tugged on the collar of my shirt, the sweat beginning to drip down my skull slowly. "You see, Sire..." I trailed off and his large frown fell. But, instead of staying neutral, his lips curled into a giant grin and he ran to me, picking me up, spinning me around suddenly. "Oh, you foolish skeleton! You think I'm oblivious?" Asgore laughed in glee as I slowly recoiled away from this awkward hold. "Oblivious? Oblivious to what? If that's the case, your majesty—I must be oblivious as well." I replied and he laughed in pure joy. "Please put me down, I'm starting to get nauseous-" I pleaded as I grew stiffer and stiffer in his arms. Why does he always do this? 

He laughed, then put me down, pulling me close to whisper. "Say, have you finally found 'the one'?" He asked, chuckling heartily under his breath. "Asgore, what the hell? I told you, there is no person out there for me." I replied, rubbing my head as I recovered from the dizziness. At least he isn't speaking loud enough that (Y\N) can hear him. "Oh, you keep saying that, but I don't believe it. You two have chemistry!" Asgore replied, smiling brightly. "No, your majesty. We really have animosity." I replied, then he snorted. "Animosity? No, Gaster. You and Namir Eisen have animosity. You and this lovely human here definitely have chemistry. Hell, you'd never hug Namir." He pointed out and I moved away, turning my head as I crossed my arms against my ribcage. "Well, your majesty, 'that' isn't important at the moment." I responded, changing the topic quickly. I'd never fall for a human, especially one that's part of the enemy.

(Y\N) cocked her head to the side at this, then sighed, sitting on the ground gently. "Are we done yet?" She asked, leaning her hand against her chin. Her (e\c) eyes shine in the light of the many lit torches, it's almost mesmerizing. But, I don't stay unfocused for long, for I soon shake my skull to regain my composure. "No, not quite yet." I reply, then turn to my king. He's still smiling fatuously, and in order to continue working without getting frustrated, I decide to ask him what he needs right away. After all, unplanned visits aren't very common from ole King Asgore.

"What did you need, sir?" I asked him, backing up and looking up at him. He smiled gently, then adjusted his clothing. "I came down here to check on how things were going, and to meet the lovely maiden, of course." Asgore replied, then made his way to the human. He kneeled down beside her without any fear and extended his hand for her to shake. She even seemed surprised by this kind action. But, she humored him and shook his hand gently. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir." She spoke, slightly confused at his cheerful and welcoming personality. "The pleasure's mine, (Y\N)! I know the circumstances aren't that great, but I do hope you've at least enjoyed your time here." Asgore replied, then stood up and smiled brighter. "It's been pretty nice, I guess. But there's no way in hell I will allow you lot to keep me here for a long ass time! So, keep that in mind. The days are passing by quickly" She replied boldly with a tinge of grit. Asgore stood up, then chuckled to himself. "Ah, alright. I see, Miss (Y\N). We'll have to see what we can do." He replied, then turned and looked back at me. He winked smoothly and I felt heat rise to my cheekbones. I know exactly what he's trying to imply. He wants to point out the similarities in our personalities. But, those are much more different than they seem. Us both being stubborn doesn't make us compatible. So, it'd be nice if he dropped that offensive accusation. 

"I know you two are rather busy, so I suppose I should get back to Sir Obin." Asgore suddenly spoke, then he stepped toward the exit. "Don't work her too hard, Gaster. I will see you tonight." He continued and I nodded, then smiled weakly. "I will see you later, Sire! Have a nice day." I responded, and after one last goodbye, he headed back up the stone staircase and I turned back to (Y\N). "Well, I am sure that's not what you expected." I told her gently, and she paused, thinking. But, soon she nodded, "Yeah, you're right. He's too nice and fluffy to be the commander of an army of men." she replied, then stood up, brushing herself off. "Was that really the king?" She asked, seemingly baffled. 

I thought for a moment, deciding what to say before replying. "Yes. That was King Asgore. Even despite the waging war, he does enjoy meeting the prisoners taken in by his troops. I believe he can see the good in all his enemies." I explained, then walked past and began putting my shirt back on. After all, it is quite chilly in here despite all the lit candles. 

"Well, that's very kind of him, I guess. I don't understand how a creature with fur can have a beard though. I mean, it was just stubble so that means he must shave it, right? How doesn't he take off the fur with it?" She questioned. But, the question was so odd, it made me laugh gently, rolling my eyes. "You should've asked him, because I certainly haven't." I replied and she puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms grumpily. "Dammit!" She huffed, and I couldn't help but grin. That was so silly, in fact, somewhat cut–no, Gaster, no. My mistake, that was crazy. I don't know what my mind is saying, it must be fried from Asgore's strange claims. 

"Anyway, I merely have two more tests to conduct today. Shouldn't take long, then I'll lead you back to my sleeping quarters." I suddenly spoke as I walked to my coat and slipped it on carefully over my tunic. I made sure the collar was straight, then turned to (Y\N) again. "That's fine, yes?" I questioned, then she nonchalantly shrugged. "Don't care, to be honest. Got nothing else to do." She replied, then clicked her tongue. "Alright, then. Let's continue then, shall we?" I spoke smoothly and she shrugged again. "I guess, Gaster." 

---------------------------------------------

After the two tests were completed, I made sure to escort (Y\N) back to my cot as soon as possible. I could tell her eyelids were starting to droop and she was getting somnolent. But, it's not the end of my experiments just yet. I still have about 5-6 more tests I must complete. I can't do these all today, maybe even not even tomorrow. I must give (Y\N) more time to heal from her sickness. After healing her for the most part, I have to keep an eye on her to make sure she's resting, eating and drinking regularly. Otherwise, it's almost guaranteed she'll have a relapse of her virus in a more intense form.

Of course, neither of us would like that. So, I will continue watching over her so she doesn't do anything too stupid. We can't afford to lose valuable information. Perhaps, with these tests the monster race can finally win this blasted war. This girl is different than my past test subjects, she's so much more determined and stubborn. Of course, that's an annoyance, but does it truly matter? As long as I am getting the answers I need, that's all that matters. 

But, as we walk down this cobblestone hallway together once again, I can't help but admire her form from behind. Her curves are complimented by the old dress she's wearing, yet it doesn't seem to truly fit her personality. Perhaps I should offer her some alternate clothing.

"Gaster. Isn't this your room?" (Y\N) cut my thoughts off, which caused my gaze to slowly move back to her face, my skull turning a faint shade of purple. "Mmm? Oh, yes. My apologies. I was forming hypotheses and got caught up in my thoughts." I suddenly lied, but she thankfully didn't question me. "This is definitely my room. Let me unlock my door." I suddenly broke the short silence and walked closer, bringing the keys from my pocket to the lock, opening the door for the both of us. "You go on, you'll be sleeping on my bed until you're moved back to your cell." I explained and she nodded, walking inside the room, me following close behind. 

As soon as we were in the room together, I immediately made a beeline to my chair and she plopped down on the cot. She soon ran a hand through her (h\c) hair and slowly her gaze went to my own. "Why are you sitting down?" She suddenly asked. This caught me off guard and I cocked my skull to the side. "Pardon me?" I asked and she sighed, shaking her head back and forth. "It's already late. Asgore said he'd see you tonight, remember? I assume that'd be for—" I suddenly cut her off as my mouth fell open. "Oh, blimey! I missed dinner!" I exclaimed as I realized my flaw. I'd gotten so caught up in my studies that I forgot about dinner yet again. I need to stop doing this, I cannot begin to understand why Asgore hasn't fired me yet. 

"Why didn't you remind me before?!" I suddenly asked with edge in my tone and she held her hands up defensively. "Since when was I your personal assistant, you dunce?" She hissed and I growled slightly in response. "Well, then I guess I'd better run and apologize before I lose my job and leave you behind." I huffed as I stood up and began to walk to the door. And, as I passed her, I could see a small ounce of sadness in her gaze, but I didn't let it slow me down. So, I walked straight to the door and as soon as I reached it, I held my hand out to grab the doorhandle an- 

Crack! 

As soon as I had my hand on the doorknob, the door flung open and I fell onto the cold, hard floor causing my bones to rattle and pop at the sudden impact. I groaned slightly and held onto my arm, hissing in pain at the sudden stinging sensation rushing throughout it. 

"What the hell?!" I suddenly spoke loudly, my voice rising and filling with anger. I looked up to meet the idiot who'd opened the door and my pinpricks met none other than Namir Eisen's yellow gaze. I bared my teeth as his fur began to stick up. "Namir... You have five seconds to explain yourself before I skin you alive!" I growled and he shrunk back slightly, his ears folding back against his head. 

Namir's tail twitched back and forth, then he grumbled. "It's not my fault your derrière just so happened to be in front of the door!" He hissed, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Well you certainly could have knocked, you arrogant feline!" I continued yelling and Namir began to hiss again. "Stop it, you two! You're acting like children! Dr. Gaster, he didn't mean to knock you onto the ground, and Namir, he's just frustrated and in pain. Cut him some slack, would you?! Can't you tell he's hurt?" (Y\N) suddenly spoke, then hopped up and ran over, bending beside me as she looked down to my arm. "See, he has a small break in his bone here." She pointed out and Namir bent down to look, then turned his head and grumbled. "Sounds pretty weak to me, paper-bones." He huffed. 

I stood up, then glared at Namir closely. "What do you even want?" I asked and he gestured beside him which revealed a tray of two plates of food. "Asgore made me send this." He murmured, then crossed his arms as he stood up straight. I froze at this knowledge, then coughed awkwardly. "Oh, then... As much as I hate to say it, I think I owe you an apology." I started, then my pinpricks locked with something on the tray of food. "Wait, is that wine too?" I asked, then he nodded. "And two glasses, one for you... And one for 'her'." Namir scoffed when mentioning (Y\N), but I didn't snap back. I'd done that enough. 

"Ah. Well then please send him my greatest thanks and apologies." I replied, then he let out a low growl. "Elementia better get back fast, if I gotta do this damn job much longer I swear I am gonna lose it!" He growled under his breath, then bent down, quickly straightening his posture once again before shoving the tray into the human's arms. "Enjoy, I guess." He murmured, then walked away, his tail swaying back and forth as he went. 

No apologies came for giving me a hairline fracture, but it'll heal in a few days if I'm lucky. I just need to treat it well and keep it clean. No skeleton likes their bone marrow getting infected. 

"Gaster, are you alright? That brute is an absolute pain in the ass!" (Y\N) exclaimed as soon as Namir was out of earshot. But even if Namir heard what she'd said, he'd have to agree. I mean, certainly the ass himself understood that he was a mess to deal with. 

"I'm fine, do not worry about me. The stinging pain will pass." I replied nonchalantly. Little does she know, I've dealt with plenty of bone breaks. Minor like this one, and major like quite a few others. Things can get crazy in this war. I've been beaten and left with 'contusions', and sometimes I've been left with problematic fractures. But, usually I cause these by myself, even if I've gotten much better about it. Accidents in the lab happen. It's quite normal. 

(Y\N) scurried to the nearest table, placing the tray down, then came back to me. She's very obviously distressed as she takes my arm, observing the small break. "I was taught basic training on how to treat a wound! If-If you need me to bandage it up, I can-" I cut her off, holding up a hand. Her lips closed as soon as she saw it, then looked at her feet in defeat. "Do not be concerned, I have everything under control, my dear!" I assured her, dipping my head politely as I slipped past. As soon as I walked across her path, I went to a wardrobe in the corner and took out some supplies with my magic, placing them on top of it. "This isn't my first bone breaking experience." I explained and when I turned to see her, she was biting her lip softly. "Are you alright?" I asked as I observed her countenance. She seemed... Down. 

"Yeah, I'm fine... Do not worry about me, Doctor." She replied softly, then she slowly walked to the cot. I suddenly felt a pain in my soul, causing my body to lurch as I held onto my ribcage. (Y\N) gasped at this, her hand covering her mouth as she furrowed her eyebrows with worry. "Gaster! Are you sure you're okay?!" She asked suddenly and I gritted my teeth together. "Yes! I am clearly fine!" I replied, a bit more hostile than I wished to. She recoiled at this, then looked away. I swear I could see some tears forming in her (e\c) eyes and that made my soul lurch yet again, making me let out a very faint grunt as I gritted my teeth together harder. 

After a short length of time sorting through my thoughts and emotions, I decided the best thing for me to do is let (Y\N) treat my break after all. Sure, she may not do it right, but I can always redo it whilst she sleeps. But for now, I do not want any more jabbing pains in my chest and since this seems to be linked to empathy, this may be the best way to deal with it. It's strange, and no, I don't fully get it quite yet. For a genius, I suppose I can be quite thick. 

"(Y\N), how about you help me out here? I'm sorry for being rude, I know that must be very cruel and off putting." I suddenly spoke, then she looked to me and instantly straightened her shoulders to look more prepared for the moment. "Yeah, sure. I can be of assistance." She spoke, her voice a bit hoarser and pained than usual. This made me frown slightly, and as she walked closer, I could see the tears still present in her eyes. But, she wouldn't let them fall, she was still adamant to not show any more weaknesses and that once again brought a pain to my chest. And as she approached, I leaned against the wardrobe, holding out my arm for her. "I trust you, (Y\N)." 

She took in a deep breath and approached slowly. As soon as she was mere feet away, she took the supplies in hand and shuffled on her feet. "Alright, then I'll try my best to please you, Gaster... Please tell me if any of this hurts, okay?" She spoke gently and started cleaning my wound. I looked away to ignore the stinging pain the medicine brought, then nodded. "Of course, Misses. Thank you." I responded and she nodded before gingerly continuing on. 

As she continued to care for my broken radius, I couldn't help but notice how gentle and softhearted she was being. I don't know how to explain it truly, but... It leaves me feeling... Giddy in a way. I'm sure it's nothing more than the thrill of having new company around though. And as much as I hate to admit it, (Y\N) isn't as horrendous as the rest of the prisoners I've come across. Sure, at first things were rusty, but now... I await anxiously to be able to see her every day. 

Ah, I should probably get out more. Or, perhaps King Asgore is onto something with his accusation of me finding 'the one'. But, I cannot picture that. After all, why would the universe provide me with a partner? Especially one that'd make things so complicated? Ah, Asgore is one funny guy. But, I suppose he just wishes for the best for me. I can only be thankful for that. 

Notes:

Oh, wow. Wasn't expecting to be able to get this out tonight if I'm being honest! Haha. It's been extremely difficult to find time to write ever since we got our puppy, so this took longer than I expected. My apologies! 

I had fun writing this chapter, even if I feel as if it's too all over the place at times. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know if I should do more Gaster POV chapters in the future! I wanna know what you guys think! 

I always enjoy writing the animosity between Gaster and Namir, I should honestly have him in here more. Maybe I could end up using his antagonism in a subplot sometime. If you guys got any ideas, feel free to throw them to me in the comments! I honestly wanna know what you have to say. And you know what? The ideas don't have to be about Namir, it can be any idea for this story you'd like to pass on.

Thank you all so much for reading! I once again appreciate the patience, and I will see you in the next update! Have a wonderful day\night! <3 

Chapter 13: "Unwanted Prejudice"

As you stand in front of Gaster whilst cleaning his bone break, I can't help but notice that he looks caught up in his thoughts. Even more than usual, actually. You can't help but wonder what's spinning around in that skull of his.

As he looks to the side, his pinpricks are fixated on the wall and he doesn't move an inch as he slowly gets more and more lost in his own mind. You can't help but wonder if this has anything to do with King Asgore's visit earlier. After all, Asgore seemed very excited about something and you couldn't hear what it was over, but it left you confused. Could it be possible Asgore and Gaster are closer than you originally thought? The way Asgore spun Gaster around was filled with enthusiasm and utter excitement.

Is it possible that they're lovers? Perhaps Gaster was less keen about the affection because he has such a professional and 'focus on the job' attitude. The relationship would certainly be different than what you're used to, and there's always a chance you're very wrong, but you can't help but get the vibes. So, you decide to ask him as you start to bandage his arm.

"Gaster?" You asked, and after a moment, he looked up to you, his gaze clear and blank. "Mmm?" He prompted you to speak, so you quickly responded with the baseline of your question. "So, you and King Asgore... Are you two—?" You paused, looking over to him silently. He furrowed his 'bone'brows, then cocked his head to the side. "Mates?" He asked and you nodded your head. "That's one way to say it, I guess." You responded. "Well, then yes. Asgore and I have known each other for quite a while. At least since the... 'Incident' occurred." He sighed, and as you finished bandaging his arm, he stood up. "He's been very kind to me. And, as much as we sometimes get under each other's skin, I am thankful to know such a kind, and friendly man. I suppose his mood reflects well against my dark and angsty personality." He remarked and you nodded.

"I got those vibes, but hey, I am glad you can be open about that. I know it's not very common." You responded and he froze, then looked to you slowly. "What vibes?" He questioned and you blinked. "Well, love I guess?" You replied and Gaster immediately started coughing violently, almost like he had just realized something.

"I didn't mean mates in that way!" He suddenly shouted, blushing bright purple. "Oh-" "We're friends, comrades, confidants, but never that!" He exclaimed, then rubbed the top his skull in embarrassment. "Well, I guess that's just as fine." You bit your lip lightly, then rubbed your arm. "I took that conversation you both had as something lovers would do. So, my greatest apologies. What was it actually about though?" You asked. And, just as Gaster began to relax again, he tensed up suddenly and went stone faced. "Oh, it was nothing more than his strange jabber. I didn't like what he was saying and didn't agree." He replied. "I understand, sorry for asking. I know that was kinda out of my bounds." You sighed, then started walking toward the cot.

"No, no. It's quite alright, (Y\N). After all, I suppose a lot of questions aren't out of the picture now that we can find out personal stuff about each other with one touch to the soul." He murmured, then got quiet. You turned to reply and you caught his face flicking up from your lower half, back to your face. You furrowed your eyebrows. "Well, I guess I know you like ladies now, hm?" You grinned sassily, then sat on his cot and let out a laugh. He crossed his arms at this and tapped his foot against the ground. "I was not looking at you." He spoke with a very faint lavender blush. "Oh, yeah? That doesn't explain this, Doctor." You replied as you pressed a finger against your cheek and his blush grew a bit darker. "Oh, that's complete baloney. I was merely taken away by your outlandish claim!" He replied smoothly and you giggled. "Oh, really, Doctor? Or are you not around enough females that you have to look upon the enemy to get your gratific-" You were cut off as a frown formed upon his face. And suddenly, he disappeared into thin air before suddenly reappearing right in front of you. He loomed over you, his face mere centimeters from your own as his frown only grew.

"I do not have time for most women, and I barely have enough time for you either, (Y\N). That is why I do not have a lover, and that is also why I am sure as hell not looking for one." He grunted, his closeness causing your cheeks to turn a bright red. Being flustered from the current position, you swallowed hard as you placed your hand on his ribcage softly, soon biting your lip as you looked down in embarrassment. His gaze flicked to your hand, and after standing there silent for a moment, he stepped back. "But, you are a beautiful young maiden, (Y\N). I'm sure if you are ever let go, you'll find that 'special someone' you've mentioned before... Unlike me. Whether it's Baskey, or some other deplorable human, I just hope it's a mutual relationship for once." He responded with a tinge of distaste in his voice.

"Well, uh... Thank you? And, I know you are heavily against it, but I hope you can find someone as well." You spoke softly as you sat up more and crossed your legs. "Well, thank you, I suppose." Gaster replied, then he looked toward the tray of food. "I suppose we should eat, hm?" He suggested, then his non-injured hand lifted into the air and let off a purple glow as the tray became encased in the glow as well. It floated to the nearby table and with his magic, he set it down and opened the bottle of wine. The cork let out a satisfying pop as he pried it from the glass bottle, then he turned to you. "Would you care for some wine, (Y\N)?" He asked, and you nodded. Once he'd seen your returned gesture, he nodded his skull and then poured two glasses of wine, floating one over to you which you gladly took. And when he had his own glass in hand, you both took a sip.

The wine tastes slightly earthy and smooth, but in a pleasant way. Gaster quickly downs his glass, then pours himself another. And after the lack of conversation progressed, he began to twirl the wine in his glass as he thought, then he paused as he looked at the plate. "I suppose we should eat as well, hm?" He commented, then picked one up with his magic and swiftly placed it beside you on the cot. Soon following it was an old knit napkin, and some silverware.

As you picked up the napkin rolled up with silverware within it, you couldn't help but notice the knife included in the bundle. It could be an easy weapon to maim Gaster with, then you could try and make your escape.

But, as you pondered that idea, you looked over to Gaster now sitting in his chair with the plate sitting beside him. The way he's looking at you made your heart lurch and your mind grow guilty for the thoughts that'd just run through your mind. It caused you to look down at the plate of pork, squash, carrots, and peas silently in shame. And, to hopefully deal with those feelings better, you took a big sip of your wine, wiped your mouth, then dug in.

"(Y\N), what did you really think about what happened earlier?" Gaster suddenly asked and you sat your wine glass down, looking over to him with furrowed eyebrows. "You and King Asgore?" You asked and he shook his head rapidly. "No, no, no! Heavens no. I meant the, er—shall I say, 'soul-sharing'." He explained and you bit your lip. "Oh, well, that's hard to say." You sighed and scratched the back of your neck. "It felt very peculiar. And, it was an-anom-" You began to stutter, not sure how the word is pronounced. "Anomalous?" Gaster quickly replied, his voice calm and smooth as he drank a bit more wine. You nodded. "Yeah, that's the word." You spoke. "Anomalous..." You echoed quietly before swiftly drinking the rest of the wine in your glass.

Seeing this, Gaster floated the bottle over and poured you more. In response, you took a small sip, then went back to eating. You took a forkful of peas and placed them in your mouth, savoring the taste that you've missed so much. "Ah, I thought it was definitely strange as well, I don't think I've ever really experienced such a bizarre thing before." He replied after a bit and you let out a simple "Mmhm." in response.

A small pause followed as you continued eating and drinking. But, not unlike him, Gaster soon interrupted the peaceful tranquility. "So you'd be against doing it again?" He asked and a knot formed in your throat. It'd been nice to see what Dr. Gaster went through, and it had a somewhat pleasant feeling, but he could easily weaponize such a simple thing, so you decided against exploring the newfound function. "Yes, that's quite true." You responded. "Alright, then I will try my best to honor your wishes." He spoke as he looked around the small room.

"Why did you ask? Was it because you wanted to s-spy on my memories again?" You asked as you peered over to him, your gaze intense. "Not exactly, no. I am a scientist, Miss (Y\N). I found out we can summon a strange ability, of course I'd want to explore the new discovery, but if you wish against it, then I won't stop you. It does have quite the intimate tinge." He responded, then took a bite of the slightly charred pork chop. "Mmm, I s-suppose that makes s-sense." You replied, then finished your second glass of wine. Gaster was hesitant in pouring you another, but after you asked for it, he delivered and poured you a hefty glass of wine before closing the bottle back carefully.

And, after you'd finished your final glass of the alcoholic beverage, you realized you were feeling tipsy and you hadn't even realized it yet. You gulped as you got down from the cot, practically hobbling as you tried to steady yourself. You placed your empty dishes on a nearby table, and once you'd accomplished your task, you sat in the middle of the floor. "Ssaay, where're the rest of the s-skeletonss? I haven't sseen any other than you." You asked suddenly and he froze, tensing up before looking away. "You don't know?" Gaster asked and you huffed. "Wh—why would I be asking if I knew, b-bastard?" You replied, crossing your arms.

Gaster grumbled, then downed his glass of wine in one swift motion, his gaze hardening. "This is not the time." He muttered under his breath. You blinked. "Geeeez, grumpy. F-fine." You scoffed, crossing your legs. A three minute silence ensued, but that was soon interrupted by none other than you. You furrowed your eyebrows, then let out a hum. "D-Do you ever just pausse and think that our currency is based upon a sslab of a preciouss stone that p-people just so happen to find pretty?" You asked and he sighed. "No, no I haven't." He responded. "Well issn't it just f-foolissh?!" You questioned and he shook his head, rolling his pinpricks. "Sure, if that'll make you happy."

"S-s-society is sstrange. Why aren't reggular rocks seen as prettty?" You asked, completely drunk-rambling at this point. "Because they're so common that everyone could just pick up a rock off the ground and use it as currency." He replied, getting a bit more annoyed. "T-then why aren'tt alll peeopple sseenn that waay?" You grunted, getting frustrated. "T-there arre t-thoussandss of humanss on this damned landd, why arre we not s-seeen as uselesss t-too?!" You asked, gesturing your arms angrily. Gaster snorted and you shot him an angry glance. "You did not just compare humans to rocks, did you?" He asked, smirking. "O-of couursse I diid!" You stood up and marched closer. "L-lookk att me! I hold asss much po-t-tential asss a queenn, yet I am a pauuper. Why amm I an ugglly s-stonne, but t-they're p-preciousss gol-ld?" You complained. "I don't know, (Y\N). I suppose it's because of where you were bo—" "THAT'SSBULLSSHITANDDYOUKNOWWIT!!" You slurred, raising your fist in the air and narrowing your eyes.

Humor was present in his pinpricks, and this enraged you. "Youu findd me f-funny h-huh?!" You walked closer to only be mere inches away from him. He furrowed his 'bone'brows. "Do you want the truth, or a lie?" He asked, his voice calm and smooth as he leaned his face against his fist. "T-the truuth, dunnce!" You practically hissed and he suppressed a chuckle. "You are absolutely hysterical right now, I suppose you did not need that last glass of wine. Mmm?" He replied and you growled, looking away. "S-shut upp! I amm nott druunk!" You crossed your arms. "Yes, you very much are, (Y\N). You should go lay down." He continued, then stood up. "N-no! I will do nno suuch thing!" You spoke in retaliation before swiftly pushing him back into his chair with ease. His pinpricks widened and you grinned as you clumsily climbed onto his lap, straddling him as you could barely contain your giggles. You held his arms against either side of the chair and leaned close into his face. "Haard t-to gett me t-to lay down whhen I h-have you trappped, mmm?" You snickered and he rolled his pinpricks, sarcastically replying. "Oh, yes. You have me completely 'trapped'." He murmured.

You groaned at his lack of a satisfying reaction and scowled. "S-sshut itt, bonee-boyy! I willl not takee your helll anny more!!!" You hissed, then reached forward and grabbed him by the collar of his coat. "T-to h-hell with what I saidd earlier! I am doin' it!!!" You stuttered, then moved your shaky hands and started undoing his shirt, he stopped you, and grabbed your arm. So, you leaned forward and bit into his collarbone which made him hiss in pain and let go. So, you quickly unbuttoned his shirt halfway and began to clumsily run your hand around his ribcage. "Dammit, (Y\N)! Not now, you are drunk and need to stop!" He said, trying to get you off him in a polite way. But, you didn't cooperate as you kneed him in the ribs and grabbed onto his soul yet again.

His pinpricks went wide as the feeling from before arose again. The last thing you saw as your vision faded to white was Gaster looking dazed and confused, and perhaps even a little hurt. But, before you could change anything, you shut your eyes tightly until you heard the sound of footsteps against stone.

This caused your (e\c) eyes to snap open, looking around to see teenage Gaster once again. Ambition filled his pinpricks as you observed him walking across the house that'd been in the previous vision. Many books were scattered around the room, turned to pages of various different remedies and diseases. But, they weren't human diseases, clearly shown in the book was a monster. Perhaps he got his scientific start this way?

"Hello, W.D., your father would like you to run by the Visser's farm and get some milk." A female skeleton spoke as she stepped into the room. Gaster stopped what he was doing and looked to her. "Did we run out again already, mum?" He asked and she nodded. "He's trying his best to keep his brittle bones strong, W.D., so that'd be a yes." She replied calmly and he sighed. "But the cure-" He started and she walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. "The cure will be absolutely fine staying here for now. Will you please be a dear?" She pleaded and after a moment, he nodded. "Alright, but just a warning because Mr. Visser doesn't like us monster folk much." He responded. His mother just gave him a gentle smile. "I know, love. But as long as the misses is there, you'll be safe." She replied, then dumped a few coins into the boy's palm, he clutched them in his hand gently, then slid them into his pocket. "Thank you for doing this, son. We appreciate it." She replied yet again and as he walked out of the room, his gaze turned to look at a tired and unhealthy looking skeleton. Definitely his father, at that.

As you continued to watch this all unfold, the skeleton looked to his son, pain clear in his gaze and Gaster shrunk away from his returned gaze, looking the other way. "I'll be back soon, father. You'll feel better soon. Oh! And, I'll make sure to fetch some more lavender to make into oil." He waved, but still didn't look as his dad started to rasp something, but as Gaster's pinpricks shrunk and he looked down, you knew it brought him much discomfort and melancholy. But, despite the pain, he stayed still to listen as Gaster's mother walked in with a teacup. "I—I—" The older skeleton coughed, wheezing, and all the while wincing at the pain. But, determination showed in his gaze as he gathered his composure and tried his best to continue speaking.

"I love you, W.D... If I do not m-make it, do not blame yourself, for i-it is my time." He uttered weakly. Gaster clenched his fist, then quickly walked toward the door, opening it as he began to step out. "I love you too, father... But do not say it is your time, because there is no such thing. I won't allow this wretched plague take you away from us." He sighed, rubbing his arm. "I will be back before dinner is complete, mum." He promised, then ducked his head as he headed out the door into the barely surviving rows of fresh vegetables and herbs.

After a lengthy walk and gathering lavender along the way, he finally arrived at a slightly more upscale house with a fenced in area filled with cows and beside it sat a few fields of crops. Gaster walked to the front door and knocked, and within a few seconds, the door was snatched open by a big, burly man with lots of muscle. As tall as younger Gaster was, his height and weight did not quite match this man's size.

"The hell do ya want?" Mr. Visser growled, his voice deep and threatening. Gaster shrunk back, but quickly straightened himself again and looked the scary man right in his amber eyes. "I would like to purchase some milk, sir." He replied calmly. Mr. Visser must've not liked that, for he loomed forward to intimidate him even more, but Gaster stood his ground. "What makes ya think I'm gonna let one of your kind get one of my products, ey, bloke?" He challenged, then Gaster paused. "Well, my father-" He began and suddenly, Mr. Visser pushed him to the ground with a shove. "Does it look like I give a damn about your precious 'father'? If milk aids in makin' 'em better, then I want no part in it. This world here would be so much better without your kind. I am glad he's dying." He yelled and Gaster placed his hand over his soul, tears beginning to brim in his eye sockets.

"But, sir-" He continued on and Mr. Visser's eyes narrowed, moving his foot to Gaster's leg and putting more and more pressure onto it which made Gaster gasp. Quickly, he teleported up on his feet and summoned a pointed bone attack, holding it out at him threateningly. "I came here in peace, please just let me have some milk. I have the payment!" He pleaded and Mr. Visser grabbed the bone out of his and reared back, smacking Gaster with it in the skull. He fell over and the villain grinned in satisfaction when he saw the crack now splayed on the back of Gaster's head. "No. I already told ya my answer, now, I suggest ya run like a scared puppy before I take ya out myself. One less monster is always a great thing to me." He chuckled, his voice rasping as he reared the bone attack back again and Gaster covered his face for protection before suddenly, footsteps began to approach and both of the men looked to see who it was. It was none other than Mrs. Visser. Her pace quickened when she saw the current scene and Gaster made the attack disappear as he weakly sat up. "Kenneth! What in heaven's name are you doing to W.D.?!" She gasped as she walked up to him, looking up to the beast standing in front of her. "I'm teaching 'em a lesson." He grunted and she gritted her teeth. "Kenneth, W.D. is a lovely paying customer! You cannot do these things!" She hissed, then smacked his arm.

Mr. Visser stepped back as Mrs. Visser's cold blue eyes stared him down. "You are going to go get him that milk right now, and at no charge." She demanded, but he crossed his arms. "No." He responded and her eye twitched. "Kenneth James Visser, close your mouth and do it before he reports you for attempted murder!" She growled as his lip turned up in irritation, baring his yellowing teeth. "And who is he gonna report that to, ey?" He questioned, crossing his arms and she strutted closer, getting on her tiptoes and facing him as straight on as she could considering her lesser height. "I don't have time for your games, Kenneth, do it now or I will throw out the raspberry pie I baked for you!" She threatened and he grunted, thinking for a few seconds before stepping down. "Fine. Stay there, runt. I will be back in a few moments." He spoke coldly as he pushed past Mrs. Visser, bursting into his house and disappearing behind the door.

Gaster shakily climbed onto his feet again, then held his skull in pain. "Oh, W.D., I am so sorry about what happened. He is an awful man!" She quickly apologized, but Gaster just shrugged. "I'm just glad you showed up, ma'am. Thank you." He replied, his voice barely a whisper as he stood there, shaking and frightened.

And, the look of relief held on his face once he'd received the container of milk and was leaving told a thousand words on its own. He is definitely no stranger to the prejudice that surrounds the area so much today. And, it's honestly a shame.

But, before you could think about it again, Gaster was on his way back home and you suddenly snapped back to reality. Your vision went back to normal as you stared at Gaster, bashfully looking down to his shirt once you'd realized what you'd done. "S-Sorry..." You spoke quietly and he silently placed a hand on your thigh. You bit your lip, your body feeling hot due to all the alcohol you'd consumed. And it's not mixing well with the emotions you're feeling at the present time either. "It's alright," Gaster sighed, then he turned his head away. "you're not quite there right now. I can't judge you for your questionable doings." He continued as you rubbed your arm nervously. You quickly reached over and buttoned his shirt back up neatly, hoping to fix a bit of this tension at least.

"Well, what did you see this time, (Y\N)?" He asked curiously. You looked up at him, then reached over and felt the back of his skull gently. No crack remained from Mr. Visser's terrible deeds, it was as smooth as a bone should be. Skeleton's bones must heal very well for it to not show any signs of previous injury.

"M-Mr. Visssserr." You tried to reply in an understandable manner. "Ah, that bastard." He grunted, patting your thigh gently with his bony hand. "As much as I probably shouldn't say this, I am going to anyway. His life was taken in battle, and I am quite glad he is gone." He added, and you let out a small hum. "W-welll, what about you, sirr?" You asked curiously. His eyelights flicked to yours and he thought for a moment. "You have worked with some very misogynistic men, haven't you?" He commented calmly and you lifted an eyebrow. "W-what?"

He cocked his head to the side in confusion, then he nodded as he seemed to understand your confusion. "Misogyny means to be hateful and prejudiced against women." He explained. You let out an audible "Ahh", then nodded. "Y-yeah, I'vee experienced that p-plenty. Especially ssince I'm one of the onlyy human f-females f-ffighting in this warr. A lott of m-men don't like thatt and t-think I'm incomp-petentt." You sighed.

"The one that pisses me off the most was Adrik Kotov. I cannot believe he assaulted you to try and disprove your strength." He remarked. You quickly placed your hand on your neck, remembering the time you thought he'd choke you to death. "Y-yes, that wass definitelyy unc-called for. And I'm suure you ssaww, a lot of tthe men were c-cheerinng him onn b-before Command-der Cortell f-finally interv-venedd." You sighed, then hiccupped. You quickly covered your mouth in embarrassment and he let out a hearty laugh. "Still very tipsy, mmm?" He leaned his chin on his palm and peered at you with a grin as you straddled him. "I-I... I gueess..." You murmured.

"Youu knoww what? I'm just g-glad I ended u-up at a good campp... Commannderr Baskeey treatss me w-well, and s-so do a few o-otherss." You remarked, then yawned. "I'm glad you did too, (Y\N). I never thought I'd wish the best for the enemy before, but you deserve it." He commented and you blushed a light pink. "O-oh, dearr..." You stuttered, then ran a hand through your hair sleepily. "Welll, I s-suppose that goess both ways, Gast-ter..." You yawned and as quick as a snap, you fell onto his shoulder, out cold and already asleep. He froze at this, but as soon as he heard your small snores, he laughed and scooped you up into his arms, walking to the cot and placing you under the covers.

Once he'd tucked you in, he gently brushed your hair back and smiled. "Goodnight, (Y\N). I wish you a pleasant rest." He whispered softly. And after that, he walked to his chair, sitting down and snapping his fingers, making all the candles extinguish which left the room as dark as it could be.

Notes:

Long time no see, ey? My apologies. It takes a long time to work on this story for some reason haha. I do enjoy it regardless though.

Anyway, I do have an inkling that this chapter is a bit all over the place and crazy, but I hope it's still enjoyable? XD

I swear it feels like I shoved a bunch of plot ideas into a turkey and called it stuffing. Oh well, hopefully I'll like the outcome better next time lol. And, yes, I can assure you there was some unmentioned romantic tension experienced between both parties—but mostly Gaster. Haha.

Anyway, do you have a preference for whose POV the next chapter will be in? Would you like Gaster's, or the Reader's? Lemme know down below. I am kinda unsure which will be better at the current time, so a push in the preferred direction would be wonderful.

Alright, you guys, thank you so much for reading! I really appreciate each and every one of you! Have a wonderful day/night! <3

Chapter 14: "Distant Memories"

[Gaster's POV]

 

I watched with humor as (Y\N) progressively got more and more intoxicated. She doesn't even seem to realize that she's drunk as she rambles on and on.

"Youu findd me f-funny h-huh?!" She spoke angrily as she approached me. I lifted an eyebrow and calmly replied "Do you want the truth, or a lie?" as I leaned my head against my hand. "T-the truuth, dunnce!" She responded, slurring her words which made her overly dramatic tone even more humorous. 

"You are absolutely hysterical right now, I suppose you did not need that last glass of wine. Mmm?" I tease, grinning and she growls loudly, looking away. "S-shut upp! I amm nott druunk!" She shouts, crossing her arms. "Yes, you very much are, (Y\N). You should go lay down." I reply, standing up as I begin to make a plan to convince her to sleep. "N-no! I will do nno suuch thing!" She hisses in response, turning her head back and pushing me back into my chair. 

As my eyes widen, she forces herself onto my lap, a devilish grin upon her face as she giggles. She pins my arms beside my head and leans close to my skull, a mischievous gleam in her (e\c) eyes. "Haard t-to gett me t-to lay down whhen I h-have you trappped, mmm?" She laughed to herself, but I just roll my pinpricks. She's forgotten I can teleport, obviously. "Oh, yes. You have me completely 'trapped'." I reply sarcastically. 

She groaned loudly, then scoffed moodily.  "S-sshut itt, bonee-boyy! I willl not takee your helll anny more!!!" She hissed, then grabbed the collar of my collarbone, yanking me closer. This caused a slight blush to come upon my cheekbones. "T-to h-hell with what I saidd earlier! I am doin' it!!!" She sputtered, then let go of my collar and began to shakily unbutton my shirt. I suddenly grabbed her arm and looked into her eyes. She of course didn't like this and learned forward, biting onto my collarbone hard. The pain muddled with pleasure caused me to hiss as the wound tingled. And, in the moment, I lost my grip on her and she went back to business.

She got my shirt open half-way and ran her hands against my ribcage softly, this caused more tingling sensations to form and I clench my teeth together tightly to ignore them. 

"Dammit, (Y\N)! Not now, you are drunk and need to stop!" I speak in a kind, yet urgent tone, praying that she'll snap out of it. 

But, she doesn’t. As I gently try and move her off of me, she’s not as considerate. In retaliation she knees me in the ribs, causing me to groan in pain as she grabs onto my soul. 

And as the contact with my soul is made, my eyes go wide and her betrayal weighs down on my shoulders. I can’t help but be shaken by her actions, and quite frankly, hurt as well. And as my vision fades to white, I prepare myself for what I’m about to see. 

As soon as I could see the bright colors of the world again, I looked around curiously. It seems I've ended up in a military camp bustling with men. I walk close to a group of soldiers sitting by a lit fire. They're all talking amongst themselves while roasting what seems to be a rabbit.

This doesn't seem to be what I was brought here to see though, so I look around until I spot her. (Y\N) is walking out from the woods in a pair of men's clothes and rider's boots. 

Immediately, this catches the men’s attention and two of them stand up with obnoxious grins on their faces. “Ello there lassie, how’d the ‘patrol’ go?” One of the men snickered. He’s around 5’8”, has red hair, brown eyes and a freckled face. 

(Y\N) ignored him and just continued to walk, but this made the men angry. Suddenly, a taller one around 6’0" lunged forward and grabbed her arm with a yank. "Hey, sweetheart. Do you not hear us men talking to you?" He asked. His appearance differed from the shorter man. He has long wavy brown hair, blue eyes, a pale complexion, and a stubbly beard. 

"Oh, yes I did. But to be frank, I have a hell of a lot of better things to do than talking to you halfwits." She shot back, which instantly proved that she hasn't changed at all since this happened. But, of course the men didn't like this either. The man holding her growled and let go of her arm, pushing her backward with force. "How dare a woman talk to me this way! You have no right being here! Shouldn't you be somewhere in labor?" He narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, pushing her back again. 

She narrowed her (e/c) eyes, getting in a fighting stance. "No, but it seems I have much more reason to be here than you considering I was sent here personally by my king." She snapped back, pushing him in return. He hissed at this and lashed out to slap her before she promptly grabbed his wrist, squeezing it tightly. "Stop. This isn't going to solve anything." She spoke harshly as the man bared his teeth. "Yes it will, you harlot! It'll put you in your damn place!" He growled, yanking his hand from her grip and as quick as a flash, punching her in the face which knocked her onto the sandy ground. 

I felt my soul suddenly lurch as I watched her be splayed out on the ground, seemingly defeated. She brought a hand to her cheek as the men began to cheer him on to finish her off. It made me clench my teeth together tightly with anger. How dare humankind treat each other like this merely because they're a different sex. 

(Y\N) sat up, and began to stand back up when he tackled her to the ground. They rolled around a bit, then she punched him in the nose and his blood began to drip onto her face. She continued to throw blows, kneeing him in the crotch, all the while he was scratching, punching and screaming at her. That was until he finally got her pinned. If I had blood, surely it'd be boiling. He wrapped his hands around her neck and began to choke her. The men cheered and (Y\N) kicked and kicked as I watched with utmost horror, beginning to grow nauseous as her face turned blue. Her eyes widened more and more as her fighting lessened. Yet, he just grinned widely. 

"Kill that unthankful woman!" One man hissed from the further-growing crowd. 

"I never liked her anyways! Women do not belong in this war, so don't hesitate! Throw some more force into it, Adrik!" Another shouted. 

And as (Y\N)'s kicks got frighteningly weak, I felt the need to attack this man, but I know that I can't. He's merely a hallucination to me, something haunting my subconscious. But that doesn't stop the shaking of my bones as I watch her mere moments from death. 

But as if someone was hearing my inner prayers and pleas, suddenly a big burly man pushed through the crowd. He has piercing amber eyes, short gray hair, a muscled physique, a stern demeanor, and he is around 5'10. As soon as he saw what was going on, anger flashed across his face. "Adrik Kotov! Let go of (Y/N) right now!" He yelled, stepping over with intimidating strides. He immediately took his sword from its sheath and aimed it at him. "You kill her, and I won't hesitate to kill you as well!" He growled and Adrik leaned back, not used to seeing his superior like this. So, he let go of her neck. (Y\N)'s head fell onto the ground as the rest of her fell motionless. 

Bated breath could be seen from the commander, still firmly holding his sword as he waited to see if she'd take a breath. My bones rattle and shake, even if I obviously know the outcome to this situation. It's like seeing her sick all over again, and I can't help but be scared to lose her for an unexplainable reason once again. 

So, when she breaths in, I let out a sigh of relief along with the commander. He puts away his sword, and walks to her, picking up her still limp body. "Adrik, you are only allowed to clean up after the horses and the men until further notice. I can't trust to keep my men in your hands after you actively tried to kill one of them." He spoke darkly before turning around. "As for the rest of you, don't let me see you doing anything like this again. You are dismissed." He spoke, his tone only getting harsher as he disappeared with her into a nearby tent. 

And with that, my perception got shifted back to reality and I let out a shaky breath as soon as I saw (Y\N) back in my lap. I have never been happier to see a prisoner is still alive. But, there's still something distressing lurking in my mind. As I observe her while she's still in a completely different world, she's sorrowful and worried. And just like I had been, she's shaking. I can't help but wonder what she's seeing. So, I wait for her to 'come to' so that she can tell me. 

I wait for her eyes to open anxiously, and as I watch her facial expressions morph, I tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her ear gently. And just as I set my hand back down, she finally snaps back into reality and stares at me with a faint red tint upon her cheeks. 

Her eyes flick to my partially unbuttoned shirt and she looks down. "S-Sorry..." She stutters in embarrassment. And, to hopefully cool some of the tension, I gently place my hand on her thigh. She bit her lip in response to this simple gesture and I looked around the room until a response came to mind.  "It's alright," I began with a sigh. "you're not quite there right now. I can't judge you for your questionable doings." I continued as I turned my head away. 

But, without hesitating much longer, she turned and slowly began to button my shirt back up. This caused me to look back at her, my eyes meeting her meek (e\c) gaze. "Well, what did you see this time, (Y\N)?" I ask curiously. I could see her tense up a bit at my question as she finished buttoning my shirt. She looked to my face before reaching her hand around the back of my skull, feeling it. 

With confusion, I lift a 'bone'brow at her actions, but she soon enlightens me. "M-Mr. Visssserr." She explains quietly. I pause for a moment, hatred beginning to spin in my mind as I remember that man. "Ah, that bastard." I grunt as I gently pat my hand against her thigh. "As much as I probably shouldn't say this, I am going to anyway. His life was taken in battle, and I am quite glad he is gone." I remark, letting out à slight sigh. 

She let out a slight hum, her tone pleasing after the horrific vision I just witnessed. "W-welll, what about you, sirr?" She asked and I turned my gaze to her. "You have worked with some very misogynistic men, haven't you?" I reply as calmly as I can to hide my utter disgust. But, (Y\N) merely lifts an eyebrow confused "W-what?". 

I cock my head to the side, then it clicks. She probably doesn't know the actual word for 'prejudice against women', so I nod my head in understanding and begin to explain as best as I can. "Misogyny means to be hateful and prejudiced against women." I explain. Her eyes suddenly lit up as she let out an "Ah," of understanding before nodding her head. "Y-yeah, I'vee experienced that p-plenty. Especially ssince I'm one of the onlyy human f-females f-ffighting in this warr. A lott of m-men don't like thatt and t-think I'm incomp-petentt." She spoke solemnly.

"The one that pisses me off the most was Adrik Kotov. I cannot believe he assaulted you to try and disprove your strength." I remark. She placed one of her hands on her neck, seemingly remembering the time she was almost choked to death. A tinge of sadness laid in her (e/c) eyes, bringing a pang of sympathy and care coursing through my soul.  "Y-yes, that wass definitelyy unc-called for. And I'm suure you ssaww, a lot of tthe men were c-cheerinng him onn b-before Command-der Cortell f-finally interv-venedd." She sighed, then hiccuped. Suddenly, she covered her mouth in embarrassment, her cheeks turning rosy as I began to laugh. 

"Still very tipsy, mmm?" I smile as I lean my chin on my palm as I stare at her intently. "I-I... I gueess..." She responds softly. And even though she's still straddling me, I don't think I mind much at all.

"Youu knoww what? I'm just g-glad I ended u-up at a good campp... Commannderr Baskeey treatss me w-well, and s-so do a few o-otherss." She stuttered, then let out a yawn. I can't help but feel jealousy creep up my spine at the mention of Commander Baskey. I know she and him were closer than she lets on, but it's foolish of me to be jealous. Why even am I envious? Perhaps because I've grown closer to her than a man should ever get to his prisoner... Or perhaps more of a bond is forming than I can fully comprehend right now. But, I quickly clear those thoughts from my mind. It's merely something foolish Asgore has planted in my mind. 

So, I push my internal monologue aside and reply to her. "I'm glad you did too, (Y\N). I never thought I'd wish the best for the enemy before, but you deserve it." I respond and to my surprise, her cheeks flush a faint pink. This causes my soul to lurch again, taking me by utter surprise as I feel my cheekbones heat up slightly. "O-oh, dearr..." She replied, running a hand through her (h\c) locks. "Welll, I s-suppose that goess both ways, Gast-ter..." She spoke sleepily. 

And as quick as a flash, she swiftly fell asleep onto my shoulder. I froze at this in surprise, but as soon as I heard her calm snores, I laughed and picked her up gently. I carefully walked across the stone floor and laid her down onto my cot. And with care, I gently tucked her in for the night. 

I took a small step back and gently brushed her hair back with a kind smile on my skull.  "Goodnight, (Y\N). I wish you a pleasant rest." I whispered softly before turning and making my way back to my chair. And as soon as I sat down, I snapped my phalanges together, extinguishing all the candles in the room, welcoming the night.

And as I sit in the dark and begin to try and fall asleep myself, I can't help but think over the events that transpired today. It's been a strange day, but I have no complaints other than Namir being a stubborn, and infuriating annoyance. 

I can't help but admire (Y\N)'s strength, will, sass, and beauty, and that even drowns out the Cheetah's imperfections. She's an extremely interesting maiden and I hope to get to know her and her past better soon. 

And with joyful thoughts of (Y\N) and I still running throughout my head, I am able to fall into a peaceful sleep.

Notes:

Hi, I'm exhausted so I'll make this fast. Sorry that this was a somewhat shorter chapter! It's been weird recently, and I also couldn't do much more with the chapter! I hope you guys still like it though! Especially since the majority of votes on the last chapter asked for a Gaster's POV chap. So, I'm crossing my fingers that you'll like it! 

More updates to come soonish! Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day\night! <3

Chapter 15: "The King's Men"

With the sound of someone thumbing through a book, you suddenly woke up. But, immediately something wasn't right. Your head hurt, muscles ached, and you winced at the light of the bright candles in the room. In discomfort, you let out a groan and slowly and uncomfortably sat up. 

What had happened last night? Did Gaster do this? Or, is your sickness relapsing? 

You rubbed your head with worry, squinting your eyes as you peeked over to check on Gaster. He was peacefully sitting in his chair with his spectacles on, an old brown book sitting in his lap. And, after a few moments, he glanced up at you over his glasses. 

"Good morning, (Y\N). Sleep well?" He asked, and you racked your brain to give him an answer. "I-I think I slept fine, but I feel awful." You suddenly placed your hand over your lips as a wave of nausea hit you. 

"Symptoms?" He asked calmly, taking off his glasses and placing them, and the big book down on the table beside him. "My head is pounding, I feel like I am going to vomit, and everything hurts..." You spoke, still massaging you aching head. "Ah, you must be dealing with crapulence." He replied, standing up and walking to a cabinet in the corner. 

"Crapulence? I drank last night?" You asked, surprised. At least, until some memories from last night began to scatter their way into your brain. And, Gaster just nodded his head. "More than you could handle, as well." He added which made your face flush pink. 

"In that case, I'm sorry... I hope I didn't do anything too vile." You spoke, shutting your eyes for a moment. "No, you didn't do anything too vile. But, you certainly were not yourself." He responded, then you heard the scuffing of his shoes against the floor as he turned to walk over. You opened your (e\c) eyes hesitantly and watched as he approached. 

"Well, I'm glad nothing too bad happened..." You looked down, then up again as he held out his hand to you. Held within it was a small glass bottle filled with a cloudy teal liquid. 

"What the hell is that?" You asked and he chuckled. "Something to make you feel better. You can drink it, then eat your breakfast. It should be here soon." He spoke and you frowned. "I don't think I can keep anything down." You remarked and he took your hand,  placing the bottle in it and wrapping your fingers around it. "Trust me, you won't be worrying about that in a few minutes." 

You looked at him suspiciously, but after not seeing any ill will lying in his gaze, you nodded your head. You sighed, then popped the small cork out of it. And, after a few moments of hesitation, you brought the bottle to your lips and drank it down. Surprisingly, it didn't taste unpleasant. Rather like a faint mint mixed with other herbs.

After finishing it, you handed the bottle back to him. "There you are, hopefully it does work like it should."  Gaster commented and you lifted an eyebrow. "You don't know for certain?" You asked and he laughed. "Of course not. You never know anything for certain in my field." 

Well, that was reassuring. But, indeed after only a couple of minutes, the pain and discomfort began to subside. So, you stretched happily with a yawn. "Thank you, Gaster." You thanked him. Due to him being busy digging through an old trunk, all you got was a simple "Mmhm." in response. 

Curiously, you watched him as you sat on the cot. After all, you have nothing better to do. He seemed to dig around forever, until he finally pulled out a small pile of clothing. "This is long overdue, and I will try my best to find more suitable garments soon, but in the meantime, here's some clothes to wear." 

You furrowed your eyebrows and hopped down from the cot, walking over and taking the pile. "Are you sure? That's really kind of you." You responded and he nodded his head. "I am aware of your affinity for masculine clothing, so I decided to let you wear some things from when I was younger." Gaster responded. 

He glanced down at your tattered and dirtied dress, than back up to you. "Plus, you deserve to get out of that old thing." He added, then crossed his arms. You let out a hum, brushing back your (h\c) hair. "That's very nice of you, Gaster. Can I change now? This dress is a damned pain." You asked and he nodded. "I'll turn around until you're done. Bare in mind, Namir, or possibly someone less annoying should be bringing your food by in mere minutes. So, it's best to hurry along." He spoke, then turned around. 

"Noted." You quickly replied, then walked to the cot and set the clothes down. You quickly selected a brown tunic and a pair of dark leggings, along with a brown belt to fasten around your waist. Then, you reluctantly took off your dress, and otherwise unimportant garments before dressing in the provided clothing. Once you were done fastening the belt, you turned and ran your fingers through your hair. "I'm done now, Gaster. I am already much more comfortable. So, I thank you again." You smiled brightly, a faint blush coming upon your cheeks as he turned. 

"You're once again welcome, my dear—er, you look nice. I'd say that suits you more than that old dress." He looked into your (e\c) eyes, a blush of his own creeping onto his cheekbones. 

Hearing Gaster's words, your expression brightened even more. "You aren't bothered by it?" You questioned in utter surprise. He looked at you strange for a moment. "Why would I be?" He questioned and you bit your lip. "Most men I've come across all stick their noses up merely because of my dress." You responded. Gaster let out a low hum, then grinned cheekily. "Ah, well I don't have a nose to stick up." 

You couldn't help but giggle, covering your mouth. "Well, I am glad you're not bothered by it." You responded and he nodded, his grin morphing into a smile as he took your hand into his own, leaning down and planting a soft kiss against it. "Of course, Miss (Y\N). You look lovely." He replied, his voice smooth as your heart skipped a beat. "You're not too shabby yourself, G." You replied back and he let out a deep chuckle, letting go of your hand right as a knock sounded on the door. "Ah, there'd be your breakfast." He commented, then turned and walked to the door. 

He opened the door, careful to step out of the way as to not hurt his break even more. And, as soon as you saw an unfamiliar face at the door rather than Namir, you let out a sigh of relief. It was a short, furry monster with blue fur, pointed ears, a triangular nose, and deep green eyes. She was wearing a brown frock and seemed to be in a good mood. 

"Ah, thank you, Atasi! It was unexpected to see you here, but I'm glad that I have been able to." He spoke politely. She smiled in response and placed a tray in Gaster's hands.

"Same to you, Mr. W.D.!" She dipped her head, then turned to you. "Elementia says 'hello', by the way." She spoke, her voice soft and sweet. You couldn't help but smile in return. 

"Please let her know that I say it back and that I hope to see her again soon." You replied. Atasi nodded at this, then took two steps back. "Will do, Miss (Y\N)! Enjoy your morning. I will see you later, Mr. W.D." She waved to Gaster, then curtsied as she walked outside, her footsteps sounding down the hallway after Gaster had closed the door. 

Gaster walked to you, and placed the tray in your arms. Sitting on it was water, eggs, some strange vegetable, and bread. "Enjoy. But, hurry along now. I think we should put a slight pause on the tests. We can restart tomorrow. As for now, I thought you should travel with me as I do some work with king Asgore and his assistants." 

"Why bring me with you?" You asked, confused. But, he didn't really answer your question, shrugging.

"Why not? I assume you meeting my fellow monsters wouldn't be so bad. After all, you're not just here for us to gather information, I fully intend to change your mind." He spoke and you furrowed a brow. "Change my mind?" 

"Of course, you walked in here thinking we were despicable. I intend for you to walk out with a better sense of understanding at least." He replied, sighing as he turned and walked back to his chair, sitting down.

"Walk out?" You looked at him confused, and he silently gripped the side of his chair for a moment. "I don't want to keep you here forever, you don't deserve that." He replied softly. You frowned at this, then walked to his cot, sitting down and taking a bite of the eggs. 

"But you can't trust me. What if I give the humans information that could harm you?" You ask, and he just laughed. "I trust you, (Y\N). You don't have to give away any of our secrets, and I will be eternally grateful if you don't. And, in the process, you get to see your Baskey again, mmm?" 

You look down, the image of the well built, dirty blonde man with warm brown eyes flashing through your mind. You bit your lip, noting the lack of butterflies in your stomach as you thought back to your commander. His kind smile normally brought you happiness, but now you can't help but feel dull. 

The room was filled with a thick silence as you thought of the man you had loved. Your eyes shut tightly, shaking your head. "No." 

"No?" He lifted a 'bone'brow, surprised as he watched you with a hint of confusion in his bright white pinpricks. 

"No." You echoed, looking to the wall before taking another bite silently. 

"So, you don't want to leave?" Gaster asked, crossing his legs. "You know, that is quite unusual. Perhaps I'm not being hard enough on you."

"Perhaps you're not... I don't know what you've done to me, but... This feels like home." You breathed and Gaster's cheeks turned a slight purple. Perhaps he's remembering the remark you made about what you defined as a 'home'.

"Hell, maybe I really am being much too light on you." He held his skull in his hands for a second, then shook his head from side to side. "But, I am honored that this feels like home to you." He spoke softly, then trailed his fingers across the arm of his chair. 

You swallowed hard, unsure of what else to say at this time. So, you took a shaky breath and went back to eating your breakfast. And as you did that, Gaster settled back into his book as the strange tension slowly died down. 

--------------------------------------------

After twenty minutes or so, you finished your food and put your shoes on.  "I'm ready when you are, Gaster." You spoke suddenly and he looked up. "Alright, as am I." 

He set his book down, setting his spectacles on top of it before sending up. He very quickly strode over and opened the door to the hallway. "Ladies first, (Y\N)." He dipped his head politely and you dipped your head in thanks, walking out and looking around the area lit by candles and torches. And, as you looked around, Gaster walked to your side. 

"Come along, now." He slipped his hands in his pockets and began to walk forward, to which you followed beside him. 

The walk was long and silent, but eventually, you and Gaster made it to the main area. It was filled with monsters of all kinds. Dogs, birds, and even one that appeared to be made of a gelatinous substance. And, as the monsters watched you and the young scientist, you felt the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Not all of these gazes are friendly. You can feel their eyes burning into you, and you bite your lip uncomfortably.

Thankfully, they do nothing other than watch from a safe distance. So, you're able to push your worries aside. At least, until you spot two big, wooden doors that are being guarded by soldiers with spears in hand. This must be where King Asgore is. 

"Good morning, Sir Gaster." One of the guards spoke, his gray eyes quickly flicking to you and staring suspiciously. 

"Good morning, Sheema." Gaster spoke as he stopped walking, waiting to be let in.  

But, both the guards hesitated and you saw the agitation radiating off of Gaster. His white pinpricks rolled as he crossed his arms and let out a sigh. "What's this about now?" 

"With all due respect, Sir, can we really trust her without any restraints?" The second guard asked. He seems to be some sort of lizard that has a long tail. 

"Yes. Now, I have something important to tend to. I would appreciate not having any more trivial questions to answer at the moment." Gaster replied and the guards looked at each other with more hesitance, but within a few seconds they moved the spears and opened the doors. 

"Thank you. Let's go, (Y\N)." Gaster spoke as he began to walk, and as you followed along, suddenly the big monster with gray eyes lowered his spear, blocking you out. This of course made you let out a gasp of surprise as your stomach collided the side of it.

"Why did you do it?" 

"What?" You asked, confused. 

"Why did you kill Sebek?" He asked and Gaster turned around. 

"Sheema. This is not the time." He spoke.

"Yes it is, why the hell did you kill Sebek, human?" He growled and you just stared in disbelief for a few moments. 

"Sheema... I don't know. I panicked and did something unimaginable. I cann-"

"That's no excuse! His children now have nobody!" He hissed and you bit your lip.

"I know, and I deeply regret it. I am so sorry. I should have never done that."

Sheema stopped, furrowing his brows. "What?"

"I'm sorry, I am extremely sorry for what I did and I deeply regret it."

Sheema hissed, flicking his tail back and forth. “You’re lying!”

”No I am not. I regret what I did. He did not deserve to die and I have felt guilt ever since.”

“Why should I believe you?!” He challenged and Gaster looked peeved, about ready to intervene, but even he seemed to want to know your answer. 

“Sheema, I have made my impression on your people by having a big mouth, and I say what I mean. If I were to not regret murdering an innocent man, I would flat up tell you that’s the case... But it’s not.”

Unsure whether or not to believe you, Sheema hesitated in moving his spear until Gaster did by himself with his magic. “Now is not time to chit-chat, Sir. Allow my prisoner to come forth, please. She has made herself clear.” He crossed his arms moodily, tapping his shoe against the ground rhythmically.

But despite his unsure thoughts, he stepped aside and you quickly strolled past him. As soon as you ended up beside Gaster, the two men crossed their spears again as you both went through the doors only to be met with King Asgore himself.

“Ah, there you are, Gaster.” He spoke, turning from watering a houseplant. He smiled, nodding his head to you. “And good morning, Miss (Y/N).” 

“Good morning, Sir.” You spoke, shuffling on your feet uncomfortably. What’d just occurred outside had put you on edge, and left you feeling a little bit sick. So you likely seemed more meek than usual. 

“Now, Sire... Where are the rest of your men?” Gaster asked, looking around, furrowing his ‘bone’brows. Asgore set down the bucket he was holding, then stepped closer, sighing. “Late once again.”

”Oh, joy. I assume Sir Odin forgot his coat again.” Gaster rolled his eyelights, crossing his arms. Asgore merely laughed in response as he turned and walked to a table in the middle of the room. 

“You two may go ahead and take a seat. It may be a while.” He spoke, sitting at the head of the long, wooden table. “Yes, Your Majesty.” Gaster complied walking over and immediately sitting beside King Asgore. 

You hesitated, rocking back and forth on your heels as you wondered if you should sit beside them. But, after a few seconds, Asgore beckoned you to join them which ended your contemplation. So, you slowly walked around the table, sitting next to Gaster silently. 

“Did you two have a good night?” Asgore suddenly asked and Gaster coughed, shooting him a look. He merely smiled in response as he turned to face you. “Yeah, I guess so.” 

“That’s marvelous! Now, Gaster? How about you?” He asked curiously, a hint of mischief present in his tone. 

"Fine." Gaster replied flatly. Asgore raised his eyebrows at this, then turned back to you. "I hope Mr. W.D. has been treating you well." He spoke in a gentle tone, and you nodded. "He has." You replied, then looked away, wanting to stay quiet and stay in your own thoughts. 

Asgore seemed to get the hint and began to chat with Gaster about various things that you couldn't even begin to understand. Something about elements and magic. It all sounded like gibberish to you. So, you laid your head on the table and began to think. Not about anything in particular, but when you began to think about one thing, it led you to another. This process seemed to go on forever until you were suddenly snapped out of your trance by a yell. 

"Get off of me! Put me down!" A woman's voice screeched from the distance. You felt your heart jump in your chest as you instantly perked back up. 

Asgore slowly stood up, and Gaster followed suit. The shout sounded again, and the sounds of anger and distress began to get closer and closer. Asgore was about to march outside to see what was going on, but Gaster grabbed his cloak. "Stay here, Asgore. We cannot risk you getting injured." He spoke firmly, yet concern was most definitely visible in his demeanor. 

He hesitated, but gave in to Gaster's plea. "I suppose you're right." He sighed, fixing his beard slightly.

And with a sudden thud, you jumped in surprise when the door burst open, at least 8 of the king's men with spears and swords drawn were standing there. One of the men had a monster on his shoulder, she was kicking and beating on his back with her fists as she tried to get away. 

"Put me down, Sir!" She hissed as she tried to wriggle out of his hold. "No ma'am, stay still!" The soldier holding her yelled. 

"What is this about, Kalem?" Asgore asked, placing his hands on his hips. The soldier, or perhaps 'Kalem' sighed. "Your Majesty, we found this woman trespassing on the base's property. We have reason to believe she may be a spy for the enemy." 

"There's no way," Gaster shook his head. "humans would never team up with a monster. We're untrustworthy to them. 'You never know when monsters are going to betray you'." He held a sense of mockery in his tone and the woman shook and kicked. "He's right! I am not a spy! Put. Me. Down!" She insisted. 

Finally, Asgore signaled for them to put the white-furred monster down. When that was done, she straightened her blue dress and took a deep breath. "Turn around." Asgore instructed as the soldiers all pointed their weapons at her. 

And when she turned, her warm brown eyes met you, then Asgore. And when Asgore saw her, his mouth dropped wide open and she smiled brightly.

"Toriel?" Asgore stared at her in shock and she giggled, gently playing with one of her ears.

"Hello, Gorey. It's been a long time, my old friend."

Notes:

More so ‘The King’s Men and His Woman’, if you know what I mean. Haha. 

Anyways, long time no see! Sorry for taking a millennia to upload again lol. A lot has been going on, but I’m sure you all understand

I had lots of fun writing this one. It’s very obvious that Gaster and (Y/N) are growing close, and Asgore is definitely their biggest supporter haha. But, perhaps his mind will shift from their budding relationship to the rekindling of his own relationship now. Who knows. 

I am curious to know what you all thought of the events that transpired in this chapter, so please comment and let me know your thoughts! I’d absolutely adore it.

Anyway. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! And, I thank you for reading. Now, have a wonderful day/night! :)

-Indiana

Chapter 16: “Laden With Guilt”

"Toriel, oh my heavens—it's really you!" Asgore gasped, his cheeks flushing a slight pink.

"Yes it is, Asgore. I am very sorry for disappearing so suddenly."

"It's fine, of course! But, oh goodness. It feels like it's been a millennia!"

She smiled and brushed one of her ears back gently. "It does. I wish I hadn't been whisked away. It was all my father's idea. He had a business opportunity up North and he decided to move there suddenly." She explained, sighing.

"I asked him if I could at least tell you goodbye, but he said you wouldn't even notice I was gone, so it was 'unimportant'. I have felt so bad about that, Gorey. Did Gerson at least pass on my message?"

The tall king nodded his head as you watched with interest. "He said you hadn't perished and not to worry, but that you'd moved. That was all that was passed on to me, though."

Toriel let out a short breath, then shook her head. “Ah, he was supposed to explain the situation better than that.”

“No worries, Madam Toriel.” Asgore smiled, his grin expressing his utter joy in this moment. “All that has passed, and now you’re here. For a while, I hope?”

“Hopefully so. My father decided to move back not long ago. We just arrived back in the area late last night. Thankfully we made it past the human camps unscathed.”

Asgore gave a small nod. “Well, I am very glad to see you alive and well again, Toriel!”

You turned to ask Gaster if he knew their backstory, but you were silenced by his piercing gaze that was directed right at you. It made your cheeks heat up in embarrassment as you looked away.

“It still pains me to this day that I wasn’t able to make it to your father’s memorial service and your coronation soon after!” Toriel remarked, frowning.

”Once you’ve been to one memorial, Tori, you’ve been to them all. It’s the same for any coronation as well.” Asgore chuckled and Toriel rolled her eyes.

”Well, Gorey, all coronations may be the same but I wanted to be there for you in that moment! But, my father forbade me from making the trip over here.”

“It’s okay, my dear!” Asgore took her hand and gently pat it. “I am just overjoyed that you’ve finally made it home.” He gently lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it gently which make her blush and suppress a giggle.

“Now, I hate to cut this short, but I had scheduled a meeting. It should only be an hour or so, and I would love it if you would stay in the lounge until I’m finished so we can catch up a bit more over tea.” He suggested with a bright smile and she nodded, agreeing blissfully.

“Of course! I’d love to. I shall see you shortly, Ole King Asgore.” She winked, then giggled as she turned.

“Sir. Sedric, will you please guide Miss Toriel to the lounge?” Asgore asked one of the men and he nodded, opening the doors and gesturing for her. Once they’d gone, everyone took their places at the table and the meeting began.

Not sure what to do, you stayed silent, just watching with wide eyes. Being around so many monsters is slowly making you more and more nervous. But, you try your best to hide your anxieties. Showing weakness would be a naïve thing to do.

“Sir Odin, how are things going on the front lines?” Asgore asked, folding his hands as he looked at him in the eyes.

“Things have been rough for our men, Your Majesty. The humans have slain even more of Your Royal Army, Sire. Your people are starting to grow weary.” He sighed.

“I do not blame them.” Asgore lowered his head. “I just wish there was an easier way to go about this. But, there is no right answer. Either I surrender my men and we get banished down below, or we ride this war out even longer.”

“Sire, the army is not willing to give up. They are determined to win.” Sir Odin interjected.

“Perhaps so, but how many more lives need to be lost?” A deer-like creature asked, gesturing with his hands.

“It’ll likely be in the thousands, Forrest.” Sir Odin responded and Forrest winced.

“That’s so many! Why can’t we take down that many humans?” He asked, looking at Sir Odin with his green eyes.

“They’re smarter than they look, and they know how to fight.” Sir. Odin continued to sigh.

“It also takes a lot more willpower to kill a human, Forrest.” Gaster added, crossing his arms.

“That is true, Dr. Gaster. Humans hold a surprising amount of strength inside of them, even without having magic.” Sir Odin commented.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Sir. Odin... But don’t forget to mention the encroaching party of humans.” A monster from the far end of the table spoke up.

”Ah, no. Thank you, Mars.” He responded, then looked at the king again.

"Troops have spotted a small group of humans not far from where our border starts, what do you want to do about them?"

"Is it clear what their intentions are?" Asgore asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"No, Sire. It's unclear what their motives are."

"Alright, well, have the guards and patrolmen keep an eye on them. If they cross the border, have my men scare them away as peacefully as they can." Asgore spoke.

"Understood, sir. I will do that as soon as I'm able—Unless the human knows what the situation is about."

You snapped out of a mini-trance and whipped to face him. "Wait, what?" You asked, blinking.

"Do you know the humans wandering around our border, (Y\N)?"

"Likely not? Are you daft enough to believe that all humans know each other or something?"

Sir Odin's eyelid twitched, then he rolled his eyes. "That's all I have to report for now, Your Majesty."

”Alright, Sir Odin. Thank you. W.D., what do you have to report?” Asgore asked as Sedric walked back into the room, striding across the floor before taking his seat next to a big, spiny monster at the end of the table.

“All tests are going well, Your Majesty.” Gaster bowed.

“That is great to hear. Have you had any luck with any more questioning?” Asgore asked in return.

“We’re past that point now, Sire. For now, tests are all I have left.”

”Good, good.” Asgore nodded his head, his long hair gently bobbing with his head.

And that’s when Asgore turned to you, staring you straight in the eyes. “Now, Miss (Y/N)... How is Gaster’s testing going?”

“Pardon me?” You blinked in confusion.

“I’m sure you’ve been testing Gaster’s patience and limits, mmm?” Asgore’s eyes lit up with humor as he held back a smile. This caused you to let out a slight giggle.

“Oh, in that case, Sir... It’s going extremely well.” You grinned and Gaster turned a faint purple, crossing his arms.

“Excellent!” Asgore winked, then let out a husky laugh.

But, soon the humor in the room disappeared and Asgore started asking his men even more questions. After a while, you just tuned it all out and waited for the meeting to be over.

---------------------------------------------

After what seemed like forever, the meeting ended and you and Gaster were finally discharged.

It’s still somewhat early in the day, so you’re not certain what Gaster has on the schedule after this. You hope it’s nothing too strenuous.

You two walked silently for a good while, until Gaster suddenly spoke.

“(Y/N), do you love Evan Baskey?”

“Excuse me?” You asked, blinking your (e/c) eyes in surprise as you stopped walking.

He quickly stopped walking as well and turned to face you. “Do you love Commander Evan Baskey?” He repeated the question.

“That’s a rather impertinent question, don’t you think?” You replied.

“I didn’t mean for it to be rude. I just figured since we’re going to be stuck together for a while, might as well get to know each other better.” He replied with a shrug of his shoulders.

“If you’re wanting to get to know me better, I wouldn’t just jump straight into my love life.” You replied flatly, crossing your arms.

“So you are?” Gaster responded, cocking a ‘bone’brow.

You flushed a light pink, unfolding your arms and pointing a finger at him. “Don’t you dare make assumptions, Gaster.”

“It was a simple question, (Y/N). But, if you don’t want to answer, then you don’t have to.” He looked deep into your eyes, then turned. His coat ruffled with his movements and his heels scraped against the cobblestone floor.

Gaster didn’t hesitate in starting to walk again, in fact, within seconds he was already a good ways from you. So, you jogged to catch up with him, rubbing your arm uncomfortably.

You bit your lip, looking over at his blank expression. There’s nothing held in that countenance, yet you can’t help but wonder what that whole question was about.

The walk remained silent even as Gaster reached his door, unlocking it and letting you in. You slowly walked to the cot and plopped down onto it and Gaster walked past you, straight to his chair.

The silence is maddening, a strange feeling fills the room and makes you rather uncomfortable. It’s so quiet that you can hear the gentle flicker of the lanterns in the room loud and clear.

Gaster’s expression remained unchanged for a good while as he flipped through a green leather-bound book in his hands. But, the silence was deafening and it was slowly driving you madder and madder, so you finally let out a sigh.

”No.” You suddenly spoke. This caused Gaster to look up from his book.

“Mmm?”

”No, I don’t love Evan Baskey. I thought I did for a while... but at some point, I realized the flame had gone.”

“And I assume he fancied you back?” Gaster asked, quirking one ‘bone’brow.

“I... I don’t know. I don’t really want to talk about it all.” You responded.

“That’s fine, I was just wondering about him. I always could see a glimmer in your eye when he was mentioned.”

“Well, not anymore, I suppose...” You looked away momentarily and he shrugged.

”I can’t be certain. I don’t bring him up enough.”

”Fair.” You responded quietly, playing with your fingers as he went back to his book.

This caused you to quirk an eyebrow, then clear your throat.

”Yes?” Gaster replied, glancing up again.

”It’s only fair if you share a secret about the same level, Dr. Gaster.” You responded, eyeing him down intimidatingly. “Especially since you ‘want to get to know each other better’.” You added, grinning slyly.

He paused, clearly panicking, but he quickly hid that and smiled back. “Of course, I suppose it is only fair, ey?” He spoke in response.

He lifted his skull up, then tapped his finger on his chin. “Hm...”

His eyelights flicked back down and looked at you. “I contributed to the death of my entire species.”

You blinked, then your eyes flicked back and forth. “Pardon me?”

“I basically caused our own genocide.” He shrugged, then got back up and walked to the corner, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. “Would you like some?”

”No thank you, I probably shouldn’t after last night.” You responded, still very confused.

As Gaster sat back down, taking a swig, you couldn’t help but pry into that.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but are you going to uh... inform me of what that means?”

“Mm?”

“...The ‘genocide’ remark.”

“Oh, right. Might as well. You’ll find out eventually.” He sighed, trying to seem nonchalant, but pain was embedded deep within his gaze. Trying to bypass the obvious guilt radiating off of him, he cleared his throat.

”When I was a young lad, my people—the skeletons, not the monsters as a whole—began to fall ill. And slowly, more and more lives were claimed by this newfound sickness. It only infected our kind.” He started, taking another sip of his whiskey.

”By the time a fourth case was known, I had begun investigating. Only around the age of 17, I delved deep into the science of this illness. I discovered it affected our bone marrow.”

“And, right after I made this discovery, my father came home from working in the fields one day... and he just collapsed. His face was all flushed and he was extremely ill.” Gaster explained, then he clenched his teeth.

”And when the local physician checked my father’s condition, he confirmed it was the dreaded plague that’d taken so many skeletons already. This caused me to rush and rush to find a cure...” Gaster sighed, looking down at his arm.

”I did my best to try and nurse him back to health, as well as by administering all the possible cures I could imagine. But his condition never improved. It got to the point that I was injecting dozens of serums in myself per day in desperation.”

He looked away, gripping the side of his chair tightly. “And one day... the skeleton plague won. It killed my father and managed to take anyone else one by one...” He spoke as his expression grew colder and colder.

He looked back at you, tears slightly brimming in his eye sockets. “And I’m still left. Forever alone, cursed to finally kill out my species for good...” He downed the rest of his drink, then got up to get a refill.

“How did you survive?” You asked quietly, and he just chuckled, a chill radiating from his tone. ”I still don’t truly know. I just assume something I injected into myself made me immune.” He responded, turning back around after pouring his drink.

He walked and sat back in his chair, then took another big swig of the bigger glass.

“So now, I’m just stuck with the realization that I failed my people. The last skeleton to survive, deeply ridden with survivors guilt! Oh, what a life to live.” His gaze was dark and filled with the guilt of many years of blame. It broke your heart.

”Gaster,” You started, not sure how to word things so you paused for a moment.

“I know I’m not very educated on this, and a lot of it goes over my head... But that definitely is nowhere near your fault.” You looked at him, your (e/c) eyes soft and sympathetic.

”You’re not a murderer. You tried your best to find the cure, but you just couldn’t in time.”

”Rubbish! People didn’t have to die, but I was too incompetent to find the cure. I therefore contributed to the deaths of many.” He argued and you furrowed your eyebrows.

”That doesn’t make any sense, Gaster. I didn’t cure anyone from the Black Plague, does that make me guilty of them dying?”

“No, you’re not a doctor.”

“Bloody Hell! You’re delusional because of all the guilt!” You exclaimed.

”I am not!”

”Gaster, an illness swept through your species, and you’re blaming your 17 your old self for it, and for all of the lives it took away.” You spoke, holding out a hand to try and make a point.
”Those people would’ve died even if you hadn’t helped. Hell, you did save one life.”

“I don’t count. I don’t matter.”

“Gaster! Don’t you dare say that filth! You most certainly do!” You replied, your eyes showing your sadness.

This caused him to stop, quietly sighing and growing silent. You looked down because of this.

”The only person believing that you caused your whole species to die out is yourself... You did a noble thing, Gaster. You threw yourself into the fire and tried to save your people at such a young age. You gave it your all, so for God’s sakes, please stop blaming yourself!” You pleaded.

”Alright, I’ll try to... I’m sorry, but—“ He started, but you cut him off, standing up.

”No ifs, ands, or buts! You be quiet, mister! I’m not going to listen to you prate on about something that’s just not true. I don’t want to see you hurt yourself like that!” You replied, crossing your hands as you huffed.

“I’m sorry to say I have been for years. I believe that’s one of the reasons Asgore took me in.”

”What you’ve done in the past doesn’t matter, it’s time to lose that horrible mindset.” You walked forward, holding out your hand to him.

”I know it’s rather silly of me to offer... But I’m here for you if you’d like me to help you work through your demons.” You gave him a gentle smile, and to your surprise, he took your hand.

“Maybe it’s not as silly as you thought...” He spoke softly.

“Whatever do you mean, Gaster?” You asked in response, cocking your head to the side.

“... I think I’d actually like you to.” He replied, seeming surprised by his own words.

You gave his hand a gentle squeeze and nodded. “Then let’s do it, skeleton-man!”

You smiled brightly, and he did too. But it wasn’t just the smile that brought you joy, it was the look of newfound positivity on his countenance that got you as well. Hopefully you can help Gaster just as much as he’s helped you already.

Notes:

It’s been a while. Sorry! If you read Bone of Contention you know I’ve been having a lot of health problems recently, headlined by a chronic daily headache disorder which has really affected my life and writing capabilities. But I won’t ramble on about my health! That gets boring!

Alright, now to briefly discuss the plot, the whole plague thing has been the story’s written lore for a while... But I don’t believe I ever outright said it before, so with the current state of the world, I suppose it’s funny I decided to bring it up now.

I hope Gaster didn’t seem too dramatic about the thing, but the way he deals with trauma is by blaming himself and he’s already a very edgy individual, but his guilt just eats him alive until he becomes cold and almost insouciant and\or apathetic at times. That’s why it came out that way, and perhaps he also phrased it that way because he wanted the reader to hate him for something, but of course that didn’t work!

I have some cute plans in the future of this story, but I will admit, I need some more ideas. So if you got any, please send them my way! I would greatly appreciate your input! Anyhoo, it’s getting late and I still need to post this, so I’d better start signing off! I appreciate you guys continually supporting my work! Have a wonderful day/night!

-Indiana

Chapter 17: “The Invitation”

After some uncertainty of what to do, Gaster sat beside you on the cot for a good couple of hours teaching you some new words. A whole lot more than Commander Baskey ever taught you.

Some of your personal favorites? Facetious, obsequious, and last but not least, pedant. Mostly because it reminds you a lot of Gaster. Though, he denies being anything close to it. 

But, to your dismay, after a while, a letter was slid under the crack of Gaster’s door and a firm knock was placed on it before footsteps could be heard walking away. This signaled the end of your studies with Gaster, as he shut his book and got up from the cot.

”I wonder what that could be.” He remarked curiously.

”Me too.” You spoke as you crossed your legs, watching as he set his book on his table. 

In fact, your (e/c) gaze followed him closely as he walked to the mysterious letter. He bent down, picked it up, and swiftly ripped it open. As he pulled out the folded letter, he put on his spectacles and silently read it, he let out an audible “Hm.”. It caused you to lift an eyebrow.

”What is it?” You pried.

“Well, it seems we’ve been invited to the King’s banquet tonight. Lady Toriel shall be there as well, it seems.” Gaster commented, tucking the letter back in its envelope.

”Are we going?” You asked, tilting your head to the side. 

“I shan’t miss another one of Asgore’s banquets. You can stay, if you’d like.” He spoke, but you shook your head. 

“I’m good with going. It’ll be exciting.” You smiled. 

“Mmm, I see. Alright, do you need anything to wear there?” He asked and you looked down at your old clothing.

”Is this a rather elegant banquet?” You asked and he nodded. 

“I’d assume so. I can ask some ladies to help you out with a frock—“

”Oh! It is the king’s first dinner since reuniting with Lady Toriel, huh?” You commented and he nodded.

”It seems so. And, I can see the excited twinkle in his eye. He is more excited than he’s letting on.” Gaster commented, and you nodded.

”Oh, trust me. She is as well!” You smiled almost mischievously. “I cannot wait to see their relationship closer up.” You remarked.

”I’m surprised they’re even inviting others there, to be completely honest.” Gaster remarked, shuffling to his desk and setting down the letter. 

“I’d assume it’s just a mixture of chivalry and modesty.” You responded and he sighed, taking off his spectacles and sliding them in his pocket.

“I’m sure they don’t want to seem indecent and improper.” He added, then turned his heels and faced you. 

“I know your preference, but I regret to inform you that not many around here will have your measurements in more fancy dress.... Unless, that is, one of our female workers does loan you a frock for the night.” Gaster spoke. 

“That’s fine. I understand that I won’t always be able to get tailored clothes to fit my tastes—but, I’m used to that. I’ll be fine with a frock for tonight, Dr. Gaster.” You responded, dipping your head.

”Alright, good, good. I didn’t want to offend you or anything of the sort.” He replied as he nodded his skull.

”Then, I shall be off to see if I can have one of the King’s seamstresses take your measurements. Then, I’ll search for a close match there. If... that’s alright with you, of course.”

”Of course. I don’t see a better way of doing things.” You replied.

”Alright, (Y/N). Then excuse me as I begin my search.” He dipped his head yet again and walked to the door, walking out and down the hall.

---------------------------------------------

After what seemed like a long mess of back and forth, your measurements had finally been taken and Gaster was finally knocking at the door again. Hopefully he’s found the lady to loan you a dress at last. 

“Come in!” You chirped, smiling as you played with your (h/c) hair.

And, that’s exactly what he did. He walked in the door and dragged in a cart, followed behind him was a familiar face——Elementia?

This caused you to gasp, smiling as you stood up from the cot, clapping your hands. 

“Elementia! Thank you so much for taking me into consideration like this!”

She looked up at you with sudden surprise, looking to Gaster suddenly, then back at you and smiled brightly as her flames intensified. “Of course, Miss (Y/N)! It’s my pleasure! Who knew we shared a size.” She giggled, then bounded over. 

“How do you do? I haven’t seen you in ages!” You replied as you walked over to her.

”Oh, (Y/N). It’s been... tough. But, I’ve been pulling through. It’s certainly been a while though considering how much you’ve changed!” She replied, looking into your (e/c) eyes with her warm gaze.

”I’m so sorry to hear that. I am very sorry for your loss, Elementia.” You shook your head and sighed, and she nodded, then cleared her throat.

”I know, (Y/N). But, it’s alright. I don’t want to think about all this right now. How about we just get you ready?” She smiled weakly. 

“Right. My greatest apologies. Let’s see what you’ve got there.” You replied as you followed her to the cart.

”Now, I’ll be with Gerson in the other room. I’ll be back in around an hour to walk you to the banquet. Alright, Miss (Y/N)?”  Gaster spoke, his hands held neatly in front of himself.

”Of course, Dr. Gaster.” You replied, scratching the back of your neck as he turned and left.

”So, as I told you, Dr. Gaster isn’t as ‘huffy-puffy’ as he seems at first... right?” Elementia commented suddenly, smiling.

“You know what, I thought you were lying for the longest time... but he really does get less insufferable every day. If he keeps going at this pace, I may begin to like him.” You joked and Elementia laughed.

“Nothing wrong with that. Dr. Gaster could use a friend!” Elementia remarked. 

“To be fair, we all could.” 

“There you are again, opinions flip-flopped from what they were last time! What did that man do to you!” She giggled and you couldn’t help but grin shyly.

”Yes, I do apologize for my behavior. I know I wasn’t the nicest to you.” You sighed and she pat your shoulder gently, the faint touch of her hand warm against your skin. 

“Don’t apologize. You were doing as you were taught, and I cannot blame you for that, Miss (Y/N)!” She smiled. 

“Now,” Elementia started, holding up the first frock. Which, arguably was more of a gown. It was green, with brown accents and white sleeve cuffs. Not only that, but it also had a white collar on it with white laces. 

“Lovely. The laces are a nice touch.” You complimented it.

”I can’t help but agree!” She chirped, then gently laid the first one back on the cart. Then, she got the second. It was two steps up from the last dress. It looked incredibly fancy. It was white with pink accents, had white lacy frill around the sleeves and stitching, and it had a pattern of carnations carefully embroidered on the dress. It looked like it had cost a fortune. 

“You can’t possibly loan me this! This must’ve cost months of your wages!” You gasped. 

“Oh, please do not worry about that. It was a gift from my affluent grandmother many moons ago.” She dipped her head. 

“Well, it is a lovely dress. But, it is a bit more delicate than I was looking for, if i can look at the last option?” You asked and she nodded her head, bringing her hands together as she swept the gown to the side carefully. 

Underneath was something that immediately caught your gaze, it was quite intense, but the sheer fire that it represented caused a smile to form on your lips. 

“Another gift from my grandmother—but I see that you seem to like this one more.” She adjusted her spectacles as she held it up for you to look at.

It was a beautiful cut, and the color was surprising. A bright red. Normally you’d never see red frocks, after all the dye is expensive. But, this gown has piqued your interest.

It has a rather square, lacy neckline, and sleeves that seem to flow off to the side somewhat. But at the ends, they divide into white. And, the dress overall seems to be embroidered—or perhaps sewn with designs that your eye can’t exactly make out. 

“Miss (Y/N), would you like to pick this one?” Elementia asked, humor sounding in her voice as you admired the gorgeous dress.

”Oh, I could never!” You suddenly gasped.

”Oh, yes you could! You’d look magnificent in this gown, Miss (Y/N)! Plus, if any accidents were to happen, it cannot catch on fire.” She placed the dress down, a smile spread across her cheerful countenance. 

“But I am simply a peasant girl, I was not built for such gowns, Elementia! What if it doesn’t suit me?” You looked at her, concerned.

”(Y/N), you are not a peasant girl anymore. You are a strong willed soldier! This strong red fits you and your heart perfectly. I can more than guarantee you that it’ll look fantastic on you!” She assured you.

”Are you certain?” You asked, nervously playing with the ends of your sleeves and she folded her hands gently.

”I am absolutely, completely, super certain!” She chirped. 

You were about to speak, when she crossed her arms and moved her spectacles down so she could glance down over them at you. 

“Don’t you even think about it! Yes! I am certain that you can wear my dress as well. It’s for one night. Lighten up, Miss (Y\N)! Don’t be so anxious.” She lifted up the gown again and gently placed it in your arms. 

“Now, let’s get you all fancied up! I cannot wait to see Dr. Gaster’s face when he sees you in this.” She smiled and you turned red. 

“Whatever do you mean?” You asked and she giggled.

”Oh, he just seemed a bit fidgety with the concept of you in general. But, I don’t mean in a bad way. Just like... you know.” She winked and your face reddened more.

”You don’t think...” You started, but she simply nodded.

”I do. But, he’s a very confusing man. Regardless though, seeing you in this beautiful red dress will definitely make that a bit more noticeable. So, if you don’t believe me, just pay attention to his demeanor.” She giggled again.

”Oh dear.” Was all you managed to mutter as she walked over. 

“Please do not worry an ounce, everything will turn out just fine. You’ll see in time, but trust me! You’ll have an absolutely delightful night!” She chirped as she gently laid one hand on your back.

And gently, she led you a bit deeper to a mirror in the corner of the room. “Alright, we more than likely don’t have long left. Let’s get you in this dress, Miss (Y/N).” She dipped her head and you nodded. 

So, with a bit of shyness and hesitation, you undressed and Elementia helped you into your proper undergarments and after a short breather, the gown as well. 

To your surprise, you did look surprisingly fashionable. It brought a smile to your face and Elementia clapped her hands and bounced on her feet. “Ooo, I am so exhilarated!” She squealed, then held up a finger, scurrying to the cart and grabbing a small basket before running back. 

“I’m fixing your hair as well. You don’t mind, do you, Miss (Y/N)? I figured it would only complement the look.” She explained.

“No, not at all. Please, go ahead.” You smiled, scratching your cheek and she held her hands up excitedly. She then took a hairbrush and carefully brushed your (h/l) hair and fixed it so it looked complementary to the gown. 

“Perfect! What do you think, madam?” She asked sweetly and you smiled again. 

“I love it.” You replied and she folded her hands. 

“Perfect! Well, I have one more trick up my sleeve before Dr. Gaster comes back!” 

“Oh, Elementia, please-“

”Don’t you ‘Elementia please’ me, Miss (Y/N)! I am fully capable of making my own decisions and you’re going to give these back, so why waste the breath arguing over me loaning them to you?” She huffed, grabbing her basket and pulling out a gold and ruby necklace.  

“This was passed down in the family line, but I believe it’d go well with the gown tonight. So please just wear it for tonight” She smiled kindly.

You glanced down at it, then back up at her. It was a family heirloom, yet for some reason she trusted you with it. It caused you to nod and her eyes twinkled as she slipped it over your head. 

“You look absolutely beautiful!” She exclaimed cheerfully, and as you looked back in the mirror, you were surprised by what you saw. 

Though, this didn’t necessarily look like you. An altered version, sure. But you will admit, you could fit in with the various mistresses you had seen in King Smith’s castle. Or, perhaps even the queen herself. 

Though, that could be a stretch. You’ve never seen yourself like this before. It’s very unusual, but you suppose for a night, it won’t kill you.

“I am quite surprised.” You blinked, adjusting the necklace on your neck. “I have never seen myself look this elegant before.” You commented. 

“Well, how do you feel about it?” She asked, adjusting her dress and putting her hands on her hips. “You can tell me the absolute truth, you won’t hurt my feelings, madam!” 

“Oh, well, I like it! I just don’t think it’s quite ‘me’, if you understand what I mean.” 

“No worries at all! I was thinking the exact same.” She adjusted her wire spectacles and took your hand, leading you across the room again. 

“You look absolutely lovely, but I think you already have your style down, dear! You’re a woman who’s better suited in doublets and breeches. And, I don’t think that’s a competition.” Elementia gently squeezed your hand and then let go. 

“But, a little game of dress-up never hurts once and a while!” She smiled again and stepped back. 

“Well, I’ll be back in the morning to pick up my things, Miss (Y/N). I hope you have a lovely dinner!” 

“Can you not come?” You asked, slightly disappointed and she shook her head, her flames crackling against the darkness. 

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid not. Only those invited to the King’s banquets can dine along with him. But, perhaps in the future. For now though, I’m just a simple servant. He hardly knows my name, Miss (Y/N). But, you enjoy it!” She responded.

This caused you to frown, but she shook her head. “Please do not feel sorrow for me. I don’t mind. I would rather be by myself anyway! Sometimes silence is the best peace of mind. Especially in times of sorrow and grief.” She dipped her head, then footsteps began to sound up the hallway outside the wooden door. 

“That’d be Gaster. So, I shall say my goodbyes. Fair thee well, (Y/N)! And, I hope you have a delightful night.” She curtsied, and smiled. 

“As I do for you, Lady Elementia. Enjoy your night of peace and tranquillity!” You responded with a kind smile, curtsying in return.

And with that, Gaster’s key went in the lock and he opened the door. “My greatest apologies. That took longer than I anticipated.” He glanced up at you for a moment and froze, just for a moment as his cheekbones gathered a dusting of lavender. 

“That’s quite alright. We were just saying our farewells.” You responded as you waved Elementia off who quickly said her goodbyes to Gaster. She then took her cart and various other things out of Gaster’s quarters before going on about her way.

Gaster wasn’t wearing anything over the top like most men these days with their frills and collars, but rather something—very much like him. He had on a long black overcoat that was buttoned up the front so it formed a “vee” to his neckline, revealing a bit of the white linen shirt underneath. And, along with that he seemed to be wearing a pair of breeches and a pair of leather boots. 

Gaster turned to you, clearing his throat. “Well then, Miss (Y/N). Are you ready to head out?” He was looking at the wall. How peculiar.

”Yes! I do believe so, but, I’d just like to say you look quite dashing!” You spoke, holding your hands in front of yourself neatly as you stepped forward. 

“O-oh.” He suddenly stuttered, his pinpricks widening for a few moments, but a few moments later he smiled and they relaxed. “Thank you, dear. You look quite lovely yourself.” He responded, scratching the back of his neck as he managed to look back at you.

”Thank you, Gaster! Now, shall we?” You asked and he nodded.

”Of course, let’s go. The King will be expecting us.” He commented as he beckoned for you to walk out the door first.

“You’re completely right. I don’t want to keep him waiting.” You replied as you walked out the door, pausing in the hall for a few moments until Gaster stood by your side. He made sure to tuck his key in his pocket, then began to walk down the long stone hallway with you following beside him.

”So, did you enjoy seeing Elementia again?” Gaster asked.

”I very much did, she is a wonderful soul. I wish I could’ve seen it earlier and held my firebrand attitude aside. Then, perhaps I could’ve provided more comfort after what happened.” You sighed.

”Ah, yes. The loss of Inferno was a tragedy and it’s been hard on her. He was her elder brother, and they did so much together. Inferno was a good man as well. It’s a shame what happened.” He sighed.

You hung your head. “I feel ashamed that my people took his life away. I cannot believe she doesn’t hold that against me.” 

“Elementia has always seen the good in people, but, in general... You are not who killed Sir Inferno in battle, (Y/N). So, she has no reason to hold a grudge. Just as you have no reason to hold a grudge against me if some other monster were to do something to you.” Gaster responded.  

“I suppose you have a point. That is very honorable of her.” You responded as he continued to walk in a straight line.

”I agree.” He simply murmured in response. 

And, the conversation fell silent for a while. Perhaps for uncertainty of what to talk about next, or the slight bashfulness you could feel burning around the hall. 

But, it got unbearable after a while, so you broke the silence.

”So, was there a problem that caused you to be late? You know, I believe you said it was with a ‘Gerson’?” You asked curiously and he shuffled on his feet as the long and drawn out walk continued.

”Gerson is one of the King’s top men. Actually, he was one of the lot that captured you. And, because of it, King Asgore gave him some off time.” Gaster began to explain.

“We’ve become acquainted in the past, and I immediately was introduced to the fact that he collects random things. And, I found out some of that is buttons and belts. I needed that for tonight, so I went to see him about that, but neither of us know how to sew.” He continued.

”Oh, I can see where that gets tricky.” You responded and he nodded.

”So, we decided to go to the King’s other seamstress and asked if she could sew it on my coat as a favor. But, she said she’d only do it for a fee.” He rolled his pinpricks. 

“Even if it ended up being a few stitches, I had Gerson loan me a pound so she’d sew it on. And then, we had to go back to Gerson’s quarters and he provided me with a belt to wear. And, that, my dear is why it took so long.” He finished.

”My feet hurt just hearing your tale.” You responded and he chuckled. 

“Ah, yes. This place isn’t easy on the feet, is it? Well, the good news is, we’re almost at the Dining Hall.” 

“Oh, that is good news! It feels like we’ve been walking for miles!” 

“Well, that’s because we have been.” He responded.

“Really? Is this place really that long?” You asked, suddenly bewildered.

”I mean, when you have an underground bunker that acts like a makeshift castle, indeed so.”  He responded. 

“But, I cannot wait until the day I can leave this dreary place. It’s so cold under here. You do miss sunlight after a while.” He sighed. 

“When was the last time you left?” You asked.

”I was sent out to a camp to check the progress of some things the night you...” He cleared his throat. “But I am sure you are more than aware of that.” 

You sighed, nodding your head as you recalled the night you murdered that innocent monster. Sebek was his name. A father, and a beloved member of his camp. But you’d snatched out the life from beneath him, taking everything from his family, and his community within seconds.

You hung your head for a few moments. “I wish that’d never happened.” You spoke quietly, then swallowed hard as you crossed your arms against your chest. “And I cannot believe my commander tried to make me feel less guilt for what I did, and I don’t understand why I acted like such a pain.” 

“Sometimes we do strange things, (Y/N). But, do not worry about these things from your past because that is exactly what they are. Let us form your future.” He spoke, then smiled slightly as he stopped and turned to a pair of tall doors against the wall.

”And, here we are. Are you ready?” He asked and you nodded, thinking over his last words again.

”I’m ready as I’ll ever be!” 

And, with that, he knocked and the suspense truly began.

Notes:

Oh boy, it’s been a while again, hasn’t it? My bad! Well, at least I managed to get a chapter out I suppose! Still having health problems! 2020 has been a bitch lmao. 

Also, I don’t know if she’s reading this but somehow one of my long time friends ended up reading this story, so if you’re reading the A/N hiiii bro. 🥺

Now, I hope you enjoyed the return of Elementia! I admit she left far too quickly, and didn’t return soon enough. So I’ll try and have her be worked back in now! And, I’ll try and get the new chapter out as soon as possible since I know that I kinda just left it on a cliffhanger. Sorry! 

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, and I hope you guys have a wonderful day/night! Stay safe out there! :)

-Indiana

Chapter 18: “The Banquet”

Suddenly, an iron slot in the door shifted open and a pair of  amber eyes stared back at you and Gaster. 

“Identity yourselves!” The monster’s deep voice boomed. 

“Dr. W.D. Gaster and Miss (Y/N).” Gaster replied calmly. 

The creature narrowed its eyes, leaning up and sticking its nose partially through the opened slot. It started sniffing, then leaned back. 

“Go on, what’s the code word then?” He challenged. 

Gaster just rolled his pinpricks, then shook his skull. “It’s clear I didn’t get the memo about this new ‘code word’.” 

“Too bad, then! You are not allowed in without the secret code word.” He growled, then shut the slot swiftly. 

Gaster frustratedly knocked on the door thrice. “Ernest, you know fair and well who I am. Just let us in.”

The slot snatched open again. “What was that? I didn’t hear the code word.” 

Gaster groaned, then shook his head. “Just get m’lord. He knows that we were expected for dinner tonight.” 

“That is not the—“

”Ah, to hell with you! Asgore, my lord. Will you please free me from this dimwit?” Gaster suddenly called loudly.

A sudden pause occurred, and loud footsteps got nearer and nearer to the door as faint talking could be heard. But, it was just quiet enough to be unintelligible. 

Suddenly, the door snatched open and behind it stood a tall, wolf monster. It had been his amber eyes that had stared at you.

”Come hither, you’re nearly late.” He spoke flatly.

”I wonder why that is.” Gaster replied sarcastically, then beckoned for you to walk first. 

You nodded, then smiled weakly as you started walking. Gaster was not far behind though, and pretty soon he had caught up with you. 

And, that’s when he placed his arm in front of you. “The king lies ahead. We must bow.” He whispered, then moved his arm as he respectfully bowed. 

Not sure what to do since you were wearing a heavy gown, you just grabbed the sides of your dress and did a curtsy that was mixed with a bow. It probably looked strange, but the sentiment was still there. 

“Good evening! Come, come. We have prepared you your places.” Asgore suddenly spoke as he turned to look at you and Gaster.

”Thank you, sire.” Gaster stood up straight, then smiled as he linked his arm with yours.

Surprised at the sudden touch, you felt your cheeks heat up. Surely this isn’t more of what Elementia hinted at, right? He’s most likely just being chivalrous.

“I am very sorry for the trouble that Ernest has caused you. I will be sure to have a word with him this evening.” Asgore spoke as Gaster unlinked arms with you and pulled out your seat. Gesturing for you to sit, you did so carefully and looked at Asgore as Gaster gently pushed your seat in. 

“That is alright. It was merely a temporary inconvenience. Do not worry about it, sire.” He dipped his head, then sat down in his chair, scooting himself in. 

“Alright, Dr. Gaster. But you do always say that. You know you can tell me of any inconveniences and I will try my best to sort them out. That is my job, after all.” Asgore replied. 

“Well, thank you very much, m’lord.” Gaster dipped his head again and you looked over to see Lady Toriel glancing at you.

”So, Asgore has told me a lot about the situation that led to you staying here. How are you enjoying it, Lady (Y/N)?” She asked with a gentle smile. 

You quirked your eyebrows at the title she had given you, but tried to just brush it aside.

“It’s fair, I suppose. It does get quite chilly at night though!” You responded, not exactly sure how to talk to a ‘lady’. 

“Ah, well I’m sure Gaster can assist with that!” Asgore grinned and when you looked at Gaster, he was blushing a bright lavender hue. 

Toriel couldn’t help but let out a giggle at the remark and you looked around nervously, not quite getting the joke.

”Yes... I will—“ He paused, tugging at the collar of his coat. 

He cleared his throat, “provide (Y/N) with extra blankets.”

Asgore raised a single furry brow, then gave an acknowledging nod. “I’ll see to it that one of my staff members provides her a blanket of fine quality tonight.” Asgore spoke. 

“Well, thank you, Your Highness.” You dipped your head gently, then sat back in your seat as a sever came out and brought everyone a glass of wine. You took a mental note to go easy on it this time. 

“So excuse me if I sound impertinent, Your Highness, but how has your reunion with Lady Toriel been?” You asked and the pair smiled. 

“It has been lovely. More so than I could ever dream of!” Toriel beamed, then took a careful sip of her drink. 

“Ah, yes. It’s been fantastic. We have had a lot to catch up on.” Asgore responded. 

“I’m sure you have! And, I am very happy you two could meet again.” 

“As am I. It’s clear Lady Toriel’s arrival was a positive event to remind you to stay strong through this cataclysmic war.” Gaster added. 

“I certainly agree. She reminds me there is indeed good left to fight for.” Asgore dipped his head, then took a big gulp of his wine.

”I could have never imagined how much I’d miss Gorey. I shan’t let my father take me away from here again.” Toriel spoke firmly.

“And I don’t think I’d allow it. You are old enough to make your own decisions, Toriel.” Asgore replied.

Gaster seemed to raise a ‘bone’brow, then glanced at you for a moment. He somewhat gestured with his head at the two goat-monsters when the sever came back out with the first course. 

They stopped at the edge of the table, curtsied, then began to serve everyone. 

In front of everyone they put down slices of rye bread and butter. Odd starter, but we are in a war. And unlike King Smith back at Drayvil castle, King Asgore is definitely more considerate to the food shortages and elevating prices. 

“Ah, yes. I do believe this is Mr. Adger’s famous bread. Glad to have him back with us.” Gaster commented as Asgore signaled for everyone to dig in. 

“Yes it is, Gaster. He’s back from his post for now, but merely on leave as his wife is very pregnant. I would never keep a husband away from the birth of his child.” Asgore responded as he began eating neatly. 

“I haven’t heard that name in years! How is Adger doing, dear?” Toriel asked Asgore, practically batting her eyelashes at him. 

What a flirt Lady Toriel is, and Asgore is obviously loving every minute of it. You can’t help but wonder if Gaster is taking notes of Toriel & Asgore’s flirtatious behaviors. After all, he does seem to fancy you a tad. 

At least, that’s what Elementia has hinted at. You still have a hard time believing her completely. After all, why would your ‘enemy’ be interested in someone he has previously abhorred?

Especially with Gaster’s former attitude of not having time for a possible future lover. You doubt he’d bypass all his remarks by falling for someone—let alone a human spy. 

Perhaps Elementia just sensed a friendship and misinterpreted things. That’d make more sense, but even then, are you and Gaster truly friends? Or does he just take pity upon you? 

It’s hard to tell, especially ever since the ‘memory-sharing’ started to happ—

“(Y/N), is everything alright?” Gaster suddenly asked.

You suddenly snapped out of your thoughts and looked to him, turning slightly pink in embarrassment. “Yes, sorry. I just seemed to get a bit carried away in my thoughts.” You have a nervous smile. 

“Are you sure? If something’s wrong, we’re more than happy to assist in any way possible!” Toriel chirped with a smile. 

“Of course. Everything is quite fine!” You nodded and Asgore let out a hum. 

“Alright. Well, then that is very good to know.” He nodded his head, and just as he’d thought you and Gaster had turned your heads, you caught him winking at Toriel. 

You turned a bit more pink at this, not exactly knowing what he thought you were thinking about. But the possibilities are vast and endless and that’s worrying. 

Just trying to ignore the anxiety, you took a quiet deep breath and slowly spread the butter on your bread before taking a bite. It’s absolutely fantastic. Much better than any loaves of bread baked by Mrs. Corbett. Hell, even more so than the loaves of bread you’d stolen from bakeries as a peasant. 

“This is fantastic! You must thank Mr. Adger for me. I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying such delicious bread before.” You exclaimed. 

“Ah, I will be sure to pass on the message.” Asgore dipped his head and Toriel scooted up in her seat, looking over at you. 

“Excuse me if this question is too personal to ask, but I am quite curious on how you ended up in this situation. Er—not captured by my people, of course. I mean as a soldier under King Smith.” Toriel asked, then brushed her ear back. 

“I’ve never heard of a female being employed by the King of humans in such a manner before.” She continued. 

“Yes, I have wondered that myself, Lady Toriel. I feel like I’ve only heard bits and pieces of the story from Gaster. Would you mind sharing, Lady (L/N)?” 

“Oh, it’s nothing too special. I was a peasant convict, I had no money so I stole to survive. And in doing so, I got very stealthy. And the day I was finally caught, the king recognized this and decided to use me as a weapon rather than have me rot in a cell.” You explained.

“That’s extraordinary. I’ve never heard of such a tale!” Toriel exclaimed. 

“It was quite the unusual setup, but I did love what I was doing for the longest time.” You sighed, then scratched your arm, looking down. 

“I don’t think I could now though. Not after seeing the war through the other side.” 

“I do believe Gaster has a large part in that, hm?” Asgore looked toward him and you sighed, then nodded. 

“After he stopped being such a pain in the side, of course. But, after things cooled down between us and I met other monsters, I realized what I’d been taught about monsters my whole life is false. In reality, I do believe I am the monster. Not any of you.” You dipped your head and Gaster quickly placed his hand on your shoulder. 

“No, you’re not the monster, (Y/N). You were just a tad bit misguided. I’m thankful to the stars above that I was able to help change your mind.” Gaster replied softly.

”Misguided? Perhaps. But, that doesn’t stop me from wishing I had thought all this through sooner. It could have prevented so many of my mistakes. If I had known earlier, Sebek wouldn’t have died by my hands—“ 

“(Y/N), don’t think of it that way. If you had been better informed about the monsters at a younger age, you may have been imprisoned or executed by your king. And, there’s no way you would have ended up here if that had been the case.” Gaster spoke gently. 

“Dr. Gaster has a very good point there, (Y/N).” Toriel nodded and Asgore took a sip of his wine. 

“He certainly does. And, whereas I don’t think that crime of yours should be completely forgotten, it is a war and you were doing your job.” Asgore sighed, then lowered his head. 

“If you taking one life makes you despicable, then what does that mean for me? I’m the head of an entire fleet of monsters, therefore that makes me responsible for their deaths, along with the enemy’s.” Asgore spoke, then set his glass down. 

“I have plenty of blood and dust on my hands, and I’m sure your former commanding officer does as well, (Y/N). The one life you took was precious, but your actions do not measure up to more than half of the individuals fighting in this war.” He continued.

”Oh, I suppose you all have very good points...” You bit your lip and looked to Gaster. 

“It’s like you told me, Misses (Y/N). ‘What you’ve done in the past doesn’t matter’. You can move forward and be a better person. And in fact, you already have.” He spoke calmly. 

“You have drastically transformed since I first laid my eyes on you. In fact, I can confidently say that you are the first human I have not abhorred since this war broke out.” He continued  

“Well, I’m more than glad you don’t dislike me anymore. I can say it goes both ways, as well. I have to thank you, Dr. Gaster. Without you, I would not be here right now. Mentally, at least.” You responded  

“I don’t think you should thank me. I did nothing that commendable.” Gaster bowed his head, then spoke again. 

“I think what we have learned is that humans and monsters really just don’t take the time to understand each other.” 

“I do have to agree with that, Dr. Gaster. Both sides simply lack simple and polite manners. If we let our bygones be bygones, then we could once again be a united people.” Toriel responded, then finished her piece of bread. 

“I remember when I was younger, I did indeed have a human friend. He was just as normal as any child. Truly the only differences between our races are magic and appearance, but if we could only move past that.” Asgore dipped his head.

And just like that, a server came out of nowhere and took all the previous plates. Lucky for them, everyone had just finished their first course.

But with quick precession, suddenly two monsters emerged from the farthest door and brought the main course with them. It looked to be a soup of some sort.

After setting each bowl in front of everyone, they bowed and exited the room just as fast as they’d arrived. 

“This looks absolutely delicious!” Toriel exclaimed. 

“I cannot help but agree, Lady Toriel. Your highness, thank you for inviting me and (Y/N). It’s a nice change of scenery.” Gaster spoke as he placed his napkin on his lap neatly. 

By observing him, you can tell that he follows dinner etiquette by heart. Everything at his place has remained neat since he sat down.

”It’s my pleasure, Gaster. Now, I do hope you enjoy our dinner. War times are tough, but I tried to pick a flavorful meal that everyone would enjoy.” Asgore dipped his head, then neatly took his spoon and dipped it in his bowl. 

“I’m sure we both will enjoy it greatly, King Asgore!” You dipped your head, then smiled. But, that smile soon faded into a frown. You couldn’t help but remember Elementia. 

Oh, you sure wished that she could be here. She’d probably very much enjoy it. In fact, you’re sure she’d love it. And you would too. 

This caused you to chew on your lip slightly. You peered up at the hungry king and pondered whether you should mention her or not. 

Your mind battled and debated on the idea for a good few minutes as you slowly ate. And as you developed an urge deep within your soul to mention her, you took a deep breath and turned your (e/c) gaze to the intimidating king sitting across from you. 

“Excuse me, Your Highness. But, I have a request I have to ask of you.” You finally spoke and this made everyone perk up and look at you. It made your face and ears grow hot with embarrassment, but it must be done despite this. 

“Yes, of course. You may ask me anything and I’ll try my best to help in any way.” He spoke humbly. 

“Thank you, sir. Well, there is a worker of yours I’d like to bring to your attention. She’s having a tough time, yet she is still being an absolute angel. In fact, I would argue that she is one of your most humble servants.” You began. 

“She claimed you hardly knew her name, though she is one of the sweetest and most hardworking people I have ever met. She deserves to be high up on your list. I do not want to intrude, but I believe she even deserves to dine along with you.” You continued. 

“Oh? And who is this servant of mine exactly?” King Asgore asked gently. 

“Miss Elementia, sir.” You dipped your head in return and Asgore nodded. 

“I think you’re right, (Y/N). She’s a hard worker, and I don’t think I have quite rewarded her enough for such things.” Asgore responded.

He lowered his head for a moment then spoke again. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will certainly keep her in mind.” 

“Thank you, Your Highness.” You smiled, then everyone resumed eating. 

After a few minutes of silence, Lady Toriel turned to Gaster. ”So, Dr. Gaster. Have you learned anything new from (Y/N)’s study?”

”I certainly have, at least more than we have known before.  But, nothing that’ll definitively end the war.” He responded. 

“Do you mind sharing any examples with me?” Toriel asked, then Gaster slowly nodded. 

“Of course. I have found out from this case study alone that humans contain a sort of—‘energy’ within themselves that keeps them stronger. I believe that could be why human souls can persist after death.” Gaster spoke. 

“Our whats do what now?” You asked suddenly, squinting your eyes as you turned to Gaster in confusion. 

“Oh. Well, I suppose it’s hard to explain. But our existences fade away as soon as we turn to dust. Unless it is a powerful monster, such as King Asgore. We call these powerful monsters boss monsters. Yet, their souls only persist a few seconds after death.” He started as his pinpricks connected with your (e/c) gaze. 

“As for humans, though. Your souls can persist for much longer after death. I believe that this is possible due to the newfound ‘energy’ that I discovered.”  Gaster finished. 

“How long can our souls persist after death, then?” You asked and Asgore and Toriel turned to Gaster. 

“I cannot answer that question. And, I have no test subjects to prove it with. I would need a controlled study to see—“

“But you do.” Toriel spoke and Gaster somehow managed to grow paler.

”oh—er—“ He stuttered and began to cough. Obviously taken off-guard and shocked. 

Upon closer inspection, the pinpricks in his eye sockets have disappeared leaving an empty void as he froze. 

Silence filled the banquet hall as your heart began to race. What if he did use you to test that theory? 

Your eyes darted around the room until Asgore suddenly spoke, his deep and authoritative voice cutting through the uncomfortable tension. 

“Miss (Y/N) is not meant to be put to death, Toriel. Not only has she been cooperating, but she is very important to the humans. If we executed her, they would want revenge. And, they’d fight like hell for it.” He spoke flatly.

”A-and...” Gaster’s voice cracked for a moment, and he turned a faint lavender before clearing his throat. 

“we may need her for more important reasons.” He spoke quickly, and almost nervously. It’s very unlike his normal well thought out speech.

”I suppose that is a very good point, Asgore. I am sorry for even suggesting that, (Y/N).” Toriel apologized, seeming very apologetic. Yet, at the same time, you could pick up a small mischievous glint in her gaze. You can’t help but wonder if she said it on purpose to get a reaction.

“It’s alright. I know my life is on the line here every day.” You bit your tongue trying to keep the second half of your speech from escaping your lips.

But, that clearly didn’t work because before you knew it, you had uttered “I don’t even know why I’m still alive anyway. It’s not like my life really matters.” 

And you quickly clasped your hand over your lips. But it was too late. And unsurprisingly, Gaster stiffened at this remark. His empty eye sockets whipping to face you once again. 

He took you by surprise and took your hand suddenly. 

“(Y/N), I am serious about this. You cannot say my life matters and turn around and curse your own.” His voice was deeper than normal, and almost commanding. 

“Don’t even dare say that absolute bullshit. Your life matters. You’ve already made such an impact on people in so few years.” He squeezed your hand, the pinpricks in his eyes reappearing and staring right through you. 

“I-I-I” you kept stuttering, your (e/c) eyes staring right back at him. Under his harsh gaze, your lip began to quiver. 

“I would never allow anyone here to take your life, and I fully intend on keeping it that way. You are important, not just for some meaningless experiment either. Your entire existence was planned by the universe for a reason. And I won’t have you saying your life doesn’t matter.” He spoke, his voice slowly getting less harsh.

You stared up at him, tears beginning to well up in your eyes. But, it’s not necessarily because you’re scared of him. More so because nobody has ever said anything like that to you before. Let alone from someone who’s supposed to be your enemy.

”You say my life matters, (Y/N), and I can guarantee yours does too. So please, do not say such nonsense.” He moved his hand from yours and gently stroked your cheek, wiping away a lone tear. 

“It hurts me to hear you say that, dear.” He spoke softly, moving his hand once again. 

But suddenly realizing that King Asgore and Lady Toriel were still watching everything go down, Gaster turned back around and turned a deep purple.

”Ehem, sorry. I suppose I got a bit carried away since I’m a doctor.” He spoke, trying his best to get back to his normal tone.

Toriel’s face showed humor, but she quickly hid it. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. That’s exactly what it was.” 

Asgore nudged her gently, trying to not be obvious. And she winked in response. “Yes, we understand Gaster. Thank you for talking (Y/N) through that. It was very noble of you.” He spoke, though you knew he was just saying stuff. He is definitely questioning this whole thing.

And, even though most of the evening has been pleasant, your heart aches with embarrassment. Yet, it also soars with excitement. And, with every new moment, more and more confusing emotions swirl around in your head. They’re exhausting to the point that you wish you could just leave and sleep them away.

But, not wanting to be impolite, you pull yourself together and bite your lip. 

You’re the first one to go back to eating, perhaps it’s because you’re not sure how to carry a conversation anymore, or maybe it’s simply because you’re hungry. Either way, you begin to tune out the lingering conversations. You’ve had too much interaction for one day.

And, by the time you finish your bowl of soup and neatly tap your mouth with your cloth napkin, Gaster has finished as well. So, you let out a sigh of relief as you lean back in your seat, closing your eyes for mere seconds.

”Well, are we ready for dessert?” Lady Toriel suddenly asked and your eyes shot open, surely showing your panic. 

And, before Gaster could even reply, Asgore sat up in his seat. “No, no. I believe we have kept our guests long enough, Tori. Lady (Y/N) seems to be getting tired as well. And they have a long walk back.” He spoke with a gentle nod to you, certainly signaling that he had sensed your discomfort. 

“I will have one of my servants bring you your desserts shortly. Now, please do go ahead. I have had a lovely evening.” He stood up from the table, giving you both a nod. 

“Thank you for accompanying us on this fine night. And, as always, it’s lovely to get to know you, Miss (Y/N).” He continued with a gentle smile.

”Please do have a nice night.” He smiled, and Toriel stood up as well. 

“I apologize again, (Y/N). I was completely out of line earlier. Now, I hope you two do have a restful night.” She curtsied with a polite smile as you and Gaster stood up. 

“Thank you, Sire. And thank you too, Lady Toriel. I am sure she forgives you.” Gaster spoke softly, then placed his hand on your shoulder. 

At this, you looked over at her. “I do indeed, Lady Toriel. Do not feel bad, for I have already moved past that remark.” You spoke, not sure if that was even true or not. But, the faster you get out of here, the better.

So, after your final words and bows, you and Gaster walked outside the dining hall into the long, barely-lit hallways. And after walking for what seemed like forever, you finally made it back to his quarters. 

And as soon as the door was opened, you stumbled into the room, ready to get this dress off. Which, of course brought a new challenge with it. No helping hands reside in this room other than Gaster. 

But, after a few moments, you decided you were too emotionally exhausted to even care. So, you gathered up your normal clothes and walked up to his chair. 

“I need you to help me get out of this.” You sighed. 

“Oh, I suppose Elementia is gone now, isn’t she?” Gaster remarked and you nodded.

”Exactly. So, if you could please help, it’d be most appreciated.” You looked down. 

“Of course I’ll help. Turn around, dear.” 

Your cheeks suddenly heated up and your heart thudded in your chest. This suddenly brightened your mood a tad as you bit the tip of your tongue to suppress a smile.

So, you turned around. “No peeking, got it?” 

“Mmm, alright. If you insist~” He replied, his voice teasing as he slowly began to undo your dress. 

And, as the process continued on, it became apparent he is very knowledgeable in the undoing of dresses. And, due to that, you can’t help but wonder how he became such an expert.

“You have a lot of practice doing this, mmm Gaster~?” You spoke to mess with him.

”On the contrary, (Y/N). Unless you’d rather me be more experienced~” He chuckled near your ear and your cheeks flushed red again.

”I don’t mind either way, skeleton-man.” You responded, then purposely bumped into him, causing him to wrap his hands around your waist to steady the both of you. 

And in response to this, you placed your hands on top of his as you craned your neck to look at him. 

“Thank you for what you said to me earlier.” You suddenly whispered. 

“I don’t think anybody has ever said anything like that to me before.” You continued and he just pulled you closer, practically burying his face in the crook of your neck. 

“There is no reason to thank me, (Y/N). Thank you for making such a big impact on my life.” He whispered quietly in response.

Notes:

Happy New Year, everyone! Sorry it’s been a while. But I’m glad to be back! I love writing about these two. Especially when the reader is in absolute denial, even when Gaster goes on a tangent about how special she is. Also, can we have a hand for Toriel? She absolutely said what she said to trigger Gaster’s rant haha. 

I mean, it’s obvious he’s too headstrong to say anything unprovoked... So, poke the skeleton ig. Lmao. 

And, we have some more art for the story! This one is a drawing of Elementia by JaperJustice000! It’s absolutely amazing, and so is the rest of their art, so I strongly recommend you check out their art book on Wattpad! You can also find this piece in there!

also I have a vague memory of someone drawing Namir, but I cannot find it... so if you’re out there, please link it again and I will add it haha.

Anyhoo, just a small announcement but I’ve teamed up with some of my friends and we’ve created a discord server for Undertale fans, and fans of my stories alike! It’s still under construction, but if you’re interested in joining please message me because it’s going live very soon! And, trust me, it’s already super fun over there! So please do join if you’re interested!

And, a second announcement but as a fun lil project, the readers and I have created a collaborative playlist on Spotify called (Y/N)’s playlist. You can add up to 5 songs of your taste, after all, you are (Y/N)! You can easily find it just by searching the name! :)

And, if you don’t have a Spotify account, I’d be happy to add the songs myself! So just comment or pm me and I’ll try my best to do it! 

Anyhoo, I think that’s it! I hope y’all are enjoying this lil story, and I thank you for continuing to support the fic. <3 Have a wonderful day/night! 

-Indiana

Chapter 19: “A Shared Camaraderie”

After the events of last night, you and Gaster had just relaxed and talked over dessert. And, once you were drowsy enough, you took your new blanket and fell asleep in his cot. 

At least, until you suddenly shot up from the cot, chest rapidly rising and falling with your quick breaths.  

You looked around the room and spotted Gaster lounging in his chair reading a book with the dim light of a purple-flamed candle. Of course, this has become a common occurrence. Gaster always wakes before you and takes to his studies before breakfast. 

But as soon as Gaster heard your quickened breaths, he peered up from his book, snapped his fingers and all the candles in the room ignited. 

“Is everything alright?” He asked, looking slightly concerned as he set his book aside and stood up. 

“Y-yeah. No worries.” You shook your head. 

“I believe it was just a nightmare.” You sighed, then gave him a weak smile as he walked over. 

“Well, you know I’m more than happy to listen if you want to talk about it.” Gaster dipped his head gently and you smiled a bit brighter. 

“Well, I just remember something about the humans trying to hurt me. I believe it was because they saw me as a traitor. And, to be fair, I suppose that is true.” You replied and Gaster sat next to you on his bed. 

“Perhaps in the humans minds, yes. But not in mine.” He spoke softly and you looked down. 

“And, I want you to know that I would never allow the humans to hurt you. They would not lay a finger on you without going through me first.” He spoke, then crossed his arms. 

“No, Gaster. You have no reason to do that.” You dipped your head, then looked to the floor. 

“You have your entire future ahead of you. As for me, I’m 20 years old and am already an outlaw.” You sighed. 

“Once again, perhaps the humans view you that way. But to us monsters, you’re simply family.” Gaster smiled. 

You couldn’t help but let out a snort in response, “Half of your peers hate me, come on. I am not family to your people. The correct word would be ‘ally’.” 

“Perhaps they do, but I believe they just lack understanding. Quite like I did at first, dear.” He sighed, then stood back up, turning to face you. 

“Maybe so.” You clicked your tongue, then played with your hair silently. 

“Well, is there anything I can do for you?” Gaster suddenly asked, shifting his weight onto one hip. 

You bit your lip, then looked to him. “I am still quite tired, would you mind telling me a story?” 

“What kind of story?” He asked calmly.

“A true story from your past. That is, if you’re willing to share any of those.” You asked, peering up at him.

”No, no that’s completely fine. I have plenty of memories to share.” He spoke as you pat he cot beside you, scooting over.

He smiled, then sat beside you again as he tapped his chin. 

“Mmmm, I think I’ve got one.” He spoke, then looked off to the side. 

“When I was younger, my father would tell me of his time in the North. We were not an affluent family, but long before I was born, my father would travel. He told me of the sea, and all about the riptides and currents.” He began. 

“The beaches were pristine and the water was as blue as the morning sky, but amongst the beauty of the sea, he saw the most beautiful thing he’d even seen.” 

“One day as my father walked the beaches, he noticed a young lass. And, to his surprise she was not only a monster like him, but a skeleton as well.” He continued, smiling as he remembered the memory. 

“She was sitting up on the rocks, watching the waves come in silently. At least, until my father approached her.” 

You smiled as you watched him, a twinkle in his eye. 

“He began speaking to her, and she smiled as she chatted along. He very soon asked her name and she gave it,”

”Futura.” Gaster seemed to echo has father’s words as his smile grew. 

“They sat and talked for hours. He admired her smile, and could not get enough of her purple-tinted cheekbones.” Gaster rubbed his hands together, then continued. 

“But eventually the sun slowly started sinking into the sea. And, she knew she had to get back to her family before they grew worried. So, she left with the promise that she’d return the next day.” 

“Did she?” You suddenly asked, absolutely invested in the story. 

“Well, my father was first there the next day. And he waited, and waited... He was nearly about to give up when she ran onto the beach, waving her hand excitedly.” 

“She was wearing her best frock and she ran over quickly. She climbed onto the rock my father sat on and apologized for her tardiness. Her family did not approve of her conversing with a strange man, but she didn’t care. So, she snuck out as soon as her family had stopped paying attention.” He laughed.

”If it hasn’t become apparent enough, yet. Futura is—was my mother.” Gaster laughed, but his joy trailed off for a moment as he corrected his former statement.

”She sounds like she was an absolutely wonderful lady. I am so sorry for your loss, Doctor.” You took his hand gently. 

“Thank you, but it’s quite alright.” He dipped his head, then took a deep breath as he continued. 

“My mother and father never fell out of love. They were always extremely close. And when my father told me all of this, he made sure to end his tale with a promise.” He looked at the wall, then held your hand back. 

“‘Every young lad has someone out there for him. But, he must keep his gaze fixated on the path ahead as to not miss her.’ He told me.” He once again echoed his fathers words. 

“He made sure that I knew that was a promise, because he could always sense the hesitance and disbelief on my countenance.” 

“And as I grew, I almost started to believe him until the ‘incident’ occurred. From then on, I sneered at his promise. I just knew it was utter nonsense, especially with what I had done.” He laughed. 

“‘Who could love a murderer like me?’ I would always wonder. Especially with the rest of my species wiped out and gone.” He spoke, then turned to you.

”But, as of late...” He trailed off, then managed to smile. 

“I believe I have seen the truth in my father’s guarantee. I just cannot turn a blind eye. And just as you said, I must stop blaming myself for what happened years ago.” He squeezed your hand and suddenly, it sank in. 

He’s talking about you. Elementia was absolutely right. Dr. Gaster likes you? 

Your heart rate went up as you noted the purple tint to Gaster’s cheekbones. And, you’re quite unsure of what to do. So, you silently watched him, waiting to see if he ever hints at this outright. 

“This is no way to live. Me denying myself of enjoyment and romance has only made things worse.” He sighed, then shook his head.

”I’m unsure of what to do. But, I can only hope that I figure things out before it’s too late.” He responds softly, his gaze connecting with yours as you swallowed hard. 

“I’m really happy you’re giving yourself all credit due, Gaster. And, you’re a smart man. You’ll definitely be able to figure things out. I can only wish you the best of luck.” You replied with a smile. 

“Thank you, (Y/N). I just know my father was right, and I’m nervous and excited all at the same time. Odd for me to be this open about my feelings, but I know I can confide in you.” He spoke softly, his voice cracking a tad. 

“Odd, isn’t it?” You asked, looking away from his gaze. 

“Mmm? What is that, dear?” He asked in response.

“That you can confide in me. It’s just strange that not long ago we were sworn enemies.” You spoke softly, biting your lip as a confusing feeling grew in your chest. 

“Perhaps it is strange, but on all accounts we are far from foes now.” He replied and you closed your eyes for a moment. 

“Of course. It is just a point that I find quite humorous.” You explained then let out a deep breath, opening your eyes again. 

“Well, I can promise you that your discussion here is safe with me. I won’t tell a soul.” You promised and he smiled.

“Thank you. This is all very new to me, so I’m scared of it getting out of hand.” He chuckled, then grew silent as you stared at the wall ahead. 

You couldn’t help but think over all of Gaster’s words. And, as your mind slipped back to the memories of Evan Baskey, they seemed so much bleaker. For him being the man you yearned to marry not so long ago, it feels bizarre that he’s no longer on your radar. 

Your former commander really changed from being your favorite person and good friend, to just being a boring memory all in a few weeks. 

It’s a strange thing to process, but you pray that you never have to return to him again. After all, he may want to continue whatever romance you two had shared when the flame was strong.

You can only hope that he will have forgotten about you, after all, you’re much happier here. Even despite Gaster’s blossoming feelings toward you. 

But, trying to ignore the thoughts of Baskey, you leaned your head against Gaster’s shoulder silently. Perhaps you can sleep all of this confusion off. 

“You drowsy again? I would be happy to move for you to get some more rest.” Gaster asked and you thought for a moment.

You’re still uncomfortable due to your nightmare, but you are indeed tired. Yet at the same time, your discomfort makes you not want to rid yourself of Gaster’s presence just yet. So, you hold your breath before replying, hoping it doesn’t sound too strange.

“Yes, but no. I think I’d actually like you to stay.” You spoke softly and his pinpricks danced around in surprise. 

“Are you sure?” He asked and you nodded.

”If you don’t mind.” You spoke quietly, then offered him a gentle smile.

“I don’t mind at all.” He dipped his head, then laid back in the cot.

Biting your lip nervously, you took a deep breath and soon relaxed with a smile forming on your lips. 

So, you laid down on the cot next to him with your head resting on his chest. He silently wrapped his arm around you, placing his hand on your shoulder. And, In return you placed your arm against his chest as you shut your eyes.

---------------------------------------------

Opening your eyes, you quietly yawned and looked toward Gaster’s chair. 

It’s empty? 

And before you could question that any longer. You heard Gaster make a small noise in his sleep. 

You turned red as you remembered what’d occurred earlier. Gaster’s subtle admission, your confusion, and then you two had fallen asleep together.

You could feel the warmth radiating off his self as he gently pulled you closer in his sleep. It caused your face to grow bright red. 

Your heart thudded in your chest as suddenly, a wave of excitement coursed through you. This is all very confusing, but as the excitement continued to grow in your chest, things became a lot more clear. 

“How dense have I been?” You whispered to yourself quietly. You stared at the wall, then shut your eyes with shame. 

Gaster isn’t the only one who has fallen for their enemy, is he? How long have these feelings been here? Does this make you any lesser? 

You sighed, then took a deep breath as your eyes opened again.

No. It doesn’t. Gaster is a fantastic person. 

He isn’t an enemy anymore. He hasn’t been one in ages. And to keep acting like he is one would be foolish. 

No wonder your feelings for Evan have diminished. You have fallen for Gaster. And so many people seem to already know. 

King Asgore, Lady Toriel, and even Elementia probably know. And, if you’re unlucky, even Namir has figured it out by now. 

How in the hell has everyone but you figured this out by now? Are you daft, or were you just in some form of denial? 

But, before you could even finish this internal battle, a knock came at the door and Gaster very quickly woke up, then looked to the door as he sat up. 

“Who is it?” He asked as he gently and carefully made his way out of the cot as to not harm you. 

“Elementia, sir! I’m here to bring breakfast, as well as pick up my gown.” She chirped as he stretched, walking to the door. 

He opened the door as you stood up and brushed yourself off, smiling. 

“Good morning, Dr. Gaster! And you to too, Miss (Y/N)!” Elementia exclaimed. 

“Good morning, Elementia. Come on in.” Gaster spoke as he stepped back and beckoned her forward. 

She curtsied as she stepped forward. “Thank you! Same to you both!” 

She smiled brightly and walked to the table, setting down both of your breakfasts. “On today’s menu is water, buttered bread, fried eggs with a side of some herring!” 

“That sounds divine, Elementia. Thank you very much.” Gaster dipped his head and you walked over. 

“Yes, thank you bunches! It looks delicious. I absolutely adore your bread, as well.” You spoke before giving her a hug. 

“Oooh~ I’m so happy to hear that! Now, how was last night? Was the banquet lively?” Elementia asked as you pulled away. 

“I think it went pretty well, if I do say so myself.” Gaster remarked and you snorted. 

“It was pretty alright, other than Lady Toriel’s suggestion to have me executed.” You let out a snicker.

“Her what?!” Elementia gasped as she took your hands. 

“Are you alright Miss (Y/N)?” She asked worriedly.

“Oh, I’m sure she didn’t mean it.” Gaster spoke as he leaned on one hip. 

“Quite odd to suggest such a thing if you mean it simply as a joke, Gaster. But, yes I am fine. Just a bit weary of Lady Toriel now.” You responded and Elementia placed her hands on her hips. 

“I would too! That is pretty threatening. Especially coming from someone so close to the king. But, if she did mean that, I would happily talk some sense into her!” She crossed her arms then let out a huff. 

“I would not allow her to do such a thing. And, I’m sure Dr. Gaster is right behind me!”

”Of course, and I made sure to let her know that myself. (Y/N) is a friend, not a foe.” Gaster spoke firmly and Elementia nodded. 

“See! You got us behind you at least , and I’m sure King Asgore as well!” Elementia chirped, then walked to the nearby chair where her gown had been placed. 

“I see you managed to get this off? I meant to pop by last night to assist, but it was simply too late and I was absolutely exhausted!” She exclaimed and you smiled. 

“Don’t worry, Gaster and I figured things out.” You responded with a smile. 

“Oh? You did? Well, it was about time.” 

“Wait, what?” You asked suddenly, quirking your eyebrow. 

“What?” She looked around, smiling nervously. 

Gaster coughed, looking a tad confused and Elementia began to blush. 

“Er—never mind. I phrased that weird, that’s all.” She beamed, then scooped up all her clothing.

”Anyway, I am very excited to hear things went well! I will be back later today to bring you your next meal. Thank you for chatting with me!” She clapped her hands best she could with her arms full, then curtsied. 

“Of course! We do hope you have a nice day, Elementia. We will be sure to not miss your next visit. Thank you.” Gaster dipped his head as he went and opened the door for her.

“Thank you for coming by, Elementia! Cannot wait to see you again! And, thank you once again for loaning me the frock! I looked quite stunning in it.” You thanked her as you waved. 

“I cannot help but agree.” Gaster remarked and you blushed. 

“Of course! Any time! I will see you two soon!” She chirped as she walked out the door back down the hall. 

Gaster soon shut the door and beckoned to the slightly-less piping hot breakfast. “Are you ready to eat? Because to be frank, I’m famished.” 

“Of course! It smells so good.” You replied, smiling as you bounded over to your tray, taking it with you to your cot. 

“I can’t help but agree—save the fish. I don’t know if there is a time that I ever find fish smelling good.” Gaster admitted as he took his own tray and walked to his chair. 

You laughed. “Perhaps you have a point.” 

And as he sat down and you took a bite of your egg, you looked up to him. 

“What are your plans for today, Doctor?” You asked curiously. 

“As far as I am aware, I am supposed to meet with a top general named Fabian shortly. Not quite sure why yet, but I’m sure it won’t take too long. After that I figured I’d go to my lab. And, I’d be very happy if you accompanied me there.” Gaster replied and you smiled. 

“Of course, Gaster! I very much enjoy my time with you. And, what you do is fascinating!” You chirped. 

He blushed a faint lavender, then laughed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Thank you, dear. I have loved having you around.” He nodded, then continued eating. 

“Of course! There is no reason to thank me when we both feel the same way.” You spoke, trying to see if he’d catch your hint. But instead, it flew right over his head. 

So, you just continued eating your breakfast as you pondered all the ways you could tell Gaster about your feelings. But, none were very helpful. 

You looked up at him, he was unaware as always. But, you can’t make fun of him for that. After all, you couldn’t even figure out your own feelings for an absurd amount of time. 

Looking back down and taking a bite of the bread, you wondered if maybe he wasn’t quite ready to confess fully. After all, at the same time he may not want to bring embarrassment onto himself if the feelings aren’t reciprocated. 

If it took him so long to believe that love is really out there for him, then it’s only sensible for him to worry that he’ll have that promise crushed. It’d absolutely destroy his mental stability and leave him spiraling. Especially with the self-blame and guilt. 

So, perhaps he’ll want you to admit to your feelings first. Though, after the cuddling, you hope he at least has an inkling already. 

But, this is definitely a decision that needs to be well thought out. So, you decide to devote your time alone this afternoon to really think things over. Perhaps you could even rehearse your confession. That is, if that isn’t going too far. 

“This fish isn’t too bad. I’m pleasantly surprised.” Gaster suddenly remarked, tearing you from your thoughts.

”Well of course it isn’t, it was made by Elementia after all! I don’t think she can do anything wrong.” You remarked and he chuckled.

“You’re absolutely correct. Now if this fish had been prepared by Namir—“

”It’d be absolutely vile! Probably rotten on the inside, quite like himself.” You responded, laughing to which Gaster quickly joined. 

“You are so right about that. It’d probably seethe of sulfur as well!” Gaster continued to laugh. 

But, just as fast as the laughter had started, you had both finished eating. This didn’t come without a pang of sadness running through your veins though. For as silly as you feel over missing him for a brief time, the feelings are very genuine. 

So, as you watched him gather his things and put on his shoes, you tucked that sadness away. After all, why show it and make him feel guilty for such a simple thing? 

“Alright, dear. I believe I’ve gotten everything I need.” He spoke as he slid his keys in his pocket. 

You stood up and smiled. “Alright then, Gaster! I’ll see you in a little bit. And, good luck!” You exclaimed, then with a brief moment of hesitation, you pulled him into a hug. 

He seemed surprised, but very quickly hugged you back. His arms pulling you closer for a few moments as he bent his head by your shoulder. 

“I will be back in about 2 hours or so. And, thank you.” He pulled away and beckoned to the bookshelves behind him. 

“And, just remember, you are more than welcome to read anything you’d like if you grow bored.” He smiled, then waved as he walked to the door and opened it. 

“Thank you, Gaster. I’ll keep that in mind!” You spoke as you waved in return, and just like that, the door closed and you sat on the cot. 

“Well, I guess it’s time to start planning.” You spoke softly as you began to rack your brain. 

---------------------------------------------

After around an hour, a knock suddenly sounded on the door. Surprised by this, you jumped and stood up slowly. 

Walking over, you cocked your head to the side. “Who is it?” You asked. 

“Namir Eisen.” They replied, so you reluctantly opened the door to see him standing there with his tail twitching impatiently. 

“What is it that you need? Gaster’s not here at the moment, but I’m sure he’ll be—“ You started but he cut you off, rolling his eyes. 

“I know. That’s why I’m here. Gaster and Sir Fabian sent me to get you.” He replied and you cocked you eyebrows in confusion.

”Whatever could that be about?” You asked and he grumbled. 

“Look I don’t know, and I absolutely do not care. So just go get your things and get your ass out here.” He growled, his tail twitching. 

“Alright, alright. I’m coming. I’m sorry.” You replied, then went over, slipped on your shoes and ran back. 

“I’m ready now.”

”Don’t waste your breath by telling me, just get moving. I have better things to be doing, human.” 

You winced at his snappy behavior and bit your lip, silently nodding.

So, you shut the door behind you and began to walk along with the angry cat. His pace was fast, and as you walked you could hear the sound of coins bouncing and jangling in his pocket. 

Perhaps that obnoxious noise is what’s got him in a tizzy. After all, after hearing it repeatedly, it’s clear it’s headache-inducing. 

Though, he never moves it, it remains stuffed in his pocket through the various strange and unusual turns in this tunnel system. 

You’ve never been down this way before, but Namir certainly knows his way around. So, you just wait until the room is reached. 

You’re not quite sure how long this walk will take, but hopefully it’ll be over soon because your feet are already killing you. 

But, as long as Gaster is okay, you don’t mind the long walk. It’s good to exercise anyway. Especially after being cooped up. 

So, as you two walk, you get back to your mental contemplation on what to do and what to say. Might as well take this boring opportunity to continue planning, after all. Especially since Namir is most definitely not in a mood for conversation.

Notes:

Oooh, it’s only been like 5/6 days since the last update. Don’t expect this to be a normal thing to occur. I just was very motivated and helped by the discord server. So shoutout to you guys lmao. 

What do y’all think will happen in the next chapter? And what do you think will happen with the summoning? Let me know your theories because I hinted at some stuff, so I wonder if any of you guys caught on haha. 

Gaster says you’re a chicken nugget (my server made me add this lmao)

I don’t think I have much to say other than what I have already? But we’re getting somewhere with the romance aspect, ey? Didn’t take as long as in BoC haha. 

Anyways, remember if you are interested in joining our discord sever, let me know by pm! I’ll be happy to send you the link! And thanks to everyone that’s already joined! 

I hope you all stay safe and have a wonderful day/night! <3 

-Indiana

Chapter 20: “An Act of Treason”

The walking continued for an awfully long time, and somehow, during the entire walk, you never crossed another monster’s path. 

This began to give you the creeps. These tunnels are large, yet on every outing with Gaster, you always seemed to pass others. So, why is this different today? 

Why is the walk so long as well? You even seem to be walking up an incline at this point. Maybe you should turn back.

You bit your tongue, looking around nervously. 

Namir doesn’t seem any more threatening than usual, so perhaps you’re just overthinking things. It’s possible this meeting is far away and secluded because it’s a private matter?  

But, if that’s the case, then why are you going in? And why does Namir know about it? 

You stopped walking and he immediately stopped in his tracks.

”And what do you think you’re doing?” He challenged, turning as he placed his hands on his hips, his tail twitching still. 

“Namir—I...I don’t trust you.” You spoke softly as you took a step back. 

His tail stopped twitching immediately and he smiled. “I’m sorry, am I worrying you?” He spoke calmly. Somehow this made you even more nervous as you took another step back. 

He held both his paws out, then took a deep breath. “Calm down. I know this probably seems very suspicious, but Gaster and Fabian are right down the hall. The meeting was all the way over here because it’s close to the entrance.

”Wh-“ 

“Calm down.” Namir rolled his amber eyes, then sighed, shaking his head. 

“It’ll only be a minute and you can see your precious man again. Got it?” Namir said as he turned and started walking again. 

“I-I guess so?” You swallowed hard, ignoring the bad feeling in your gut. 

Namir’s explanation made sense, yet he’s acting ‘off’. Maybe you’re just misinterpreting his dislike of you as malice though. 

So, ignoring your intuition, you stride forward and follow him, soon catching up. 

“I’m sorry, I’m just on edge.” You spoke softly and he held back a smirk. 

“It’s whatever. Monster haters don’t feel comfortable around monsters. It’s normal. It’s expected.” He snickered, then as you two turned a corner, you saw a door mere feet away. 

“I don’t hate monsters, Namir. I really enjoy it here. It’s basically my new home, I-“ 

“Shut your whiny mouth. I don’t care. I’m just happy this is over.” He growled as he suddenly pushed you into the door, holding you still. 

Your eyes widened as he shoved your shoulders against the steel door. You were about to call for help when Namir’s eyes lit up momentarily as two amber magic-like handcuffs were placed on your hands. He covered your mouth with his hand as he swiftly turned you around, holding your arm behind your back painfully. 

“What the hell are you doing?!” You spoke, extremely muffled before you bit his hand. But right as you thought you had subdued him, he thrust you into the door, opening it just enough that you fell to the ground and hit your head on the——grass? 

 Namir shut the door behind him, leaning against it as you looked up at the blue sky, then back to him. 

“What the hell, Namir?! Take me back to Gaster right now you wicked old cat!” You shouted. 

He just smirked as he beckoned behind you. “He’s right behind you, human.”

”W-what?” You spoke, confused as you sat up, rubbing your sore head. 

But as you turned around, Gaster wasn’t there. Instead, it was three men with horses. 

Your eyes widened, and your breaths stopped for a moment as you backed up from them.

”Namir, I’m not kidding, I-“ you turned and tried to run for the door when one of the men suddenly grabbed you. 

“Miss (Y/N), don’t worry. We’re one of you.” He spoke calmly.

”We’re here to rescue you! We have been trying to locate you for ages!” Another voice spoke and your eyes filled with tears. 

No. 

No!

You started crying as you stared at Namir. How stupid are you?! How the hell will you get back here?! How could you even fall for this?

You fell to your knees and clawed at the ground, but it was no use, the man picked you up as another walked to Namir, handing him a bag of coins. 

“Here you are, Namir. The rest of what we agreed on.” He spoke. 

“Thank you. Now please take her away before someone comes by. We don’t want this arrangement to be figured out, of course, do we?” He asked, smirking as he slipped the rest of the money in his pocket. 

And as the man hoisted you up, you continued to cry. You know it’s over. Your time with the monsters is up and you’re stuck back in reality. 

You feel anger burn inside, you could just kill Namir. That selfish and greedy parasite! 

You wish you could scream and yell at him, but you don’t need these soldiers getting suspicious over your desire to go back to the ‘enemy’. 

It’s over. Might as well make it less painful and destructive. No reason to have them kill you for treason without them knowing it even existed beforehand. 

You claw into the soldiers shoulder as you continue crying. You’re shaking and feel like an absolute mess.

And to your surprise, once he has you on his horse, you tune everything out. You lose motivation and don’t even listen to these men speak. And, of course the tears stopped too. You just want this to be over.

You know this’ll be a long ride back to Commander Baskey’s camp. Assuming that he’ll still be there, of course. And for all you know, you may be going back to King Smith’s Castle. After all, it’s the most protected place around. 

But, you pray it’s the former and not the latter. After all, you don’t want to be around the king’s son anytime soon.

You cling onto the soldier’s back as his horse gallops through the woods. The breeze caused by the momentum causes you to shudder.

This causes him to perk up, “Everything alright there, Miss (Y/N)?” he asked and you sighed. 

“I’m fine.” You reply through gritted teeth.

And, to your relief, he asked no more questions after that. 

But, you have a question yourself. Not one to ask him, but one to ponder on yourself. 

These 3 men are complete strangers to you. Nobody you knew from your past and present camps. So, this must mean someone called out reinforcements to aid in the search efforts for you. 

And, you’d put money on that somebody being Evan. 

After all, he’s the only one to really give a care about your well-being. Though, it’s strange. These men seem very polite in comparison to most soldiers you’ve come across in the past. Especially in the fact that they haven’t mocked you for being a female spy who ‘got caught twice’ quite yet.

Though, that fact will definitely come up soon. And you will once again be subjected to ridicule just for your gender. You wouldn’t be surprised if you were discharged from the force altogether. Though, that possibility sounds more desirable than continuing to wage war against the monsters. 

But, all that is unimportant for now. You take a deep breath and close your eyes, deciding that thinking of all these possibilities and consequences is simply going to give you a headache. 

So, you open your eyes again and tune everything out once more. After all, you’re feeling the most stress and sadness that you have ever felt before. And, you don’t like it. Therefore, the best thing to do is to not think at all.

---------------------------------------------

After a very long time, you felt the horse come to a stop and it snapped you back into reality. 

You looked around as many gasps and mumbles began to fill your eardrums. And, as you surveyed your surroundings, you quickly realized this is just Baskey’s Camp. 

Whereas you’re disappointed that the same old sexist men will continue to plague you here, you’re thankful that you didn’t end up trapped with Prince Smith. That’d be an absolute nightmare. 

After one of the other men had secured his horse, he walked over and swiftly helped you get down. 

“There we are.” He spoke, then gently pat your shoulder. 

“I believe someone here is going to be very excited to know you’re back safely.” He whispered to you, and you shifted away uncomfortably. 

But, before he could speak any more, Alysha Corbett strut into view and gasped suddenly, dropping the dishes that she’d been holding. “Commander Baskey, Miss (Y\N) is alive!” She called. 

It was only mere seconds before you saw him step out of his tent. And, he instantly went pale as if he was seeing a ghost.

He quickly walked over, his mouth agape as he stared at you for a few moments. Your (e/c) eyes met with his brown gaze as suddenly, he gripped onto your shoulders. 

“We thought you were dead.” He spoke, his voice wavering.

”I-“ You bit your lip, not sure what to even say. 

But, he didn’t care, he suddenly enveloped you in a hug. Though it was not one you wanted to return. Your arms remained stiff for a few seconds until you realized you’re likely making a scene, so you reluctantly wrapped your arms back around him. 

He hugged you tighter, and you did too. At least, until someone pulled him off of you. 

He looked livid until he looked behind him and saw it was merely Felix Bordeaux. Now, seeing Felix, you couldn’t help but smile. 

“Aye, Lady (L/N)! I didn’t believe I’d ever see ya again!” He spoke before pulling you into a hug. You couldn’t help but laugh as you hugged him back, almost feeling bad for enjoying his presence. 

“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again either, Felix.” You whispered as he pulled away. 

“Well, tonight we celebrate, lassie! Yer back and that is worth our best whiskey!” He exclaimed in his familiar Scottish accent. 

“Agreed. Mrs. Corbett, David Fischer, make sure to prepare the best feast that you can. Tonight, we celebrate Miss (Y/N)’s return!” Commander Baskey exclaimed and the two immediately scrambled to get to work. As for the rest of the people, they soon flocked you, asking all sorts of questions. 

“Are the monsters as wicked as we’ve been told?” 

“Did you know we’ve been looking for you ever since you went missing?”

”Rumor has it that you were in the enemy’s torture chamber! Is that true?” 

You put your hand against your sore head, and uncomfortably looked away, trying to ignore the ever-multiplying questions being asked. 

When Evan saw that you were uncomfortable, he quickly whistled and held up his hand. “Give her some space. She’s likely been through a lot as of late.” 

And thankfully, after that, people backed off. At least, for now. You know that they’ll ask these questions again once Evan is out of earshot. 

 But, for now you’ll appreciate the silence. 

But, taking you by surprise, Evan took a hold of your hand and looked into your eyes again. “Come with me, (Y/N). It seems we have a lot to talk about.”

So, you reluctantly agreed and nodded. And, he immediately started leading you to his tent.

You walked beside him, matching his steps until he let go of your hand, holding back the cloth covering his tent. He beckoned you to go in first, so you did just that. 

You took a seat on a cushion laying on the ground, and he seated himself in front of you. 

“So,” he folded his hands together, focusing his brown gaze on you. 

“What happened?” His voice asked calmly.

You looked around, biting your lip. You don’t want to make the monsters seem malevolent. But, you also don’t want to sound like they’ve become your friends. So, the approach you’ll have to take will definitely be strange—a neutral standing, perhaps. 

Your eyes locked back with his again and you bowed your head. “I decided to camp for the night, Sir. And, even though I had been very careful, when I awoke the monsters had surrounded me.” You began.

”I tried to fight them off, but next thing I knew, I awoke in a prison cell. I ended up being questioned by several individuals—“

”Did you cave?” Evan suddenly interrupted and you furrowed your eyebrows.

”Did I what?” 

“Did you give in? Tell them what they wanted to know?” He explained and you shook your head.

”I was adamant on not giving anything away. But, they already knew a great deal about me already. So, I didn’t even have to say a word.” You swallowed hard.

”Alright. Did they hurt you?” He asked, taking your hand and holding it firmly.

”No, no. They actually took more interest in taking care of me than I would’ve liked.” You sighed. 

“What does that mean?” 

“I-I guess I was just ready to die in there, but they wouldn’t let me. I recall I even got very sick and they cared for me.” You shook your head and he squeezed your hand. 

“Ready to die? Why’s that?” Evan asked, looking concerned. 

“I suppose I didn’t want to burden anyone in my rescue, especially after my mistake in being captured.” You responded and he moved his hand to your cheek. 

“You didn’t burden anyone. We were all doing our best to find you, though we feared you’d be dead before we’d accomplished that.”  

You bit your lip, looking away. “I don’t know about that. Nobody out here has ever really respected me. So why would they worry? I’m just one less burden for them.” 

“(Y/N) (L/N)! Stop acting like you’re a burden. You are certainly not!” He exclaimed softly. 

“But, Commander—“ 

“Evan, please.” He moved his hand back to yours. 

“I’d like to finish what we started before you disappeared. Please call me Evan, (Y/N).” He begged and you suddenly felt nauseous. 

You looked away for a few moment, then sighed. “Of course, Evan.” 

“Thank you, love. I know you’ve had a very hard time, but I promise we will keep you safe. I won’t let you slip through my hands again.” He gently kissed your hand and against your better judgement, you started to cry again. 

He looked confused by this, but quickly hugged you. This made your melancholy worse, but you tried your best to shield it from his view.

“Are you sure they didn’t hurt you?” He asked, holding you close and you sniffled. 

“Never. They never laid a hand on me.” You spoke shakily. 

“Alright, good. I’m so thankful to hear that.” He replied softly, then moved back and wiped your tears away with his hand. 

And suddenly, he began to lean forward to kiss you. And, in return you felt absolutely repulsed. So, you couldn’t help but move your face out of the way. 

“I’m sorry, I-I’m not quite ready yet.” You smiled weakly, then looked down. 

There’s no way in hell you’re going to let Evan kiss you before you’ve even confessed your feelings to Gaster. It just feels wrong. And, if Gaster were to find out, he’d be devastated. 

So, you’re going to try your best to avoid any more intense romantic gestures from Evan. At least until you can figure out this situation. If there even is figuring that can be done. 

“It’s alright, I understand. I apologize.” He sighed, moving back. 

He then offered you a glass of wine, which you hesitantly accepted. Perhaps some alcohol will make this situation feel less painful. Though, you know you’ll have to go easy on it after what happened before.  

So, you both toasted your drinks, and you slowly downed the red liquid. 

“I’m assuming our plan worked?” He asked suddenly and you looked up, quirking your eyebrows.

”What plan?” 

“Some of the Royal Guard met a monster in the woods and before any conflict could occur, he offered up a deal. He must’ve heard about their search efforts because he offered to sneak you out of their lair in exchange for a fee.” Evan began to explain, leaning back. 

“So, they gave him half the payment then, and he promised within 4 days he’d have you delivered to us. And, of course we’d give him the rest of the money then.” He finished. 

“That explains that...“ You mumble.

”Yes, and I believe he’s the only monster that I’ve ever liked. After all, he may have committed treason, but it was for our benefit. And, now I can see your beautiful face yet again.” He smiled.

You cringed, then sighed. “Is it even considered treason to you?” 

“Pardon?” He asked and you looked at him. 

“He committed treason against his kingdom. That wouldn’t be treason to you. In fact, it was done to help you.” You responded. 

“Yes, I suppose you have a point, (Y/N).” He responded, scratching his chin. But, he suddenly seemed to remember something as he held up his finger. 

“Ah yes, I was meaning to tell you this, but you being here is only temporary. In about a week, the king’s men will come to bring you to his castle. For protection, of course. And, I requested to follow you to confirm your safety. So you shan’t be alone with strangers. I will keep you well protected.” Commander Baskey spoke and you nodded. 

So, that is going to happen after all... And once you get to that damn castle, there’s likely no easy path back to Gaster. So, if you’re going to attempt an escape, it has to be before they take you away. 

“But, of course we will have a guard by your side every moment you’re out of public’s view. Can’t have the enemy capturing you again before our journey, can we now?” 

Dammit. That’s going to make your planning a lot more hard. How the hell are you going to sneak past your own guard? 

But, you faked a laugh and a smile, can’t have him knowing what’s really up. 

“You’re very right there, Commander.” 

He lifted an eyebrow and you shook your head. “Sorry. Force of habit.” You spoke before quietly sipping your wine. 

“That’s quite alright. Why don’t you go and get some rest. You look very tired, dear.” He stood up and offered his hand to you. 

You reluctantly took his hand, his choice of a nickname bringing a stinging pain coursing through you. But, you did your best to hide the grief, smiling. 

“Thank you. I think I will.” You replied, standing up. You handed him your half-emptied glass, then dipped your head.

“Thank you for your kind understanding, Evan. I most appreciate it. I will see you shortly.” You smiled, then he saluted. 

“Of course. I will see you soon as well. But please go get some rest. If you’re unable because you’re scared—I’d be more than happy to watch over you myself.” He offered and you dipped your head again.

”That is very kind, thank you. But, I think I’ll be quite fine on my own.” You responded, and after your final goodbyes, you walked out of his tent and fast-walked to yours. 

As you walked in, you looked around at the familiar items. Your mat, your chest, and your lantern. It feels rather homey, yet at the same time, you can’t help but feel homesick. 

Especially as you lay down on your mat and am met with a hard, flat resting place. This is nothing like Gaster’s cot. You should have appreciated what you had more. Especially since he slept in his chair all alone just to let you sleep properly until—you two didn’t sleep alone. 

You felt your cheeks burn red as you flopped over and got under your minimal covers. 

If only you were back with Gaster. His silky voice, warm embrace, and kind nature enveloping you.

You shut your eyes tightly as memories of him flashed through your mind. It caused you to sniffle. Especially due to the fact that you could never see him again. 

What if he’s destined to just be a memory? What if you’re swept back to the King’s castle and you never get to see him again?

You feel sick just thinking about it. So, you try your best to ignore the thoughts. You don’t even want to think of the depressing possibilities life may throw your way. For now, you just want to sleep and possibly meet up with him there.

A dream is nothing but a dream, but when it’s the closest you can get to reality, it’ll have to do. Especially if it aids in the fight against the melancholy.

So, you close your eyes again and take a deep breath. Hopefully a good afternoon’s sleep will give you some much-needed peace.

---------------------------------------------

You awoke suddenly, the sound of nearby footsteps causing you to sit up. 

You looked around and instantly noted how dark it was. So, you leaned up to get your lantern, but you were beaten by the person approaching. 

You looked up to see Evan standing at the entrance to your tent, holding his lit lantern in his hand as he looked at you gently.

”Commander Baskey?” You asked in surprise and he sighed. 

“Evan, please.” He corrected you and you nodded. 

“Alright, I’m sorry. Now, how can I help you?” 

“To be frankly honest, I just really missed you. Do you mind if I stay?” He responded and you fluffed your hair slightly, biting your lip.

“As long as you behave.” You responded and he chuckled. 

“Noted. Now, may I enter?” He asked and you nodded.

”I suppose so.” 

“Thank you, (Y/N).” He responded, then walked to your side, sitting beside you. 

“You see, after you disappeared, I fell apart. I had searched for you day after day until my men pulled me aside. They knew I would keep going until I couldn’t, so they vowed to me that that’d finish the search.” He suddenly sighed and you blinked. 

“We’d just about given up. I was trying my best to keep my emotions in check, but I knew that those heathens had captured you. I figured you’d be dead, your soul captured and———your presence forever a memory.” He spoke darkly.

“Well, I’m fine. You mustn’t worry now. I suppose I’m not going anywhere.” You smiled weakly. 

“You’re right there, but every day is unpredictable. Tomorrow the war could escalate and we could be separated once again.” Evan responded, then shook his head.

You lifted your eyebrows in confusion, then looked around the room, pretty worried. “I-I suppose so?” 

“So, I’ve come to a decision.” He spoke, his tone serious as he looked straight ahead. 

“I can’t keep waiting to say and do things.” He took a deep breath, then looked to you and suddenly got up, kneeling on one knee. 

“(Y/N), I know we haven’t even courted yet. But, I know you’re the one for me. Will you marry me?” He spoke as he took your hand and your mouth fell open in shock. 

You looked around, unsure of how to respond to such a forward question. Not too long ago, you would have said yes, no questions asked. But, as you focus back on his brown gaze, you aren’t feeling the same enthusiasm. 

“I-I...” You stuttered before he squeezed your hand gently. 

“Come on, I know you feel the same way. Please, love. I promise to make you the happiest woman in the world.” He pleaded, his voice soft and his eyes showing his utter compassion. 

And, surprising yourself, you soon replied “Yes, I will marry you.” 

But, it felt wrong. Like the words were forced from your lips, but Evan didn’t seem to notice your discomfort. He instead smiled with excitement as he suddenly leaned forward and lifted your chin, kissing you deeply. 

You were instantly overcome with grief and disgust. This is not the man you wanted to share your first kiss with. Nor is he the man that you want to marry. 

Yet, now you are frozen unable to pull away from his passionate embrace. You’re stuck, and you begin to panic because of this. You’re seemingly trapped in a reality that you did not agree to. 

He pulled away and took both your hands. “I cannot wait to start a future with you, (Y/N). A future far away from these ‘monsters’.”

”Hell, I’ll make sure they’re far out of the picture. If they’re all dust, they can’t bother you, after all.” He chuckled.

You cringed and tears began to well up in your eyes, until suddenly, your eyes snapped open and you sat up in your tent. You looked around in confusion for a second, wiping the tears from your eyes as you realized that was just a dream. 

“Miss (Y/N)! Your celebration feast is almost complete!” A voice called to you. 

You shook your head, running your hand though your hair. 

“Thank God... I don’t care if I’m back here, I’m just thankful I haven’t been dragged into a lifelong commitment.” You whispered to yourself, still feeling your discomfort and disgust. 

And as you got up, you realized something. Evan is the kind of man that’d do exactly what he had in your dream. So, you know what you have to do to save your own sanity. 

You need to escape before he ropes you into marriage and takes you back to King Smith’s castle. 

 But the question is, how the hell will you manage to do that without getting spotted by your guard? Let alone by this entire camp?

You doubt they’ll let you wander the woods. And even on the off-chance that you could, if they see you outside of camp you don’t want it to seem like you are committing treason. Being killed is not a fair trade for trying to make it back to the man you love. 

So, the only thing to do is to start planning your escape. You don’t have long, but you know you retain enough stealth to make it work. 

So, as you get up and strut outside, you feel a new boost of confidence. This’ll all be over soon and you’ll be back home.

Notes:

Okay, I couldn’t leave y’all hanging for long. And, funny thing is, multiple people have discussed this exact thing happening without knowing it was exactly what I was writing at the time. It was funny as hell, not gonna lie. 

A few people guessed what was gonna happen pretty right as well. So kudos to y’all! Writing this chapter was challenging, but fun nonetheless. I kinda missed writing Felix, so I may shove him in a lot over the next few chapters. 

Also, I’m sorry for the weird dream sequence, I wanted to scare y’all. Lmao. I tried to make Evan kinda ooc so you’d pick up on it, but I don’t know if that happened. 

Anyway, so something funny I remembered when re-reading the fic to reintroduce myself to writing Evan... He’s 5’5” and, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just the reader wrong from loving a shorter man to being in love with Gaster who’s 6’3” in this fic... bruh that’s 8 inches different 😂

Just kinda interesting. Anyway lmao, I will pay more attention to BoC now. Y’all have been absolutely spoiled haha. Except this chapter isn’t,,, really,,, please don’t hate me. It’s been planned since the beginning lmao.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter regardless, and thank you for reading! And especially thanks to everyone who puts up with my writing shenanigans. I promise to give Namir hell <3 

I love you all, and have a wonderful day/night! 

-Indiana

Chapter 21: “Mind Games”

[Gaster’s POV]

 

After my long meeting with Fabian was finally over, I let out a sigh of relief as I walked outside the door. 

It was merely another offer for a job away from the king. And, that’s definitely not something I’m interested in at the moment.

I’d much rather be studying human anomalies than tending to wounded monsters who’ll pass away anyway. 

Not to mention, working with Fabian would have me separated from (Y/N) in the midst of a war zone. 

I also don’t want to leave her here alone, especially with the hostility many monsters have shown toward her already.

I sigh again, shaking my skull. 

It’s not like I want to leave her in the first place. Obviously, it’s quite the contrary. Against my better judgment, I’ve ended up smitten with her. 

King Asgore was right, and I’ve slowly had to come to grips with my feelings for her. It’s been a long process, but I believe I’ve finally accepted that fact. 

Though, this ‘crush’ of sorts is not without merit. She’s such a beautiful woman on the inside and out. Not to mention her bravery, compassion, and sympathy always manage to take me by surprise. 

Seeing her last night only cemented these feelings more. And, to be completely honest, I have never felt as much tranquility as I have when I was resting with her this morning. 

I shut my eyes for a moment as I walk, hearing my footsteps echo against the stone walls. 

I am not sure how I’ll tell her of my feelings. I certainly don’t want her taking it as a joke. But, I don’t want to be overly emotional either  

My eyes snap back open as I place my hand against my ribcage for a few moments. 

Perhaps there is a chance that she feels the exact same way. I find that highly unlikely, but I can’t help but hold on to hope. The thought of her possibly being with that military man makes my soul lurch. I want to be her sole protector, and I pray that he stays away from her. 

I dread the day that we’ll have to let her go. I know she’ll keep our secrets safe, but I hate to think of her being forced into fighting in a war that she no longer believes in.

Perhaps to keep that from happening, I should confess my feelings quickly. I’m not one for opening up, but she makes it possible. So, I believe I could be overthinking this whole debacle. 

I take a deep breath, then smile as I remember this morning once again. I want to experience that more often. I want to feel the peace, warmth, and protection on a daily basis. The way that she snuggled up to me in her sleep caused me great joy. What a positive way to start the day!

Now, I cannot help but feel genuine excitement to get back to my quarters and invite her into my lab. She always has the best reactions, and I can’t help but find it equally amusing and precious. 

I want to be able to keep surprising her. I want to show her all that I can about the earth that we live on. And, I certainly would like to continue seeing how she reacts when she’s confused. 

Her eyebrows always raise, and she just looks at me with ‘the look’. It’s rightfully delightful, and it always makes me smile.

At first, I found it irritating. But, it soon became evident that I’d very much misjudged her. She is genuinely curious and eager to learn. I can’t help but respect that. Especially since she wasn’t given the opportunity when she was younger.

And, I want to make that up to her. I’ll teach her everything she wants to know until the point we’re learning new things together. That is, if time warrants such an occasion. 

All I can do is hope, though. 

I continue my long trek until finally, I get to my door. I smile, then take a deep breath as I get my keys out of my pocket. Trying my best to hide my excitement, I slide the key into the keyhole before opening the door.

”My apologies that my meeting took so long—“ I trailed off as I realized (Y/N) was nowhere to be seen.

I don’t bother to close the door as I walk inside, looking all around. “(Y/N)?” I called, but as I paused and waited, no reply came.

I shake my skull, then walk back into the hall, studying the door. Perhaps I just walked in the wrong room?

But, that was a ridiculous train of thought. This is indeed my quarters as always. The Wingdings on the door and the contents inside prove that.

I stand there for a few moments, studying every inch of the room until I notice her shoes are gone.

Where the hell could she possibly be? 

Anxiety suddenly begins to eat away at me, but I shake my head. Perhaps she’s just with Elementia. 

So I lock my door back, then begin to walk to find her. After all, I don’t want to drive myself mad when there’s likely a simple solution.

I walk around this large bunker for ages until I finally reach Elementia’s quarters. Hoping I didn’t wind myself for nothing, I knock on her door praying that she isn’t busy elsewhere.

And to my relief, Elementia opens the door and immediately looks surprised.

”Oh, Dr. Gaster! I didn’t expect to see you here! What can I help you with?” She asked.

”I was wondering if (Y/N) was with you? She wasn’t in my quarters and I figured she must be with you.” I asked and her flames dimmed for a moment in concern. 

She opened her door completely and revealed that the only other individual there was her roommate Giselle. 

“I’m sorry, but she’s not.” She frowned. 

“Oh dear...” I managed to whisper.

Elementia grabbed her lab coat and keys, then quickly stepped outside. 

“Giselle, I’ll be back soon. I’m going to go help Dr. Gaster look around for (Y/N).” She spoke softly. 

“Alright! I’ll have dinner ready for us when you get back! I wish you two the best of luck!” Giselle smiled, then waved goodbye as Elementia started closing her door.

”Thank you, Gi!” She spoke as she shut her door and turned to me.

”She couldn’t have gotten too far, Dr. Gaster. Don’t even worry.” She gave me a gentle, yet nervous smile as she started walking in front of me. But, from her expression I am not certain if she even believes what she’s saying herself.

Yet, we both walked and kept holding onto as much hope as we could muster. But, the longer we walked, the more this felt like some aimless mission.

We talked to everyone we could think of. From Gerson Boom, to the Chambermaids upstairs, nobody seemed to know anything at all. 

And after a while, I let out a drawn out sigh. Certainly this cannot be good. We’ve asked more than half of the individuals down here, and we’re no closer to a reasonable conclusion. 

Eventually, we pass by Namir on the way to explain the situation to Asgore. So, of course we stop him like everyone else.

”Namir, may we speak for a moment?” I asked calmly and he turned around, his ears moving slightly back. 

“I suppose. But don’t waste my time. I have better things to be doing.” He spoke impatiently.

“We were just wondering if you’ve seen (Y/N)? We cannot seem to locate her.” Elementia asked.

He rocked back on his heels for a moment, coins rattling in his pocket as he thought for a moment. “I have not.” He sneered, then laughed. “She’s probably camping in the woods somewhere.” 

I felt my soul lurch for a moment as I looked down. Perhaps Namir is actually right. After all, where else would she be? 

Elementia placed a hand on my shoulder for a moment, then looked at Namir angrily. “You shut it, Namir! Now is not the time for your snide remarks.” She wagged a finger at him and he flinched backward, his ears lowering again. Yet, this time it seemed to be out of pity. 

I rubbed the back of my neck, clearly stressed as I sighed. “Thank you Namir. That’ll be all.” I waved him off, and he quickly scurried away. 

“Will you be alright, Dr. Gaster?” Elementia soon asked and I gave a curt nod. 

“Don’t worry about me, Elementia. Let’s continue.” I speak as I force my anxieties and melancholy to the side, at least for now. 

“Yes Sir.” She curtsied politely, then we continued our walk to His Royal Highnesses’ quarters.

On our way, we started to pass one of the king’s soldiers. He’s a fire elemental like Elementia, but he’s a knight originally from Spain. 

Unlike Elementia, he isn’t made of orange flames. Instead, he’s bright purple. In fact, the shade closely mirrors the color of my own magic. 

“Good afternoon, Fuego. Do you mind stopping for a moment? We must ask you a question.” I suddenly asked, and he nodded. 

“Yes, of course. How can I help you two?” He asked, stopping as he smiled. 

“Have you seen any humans about today?” I asked, wondering if he saw (Y/N) while he was outside.

”Now, are we talking about a specific human, or humans in general?” He asked, crossing his arms. His Spanish accent is thick, but it’s still fairly easy to understand him. 

“Well, I suppose a specific human in general. But perhaps either answer would work.” I replied.

”We’re specifically looking for a female around (height), with (h/c) hair.” Elementia specified and Fuego hummed in thought. 

“Very specific, don’t you think? I presume this is the human that I’ve been hearing about?” He asked and Elementia nodded.

”I see. Well, I have not seen her around. But, I can say that we saw a few humans come through the area on horses earlier today.” Fuego replied. 

“So, you saw regular men but no females?” Elementia asked again and he grinned, nodding. 

“Si. Now, I don’t believe I’ve met you before, hermosa~” He reached out his hand, and Elementia reluctantly took it, only for him to kiss her hand. 

She then slapped his hand off of hers and stepped back, adjusting her glasses. 

“Pity it didn’t stay that way.” She huffed, then started walking away. 

Fuego looked perplexed, but just smiled again, placing his hands on his hips. 

“Well, there’s always tomorrow, mi amigo. Best of luck with your search efforts.” He spoke, then waved. 

“Thank you, Sir Fuego.” I dipped my head, then walked after Elementia. 

It didn’t take long for me to catch up with her, and soon enough we finally made it to King Asgore’s quarters.

Hoping he won’t be too angry for being disturbed without warning, we pass by the guards then knock on the door. 

“Who is it?” He suddenly asked.

”Dr. Gaster and Elementia, your highness.” I responded, shuffling on my feet. 

You could hear some movement, then the door in front of us opened. 

“Greetings, you two! Come in, come in.” He stepped back and beckoned us both inside, so we both bowed and did just that. 

As soon as we’d stepped inside, he swiftly closed the door, then motioned for us to sit at his table. 

“Shall I request for some tea?” He asked as we sat down at our seats.

”No thank you, Sire. We’ve come to discuss important matters.” I responded and his cheer instantly lessened.

”Ah, I see.” He scratched his face, then walked to his chair, sitting down.

“Then how may I help you two?” He asked, folding his hands as he looked directly at me. 

I took a deep breath, looking away for a few moments. 

“Your Highness, I had a meeting with Sir Fabian this morning and when it was over, I walked back to my quarters to get (Y/N) only for her to be missing.” I sigh, swallowing hard.

”I went to see if she was with Elementia, but she wasn’t. So, Elementia and I have searched high and low for her in this bunker, and she’s gone.” 

He blinked silently for a moment, then shook his head. 

“Are you sure she’s not around?” He asked after a few moments. 

“Yes, Sire. I’m fairly certain.” My skull hangs low, reflecting my pensive and melancholic thoughts.

“Oh, Gaster—“ He trailed off, and as I glanced up, I could see the deep sympathy in his kind gaze.

He stood up, then walked to me, practically pulling me out of my chair and into a hug. I stiffened at first, but after a few moments, I gave in and hugged him back tightly. 

I’m still holding back the majority of my emotions, but I can feel an ache in my soul beginning. I was a fool. Such an absolute fool. I should’ve known this would happen. 

The moment I begin to open up, she leaves. She leaves with all of our secrets and all the information I stupidly shared with her. That was what she was trained to do, after all. How could I have been such an imbecile?!

If none of this meant anything, why do I feel so empty? Why must I still grieve? I was simply a toy for her to manipulate. Now she’s gone, and I’m stuck with these damned feelings. 

My grip tightens on Asgore’s shirt for a few moments before I soon pull away.

I feel weak. I feel so utterly weak and foolish.

I grit my teeth as I turn away.

He laid his hand on my shoulder gently. “Gaster, I know it’s easy to jump to conclusions, but there is a possibility this wasn’t her doing.” 

“So, some human just waltzed in here and took her away?” I replied, crossing my arms. 

“You never know what those humans are up to, Dr. Gaster. It really could just be a big misunderstanding.” Elementia added, finally chiming in. 

Asgore nodded in agreement to Elementia’s remark, but then sighed and pat my shoulder. 

“I know this must hurt, but I vow to you that we will find her. You have my word.” Asgore spoke, then walked back to his chair and sat down.

“I will have a search party deployed to look for her as soon as possible.” King Asgore sighed, then sat down.

“Don’t waste your resources, Sire. There’s no need. I’m sure by now, she’s long gone.” The words almost catch in my throat.

”It’s an order, Gaster. There are no refusals to be made. We will find her.” 

“Yes, exactly! We’ll find her, Dr. Gaster! Please don’t even worry your cranium!” Elementia chirped, but I just sighed. 

“Of course, my greatest apologies, Sire.” I dipped my head, then looked down at the edge of the table. 

There was a short pause, nobody quite knew what to say next. And, I don’t blame them. It’s quite obvious I’m not up to par, and I refuse to accept any reassurance. 

But, after a while, Asgore stood back up, placing one of his hands on the edge of his table. 

“You look exhausted, Gaster. Please do go and get some rest. I’ll take it from here.” He spoke softly. 

“And, if you need anyone to speak to, you know I’m always here.” He added as I got up. 

“I appreciate that, Sire. But I’m fine. I’m more concerned about losing a valuable resource.” I responded, Asgore’s eyes widening in surprise for a moment. 

Elementia exchanged a knowing glance with Asgore, then took my hand. 

“I’ll walk you back to your quarters, Dr. Gaster. Let’s go.” She gave me a gentle smile, though it seemed she was in enough pain of her own. 

“You don’t have to do that, Elementia. I’ll be fine on my own.” 

“I know. But I want to.” She smiled, then practically started dragging me to the door. 

“Thank you for everything, Your Highness.” She stopped and curtsied, then continued pulling me along.

”Of course, Elementia. Do be safe, you two.” He smiled, but as I was turning I saw it turn into a frown. Whether that was appointed to my situation, or rather (Y/N) in general, I’m not quite sure. And I’m not sure if I have the heart to care either way.

But, before I can think over my own feelings any more, Elementia walks me outside and we start heading back to my quarters. The air grows thicker with tension and feelings of sorrow until she finally breaks the silence. 

“Dr. Gaster, I know it doesn’t mean much coming from me, but I know that she didn’t lie about a single thing she told you.” 

“I could tell she deeply cared for you, and I have no doubt that she did not leave by her own choice.” She sighed, and I just stayed silent. 

“The way she always talked about you—“ She smiled for a mere moment. 

“you could see how proud of you she was. And, she was truly thankful for all that you’d done for her. There’s no way in hell she’d leave all that behind willingly.” She stopped me, then pat my back. 

“Whether it was platonic or romantic, she adored you.” Elementia spoke softly, then sighed. 

“You can trust me in this. I know what I saw. You may have once been enemies, but that’s long since passed. So please, do not act as if she is a villain once again. Things will all be sorted soon enough, and that’s all that matters.” She gave me a warm smile, then started walking again as she took my hand once more.

Quite uncertain of how to respond, I stayed silent. It pains me to treat Elementia in this manner, but it’s already hard enough to navigate my own emotions about what happened. And, sometimes I wonder if perhaps it’d be easier on me if she did in fact leave on her own free will. 

After all, then at least one of us would be happy. 

Elementia must realize my reluctance to continue speaking on our current issue, so she doesn’t bring it back up for the rest of our walk. 

That is a relief enough on its own, but it’s even more of a relief when we reach our destination. I would just like to get some rest. Asgore was right about me needing some. 

I sigh, then pull my hand from Elementia’s. 

“Thank you, Elementia. I appreciate your help and kindness today.” I spoke suddenly, breaking the long silence. 

“Please, Dr. Gaster. There is no need to thank me.” She curtsied.

“Well, I certainly think there is.” I gave her a weak smile, and she looked down sadly. 

“Please do get some rest. Would you like me to bring you some tea later?” 

“No thank you, I believe I require something quite stronger tonight.” I let out a small laugh and she looked back up, frowning. 

But, before I could apologize for my despondent remark, she clicked her tongue, pulling me into a sudden hug. 

“Please do take care of yourself, Doctor.” She spoke softly as I reluctantly hugged her in return. 

“I will, dear Elementia. Please do not worry about me. I’ll be quite fine.” I responded in return.

She nodded against my chest, then sighed as she pulled away. “Good. I will see you in the morning, Dr. Gaster.” She gave me a comforting smile, then took my hand and gently squeezed it.

”I know King Asgore has already said it, but I’m always available if you need some company.” She stepped back, then curtsied again. 

“Have a good night, Dr. Gaster.” She dipped her head. 

“Same to you, Elementia.” I waved goodbye, and she turned, walking back down the long hallway. 

And as soon as I was sure she was gone, I opened my door, walked inside, shut the door and fell back against it. And, soon enough, I slid down until I was sitting on the floor. I shakily moved my hands to my skull and placed them against my face. 

And that’s when I finally allowed myself to cry. I took a ragged breath as I soon buried my head into my knees. If only this day had gone a lot different. 

I feel so weak having to express my emotions in such a manner, but isn’t that just what I am? A weak monster who fell for the simple mind games of a human? Why the hell would I have ever expected myself to be given pure happiness? Characters like me don’t deserve joy, and that’s the simple truth.

---------------------------------------------

After a good 3 hours of laying around doing nothing productive, I heard a knock come at my door. So, I put down my wine glass and stood up. 

I was never able to sleep, so I’ve just been awake drinking wine and reading a book. At least, when I’m able to pay attention to it. 

Truth be told, I’m drifting in and out of my thoughts. I’m trying my best to block out all the negatives, but that’s hard to do whilst alone. 

Yet, I don’t really want to have company. This experience has not changed the fact that I’m not very fond of interaction. So, I deeply hope whoever this is doesn’t stay for long. 

I walk to the door as I let out a sigh. And, as I opened it my pinpricks widened in surprise, my ‘bone’brows quirking. 

“Namir?” I spoke in surprise. 

“Good evening, Gaster. I apologize for my late intrusion, but I’ve brought you dinner.” He was holding a plate of food proudly, acting strangely jovial. 

“Dinner? You didn’t have to do that.” I reply as he practically shoves the plate into my hands. 

“I’m well aware, Dr. Gaster! But, sometimes you have to show an ounce of kindness.”

What the hell has happened to Namir? Did he get laid or something?

I looked down at the plate and observed a steak and some vegetables. That’s quite peculiar. Steak, let alone most meats from cattle are quite expensive. How did he get his hands on this? Perhaps he stole it? 

“How in Asgore‘s name did you obtain this?” I asked, confused.

”I used my wages, of course!” He replied, still smiling. 

“There’s no way you bought this with your wages.” I lifted a ‘bone’brow suspiciously. 

But, to my surprise, he jumped at the sudden remark. 

“Pardon me?!” He frowned, crossing his arms. 

“You don’t think they pay me to take care of a grown man with a peasant’s wages, do you?” His tail flicked back and forth angrily. Now, that’s a bit closer to the Namir I know. 

“I suppose not. Fair enough.” I sighed, then turned and placed the plate down on the nearest table. 

“Well thank you, Namir.” I beckon with my hand for him to leave but he just smiles again and stays put. 

In fact, he instead closes my door and sits down in the closest chair. 

I look at him in confusion, then pick up my glass of wine and take a swig. I don’t want to have to deal with this right now. What does he want from me? For me to admit that he was right about everything? 

I find my hand shake in anger for a few moments as I clutch the glass tighter. 

“What do you want, Namir?”

”Can I not spend some time with my coworker?” He ran a hand through his golden fur.

”It’s been a long day, Namir—“ I get cut off by him when he stands up. 

“I know! That’s why I picked you up something on the way over!” He stood up, then walked back to the door.

”The food?” I look around, confused. 

“Nope. I figured you’ve had a hard day, so I picked you up something else as well.” He smiled again, then opened the door, bent over and then walked over as he shut the door swiftly. 

He seemed to be walking in an odd manner, almost in a coquettish way. His hips swayed as he bounded over, handing me something carefully. 

His yellow gaze is filled with excitement. “I hope you like it, Gaster!” 

I stood there in perplexity for a few moments before I unfolded the fabric he handed me. It’s a new pristine lab coat. 

“It’s made with the finest materials. Feel it, it’s incredibly soft!” He reached forward to feel the fabric right as I did and our hands brushed against each other’s for a second.  

His ears stood up straight, his eyes widening in surprise as he laughed. “Sorry! You go ahead.” 

I felt the fabric, it is indeed very soft. This must’ve cost a fortune. And, I will admit, I do appreciate it very much. Especially with how my lab coat is getting quite old. 

“Ah, thank you Namir. This all has been very kind of you!” I gave him a smile in return, then turned and set it down on my cot gently. 

“You’re most welcome, Gaster~!” He smiled in such a way that his eyes almost closed. He seems more happy than I’ve ever seen him. Either he’s been drinking, or I really need to start questioning things. 

But, before I could once again try and get him out of my quarters, he suddenly pulled me into a hug. 

For the love of Asgore, can everyone stop hugging me like I’m some distraught child? 

And, out of all hugs I’ve received today, this one is the most uncomfortable. I stay stiff, my pinpricks wide with bewilderment as he pulls me closer. 

“I know it been a tough time for you as of late. And I want to help you feel better.” He purred. 

And as I went to pull away, he instead nuzzled his head against my neck. His fur tickles against my vertebrae and it causes my cheekbones to heat up as I grow embarrassed.

What the hell is going on? Is this some kind of joke? 

“I know how lonely it can be down here. Not to mention positively boring. I think it’s time I be a bit nicer to my peers~” 

He pulled away, my hands still hovering stiffly along his sides. “Figured I’d start with you, Doctor.” He grinned, running a hand through his golden bangs. 

“After all, you’re practically my superior~”

 I shook my head as I observed Namir licking his canines. 

“Listen, Namir. I’ve known you for quite some time now—“

”Mmmm, yes?” He blinked up at me innocently.

I lifted a ‘bone’brow at his interruption, then I sighed, taking another large swig of my wine. 

Shaking my head, I reached forward and touched his shoulder. 

“Anyway, we’ve been acquainted for quite some time, but to be completely and utterly honest, we never developed a bond because you’re an asshole.” I responded, then folded my arms.

”Are yousaying a man can’t change, Dr. Gaster?” He looks to the side, disappointed for a moment. 

“Well, no—“ I groan. 

“You know very well I can change! I want to better myself! I despise being hated.” He looked down, seeming downcast.

I can’t help but look at him sympathetically. “Well, perhaps we can turn over a new leaf—“ 

He crossed his arms, then tapped his boot against the ground in annoyance. “You’re hesitant to give me a second chance when you instantly granted one to a half-witted human?!” 

“You do realize that you and I are closer than you would ever be with that moronic adversary, right? She only ever cared about escaping, as you see now! Can’t you see that your priorities are skewed?!” 

He reached forward and took my hands.

”She never cared about anyone here, and now we may be in severe danger! But unlike her, I have truly cared! And I want to make sure I change so I can be equals to you!” He practically purred, gripping onto my hands tightly. 

But, as his words slowly seep into my conscience, I grow more and more fed up. His whole spiel is giving me a headache, and I’m tired of dealing with it. Especially with the way he talks about her. 

I yank my hands out of his, then smile. I walk forward a step, setting my wine glass to the side as I watch his ears lower in surprise. “Truly care, hm?”

He nodded sheepishly, and suddenly, the room was lit with a purple tint as I controlled my magic. I used a pair of hands to suddenly pick Namir off the floor.

At the sudden surprise, his yellow eyes widened and he looked around the room as suddenly, I released him and let him fall into my arms. 

“Well, if you truly care, Namir—“ 

He paused, eagerly looking up at me as he gripped onto my shirt. There’s no better way to explain his expression other than the word “enchanted”.

I walked with him in my arms to my door, throwing it open with my magic and dropping him onto the cobblestone ground below.

”then I’d appreciate it if you’d let me get some damn rest. I only want to be by myself at a time like this. And I sure as hell don’t want to be belittled for my mistakes when I feel melancholic and hopeless on my own already.” I rolled my pinpricks. 

“Thank you for the gifts and for attempting to cheer me up. I know what you did was a tremendous act of kindness, so I have to apologize for you finding out I’m such a killjoy.” I continued. 

“Truth be told, I already sit around and mope alone so I do not need someone else assisting me.” I flashed him a smile. 

“Now, have a nice night, Namir.” I let my smile naturally fade to a scowl as I slammed the door shut. 

That blasted feline only gets more and more infuriating every time we cross paths. I’m not sure what his plan was, but I simply do not need him talking about (Y/N) in such negative ways. Especially when he ropes me into the conversation.

I don’t know what she did, or how she escaped, but there is always a slim chance that what we shared was real. And I’d have that over being friendly with Namir Eisen any day.

So, I grabbed my wine glass once again and downed the rest of it. But, it’s not cutting it anymore. So, I set my glass back down and headed over to pour myself something stronger. 

I definitely need something to make me forget the bizarre situation that just unfolded. Especially if I’m expected to eat what he has provided me.

I can only hope that for the rest of night, I can stay calm and collected. I don’t want to think of the mind puzzle that is Namir, I don’t want to think of my job, and I certainly do not want to think of (Y/N). After all, I would like to have a peaceful slumber. Especially if it allows me to escape this damned reality for at least a few hours.

Notes:

Okay, we’re back with a new chapter! And, I hope you all liked it! I had lots of fun writing it, though I apologize I had to put you through Gaster’s sad situation. But, it was definitely needed before I jump back into (Y/N)’s perspective. 

I may throw another Gaster POV chapter in soon because I’ve got some good ideas, but I’ll make sure to let you guys settle back into Baskey’s camp first. Gotta get off of the current cliffhanger, after all! 

Anyway, shoutout to my bros on my Discord server! A lot of y’all helped me tons with this chapter, and I cannot thank you guys enough. So, special thanks to Raisin, Zekk, Bella, Irrel, and Crispy Bread Square! You 5 really helped keep me motivated and gave me lots of spicy ideas, so I really thank you all! Love you dudes. <3

Speaking of said Discord server, we changed the rules a bit and are now only accepting members 15+. But if you’re interested in joining and you’re 15 or older, let me know and I’ll get back to you asap! 

Anyway, I don’t want to delay this chapter any longer, so I just wanna say thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day/night!

-Indiana

 

 

 

 

✨Gaymir✨

Chapter 22: “Forethought”

You let out a sigh as you sat in your tent. 

Your celebration dinner had ended up being such a mess! Sure, it was never destined to be something you’d enjoy, but it ended up being absolutely insufferable!

People asked so many uncomfortable questions, Evan wouldn’t stop staring at you longingly, and the food was absolutely grim! Seems like Mrs. Corbett’s lackluster cooking was even worse then you remembered. 

And that’s not meant as a diss to her, it’s just clear that the monsters have spoiled you more than you had realized. 

But, that’s besides the point. The actual point? You miss the monsters. You miss your new home. And, you especially miss Gaster. 

When you had awoken from last night’s slumber, you realized that all your dreams had been plagued with his familiar presence. And having to snap back to reality when you woke up was quite the rude awakening. 

But, at least it was the fuel that you needed to begin planning your escape. After all, you don’t want to live like this. 

It may sound silly, but you had felt more at home with the monsters than you ever have with your human comrades. Your fellow soldiers have always treated you like an accessory, but monster-kind had treated you as an equal. And that says a lot when you were merely a prisoner to them.

You comb a hand through your hair as you shake your head and hug your knees. 

If only you hadn’t trusted that stupid cat! Bloody, worthless son of a bi—

“Good afternoon, (Y/N).” 

You suddenly jumped, yelping as you shrank back in surprise. 

Standing in front of you is of course Evan Baskey. But, you absolutely did not hear him approaching your tent in the slightest. Were you really that caught up in your thoughts?

”Good heavens! I am so sorry, (Y/N). I did not mean to frighten you.” He frowned and sighed.

”Please, you are quite alright, Evan. I was simply caught off guard. So, please don’t apologize.” You replied, giving him an understanding smile.

He sighed, then smiled in return. But, you could tell that he still felt bad for scaring you. And that makes sense considering the situation that he must think that you’ve been through.

”How can I help you, Evan?” You asked, shifting your position.

”No, no. How can I help you, (Y/N)? I came to see how you’re doing.” He looked down at you, his brown gaze warm and filled with compassion. 

“I’m doing just fine, Evan. Thank you for asking.” You dipped your head, then took a deep breath.

”I am so happy to hear that, my love. Is there anything that I can do for you though? You know that I’d do anything and everything for you, my dearest (Y/N).” He spoke softly.

You felt your face grow hot with embarrassment over his romantic statement. He really has fallen for you hard, hasn’t he? And that hurts your heart because he’s a truly wonderful man. He’s already lost his wife, surely he wouldn’t appreciate losing you either.

“Well,” You hesitated for a moment, biting your lip slightly. 

“I do have a few curiosities that I’d like to know the answers to. Well, that is, if you’ll humor me by answering them.” You responded and he nodded his head, sitting down on the ground. 

“Of course! Now, what’s been plaguing your mind, mmm?” He ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair as he leaned back.  

“When I didn’t return to camp, how did everyone react?” You asked suddenly.

His expression shifted for a moment as he looked to the side. Discomfort radiated off of his aura, but he seemed to shake the thoughts from his head for your sakes. 

Maybe asking him this question so soon wasn't a good idea. 

“When you hadn’t returned by nightfall as we had expected, we began to wonder where you were.” He started, sighing. 

“As the hours went by, I grew more and more perturbed. And by hour eight, it wasn’t just me who was concerned. The rest of the camp was growing antsy as well. Even the men who weren’t friendly with you were concerned.” He continued, scratching the back of his neck. 

“Felix Bordeaux kept saying that we needed to stop stressing over your disappearance and trust your skill. But, by the tenth hour, Beckett’s horse had returned alone and we all knew that something had gone terribly awry.” He let out a long sigh, trying his best to hide his grief from reliving these memories. 

“I left Felix in charge and I went out to look for you with Sir Hans Gutenberg. We searched for many hours, but were unable to even find a trace of your last location.” He shook his head, looking down in shame. 

“I wanted to continue looking, so I sent Gutenberg back to camp and continued looking all throughout the night. But still, I found no trace. You had mysteriously vanished without any evidence to your whereabouts, and—“ His voice cracked and he grew silent, still looking down. You couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him. 

“That’s alright, Evan. You’ve told me enough. Thank you.” You gave him a gentle smile and reached out your hand. 

He looked up at you silently for a second, your heart skipping a beat when you saw a lone tear trickling down his face. 

And that’s when he suddenly sprang forward, pulling you into a hug as he gripped you tightly. “Oh, (Y/N). Thank heavens you’re safe! I thought I’d lost you!” He spoke shakily as held you in his arms. 

“Ya know, this dolt searched for ya on his own for fifteen hours. I had to put Sir Corbett in charge of the camp so I could get ‘em home. It was a courageous feat on his part, but foolish, ey, lassie?” Felix suddenly spoke from behind you both. 

Silently thanking any deity who’d listen, you held back a sigh of relief as you gave Evan a quick hug before pulling away. 

“Good afternoon, Sir Bordeaux! As always, it’s wonderful to see you.” 

Evan slowly pulled away from you, trying to regather his composure. But understandably, he looks rather annoyed at the sudden intrusion. 

“Good afternoon, Lady (L/N)! And, same to you, Commander Baskey.” He bowed playfully as Evan sat to the side. 

“Good afternoon, Felix.” Evan wiped a tear from his face, then muttered something under his breath. 

“Now Commander Baskey, it wasn’t very wise to exhaust yourself by looking for me.” You narrow your eyes sternly, but despite the scolding, Evan’s eyes seem to twinkle with your attention on him again. 

“I trust my men’s skills, but there are just some tasks I want to complete myself. Especially when that task is locating the woman I love.” He sighed. 

“As moronic as your actions were, I completely see why ya did them, lad.” Felix shuffled on his feet. 

“And I quite think that I woulda done the same if I were in your shoes. Aye, she’s a very special lady! Don’t let her slip away again.” Felix chuckled heartily and Evan smiled. 

“I’m not planning on it, that’s for sure.” Came his simple, yet daunting reply. 

And after a short pause, you remembered something. Felix should’ve left to go to his next camp already. Why is he still here at Baskey’s camp?

”Sir Bordeaux, my greatest apologies if this is an impertinent question, but weren’t you supposed to rotate camps whilst I was missing?” You asked and he turned to you. 

“I was indeed, lassie. But, duty calls and yer more important ta me than a bunch of strangers. So, I stayed ta aid in the search.” He explained and Commander Baskey nodded.

”We expected him to depart about a week ago, but I’m glad that he decided to stay for a little while longer.” Evan spoke. 

“Well, I’m ecstatic that I can see you again, Sir Bordeaux. I really missed you.” You replied happily and he grinned. 

“I missed ya too, lady (L/N). I was real worried ‘bout ya, but I knew that you had everything under control. Yer a smart young lady, after all.” He dipped his head respectfully. 

“That’s probably one of the reasons that unruly, pain in the arse fandan of a prince is so intrigued in you. He’s so used ta those brainless harlots at Drayvil that he’s gotten bored of ‘em and wants ta try out something new!” Felix could barely keep himself from gagging and Evan rolled his brown eyes. 

“I am not looking forward to having to deal with that cretin.” Evan grumbled, crossing his arms. 

“Me neither. He always manages to make me feel repulsed.” You sighed, then scratched your neck. 

“You two can only hope that he won’t claim (Y/N) for himself once you both make it ta Drayvil!” Felix remarked and Evan instantly grew pale. 

Thanks, Felix. This absolutely does not help your situation at all. 

“I respect His Majesty and his family with all my might, but if it came to that, I would happily commit treason.” Evan sighed and Felix laughed. 

“Rightfully so. That man is a menace! Just because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth doesn’t mean everything is his ta take!” Felix slammed his fist on the ground and you sat there uncomfortably. 

On any normal occasion, you would probably be thankful for Evan’s threat of murdering the prince if things went South. But, it’s hard to be thankful when he clearly thinks you’re in love with him still. And of course, reality is far from this. 

You placed your hand on your chest, your fingers bunching up the fabric of Gaster’s old shirt. 

Oh, heavens. You miss him terribly. 

Felix seemed to quickly figure out that something was bothering you, but he didn’t pry. He just quickly turned his attention to Evan. 

“Alright, lad. We need to send off His Majesty’s men before it gets too dark.” He gestured his arm for Evan to follow him outside. 

“Oh, I nearly forgot about that.” Evan shook his head, sighing before he gently reached forward and took your hand into his own. 

“Sorry to cut our meeting short, Miss (Y/N). I will make sure to come back later to finish our chat. But, for now, I need to get going.” He lifted your hand to his lips a pressed a gentle kiss on it. 

“Goodbye, Evan. I will speak to you again soon!” You dipped your head, then faked a smile.

He smiled, then gently laid your hand back down as he stood up. 

“Goodbye, Lady (L/N)! I’ll catch ya later, lassie.” Felix curtsied, and with a final goodbye, they exited your tent. 

And as soon as they were out of sight and out of earshot, you let out a sigh of relief. This is all so very stressful. You’re not quite sure how long you can continue bearing this torture. 

So, you stand up and walk outside of your tent as you look around at the camp’s layout. 

“Still not used to being back here, huh?” A deep voice suddenly sounded from behind you and you jumped. 

You turned around and there stood one of Baskey’s men. You think his name is Paul—something or another close to that at least. 

He was never a soldier that you really bonded with. His shaggy black hair and piercing blue eyes make him quite intimidating. So, him standing behind you with his sword out of its sheath causes you to gasp a bit. 

“Calm down, Misses. I’m only your guard for this afternoon.” He chuckled and you let out a sigh of relief. 

“You gave me a fright, Sir.” You commented and he smiled, laughing. 

“Well, my greatest apologies. But, who knew that I was able to frighten the most renowned of the King’s men?” He winked then gently nudged you. 

“Mrs. Corbett has a meal waiting for you by the fire.” He gestured with his hand to point you in the right direction.

Your face scrunched up slightly at the thought of her food and Paul(?)’s eyes showed a glint of amusement.

”Thank you for letting me know. Suppose I should go get some.” You curtsied, then waved.

”Hopefully you are able to enjoy it somewhat.” He nodded in acknowledgment .

”I can only hope, good Sir!” You spoke as you dipped your head, then walked away from him and to the cauldron.

Inside of it was pottage. The ingredients? You’re not quite sure. It’s a sickly light brown in color and as you poured yourself a bowl, it was clearly thick with chunks of green buried under its folds. 

It smells of fish and onions, so you’re not looking forward to this. 

Once you had fixed your bowl, you hesitantly sat on one of the logs in front of the fire. And as soon as you took your first bite, you had to suppress a gag as your eyes watered. 

This might be one of the worst things that you’ve ever tasted. Why the hell have they not fired Mrs. Corbett yet? Surely a pack of wild dogs could fix a better meal than her!

In trying to stomach this pure torture in a bowl, you began to feel homesick again. Your chest feels heavy due to your internal battle with despair, and you can’t help but stare out into the distance to try and rid yourself of these melancholic emotions.

So to hopefully counter that and to give yourself a sliver of hope, you start mapping the camp once again. 

It’s rather small, but certainly there has to be an area that you can sneak past Baskey’s men. 

So, you really think about it. And eventually, you come up with the bare bones of an escape plan. 

This causes you to smile. Maybe this possibility isn’t so distant after all?

So, you quickly finish eating, put your dishes to the side, and then stand up. 

Perhaps it’s better to plan this in the safety of your own tent. So, you do just that. You fast-walk to your tent to hopefully avoid any conversations, and thankfully, nobody bothers you. 

So, you throw open the cloth of your tent, then walk inside and sit down on your mat. Evan has given you some writing supplies in the past to practice your language skills, so you dig through your things until you find them. 

There lies a piece of paper lined with words he had challenged you to learn along with a quill, and a vile of ink. 

You flip the paper over and pause to listen to the commotion outside. And once you knew the coast was clear, you pried the cork from the vile of ink and dipped your quill into it. 

And with a quick brainstorm of the layout, you began to draw a basic map of your camp. It’s rather simplified of course, but something that’ll still provide accuracy in your escape. 

And once you were done with that, you began to put a special mark on each possible exit. Hopefully one that isn’t easily identified as well. You tried to scatter them and make them the least suspicious that you could in the form of ink blotches, but these men are quite intelligent. So, there’s no telling how they’d view this if it got into the wrong hands. 

You bit your lip as you once again paused to listen. 

But, thankfully, all you heard was distant banter between two soldiers. So, you continued your planning.

You sketched out the possible routes, then weighed the pros and cons of each. And after around twenty minutes, you had made the final decision.

So, you carefully highlighted the less popular stretch of camp that went past Mrs. Corbett’s tent down into a ravine and then into a dense woodland. 

You’ll have to make your escape in the dark of night as well. But, you aren’t entirely sure how you’ll slip past the guards. In fact, you’re lucky that your current guard isn’t too interested in what you’re doing right now. After all, he’s likely just right outside your tent. 

You tapped your fingers against the ground and leaned back as you thought of ways to distract or incapacitate the guards. 

Murder is definitely too strong, so poisoning is out of the question. Though, perhaps you could find a way to get them drunk? Perhaps by seducing them?

You suddenly cringed at your own thought. “Hell no, that won’t work and I don’t want to touch those disgusting men.” You murmured under your breath. 

So then what’s left? Putting liquor into their food or finding an herb to make them pass out? You certainly can’t give them a drink yourself. That’ll be far too suspicious. 

Dammit. This is going to be harder than you thought. 

You suddenly paused as you heard nearby whispers. You strained your head to try and get a better listen, but before you knew it, it’d stopped with footsteps leading away from your general location. 

Well, that’s odd. Perhaps it’s nothing of concern though. 

But regardless, you don’t want to get caught. So, you put the cork back into the vial and begin putting away your things. 

“Alright, lass. I think it’s about time we had a talk.” Felix suddenly spoke and your blood ran cold. 

You slowly looked up to him as he crossed his arms. The emotion on his face is unreadable and you swallow hard. 

Oh bloody hell, this can’t be good. 

“Well? Are ya just going ta sit there all day? Put away yer things and get a move on. We’re gonna go on a walk.” He gestured with his hands for you to follow him, so you quickly nodded. 

“Yes Sir. My greatest apologies.” You dipped your head nervously as you quickly set your things into your trunk. And once you were done, you closed the lid and stood up, curtsying for him. 

He motioned for you to walk in front of him, so you did. But once you two were walking across the camp, his manner became a lot less threatening. He was talking to your fellow soldiers and cracking jokes almost like none of this had ever happened. And you’re not sure if that should be a relief, or a greater reason for anxiety.

Notes:

Hey, guys! I’m back with a new chapter! I know it’s been a while, so my greatest apologies. But ya know, things have been vastly changing over here. 

I am planning on starting college next month, so that’ll probably hinder my writing a bit but trust me, I’m gonna try my best to keep at it the most I can! I still really enjoy writing these stories, even 4 years later! So, I’m not planning on going anywhere! 

But, if you want updates, chapter previews, or even just general discussion about this story and my others, then feel free to join our Discord server! It’s 15+, so please don’t attempt to join unless you’re old enough. But if you are 15 or older and are interested in joining our community, just message me privately or comment down below! I’ll try and get back to you as soon as I can! Our server isn’t just based on my stories either, so don’t worry if you just want a new place to hang out! We’d be happy to have you chill with us!

Anyway, I really enjoy writing Felix and Evan. They’re really funny and criminally underrated, so please don’t bash them too harshly! They really just want what’s best for Reader and I think that’s sweet! Hopefully though, they give Y/N a bit of space. She surely needs it! 

Also, sorry for the cliffhanger, but I was already over 3k words in and I need to work on BoC before school drains me. Haha. So, please don’t get too mad at me. Thank you!

I hope you all enjoyed this new chapter of TWAU! Thank you so very much for reading, and don’t forget to leave a comment down below if you feel like it! 

Now, I hope you all have a wonderful day / night! <3

-Indiana

Chapter 23: "Apprehension"

You bit your tongue as you walked across the camp, Felix's footsteps mere feet away from your own. This stressful moment brought you intense anxiety and you could feel your hands start to shake. 

Is this really the end of everything, or can you lie your way out of it?

Or perhaps, can you make a run for it?

The endless possibilities of ways to get out of this sticky situation swim around in your head and only fasten your already quickened heartbeat. It feels like you're running for your life—and yet, you could hardly be walking any slower as Felix keeps his firm gaze on you. 

"Keep walkin' lass." He commented and you bit your lip and nodded. 

"Yes sir." 

The time passed by at a snail's pace and your heightened worry only got worse as the clock ticked by. 

Eventually, you could not take the pressure any longer. It had at least been fifteen minutes, if not more and you were beginning to genuinely fear for your life. 

You whipped around to face him, crossing your arms and looking away to avoid his stoic expression. 

"Where the hell are we going?!" You asked suddenly and he shuffled on his feet. 

"Why are you so concerned about it, lass? Yer shakin' in yer boots." He replied and you frowned. 

"Sir Bordeaux, you're avoiding the question." You replied, then gathered enough courage to look him in the eye. 

He hesitated, then leaned against a tree, pressing his right boot against it. 

"Just far enough that no one can hear us discuss some matters. And I've got an inkling that you know exactly what I'm referrin' to, Lady (L/N.)" He responded, crossing his arms against his broad chest. 

You bit your lip, then turned and continued walking. "You can talk, but that doesn't mean that I have to respond, Felix." You glanced back and he seemed surprised at your cold and serious nature, but what was he expecting? 

He stood back up straight, then followed suit and quickly caught up, grabbing your shoulder, causing you to come to a stop.

"Listen. lass. I'm not gonna hurt ya's You've got to trust me, relax a little. We're almost there." He moved his hand, then walked by your side.

You swallowed hard, then nodded as you walked side-by-side with him. And just like he'd promised, within 5 minutes or so, you made it to an area in the woods with two fallen trees parallel to one another. 

"Here we are, lassie. " He bowed, then beckoned for you to walk first. 

"Ladies first." He gave you a gentle smile and whereas his calm reassurance has given you more of a spring in your step, you can still feel the weight of your 'situation' lying on your shoulders.

Despite this, though, you walked forward and sat down on one of the logs, facing the other trunk. 

Once he had seated himself, he folded his hands and looked at you with a serious glint in his eyes.

"Alright, Lady (L/N). What's gotten into ya as of late? Yer obviously not tellin' the truth about everythin', and you're acting aloof." He asked, paying close attention to your entire surroundings to make sure nobody walks by and overhears this conversation. 

You hesitated, keeping your mouth shut as you weighed your options. Though, there doesn’t seem to be much to do in this situation and you bite your lip as you look away. 

“I’ve just been—” You paused, trying to make something up.

”changed from the expedition.” You spoke suddenly and he laughed, causing you to look in his direction. 

“Aye, who wouldn’t be? But, I don’t think that it was so bad in your case, mmm?”

You blinked in surprise, then looked down as you remembered he had picked up on your infatuation with Baskey in the past. Does this mean he knows that you’ve fallen for someone else?

You bit your tongue, then shrugged your shoulders and stood up, smiling. “I don’t know. Can I go back to camp now?”

”(Y/N), sit down.” Felix spoke commandingly as he shot up off his seat.

”Now listen ‘ere, lassie. I can’t help you if you won’t speak up. So please stop bein’ so difficult. I don’t know what happened, and I don’t care about the morality of anythin’. I just want ya's to tell me tha truth so that I can help you, aye? You have my utmost silence as well, and I'ze don’t care if ya murdered a kitten. Everythin’ here stays between us.” His voiced relaxed a tad, but it’s obvious that you have poked the bear far too many times. 

“You seriously won’t say anything? Not even to Evan?” You sat down slowly and he nodded his head. 

“Especially not ta Evan.” He clarified.

You played with your hands, then looked back into his eyes. “How will I know that you’re not bluffing?”

”(Y/N), I’m practically yer old man. You have my word. And if ya need a barter,” he paused, pulling a dagger from the sheath on his hip, tossing it in the air so it landed blade down, deep into the sand. 

“Ya can take my favorite dagger. Given to me straight by King Marion. God rest his soul.” He looked down.

”Oh, I don’t want to take this, Felix…” You looked down at his dagger, then back to him. 

“It’s much too important to you!” You gasped and he shook his head. 

“No, lass. You’re the most important thing ta me and I want ta make things right.” 

You felt tears begin to well up in your eyes and you immediately regretted ever being rude to Felix in the first place. It’s true that he’s just trying to help after all and you feel absolutely awful.

“Oh my God, Felix! I am so sorry for being so hostile, it’s just—I….” You bit your lip, then let out a deep sigh.

”Don’t apologize, lassie. I imagine what you’ve gone through is pretty private, so I don’t blame ya from being so protective.” He sighed, then gave you a gentle smile as he brushed at his long beard. 

“Take yer time.” He sat back down, then leaned his cheek onto his palm. 

You took a moment to process how you’d explain this chaotic situation, but once you'd gathered your thoughts, you took a deep breath and looked to the side. 

“After I’d been captured, I was kept in a cell and every day I’d be visited by two monsters—er, at different times at least. One was a pleasant woman made of fire, and the other was a skeleton named Gaster.” You began and he listened carefully.

”This Gaster character was a scientist sent to interrogate me, as well as test on me—“ 

You saw Felix ball up his fist and you held out your hand. “No, it’s fine. He didn’t hurt me at all. Sure, he was a pain in the ass in the beginning, but he never laid a hand on me to hurt me.” You spoke softly and he relaxed. 

“Anyway, a few days after I had arrived, I became deathly ill and to my surprise, Gaster came to my rescue and nursed me back to health. And as the time passed, we began to share memories and connect. He became less of a pain, and more of an interest to me.” You sighed, then ran a hand through your (h/l) hair. 

“The night before this all went down, we shared a dinner with the King of monsters and Gaster made it clear that I was important to him and that he truly cared about me. After I did the same, I fully realized how wrong my judgment was. The monsters were wonderful to me in every single way and I cannot even begin to think about hurting them.” You looked down, biting your lip.

”Just a few nights ago after the banquet, I realized that I’d fallen for Gaster, and thanks to his hints, I know he has reciprocated my feelings as well. Though, we sadly were not able to let each other know before it was too late.” You looked down, your eyes displaying your anger. 

“That bloody stupid cat! He committed treason against his own people just because he doesn’t like me nor Gaster.” You buried your face into your hands, starting to cry. 

“I love you and Baskey, Felix. I truly missed you both, but—“ You hesitated, sniffling as you looked up to face him. 

“This place does not feel like my home anymore.” You gripped onto the side of the log, gritting your teeth. 

“Gaster has made me feel as no other being has before…” You sighed again, looking to the side. 

“Despite being lesser than him in every way, he makes it seem as if we are on the same level. His smile can heal the largest of scars and he had taken up his spare time to teach me everything that he knows. That’s the selfless man that Gaster is.” You frowned.

”And now? I’m gone with no explanation. I cannot begin to understand what he must be thinking right now.” 

Suddenly, the realization hit you like a ton of bricks. Gaster is quite the cynical man and will not hesitate to jump to conclusions. Therefore, this whole situation must feel like utter betrayal to him. But surely, he’s smarter than that, right? A genius like him should know that you had no intentions of leaving. 

“Damnit, (Y/N)…” Felix spoke suddenly, then stood up and walked over, handing you his handkerchief. 

He sat down beside you on the log and took your hand into his own. “Yer in love, ey?” His gaze was full of an emotion that you couldn’t quite place. 

“I—I don’t really know.” You placed your spare hand against your chest, gripping at the fabric of Gaster’s shirt for comfort. 

“It ain’t up ‘fer debate, (Y/N). Ya feel euphoric and excited over every moment with ‘em, yeah?”

You nodded slowly, dabbing at your eyes with the cloth.

”Then it’s true. Ya have fallen in love.” He responded, then looked to the side. 

You looked down suddenly, biting your lip and cowering slightly in fear. 

“Well, then we gotta do somethin’.” He spoke after a short pause. 

“Huh?” You asked, looking back up with concern. 

“Yep, lassie. A plan.” He grinned, then stood back up, grinning. 

“We’re gon’ get ya back to ‘em, aye? I promise!” 

“Felix?” You asked in surprise. 

“You’re surprised? I’ze told you that I was gonna make things right.” He crossed his arms, looking coy. 

“But that would be betraying the-“

”They don’t need to know.” He winked.

”I love this camp, and I respect our royalty. But Lady (L/N), family always comes first.” He spoke, his eyes shining. 

“Well how the hell are we going to—“ You began, but he lifted a finger and stood up. 

“Well first off, we need an excuse. Perhaps we go for another walk? I can convince Baskey to give you a course refresher for your journey. But unexpectedly, an ambush occ—“

”No! I don’t want them any angrier at the monsters, Felix.  That won’t work.” You looked at him with sad eyes and he paused, thinking deeper about what to do. 

“Alright, then how about human vigilantes?” He asked, grinning.

”Will they believe that? Is that even a thing?” You quirked your eyebrows and he laughed. 

“Of course it is! In this world of so many, there are certainly some people that support the monster’s side. They lurk in the shadows, but part of Baskey’s assignments of late was to capture one of these groups.”

"Are you sure that this will work?" You asked, running a hand through your hair.

"Not in tha slightest!" He grinned and you gasped, standing up promptly. 

"Felix!" You glanced at him angrily and he chuckled. 

"Pipe down, lassie. We'll make it work." He smiled, then took your hand.

"We're gonna get cha back to yer skeleton-man in no time, lass! Please don't fret in tha slightest." He smirked, stretching which momentarily showed off the muscles that Felix has despite his older age. It's quite clear that he is up to the task, so you nod. 

"Alright, Sir... But how do we make it look like you couldn't stop them? If you show up back at camp unscathed, people will be very confused." You asked and he grinned and let out a hearty laugh. 

"Ah, lass. It's quite simple, really." He cracked his knuckles, then leaned on one hip as his smirk grew. 

"Ya just gotta beat tha shit outta me!" He smiled in a way that seemed far too excited for the circumstances. 

Oh boy, Felix Bordeaux is quite the unusual lad.

"Felix!" You gasped as you took a step back and shook your head. 

"There's no way in hell that I will hurt you in any way, shape, or form!" 

"Lassie, with all due respect, I'ze not goin' ta beat myself up."  He quirked a furry gray eyebrow. 

"But your reward for helping me out should not be a bloodied nose!"

"I'ze gettin' a reward?" He smirked teasingly and you rolled your (e/c) eyes. 

"You know what I meant." You crossed your arms, then looked away as you took a moment to think on Felix's request. 

"C'mon, lass. Don't be shy. Ya know how ta throw a punch, right?" He chuckled then leaned in, causing you to strain your eyes to watch him. 

"Or do ya punch like a girl~? He teased which made your blood boil and your fist instantly curled into a fist and you spun around as you threw a strong punch at him. 

But much to your dismay—and relief as well, he quickly grabbed your wrist and grinned. 

"See? I knew ya had it in ya. Now come on! Ya can bloody me up. I 'ave taken much worse, lass." 

You groaned, then slapped your palm against your face. 

"Fine, but only this once!" You conditioned and he let out a somewhat stifled laugh. 

"I would certainly hope so, Lady (L/N)! It's not nice ta beat up yer elders!" He winked.

"You're impossible!" You remarked playfully. 

"I'ze helpin' ya's!" He shook a finger at you, then held out his arms and gave you a warm and loving smile.

"And tell ya what, lassie. I'ze really proud of ya. You've been through so much and look at cha! Still standin' and fightin' for yerself. Yer a strong one, (Y/N). That Gaster fella is one lucky man." 

You smiled happily, then quickly rushed closer and wrapped your arms around him. His hug was comforting and made you feel safe in this strange time full of fear and uncertainty. 

"Thank you, Felix..." You trailed off, then paused for a moment. 

"You're truly an amazing man, and quite frankly, you're the closest thing to a father that I have ever had and I cherish our camaraderie. Thank you for always being there for me, no matter what." 

You pulled away from the hug and were startled to see him... crying?

He looked down for a moment, perhaps out of embarrassment as he wiped a tear from his cheek.

"Heh, sorry, lass. It means tha world ta me to hear ya say that. Ya know, with what happened and all." 

You paused. What the hell had happened? You've certainly never heard of this before. 

He must have noticed your confusion because he nodded slowly. 

"Ah, so ya haven't heard, lass?" He sighed, then ran a hand through his hair. 

"I don't believe so, Sir." You responded softly and he lowered his head which hid his kind, brown gaze. 

"That's quite surprisin', actually." He sighed, then looked back up at you. 

"When I was 30, I was on a military expedition. Bein' the commander and all, I had made quite a few enemies. And regrettably, we were sent on a wild goose chase of a battle for nothin'. It was a trap—a diversion if ya would, lassie. The threat we'd received was false, and when we returned to the North back to our families, my town had been directly targeted by our rivals." He dipped his head again. 

"They weren't out for my comrades' blood, but only my own family's." He shut his eyes as he stumbled backward on the stump he had sat on earlier. 

"They had killed my wife 'n my 3 daughters as they held my remainin' men hostage." He swallowed hard, then shook his head. 

"It's been 30 years and I still remember the screams and cries of the villages' townsfolk—my people, tryin' ta explain ta me that my family had been murdered before their very own eyes." He explained, his voice dark and solemn. 

"Oh, Felix. I am so sorry to hear that!" You frowned and gasped, causing him to shake his head. 

"Don't be, lass. Ya weren't even born when this instance occurred. It was a long time ago, and since, humans have gone from fighting each other to—well, ya know. At least for the time being." He let out a weak chuckle, but his brown eyes did not glint as they normally did, so you could tell his laugh was for your own benefit. He did not want you troubled knowing that he's still traumatized by this tragic event.

”I cannot imagine the pain and suffering that you went through. You’re a real military man, Felix.” You responded softly.

”Thank you, Lady (L/N).” He lowered his head. 

“Nobody deserves to have their lover and family taken by their enemy—“ He paused, then his eyes met your own. 

“That is one of the many reasons that I am helping you, lass. But, that’s besides the point." He cleared his throat, then took a deep breath. 

"How about we set out tomorrow around noon? Under the impression of going on a walk to give you a breather from your anxieties?" He suggested and you let out a snort. 

"Evan would feel better suited for that." You remarked and he nodded in understanding. 

"Hmm, perhaps yer right, lassie." He tapped a finger on his bearded chin, then nodded, 

"Let's just use a 'catching up before ya depart' excuse. It's simple, yet not to tha point of unbelievability." He suggested and you nodded. 

"You think getting me away from my guard is easy?" 

He cackled suddenly, wheezing a bit. "I hope so, I mean look at us now. People know ta trust me." He smiled. 

"Ya know, I have a direct relationship with tha king, so Baskey knows not ta mess with me. I am above 'em in rank." 

"Plus, aren't you two pals?" You asked and he nodded. 

"I'd say so, lassie. Regardless though, this will be a breeze. Don't cha worry yer head." He stood up again, then walked to you and held out his hand. 

But just to make sure everything was put in place, you leaned on one hip and recited your plans for confirmation. "Around noon tomorrow, we will go on a walk, you will be attacked by me acting as another group and they, aka myself, will take me as a hostage?" You asked and he nodded. 

"We'll make sure it's far away enough from the camp as well. Say..." He paused. 

"A 20 minute walk? And once you're out of our normal patrol areas, we will stage the attack. Once you're far enough away, I will start calling for help and start limpin' back ta camp." He explained. 

"What if we get found out?" You asked, looking at him with eyes full of worry.

"We won't, lass. Ya will get back ta your man." He dipped his head and you took his hand, finally shaking it to seal the deal. 

"I trust you, Sir Bordeaux. Thank you again." You pulled him into another hug, then moved away and took his hands into your own, smiling. 

"And hey! Maybe one day you'll get to meet him!"

He snickered, squeezing your hands with a playful glimmer in his eyes as he let out a hearty laugh. "I do hope that day will come before tha wedding day, lassie. After all, I need ta give 'em a stern talking' to." He winked, then pulled his hands from your own and turned around, slinging a arm around your shoulder. 

"Let's get back ta camp, if we stay much longer, they'll start gettin' suspicious. And if Baskey asks ya what we did, tell 'em that ya needed ta get away from the camp for a breather and I offered."  He spoke as he started walking with you again. 

"What if he asks about what we talked about?" You asked and Felix hummed, scratching his bearded chin. 

"Tell em we talked our youths and memories. And if needed, elaborate with a story ya haven't told em before." 

"Alright, sounds like a plan. Thank you, Sir." You smiled as you walked beside him, his arm still wrapped around your shoulder in a friendly manner. 

"It's been my pleasure." He responded softly as you both trodded back to camp. 

And with the relaxing sounds of the environment around you along with the echoing sounds of the crunching leaves beneath your feet, for the first time since you were kidnapped and taken from your new home—you finally felt completely safe and secure. 

Having Felix in your life has truly been a blessing in disguise. And whereas he has already impacted your life for the better, he has certainly taken things to the next level and you couldn't wish for a better father figure.

Notes:

It's been a hot minute, hi guys! College is a lot, but over Spring Break I was able to finish this chapter, so please enjoy this nice 'n happy Felix content! After all, he is lovely and he is daddy. :) 

Anyways though, just like I promised, I am not stopping my fanfictions! They'll still be updated when I can because I still have so much planned for this story (and for BoC as well). Plus, we gotta see how the reuniting of Gaster and Y/N goes! And of course, we must see what ends up happening to our (least?) favorite traitor, Namir Eisen. 🤔

Alright, I know that I never shut up about this, but if you would like to join my fanfic's (15+) discord server, please comment below. We are a fun group and you can get updates on the story's status and interact with me, as well as with fellow Skeleton Suitors there! We are a very welcoming group, so do not hesitate in joining! We would love to have you! <3

Okay, I know I never really do these for TWAU, but let's have a lil game. If you're reading this A/N, then please comment your favorite moment from TWAU thus far down below. But!!! Just to make sure you read the A/N all the way through, leave "Felix is best dad" in your comment as well. I wanna see how many of you are certified kool kids 😎.

Alright, thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed this new chapter! I will talk to you guys again soon, have a wonderful day/night!

-Indiana

Chapter 24: "Between Two Worlds"

[Gaster's POV]

[CW // Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse & Drinking to Cope]

"Dr. Gaster?" 

I wake up only to be met with darkness and intense pain. So, I make plans to simply fall back asleep. 

"Dr. Gaster, wake up!" 

The scent of liquor surrounds me. 

"Gaster!" the call came again, only to be followed by my shoulders being grabbed and shaken around. 

Suddenly, I give up and grumble. 

"What the hell do you want?" I sit up straight, but the sound of glass breaking startles me. I jump at the sudden noise only to realize that I had finally fallen asleep with my skull firmly pressed against my desk. My best bottle of whiskey had been placed by my hand, and was now broken on the floor of my quarters. What a great way to start my day. 

"I brought you some food. I'm sorry for waking you, but it is already past noon." 

Ah, so this is Elementia. Well, it is a lot better than whatever the hell happened last night with Namir. 

I sit up, my body aches, and my head is pounding. I try and make eye contact with Elementia, but I wince away from her bright flames. This is, no doubt, to be blamed on my camaraderie with the bottle last night. 

"Thank you, but I am not hungry." I try my best to stand up, but I find myself stumbling over my own feet in the process. 

Elementia gasps, and quickly steadies me, her hands warm against my arm. "Dr. Gaster!" She exclaims with shock in her voice.

"I'm fine. I do not need your assistance." I grumble through gritted teeth, slowly pulling away from her grasp. 

Elementia stood there silently for a few moments. The quiet environment brought a tense energy, and I cannot help but begin to feel guilty for snapping at her. 

"Dr. Gaster, when was the last time you ate?" 

"Last night." I responded. 

"By whom were you fed?" She crossed her arms. 

I turn to fully face her again, but recoil at her bright flames once again. "Namir." 

She audibly laughed. "I must be dreaming, please tell me you do not mean Namir Eisen. Certainly there is another Namir that I am unaware of!" 

"Unfortunately, I do. And, I wish there was." I grumble, covering my eye sockets with my hand to shield the extra light. But, much to my dismay, a bony hand does not do this function very well. 

She fell silent for a moment. “How peculiar..." She paused once again, seeming to take a few seconds to gather her thoughts. "Do you have any inkling as to why Namir would do such a thing?" 

I grumble, managing to peer at her flames for a few moments to maintain eye contact, my cranium still pulsing with intense, burning pain. "I have an inkling, but I was so inebriated that I wasn't sure if I was imagining things."  

She let out a hum. "Do tell. I am quite curious as to what that incendiary is up to!"

I watched as she walked across the floor of my quarters, lifting the skirt of her dress as she did so, being careful to avoid the spilled alcohol on the floor. After successfully avoiding combustion, she sat down on my cot and folded her hands. 

I tap my foot against the ground, trying to think of where to start. “You see, Namir showed up here last night.” I rub my skull with my hand. “He seemed friendly, and he brought me food and gifts.”

”Gifts?” Elementia asks for clarification, and I can’t help but laugh while remembering last night’s happenings. 

“Yes, you see,” I clear my throat, standing up, still wobbling slightly—but at least able to stand now. I do my best to concentrate on walking straight, and I manage to make it to where I laid his “gift” last night. “he hand-delivered me this very expensive lab cost last night. It is in pristine condition.” 

“How the hell could he have even afforded that with his rank?” 

“I asked the same, but he acted offended.” I sighed, then wince at the accidental eye contact I made with her. 

“Classic Namir.” Elementia adjusted her glasses, sighing.

”Namir, strangely, also served me dinner. Steak,” I pause, shaking my head, “a fresh steak that would not be easy to find—let alone buy—during this time of war.”

”Yes,” she sounded confused as she paused, “that is very strange. Even the king doesn’t indulge in such a rare and expensive diet.”

Elementia’s flames crackle—the noise echoing across my room, reminding me of how empty it is once again.

She clicked her tongue, then leaned up. “What else happened, Dr. Gaster?” She asked as she adjusted her wire-framed spectacles, clearly interested in solving this strange puzzle.

I shake my skull, then turn around, facing the door. “He went on various rants about wanting to get closer to me, wanting to cheer me up, discussing how he truly cared about me, and—“ my words hitch with emotion, “even discussing how Y/N abandoned me after stealing our secrets.” 

Elementia gasped, standing up and stomping her foot. “That wicked cat! Why would he ever say such a thing?!”

I turn to Elementia, ignoring the pounding pain in my forehead as I lock eyes with her. “Please, do not think that I am being moronic, but—“ I look to the side, “I think that Namir may have—“ I clear my throat, “romantic feelings for me.”

The room fell silent. Nothing could be heard except the crackle of Elementia’s flames.

“Are you sure of that, Dr. Gaster?”

I chuckle, looking away as I begin to pace—my cognitive function slowly improving. “I am not sure at all. I only know that he looked positively bewitched and held a certain coquettish energy. He made it a point to continually hold my hands, purr, and brush his fur against my neck after giving me a much unwanted hug.” 

She fell silent once again, tapping her foot against the ground in thought. “I can see why you think that, doctor.” 

“It seems outlandish, but—“

”I believe you.” She cut me off. 

I stopped pacing, looking up at her completely confounded. "Ah." I fell silent for a moment. "I was not sure if you would deem me an imbecile for believing so." 

I watched as a smile appeared upon her lips. "No, Doctor." She placed her hands in front of herself neatly as she carefully walked over. "The words he says to you while around others may say one thing," she cleared her throat, "but his intrigued glances carry much lust." 

I looked down, unsure of what to say during this strange realization. So much has happened since (Y/N)'s disappearance, and I yearn for a proper rest. At least, one that is not laced with copious amounts of liquor. 

"Truthfully, I have not before fully understood what I was seeing—but I do now." Elementia admitted, then fell silent.

As I looked up to understand why she'd stopped talking, I watched as her flames suddenly brightened and her eyes widened—almost as if she had a realization. She quickly slid her wire-framed glasses up her face and scurried to the door. 

"Excuse me, Dr. Gaster, but I just realized that I have matters that I must attend to." She curtsied and opened the door to my quarters. 

"My greatest apologies for holding you up then, madame." I dipped my head, still trying my best to avoid eye contact. 

"Oh, please, do not worry about such things. You have helped me in my tasks enough." She gave me a gentle smile, but I felt like something else was laced underneath her sweet pleasantry. In fact, it almost seemed sinister. 

"If you say so." I dipped my head once again, then began to turn. 

"Ah, one last thing before I go, Dr. Gaster." Her footsteps neared me, and I turned back toward her. Once she'd reached me, she placed her hand on my arm, looking into my eyes. 

"Mmm? I question, furrowing my 'bone'brows. 

"I know that this is a painful situation—and I am not saying this as your assistant—I am saying this as your friend, but please do not lose yourself." She squeezed my humerus gently, then frowned. "You are a mess, Gaster." Her voice was gentle. "You reek of booze, and you are completely disheveled. This is not the respectable man I know." 

I grow quiet, shifting my pinpricks away from the sight of her—not to avoid the pain this time but rather to avoid the stern look in her fiery gaze. 

"What do you think (Y/N) would say if she saw you like this?" She clicked her tongue, letting out a soft sigh as she reached up and fixed the collar of my shirt. "Drowning your sorrows is never the answer." She stepped back, letting her arm fall back against her side. 

Unaware of how to respond to her contempt, I remain silent. I ball my hand into a fist in frustration, but not due to Elementia's words but rather my own recent behavior. Perhaps she is right. 

"I have left your lunch on your table." She continued, turning to walk away. "Do not ignore it, for I will not be a witness to you starving yourself." She opened my door. "You know that you deserve sustenance. Please eat." I heard her heels tap against the cobblestone, and I turned to watch as she walked outside. "I will see you again around dinnertime, Doctor." She curtsied. 

"Thank you, Elementia." I finally was able to croak in response. 

She merely smiled, nodded and then closed my door—once again enveloping me in darkness. 

I quietly walk toward my chair, snapping my fingers, causing the candles in my room to quickly light with brilliant, purple flames. Stressed, I sit in my chair and soon balance my skull against my palm. 

I know that I am despondent, and I know that it is causing me to convey a lack of care toward myself and others. Stress and despair have never been my friends. But, is that really my fault? 

It has been over 24 hours since (Y/N) went missing, and there are still no answers—still no theories, or even hypotheses—as to where her whereabouts may be. Instead, there only lies assumptions. Assumptions with no proof, nor backing. Ergo, it is just as accurate to say that (Y/N) ran away back to her precious Commander as it is to say she got taken by a human who somehow managed to sneak into our well-protected underground bunker. 

Perhaps it is self-destructive to assume the worst, but it is hard to think positively when the world you'd finally come to appreciate is fully collapsing right in front of your own eyes. Just when I thought that I had finally found someone special—she was ripped from my grasp and I do not know if I will ever see her again. 

I frown, glancing over at my desk, where several bottles of liquor still remain. 

Despite my lingering desire to grab another glass of whiskey, Elementia is right. Just because I may feel melancholic and abandoned, that does not mean that I need to wallow in my own pity and abuse alcohol as my own personal therapy. 

But this’ll not be as simple as it seems. It may be easy to think this, but unfortunately straying from such drastic and addictive means is much more difficult.

I grumble, then stand up, walking across the room until I get to the table where Elementia left my food. 

As strange as it sounds, I am not going to give myself false hope, nor false expectations. Rather, I think it’s best that I put this (Y/N) nonsense behind me. I have better things to do. I have a job, and I must focus on helping save my people, even if that becomes my next obsession.

---

[Regular POV]

The walk back to camp had been long and arduous, and you're thankful that Felix was paying attention to where you both were headed because if not for him, you would have been completely lost. Due to your intense emotions in the moment, you hadn't even thought to map out a proper escape plan through these woods. Normally, you'd do that without even thinking—but yesterday, your mind was much too scattered for rationality. 

On the walk back, you and Felix got your “explanation” story straight, and it turned out to be a very wise decision. This is because as soon as you stepped foot back into Commander Baskey’s camp, he was waiting by your tent, ready to ask all sorts of questions. Though, surprisingly, they were not questions of suspicion. Rather, they were questions fueled by jealously. He seemed quite irked that you would rather spend more time with Felix than with him—but he never verbally said such a thing. His lips remained sealed, and his questions stayed fairly simple. Though, the look in his brown eyes did all the talking for him—he is envious of your bond with Sir. Felix Bordeaux. 

And, quite frankly, you do feel quite guilty for doing this to him. He keeps wanting to continue what you once had before—but that is impossible. And, of course, you cannot communicate your true feelings because everything must remain a secret. So, this poor man is just left confused and hurt that you no longer want to spend time with him, rather, you’d prefer to spend time with an old colleague. 

Because of how awful this situation must be, you decided to explain your history with Felix to Evan. After all, maybe telling him that Felix is simply like a father figure would get him off your tail and end his pity party. 

And, much to your delight—the talk went well, and he seemed to understand graciously. In his eyes, another important man in your life is non-threatening as long as they are not trying to steal your hand in marriage. After all, he seems intent on continuing his courting, even lovingly holding your hand for a good portion of your conversation. And, normally you’d pull your grasp away—but you cannot do that to him after all the pain you’ve put him through. It’s just holding his hand, after all. If he had requested anything more, it’d be a firm denial.

After you two eventually parted for the night, you sat in your tent, getting increasingly giddy.

Felix is going to make everything right. Felix is going to make sure that you get reunited with Gaster, and from there, things will continue as they once were.

Last night, you had flopped down against your makeshift bed and giggled, blushing as you remembered snuggling Gaster.

In two-days time, you may be back to just that.

Everything is going to turn out just fine.

---------------------------------------------

Sunlight pours through the fabric of your tent, and you sit up, blinking the sleepiness from your eyes. 

Today's the day. 

You cannot help but smile as you quickly stand up, going through your belongings to find an outfit for the journey ahead. Though, as to not arouse suspicion, you picked something rather plain. You grabbed Gaster's shirt, put it on, and then slid on a pair of trousers. To make his shirt less baggy, you fasten a belt around your waist, and you also make sure to put on your boots. After all, they seem the most adequate for the journey ahead. 

You know that people will find you odd for wearing this shirt once again, but it makes you feel closer to him. It is truly the only piece of Gaster that you have left with you, and you cannot help but treasure that. 

You bunch up the fabric of his shirt in your hand, briefly daydreaming about the moment that you and Gaster will reunite. You cannot help but imagine, as soon as your eyes meet—romance will ensue.

You feel your cheeks grow warm as you think of holding his hand while he leans over for your first kiss. It will be deep and passionate, reuniting you with blazing tenderness—

"(Y/N)?" A voice suddenly snaps you out of your delightfully intoxicating daydream.

”O-oh! Yes?” You rubbed the back of your neck in embarrassment, your face still warm from your wild imagination. 

“Are you decent?”

”Oh! Yes. You may come in.”

You peered up to see Evan Baskey entering your tent. He carefully pulled the fabric back, then knelt down a short distance from you.

“Are you feeling alright? You look as if you are running a fever.” There was genuine concern in his tone, and his warm brown eyes displayed worry as well.

“Oh!” You couldn’t help but giggle at his misinterpretation of your blush. “Yes. I am quite alright, Evan.” 

He crawled forward slightly, reaching out to touch your cheek. “Are you sure, darling? You feel quite warm.”

You made direct eye contact with him, which caused his cheeks to gain a faint pink glow as well. You couldn’t help but giggle again as your own flustered demeanor faded away. 

“Yes, I am positive, Evan.” You placed your hand around his wrist, and gently moved his hand from your face. 

You sat back, then grinned mischievously. “Though, it seems that you have been plagued as well.” You moved his hand to his own cheek. “You’re bright red, Evan.” You smiled.

He looked away bashfully, letting his hand fall beside him. “Ah, I see.” He let out a hearty laugh. 

Gaster is your main priority, but you would be lying if you said that you wouldn’t miss Commander Baskey. You may no longer have an infatuation with him, but you still hold him dear to your heart. Therefore, leaving him today without saying a true farewell will be painful—but it is for the best. 

Knowing that it would perhaps help with your grief now and also in the long-run believability of your ‘capture', you reached out your hand for him to take upon your own volition.

Evan Baskey looked down at your hand in surprise, but smiled sweetly as he gently took your hand into his. “I’m glad to see that you’re feeling better today.” 

“And same to you, Evan.” 

“I do not want to ask for your time when you’ve just recently awoken, so if possible, could we perhaps meet up tonight to discuss our journey to Drayvil, darling?” He asked.

By that time, you’ll be long gone. But, he doesn’t need to know that.

You nod, smiling. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” 

“Great! Time is passing by quickly, and the King’s men will likely be here in 3 to 4 days. And, of course, we want to be prepared.” He gently squeezes your hand, then begins to get up.

“Now, you have better things to do than sit with me, I presume?” You cross your legs.

”Ah, (Y/N)—“ he looks away, “the best thing I could do is sit with you. But, unfortunately, it is my turn in rotation to patrol the outskirts of our settlement.”

He gives your hand one last squeeze, then stands up, making eye contact once again. “I will see you again tonight, love.” 

“I will see you tonight, Evan.” You bowed your head. “Good luck.” 

“Thank you.” He spoke softly, his voice carrying a lot of emotion as he walked out of the tent.

As soon as his footsteps sounded far enough away, you couldn’t help but whisper “Goodbye, Evan.” as a final, nearly silent, goodbye. 

You stood up once again and made your way out of your tent. There is a long journey ahead, and it is best that you are well fed before it begins. 

Turning your head around, you give your guard a friendly nod, then walk to where Mrs. Corbett's breakfast lies. Sitting on a log in front of the cauldron, you dish yourself a hefty bowl of porridge and get a glass of water as well. 

Due to it being working hours, the camp seems much more quiet than usual. Though, you do not mind this at all. It helps you keep at peace as your brain goes over today's plans once again. 

"Ah, good mornin', lass!" Felix suddenly chimed. 

You turned to look at him and smiled. "Good morning, Sir Bordeaux!" 

He walked around the cauldron and sat across from you, fixing himself some porridge. "How are ya settlin' back inta camp life, lass?" He gently blew on his porridge before taking a big bite. 

Knowing that he is just trying to not arouse suspicion, you smile. "I think that I am settling back into things quite well! Thank you for asking, Sir. When are you planning on embarking on your next destination?" 

"Whenever I feel that tha time is right, lass. His Majesty is aware of all tha chaos goin' on right now, and he is allowing me ta take all tha time I need before I close shop 'ere." 

"That is completely understandable." You dip your head. "But, whenever you do end up at your next destination, I hope that you find it to be a fulfilling and enjoyable experience." 

He gave you a friendly, toothy grin. "I appreciate that, Lady (L/N)." He stretched, taking a few more bites of porridge. After he'd swallowed, he lowered his head. "But, there will certainly be a few people 'ere that I will truly miss." He looked back up, his warm brown gaze meeting your own eyes once again. "I will, perhaps, miss ya the most of all." 

You felt your heart sink in your chest. His eyes held warmth, but you could sense sadness in his tone, even if subtle. Saying goodbye in just a few hours will be tough—but you'll be forever thankful for Felix's sacrifice for you. "When that time comes, I will miss you as well, Sir. Bordeaux." You flash him a kind smile, then continue eating your breakfast. 

"I know ya will, lass." He ran his fingers through his beard before the conversation hit a long pause. At least 5 minutes had passed before Felix set down his bowl and clapped his hands together. "Speakin' of my departure, you're leavin' with Evan mighty soon as well, ey?" He crossed his arms, smirking. 

"Yes! Journeying to Drayvil Castle once again." You sighed, trying your best to stay 'in character.' Luckily for you, though, your anxieties do not apply to your journey to stay in King Smith's castle, but they do apply to your solo trek to make your way back to Gaster. Therefore, it is quite easy to just channel the fears you have for one trip and apply them to the other.

"Are ya nervous, Lady (L/N)?" He leaned his chin against his fist.

"Extremely. I have made this journey before, but I have not left so much behind before." You run a hand through your hair. "I will miss this life, and I am unsure of what's to come." 

"Ah, I see." He nods in understanding, then he holds up a single index finger. "Say, lass, why don't we take another walk ta lessen yer anxieties?" He hums. "And it can serve as a final journey togetha. Just like yer trainin' days." 

"Oh, that'd be great! What time suits you, Sir?" You take your last bite, and set your bowl down. 

"Are ya free around noontime today, lass?"

"Yes!" You smile. "I am free until tonight." 

"Alright, then our walk's set in stone." He stands up, stretching, then he looks to you. "I will meet ya by yer tent when tha time comes."

"And I will see you then, Sir. Bordeaux." You bow your head. "Thank you." 

"Of course, Lady (L/N). I will see ya in a few hours." 

And just like that, verbal evidence of your walk with Felix has been established for all of the men around you who have been eavesdropping on your conversation. 

The seed has now been planted. It is a shame that you cannot watch it grow. 

---------------------------------------------

The time has come. 

It is finally noon, and your heart feels as if it is beating outside of your chest. 

You take one last look at all of your personal belongings and take a deep breath. Due to the circumstances, you must leave your things behind. It is hard, for you cannot even bring your own diary, but its missing presence will be much more suspicious, especially since Evan knows of its existence.

This whole ordeal is unfortunate, but you’d much rather choose Gaster over tattered clothing and old books. 

And, in the event that people decide to look through your things, all evidence of your escape plans has been destroyed. This is the best option for you, and for Felix as well. You'd never forgive yourself if Felix got caught and prosecuted by the King.

You admire your living space for one last moment before stepping outside of your tent, only to be met with Felix waiting for you.

Felix turned toward your guard, smiling. "So, ya don't mind if I take Lady (L/N) here on a walk, do ya's?" 

Your guard looked around; his eyes were focused on the camp entrance. Chances are, he's watching for Evan Baskey, but of course, Baskey is still on patrol, so he cannot simply ask his commander for his permission. "Mmmm—" he hummed in thought, then leaned closer to Felix, "tell you what, Sir Bordeaux, if you make it back by the end of Baskey's shift, I'll allow it."

"That should not be a problem." He gave the guard a charming smile. "I appreciate it." 

"Of course. Now, hurry along. He'll be back in around 3 hours." He waved his hands to hurry you both up, and Felix turned to you, winking subtly. 

The charm of a Scotsman is truly an art. He did not even need to convince your guard. Well, granted, he didn't last night either; people trust him too much, and you can only hope that people do not trust him less after this. 

"Aye-aye, Sir." He chuckled, then threw his arm around your back as you walked toward the exit. 

Your heartbeats quicken with every step, and you are doing your best to hold back the giant smile that is forming on your lips. You've been dreaming of this for days, unable to figure out how to get out of the camp, and Felix just waltzes out of the exit? Holy hell. 

You feel eyes staring daggers into you and Felix, but you do not care as long as they mind their own damn business. Even they should know that a simple walk should be permitted. You're not a prisoner, after all. 

"So, what are ya most excited about when ya make it back to Drayvil, Lady (L/N)?" Felix asked, very much still playing character. 

"That is a great question, Sir." You take a moment to think. "I am excited to see some old friends again, and of course spend some more time with the Commander." 

"Ahhh," he playfully nudged you with his elbow. "I am not surprised." 

You faked a giggle as you both walked out of the official camp. “You know me very well, Sir Bordeaux.” 

“Aye, of course I do, lass.” His chuckle echos across the forest. 

Not only did the walk soon grow quiet, but your adrenaline quickly wore off as well. Your anxieties grew by the second, and you felt your breathing quicken.

What if this all goes wrong? What if you and Felix get caught, or even killed?

Your eyes well up with tears, and you bite your lip. Next thing you know, your pace begins to slow until you are starting to trail behind Felix.

Noticing this, he stops walking and turns to you. "What's wrong, lass?" Upon seeing your teary gaze, his brown eyes turn even more gentle, and he sighs. "Ah, ya don't even need ta explain. I think I understand." He takes your hand gently into his own and looks around before whispering, "Everythin' is gonna be okay, Lady (L/N). We've only got a lil' ways ta go." He interlocks your fingers together, smiling. "You're not givin' up now, are ya? That's not the fighter I know." He smirks, seemingly challenging you.

You wipe your eyes, giggling. "You're right, we've got this." You take a deep breath, trying your best to ignore the negative thoughts pulling you down. 

"I thought so, lass." He held on to your hand as he began walking again, and you made sure to keep up this time, gently squeezing his hand for comfort. 

With his compassion and support, you were able to push on.

The earthy smell of the forest is fresh in your nose, and beyond the sound of your footsteps, the forest is silent. Not even the wind bothers to make a peep.

As you look up, you cannot help but admire the way that the sun shines through the trees. It is truly serene and a pleasant sight to see. You cannot help but remember how, when you were younger, you yearned for moments like these—scared and confused, yet forbidden to enter the deep forest due to the dangers that lied within. The furthest you ever went into the forest back then was just on the outskirts of town. How unhappy you would be to know that you are now taking this freedom and power for granted and trading sunlight for a man's heart.

It is unfortunate that no matter which path you chose, whether it was romance with Evan Baskey or romance with Gaster, your own free will and access to these exact woods would never be the same as they once were.

Perhaps it is for the best. 

The walk seems to drag on and on, but eventually, Felix comes to a stop after over an hour of walking. 

"Well, lass, do ya see that marker there?" He points with his hand to a crude carving of King Asgore in an old, tall oak tree. 

"Yeah? What is so special about it?" You asked, looking up at him. 

"It's a markin' left behind by other humans as a warnin'—just beyond these trees is Monster territory." He squeezes your hand again, smirking. "This means that your beloved is closer than ya'd ever believe." 

You look ahead, blinking. "I do believe when I was captured last time, I was much deeper in the forest—" 

Felix cuts you off. "I know, lass. And I am sorry, but I must bid ya adieu 'ere. Ya must continue on without me so as ta not arouse suspicion back at camp." The sides of his eyes wrinkle as he smiles. "I am so proud of ya, and I will miss ya dearly. Don't worry, lass. You've got this." 

You frown, looking at the ground. "I suppose you're right." You sigh, biting your lip as you look back up at him. "I can only hope to see you again in the future, Sir. Bordeaux." 

"I have a feelin' we'll meet again someday, lass. But don't cha worry about that now. Focus on tha present." He lets go of your hand, holding out his arms for a hug. "Come on, now. Don't cha leave me hangin'." He smiles weakly and you quickly pull him into a big bear hug. 

"I cannot thank you enough for all you've done for me." You sighed as he hugged you back tightly. "You're the best father figure I could have ever asked for. Thank you, truly."

Hearing those words, you heard him sniffle. "For years, I believed that my family had been completely wiped out—but as it turns out, I was just waiting to find the newest member." He pulls away. "It has been an honor to help deliver you to your dreams." 

You started tearing up again, your eyes watering as you wiped your cheek with the sleeve of Gaster's shirt. Felix is truly wonderful in every way. 

"Mmm..." Felix began to hum, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes. "And, I'ze must say this, I hope ya know, if that Gaster of yers ever lays a single finger on ya will ill intent, he's done for. Ya hear me?" He leaned against a nearby tree, crossing his arms. "No 'and's 'if's or 'but's. That skeleton is no honorable man if he hurts ya, and I do not play with disrespect ta my family." 

You smile. "Don't worry, he wouldn't ever do that. But, I'll make sure to let him know that I have you on my side." You winked and he chuckled. 

"You'd better." He responded, then stood back up straight, looking around to make sure that nobody else was approaching. "Okay, we've gotta move things along, lass." He sighed, then looked down at you. His brown stare pierces through your heart as you remember—you have to beat him up. 

"It's time to beat you u—" Your gaze showed your fear and discomfort, but he laid his hand on your shoulder gently. 

"Don't cha worry, lass. I can take a couple hits. Ya know, I've been through much worse." He stood back, crouching so that you could reach him better.

"How hard should I—"

"Don't think about me, (Y/N). Imagine that cat bastard! Think about what he did ta ya!" 

You bunched up your fist, shutting your eyes tightly. 

Shit. Why is this so difficult? He cannot beat himself up. You must fulfill your part of the deal. 

Your eyes opened. "Where do I hit y—"

Seeming to remember something, he grinned. "C'mon, now. Don't be a wuss. Ya don't fight like a girl, do ya?" 

Your eyes narrowed, clenching your fist tighter. But, still, it wasn't enough. After hesitating for a few moments, you thought of an idea. 

You unclenched your fist. "Okay, Sir. Bordeaux," you began, catching his attention. "I need you to provoke me." After glancing at the grassy ground to check for rocks and branches, you took a few steps back. He looked somewhat confused, but shrugged it off and drew his knife from his pocket. 

"Yer on, lass." He reared his arm back, and charged toward you.

Knowing that you’ll have to apologize profusely for this scheme in the future, you dip your head as you step out of the way quickly. He looks at you, confused until you stick your leg out in front of him. 

In the blink of an eye, Felix falls onto the grassy forest floor. 

Swiftly, you pin him against the forest floor, your knee pressed firmly against his back. As he struggles to get up, you harshly pull his right arm behind his back, causing him to groan in pain. This will definitely leave some bruises. "I'm sorry! I'll make it up to you sometime!" You say with strong regret in your tone. There is a heavy feeling in your chest, and you feel disgusted that this is even a necessary task.

He groans again, banging his left fist against the ground. "Ya damn better!" He mutters something incomprehensible, but takes a deep breath, "But, I'm proud of ya, lass. This was quite innov—gah!" He gasped as you let his arm fall back against the grass. You can't stand to watch this anymore.

"I was only taught by the best." You stand up, then bend back down toward him, holding out your hand for him to take. He struggles to lift his upper body with his arms, causing you to cringe. He falls back down once, and then reaches for you again. Did you really go too far?

He weakly takes your hand, and you help pull him back to his feet slowly. Once on his feet, you see him wince and stop putting as much weight on his right foot. "I have ta tell ya, I am quite impressed." He neatly tucks his knife back into its sheath. 

"Are you okay, though?" You observe him, he has a few red marks on his face, scrapes on the backs of his hands, and his palms are red from his attempt at catching himself when he fell. He is moving slowly as well—likely due to joint pain. You feel awful. How could you have been so selfish? You feel as if you are using Felix as a pawn—but, surely, that's not true, right? 

He nods, then smiles. "I promise that I am okay." 

You frown, pointing to his red palms. He must be lying. 

"Ah, lass, it looks worse than it really is! I swear! Ya had ta do what ya had ta do, anyway. Gotta return battered and bruised, remember?" 

You lower your head, then walk forward and open your arms. "I'm so sorry that I dragged you into this mess." 

He enveloped you in another hug, and you hugged him once again tightly. "Please do not apologize, Lady (L/N)." He sighed, gently rubbing your back as your eyes grow watery. 

"I can't help it. I get to return to the man I fancy, and you return to a dull camp full of moronic men injured and—" 

"Shhhh." Felix whispers quietly, "(Y/N), listen to me," he pulls away from your grasp, his hands gripping onto your shoulders as tears begin to fall down your cheeks, "there's nothing else I would rather do than to help ya. I'll be moving camps soon enough, and life will go on for me as well." He smiles gently. "Ya know, this is just a temporary setback, and after I am better, I swear that I will make it a point ta visit ya and yer man." 

You stepped back in surprise, blinking tears from your eyes. "You will?"

"Ya bet yer ass! Just—" He paused, leaning in closer. "let 'em know ta expect me just in case they think I'm that irksome Baskey." He winked, then leaned back. 

"I'd love that, Sir. Bordeaux."

He dipped his head, saying, "Please, call me Felix. We no longer work together, after all."

"Of course, Felix. And you may call me—"

"I would prefer ta address ya as the lady you are, so I'ze think I'll stick ta both Lady (L/N) and (Y/N), lass." He grins. 

You giggle. "Fine, have it your way, Felix." You smile, wiping your tears from your cheeks. 

There was a pause. As the conversation ended, reality set in—it is time to separate. At least, for now. 

Felix was the first person to address this. "Well, Lady (L/N), I am afraid that we must depart now." 

You scurry forward and give him one last hug, feeling the tingly feeling in your nose that signifies that more crying is near. As you wrap your arms around him, he gives you a big bear hug in return. "I'll see you again soon, Felix." You smile. 

"I'll see ya again soon as well, lass. Stay safe, and don't forget—if he hurts ya, he's dust." He winked, then waved. 

"I promise, I won't forget." You wave, and from that point, you turned and walked past the tree with King Asgore carved into it. 

A few minutes passed, and you looked back over your shoulder. At this point, you could just barely see Felix in the distance, but you could see him enough to notice that he was limping. Stopping walking, you hesitate to call out to him—but if he were to hear you, so would many others. As you stare, he disappears into the human's territory. Clenching your fist, you sigh, remembering how he was avoiding putting weight on it earlier. How could you not have connected the dots? 

You look down, then look back up, Felix's figure long gone. 

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do. You can only pray that either he is faking his injury or he will be picked up by Baskey's men before having to make the full trek back to the camp.

You close your eyes and turn back around, continuing your walk.

Either way, he'd want you to continue onward, and that's what you're going to do—no matter how long it takes.

Notes:

Well, hot damn! It's been a minute, hasn't it? I graduated from my 2-year college in May, and am transferring elsewhere very soon! I am excited, and as you can tell, my update schedule will still be a bit wonky. Despite that, I am happy to be back with a new chapter! It is 18.6 pages long, and is quite the doozy! I believe that this is the first multi-perspective chapter that I have ever done, and I am glad that I picked this format! It worked wonderfully with the contrasting of perspectives. I really hope that this was worth the wait and that you all enjoyed it. <3

Before we get too distracted, I would like to remind you that I own a (16+) Discord server for my fanfics, but to be honest, the server is more of a hangout! We do music calls, daily questionnaires, polls, celebrate fanfic milestones, occasional game nights, award special roles, etc. So, if you'd like to join our crew, just let me know by comment or DM, and I will get back to you as soon as possible! We'd absolutely love to have you! Everyone who applies to the age limit is welcome! This story turns 6 on July 30th, so feel free to join us in time for its birthday party!

I figured that I should make this a chapterly thing for TWAU, so this chapter's question is: If you had to get rid of one Undertale character (other than Jerry), who would you choose? Personally, I may have to go with Aaron. He seems unimportant enough to not really be missed. Haha. Now, I am curious, who do you think should go?

Overall, I think that I am pretty happy with how the chapter turned out! It dealt with a lot of complex plot points, and I am sorry for the cliffhanger! There was just too much to deal with plot wise, and I imagine a 30 page chapter would be a bit much! If it was not clear, Gaster's POV was a few days prior to (Y/N's)! It is heartbreaking to write his struggle with grief, but showing his cynicism is important for later. Also, that "beating up" scene was the hardest thing that I have ever had to write. It was hell to hurt poor Felix ahahaha. Hopefully my hesitation did not show too much!

Well, I do not want to talk your ear off! I truly hope that you enjoyed chapter 24, and I will see you next time! Have a wonderful day/night! :)

-Indiana 

Chapter 25: "Love Laid to Siege"

A chill travels up your spine as you continue to walk through monster territory. It has been around 40 minutes since you separated from Felix, and you are quite surprised that you haven't come across any monster patrols yet. 

You bite your lip nervously. What if Felix was wrong? What if this is human territory after all? 

Despite this, however, you shake your head. Felix is a very knowledgeable man, and he knows what he's talking about. The forest is vast and wide, but you'll run into the patrols soon enough. You have to. 

You continue walking for another 10 minutes. At least, until you decide to sit down and take a momentary pause. You sit against a tall oak tree surrounded by a patch of yellow flowers. Taking a deep breath, you close your eyes and relax. 

You take this moment to reflect upon everything—your life growing up as an orphan, your rehabilitation and training at Drayvil Castle, your time serving under the king, and of course, your capture and first meeting with Gaster. So much has changed—so much has shifted. 

Oftentimes, you think back to your time sneaking into the suspected monsters’ campsite. Before you took the life of Set, you saw Gaster’s magic through his tent, and he soon saw you take the life of a fellow monster. What a terrible first impression. But despite this, he gave you a second chance. Not only that, but he took your hand and led you down the right path. 

You sigh, looking around as the sun begins to set. It's best you get a move on before any dangerous wild animals start coming out for the night. 

Standing up, you continue on your journey—trudging forward through the leaves that line the forest floor. You look around as you walk—studying the area for any monsters, but still—you see none. You begin to worry that, perhaps, the humans raided this land for themselves, causing the monsters that patrol it to abandon it. However, if that was the case, wouldn't there be humans around to protect their new land? 

Suddenly, as you're walking, you hear a twig snap in the distance and immediately freeze. You look around the wooded forest, searching the tree-line for anything that stands out. But no matter how hard you look, you see nothing—despite the unmistakable feeling of a gaze burning into you.

Your instincts scream at you to turn back—whatever made that noise might not be a monster at all. But you didn’t come this far to lose your nerve, and Felix didn’t give up everything so you could give in to fear. So, with a steadying breath, you push on.

Your head immediately turns as you see nearby leaves begin to shake. 

"Who's there?" You ask, pausing once again. But no answer comes. 

You click your tongue and continue forward, eyes scanning where you last saw movement. But then—the bushes to your right rustle, sharp and sudden, yanking your attention away.

You don't stop walking this time, but look toward the right this time. At least, until rustling occurs on both sides of you. 

You audibly groan, "If you think this is funny, I can assure you it's not." 

Deciding to test your stalkers for a moment, you break into a sprint. You run as fast as you can, and that's when you hear the rustling intensify as several bushes in your area begin to shake. As you run, you briefly look over your shoulder and see a canine monster chasing you while holding a sword. Next, a black bird monster appears out of a bush and starts to chase you with a knife. 

You have never been so relieved to be chased by the enemy. You skid to a stop and hold up your hands in the air. 

"I surrender!" You shout. "My name is (F/N) (L/N), please take me to King Asgore." You urge as two other patrolmen emerge from the brush—a deer monster and one who resembled a brown cat. 

The four monsters looked at each other, then back at you as they approached, circling you—almost as if they were trying to gauge your claim. 

Finally, the dog monster nodded and walked closer to you. “My name is commander Canis, please put your hands behind your back.”

You sigh, then nod, lowering your hands and holding them behind your back. You felt his fur lightly brush against your wrists as he shackled your hands together. 

Being shackled isn’t exactly the welcome you were hoping for—but you can’t blame them. As far as they know, you could be here to infiltrate their bunker.

The monsters all circled around you and began to lead you through the woods. 

”So, where did you go?” The brown cat monster asked, glaring at you—his yellow gaze wide and intimidating. 

“I’d prefer to speak to King Asgore first.” You reply. 

The cat just nods, and the group once again grows quiet. 

The silence is awkward and nearly painful. Perhaps you were naive to believe that you’d be immediately welcomed back with open arms. I mean, hell, you don’t even know who these individuals are. They’re not familiar to you. Asgore must have called out for reinforcements to aid in a search for you. 

After a few more uncomfortable moments, you suddenly speak again. “How’s Dr. Gaster?”

An uncomfortable tension soon arose among the men and your heart began to beat quickly. Did he get hurt?

”Miss (L/N), we have not seen Dr. Gaster in a few days.” The deer monster finally says, causing your heart to drop.

“What Roe means is that Dr. Gaster has kept himself locked away in his lab.” Canis grumbles as he clarifies. 

“A pain in the arse that lad is.” The black bird, who has a Scottish accent, grumbles. 

“But he’s okay?” You look to Canis and he shrugs.

“Well, he’s not dead from what I’ve heard.” He brushes his black bangs back into a quiff.

”Truth be told, I don’t think that lad has ever been ‘okay.’” The black bird once again says.

”I’ll second Corvus on that one!” The cat exclaims, grinning with a slight chuckle.

“Ah.” You manage to mutter. “Okay.” 

The conversation once again ends, and you remain silent this time. Your heart grows weary, and you cannot help but begin to worry about Gaster even more. 

You close your eyes for a moment and shake your head. You just hope that he’s okay.

---------------------------------------------

As you turn around a corner, your eyes suddenly widen as you see the familiar entrance to the bunker. Your footsteps grow faster and the patrolmen begin to look at you strange as they speed up to match your pace. 

“Never seen someone so excited to be placed back in captivity.” Canis smirks and laughs. 

"Aye, tell me about it!" Corvus—the black bird exclaims. 

"I've just been through a lot and I'm ready to get back home." You sigh, responding. 

"Home?" Roe, the deer monster lifts an eyebrow. 

You clench your jaw. "Call it what you want, it's where I belong now." 

Roe lets out a scoff, "Let's see if you still fit." 

"That's enough, Roe. We will let King Asgore be her judge of character." Canis' eyes glint, and then he begins to open the Bunker door—revealing the faint candlelight coming from inside.

"Commander Canis, you're no fun sometimes. You know that?" The brown cat monster chuckles.

"Tenebris, fun doesn’t keep order. And you lot need a lot of order." 

"Aye, don't drag us into yer little petty squabble." Corvus taps his foot against the ground in annoyance, and Canis just rolls his eyes, dropping the topic. 

Corvus, Tenebris, and Roe lead you inside, going down the sloping tunnel system. Canis follows close behind. Walking down these pathways is all too familiar, but you never quite learned your way around this complex underground system so you are not quite sure where you are headed.

The walk is long and grueling. After nearly fifteen minutes, you finally make a familiar turn—right into the prison cells where you were first placed when you arrived. 

"Hey, what's the big deal?!" You suddenly pull against their hold—your hands still shackled behind your back. 

"Have you forgotten that you're a prisoner?" Canis asks, raising an eyebrow as he peers down at you. 

"Hell, some people would’ve killed for your freedom. And you just walked back in." Tenebris murmurs. 

"Yeah, it's funny. Most folks who escape don’t come crawling back." Roe murmurs, then looks to her, "Unless they left something behind." 

You blush, then look to the side. "It's not like that really. I-" 

"Did ya find out freedom doesn't come with room service?" Corvus mocks, which causes you to glare at him. 

Roe grins, brushing a hand against his ear. "I’ve seen that look before. People don’t come back here unless something’s clawing at their ribs. Guilt? Love? Debt?" He leans close to your face. "Now, which is it?" 

You grow uncomfortable, sputtering as you try to think of a reply to get these men off your back. 

Canis, raises his voice. "Enough, Roe. This isn’t an interrogation room. If she’s got something to say, she’ll say it to King Asgore—not to us." He grosses his furry arms, then walks to the jail cell, unlocking it and beckoning to it.

You let out a shaky breath. You know that this treatment is likely just based off of common procedure, but it is disheartening nonetheless. You just want things to go back to how they were—if that’s even possible. 

As the men lead you into the cell and leave you standing on the cold stone floor, you can’t help but lean back against the wall and shut your eyes, listening to the click of the lock and their footsteps fading away

“We’ll notify Asgore as soon as possible.” You hear Canis murmur roughly before heading out of the room, once again leaving you alone in this cell. 

To speed up the wait, eventually, you decide to take a nap. You lay on the cold, hard floor and shut your eyes. 

Who knows how long has passed by before you wake up to a scream. 

“(Y/N)!” 

Your eyes snap open, head turning toward the bars where Elementia stands, staring at you in disbelief.

“You’re back!” She grips onto the bars of the cell, smiling. 

I nod, yawning, then rubbing my eyes. “Yeah. I’m here.” I smile, sitting up. 

"They just told me that we had a new prisoner, not that it was you!" She exclaimed. “Where did you go? What happened? Are you hurt?” She asks rapidly, and you shake your head, holding out your hand to her. 

"I think it's best that I speak to King Asgore about this all first." You reply and she nods. 

"Can you at least tell me if your disappearance was upon your own volition?" She walks closer to the bars of your cell, gripping onto them—her flames lapping at them softly. You watch her face carefully, seeing the way her fire flares at the edges, glowing with restrained worry.

Your voice lowers. “I didn’t run, and I didn’t betray anyone. But I can’t say more until I see King Asgore.” You sigh. "But I promise, you will get the truth soon." 

She dips her head, backing up. "That's good." She sighs, then smiles. "I've been defending your honor this whole time. I knew that you wouldn't run away, but not everyone else was so convinced of your innocence." She looks to the side. "Asgore is currently out, but he should be back tonight or early tomorrow morning." She looks back at you, meeting your (e/c) gaze. "Hopefully sooner than later. I know that it must not be very comfortable in there."

"Hey, at least I have chalk!" You walk to the bucket, pulling out the chalk. “They once again gave me chalk before food. I think that says a lot about the priorities in this place.” You joke. 

"Oh dear." Elementia giggles, covering her mouth with her hand, humor present in her gaze as her flames brighten. "The food will be coming soon, I promise." 

"Please tell me it's your famous bread and butter." You ask, looking at her hopefully. 

She laughs, nodding her head. "You're in luck. I still have some left over from breakfast this morning." She claps her hands, smiling. "I'll serve it alongside my famous stew." 

"Oh, I'm excited now. I haven't eaten since..." You think back to the food at camp made by Mrs. Corbett. "It's not important, just know that it was terrible." 

Elementia sighs, leaning against the bars of your cell, her fire flickering low and calm. “You’ve been through something, I can see it." She suddenly murmurs. "You don’t have to say what it was quite yet. Just eat, rest, and when King Asgore returns, he'll make this all right again. I guarantee.” 

"Thank you Elementia," You sigh, letting your head hang, "I needed to hear that." 

---------------------------------------------

Several hours passed by, you're not sure how many, but it was enough to encourage boredom. This feeling is so familiar—only last time, Gaster would come by your cell and question you. You would have never guessed that you'd be longing for his presence just months ago when you first were taken here as a prisoner. This is especially true considering the quick feud that you both developed. The feud that eventually turned into something else. 

Elementia came back just long enough to deliver your dinner: vegetable stew, bread, and butter. Good food, at least. But you’ve had no company since. Just silence.

Taking the chalk in hand, for the next few hours, you draw across the wall of the prison cell as best you can. Nothing too fancy, of course, just things you saw outside the prison walls. Flowers, trees, butterflies and birds. You spend a great amount of time drawing this mural of sorts, at least until you hear a nearby door open. 

You whip around, eyes locked on the cell bars, bracing for whoever is about to enter. After a few minutes of nothing, you finally look away, sighing. You knew that you shouldn't have gotten your hopes up. Asgore and Gaster are likely very occupied right now. So, with a slight edge of disappointment, you decide to continue your new pastime—drawing on the prison walls. 

"So you're an artist now, are you?" 

You turn around in surprise, feeling heat rise to your cheeks in embarrassment as you're met with none other than Gaster himself. 

You immediately smile, walking up to the prison bars, his familiar British accent bringing nothing but comfort. "Gaster..." You whisper. 

"Yes." He replies. 

You blink in surprise, his nature being a lot colder than you could have expected. "Is something wrong?" You take a step back. 

"You’ll be speaking with King Asgore shortly. I was asked to check on your condition." He seemingly ignores your question. 

Your heart drops, this isn't personal—it seems merely professional. There’s no warmth in his voice, only distance, like you’re just another task on a list that he has to complete. 

"Gaster, you can be upset with me all you like, but I did not run away. I was—"

He cuts you off, unlocking your cell and walking inside. "Are you hurt anywhere?" He asks blankly. 

"No, I'm fine." 

He lifts your arm, observing some light scrapes you'd gotten from Asgore's men earlier. "Mild abrasions, they should heal on their own in a week or so." He mumbles, but not in a sense of care, it's all very procedural. "You're stable. I'll inform the King." He turns to walk away. 

That's when you grab his arm, forcing him to come to a stop. "That's it?" You suddenly snap, your voice sharper than you meant it to be, but you don’t regret it nor take it back. “You check for injuries and walk away like I’m just another stranger who's been captured?”

He doesn't turn to face you, nor does he flinch. He pulls his arm away from your grasp, and you grab it again, more firmly this time as if in desperation. "Gaster, look at me, please." You beg. 

He pauses, his silence still ever-present. 

"You’ve already judged me, and you don’t even know what happened. But I still came back. Doesn’t that count for anything?" You let go of his arm, your hand moving to his shoulder. "I didn't leave upon my own volition. I would have never left you." You plead, just hoping he'll turn around and say something—anything. Tears are brimming in your eyes, and you can feel him shift under your grasp. 

He finally speaks, refusing to turn to you. "You say you wouldn’t have left me. But you did.” 

"Gaster. I swear on my life that it wasn't on purpose. Na-" You were about to explain Namir's whole scheme, but he raised his hand to silence you. 

"I'm not interested in hearing your excuses." He lowers his hand. "You were gone. You came back. That changes nothing." He walks forward again, then out the cell door. In a last ditch effort, you catch a hold of the bottom of his lab coat. 

"Gaster—" You begin, tears beginning to roll down your cheeks as your heart races in your chest. "I've lost everything. My whole life, I've had nothing. But here, with you, I finally felt like I belonged. I finally had a home, and God dammit, Gaster, I'm not about to lose you too." You choke out. 

He finally looks back at you, his white pinpricks seemingly bearing into you as he removes your hand from his coat gently, but firmly. "You’re confusing proximity for connection." He leans closer to you, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "You were simply convenient to me. Nothing more." He leans back again, giving you one more look before he walks out of your cell, closing the door and locking it back. 

Anger surges through you, clenching your teeth as you watch him run away. "You know that's a goddamn lie!" You shout, suddenly gripping on to the prison bars. "Was I simply convenient when you wrapped your arms around me pulled me closer in your sleep? Was I convenient when you said that I made a big impact in your life?" You challenge. "I mattered to you. I know I did." Your voice drops to a trembling whisper. 

You see Gaster pause, as if hesitating and pondering your words—his back still turned toward you. "His Majesty will be here momentarily. Thank you for your patience." He responds, once again deflecting into professionalism, ignoring everything you'd just said as he walked out of the room. 

The moment his footsteps faded into the distance, your composure shattered completely and you let out a trembling, desperate cry that echoed across the tiny cell. You fell to your knees, shaking and sobbing. The man you love so dearly has just done everything in his power to push you away as far as he can. 

He gave you nothing. Not rage, not kindness—only the chill of indifference. He looked through you, not at you, as though your absence had never truly ended.

You sit in your cell, crying longer than you'd care to admit. You had imagined a thousand ways your reunion with Gaster might unfold—but never had this strict coldness been one of them.

---------------------------------------------

Hunched in the corner of your cell, head laid against the brick, you sit waiting silently for King Asgore to come to visit you. And after what seemed like forever, he finally came. 

His heavy footsteps echoed across the prison walls, but you paid little attention as he walked up to the bars of your cell. 

"(Y/N)?" He asks suddenly. 

You meet him with silence and keep your eyes focused on the brick beside you. 

"(Y/N)?" He repeats, but softer this time. "Have you been crying?" He whispers. 

"I really don't want to talk about it right now." You whisper. 

He hesitates, sighs, then sits down on the cold floor of the bunker’s prison. You take note of every movement. "Tell me, (Y/N), why is it that you have been crying?" He asks quietly. "Are you upset because of what led to your disappearance?"

Silence falls once more, and you bite your bottom lip, trying to stop it from trembling with tears. 

"(Y/N), I can only help you if you tell me what happened." He speaks softly once more. "I know this might be difficult, but I’m here to listen."

"I should have never come back here." You whisper, and Asgore goes silent. At least, until he lets out another sigh. 

"(Y/N), please tell me what happened." He urges, even softer this time—concern heavy in his voice. 

You finally look up at him—meeting his worried amber gaze. "There's no point anymore." You whisper.

He shakes his head. "I understand that you are in a somber mood, but I can assure you that your truth deserves to be spoken, no matter how heavy it feels." 

You remain silent once more, prompting Asgore to let out another sigh. "(Y/N), please remember, you are the only one who can tell me your story." He shifts his position on the prison floor. "I want to help you, and the only way I can is if you tell me what happened." 

Finally, you nod hesitantly. "Okay." You respond much softer than anticipated.

Asgore’s expression softens slightly, a faint light returning to his eyes as he leans back, waiting patiently for you to speak.

You spend the next several minutes telling King Asgore what happened. From Namir's treason to your deal with Sir Felix Bordeaux to get you back to the bunker. When you finally stop, the silence between you is heavy—his expression unreadable.

Asgore rises to his feet, slowly, the weight of your words now heavy on his shoulders. "Namir..." He murmurs, looking to the side. "I knew that he was prideful. But this..." He steps closer to the bars, voice heavy with disbelief. "To make a deal with our enemy? To cast you out like that?" His gaze lowers. "I should have seen it sooner. I’m sorry."

"You couldn't have known, nobody could have." You shake your head. "Please don't apologize." You murmur, pulling your knees to your chest. 

"Perhaps so," He grows silent for a moment, "but they will now." He looks at you, a glimmer of hope in his amber gaze. "I'll go fetch Gaster, if that's what you wish?" 

You flinch at the mention of his name, once again averting your gaze. "He's already come." You whisper. "Said you asked him to check on my condition." 

Asgore stiffens. “I never sent for him,” He murmurs. “I didn’t even know where he was.” Realization comes to his face, and he looks at you with a sympathetic glance. 

You blink, growing more confused. “He acted like it was just routine. Like I was some obligation he had to cross off.”

"Is that why you were crying when I walked in?" He asks softly, leaning closer to the cell's bars once again. You hesitantly nod in response. 

“Then he must have come for his own reasons,” Asgore says softly, “but lied to you about why.”

"Perhaps he just didn't want to tell me the truth." You grit your teeth. 

"The truth?" Asgore echoes and you trace your finger along the cracks of the floor, your heart pounding in your chest. 

"That he came to tell me goodbye." You whisper, your voice once again breaking. 

Asgore pauses again, then lets out an exasperated sigh. “We’re not doing this.” His voice is sharper than before, but not unkind. "I know that he’s a cynical man—closed-off, stubborn, and too damn proud for his own good. But I refuse to stand idly by and allow him to bury what he feels just because he’s too afraid to face it." He grumbles, walking to the edge of the room, picking up the keys to your cell. 

He walks back to your cell, looking into your (e/c) gaze. “He may think that he’s doing what’s best—that walking away spares you both from more pain.” His expression softens. “But he’s wrong.” 

You open your mouth to speak, but he interrupts you before you have the chance. "I’ve known Gaster a very long time, longer than most.” He pauses. “I’ve seen how hard he tries to pretend that he doesn’t feel. But when it comes to you, he’s never really been able to hide it.” He kneels down on the floor so that he can be at eye-level with you. 

Your breath hitches when your eyes lock with his—there’s no hesitation in his amber gaze, only certainty.

"If he won’t speak his truth, then I’ll find him. I’ll make sure he hears yours." 

And with that vow, he stands up and unlocks your cell, beckoning you forward. "We're going to make this right. I promise." 

Notes:

Wow, what's crazy is apparently I last updated this story when I graduated with my associate's degree, but last month I graduated with my bachelor's! The sad realization of this, however, is that it took me like 2 years to publish an update. Whoopsie! Hopefully will not happen again.

Anyways, I really loved being able to return to writing this story! I really love this story's inner-workings and have a ton planned for the future. More average-sized update this time, but I think 12 pages is a more manageable size than the beast I uploaded last time. I was also thankfully able to address a lot. The monster's lack of trust, Gaster's cynicism, Asgore's confidence, etc. Oh, and even a brief Elementia feature! More to come as well. Anyhoo, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I apologize for the angst. But sometimes angst can hurt so good. Do you think Gaster came to say goodbye… or was he just trying to protect himself from being hurt further?

I guess I started doing a chapterly question last update? So, this week's question is: What fictional universe would you visit if you could? I'd probably say Animal Crossing. I feel like it'd be a total vibe.

Blah, blah, blah. You know the drill. I have a Discord server (16+) for my fanfics if you'd like to join! It is slower than it used to be, but I am hoping to bring back some activity, so if you'd like to join and you're within the age limit, feel free to comment below if interested! In July, I am expecting to throw this story it's 8 year birthday celebratory bash, and maybe I'll throw some exclusive content on there! We shall see. (Yes, you read that right. It is about to turn 8 years old!)

Alright, well I hope you enjoyed chapter 25! I am going to start working on the next Bone of Contention update now, so hang tight for that one if you also read that story. I hope you have a wonderful day/night! :)

-Indie