Self Indulgence

by MossyNebulous

Summary:

Reader is a professor at a local college; Classic having been their teacher for grad school and now colleague. Another skelebro bursts in while they are discussing sciencey stuff with an "emergency" and reader ends up getting dragged into helping.

Mostly just a self indulgent fic with silly little scenarios that bounce around in my head.

Notes:

This is influenced mostly by "With Dumb Luck and a Little Hope" by @Mistycallee Mostly for the reader being a professor.

Chapter 1: I don't know what I'm doing

I was discussing with my colleague, Dr. Skeleton, about what could be the atomical makeup of monster's magic since some of it broke the laws of physics. "Dr. Skeleton, we've gone over this! There has to be another element in the makeup. It breaks all known laws of physics and there currently isn't any theory on it," I sighed exasperated, pinching the bridge of my nose.

I heard the skeleton let out his own sigh. "and i've told you numerous times to call me Sans. i'm not your teacher anymore."

I gave him a tired smile, being exhausted not only from this argument but lectures and grading homework late last night. "What can I say? Habits die hard."

"how punfortunate," he jested lightly.

I just shook my head at the attempt, having heard the joke millions of time from him. "You're just trying to distract me now from the topic at hand. I know this wasn't my field of focus, but there has to-"

I was cut off by the door of the lab we were in being slammed open by a skeleton that looked similar to my colleague. They were a couple inches taller though and wore a purple turtleneck with an almost black v-neck over it and a black leather jacket. They also had on a nicer pair of black skinny jeans that were tucked into a pair of shiny black boots. I noticed he had a scar over his right eye socket with purple eyelights.

They panted for a second before looking directly at Sans. "Emergency, Classic!"

I saw my colleague's browbones furrow. "What kind of emergency?"

"Creampuff, Edge, And Blue Are All Fightin' On Who Is Makin' Dinner. Y'know I Wouldn't Have Bothered You If It Wasn't Starting To Get Serious. Even Red Is About To Step In," the new skeleton elaborated.

I finally registered what they had called Sans and glanced back at my colleague, raising an eyebrow at him. "Classic?"

If Sans's sockets weren't already widened by the situation, I feel they would have widened more. I noticed the other's sockets widen also. I'm still amazed by how they are able to show emotion like that. "it's a family nickname. for how i, uh, like my dogs."

I had a little doubt in the truthfulness of that statement with how he paused, but let it pass anyway with a nod of my head.

"Sorry, I Didn't Realize You Were With A Student, But We Really Need To Go," the other skeleton urged.

I tilted my head at his statement, not bothering to correct him since they were in a hurry. I was a bit amused though that they assumed I was a student.

Sans sighed and rubbed his forehead in thought, suddenly pausing in the action and looking at me. "have dinner plans?"

I furrowed my eyebrows confused by the relevance of the question. "No?"

"Come On Classic, We Need To Hurry!" the other pressured.

"a minute mal," Sans dismissed the other that I can now dub Mal. "wanna come over and help settle this pastaster with free food?"

I thought for a moment, curious as to why this mysterious fellow who had hidden every single detail of his private and family life from everyone on campus was suddenly inviting me to his home for a very much personal emergency. "Sure?"

"great. c'mon then." He strolled over to where was standing and I followed. He took Mal's hand who puffed up a little by the contact but didn't say anything. He held his hand out to me and I took it tentatively.

I suddenly felt a dropping feeling stomach accompanied with darkness and then just as rapid it stopped with our trio standing in a kitchen. I knew Sans could shortcut and had seen him do it, but never had I participated in the activity. I blinked a few times trying to reestablish myself. I could hear multiple raised voices in front of me and slowly registered that I was looking at six new skeleton monsters. Four that seemed to want to go at each other's throat and two trying to remain peace. One pair trying to fight seemed to contain another skeleton that looked similar to Sans and Mal except if Mal wore red, gold jewelry, and more punk vibes. The tall skeleton beside him having the same vibe with a double lined scare going across his left eye socket. The other side had what I recognized slightly as the Monster Ambassador. Beside him was another skeleton looking similar to the prior noted ones except he wore lighter blue and greys with a blue bandana around his neck. His clothes looked more ready for action than that of most of the group. In the middle was another skeleton that suspiciously looked like Sans except he wore a baggier coat and sneakers. The biggest difference was the gaping hole that was in their skull. The other trying to mediate was by far the tallest in the room. They had a pair of round glasses, held on by one of those bands used by athletes, braces, and a soft colored jumper paired with jeans.

I heard Sans clear his voice next to me catching the rooms attention. "what seems to be the issue?" I felt a chill run down my spine and was tempted to take a step away from him. I've only heard him use a similar tone one other time and that was when I was running on five hours of sleep for three days except it was laced with some concern then.

I noticed the edgey, red skeleton with the gold jewelry disappear for a second before reappearing next to Mal and take his hand, leaning against the other slightly.

"I HAVE THIS BROTHER! DO NOT WORRY! THIS ONE HERE JUST BELIEVES THAT SPAGHETTI TACOS ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR DINNER TONIGHT!" the Monster Ambassador spoke up, shooting a momentary glare at the edgey tall skeleton. I realized that he was siblings with Sans. How did he keep that hidden?

"We've Had It Five Nights In A Row! Is It A Sin to Want To Have Something Different?" the other argued.

"enough." I glanced over at Sans and saw his eyelights were gone. I decided to take that step back now as Mal and their attachment did the same. "axe and crooks feel free to go. i have it from here."

The two skeletons that were playing mediator seemed to skitter away the moment Sans started his sentence. "now blue, creampuff. as much as i love your two's spaghetti tacos. we are not having it again this week. wait three days then go for it." The two he directed his message to nodded their head and looked down. "edge. i understand that you wanted change, but getting violent isn't going to work and i know that you know this." I heard a soft snicker come from the other side of our group and watched Sans head whip to the sound. "you're not getting out of this either red. you were encouraging the fight. now i want all four of you to go to the living room. mal is making dinner tonight. our guest is going to keep an eye on you to make sure you behave. understood?"

The four skeletons that were in trouble nodded their heads and scurried out of the room, leaving myself, Sans, and Mal. I turned to look at Sans. "Why do I gotta keep an eye on them? I don't know them."

"precisely why, kid. take it as practice for dealing with more difficult students," Sans offered before disappearing again.

I looked at Mal who just gave me a confused look and then shrugged, moving to start working on whatever the group's dinner was going to be. I decided to navigate my way to the living room, following the loud voices that I had heard earlier. I stepped into a decently sized room and saw a couple more tall skeletons that hadn't been in the kitchen along with the group of four plus one of the one's who had been trying to keep peace when we arrived. The moment I stepped into the room, multiple heads snapped my way which included a few glares and curious looks.

"HELLO HUMAN! YOU WERE WITH BROTHER WHEN HE CAME TO THE KITCHEN WEREN'T YOU?" the monster ambassador asked.

"WE HAVEN'T MET ANYONE NEW FROM CLASSIC BEFORE!" the small, blue adourned skeleton declared, jumping up from his seated position and bounding to be in front of me, holding out a hand. "I'M BLUE, PLEASURE TO MEET YOU."

I took his hand warily. "Name's Moss. Pleasure to meet you as well."

"moss? that's a weird name," I heard another note. I moved to peer around Blue to get a gage on who spoke, but didn't have to guess as Blue spoke up for me.

"THAT'S VERY RUDE TO SAY TO SOMEONE YOU JUST MET, RED!" Blue defended, moving to the side so I could get a clear look of the room.

My gaze fell onto the skeleton who had moved to be next to Mal when we arrived and saw him shrug causing my eyes to narrow on him. "Got a problem with it?" My voice held probably a bit more malice than it should, but it didn't seem to phase him.

"nah, just never heard that name before with a human. got skeletons here whose names are literal colors, doll," he answered seemingly uninterested.

My nose scrunched up at the pet name, but chose not to say anything.

"so how'd ya meet our bud classic?" another skeleton spoke. It was one of the one's that hadn't been in the kitchen earlier and he had adourned himself with and orange hoodie from what I could see.

"Met him in class," I answered straight to the point, not giving any more information than necessary.

"BROTHER TAUGHT YOU?" the monster ambassador spoke again and then seemed to realize he hadn't introduced himself because they went on. "OH, I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF HUMAN. I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS! IT'S GREAT TO MEET YOU!"

"Good to meet ya too. As you know, I'm Moss. And yeah he did," I confirmed with him and restated my name.

"name's stretch, kid. so what's he like as a teach?" the orange hoodie skeleton now adorned Stretch questioned.

"Well, Dr. Skeleton is pretty laid back for due dates. As long as it was turned it by the chapter's test he didn't care. If you needed help understanding something he was also really good at figuring out a way to explain it in a way someone could understand it easily. He would also notice if some students start lagging behind and would go out of his way to make sure they were caught up," I explained, thinking back to what it was like in his classes and from what I've seen of him as a coworker. I was met with a room full of silence and looked at them confusedly.

"told ya to stop calling me that kid, but i'll let it go since you left them so aboneished," I heard Sans voice speak from my side. I jumped slightly and looked down at him, cringing slightly at the bad pun.

"BROTHER, JAR!" Papyrus commanded, pointing to a jar on the coffee table that was already relatively full.

"i thought that one was pretty humerus," Sans answered, tossing in two coins. I gave them a confused look, before I noticed two more jars on the table one filled about the same as the one Sans just tossed coins into and the other relatively empty.

"THAT'S THE PUN JAR. WHENEVER SOMEONE MAKES A PUN THEY HAVE TO PUT IN A COIN. WE MADE IT TO HOPEFULL DETER THEM FROM THEY'RE TERRIBLE JOKES, BUT TO NO AVAIL," Blue answered my quiet question.

"the other two are for swearing and violence," Red filled in, pointing at them respectively. I nodded in my head in understanding.

"so what's the damage?" Stretch asked, looking at Sans with an easy smile.

"well, red you're doing dishes tonight," Sans started, but was immediately met with objection to which he shot down with the threat of more work. "blue and papyrus," he dramatically paused, "no puzzles for three days." The two skeletons gasped in horrid fear.

"THREE DAYS IS FAR TOO LONG!" Blue objected.

"I AM IN AGREEMENT, BROTHER HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO US?" Papyrus proclaimed, hands on his hips but in a seemingly nonthreatening way and more childish.

"because i was pulled away from my work to settle this weighing matter," Sans deadpanned.

It took me a second to catch it, but snickered at the dumb physics pun causing Sans's grin to widen slightly.

"WAS THAT A PUN, BROTHER?" Papyrus asked, suspicious as to why I would snicker at the comment otherwise.

"who knows?" Sans shrugged, his grin widening slightly at potentially having gotten away with a pun.

I raised an eyebrow. "No one else got caught in the gravity of it?"

Sans gave a small chuckle beside me. I didn't indulge in his puns often, but now felt like a good time. I noticed a grin on Stretch's face and assumed he had caught on too.

"well it wasn't too dark of matter so you were probably the only one in its radius," Stretch added on.

A few of the other skeletons groaned, realizing that we were doing puns dealing with physics.

"All Of You, Jar," the tall, edgey skeleton commanded.

I pouted at him. "Even the guest?"

"Especially You, You Pathetic Human," he extenuated, glaring at me.

I sighed and rummaged in my wallet pulling out a bill since I didn't have any coins on my and put it in next to the various change. Sans had tossed in his coin along with Stretch.

"i'd recommend ya get some change if ya plan ta make puns here, doll," Red so kindly informed me.

"Got it. Thanks for the advice, sweetie," I retorted, rolling my eyes. I noticed Red's smile grow slightly.

"Dinner!" I heard Mal call from down the hall. I saw everyone get up and start migrating in that direction. I waited with Sans and saw him pull the edgey skeleton aside.

"don't think I forgot your punishment, edge," Sans commented. Edge huh, guess it fits him. "you're not allowed to look at any trap related media for the next three days."

Edge let out an offended gasp and opened his mouth to object, but then figured it was best not to argue as he closed it and continued after everyone else, grumbling to himself. Sans started walking in the same direction and I tailed behind him, bringing up the back of the group. When we arrived I saw that most everyone had situated themselves on one side of the table or the other. On one side sat the skeleton with the head wound then the tall skeleton with braces then the other tall skeleton who was in the living room who had two gold teeth then Mal then Red. Across from the empty seat next to Red sat Edge then Stretch then Blue then Papyrus who had two empty seats beside him. Sans went to sit next to his brother and gestures for me to sit next to him to which I followed.

I looked up at the skeleton across from me and gave a soft smile. "Hello, my name's Moss."

The skeleton looked up from their plate and paused their eating, having being almost done with his plate compared to everyone just starting. They just glared at me and continued eating.

I didn't let it bother me none, I probably would do the same if I had been consumed in eating and some stranger introduced themself. I turned the skeleton next to them. "You two were the one's keeping peace while Mal got Sans right?"

The tall skeleton seemed surprised that I was talking to him. "Um, Yeah. My Name Is Crooks." He glanced over at the skeleton who had ignored me. "And This Is My Brother Axe."

My grin widened at his soft tone. "It's a pleasure to meet the two of you."

Crooks nodded his head and then gestured to the skeleton next to him, "This Is Rus."

I turned to the skeleton who had been in the living room with Stretch. "Pleasure to mee ya Rus."

He just gave a nod in return and continued eating his food.

"so whatcha study, doll?" Red asked from the other end of the table.

I hummed in fake thought before answering. "Majored in physics, minoring in cosmology and philosophy." I took a bite of the food and hummed at how good it tasted. It gave off the signature monster food tingle that I've come slightly accustomed to. I noticed some of the skeletons tense up at my answer.

"WOW THAT'S SO COOL! NO WONDER YOU HAD CLASSIC AS A TEACHER! YOU MUST BE REALLY SMART!" Blue chirped from where he was sitting, taking a bite from his own plate afterwards.

"What's So Cool About A Peasant Majoring In Physics?" Mal questioned, glaring at Blue.

I tensed with the term he referred to me with. "Peasant?"

"Well That's What You Are Peasant," Mal answered.

I felt the smile I had been holding start to fall before I forced it rigid. I noticed some of the skeletons tense up again at how I would react. I specifically noticed how Rus had turned his attention from his food to me now, having stopped their eating. I simply picked up my plate and fork and slid out of my chair and onto the ground beside the chair I had been sitting. I noticed San lean over to give me a questioning look, but probably decided from the look on my face to leave it. "Oh, I'm sorry my lord. I should have known."

"HUMAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING EATING ON THE FLOOR?" Papyrus asked me, confusion thoroughly laced into his voice as he leaned back in his chair to look at me.

"Peasants aren't allowed to eat at the table with their lord. Human culture, y'know," I simply answered, taking a bit of the food. "The food is quite excellent my lord."

"Of Course It Is, I Made It! Now Eat At The Table You Peasant!" Mal commanded me.

I just stayed sat where I was and took another bit answering after I had swallowed. "But my lord, you must eat a lofty twelve inches above me." I caught Stretch sitting up straighter, seeming to have caught the reference I was starting.

"That Doesn't Matter Peasant! I Refuse To Let Food I Made Be Eaten On The Floor!" Mal objected. As so that's what it was about, not my behavior.

Deciding to just mess around now I went with my plan. "But my lord, our love is forbidden!"

That seemed to set him over as he bolted up from his seat, using his hands to help him. I heard a quiet snicker from Stretch before I had the scruff of my shirt grabbed. Not hard enough to make me move much, but hard enough to pull my torso closer to Mal who I'm pretty sure would be puncturing holes into my shirt if it weren't for the gloves on his hands. "How Dare You Take Me For A Fool Peasant!" I saw behind him that Rus had also stood up and was slowly making their way over probably in case a fight broke out.

"c'mon hun, just let the doll eat on the floor. ain't hurtin' anyone," Red spoke up trying to seem nonchalant, but I could tell he was tense from his voice. "it'd be a waste ta let the amazin' food ya made go ta waste."

"Not Until The Peasant Sits At The Table To Eat!" Mal objected, turning towards the other. This cause him to pull me slightly, but I managed to keep my plate steady.

I grinned up at him, "Not until you stop calling me peasant."

He whipped back to me. "That's Preposterous! What Else Am I Supposed To Call You!"

"I don't know, my name. Even doll, as distasteful as it is, is better," I answered still grinning at him. "I'll keep callin' ya m'lord if ya do even."

I saw his shoulders shake slightly, seems I really ruffled his feathers. He finally let go of my shirt and turned to go back to his seat. "Whatever, Apprentice."

My grin widened at the victory and situated myself back into the chair I had been sitting in and resumed eating my food. I assume he gave in from the pressure of everyone else. The meal continued on without much other incidents and some small talk amongst the skeletons, letting me eat my food as they had mostly finished theirs. Over that time, Horror, Crooks, Rus, Edge, and Mal had left to do whatever it was they went to do. There were several coins tossed into the jars on the table as well, I found out there being another swear jar and pun jar.

I was just finishing up when Stretch brought up a new question, "why do you use past tense when you talk about studying?"

"Cause I'm graduated," I answered straightforwardly.

"YOU'VE GRADUATED?" Blue asked from across me, surprise adorning his skull. The remaining skeletons had rearranged themselves so we could talk easier earlier as the others left. Blue across from me with Stretch next to him and Red next to him while Sans and Papyrus remained where they were.

"Yep." I leaned back in my chair, relaxing. I noticed my plate disappear along with Red. Must've been waiting for me to finish so he could do dishes.

"WHY WERE YOU WITH MY BROTHER WHEN MAL WENT TO GET HIM THEN?" Papyrus asked, confusion also having had graced his skull.

"Be pretty hard to do my job if I didn't interact with my colleagues now wouldn't it." My voice rang with jest, letting them know that I was just playing around and didn't hold any malice.

"what are you researching?" Stretch immediately questioned. He seemed to be on edge now since he was sitting up straighter and had his eye sockets narrowed at me.

I hummed and thought the best way to explain it. "Well I have a few fields of interest in studying, but since I'm such a new graduated teach they have me helping Sans out along with trying to figure out what makes up monster's magic from an atomical perspective. Real focus though is the Multiverse Theory since it's what really got me into the field, but since there's such little ways to actually study it it's become more of a pastime."

I saw the skeletons around me except Sans all become more rigid and turn to the skeleton beside me.

"IS THIS WHY YOU INVITED THEM TO DINNER BROTHER?" Papyrus asked him, seemingly sweating lightly with nerves.

Sans just shrugged in response. "not allowed to mix my personal life and work?"

I raised an eyebrow at his comment, but remained silent.

"classic, you know what could happen," Stretch pressed slightly.

"if the kid has the bones for it. tibia honest with ya, they still don't believe me when i tell 'em what magic is made of," Sans answered, tossing a couple coins in the jar.

"CLASSIC THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Blue objected.

I was confused as to what they were talking about now and why the others were so tense. My only guess was because I brought up the Multiverse Theory since everything else didn't seem to be a problem from the last couple comments. Would also explain why they tensed up earlier when I mentioned my fields of study since those were associated with the theory.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as I saw Blue dash away and into the kitchen. I could hear him relay to Red what they had just learned from the volume he spoke. I remained in my spot though, still confused as the two burst back into the room.

"what the hell, classic! this is somethin' ya discuss with the house first!" Red scolded. Papyrus told him to toss a coin into the swear jar which he did with a sigh.

Sans once again just shrugged, his grin widening slightly. "what can i say? was getting boned to death with nothing new going on." He flicked another coin into the respective jar.

"Is there an issue with me studying the Multiverse Theory?" I finally vocalized my question, causing Sans smile to widen more, probably because I realized what the problem was.

"OF COURSE THERE'S NO ISSUE IN YOU STUDYING IT!" Papyrus quickly defended. "I THINK I'M GOING TO GO GET READY FOR BED SINCE I HAVE TO GET UP EARLY TOMORROW." He quickly left the room and I could hear his quick footsteps go up the stairs and a door shutting.

"I THINK I'LL DO THE SAME! HAVE WORK AT SIX Y'KNOW!" Blue declared, quickly following the retreat Papyrus had made. It seemed like they didn't want to be there because of the discussion making me even more confused.

Red and Stretch's attention turned back to Sans and myself as they stared at us almost glaring.

"i'm not doin' the rest of the dishes cause of this," Red commented. Sans just shrugged his shoulders, seeming to see the logic in Red's statement.

"so how come you didn't discuss this with us first?" Stretch interrogated.

"never thought to invite them until now," Sans answered. "too last minute to ask ahead of time."

"So why is everyone tense about my pastime?" I asked, rewording my prior question.

Stretch and Red both looked at me with contemplative looks, probably thinking over their next words carefully.

"well, doll, some of us don't exactly have favorable opinions about the theory," Red finally answered after a moment.

"Why?" Red cringed at my question, probably having had hoped I wouldn't ask the question.

"what red meant was that it can be a bit of a hassle discussing the theory with humans since monsters have been theorizing about it with our separate laws," Stretch explained.

I could tell they were still hiding something, but decided to drop it since I realized how late it had gotten and I still had some quizzes to grade and my car was still parked at the college. I turned my attention to Sans. "Hey, mind taking me back to campus? My car's still there and you know that as much as I love to procrastinate, I need to get those quizzes graded."

"yeah, no problem kid," Sans agreed, grabbing my hand.

"we're resuming this conversation when you get back, classic. with the whole house," Stretch commented. Sans just nodded slightly before I felt the falling feeling in my stomach again and was suddenly in the car lot on campus where my car was parked.

"Thanks, Sans. Don't know what I would've done with out ya," I thanked, letting go of his hand and starting to slowly head to my car, before turning back to him. "Good luck with the talk at home."

Sans chuckled lightly, "Don't need the wishbone kid, but thanks anyways." And with that he disappeared, probably shortcutting back home.

I just chuckled and shook my head, continuing my trek to my car. I got in once I had reached it and started it up, finding some good tunes to listen to on the drive home before I had to enter the hell that was grading quizzes. I groaned to myself at the realization that I definitely couldn't procrastinate on grading them any longer and dreaded my arrival home.

Chapter 2: We're Dating?

Notes:

I still don't know what I'm doin', but listen hear me out, kandi bracelets.

I got home and turned my vehicle off. Getting out of it, I locked it behind me. I entered the building and climbed up the flight of stairs to my apartment. Figured I could procrastinate a bit longer by taking the stairs since my apartment was only on the second floor. I sighed slightly at the top of the stairs and steadied my breathing as I walked the rest of the twenty steps to my door. I wasn't that out of breath, but I could tell it wasn't my normal, even breathing. I unlocked the door though once I reached the apartment and slid inside. I looked over at the coffee table in front of my couch and let out another sigh seeing the scattered papers. In my defense I had been slowly working on the quizzes, but I promised the kids in my class I would at latest get them back to them tomorrow which left me currently with a good three quarters of the quizzes to grade.

I decided to make myself a cup of tea for while I grade to help me stay up. I glanced at the time on the stove as I grabbed my kettle to fill it with water and saw it was a little after seven. If I was lucky I would get down by midnight. Curse having to grade math. It honestly wouldn't have been that bad if I didn't insist to find where students messed up and pointing it out for them so they could fix their future mistakes. I set the now filled kettle back on the stove and turned a burner on, walking over and sitting down on the couch, I pick up the quiz I had been grading and furrowed my eyebrows at it. Out of the quizzes that I had graded it was mostly done and the student basically aced it except they got one question wrong and I had been trying to figure out where they had went wrong. I had noticed this student did this on everything though; answering everything correctly except one question where they would make the smallest mistake that would take forever to find. I eventually figured out that they had literally swapped the spots of two number and sighed circling them as the kettle started to whistle. I got up, acquired a mug, and poured the water into it. I grabbed a random black tea bag, barely acknowledging the red packaging as I tore it open and put the bag in, throwing away the trash. I walked back to where I had been sitting momentarily earlier and started grading the next quiz, getting up to finish making the tea after completing the first page and bring said drink back with me to my spot.

To say I spent a good portion of the night grading would be accurate. I hadn't got finished until roughly two in the morning, having trouble focusing on the task at hand at times. I got all of them graded though. I glanced at my phone, checking to see if there were any notifications I needed to clear before getting ready for bed. I noticed I had a text from Sans and furrowed my eyebrows. It had been sent a couple hours ago and I knew it was probably because he didn't realize the time. What worried me though was that he had sent me a somewhat serious text instead of one of his occasional puns that he would send. It was letting me know that the house would like to keep an eye on me, chalking it up to that they were curious as to why he had brought me there after not bringing anyone for almost a decade.

I sent the skeleton back an okay and asking what the plan was for that, half guessing he was still up. I clicked my phone off and went to take a shower, throwing my clothes in the hamper in the bathroom and setting my bracelets on the sink counter. I brushed my teeth after mostly drying off and then proceeded to tousle my hair in a towel as I walked to my bedroom where I threw on some clean underwear and sleeping pants. I left the towel on my shoulders as I walked back to where my phone had been sitting, seeing a reply from my colleague. It explained how Red was already slowly working with the school to come and help with the machinery, but kept pushing back the date and that he sent them an email saying he'd start tomorrow as long as he could sit in on my classes. I just shrugged my shoulders at this and sent back a cool and asking what he was gonna tell the curious kids as to why he was sitting in. Sans sent back a message a moment later that Red was keeping it a secret and that I'd see tomorrow. Immediately after he sent another text telling me to go to bed. I chuckled at it and said I was and that he should too. I threw the towel around my neck onto a drying rack in the bathroom and headed back to my bedroom. I put my phone on the charger and crawled into my bed, letting sleep encompass me. 

I groaned at the sound of my alarm going off and quickly hit the five minute snooze on it. I purposefully set it about fifteen minutes early so I could hit snooze. It went off again the second time and I sighed and swiped it off, crawling out of bed. I went to the kettle, put fresh water in it and started it. Starting a pot of water on the stove as well as I went to get dressed. I threw on some jeans and a blank tank with a colorful button up over it. I didn't really care if this wasn't what college professors wore, Sans literally wore pink slippers. I dragged myself back into the kitchen as the kettle started whistling. I poured the water in the cup I used last night after I quickly washed it. I grabbed a bag of Lady Grey and threw it into the cup as I went to grab a package of ramen. Not the most nutritious breakfast I know, but it worked. I opened the package and placed the noodle block into the boiling pot of water, setting the seasoning packet to the side and throwing all my trash away. I went back to my bedroom and started taking my daily meds. I took multiple vitamins to make up for my horrid diet along with my prescriptions. A nasal spray which was technically over-the-counter now but I started taking it when it wasn't, an allergen pill that also helped with asthma, and an inhaler that I had to rinse my mouth out after taking. The nasal spray is because my nasal cavity decided that without it I could literally not breath through it no matter how clear it was. Basically my body sucked at breathing.

I took all the meds and rinsed my mouth out after the inhaler and then went to finish the ramen. I also finished making my cup of tea and took the two items to the small dining table I had. Consuming both while scrolling through my notifications from the night and different social medias. Finishing my breakfast, I put the dishes in the sink. I went and used the bathroom, washing my hands and then my teeth. I slide my bracelets back on as I glanced at the time on my phone and saw I need to be leaving soon for my class at ten. I slipped on some socks and shoes. Shoved all the quizzes on the coffee table into the folder that was with them and bringing them with me as I grabbed my keys and wallet, leaving my apartment. I locked the door behind me and went down the stairs and walked out to my car. Unlocking it, I slid in with all my items and then started the engine. I got everything else situated, seatbelt and music, before pulling out from where I was parked and heading to the university.

It was maybe a fifteen minute drive, but the drive was slightly therapeutic at this point. I pulled into the lot I normally parked in and found a spot. I grabbed the folder with the quizzes before turning the engine off and getting out. I locked my car and decided I would swing by my office before going to the classroom. I unlocked its door when I reached it and grabbed the attendance book, glancing in the room to ensure it was as chaotic as I had left. My eyes lingered for a moment at the little station I had for making kandi bracelets. It was just a small, low sitting table in the corner of the room behind my desk. I would basically make bracelets sometimes while I sat on the floor. Made good for a small break and some of the students appreciated getting bracelets in their respective pride flag colors. I made my way out of the room though and locked the door back and headed to the classroom. 

There was still twenty minutes before class started when I arrived, but the room we were in didn't have a class before ours so it was relatively empty outside of the couple students sitting in their usual spots and the skeleton in the back of it. I took the time to survey the room after having stepped out of the doorway. Mostly surveying the skeleton noticing his pointy teeth with one being gold and his, as I would describe, alt style. Definitely gave off the vibe of someone I would get along with and smiled softly before walking to the front of the class and setting my stuff on the table beside the podium. I took one of the pieces of chalk and started doing a small doodle in the corner of the board. Nothing too complicated, just a simple flower, like what a kid would draw.

"Hey, Moss!" I heard one of the students call out to me a few minutes later. I turned around and glanced at the clock on the back wall above Red and seen there was about ten minutes before class. I looked at the student who had called my name and saw it was one of the more outgoing one. I think he was in a frat, but I wasn't too sure.

"That's my name. What can I do for ya?" I answered, before turning back to the board and starting to write some of the announcements out.

"You really datin' that guy?" he asked and I turned around and saw him pointing behind him with his thumb at Red.

I furrowed my eyebrows at the question. "Is that what he told you?" I glanced back to Red and saw a wide smirk on his face, the skeleton answering before the kid. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Honey, I thought we agreed that you would say that you would be my new ta." If this was the role he wanted to play, then fine. Not like I cared enough this early.

I seemed to take him by surprise as his eye sockets widened momentarily and his smirk faltered before going into a wide grin.

"sorry, doll. thought it would be better to tell them the truth," Red countered.

"How long have you been dating?" another student, Tracy, asked. I turned my attention to her and tilted my head showing to elaborate. "There isn't a bracelet, but you guys are acting like you've known each other for a while."

I could hear Red start to answer, but I immediately cut him off. "We started yesterday, but hung out before that," I quickly explained. 

Red smile grew as he raised a brow bone, asking a silent question.

"When you gonna do bracelets?" the male student from earlier, Bradley, questioned.

I sighed again. "You guys are gonna keep pressuring this until it's made aren't ya?" The class all nodded in return. "Fine, c'mon Sugar, let's go get the beads." I started to walk to the back of the class where the door is and gestured for Red to follow.

We walked to my office together for a bit in silence. I huffed slightly when Red threw his arm around my shoulder, but didn't bother removing it since we were pretending to date now I guess.

"what were they talking about with the bracelets?" Red asked, breaking the silence as we turned a corridor.

I held my wrist up, showing him the few kandi bracelets that adorned it. "I have a bracelet for each person important to me and always have my partner make me one near the beginning of a relationship."

"cute," Red stated simply. I felt heat in my face. "if ya don't mind ma askin', who's who?" He gestured to the current bracelets.

I looked over the four bracelets in thought wondering if I wanted to answer. Figured that since I had told the class he might as well know too. I pointed to each one explaining who it belonged to. "This one is for my parents, this one is for my best friend from high school, and this one is from a close friend I made in college."

"what about the other one?" Red asked. He genuinely just seemed curious as we turned into the hall that housed my and Sans's office.

I saw my coworker unlocking his office and him glance over at us as he heard our voices. I saw the slight change in his smile knowing that I was going to hear about this later. I could feel a little more heat rush into my cheeks before answering, "The guy in front of ya."

Red stopped walking causing me to stop with him. He looked down at me and then back over to Sans and then back to me before removing his arm. "ah shit, i didn't realize y'all were."

"We aren't," I answered, continuing my walk to my office. "Mornin' Doctor Skeleton."

"c'mon kid, thought we were closer than that," Sans gestured to his own wrist. I knew he was trying to tease me.

I hummed as I unlocked my own office. "Sure we are, Classic." I repeated the nickname that the other skeletons called him. I could feel a tenseness in the air as I glanced over at him seeing that his eyelights had disappeared and that Red had come set a hand on his shoulder.

Sans's eyelights slowly returned, flickering in and out before fully returning. "guess i can let ya call me that."

I caught Red's grin flick up more though I didn't know why. "so why classic here got a bracelet?"

I opened the door to my office and went in ignoring his question. I could hear them whispering slightly outside as I put my kandi bracelet making stuff in a small box before returning and locking my door up. "He's got a bracelet because he's helped me out more times than I can count." I started walking back to the class causing Red to quickly say bye to Sans before catching up to my side and wrapping his arm back around my shoulder.

I assumed the skeleton was big on public displays of affection because of this.

"so his bracelet is like a reminder of what ya owe 'im?" Red asked after a bit again.

"One way to put it I guess. More like I hit some low spots and he helped to pull me out with his cheesy puns," I answered absentmindedly.

I could feel the arm around me tighten a bit. "Ya like puns, doll?"

"Occasionally." The conversation ended there as we finished our walk and reentered the class. It was a couple minutes after ten so most of the students were now present. "You know how to make the bracelets?"

"'m sure i can figure it out," Red responded.

"Just remember to put the nail polish on the knot when you're done so it stays. Also minimum of thirty beads," I informed before walking back to the front of the class.

The class went mostly without any hitches. Everyone was a bit more talkative, but I just put that to there being someone else in the class besides the normal crowd. I had taught one of the sections in chapter two today and answered any questions anyone had. We weren't too far into the semester and had only recently gotten through chapter one. I handed everyone back their quizzes before asking if there were any final questions.

Bradly had his hand raised. I raised a brow at him, surprised he had a question. I gestured him to go ahead. He turned around to face Red, directing the question to him, "What color is your magic?"

I felt my brows furrow as to why this was at all relevant. Red seemed amused though. He had finished making the bracelet a long time ago and had been messing around on his phone until this new development where he put it back into his pocket. After a moment he stuck out a red shimmery tongue before slipping it back in. I was curious about the appendage considering Sans told me about them being able to make one. "that answer your question kid?"

"Yep!" Bradly replied, turning back around and looking at a piece of paper. I saw most of the students sigh and pull out their wallets while a few seemed excited.

"What's this about?" I questioned, looking at Bradley.

"We were betting on what type of magic you'd end up dating. If you didn't date anyone this semester then everyone kept their money," another student, James, answered.

"Most people were betting on blue," Tracy threw in and she put some cash into the growing pile on Bradley's desk.

I sighed, but didn't stop the students. "You guys know this is highly inappropriate." I gave everyone a pointed look before I continued, "So who won?"

"Looks like Terry, Mike, Jen, and Doctor Skeleton," Bradley answered having glanced down at the paper for the names. "Doc joined in early this morning."

"Probably because he knew we were dating before you all did," I filled them in and lied about having told Sans about it last night. I knew the reality was that Red probably had told him and he hid it from me to see how I'd react.

Bradley shrugged. "He got the bet in before polls closed." He went to dividing the money evenly into four piles, handing three of them to classmates before the last to me. "Make sure he gets his money."

"Yeah, yeah. All of you guys are dismissed," I waved the class off as I slipped the cash into the folder that held the quizzes earlier. The class all went to scurry out of the class, having packed their things away earlier during Bradley's detour. I turned my attention back to Red and smiled softly. "You get that bracelet done, hun?"

He gave me a lazy smile before walking up to me with his hands in his pockets. He held one hand out to me once he reached my destination. I assumed he wanted to put it on himself and gave him the hand that had all my bracelets on it. He slipped on a bracelet that was a mix of black, red, white, and gold. It really did reminded me of the skeleton as I smiled up at him.

"mind if i make my datemate one?" Red asked, taking me by surprise.

"You're dating someone?" I voiced, my confusion coming through clearly.

"ouch, don't think i'm datemate material?" Red chuckled.

"Not that, of course you are. I meant why would you propose we were dating if you already had a partner?" I expounded.

Red gave me a charming smile. "believe it or not doll, a lot of monsters are open to open or poly relationships."

I thought for a moment remembering back to several relationships I had heard about. "Ah, okay that makes sense. Is your datemate okay with this though?"

Red gave another chuckle, this one deeper than the last and it made my attention perk up at it. "said it was fine as long as i gave him all the cuddles when i got back."

I gave a light laugh at his response. "Alright, as long as you both are okay with it, I guess we can be a thing." We were alone at this point and I had the next class in this room in thirty minutes. "Also feel free to make as many bracelets as you want. I don't mind." I started walking to the back where the beads were and started to make my own bracelet with my favorite colors mixed with some of the colors Red had used in his. I felt the skeleton join me as he started to make another bracelet similar to the one he made me. I threaded my beads and painted the knot, cutting it off once everything was done.

"Here." I held my hand out with the bracelet going over the outside.

"i get one?" Red asked. I saw his lazy smile remain, but one of his brow bones went up.

"If were gonna make this relationship seem legitimate then yes you do handsome," I answered.

I saw his smile falter momentarily before he raised his right hand to me. I slipped the bracelet onto his wrist before admiring my masterpiece. I glanced back up at his skull and saw the faintest shade of red on his skull.

"It looks good on you," I complimented.

This seemed to snap the skeleton out of his trance and his eyelights focused on my face before a smirk plastered his face. "didn't know ya were so possessive, doll."

I knew he didn't mean it negatively and probably was referring to it as if it were a hickey. I felt my face heat up regardless as I shrugged. "I just like having small reminders."

Red chuckled before his smile relaxed. "i get it. can be nice at times. calmin' even."

I met his eyelights and smiled softly. "Yeah, it is."

We sat in silence, making a few more bracelets before my next class started to filter in. I got up and got ready to teach the second first year level class of the day, leaving Red to fiddle with the beads and string.

Chapter 3: I didn't agree to this

Summary:

Reader agreed to being watched 24/7, but didn't know what that fully entailed.

Notes:

I should once again be sleeping, but the gods of inspiration have struck me. Enjoy it while it lasts. This is currently my therapy.
Also contains bad eating habits and negative self thoughts.

The rest of the pre-lunch day went without hitch. Students had money exchange hands a few more times and the small pile of money that had been started for Sans grew. I found out that there weren't any bets for me dating a human, because, as one student explained, I gave off the vibe that people disgusted me. Which to an extent they weren't wrong, but the fact that I would get all the money for the wash made me a bit sad on missing out on it. The fact that Sans knew about this whole thing though was going to be something brought up during our lunch. Also how he encouraged it.

"when are ya going ta eat lunch?" I heard Red groan from the back of the classroom. He had gotten board of making bracelets. He ended up making a few more while I taught earlier, but eventually decided that scrolling on his phone to be more entertaining.

I glanced at the clock behind him and smiled. "How about right now?"

He seemed to perk up. "finally! been waitin' for you ta take one two hours ago," he complained, standing up and gathering his things and the kandi beads.

I raised an eyebrow at him while I gathered everything that was up front and then met him where he was. "It's only 3 though."

Red sputtered for a moment. "only 3, ya say. y'know most people eat lunch at like 1 at the latest right?"

"And?" I helped take some of the things Red was trying to carry as we started to walk back to my office. "This is the earliest time Sans and I are free to eat lunch together."

"oh?" Red asked, seemingly interested. "and why must da two of ya eat togetha?"

"Because neither of us will if we don't eat together. Basically holding each other accountable," I explained, rounding a corner and avoiding a rushing student who quickly apologized for the near run in to which I just waved off as they hurried.

"i expect that out a classic, but ya a human. don't y'all get hunger pains?" Red queried.

I hummed. "I mean we do, I just grew to not have them while I'm focused on a task or while at work. Same with using the restroom. Sans usually has to remind me half the time while we're working together cause I'll go like six hours without using one without me knowing."

"seems like you fail at the basic functions of being a human," Red chuckled.

I flinched at the comment and gave a weak chuckle back. "I fail at it more than you know."

Red had paused in his walking long enough to cause me to turn to look at him confusedly before he started walking again taking the lead to my office. "whatcha mean by that doll?"

I quickened my pace to walk beside him. "Well I'm asthmatic so I have trouble breathing at times. I have to take an inhaler daily just so I can breathe properly and then I have another inhaler for emergencies. Also take a nasal spray since my nose doesn't want to seem to breathe either."

I heard the skeleton next to me seemingly click his tongue. "shit, that must suck kid."

"Doesn't suck as much as me," I instantly retorted, not putting much thought into the comment.

I heard Red make a choking sound and turned to look at him seeing his whole face had turned a bright red. "ya allowed to make those kind a comments at work?" He had his skull turned away from me.

I furrowed my eyebrows and pulled out my keys to unlock my office as we arrived at it. "Don't know what you mean." I unlocked the door and pushed it open, walking in and setting most of the stuff I had been carrying down on my desk, putting the beads that I carried on their table.

"doll, you just said you sucked and implied that you do a lot," Red tried to explain to me, following into the room and setting the bracelet making supplies he carried on the table.

I turned to him and knew the confusion was still evident on my face when he sighed.

"sucking dick," he deadpanned.

I felt my cheeks heat up slightly as I realized that what I had said could be taken that way. "Th.that's not what I meant! I meant suck as in lame!"

Red started to give a hearty laugh and I suddenly realized how nice it sounded and smiled softly at him.

I heard someone clear their throat from the doorway and turned to see Sans holding his lunch bag. "ready for lunch kid or am i interrupting something?"

"You're not interrupting," I answered him. The soft smile I held growing.

Sans entered my office and shut the door behind him.

"'bout time. y'know how long it's been since i've ate," Red grumbled, sitting down in one of the chairs at the small table I had where Sans had set his lunch bag on.

"about as long as me," Sans answered, starting to pull out different tupperware containers and setting them on the table, pulling a couple sandwiches out last.

"'sumin' one of those sandwiches is mine," Red guessed, reaching for one.

Something in me clicked and I quickly went for the one that I knew was mine since it had a band around it and grabbed it. I seemed to startle Red as he had paused his actions.

"he gets defensive over his sandwiches. becomes a sandwitch without one on thursdays," Sans explained to the bewildered Red.

"i see," Red started. "so what's mine?"

Sans moved a couple of the containers in front of Red. "the mustard covered spaghetti tacos that are left over from a couple nights ago." Sans moved one of the containers to my direction before taking the last container and sandwich to his spot at the table.

We spent the rest of our lunch eating and joking around a bit. I ended up giving Sans his profit off the bets as we ate as well before I forgot. We also opened the door up in case any students wanted to ask Sans or myself any questions for the next hour after we finished eating. Most of our students knew by know that after that period of time that if they needed something they could just come find us in the lab. Which we went and did since we only have midday classes. I worked out some of the math on the papers while Sans showed Red the machine. I haven't gotten to see it that much, which in Sans's defense is because of my own fault. I'm better at mathematical and theory side of physics. Working on machinery did not fall into that category. The few times that Sans had let me help ended up with us covered in soot or a massive amount of oil. Red explained to me over lunch how he was a mechanical engineer, but worked on cars for the love of them. It was nice seeing him light up talking about something he was passionate about. After Sans had shown Red the machine he bounced between helping him and helping me with the different strings of math. At some point I had been invited to dinner with the family again to which I agreed to. Sans giving me a better run down on everyone's personalities, so I don't pull another sitting on the floor stunt even if it was amusing.

Once it had reached seven and both Sans and I were tired of hearing Red grumbling about wanting to go home for dinner, we all agreed to leave. We also agreed to have me drive to their house this time instead of shortcutting since Sans said that it was too much work for him to do right now. I'm pretty sure it was just so he could take a nap in the back while I drove, but I'm not gonna complain. Red gave me directions to where they lived after I had gotten the music and everything set up, settling on some punk for the vibes. I pulled into their drive, realizing just how actually big the place was, but that made sense with the number of individuals living there.

Red and I got out of my vehicle after I put it in park and turned it off. I opened the back door and shook Sans awake so we could all head in. He mumbled out a pun about how I was unbearable and should let him hibernate before eventually getting up and dragging himself to the house. I followed after him, Red having already walked in. As we walked in I took a gauge of the foyer and saw that there were about four archways off of it, a door, and a staircase going up. Sans gestured to the door and explained that it was the bathroom before disappearing into the room on our immediate right which was the dining room. I peaked in and saw that most of the seat had been filled and that the table had been set.

"Are You Going To Just Stand In The Doorway Or Are You Going To Go Inside Vermin?" I heard a voice call behind me.

I turned and saw the edgy skeleton that I remembered was deemed Edge from my last visit. I quickly scurried in and took the seat that I had sat in last time.

"Why Is The Peasant Here Again?" Mal questioned from his seat next to Red.

"because you guys wanted to keep an eye on them," Sans answered straight to the point. "also figured it'd be easier to break the news over bread instead of having to deal with crying over spilt milk."

"JAR," Papyrus immediately commanded from the kitchen next door and Sans just tossed a coin in.

"Break what news?" I asked curiously.

"stretch is gonna be staying with you until everyone feels you're trustworthy," Sans explained, reaching for the bottle of ketchup in front of him and taking a swig from it.

"wait i thought that was only if they weren't staying here?" Stretch inquired from the end of the table.

"you wanna stay here until they trust ya?" Sans asked, making eye contact with Stretch, not looking at me.

"Absolutely not. Too many distractions," I immediately rejected.

"told you," Sans commented, leaning back with a big smile on his face.

I heard Stretch sigh. "why is it me again? i work during the night need i remind you all."

"Because You Can Just Take The Peasant With You When You Go," Mal answered, a smug smile on his face.

"won't they be sleeping?" Stretch argued.

"you plan to watch doll while they sleep?" Red grinned amusedly.

"what no, but if i'm taking them to work when i have to go then wouldn't i be waking them up too much," Stretch reasoned.

Sans pulled his phone out, pushed a few things on it and then slid it over to Stretch. "their sleep is almost as bad as me."

Blue had walked in and had set down a plate of tacos before glancing at the phone. "2 AM! HUMAN WHAT WERE YOU DOING UP THEN?"

"Grading quizzes," I answered, taking a sip from the water that sat in front of me. "Also why can't Red stay with me since he's already keepin' an eye on me while at work?"

I saw Mal tense up at my question and take a slightly aggressive posture while Red quickly went to rub circles on his back. I quickly connected that that's who Red was probably referring to earlier as his datemate.

"As Sensible As That Is, Red Is Going To Be Having Company In The Upcoming Days," Crooks explained softly as Horror set food onto his plate and then Rus's before putting food on his own plate. "Also His Datemate Wouldn't Like Being Away From Him That Long."

I noticed Red had tensed up at the mentioning of having company from the corner of my eye. "what kind of company?" he asked, his eyelights held a look that said please don't be who I think it is.

"That Nuisance Of A Child, Zolmes Will Be Visting With Cans," Edge answered, filling his plate with some spaghetti.

"why wasn't i told this sooner?" Red questioned, panic starting to lace his voice.

"'cause you'd run away," Rus mumbled, taking a bit of the food on his plate.

"What's wrong with the kid?" I asked, putting a couple tacos on my plate as they made my way and then a small scoop of the spaghetti, pacing them on.

"what's wrong with them? what's not wrong with them?" Red started. "they collect lockets of hair and sacrifice stuffed animals. they constantly try to get you to join the cult which is basically just what they call their friend group who gets together sometimes to hear them explain human mythology all wrong."

"That doesn't sound too bad," I noted, taking a bit of my food.

"their sixteen, kid," Stretch informed me causing me to almost choke on my food and take a drink of water.

"They do this why?" I inquired.

"parents never discouraged it," Sans answered.

"IT'S NICE THAT THEY'VE STAYED TRUE TO THEMSELF FOR SO LONG EVEN IF THEY ARE STRANGE," Blue chirped in trying lighten the mood.

"i guess, why are they visiting me though and not the balls of sunshine," Red gestured around the table.

"YOU REMIND THEM THE MOST OF CANS!" Papyrus chirped in.

"you enable them," I heard Axe mumble at the same time. I made eye contact with him and tilted my head at his comment. "gives 'em stuffed animals to sacrifice."

Red flushed slightly. "i do not!"

"Sure You Don't, Love," Mal comforted, patting Red on the back. I could hear the teasing lacing his voice though.

"this is bullying," Red pouted and slouched down in his seat.

Everyone else just chuckled at Red's expense and then continued eating. Everyone made small talk or talked about their day as the larger topics having been seemingly discussed. I thought while I ate considering where I would be housing Stretch in my apartment for his stay. I didn't really mind it since I may be able to use him to help me stay on track. I occasionally got pulled into conversation and laughed along at some of the better puns during the meal. Eventually came time when I needed to head home and waited while Stretch packed a travel bag. Blue talked with me and explained some of the things I needed to do for Stretch like making sure he ate and went outside instead of staying couped inside all day to which I promised I would do to the best of my capabilities which wasn't much when I struggled to do that for myself.

Once Stretch got everything together and in the vehicle, we bid our goodbyes. We then went on ahead to my apartment. I gave him the spare key I had in my car for when I forgot my keys in the apartment and then showed him the way to it when we got to the building. I told him to put his stuff anywhere while I went and changed the sheets out on my bed. I didn't really have a spare bedroom and didn't want to be a bad host so I figured he could take my bed while I slept on the couch. Couch wasn't that bad anyways. When I finished and had stuffed the dirty sheets into my hamper to wash later, I told Stretch to go ahead and take up station in my bedroom and that I would only really be going in there for my meds and clothes.

"what do you mean by that?" a confused Stretch asked me as I led him to the bedroom with his things.

"I'm letting you take my bed since I don't have a guest one," I explained. "Be too much of a hassle to move my things out, so I figured since we're both guys that it'd be chill to leave all my meds and stuff there."

Stretch stopped walking. "i'm not taking your bed."

"You can and you are. I'm not going to argue this. We both don't know how long you are going to be here and therefore you shouldn't be sleeping on the couch during your time here," I stated.

"your argument can be turned around the other way," Stretch pointed out and then sighed. "listen, i probably won't be sleeping until after you've left for work. as i said at dinner, i work during the night so there isn't a reason for you to give up your bed. we can just take turns."

I stared at him and rolled his logic in my head. It was a very sound argument that I didn't have a rebuttal to. "Alright, fine. If you need the bed though feel free to wake me to take it."

Stretch gave a low chuckle. "not gonna happen, but thank ya for the offer." Stretch then continued to follow me to my bedroom and set his stuff down inside. He pulled out a Gameboy Color from a pocket and left the room, I'm assuming to go play in the living room.

I shook my head at his actions before getting ready for bed deciding that sleep is more important right now than trying to grade anything. I could tell from the exhaustion hitting me that I wouldn't be able to focus on it well enough to make much progress. I crawled into my bed after having gotten ready and fell asleep, hearing the quiet sound of whatever game Stretch was playing lull me to sleep.

Notes:

Didn't have a way to incorporate a lil scene in my head so I guess that means y'all are gonna get another chapter at some point in the relatively near future.

Chapter 4: You!

Notes:

(Insert Spiderman finger pointing meme)

I woke up to the sound of my alarm and swiped my arm out to where it rested with my eyes still closed to fight with it closer to my face. To my surprise though my swipe resulted in nothing but air which caused my brows to furrow. I woke up more as it continued ringing and realized that there was a distinct surface on my backside. I opened my eyes slowly and realized that it was indeed the surface I thought it was as I took my surroundings in. I was sleeping on a couch with a coffee table just far enough away from me that it missed my swipe. On it was multiple different types of cups from what I could tell from my angle were at probably different levels of being drank from. There was a lamp at the foot of the couch I was on and a wall by my head. Further past the lamp was a set of counters that had different types of equipment on it from beakers to test tubes to burners to burettes. All the equipment seemed to be set up in some sort of experiment. In the middle of the room was a garden set up that was enough distance from the door that two people could walk by each other then extended all the way to the wall the couch I was on was set up. The whole set up had many plants in different states of growth it seemed. The set up was low enough that I could see the counter on the opposite wall that was equally as covered in equipment though some of it I didn't recognize. What I did recognize on it was my phone plugged into a wall outlet directly across from me meaning I would have to get up and walk all the way around to retrieve it.

I groaned to myself and managed to wrangle myself off the couch with my blanket still wrapped around me and shuffled my way over to it and dismissing the alarm. I collected it and the charger into one hand recognizing it as my own and rubbed my face with my other. I must be where Stretch works. Probably a back room of sorts. I shuffled my way to the door that hopefully led to wherever Stretch was so he could hopefully take me back to my apartment so I could get ready for class and work.

I pushed the door open slightly and poked my head out. I saw that I was right that I had been in a back room as I saw that the door I was looking from was completely surrounded by a counter with a swinging gate on the right side. The counter seemed to have some merchandise in boxes that were probably available under request. I looked at the cabinets that lined the walls and saw that they were filled with different types of tabaco products from cigarettes to vapes to dip to cigars. They also contained what looked to be different types of bowls and pipes and rolling paper. Some things were behind a lock, probably weed which gave me a small inkling to the plants growing in the room I woke up in. I saw the back of Stretch's orange hoodie as he was talking with a someone who I'd guess to be in their late 30s to early 40s, but I could be wrong.

The person who he was talking to seemed to notice me and smiled before turning his attention back to Stretch. "Didn't know you guys allowed partners in the back room or ya breaking the rules since you're the only one working night shifts?"

"whatcha talking about, mike? told ya plenty of times we have a strict rule of no sex in the back room," Stretch asked. I could feel the confusion starting to ebb off him and decided to slip out of the back room and stand next to him.

"Talkin' about the sweet standin' next to ya," Mike, now deemed, answered gesturing to my blanket bundled state. I winced slightly at the pet name, but didn't make comment.

Stretch turned to me and let out a puff of air through his nasal as his lazy smile stretched slightly. "i'll take you back to your apartment once my replacement gets here, okay?"

I just nodded my response and leaned against the counter facing him, back to the gate.

"So who's this Stretch?" Mike asked, tilting his head slightly.

"just a kid i'm babysittin'. shouldn't you be taking your stuff and going before my replacement gets here? i'm sure he'd be just thrilled to see one of his boys wasting time talking instead of making him money," Stretch spoke with a raised brow bone. It seemed casual, but even I could sense the underlying threat that said to leave and not say a word.

Mike seemed to catch on as he glanced at the watch on his wrist and swore, quickly grabbing the bag on the counter and dashing out, giving a wave of his hand.

Stretch seemed to relax seeing him disappear and turned back to me, leaning so naturally against the counter even though you wouldn't think he'd be able to with his height. "sleep will, kid?"

I hummed and thought about it. Definitely wasn't the best, but I've definitely had had worse. "It was alright I suppose."

We heard the bell chime at the door and turned to look at it. Who had strolled in was someone I had not expected to walk in, but was excited to see nonetheless.

"Surprised to see you still here, Stretch. Usually your only here for as long as your appointments or when called in," the skeleton joked before pausing in his stride to the front as he noticed me. "Moss?"

"The one and only, Cash," I grinned, shooting him a wink. I could feel Stretch's confusion on how we knew each other, but felt like playing around a bit before explaining.

I saw Cash disappear for a moment before reappearing in front of the counter and immediately leaned on it. His natural charisma oozing off of him. "So finally decided to take me up on that offer of a date then?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Not until I get that night out for drinks from ya. Might consider it after that though no promises."

It seemed to finally dawn on Cash that I was somewhere that he had deemed long ago that I shouldn't be as his brow bones furrowed together. "What are you doing here?"

Stretch seemed to decide that this was a good time to jump in. "i'm watching them. how do you two know each other?"

Cash's brow bones furrowed more slightly before sighing and throwing his normal, fake smile on that he wore for dealing with people. "Why wouldn't I know one of my best runners?"

This time Stretch's brow bones shot up in surprise and glanced between the two of us. "he's the errand boy you wouldn't shut up about for like three years?"

Cash's smile shifted to his more casual one that he wore when not doing business. "Gotta rat me out like that do ya?" He gave a light chuckle before shifting and leaning more towards Stretch, his socket dropping slightly to give a light glare. "Now the better question is why you're watching them and bringing him here."

I could feel the air drop a few degrees seemingly as Stretch threw his hands up. "hey hey hey, ain't my fault. classic brought them home for dinner couple nights ago and house agreed that we'd watch them for a bit and i just happened to get night shift."

Cash's socket relaxed and he leaned back a bit and hummed before his eyelight darted back to me. "Thought you said you graduated, what you doing hanging around Dr. Skeleton still?"

"I did graduate, but I enjoyed my job at the gas station so much that I decided to stay in the area," I explained, using the lie we agreed I would use when asked what I did for work when I was helping him out.

Cash's smile grew at my answer. "See you still remember, bucko. But seriously, why you still here? If I knew you were staying in the area, I could have gotten you a few jobs."

I shrugged, "Can't exactly do jobs when I'm teaching students can I?"

"Oh shiiiiit, you're coworkers with that tightwad. I'm so glad that's you and not me," Cash chuckled, leaning fully away from the counter and stretching. His shirt raised just enough to show a peak of his spine. I rolled my eyes at him knowing he was doing it on purpose as he had many times before. "Well as much as I enjoy this catching up, I'm sure you have work to get ready for."

I glanced at the time using my phone and saw if we left now I would hopefully have enough time to get dressed, take my meds, and scarf something down before heading to the campus. "Right as always." I turned to Stretch. "Hey, do you know where my shoes are so we can walk back?"

I watched as Stretch brought a hand up slowly and scratch the back of his head. "didn't bring any shoes kid. carried ya here since you were asleep and didn't think about it. can carry ya back if ya want."

I just stared up at him as I processed what he said fully before my face felt extremely warm. "No way, not happening. There is no way I am being carried to my apartment wrapped in a blanket for a bunch of people to see. It's one thing in the middle of the night while I'm asleep, it's another in the morning with me awake. Nu uh, not happening."

Stretch sighed and shoved his hand back into his pocket. "other option is you risking stepping on glass or a needle and getting hurt which i don't need ta hear about from classic or my bro."

"I could always shortcut you two back," Cash volunteered.

Stretch's brow bones furrowed. "You have a shortcut to his place from here?"

"Ya, did the trek quite a bit when he was working for me to pick him up. Never went in so I dunno which apartment, just the building," Cash explained.

I didn't exactly know how their shortcuts worked, Cash and Sans never explained it to me. I sighed in relief though, being much more comfortable to willing walk the short distance into my apartment building and up to my apartment barefoot than from here. "That would be great if you could."

I watched Cash's smile grow and immediately knew there was a catch. Hadn't worked with the guy for two years and not develop the ability to see the differences in his smile. "You owe me a date if I do though. How's that sound?"

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, weighing the options before coming to a conclusion. "Y'know what, why not. You owe me a night out drinking and I owe you a date, seems only fair."

That made Cash chuckle and hold his hands out to Stretch and me. "Fair enough, bucko."

Stretch and I both took one of his hands and I felt that dropping I had felt with Sans that stopped as soon as it had appeared. I glanced up at my apartment building and felt myself relax at its familiarity. I turned back to my company and saw Stretch and Cash release hands, but Cash's grip on my hand was still firm. He turned to me and brough my hand up slightly and leaned down and nuzzled it with his teeth for a moment before straightening up. "Your number still the same?"

I snickered at his antics, but nodded my head. "Hasn't changed in like I don't know how long."

"Good, I'll text you and we can schedule a night to go drinking together so I can get that date. It was great seeing you again," Cash bid, releasing my hand.

"It was great seeing you too," I agreed and gave him a small wave, not wanting to disturb my blanket too much.

Cash gave one of his winks and grinned before disappearing, supposedly back to the business we just left.

I turned to Stretch and grinned at him. "Ready to head in?" I turned to the door and started to walk inside, feeling his presence follow mine.

"y'know i have questions, right?" Stretch asked.

I pushed the button up for the elevator. "And I will do my best to answer them when I have the time, but right now I need to get ready for my classes lest I be late."

The elevator arrived and we shuffled in and I hit the two button. We waited silently as it went and dinged on the second floor. We proceeded to scuffle our way to my apartment before I remembered a key thing that Cash made me promise years ago. I turned to Stretch as he unlocked my door, seeming to have remembered my keys and to lock my door when we left.

"Hey," I started. I was answered with a hum and Stretch pushed the door open gesturing for me to go first. "This is serious."

He looked down at me, making eye contact and furrowing his brow bones, frowning. "What is it?"

"Sans absolutely can not know that I worked for Cash," I spoke slowly, making sure each word was clear and maintaining eye contact.

Stretch's features relaxed and he raised a brow at me. "that it? shouldn't be too hard to keep from the guy since all he does is work."

"I'm serious, Stretch. Cash made me promise that Sans can't find out," I repeated, insisting the severity.

"i got it, kiddo. now let's get you inside and ready for work so you can proceed to come up with how you just met him today and everything," Stretch insisted, taking a hand and lightly pushing me inside and following behind. I heard him shut the door and drop the keys on the side table.

I gave a huff, but deemed that we didn't need to keep up the previous conversation or any other as I glanced at the time on the clock and saw that I really did need to get ready and skittered my way to my bedroom to find clothes and take my meds, no longer caring about the blanket as it slowly dropped on my way over. I could hear Stretch give a light chuckle after I darted into my bedroom. I ignored it and decided quickly what to wear for class and taking all my meds before skittering to the kitchen to find something quick to eat which I grabbed, opened, and stuffed in my mouth as I started to put my shoes on.

I took a bite once I had finished and grabbed my keys and wallet off the side table before turning back to Stretch and swallowing my food. "I'll see you after work?"

"probably at dinner. i'll have my bro pick me up after he gets off," Stretch specified.

I nodded my head and bid him a good day as he waved me off. I hurried out and down the stairs to my car to hurry off to my first class for the day. I guess it isn't too bad to have someone bid me off for work.

Notes:

Wanted to write more conceptionally for the chapter, but getting at least something out is better than waiting till I have motivation /and/ time so....
Also would've been out sooner if I didn't have to rewrite the beginning. :p

Chapter 5: Freeloading Food Once Again

Notes:

Here for fun time, not a long time

I was able to snag a parking spot real quick and scurry to my office where I needed to grab a couple stacks of paper for handouts and then scurry to the classroom I had to teach in making it with a couple minutes to spare. I spotted Red in the back of the classroom and had the sudden thought on how he knew where they were. Dr. Skeleton probably told him. I straightened out the materials and addressed why Red was there, continuing with our developed lie. It dawned on me slightly that I was having to weave a very careful web of lies and will definitely have to keep them straight amongst everyone with Stretch and Cash being the only ones knowing the whole truth. I did it in graduate school, should be able to do it once again. I went on and taught the class, passing out one stack of handouts and explaining what was on it. At the end of class I passed out the other stack of handouts, homework, and asked if anyone had any questions, once again the question of Red's magic came up and money exchanged hands. At least there was only one more class to watch this occur in. I was slightly surprised to see that the Tuesday Thursday classes had kept quite about it.

I stretched my back out and started to head out of the classroom. I watched Red stand up as I got closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulder once I reached him and we headed out. He let me lead the way which made the most logical sense as he didn't know the campus as well.

"so did stretch take ya ta work with 'im or he just leave ya at home?" Red asked as I led us back to my office. My other class for the day was in the evening so I had the early afternoon to work on math, have lunch at three, and go back to some math until class.

I hummed in fake consideration. "I mean I guess you could say he took me to his work. I didn't really know until I woke up on the couch in the back room."

"surprised ta hear he stayed there the whole night. makes sense though since it'd be less work than carrying ya back and forth," Red acknowledged. "that mean ya met a colleague of his?"

"Ya mean the guy in the purple jacket? We exchanged a few words, but that's about it," I answered. I'm glad I had time to think of a lie during my drive and have it recited to heart so it seemed legit.

"what'd y'all talk 'bout?" Red asked. 

I thought about it for a second. "Mostly about why I was there." The thought crossed my mind that that question may come up and honesty worked since we did mostly talk about why I was there.

"what else?" Red inquired.

"What?" I stopped at my door and paused in pulling my keys out before resuming.

"well ya said mostly. what else did ya talk 'bout?" Red restated.

I unlocked the door and slipped in heading to my desk to grab some papers for the lab. Red stayed leaning in the doorway. I glanced over at him while I opened the drawer the papers were in. "Are you acting like your jealous?" I was confused as to why he would even ask. Most people would be satisfied with the answer I gave.

"just like gathering information, doll," Red explained, grin growing slightly.

"It wasn't anything important," I answered, walking back over to him. He immediately rewrapped his arm around my should as I relocked the door.

"if it wasn't anything important then ya can tell me what it was then," Red pressed.

I put my keys back into my pocket and sighed. "I don't see why you would want to know." I started leading us to where the lab was, but Red was more sure footed with this venture.

"just wanna. 'sides if it were really nothing you wouldn't be dodging the question," Red elaborated.

I tensed slightly and knew he felt it. I glanced up him to see he was watching me with a loose grin on his face.

His grin grew slightly when I glanced up. "so what's the answer?"

I clicked my tongue before looking forward again. "He talked business with Stretch for a bit and then offered us a shortcut back to my place so I could get ready for word."

I felt myself pulled to a stop as Red stopped walking and looked up at him. His smile had grown since I has last glanced up and it shared a scary resemblance to Cash's when someone had played right into his hand. "he offered a what?"

"He offered a shortcut?" I repeated, confused so it came out sounding more like a question.

Red started to steer me outside instead of the lab and I let him, too confused to protest. "did you or stretch tell him your address?"

"No," I answered. It didn't take long before I was led to a tree near the building we were in that was secluded as most students were in class right now or elsewhere. 

I was pushed lightly to sit under the tree which I complied since the only thing I had to do wasn't too time pressed. Red crouched down in front of me and smiled down at me. He tilted my head up with one of his fingers. "And now why would he have a shortcut to your place?"

"I don't know," I answered, feeling my brows furrow.

"oh, but ya do," Red argued. He seemed like he was finding our situation to be very amusing. At least that made one of us.

"And how are you so sure about that?" I countered.

His head tilted to the side. "yer heartrate picked up. pretty good liar if ya were able to keep it steady thus far though, give ya props to dat."

"Oh," I let out softly and could feel my heartrate start to pick up more erratically. I gritted my teeth trying to calm it down.

"chill out, i ain't a snitch. just curious," Red straightened. He dropped my head and moved to sit down in front of me. He rested his head on a hand that was propped up on his knee. "so why don'tcha tell me the truth this time."

I mumbled some curses under my breath, looking at the building we came from behind Red. I looked back to him once I got my bearings, thankful that he was being patient. "If I tell you, Sans can't know."

"classic? why can't he know?" Red asked, his brows furrowing and smile lessening.

"I'll explain after, you gotta promise though," I pushed.

"i don't like making promises without knowing what they are, doll," Red reflected.

"How about an agreement then? It's all I got from Stretch, it'll work," I proposed, changing direction slightly.

I watched his eyelights shrink slightly before returning to the size they were before. "alright sure, can agree ta that."

I took a deep breath in and started, "Okay so, when I was in grad school I was a little tight for cash like every college student, ya know. Thankfully enough I ran into Cash during that time and he'd let me run errands for him during for some cash. I was only able to pay off rent every month because of his help. He knew I was one of Dr. Skeleton's students and made me promise that I would never tell him that we knew each other."

"makes since with business that he runs and the errands he probably had you running," Red hummed. "surprised to see 'im doing something so selfless." I tilted my head in confusion and Red went on, "usually people he employs aren't so fortunate ta be able ta be doin' somethin' else on top of his work like in yer case grad school."

"Oh, that's probably cause he was trying to get in my pants," I thought allowed. 

"ya, that'd do it. got a soft spot fer anything that'd get 'is dick wet," Red agreed.

My brows furrowed slightly. "We never banged."

"ohhh?" Red's grin grew again. "he musta been real soft fer ya den. interestin'. good ta know." He stood back up again and held a hand out to me. "betta get ya to that lab now."

"You're not gonna elaborate on what you said?" I asked, taking his offer up and rolled my eyes as he wrapped his arm back around my shoulder, leading me back inside to the lab.

"nah, betta fer ya if ya don't know," Red answered. I could see him pull out his phone and seemed to shoot a text real quick before slipping it back into his pocket. It dinged a few times a little shortly after, but went silently by the time we reached the lab.

I just shrugged it off and decided that focusing on the math would be a better option right now. We somehow had killed thirty minutes in what is usually a ten minute trip and I wanted to get at least some headway before lunch.

-

I had thankfully managed to make a little headway on the equation that I had been working on and decided to go snag Red from the machine so we could go have lunch with Sans. I stoop and stretched my spine from having sat hunched over the table that I was working on. I decided to leave the papers here as no one would most likely know what they said. I popped my head into the separate area set up for the machine that Red was currently working on and knocked on the wall. "Hey, ready for lunch?"

I see him roll out from underneath the machine on one of those little rolly things far enough that I could see his head. "this ain't a prank is it?"

"No," I answered, slightly amused and partially confused.

"thank god! y'all seriously need a better schedge. i was working under here wonderin' when ya were gonna be like it's time fer lunch," Red grumbled as he rolled the rest of the way out and standing up. He went to wrap and arm around me again, but I stopped him. He raised an eyebrow at my motion.

"I'm not letting you get oil on my clothes. You have a few spots on ya and I don't want it smearing. We can hold hands instead if ya want since I noticed your big on physical affections," I explained, holding out a hand.

"easy way to show we're datin' also," Red explained, grabbing my hand. I could feel some oil smear onto it, but knew that Sans had some wipes in his office that'd get it off.

I glanced around the room before responding, "We don't have to be physically affectionate just to prove we're dating. Not everyone is into pda. I noticed you're the same way with Mal though so assumed it was a love language of yours."

"observant aren't ya? come on, let's go get some food." Red tugged on my hand and started leading the way back to Sans and my offices. I let out a soft exhale of air in amusement and let him.

Most of the walk went by in silence with me waving and greeting a few students on our way. I knocked on Sans's door once we reached the two offices instead of heading into mine.

"We switch days on whose office we eat in," I elaborated for Red. He nodded in response as Sans opened the door whose eyelights darted down before making contact with mine.

He gave me a tired grin and moved to let us enter his office. "you sleep alright last night?"

"As well as one could starting on a bed and finishing on a couch. I could say the opposite for you," I jested lightly, sitting down at the table he had that occupied the center of his office. It had two chairs on each side. The rest of the space was taken up by boxes that either held papers and documents or mechanical parts.

He gave out a chuckle that sounded tights on the edge of it. "guess ya could say that."

Red scoffed and sat across from me, kicking his feet on the table. "we both know ya didn't sleep at all last night. ya were too busy stressin' that they were alright."

I sighed and watched as Sans placed food in front of both of us before taking his and sitting down next to Red. Red moved as soon as food was in front of him and started scarfing it down. "I thought we agreed that we'd try to at least sleep a full four hours."

"tried ta kid, just couldn't stop thinking about how you meeting cash would go. I know he can be prickly with people," Sans explained himself.

"He seemed alright to me. Questioned Stretch a bit as to why I was there, but he seemed to understand when you were mentioned," I informed. "Most of what we talked about besides some pleasantries." I opened what had been put in front of me and discovered that it was spaghetti tacos. They must have had a lot more leftover from dinner last night than I realized.

We talked a bit while we ate, but mostly focused on eating. I kept glancing at Sans to make sure he wouldn't pass out into his food, it wouldn't be the first time if he did. Once we all finished eating, we agreed to go back to the lab to continue working, Red holding my hand on our way over while Sans led.

We all worked for a bit before my timer went off to let me know it was time to start heading to my last class for the week. I bid my farewell and headed to my office to grab some graded homework to pass back and the new assignment for them to do over the weekend. It was only ten questions that we'd be going over in class and if you missed them could just look them up to find. Basically busy work, but it's also to make sure they know the purpose of some of the things they are learning about. I passed out both the graded and new assignment to the class at the beginning before going into the lecture. I repeated the same process at the end of class as I had the previous ones. I asked if they also had a pool and one guy eagerly answered that they did. I let them know that red had won and watched as money once again exchanged hands. I was just glad that Sans apparently hadn't gotten in on these two classes' pools, probably had enough winnings from the other three. I dismissed the class and looked at the clock to see it was a couple minutes before six. Usually Sans and I would work on the machine until eight, but since he didn't sleep last night I'm gonna have to veto that.

I rolled my shoulders before heading back to the lab and knocking on the wall by the machine. I watched Sans's skull whip my direction, probably expecting a student, and relax as he realized it was me.

"home?" he asked, unprompted by me.

I grinned at him and nodded. "Time to go eat dinner and then put you to bed."

I watched Red roll out from under the machine again. "time to go?" His question sounded a little too sad for someone who seemed to like to slack off.

"Ya, bud. It's time to go. Want me to drive ya two home or you gonna take a shortcut?" I offered.

Red glanced over at Sans before answering, "i think i'll take the ride. don't trust him shortcutting when he's that tired."

"hey! i've shortcutted a plenty when i've been this tired," Sans protested. I could see his eye sockets starting to droop slightly before whipping back open fully.

"Yeah, no. I'm with Red on this one. You're taking my offer. You can sleep on the way back," I answered. I walked over and scooped him up over my shoulders. It never stopped amazing me just how light he was. I felt him wiggle and complaining in protest. "This is when you can start sleeping."

I felt him still and soon heard a soft snoring come from him. I lightly shook my head. I nod for Red and I to go and he led the way out and then I led the way to my car. I got Sans situated in my backseat and buckled in as Red crawled into the passenger seat. I soon got in the driver's, got some soft music playing, and started heading with the prompts I requested from Red before leaving the parking lot.

As I was driving I heard Red mummer softly, but loud enough I could hear, "never seen him so relaxed around someone who ain't his bro."

I hummed letting him know I heard his statement, but made no comment on it.

I pulled into their driveway and parked my car.

"ya know yer welcome ta come to dinner if ya want. could even wake up classic at the dinner table then," Red offered.

I smiled and turned the car off. "I think I'll take ya up on that offer." We both got out of the car, me through the door and Red shortcutting to what I'm assuming was the dining table. I chuckled lightly as I realized he left me to struggle getting inside with Sans by myself, but didn't hold it against him considering Sans ways nothing. I opened the backseat's door and smiled softly at Sans's sleeping face. I unbuckled him and picked him up so his head could rest on my shoulder and my arms were under his legs. I walked up the steps and right when I was about to open the door it was opened by Papyrus. It grinned brightly down at me and nodded towards the dining room. I followed his directions and he shut the door behind me, following into the dining room. I sat Sans down into the chair he usually sits in carefully and then sat next to him and shook him awake slightly.

"Hey, buddy. It's time to eat. You can sleep again when you're done," I spoke softly.

I watched his sockets open slowly and his eyelights start to come into focus as he realized where he was.

"heh, thanks kid."

I grinned, "No problemo. Let's get some food in ya and then ya can sleep again."

He nodded his head and started eating the food that Papyrus had put on his plate while we talked. That's when I noticed several people had been watching us except Red, Edge, and Axe.

"What?" I asked them, tilting my head in confusion.

"OH JUST THINKING HOW YOU GUYS ARE A CUTE COUPLE," Blue answered. I could hear the teasing in his voice so I knew he was joking, but that didn't stop the heat creeping up.

"We aren't a couple," I denied, taking a bite of the food that had appeared on my plate, guessing Papyrus put it there while I wasn't paying attention.

"We Know, Just Acknowledging How Different The Two Of You Are To Each Other," Mal elaborated, before eating his own food, seeming done with this conversation.

"not that different," Sans muttered out in between bites of food.

I heard Stretch start to snicker and Rus let out an exhale of air.

"ya right! i've never seen ya let a human touch you, much less carry you while your asleep," Stretch argued.

"fell asleep after being picked up," Red threw in what he knew.

"YOU FELL ASLEEP WHILE TOUCHING SOMEONE? WHY I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU RELAX WHILE IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE MUCH LESS FALL ASLEEP!" Papyrus declared, pausing his eating to look at his brother with interest.

"just known them for a long time is all," Sans answered, bowing his head and eating quick enough to finish his plate before someone else could make comment. "well i'm done eating. i'm gonna head to bed," and with that he shortcutted away.

I could feel the attention that had been on him turn to me and felt a shiver go down my spine, cursing Sans out in my head for the time ahead that he left me with.

Notes:

Can y'all tell I like the word scurry and skitter
Also, yes I play favourites for everyone wondering

Chapter 6: Chaos

Notes:

Can I interest you in so much dialogue? Cause there's so much I'm drowning in it.

"So Why Aren't The Two Of You Dating?" Edge broke the momentary silence that had settled after Sans left.

"Because we don't see each other that way. I'm just a student that he happened to take a liking to," I dismissed, shoving some of the carbonaro on my plate in my mouth.

"SUUUUURE," Blue replied doubtful. "AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN EACH OTHER?"

"I think six years now. Five years of grad school and then this is only my second year teaching," I answered, shrugging.

"So Four Years After Monsters Had Come To The Surface," Crooks noted then took a bit of his own food.

Stretch gave a small cough. "wasn't that when classic started teaching, creampuff?"

Papyrus gave a hum. "WELL NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT, THAT IS AROUND THE SAME TIME," he agreed.

"That would make sense as why I was the only student showing up for class the first couple weeks," I voiced my realization. "More students started show up though after a bit. They must have been reported cause they didn't seem all too glad to be there."

"Oh Great, You Were The Student He Had Been Talking About That Seemed So Eager To Learn That You Weren't Even Phased The Teacher Was A Monster Unlike The Other Students," Mal groaned. Red patted his back briefly.

"He talked about me?" I questioned. "I don't think me doing the bare minimum of showing up to class was anything note worthy."

"well doll, it's kinda hard ta talk about new things at work when ya only got one student showin' up ta class like in classic's case, so you were the subject of those conversations wheneva someone asked," Red explained which made sense.

"THAT REMINDS ME, WE GET TO THANK YOU FOR WINNING US A BET THEN!" Blue chirped. I noticed Edge, Red, Rus, Axe, Stretch, and Mal deflate slightly.

"What bet?" I inquired, tilting my head.

"most of us were sure that no one would want to be in a monster's class," Axe mumbled, taking a sip of water and resuming eating.

"Yes, But Blue, Creampuff, And Myself Along With Some From The Other House Was Sure At Least One Person Would Stay," Crooks added on. "Cash Was Certainly An Unexpected Wild Card For Betting On The Would Side."

"That's unexpected? That doesn't line up with what I know about him," I argued.

"And What Would You Know About The Greedy Weasel?" Edge countered. "You Just Met Him This Morning."

I caught Red and Stretch exchange a quick look. I assumed Red texted Stretch earlier about being in the know. "Well from what Stretch told me and our interaction this morning, I'd assume that he'd always take the option with the most payout even if it was higher risk." 

Mal nodded at my answer seeming to agree with my sentiment. 

Red made a throat clearing sound to get everyone's attention. "it's still a little weird on how close classic is with the doll isn't it?"

"THAT'S TRUE. JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE THE ONLY STUDENT IN CLASS THAT SHOWED UP DOESN'T MEAN SANS WOULD BECOME CLOSE TO YOU," Papyrus spoke. "SO WHY ARE THE TWO OF YOU SO CLOSE?"

"Ah, that's probably somewhere in my third year of grad school I hit kind of a dark spot and he helped me get out of it. Only reason I think we even got that close was because I would ask him different questions about my field of focus and he was always seemed to light up slightly when we'd have discussions over why this works, but this doesn't when trying to merge monster and human technology," I explained, hoping they wouldn't look too much into the first part.

"AH YES, SANS ALWAYS DID HAVE A SOFT SPOT WHENEVER HE COULD TALK ABOUT HIS RESEARCH. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OTHER PERSON UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE WAS SAYING," Papyrus agreed, nodding his head with a hand on his chin.

"Would You Elaborate On This So Called Dark Spot?" Mal questioned, lacing their hands together and resting his head on them while their elbows rested on the table.

"Well, um, it's kinda personal. Let's just summarize it to I was depressed and dealing with a lot of outside stress that wasn't school related so my grades started to slip which of course Dr. Skeleton noticed and confronted me about it in which I explained what was going on and so he helped me get a scholarship in order to help my pay for grad school, hence why I managed to slip though without a loan," I explained.

I caught Red's eyes widening, probably connecting this with the kandi bracelet I currently wear. By now nearly everyone has also finished eating, so Papyrus and Blue started to put the leftovers away and move dishes to the sink, so I'm guessing satisfied with the information they've received.

"When And How Did Classic Confront You?" Edge pressed. Red's eyelights shot over to his brother as he started shaking his head, which Edge seemed to promptly ignore.

"Um, I think it was after class and he had me come to his office to talk privately. He went about it alright, like wouldn't let me give half truths. I mostly just remember him giving me some water and ibuprofen since I had a hangover from going to an emo night," I answered to the best of my ability.

"Ah, So You Have The Same Problem As Vi, Trying To Ignore Issues Using Alcohol," Mal commented as he grabbed some dishes to take to the kitchen.

"I was actually there for work, to deliver a message to the bartender and decided to just hang out for a bit and try to unwind a little since drinks happened to be half off also," I elaborated. It was one of the first gigs that Cash had given me.

I noticed Stretch perk up and looked at Red before pulling his phone out and texting, I'm assuming, Red whose phone chimed. Red pulled it out looked at the text and then his brow bones went up a bit. They seemed to text back and forth a few times, before Red sent something to Stretch who made a sound of revelation at whatever was sent.

"i knew they had a hint of familiarity to them!" Stretch declared, catching everyone's attention. "makes sense why classic is so close to them now."

"CAN I SEE?" Blue asked his brother who showed him whatever Red had sent. He looked over at me and then back at the phone. "THAT'S NOT A VERY FLATTERING PHOTO, BUT THERE'S NO DENYING THE RESEMBLANCE."

"If You're Going To Share With Those Two Red Then You Might As Well Share With Everyone," Edge insisted. Red just shrugged his shoulders before sliding his phone over to Edge who looked at the image then at me then back at the image. "Yes, I Must Agree With Blue Here, The Resemblance Is Uncanny. I'm Assuming You Were There Because Stretch Asked For Your Assistance." Edge slid the phone back and Red slid it over to Rus to look at as Stretch showed Mal and Papyrus who came to look at what was being shared. Mal left out a scoff while Rus let out a small snicker before passing it to Crooks who looked at it with Axe who both just nodded in agreement and then proceeded to pass it back down the line to Red.

"What's the photo of?" I asked, curious now especially since both Edge and Blue implied that the image was of myself.

"hold on, give me one sec," Stretch answered, my phone going off a moment later.

I pulled out my phone seeing I had an image from a contact that I had long ago saved as "Owe a favor" since they never gave me a name. I tapped on the image, it undeniably had myself in it. What I was doing on the other hand I had no recollection of. I was reaching across Stretch trying to grab what looks like a bottle of honey he was holding away from me, eyeliner having smeared down my face and he was using one arm to ensure I probably didn't fall over and across his lap. I felt my face heat up the more I registered the image. "I. You're who I owe a favor to Stretch?"

"sure am sweets," Stretch answered, leaning back in his chair.

"ARE THEY THE HUMAN YOU ACCIDENTALLY LET DOWN HALF A BOTTLE OF BAKSTRY'S HONEY?" Blue questioned Stretch, still standing behind him as Mal and Papyrus went to resume cleaning up.

I noticed Stretch tense and sit up straight. "uh, they may have."

"SO WHY ARE YOU HAVING THEM OWE YOU A FAVOR WHEN YOU'RE THE ONE WHO GOT YOURSELF INTO HAVING TO TAKE CARE FO THEM?" Blue pressed.

"they were a bit of a handful if ya can't tell from da pic, blue," Red defended.

"AND IF I DO SO REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THAT NIGHT YOU WERE GOING TO WATCH CASH'S NEW RUNNER WEREN'T YOU?" Blue continued, his smiling remaining ever so pleasant, but his eye sockets narrowing on his brother before he turned that look to me. "AND YOU WERE DELIVERING A MESSAGE?"

"hey, uh, bro, it isn't what ya think," Stretch started causing Blue's gaze to whip back to him.

"OH AND PLEASE DO TELL ME WHAT IT IS THEN BECAUSE FROM WHAT I CAN PUT TOGETHER IS THAT OUR LOVELY GUEST HERE IS EMPLOYED BY CASH," Blue stated, hitting the nail almost exactly on the head.

"They Can't Be Employed By Cash Currently! They Work As A Professor And Any Peasant With A Sense Of Reason Would Know Better To Do Both!" Mal interjected from the kitchen.

"ALRIGHT, WERE EMPLOYED BY CASH. SO PLEASE BROTHER, TELL ME WHERE I AM WRONG IN THIS ASSUMPTION," Blue requested.

Stretch had sunken in his seat and Red was giving him a sympathetic smile from what I could tell. "well, uh."

"AH, RIGHT. YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG BECAUSE IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. ISN'T IT, MOSS?," Blue finalized, turning back to me.

"I mean no, but what's so wrong working for Cash?" I asked, confused by Blue's reaction.

I realized Axe and Crooks had left by know, but Rus had stayed with his head resting on a hand on the table.

"That Greedy Weasel Tends To Get Mixed In With Filthy Crowds If You Know What I Mean," Edge commented.

"But he worked around my schedule and the only things he had me do was deliver messages and occasionally keep an eye on a situation in case it got out of hand so I could message him," I explained.

"oh?" Rus spoke for the first time that I can recall. His teeth being tilted up slightly at the end.

"all from the kindness of his soul too, if i might add," Red threw in.

Everyone, minus Stretch and Red, seemed to not quite believe what they were hearing it seemed, Mal had even stepped back into the room. From the lack of sound in the kitchen I assumed they and Papyrus had finished with clean up and the latter probably left to get ready for bed.

"Pardon Us If That Seems A Bit Hard To Believe From What We Know Of Cash," Mal spoke, breaking the silence first.

"remember the one errand boy that cash wouldn't shut up for a few years? that's moss," Stretch informed. A look of dawning passed over everyone's skulls. "finally got a date with him too today.

"After I get the drinks he owes me," I interjected.

Mal gave my should a couple pats on their way over to Rus. "Don't Worry Hun, Now That He Has A Reason To, He'll Get You Those Drinks As Soon As He Can Fit It In His Schedule."

"I mean, I kind of already figured that," I replied. "Also, Sans absolutely cannot know that I worked for Cash."

I watched the skeletons exchange looks before Blue broke the silence, "I MEAN THAT WILL BE A LITTLE HARDER NOW THAT THE WHOLE HOUSE EXCEPT SANS KNOWS."

"Cash made me promise when I first started," I explained to the few who didn't know. "Honestly, just agreeing to try your best to keep it from him is good enough for me."

A few more looks were exchanged before they nodded their heads.

"Guess That's The Least We Can Do For You, Vermin," Edge grumbled.

I glanced at the time on my phone and realized that it had gotten relatively late. "Guess it should be time for Stretch and I to head out."

"aw, without even introducing yourself to us?" a new voice teased, while they walked into the room with what appeared to be a disheveled teen in a bathrobe that came knee length with a trail. From what I could tell they did have other clothes underneath it. I saw Red tense up and his skull whipping to the door before groaning.

The teen seemed to perk up seeing me and scurried over to me. Holding their hand out when they reached me, they started their introduction. "Hi! I'm Zolmes and that's Cans!" They used their thumb with their right hand to gesture back to the skeleton. "Would you like to join my cult?"

A moment after Cans appeared by their side and elbowed them lightly. "what did we say about first meeting people?"

"Right, right, sorry. Would you like to be my friend," Zolmes rephrased, putting slight emphasis on the changed part.

I took their left hand, shaking it and smiled. "I'm Moss and sure we can be friends."

I noticed like half of the other skeletons had disappeared leaving Red, Edge, and Stretch with me and the two new entrants. Edge seemed to be holding Red by his shoulder, probably so he couldn't shortcut away.

"Yes!" Zolmes cheered, dropping my hand and grinning brightly. They then looked around the room before spotting Red. "Uncle Red!" They hurried over to said skeleton and wrapped him up in a hug. "It's so good to see you!"

I chuckled lightly as I saw them drag Red away to go sacrifice a stuffed animal they found at a thrift store with Edge following behind them. I turned my gaze back to Cans and saw he was glancing back and forth between where the group disappeared and myself.

"when did you and red start dating? i was sure it was just him and mal last i check," Cans asked, focusing on me. Now that Zolmes wasn't taking up most of my attention, I could see that Cans wore a green turtleneck that the sleeves were cut off at the elbows, basketball shorts, and what looked like knockoff Pikachu slippers. His eyelights were similar to Red's with being focused into one socket, though his were a light purple.

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "We're not dating?"

Cans smile seemed to drop slightly, but not fall completely. "you have matching bracelets and he has another one that reminds me of mal."

I glanced over at Stretch to see if he could help at all and he just gave me a shrugged.

"can i see your bracelets?" Cans asked.

"Sure." I held out my wrist so he could look at them.

He stared at them for a couple moments before pointing as Sans's "this one matches with classic's." He then dropped my wrist.

"Yeah? I make bracelets to represent important people in my life and if we're close I'll make one for them that matches or like I'll have them make my bracelet and they'll make mine," I explained.

Cans's eye sockets widened slightly and his grin returned to how it was when he entered. "ah my bad. where i'm from, kandi bracelets like this usually represents mates."

"why didn't y'all tell us this sooner?" Stretch interjected.

Cans shrugged his shoulders, looking back at Stretch. "didn't think it was important enough." He turned back to me. "well it was nice meetin' ya homie." With that he disappeared, probably to wherever Zolmes had dragged Red and Edge to.

I looked over to Stretch about the same time as he looked at me. "We can agree that was weird, right?"

Stretch shrugged. "to be honest, that's about the usual for them. though cans is usually a little more laid back, probs cause you're new."

"Okay, that makes some sense," I agreed, remembering what they had mentioned at dinner last night. "So we both can agree that we're gonna avoid the next couple dinners?"

"with ya there sweets," Stretch nodded, getting up and stretching. "ready to start heading back home?"

"Ya, I got some homework that I collected today that I need to start grading." I got up from my own chair and we both made our way out of the house and to my car, crawled into said car and started our way back to my apartment.

Notes:

Hi, not dead. Just bouncing back from college.
Did I ever tell ya'll that I got a tumblr? No. Well here it is for any of y'all that are interested: https://www.tumblr.com/mossyinkynebulous I usually just reblog stuff, mostly Undertale fandom stuff and Daycare Attendant from FNAF Security Breach stuff though I occasionally post my own art/text stuff.
Also you can find a link to my UT au in the pinned post there if ya want to look into that a little bit.

Chapter 7: Shot(s)

Notes:

I refuse to proof read before publishing. : )

Stretch and I entered my apartment, Stretch having unlocked the door for me since my arms were marginally full. I could have done it fine, but he for some reason insisted.

"how long do you think you'll be grading?" Stretch asked as I set the folder on the coffee table next to the other two.

"Depends on how long I can stay focused," I answered, shrugging and moving to the kitchen to start the kettle. "Want any tea or coffee?"

"i'll take some tea," Stretch accepted.

I hummed and took out two cups before gesturing for him to come over with one of the cabinets open. "Okay, what kind do you want? Got some different black teas, some herbals, and some florals and greens."

"i'll take a cup of lady grey if that's chill," Stretch answered. "would you be okay later moving your homework grading then to the shop since there's a couple people coming in?"

"Oh yeah, that's no problem. Ya may have to prompt me since I won't be paying too much to time," I agreed. I really didn't see any issue where I was grading as long as there was a table and seat which I knew they had there. I pulled out a couple packs of Lady Grey and put a bag each in the two cups. "Do you want me to be in the back room or would you prefer me to chill at the counter with you on a stool?"

"whatever you'd prefer," Stretch answered from the couch, having moved over there while I had set the cups up. I glanced over and saw he was playing on his Gameboy Color, with the volume down probably to hear what I was saying better. "wouldn't want the talking to be bother you though if you did stay up front."

"Ah, that won't be an issue," I dismissed, the kettle starting to whistle. "Some of the homework I need to grade is just busy work so it doesn't need a lot of my attention." I turned off the stove and poured some hot water into the two cups, putting the kettle back on the stove once done. I leaned against the counter, letting the tea steep. "Wanted to make sure I wouldn't be an issue if I weren't in the back."

"you're all good. most of the people i deal with are just coming in for either cigarettes or are runners," Stretch explained.

"Do you want to come prep your tea?" I inquired, removing the bag from my cup and throwing it away. I heard stretch give a hum and some shuffling before I saw him coming over to the kitchen. I made my tea to my preference before pointing out where the different things are in the kitchen that Stretch asked for. I noticed him just pouring about a fifth of my bottle of honey into his cup before I went to sit and just chuckled. "If you want to drink from that bottle you can. That's the bottle I have for guests so I can just buy a new one."

Stretch seemed to perk up slightly. "ya sure? doesn't bother ya at all?"

"I have my own bottle I drink from, hun. It's a good shot of sugar to my bloodstream whenever I haven't eaten for a while," I explained, taking a sip of my tea and humming happily, setting it down on the coffee table. "I'm gonna start grading some of this homework, so just let me know when we need to go okay?"

"ya, i got ya, sweets," Stretch agreed, eventually coming to sit back down next to me.

I glanced over and saw he brought the honey with him as well. Tea in one hand, Gameboy Color in the other and he seemed to be able to play just fine with one hand. I went back to grading the math homework for my last Tuesday Thursday class, a 200 level class. Stretch and I sat in a comfortable silence, each of us doing our own task. It was kind of nice just having someone in the same room with me as I graded homework even if we weren't interacting. I might have to see if Dr. Skeleton would want to grade homework together some evening.

I was about halfway through the stack before Stretch tapped my shoulder. I turned to him tilting my head before realizing it was probably time to go. "Ah, let me just get this together and we can head out." He nodded before shuffling to get his shoes on, I hadn't even noticed he took them off. Mine were still on, having forgotten to take them off when we got here. I quickly put the graded homework pile underneath the ungraded homework and shoved them into their folder. I downed my tea quickly and grabbed all three folders, scuffling over to Stretch who was waiting patiently by the door. I grabbed my keys that were on the table, hearing my phone chime but ignoring since we had places to be and folks to see. "I'm ready to go." I nodded at him.

"awesome, let's go." Stretch opened the door and exited my apartment, I followed locking the door behind us. He started walking down the stairs and I followed. When we exited the building he just kept walking instead of heading to my car so I guess the shop wasn't too far away.

We walked for a couple blocks, turning here and there, in silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, so I didn't feel a need to fill it at all instead thinking of the homework left to grade. We reached the shop after about 30 minutes and I realized that another reason he probably didn't have me drive us over was because there wasn't much parking outside of the street which was pretty full since there was a bar across the street. I recognized it as the bar that Cash had me go deliver a message to that I now know is also where I first met Stretch and Red. I refocused on Stretch as he unlocked the door and held it open for me to enter.

"Thanks." I gave him a nod before heading straight to behind the counter and setting up with one of the stools off on the side that didn't have the door. I also watched Stretch enter and sit on the other stool by the register, leaning against the counter. He was angled slightly to me, but he had once again pulled out his little hand system, resuming his game. I went ahead and resumed grading the homework I had been at the apartment. I heard the door's bell ring, but ignored it as well as the person talking with Stretch. I heard them inquire about me and Stretch give them the same answer he had given the guy this morning before they person left shortly after, the bell ringing again. I continued grading the homework and quickly finished up the latter half. I put it back in the folder before I started to grade the homework I had gathered today. It was just fill in the blank and vocab matching, so it didn't take long to finish up grading, maybe an hour with the almost 30 different pages and deciphering what some people had written. In the time of finishing up and grading another class's homework, I think only like two or three people came in which made sense with it probably being around eleven pm right now. I think one or two people had come in just to buy some cigarettes with the other person being a runner that I vaguely remember watching one or two times to make sure one of their meetings didn't escalate for Cash.

I decided to check the actual time and gauge if I should start grading the last folder or take a nap on the couch in the back since it was the weekend anyways. I saw the actual time was like 23:18 which I'm gonna guess we had left the house at 21:08 from the text notification that I had forgotten that I got. I saw that it was from Cash which I had named "Money Guy" as the contact name. I opened the text and realized he had apparently managed to make time to get drinks tomorrow night, which I wouldn't be too surprised to learn if he had just rescheduled any appointments then to an earlier time and actually did his work. Despite how much the guy loves money, he hates doing the work for it even more, usually pushing stuff off to last minute. Which guessing from how he keeps doing it, it works out beneficially for him. I shot back that I would be available.

"Hey, looks like you have the evening off tomorrow since Cash and I are going for those drinks," I informed Stretch as I clicked my phone off and set it beside where I was working. Might as well go ahead and start grading the last folder of homework since I'll be up late tomorrow anyways. 

Stretch didn't seem too surprised by this information and pulled out his own phone from his hoodie pocket, setting his game system on the counter. "i'll let the rest of the house now then." Stretch slipped his phone back into his pocket and was about to pick up his game again before it chimed. He sighed before pulling it back out, texting back and forth for a couple messages from the looks of it before sighing again and putting his phone back in his pocket. "could you let cash know that edge will be accompanying you two?"

I was about to turn back to grading after watching the little phone exchange since it wasn't my place to ask about it, but was surprised by the request. "Edge is going to join us? That's surprising."

"yeah, he said something about making sure that 'the slime ball' doesn't do anything 'unsavory' and to make sure you don't get wasted like how he saw in the image today. honestly more surprised he's still up," Stretch relayed, using air quotes when using Edge's direct wordage which made me laugh slightly.

"Yeah that seems about right from what I've gauged about him. Though I don't know why it'd be surprising he's up right now. Does he usually go to bed early?" I prompted, pulling out my phone and shooting Cash a message that let him know Edge was coming too. I saw he had been typing already when I opened the chat. My message must have been shorter though since I got it sent before him. I saw the typing stop before resuming with a quick response of complaining compliance to Edge coming before he kept typing. I turned my attention fully back to Stretch though, leaving the chat open so it wouldn't chime when Cash sent whatever he was typing.

"i think he's usually in bed by ten," Stretch elaborated. "my guess is he's having trouble getting to sleep which happens every now."

I hummed in acknowledgement. "Well I guess I better finish up this grading so that I can ensure both of them have at least a pleasant time out."

Stretch chuckled at my comment with a soft nyehehe. "good luck with the, sweets."

I hummed, so he knew I heard him before I turned back to the last folder and started grading it. I could hear the soft clicks of the Gameboy Color as Stretch resumed playing and every now and then the sound of the door's bell ringing.

I was able to finish up the folder easily enough. I checked my phone that was still open on Cash's chat and saw it was a little after one in the morning and that he had texted me the details of our outing and making sure they were okay. I sent him a quick affirmative which received a thumbs up reaction shortly after. He must be working on business still if he's still up. I clicked my phone off and turned back to Stretch who was tapping away at his game.

"So how many more costumers for the night?" I asked, trying to see if I should just go sleep on the couch or stay up and walk home.

"should be one more coming in less than thirty minutes. next person is doing a custom order with coffee so he'll be coming in for them at like three," Stretch answered, not looking up from his game.

"What does Coffee make?" I inquired, figuring we could make small talk since it wouldn't be too long before we'd be heading back to the apartment.

"he specializes in flavored cigarettes. specifically with burst beads since i also specialize in cigs. i'm sure you know what cash specializes in since you worked for him for a bit," Stretch elaborated.

I was surprised to hear that. They must have divided their business into whatever someone specializes in or maybe smokes themself since I had seen Cash with wrapping paper on him a few times. "He actually never told me. Plausible deniability or something. Though I'm gonna assume it's weed since it's growing in the back and I don't know anyone else who works here."

"got it right kiddo. rus also works here and he makes cigars. the only other person that does, you haven't met, but mutt specializes in vapes. he used to also smoke cigs, but once we got on the surface he took to the electronic ones and vapes," Stretch filled in, chuckling lightly.

So there was a total of five of them running this business. That's cool. As I thought about what to talk about next, the door's bells chimed out and we both turned to see someone walking in.

"Hey, sorry I'm here early. Happened to be in the neighborhood and since the light was one I decided to see if it was open and have and behold ya were," the customer spoke. They were wearing essentially an orange lingerie top with a heart cut out of it with some shiny booty shorts that paired extremely well with it. They also had some black fishnets on that came over the shorts waist band and covered their stomach all the way down to their heels. "Like what ya see, sweetie?"

"Ah, sorry I didn't mean to stare," I apologized, my face flushing. "You just look so nice."

"Oh thank you, hun," They answered, leaning on the counter towards me.

"same as usual, theo," Stretch interjected thankfully. I didn't know what I would have said if I had to. 

"Aww you're no fun Stretchy-Boy. You could at least share your play toys," Theo teased, turning to Stretch.

"i do, you know this. this one isn't a play toy nor belong to me. i'm just babysitting," Stretch dismissed, shrugging off the accusation with the last sentence.

Theo seemed to process and sighed, straightening up. "I don't know why you have to baby seat, my old teach, but whatever. And yeah, I'll take my usual." Stretch nodded and went to grab what their usual was.

I registered what he had said. "Old teach. Did I teach you last year?"

Theo smiled amusedly. "Well I'm offended, teach. I didn't show up to every single class and ensured I had the highest grade for nothing."

My face scrunched up as I tried to remember a student named Theo last year that matched that description and looked like it before it clicked that Theo is probably shortened version of their name, it then clicking who it was. "Are you Theodore?

Theo's smile widened. "There ya go. Knew ya didn't have a Ph.D. for nothing."

"But you look so different!" I exclaimed, gesturing to his outfit. It didn't help he was also wearing makeup. I vaguely remember Theodore having his nails done during class, but never thought too much about it.

"Well I gotta make money to pay for that physics degree somehow," Theo dismissed with a hand wave. "Also, 'fore ya ask, I'm a gogo dancer. I ain't havin' no man touch me that I ain't interested."

"As long as you're staying safe, I can't say too much. I worked with Cash when I was doing grad school," I reassured him, that I didn't think lesser of him for his profession. "You're grades were also impeccable that I didn't even suspect you were working."

Stretch had come back with a pack of cigarettes. I was guessing they were a light flavor from the blue package. "$15.28"

"Wow, so called Stretch. You'd think I never come in here," Theo teased.

"i want to go sleep," Stretch answered.

Theo pouted at his answer and turned to me. "Sounds like he hasn't have a smoke in a while, make sure he gets one." Theo then turned back to Stretch and payed with his card that he pulled out of his top. He snagged the pack of cigarettes and started heading out. "Bye teach! Bye Stretch! Stay out of trouble you two! I don't wanna hear that either of you got pregnant!" Theo called before slipping out.

I chuckled at his last comment. He seemed friendly in class when I had taught him, but I didn't realize he was so outgoing with the small snippet I saw of him every week. "As if either of us could get pregnant."

Stretch looked down at me and gave me an amused look. "monsters can get pregnant regardless of sex, you know?"

I stared up at him with a blank look. "Is that true?"

He chuckled. "sure is, sweets"

"Shit. I didn't offend you did I?" I asked, panicked that I accidentally upset the skeleton.

"nah, it's okay. most humans don't know. i just assumed classic had told ya since ya work together and yer study and all," Stretch elaborated, waving it off.

"Oh thank gods. I was worried I had upset you," I sighed. "Let me just grab all this and we can go." I turned to the counter and slid the homework I had sitting on it into its folder and then grabbed all three folders. I turned and didn't see Stretch standing with me. I looked around and saw him standing by the door. He gave me a crooked smile and waved. "I'm coming!" I rushed over to him and we exited store. He locked it up and we started walking the way back to my apartment.

We walked for a few moments before I remembered what Theo had said. "If you want to take a smoke while we walk, go ahead. I'll be fine as long as the smoke doesn't blow into my face."

Stretch looked down at me with a raised eyebrow ridge. "Ya sure?"

"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't," I assured.

Stretch hummed and pulled out a pack of orange cigarettes. He took one cigarette and set it between his teeth, sliding the pack away and pulling a lighter up. He lit the cigarette and slipped the hand with the lighter back into his hoodie pocket, using the other to take a drag of the cigarette. I could see him visibly relaxing slightly. "thanks, sweets."

"It's no problem. There's just no smoking in the apartment, okay? I'm not that big of a fan of it that I want it scenting all of my things," I joked.

Stretch chuckled, "got it, kiddo."

We walked the rest of the trip in silence as he finished his cigarette. He stamped it out in the little cigarette can my apartment complex had at the door and threw the butt away in it before we both headed upstairs into my apartment. I set the three folders on my coffee table and started moving back towards my bedroom.

"Are you going to be wanting to sleep right now or are you going to be up for a bit longer?" I asked, at the door of my bedroom.

"i was thinking of hitting the hay if that was okay," Stretch answered, making his slow way back to my bedroom.

"That's all good. I'll just snag some clothes and change in the bathroom before sleeping on the couch," I planned, darting into my room to snag some clean boxers to sleep in.

"just sleep in here, we can share a bed," Stretch dismissed, entering the room and rummaging in his bag for some sleep clothes I assumed.

"Are you sure? I don't mind sleeping on the couch," I checked.

"wouldn't offer if i wasn't," Stretch reassured, miming the words I had just said to him a few minutes ago.

"Alright, fine," I accepted, snagging a shirt to sleep in as well. I headed to the bathroom to change to allow Stretch time to change in my room. I slipped off the clothes I had worn today and tossed them in the hamper before slipping on the boxers and sleep shirt that was long enough to cover my ass fully, but not my boxers. I headed back to my bedroom and saw Stretch already lying on bed, scrolling on his phone.

He glanced over at me, before freezing. I noticed his eyelights expanding slightly before retracting then going back to their normal size. Stretch looked back at his phone then. 

"You're sure you're okay with this?" I asked again.

"i'm okay, sweets, but if you aren't then you don't have to," Stretch reassured again.

I hummed an affirmative before moving to the side I normally sleep on and slid in. I plugged my phone in before I realized I had forgotten the light and sighed before the room was plummeted into darkness, making me jump.

"sorry, thought using magic would just make it easier," Stretch explained, clicking his own phone off and setting it to the side.

"You're all good. Just didn't expect it," I dismissed. I decided to get comfy now and just fall asleep, acting like Stretch wasn't there. I felt him move a little bit himself before silence . I thankfully felt myself start to nod off after a few minutes, probably the lack of sleep, the late hour, and my body realizing it can finally relax. I was quickly embraced by the darkness of sleep shortly after.

Notes:

I was dead. College killed me. I have a moment of respite before I'm down again. Please accept this peace offering. I barely had a winter break because of a study abroad class, but got to experience Japan because of grants and scholarships. Oh, USA politics have also been killing me (nonbinary and queer :' ) ), but not as bad as college has currently.

Chapter 8: Eine Tasse Kaffee

Notes:

This chapter is brought to you by me finding out my favourite professor is leaving my college. :') Sorry it's so short, but needed to be self indulgent for a little bit but don't have a lot of time with finals next week and then another class starting up the week after that. I still got another full year before I have my bachelor degrees.

I woke up with a grogginess that is very known by me. The grogginess of staying up way to late, but used to waking up early. I wiggled my arm out of the covers and looked at the time on my phone and groaned when I saw it was a little before ten. I could tell that even though my body is screaming for more rest, I was too awake to go back to get any kind of beneficial. Besides my blankets were a little more heavy and hard than I remembered them being yesterday so that was throwing me for a bit of a loop. I started to try and weasel my way out of bed without waking Stretch before my suspiciously hard blankets pulled my back with much more force than they should even be capable of. I went still for a moment, letting the wheels in my head slowly turn before letting out a small snicker as I realized that Stretch must be a cuddler while sleeping. It surprised me slightly that I didn't wake up initially, but maybe it's the lack of skin. I would have to do more research into that if I really wanted to know though that would mean I would have to find some random fleshy person to test as well with the control being sleeping with no contact to anyone and the prior point doesn't appeal to me too much. 

Wait, back to the task at hand: getting out of bed to get a cup of coffee. I need the slightly higher caffeine content that it offers right now and it's just easier to make a bulk of it with the coffee pot. Now, how to navigate out. Step one is to gauge where the anchorage points where and how strong they were. I can tell there's one around my ribs, the one that had pulled me back initially. I can feel, assuming, two legs wrapped around one of mine. That seems like the easiest anchorage point to slip out of first. I slowly start to slide my leg through the gap, keeping a slow pace and stilling if there's any interruption. Slowly, slowly, and there. Leg and foot fully slipped out. Leaving everything below the first anchorage point free to worm out of my bed. Now the torso will be the tricky thing. I could try sliding down to help prevent my legs getting trapped again. Hmmmmm. The anchorage is loose right now, but would it tighten if I were to start moving. Well there is only one true way to find out, so slowly I slip my arm that's free, underneath of the point and it seemed to accept the excess with ease. That's good. Slowly I start to slide myself down, paying a lot of attention on if Stretch made any movement or sounds. At about my shoulder, when his arm would start sliding down to my neck, he let out a groan and I froze still. After a few moments I started to move again and when I got to half way past my head, I quickly darted out of the grasp and sliding to lay on the floor beside the bed as I had been slowly slipping out of my bed already. I turned and stared up at my ceiling for a moment, taking a deep breath and then letting it out before I quietly got up and slipped out of my room and headed towards the kitchen.

I grabbed the coffee pot and moved it underneath the sink's faucet, flipping up the little lid and turning the sink's handle. I waited until it was a little of the 8 cup line in case Stretch wanted some when he woke up. I poured the water into the machine, pouring the excess that couldn't just pour in back in the sink and setting the pot in its spot. I snagged a filter from one of the cabinets and put it in the little bowl thing before snagging my can of coffee grounds off the top of the fridge and adding a couple scoops into the filter before flipping that lid down with a click and hitting the start button. I put the coffee can back where I got and pad of and collapse on my couch, closing my eyes for a second and taking another deep breath in and out. I decided to get a glass of water while I waited to take my meds with and padded over to the cabinet where I stored my cups and retrieved a glass. I move back to the sink and fill it up half way before quietly moving back to my bedroom to where I had my medication. I got the pill out as quietly as I could and swigged it down with a mouthful of water. I took my nasal spray and then my inhaler, bringing my glass with me to the bathroom and taking another mouthful to rinse my mouth out after my inhaler.

I trek back to the kitchen and realize the coffee is done. I must have taken longer than I thought. I finished off my glass of water before setting the now empty glass beside the sink, going to snag a coffee cup for myself and then after a thought pulling one out and setting it on the counter for Stretch. I grab the coffee pot and pour myself a mostly full cup, slipping the pot back afterwards. I move over to the fridge and open it, snagging the creamer and filling the cup the rest of the way up with it, putting the creamer back and shutting the fridge. I grab a spoon from the drawer next to the fridge and stir my coffee. Moving back over to the sink, I rinse the spoon off before I slip it into the empty cup on the counter. I go back over to the couch and sit, taking a sip of my warm, sweet drink and humming in satisfaction. I took another sip and looked over as I heard the sound of footsteps approaching before Stretch appears looking equally exhausted.

"There's fresh coffee in the pot. Cup with a spoon on the counter if interested. Creamer in the fridge," I offered him, taking another sip of my cup.

He gave me such a goofy, grateful grin with a mumbled thanks before he shuffled his way into the kitchen to make his cup of coffee. I stare contemplating on if I wanted to watch something before deciding it for the best to help wake up and flicked the television on with the nearby remote, selecting YouTube and just threw on a new video from someone I'm subscribed to, setting the remote onto the coffee table and leaning back into the couch with my coffee, taking another sip.

A couple moments later, an added weight causes the couch's cushions slightly and I glanced over at Stretch, him clutching the cup of coffee like it was his only lifeline, looking back at the tv after a moment.

"any plans today except for drinks tonight?" Stretch asked softly, his voice slightly hoarse as he woke up.

I hummed in acknowledgement. "Not much outside of the same old of staying home and working on class materials."

"that sounds great," Stretch sighed, probably thankful he didn't have to go anywhere with me on such little sleep.

We both sat in comfortable silence, drinking our coffee and watching some videos together. Occasionally refilling our cups when we ran out.

Chapter 9: An Afternoon

Notes:

This chapter is brought to you by Transformers and the sorrow of losing roughly 3 hours of work in the middle of typing it

Guys I swear. The bar is coming. It will be here in the next chapter.

As the video Stretch and I were watching came to an end, I glanced at the time on my phone to see that it was about half after eleven prompting me to double check the time Cash said he was coming to pick me up which was in roughly six hours. As I was looking at the schedule and realized that there was nothing that mentioned meeting up with Edge which made me wonder if he was going to try and pull a fast one and make sure he wasn't going to end up coming with us. I sighed knowing that this was pretty likely with how he was.

"Alright two things," I started, looking up at the ceiling and seeing Stretch nod his head out of my peripherals indicating he was listening. "One, what do you want to eat?"

"honey?" he offered unhelpfully.

"So heading down the road and grabbing some takeout. Got it. Two, could you text Edge for me and ask him what schedule Cash gave him or even better just give him my number so he can text me without you being a middle man," I requested.

"you think cash would give him a wrong schedule?" Stretch asked. I looked over at him with my head back still and just held my phone up with the schedule pulled up already allowing him to read over it. "alright point taken." He pulled his phone out and started texting Edge I assume.

I got up and grabbed our two coffee cups, taking them over to the sink and washing them, putting them in the dryer rack beside it. I heard my phone chime from the couch, so I assumed it was Edge since Stretch had gone to playing on his GameBoy Color. I dried my hands off and walked back over, grabbing my phone and checking to see that I was indeed right and that it was Edge. It was a lengthy message that contained the schedule that Cash had sent him as well as a separate paragraph about how he appreciated that I had thought to check the schedule with him before hand and that he expected absolute punctuality with departure times. I quickly noticed that the time Cash had given him was a whole hour off as well as a different bar name. I sighed and turned to Stretch with a tired smile.

"I was right. Different time and different place. Gotta give him credit though for thinking out two whole schedules," I slightly grumbled.

Stretch gave a small chuckle. "sounds about right."

I quickly made a group chat with Edge and Cash and named it "Drinks Coordinated" and copy pasted the schedule that Cash had sent me into it with a here's the actual schedule with a separate message lightly scolding Cash for trying to cut Edge out. Cash proceeded to send a quick frowny face while Edge seemed to go into a long spiel about how scummy Cash was and that he would be paying for his first drink now for this treachery and many more messages as I clicked off my phone. "I'm gonna go put on some clothes if you also want to start getting ready to go get food."

Stretch stared up at me and then glanced down at his outfit then back at me and grinned.

"Okay Mr. Already-Ready. Go have a smoke while I get clothes on and I'll meet you downstairs," I revised.

"sounds good, kid," Stretch agreed and started to slowly move.

I moved out of his way fully and navigated my way to my bedroom and decided on a pair of jeans and button up with leaves on it that I had gotten at a thrift store. I slipped on some socks and shoes and made my way out of the apartment, making sure to lock the door behind me after grabbing my keys and wallet. I went down the stairs to give Stretch a little more time with his smoke before I reached the outside where he was mostly done with his cigarette when I had arrived. I nodded my head towards leaving and started leading the way to the joint I was thinking of. I figured some Asian Fusion would be good and I vaguely remember they had something with honey on the menu.

"so about those questions i had mentioned yesterday," Stretch started, quickly catching up and walking beside me.

"What else do you need to know?" I prompted, glancing up briefly as he took a drag.

"how did you meet?"

I hummed trying to recall. "I think it was when I was at the gas station trying to buy a Monster to help me keep going and my card declined which prompted me to check my bank account to which I saw that I had like nothing in it. I'm pretty sure I nearly started crying if Cash hadn't offered to buy it for me. He had been waiting in line I think which, being the sleep deprived and stressed student, I was asked if he was sure and then proceeded to thank him profusely and said I owed him one which I think was when he may have offered for me to do an errand for him or that may have been later. I vaguely remember giving him my phone number before running off because I was already running late for class. It's why my cover was that I worked at a gas station."

"how come you never slept with him?"

I whipped my head over to Stretch with an incredulous face before looking back ahead to make sure I didn't walk into one. "I- Going full in I guess."

Stretch shrugged. "find it easier than beating around the bush."

"Well I mean, he is attractive, but like he was my boss and like mixing business and pleasure is never a good idea and like I also don't like using my body as a form of repayment or like not be with someone who I don't have feelings for," I rambled on as I slowly felt heat rise up my face.

"hey. you don't have to give me the full deets. was just curious," Stretch cut me off with a light chuckle. "beside the more you ramble, the more it sounds like you haven't slept with anyone."

I remained quiet and decided to stare at our point of destination as it came into view, speeding up my walking pace in hopes I could just remove myself from the conversation.

Stretch caught my wrist before I got too far ahead of him though, pulling me back to his slow pace before stopping and turning me to look at him. "hold up, sweets. you have slept with someone before right?"

I pointedly avoided eye contact and pursed my lips. "I mean I technically slept with you last night so..."

"you know i mean sex."

"I- It's just one of those things you know that feel kind of unnecessary so I never got around to it okay," I lightly snipped, crossing my arms. "Can we please drop this and just get food?" I gestured to the restaurant that was so close yet so far.

Stretch continued to look at me for a couple moments. "are you ace?"

"And if I am?"

Stretch broke out into a grin, "because then this whole cash situation is even funnier." He swung his arm around me and draped most of his weight on me and started leading towards our destination. "i'm gonna make so much money now with this in."

"I would prefer it if you didn't start betting on my love life," I scolded, rolling my eyes. "But if you're going to anyways, I prefer to go by the label demi-greysexual."

Stretch let out a short laugh. "ah so he has a chance. a small chance, but small. good to know. and the situation with classic if you'd like to help me with that bet also?"

I scrunched my nose up as I pushed the door open to the joint while also lightly shrugged Stretch off. "Bro, that feels so unethical. Like he was my teacher and now he's my colleague, technically my supervisor since he has tenure. It feels like a whole HR nightmare."

"so what you're saying is that he has no chance?" Stretch asked for clarification. 

"To the extent of my knowledge and my current feelings, no he doesn't have a chance. It's not like he'd even want one with our current relationship. Now stop asking questions and look at the menu," I directed.

"ah but sugar, i love getting the tea the others don't have," Stretch pouted, looking over at the menu anyways.

I watched him figure it out since I decided to get what I usually get. I saw the moment he lit up when he saw there was a honey chicken. "Good?"

"yeah."

We walked up to the counter and gave the cashier our respective orders and asked for take out. I proceeded to pay for both before Stretch could argue to which he pouted in silence as we waited for our food to come. I was watching the room out of habit, more mindless than actually focused. I felt Stretch drape himself over me and glanced up at him to make sure he was okay and saw that he was glaring at something which made me freeze. I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it if it had been like Cash or Red, but Stretch gave me the vibes that he's usually relaxed and not really serious much less someone who'd glare just casually or has that face. I looked over to where he was looking and saw a group of what looked like college age boys sitting at a table together with what looked textbooks and some papers on the table with their food. They seemed to be whispering to each other and gesturing while also blatantly staring at us. It took me a couple more minutes to register their actual faces before I realized that one of them was one of my students from my Monday Wednesday Friday evening class causing me to relax a bit. I pat Stretch's arm catching his attention and give him a smile prompting him lightly to remove his arm.

"You wait here. I'm gonna go talk to them," I communicated. "I'll still be in your line of sight if you're worried. We can leave as soon as our food is done and go back to the apartment."

"are you sure?" he looked slightly confused.

I gave him a reassuring smile. "One of them is a student of mine so it's probably that."

A look of understanding crosses his face as he removes himself from me. I walk over to the group and give a wave, looking directly at the boy that's in my class. "How's it going Nick?"

Nick looked up at me and gave a smile. "Going alright teach. Surprised to see you here."

I give a mocking gasp then gave a goofy smile. "Did you think I lived, breathed, slept campus and research?" I glanced down at what they were working on and saw it was material for Sans' class.

"Honestly ya. I've never seen you leave the lab outside of classes or eating with Dr. Skeleton," he joked back lightly.

"Well the weekends are designated for me time and by that we both know it's grading homework. So do you guys have any questions about what you're working on that I can answer?"

"Nah, it's just some busy work. Dr. Skeleton said all the answers are in the book and if we can't find them to shoot him an email on Sunday," one of the other guys at the table answered.

"Good to hear he's just as laid back and dedicated as always. Any other questions that I can answer for you then?"

Nick perked up and gestured to Stretch. "Who's that? Last I saw, Red was short and pudgy and had a gold tooth."

I nodded my head over to my skeleton compatriot. "That's Stretch. We're just grabbing lunch and then he's helping me get ready to go get drinks with an old friend of mine from grad school who's finally making good on his promise."

Nick nodded his head and gave a smile. "Ah okay. I just wanted to make sure you weren't second timing since Red seems pretty cool and like he'd do some damage with those teeth of his if he found out."

"You're all good. I'm sure he'd appreciate you looking out for him, but he knows I'm with Stretch," I reassured. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up at Stretch who held up a bag with our food in it. "Ah looks like that is my cue to leave and to go and eat actual food today and not just sustain myself on coffee. I'll see you in class Monday Nick. You guys have a good weekend."

The group bid their respective pleasantries as Stretch and I turned to leave except one boy who stopped us before leaving. He had freckles scattered across his face and round glasses resting on his nose. I tilted my head at the abrupt halt and watched as his face slowly got redder.

"I'm so sorry to ask this, but is it okay if I got your number?" the freckled boy asked which from where he was looking, I assume was directed towards Stretch. I looked to Stretch, curious of his reaction.

I caught his sockets being slightly widened before they relaxed and he looked them up and down and then giving a grin. "sure. let me know when you're ready for it."

The kid seemed to quickly scramble to pull his phone out and open a new contact and, I'm assumed, typed in a contact name before grinning up at Stretch and gave him the go ahead. Stretch quickly gave his number and told him that he'd see them later before promptly and quickly steering me out of the joint.

I looked over at him as we walked at a slightly faster rate than what we had when we walked over. "Are you actually going to hook up with one of Sans's students?"

He looked down at me and shrugged. "why shouldn't i? he asked me, not the other way around. though i probably won't. he's a little too young for me, but i know a monster that may be interested that's closer to his age."

"Fair enough. How old are you anyways?" I asked, curious. Sans had never really told me his age just danced around the question.

"why? wanting to make sure i'm not too old for you?" Stretch teased.

"I was just curious since Sans had never answered and figured you guys seem like you're in the same age range," I elaborated.

"i see, i see. as mysterious as always," Stretch jokingly pondered. "well to make ya feel better, the whole skeleton gang fam is in the early 30s. that includes cash and any others ya meet."

"Okay. Good to know. Now I know Sans isn't like secretly 82," I partially jested.

"in all honesty, he could be and just lied to us about his age."

We both snickered and then fell into a comfortable silence the rest of the way back to the apartment. I unlocked the door once we reached it and let Stretch enter first. He moved to put the food on the table as I entered to grab silverware from the drawer.

"We can eat on the couch and watch something if that sounds good to you," I suggested.

He turned, pausing as he was in the process of pulling out the second food container and grinned. "oh, you're really trying to spoil me now."

I just laughed and moved over towards the couch as he grabbed the food and came and settled beside me. "So what are the entertainment vibes?"

"how's zombies versus strippers sound?" he proposed, setting my food on the coffee table in front of me.

"It's not even October yet," I argued.

"so that's a no to one of the most beautiful pieces of videography where strippers fight off zombies?" Stretch asked.

I just blink at him and sigh. "This better not be some weird movie."

"it's b-rated horror, so i'll say a no to that," Stretch elaborated.

"Well why didn't you say so earlier," I joked. Somehow finding the movie and throwing it on. I hand Stretch his utensils and then pull my food onto my lap to eat as we watched to movie.

I ended up enjoying the movie more than I initially thought. Occasionally making comments or asking questions throughout the movie since it seemed like Stretch had at least seen it a few times.

"And they just leave us off with the one sane girl who's kind of gay for the girl she takes with her on her bike who has a zombie bite that's unnoticed?" I asked just to make sure I had followed and that there wasn't like a sequel.

"a-yep," Stretch confirmed, popping the 'p'.

"So she's gonna die?"

"a-yep."

"And we don't get to find out how or like when?"

"correct again."

"Okay, funny movie. Horrible small cliff hanger."

"you know what time it is?"

"What time is it?" I asked confused, tilting my head.

Stretch held up his phone, waggling it slightly as it showed that it was a little after three pm. "less than three hours before your date."

I rolled my eyes and lightly pushed him. The food containers having long ago ended up on the coffee table. "You know this isn't a date. We're just getting drinks."

"uh huh. suuuure. and you definitely aren't going on a date at a later date."

My eyebrows furrowed in more confusion. "Yeah, that's a date. This is drinks. Edge is even gonna be there."

Stretch blankly stared at me, putting his phone down. "to make sure nothing goes wrong. like a chauffer."

"Cash knows that this isn't a date. He should know that I like to clearly differentiate outings with a friend and a date which could be the same person just different occasions," I clarified. 

"and you're absolutely certain he doesn't think that this isn't a date?" Stretch prompted.

"I would hope so. I'm certain enough that if you texted him and asked that he'd say that it wasn't. Hell, I'll even bet on it if you want to make to more fun," I double downed. 

Stretch grinned. "ya certain?"

"Absolutely. If you win, I'll buy you a bottle of honey. If I win, you buy me a bottle of honey. Seem fair?"

"absolutely. deal." Stretch whipped his phone out and immediately clacked away on it. His grin widening slightly as he held up the phone so I could read the message. The message had been sent to a contact called "Cashat" with the latest message having responded "isn't that the same thing?" with the prior being "are you getting drinks or going on a date tonight?"

I froze reading the message. I could see the concern suddenly appear on Stretch's face, but didn't fully register it as I started to stare at the floor. I can't believe Cash thought this was a date. I thought if he had he would have definitely cashed it in sooner since he had asked me out a few other times before I graduated which I had all declined. I was so certain that he at least knew that when I had agreed to get drinks with him that it was as friends. As like a platonic outing. I swore he knew that I liked to have outings differentiated. Though we only worked together for a couple years. Maybe I don't know him as well as I thought I did. Maybe I'm misremembering telling him things that I must've told someone else, but who else would've told then. I felt my shoulders be grabbed and I tried to whip back at the sudden contact, being overwhelmed by panic at who it was. Why is someone touching me? Who is touching me? I started shaking and trying to wiggle out of their grip.

"Oi, snap out of it! It's me Cash!" the person holding me stated firmly. I registered the words that was stated and stopped trying to move, still shaking. I slowly registered that Cash was indeed in front of me.

I could feel my eyes starting to tear up suddenly.

"Shit. Okay, just focus on me Sunshine. It's okay. I was messing with Stretch. I didn't know he was going to immediately show it to ya. I had sent a follow up text shortly after saying I knew it was just drinks," Cash started to explain, rambling before cutting himself off to allow me time to process.

I slowly registered what he was saying as I felt the tears start to pull over. "so i wasn't wrong?"

Cash smiled, "No, ya weren't wrong. We are just going to get drinks as friends."

I sniffled my nose as the tears kept going whether I wanted them to or not. "is it okay if we hug?"

"Of course, Sunshine," Cash agreed and pulled me closely to him where he was kneeling slightly in front of the couch, using his hands to force my head onto his shoulder.

I slowly wrapped my arms around him and grabbed his jacket tightly and let the tears run while shaking.

"Would ya like Stretch to make ya a cup o' tea?" Cash prompted.

I nodded my head, not wanting to test my voice right now. I felt Cash nod to where I'm guessing Stretch was as he started to rub my back. I slowly relaxed more as the tears came to a stop to the point where I was just resting my face against Cash's shoulder processing what just happened and trying not to be embarrassed.

I felt Cash pat my back a couple times and heard a clink sound. "The teas done if ya want to drink it now. Not sure if it's the way ya like it, but it's warm and I know for certain sweet. It can wait though if ya don't want to."

I nodded my head again and slowly released the grip I had on Cash's jacket before pulling back and sniffing again. "I'm sorry for getting your jacket dirty."

Cash slowly pulled away and stood, giving my head a short rub like a cat and smiling softly. "It's all good bucko. Ya can dirty my clothes anytime or anyway ya want."

I snickered slightly and carefully reached out to the cup sitting on the coffee table and taking a sniff of it. I could faintly tell it was Lady Grey, so I blew on it and took a cautious sip before taking a larger sip when I knew the temperature was okay.

Cash's grin upturned more as he turned to Stretch who was standing off to the side, fiddling with his fingers. "Now I believe we can all agree that this was Stretch's fault for evening putting such a silly idea into yer head. Right, Stretch?"

"yep. this was all my bad. the kid did nothing wrong," Stretch immediately agreed, quickly nodding his head. 

I sniffled again and stared at the two owlishly, taking another sip. "I hope I didn't pull you away from work. I know you already probably moved your schedule around to make room for the drinks tonight." I brought the cup up to take another sip while muttering a soft, "i don't want to be a burden on you."

"Nope, my schedule happened to be clear and even if it wasn't, you'd never be a burden," Cash reassured, I noticed a quick pointed stare over to Stretch. "Is it okay if I sit down beside ya?"

"Yeah, that's fine. No need to ask," I agreed, taking another sip. "Make yourself at home."

Cash grinned and shuffled to sit down beside me on the couch and relaxed. "Oh you guys just finished watching Zombies versus Strippers. What'd ya think of it?"

"It was good. Didn't like the ending too much where we're left to assume the one rational girl is going to die just because she makes it out with the girl who was bit, but not turned yet." I downed the rest of the tea as I felt the slight crash from the brief adrenaline hit. Cash started rubbing my back as I looked over at Stretch. "You can come sit, you know?"

Stretch seemed to jump slightly at my sudden acknowledgement and slowly shuffled over and sat at the end of the coffee table on the floor. "are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Sorry for how I reacted," I apologized.

Cash grabbed the empty cup out of my hand suddenly and set it firmly on the table before pulling me suddenly into his lap causing me to tense as he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Nuh uh. Not happening. Ya don't have control over that. It's okay that ya reacted the way ya did. It was normal."

I wiggled slightly trying to get out of his lap, his arms wrapping more tightly around my waist. "Ugh fine. Whatever, but we both know that was an overreaction." I gestured for Stretch to take the spot I had been in since I resolved to being stuck where I was which he took me up on.

"Ye're talking to someone who doesn't believe in overreactions. Ya reacted the way yer brain thought was appropriate. Ya don't have control over that," Cash reassured.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, Cash. Whatever you say. We're still getting drinks with Edge tonight though, right?"

"If ye're feeling up for it, we can," Cash agreed.

"Okay, good because I'd hate for us to make those plans and then have to back out of them." I relaxed into Cash slightly. "We're still friends, right?"

Cash let out a puff of air of amusement. "Yes, we're still friends."

"Thank you. And thanks for coming and helping calm me down."

"Stretch is the one who called me," Cash dismissed. "He'd mentioned ya were so out of it that ya hadn't been responding to him or even acknowledged when he called me."

"Thanks for calling Cash, Stretch," I turned and smiled at him.

"i just, i didn't know what to do and since he was already on the phone thought it'd be the easiest option," Stretch mumbled.

"Either way, you still reached out to him and helped get into the apartment," I added.

"If ya want Stretch, I could take over babysitting duty and ya could go destress or have a cigarette," Cash offered.

Stretch gave a lighthearted glare. "i'm sure you'd love that. who knows what you'd try."

Cash gave a small laugh. "Fair enough. What if I promise not to do anything this one doesn't want to do?"

Stretch stared at him for a moment before sighing. "ten minutes, no more," Stretch stated before getting up and stretching and shuffling over to the door. "i expect clothes to be on when i get back," he called before slipping out of the apartment to go have a smoke I assume.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Cash started nuzzling my neck which caused me to laugh as it tickled slightly and push his skull away where he moved it to rest his forehead on my shoulder. I swung my legs up on the couch and leaned back slightly on the arm. We both sat in comfortable silence for a couple minutes.

"Ya mind if I ask ya a question?" Cash asked, breaking the silence of the apartment.

I let out a hum, "Shoot."

"Do ya mind if I say we're dating or like that ye're my boyfriend?" he asked, almost mumbling.

"Cash," I started, saying his name slowly and cautiously.

"It's okay if ya don't. I completely understand. We can even cancel that date," Cash started rambling, starting to lean back and unwrap his arms from my waist.

I grabbed his hands and replaced them where they had been. "I never said no, you goof. Was gonna say it'd be hard to keep Sans from knowing I worked for ya if we started dating after supposedly meeting for the first time yesterday."

He stared at me and the broke out into a grin. "That's it? He can know no, that was mostly to keep he from interfering with ya working." He tightened his grip slightly, pulling me closer.

"Alright, second concern is if you're already dating someone," I laid out. "Knowing you, you probably aren't but better to check."

He gave a gasp and pouted. "You'd think so little of me that you'd think I'd cheat."

"Hey, it's just to be safe. I know polyamory is more acceptable in monster culture than human," I defended and tried to pull back and rotate my torso slightly towards him, putting a hand on his chest.

"If ya must. Though I'm pretty sure that dating me isn't the safe option," Cash teased. "But no, I ain't datin' anyone else."

"Cool. Then we're good," I nodded and adjust back to lean against the arm.

"Wait, just like that? Ye're saying we're dating now? Like in a romantic relationship?" he energetically asked.

"I'm pretty sure that's what I agreed to, ya. Only because I'm not working for ya anymore," I clarified. I felt his arms move and suddenly I was being adjusted to where I was straddling his lap, I felt the heat flare up my face almost as fast as I had been manhandled.

"Wait we could've started dating like three or four years ago if you weren't running for me?" Cash asked, keeping hard eye contact.

I looked off not wanting to be under the intense gaze. "I mean maybe, but I also didn't really know you then either."

I caught Cash mumbling some explicits under his breath as well as a 'stupid idiot'. He leaned forward and rested his forehead on my shoulder, his hands that were on my hips squeezing almost too tightly. "Sorry, I just, with how ya kept turning me down thought ya hadn't liked me like at all."

I laughed lightly. "Nah, it was just like super ethically wrong with how I was like financially reliant on you and I'd rather try and keep some safety boundaries even if I was doing a pretty shitty job back then."

Cash moved his chin to shoulder. "Cool cool. Glad we got back in touch then. Now for our platonic outing tonight," he began, pulling back so we could make eye contact again. "do ya want to wash yer face or change clothes before we go? If so we'd probably should get working on that."

I heard the door open and some slow shuffling before the shuffling picked up slightly. "Ya, I'll probably wash my face so no evidence of my break down's left and then change shirts. Did you want to split up and meet back up their house so you can get a clean jacket?"

Cash lightly pouted at that. "Ya saying I can't steal yer clothes?"

I snickered at the question. "Hey, if you can find something that fits ya, than be my guest, but I gotta get up to wash my face which means you have to let go."

"Alright fine," Cash rolled his eyelight, relinquishing his hold on my hips. 

I cautiously got up and then turned to Stretch. "If ya want to, you can throw something on tv while ya wait or you can show this numbskull where my room is so he can pilfer my closet." I started making my way towards the bathroom, but tried to make it clear that I wasn't like ending the conversation with that.

"did i miss something? i was only gone for like ten minutes," Stretch inquired as I made my way down the hall.

"Knowing Cash there's probably a bet so I'd check in with that," I informed before slipping into the bathroom and turning the sink on. I heard the two talking as I splashed my face with water. There was like a couple louder exclamations but was generally at a normal volume. It was actually kind of nice to have others in my apartment outside of the dead silence. I heard the talking move closer and then into my bedroom as I scrubbed my face with my facial cleanser to make sure there wasn't any tear stains. I wiped the cleanser off with a warm, damp rag before patting it dry. I splashed it again with some cold water to help with any residual swelling or redness from when I cried and patted my face dry again. I rubbed some lotion on it as to not fry my skin them made my way into my bedroom where I found Cash rifling through my closet and Stretch sitting on the edge of my bed, leaning back on one hand with his GameBoy Color in the other.

"Ah ha!" Cash exclaimed, grinning and pulling out one of my old baggy hoodies. "This'll fit. Ah, brings back so many memories."

"Oh like what? That time I was panic messaging you because I fight had broken out involving one of the guys you were having me watch and then you scared me by suddenly appearing or when you helped me with my taxes?" I joked, lightly pushing him out of the way so I could grab my black button up with a kind of arcade carpet pattern on it.

"I'll have you know that it wasn't my fault you got scared," Cash defended. "I had sent a message that I'd be there in a moment." He slipped out of his jacket tossing it on the back of the chair that was at my desk and slipped on the hoodie over his loose shirt.

"How was I supposed to know you were going to teleport. I didn't even know you guys could do that," I objected, fully unbuttoning my old shirt and slipping it off, half registering Cash moving himself to block Stretch's view of me.

"not interested cash," Stretch said, seemingly bored as he clicked away on his game.

"Uh huh and that bed doesn't reek of your magic," Cash challenged.

I rolled my eyes as I slipped on the new shirt and started buttoning it. The old one having been tossed towards the door so I could put it in the hamper in the bathroom. "Oh no, he saw me in a baggy shirt and boxers and then we both slept in the same bed, separately.

"With how his scent is all over the bed, I have doubts about that separately."

"i move in my sleep. you know this cash," Stretch explained. "also the magic is cause i turned the light off when he forgot to hit it."

I stayed silent remembering how I had woken with Stretch wrapped around me, but figured it best not to mention that right now as I shoved my shirt into my jeans to tuck it then gave Cash a pat on his back as I started moving to pick up my shirt from the floor to toss it in the hamper. "As endearing as possessiveness can be at times, it isn't always."

"I? Possessive? Never," Cash denied.

Stretch and I both let out short laughs. I stepped out into the hallway and tossed my shirt in the hamper before leaning back into the room against the door frame, Cash having partially started following me with Stretch having slid his game away and was getting up. "Hey, Stretch. If he ever gets to the point where he's interfering with my other relationships or stopping me forming new relationships, could you form an intervention?"

Cash gave a playful, offended gasp and Stretch chuckled. "sure, i got ya kiddo."

"Thanks," I called as I pushed off and headed to leave, making sure I had my keys and wallet. I noticed that the empty take out containers or cup that had been on the coffee table were no longer there, so I assumed they got moved to the kitchen.

We all navigated downstairs after I locked the apartment's door and then got in my car. As I turned it on, it felt a little weird to have Stretch in the backseat since he'd been in the passenger these past couple of times, but I shrugged it off as I found acceptable driving music  and then pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. Stretch gave me some light directions since the was the first time I was driving to the house from my apartment, but for the most part we made small take with topics such as why do mushrooms have so many genders to a small argument about what the best combo was in some game.

We made it to the house mostly safe. There was one car that had cut me off, but 'tis the way of the road. I put my car into park and turned it off after pulling into their driveway and we all got out together, Stretch leading the way to the door and holding it open for Cash and I before disappearing off to, I'm guessing, his room. I could hear some pots clanging together from the kitchen and figured to go check that out since we still had time to kill, Cash trailing behind me. When I reached its entryway I saw Blue moving some dirty dishes over to the sink which was probably the cause of the clanging. Mal and another skeleton around his height who was wearing a purple bandana that was worn around the edges, a black turtle neck that had it's sleeves pushed up to his elbows and was tucked into some black ripped jeans that were themselves tucked into a pair off dark purple boots were arguing with each other.

"We Should Just Do 400. It's In The Middle Of The Temperature Range For Both The Danish And The Bread," Mal stated, wearing a grey apron with the word 'Arson' on it in flame font.

"AND I SAY WE SHOULD DO 375 AND JUST COOK THE BREAD A LITTLE LONGER TO ENSURE THE DANISH DOESN'T BURN," the purple bandana clad skeleton refuted.

Blue seemed to be the first to recognize as he yelled over the two, "HEY IT'S A SURPRISE TO SEE YOU HERE," he paused glancing around, "IN THE KITCHEN."

The two arguing skeletons turned to see us, realizing we were there. The new one lit up seeing us.

"PERFECT. CASH TELL THIS IDIOT THAT 375 IS THE BETTER TEMPERATURE," he ordered.

"375 is the best temperature," Cash agreed. I turned slightly to see him slowly backing away in my peripherals.

"SEE," they stated.

I glanced around their kitchen and realized they had three ovens, four if you included the toaster oven. "Why don't you just cook them in separate ovens with their respective temperatures and separate timers?"

Mal rolled his eyelights at that. "Do You Even Realize How Much Heat That'd Make? The Electric Bill Would Skyrocket."

The two went on to their arguing, neither seeming to budge. I watched for a few more moments before I heard a couple dings that would indicate that an oven is done preheating and looked over to see Blue grabbing the tray with Danishes  who just grinned at me and slid it into one oven. He then grabbed the bread and slid it into another oven and put two timers on for each one before moving over and slinging an arm each around the two arguers. 

"ALRIGHT VI, MAL, NOW THAT THEY'RE IN THE OVEN, LET'S GO SEE WHY CASH IS HERE," Blue proposed, steering them to the entryway to exit the kitchen.

The new skeleton, now donned Vi, nodded his head. "IT IS STRANGE ACTUALLY. HE ALMOST ALWAYS REFUSES TO COME HERE AND NOW HE'S HERE ON HIS OWN FREE WILL. STRANGE."

I moved out of the way so they could all pass before following. I noticed Mal shrugging off Blue's arm, but still following his lead to the living room where Vi shrugged of Blue's arm. I watched as Vi settled into an arm chair on the inside of the room as Mal and Blue settled on the couch. I realized Cash was sitting in an arm chair near the doorway and moved to lightly lean against the back of it.

"SO BROTHER, CARE TO TELL ME WHY YOU DECIDED TO VISIT?" Vi questioned, crossing one leg over the other.

"Getting drinks with Edge," Cash answered. If I hadn't seen it numerous times before, I'd be impressed how his typing didn't slow, I'm assuming it was work stuff.

"And Why Would You And Edge Be Getting Drinks?" Mal asked.

Cash glanced up at him before pointing at me with his thumb and then resuming his typing. "Getting drinks with that one."

"AND WHY ARE YOU TWO GETTING DRINKS?" Vi inquired. 

"Because he promised a couple years ago," I answered.

Vi turned his attention to me for a couple moments before back to Cash. "AND PLEASE TELL ME DEAR BROTHER WHY WOULD YOU DO SUCH A THING WITH SOMEONE WHO LOOKS SO SOFT THAT THEY'D GET ALONG WELL WITH COFFEE?"

"Remember That Runner He Wouldn't Shut Up?" entered a new voice from the doorway as Edge leaned against the frame. He was dressed in a black button up with the top couple of buttons undone and tucked into his dress pants. His red gloves and boots that I remember from prior fits, present.

"YOU CANNOT TELL ME THAT THEY ARE THE ONE AND THE SAME," Vi denied.

"THEY SURE ARE!" Blue chirped. "STRETCH EVEN SHOWED US A PHOTO FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE DELIVERING A MESSAGE."

Vi turned back to Cash and I, looking between the two of us before locking onto Cash. "WHERE'S YOUR JACKET? I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU WITHOUT IT IN DECADES AND YOU OWN SEVEN OF THEM AND WHEN DID YOU GET THAT HOODIE BECAUSE I DO NOT REMEMBER HAVING EVER WASHED?"

"It got dirty," Cash answered the first question, not looking up from his phone.

"AND THE HOODIE?" Vi pressed.

"It's one of my old ones," I supplied.

Vi's attention turned back to me and he squinted. I tensed at the attention, straightening up slightly. 

"Drop it, Vi," Cash spoke up.

He turned back to Cash. "I'M SORRY MY DEAR BROTHER, BUT WHEN WAS I GOING TO BE INFORMED THAT YOU HAD A PARTNER?"

"At some point," Cash gave.

"To Be Fair, Last We Knew They Also Weren't Dating Which Was Last Night, So Either They Hid It Or It's Recent," Mal added on.

"SO THEN WHY DON'T YOU JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION CASH?" Vi pressured, standing from his seat and moving a couple steps closer.

"Because I don't want to," Cash answered, sliding his phone into his pocket and standing. "Are you ready to go Edge cause if so we can head out now."

"WE ARE NOT DONE WITH THIS CONVERSATION," Vi moved to block Cash's path to exit.

"And I am done with it, so move," Cash informed, shoving both hands in the hoodie pockets.

The tenseness was building to the point where Mal moved to where he was a little closer to the two brothers as Blue came over to me.

"WHY WON'T YOU TELL ME? I THOUGHT WE AGREED TO NO MORE SECRETS," Vi stated, not moving.

Blue lightly touched my shoulder and brought my attention to him causing me to miss Cash's response and the slow increase of volume in their conversation. "IT'S BETTER NOT TO FOCUS ON THOSE TWO RIGHT NOW. IF YOU DON'T MIND MY ASKING THOUGH, WHEN DID YOU TWO START DATING?"

"Is it normal for them to fight like that?" I queried, tilting my head slightly. "I haven't seen Cash be that abrasive with someone before."

"IT HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME. IT'S ROOTED IN SOME STUFF THAT HAPPENED UNDERGROUND," Blue explained.

"How did he know we were dating from Cash wearing one of my hoodies?"

"EHH, MONSTER CULTURE. NOW IF YOU DON'T MIND ANSWERING MY PREVIOUS QUESTION," Blue prompted

"Why should I answer that kind of personal question to someone I barely know?" I tested.

Blue's smile became slightly taught around the edges. "I MEAN IF YOU'D LIKE FOR THEM TO KEEP ARGUING THEN BE MY HONOR."

I looked over to see that Vi had grabbed the collar of the hoodie and that Cash was leaning over him slightly as they shouted. "Why doesn't he just answer? If Vi's his brother then I'd think he'd be comfortable with answering."

"DID YOU SAY IT WAS OKAY?" Blue inquired.

I turned back to him. "Well I mean no, but we hadn't had time to talk about it."

"HE'S MOST LIKELY DOING IT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE. NOW YOU CAN EITHER GO OVER AND INTERRUPT WITH SUPPLYING THE ANSWER OR YOU CAN TELL ME," Blue offered.

"Wouldn't I be taking the cowardly route if I told you?" I retorted, scrunching my nose up.

"IF YOU WANT TO INTERRUPT THEM THEN BE MY GUEST," Blue gestured over to them again, the two having only gotten slightly closer.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed. "Point taken I guess. To answer, it was literally just this afternoon. I don't see why this is such a big deal."

"YOU'LL UNDERSTAND IN TIME," Blue smiled warmly before bouncing the short couple feet over to the two and putting a hand on each of their shoulders causing them both to turn to him and almost growl out respective, "'What"s. "VI, THEY JUST STARTED DATING TODAY."

Vi seemed to process this after a moment before whipping his skull over to me and staring for a couple moments then back to Cash. "WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY THAT?"

"Again, I shouldn't have to," Cash argued, glancing back and receiving a thumbs up from me to let him know that I was okay which did cause him to relax a bit. "Since you know now can we go?"

"CASH, IF YOU DON'T TELL ME THINGS THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON," Vi defended.

"And you're the one that taught me not to tell people things surrounding mates," Cash nipped.

I noticed Mal and Edge had shifted to a stance where they could quickly grab each party after Blue had approached.

"I DIDN'T TEACH YOU TO KEEP THINGS FROM ME," Vi countered.

I decided that it'd be best to move my own way over, putting my hand lightly on Cash's shoulder blade and coming to his side and Blue released his shoulder and shifted slightly to allow room for me. "That's probably because of me. I'm sorry. I wasn't super comfortable with telling people we were dating yet."

Vi seemed to glance between the two of us, processing what I said. He seemed to deflate slightly as he took a deep inhale and exhale, probably trying to calm down his heightened emotions before turning to Cash. "I'M SORRY FOR YELLING AT YOU AND I'M SORRY FOR CROSSING YOUR PARTNER'S BOUNDARIES." He quickly grabbed the collar of the hoodie again, yanking Cash to his socket level. Blue seemed to start to move, but I caught Mal grabbing his arm. "BUT I SWEAR TO THE DELTARUNE IF YOU END UP PREGNANT AND DUMP THAT CHILD ON ME IT WILL BE THE END OF YOU." He released the collar and Cash straightened up, seeming have expected that response. "I'M GOING TO GO MAKE SURE THAT THE DANISHES HAVEN'T BURNED," and with that he stalked out of the living room past Edge towards the kitchen. I noticed Mal look around the room briefly before following after him with Blue in tow.

Cash let out a laugh, "Well, that could have gone worse."

"You could've just told him ya know," I noted. "Wouldn't have ended up with the whole argument."

"You could've also told Blue sooner or cut in at any point," Cash deflected.

"Oh you can't be serious right now," I grumbled. "Why should it fall on me to tell people I barely know?"

Cash turned to stand in front of me causing my hand to slide from his shoulder blade to his arm which I grabbed. "Then how is it my fault for not knowing you were comfortable with Vi knowing?"

"You literally asked me if you could tell people we're dating," I defended, tightening my grip slightly.

Both of our attentions whipped over to Edge who cleared his throat. "As Great As It Is To See You Two Flirting, It Is Exactly," he glanced at clock on the wall, "Two Minutes And Forty-Eight Seconds Past When We Were Supposed To Leave."

"We aren't flirting," I argued.

Edge just raised a brow bone at me and then looked at Cash. "Ah Yes Because Picking Petty Arguments With Our Partners Isn't Flirting. Would You Like Me To Give Them The Crash Course On Our Culture Or Would You Cash?"

Cash grumbled out an answer that I couldn't catch as he looked away.

"I Didn't Catch That," Edge stated. I think there was a tint of teasing, but I wasn't certain.

"I said I would," Cash snapped. "Just later. Now can we please go?"

Edge put on a polite smile. "Why Of Course." He moved out of the doorway and turned back to me, "Please Lead The Way."

I released my grip on Cash's arm and moved to lead us to my car. I could hear Cash whispering to Edge as they hung back slightly, catching some snippets of insults and Edge just laughed them off. I just ignored them as I exited the house and headed to my car, unlocking it and getting in it, starting the engine as Cash got in the passenger, crossing his arms and pouting with Edge getting in the back, buckling his seat belt and weaving his hands in his lap. I got some music chosen but waited a moment.

"Seatbelt, Cash," I prompted him to which he promptly put on. "Do you mind helping with directions?"

This caused him to snap him out of whatever sour mood he was in as he perked up. "Yeah, I can do that. Ye're gonna wanna head that way out of the drive way," he informed pointing towards our right.

"Got it." I shifted the car and got it going in the direction Cash indicated. Edge occasionally supplied some banter, seeming to be amused by Cash getting riled up, as we made small talk in between directions. Cash eventually indicated to a parking spot for me to pull in which I did with a little bit of struggle with how close one of the other vehicles was to their line, but shortly got the car into park and turned off as we all filed out and onto the sidewalk. Cash taking the lead towards the bar since he was the one who knew where it was.

"At Least Your Whisby Doesn't Make Greasy Food," Edge grumbled in our small talk as Cash was telling me about the bar.

"You don't like greasy food, Edge?" I asked, giving an invite to the conversation even though he was already invited into it.

"How Could I? It Makes Your Facial Bones Feel Strange," Edge informed.

Cash rolled his eyelights as I hummed in acknowledgement. "Yeah I get that. Some foods do that to my skin. Like makes it feel all oily on the lower half of my face."

"Precisely! Good To Know At Least One Of The Vermin I'm Outing With Has Some Taste," Edge stated.

"Edge," Cash warned to which Edge rolled his eyelights.

"Stop Being So Sensitive. Let's Get Those Drinks So We Can Leave," Edge ordered, lightly pushing Cash's shoulder.

"Yeah yeah, well we're here," Cash informed, opening the door and holding it open for Edge and I to enter.

"Oh So We've Learned Some Manners," Edge noted, entering before me.

I looked at Cash and tilted my head. He gave me a thumbs up so I let the comment slide and entered the bar with Cash behind me.

Notes:

The use of boy(s)/kid(s) in the restaurant stems from me calling people around my age group or younger than me kid. They group is around 19 to 21 y.o. in age.

Woo, five more skeletons to meet. My fave still ain't here yet which is fine.

Sorry for the Fahrenheit.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Self Indulgence