Red (light warning! Swearing)
He just couldn't catch a break. Coming into this messed up world, going by a different name was bad, and having to "listen" this world's Sans, is hell. On the off chance, he can fix the machine. (At this point might be done when Temmies fly). And now a pretty girl blew him off for a date. And possibly trying to avoid him because he looks like the ex. AKA the lame vanilla. Red couldn't help but punch the brick wall layering the restaurant's outer walls.
This would be a cakewalk back home. All he would have to do was use his gentle touch, be sweet to her.
Him and his bro had it made, back home. Back in their underground the strongest would always get first pick. Food, status, and women. Doesn't matter what anyone would say. The only voice that could be heard was the one that wasn't beaten up. The strong were to rule over the few. That's what he plans to do here. The plan was perfect, so how the hell did everything get muddled up?
"Shit! I bet she's dating a lame human" he growled. He couldn't help but punch the bricks harder. Letting all his frustrations out.
He was hoping to find her outside. But he was too late. There was no one in the parking lot. And all he could do was punch the walls and continue cursing his dumb luck. Honey like her and he let her walk out on him. It wasn't a flat no so there's hope. He's not taking this defeat down. He just needed to turn his luck around.
All that he could do now is prepare for his next encounter with her. And not just a few minutes before she high tails it. No. He was gonna make sure she stuck around. Not because she rejected him, nope, he needed her to get back at someone.
He looked at the crushed bricks before him. A section of the wall was practically powder. No use to beat it up now. His frustration was gone and all that was left was his determination.
He began to fumble with the coin instead. Walking away as he flipped it. He couldn't help but think of his counterpart. Sans. The dipshit that ruined his life and brought him to this hell. Nothing made sense here.
He came to this world and the rules are screwed up. Peace and kindness is the norm. Strange, seeing people getting along. What was odd was his counter-parts we're nothing like him and his bro. They didn't use fists to fight their battles, only words and manipulation seemed to be their weapons. This made it harder for him to get around.
San-Red as he went by nowadays, had to hide his identity while the other him got to keep his name. Just thinking about the guy made him feel trigger-happy.
All he could do now was teleport back home. He began his walk over to the nearby alley. "Wait! You almost forgot your fries" he was abruptly stopped by a girl running his way with a box.
He didn't need to look down before she caught up. She was taller than most women his brother tried to threaten to date. She made it close to eye level which was a nice surprise. He did like that this one enjoyed the same dark humor him and his bro liked.
"Thanks, see ya"
He waved at her but the girl wasn't done with him. She made a sour look as if she was debating about something. He was gonna walk away, not before her voice stopped him in his tracks.
"She's a worker of mine. She's skittish around new people. But once she opens up to you she'll stick around." Her voice softened as she looked at him. Passing him the box.
"And it's crazy for me to tell you this but you're not so bad. Even if you shorten my supply of mustard in one go" She replied earnestly as she bounced on the heels of her feet. "I think you could get to know her and become friends"
"Not so bad? Huh, funny way to say a jerk, girly. But I appreciate the help. And I'll put a good word with my bro to see ya soon" Red couldn't help but wink at her before she made her way back inside.
He could already imagine his brother going on a rant about this conquest. And how it's important to make her wait in suspense for his call. And then, take it all back after he texts her, so they can go schedule their next date.
"WHO THE HELL PUNCHED THE RESTAURANT !??"
And with that, the world shifted as he booked it to the alley. Not ready to fess up yet. He's already got a list going for him. Adding one more crime isn't so bad.
He was back home or at least temporarily. Making his way back he found his room clean, again, by this world's Papyrus. He walked over to the trash can and started dumping it all over the floor. Making sure it was back to its sloppy way.
He didn't mind the clean. It was nice. He just wasn't getting any handouts from someone who thinks he's better than him. He hated living here. Day in and day out. Reds still not sure how the hell blue and his bro got to leave. All he knows is that Blue talked Vanilla into it. But he can't believe that little shrimp could do it.
He scrolled over the messages blowing up on his phone. Scrolling through each name. All of them were asking him to come over and "help fix something".
He would be thrilled to be distracted by one of the many chicks, that wanted him but now he had bigger prey to pursue. A girl that was better than the typical trash he's been rolling with. And only making it better is that she already met his other-self.
Right, lady luck was still on his side. He found San's girl. The vanilla can deny it all he wants but he still cares. And that's the kind of weakness he can use. The girl was much different from what he imagined. She had more fire and spunk than he anticipated. The girl may have given him the slip but that made it twice as fun. All he needed was to focus on the prize. Getting back at Sans for sending them here.
The idiot of vanilla pretends that everything is fine, but the machine still isn't fixed. It's been years at this point, the guy can't seem to get it up and running. No matter what at this point.
Shutting out brother, his counterselfs, and friends. Driven almost everyone away with his denial. Red could only imagine the girl lost the patience too.
He needed to get that girl. Find a way to sneak past all her defenses. And break any chance that Sans has with her. She'll never trust anyone after he's done with her. Maybe then Sans will know how they feel.
He couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he flipped the coin. Seeing her running away from his fingertips just triggered his ever-growing craving. All he needed was some connections and he knew just the guy to call.
" Ghostbuste-"
" Great, your up. I need a favor"
"Oh, it's you" his voice deflated.
"Of course! Now get ready. I'm coming over"
" I'm not even home. I'm busy with something"
Red could hear an engine in the background. What the hell?
"Driving out? You on a date or something."
"...yes?"
That was a lie. He knew that tone. He was hiding something. Lil bro was doing something he wasn't supposed to. Good boy. Hell, he'll play along. "Alrighty, but your virgin ass better get some, or I'll take her from you"
"What? Shut up fleabag"
"Fuck you"
" Forget you"
"monkeyfucker"
"Buttslut!"
"Fuck, just swear dammit! Or are you scared your brother will find out?"
"Nah"
"Prove it"
"...Nah"
Red couldn't help but chuckle. The boy was fun to tease. And he could tell that papyrus was playing along. He couldn't recall how many times they've done this. But he's glad he found this version fun to hang around.
"Fine. I'm crashing your date. Hold on I'll find ya"
"Later, just give me a bit"
" Sure, after I get to meet your girlfriend"
" No dude "
"ah, I get it. Your boyfriend. Shit, I ain't judging. Good for you getting yourself a man."
"uhh, I'll meet you in an hour and then we can talk sheesh"
"Great, see ya, lover boy!"
"... Your lucky I need you to tune up my cart"
Red hung up. He felt a bit proud that the little brother was up to some mischief. It was about time the boy rebelled. Not without him giving him hell for it. Everything was gonna go exactly as planned. Now, all he could do was wait.
---
You
"MYEHEHE WE ARE ONE-STOP AWAY FROM THE POOL! THIS IS GONNA BE SO MUCH FUN!!" Blue was practically jumping on his seat as he drove."WE HAVE FLOATIES! AND POOL NOODLES!!! I DUNNO WHAT THEY DO, BUT! I HEARD THEY ARE IDEAL FOR WATER COMBAT!" He exclaimed as he took a turn. He continued to move his head along to the song.
Normally, you were indifferent about going. But seeing Blue excited about the place left you feeling a bit optimistic. It's been forever since you went out for some fun.
You didn't need to be enveloped by his magic to feel the hype. And yet there's still a lingering feeling in the pit of your stomach.
" It's a lot of fun to use, but it's been ages since I've been to the pool" you add-in. "It's nice to go back"
The last time you went over to the pool you were kicked out within the week. Thanks to the typical hijinx from your siblings; switching all the towels, stealing from the lifeguard, and shooting cold water at everyone. This caused you to be banned from the place. So it's been a while since you've tried going for a swim. Hopefully, your swimsuit should still fit you after all these years. It's been forever but pools still have water so it couldn't be all that different. One less thing to worry about was your siblings.
So why haven't you gone sooner?
Probably because you didn't like sand getting stuck in your bathing suit or your knowledge of swimming is about as much as a 6-year-old. Oh, wait. Does your swimsuit even fit?!
You feel around your stomach. Feeling every flab on you. Quietly, you pout at your lumps.
It's hard to admit but you probably gained some fluff. You have been eating out more and tend to be too lazy to cook at times. But you remembered to eat your veggies! And even do some exercise..! But that tub of ice cream you ate last week was so good.
Oh shoot
The thought that your suit won't fit finally hits you. And if it doesn't what then?! There's no way you could rain-check the pool idea. Blue looked set on going.
You start scrolling through your phone for stores near you. Hopefully, you could stop at a shop and get a new one. One that's more flattering on your body. Also, grab some sunscreen before you burn up. You don't want to end up a burnt chicken nugget. Oh Lord, you're sounding like your mother.
You take a deep breath. Nope, no overthinking today. This isn't the time for doubt. Especially making a big thing out of nothing, again. It's just a date. With a skeleton. A normal date with a skeleton! Completely normal!
"So what's the plan Blue?"
"GO FOR A SWIM, WINDOW SHOPPING AND HAVE FUN!," he pointed up in the air "SKYS THE LIMIT!"
"Cool"
You watched as Blue seemed to ponder on what else the two of you could do as he continued driving. He kept trying to reach down to the clutter by his cup holder. There were layers of small sticky notes, all over the cup holder from his constant picking. You couldn't help but skim over a few lines. One caught your eye. Listening and making connections are key. This seemed to be highlighted. You adjusted the papers around until they were tidy.
It's strange to see someone trying so hard to win you over. It's strange to be on the receiving side. You couldn't help cringe at how boy crazy you were when you started. The countless guys you would try to invite to hang out at the football games. And even reach out and try new places in hopes you could try to bump into them. The list goes on.
In a brief second, you clasped blues free hand. Just remembering the slightest touch from a crush would send you blushing. You look to see Blue wasn't any different from your first interaction. Still skittish when looking at you.
"DID I DO SOMETHING?" He asked.
"Yea, gaining brownie points for being cute" without a thought you pinched his cheek. The familiar bone pulled like rubber as you tugged on. Even though he's similar looking to human bones, this magic stuff still surprises you. The poor guy couldn't help but pout as he tried to smack your hand away. Blue's weak attempts to defend himself made it more fun. Still Blue kept trying to pull away only made your pinch more effective "NO PINCHING THE SKELETON!"
"Then stop resisting me!"
During the drive, you appreciated the lack of traffic on the road. Thanks for waking up so early. In no time you were closing into the parking lot. Just enough time to ask Blue one more question. There's so much you still didn't know about him. For starters why move to their chatty little town?
It's normal for monsters to move away as they are eager to explore this world. Blue didn't seem like the guy who had wanderlust. Also, It's rare for you to see another skeleton monster. You've met more just recently. But everything about him was different, compared to the typical guy you dated.
"Thank you and your brother for everything. Sorry, for crashing at your place last minute. I wasn't myself last night" avoiding to look up as you continue "I'll make it up to you two."
"IT WAS FUN! I'M GLAD YOU CAME OVER! SO WHAT HAPPENED EXACTLY?"
"Oh it's nothing, I was just getting away from a creep, thankfully Papy came to save me" you unconsciously answer. It finally hits you, the favor, the speed dating, and seeing your ex. All those memories came crashing in.
Blue's expression stayed neutral, his eye lights flickered. He simply nodded for you to continue. You failed to notice his hands were tightening around the wheel.
You honestly didn't know what to say next. Heck, you were even sure how to tell Blue. You didn't want to bring up that you ran away from your ex. And that he reminds you of him. That's a can of worms that only therapy should hear about. If you ever go back to your old sessions.
"It's all good now! Plus I have you with me. So no worries. That is if you can finally look at me now" you've noticed that he would avoid making eye contact all during breakfast. There were a few times he would sneak a peek when you pretended not to look.
"NO, I WASNT!"
Oh geez. Wrong thing to say for sure on your part. As you stare, you notice that he seemed to glow bluer by the minute. The poor guy couldn't look at you for a while, he took a deep breath.
"NO YOUR RIGHT, JUST, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WORE MY CLOTHES. I JUST WASN'T PREPARED TO SEE… HOW GOOD IT LOOKED ON YOU " Blue was glowing cyan as he continued "YOU LOOKED NICE"
You couldn't help but look away at his answer. Nothing could prepare you for that. You were just waiting for him to lie so you could tease him. And avoid talking about last night. Feeling flushed you tried to hide your face. His response wasn't what you had in mind. Geez, your teasing is gonna kill you one of these days.
"Thanks, your clothes are comfy" You couldn't help but play with the sleeves.
Blue seemed to smile at your answer. He drove a little slower as he entered the parking lot. There were a few parking spots left. Knowing your neighbors, one of them must be having a party. Maybe it was good that you had slept somewhere else. One of your neighbors always had their music on blast whenever they partied. You could still remember how crappy you felt after sleeping for 3 hours because the music kept you up. Fortunately, Blue found a spot close to the door.
You headed inside, you were greeted by a neighbor down the hall. It was the small lady next door. She seemed to be walking to the laundromat. You wave hello before maneuvering around her big basket to reach your door. The feeling of anxiousness increased at God-like speeds. At this point, you debating on bringing a swimsuit at all anymore.
You searched inside for your swimwear. It took you a bit to find it in one of your bins marked clothes. You slip into your swimsuit. It took a bit longer to put on but it was worth it. You couldn't help but feel proud that the thing still fit. A big more snug around your body. A big relief on your end. Feeling better now after checking a mirror. Now to focus on what to wear. You packed your spare clothes into your f/c backpack.
The whole process to a few minutes. Only because you skipped laundry day. So it took a bit longer than expected. You decided on a simple red T with jeans to match. The blue hoodie hanging on your chair caught your eye. And with that, you're ready to go back on the road.
Ah, the pool. It was a short trip straight down the freeway and past the strip of stores. Before long you made it to.
"Hey Blue, let's have some fun"
The pool was practically empty when you arrived. The only ones there was an elderly couple, who were hogging the jacuzzi. They walked out the moment they saw the two of you come by. You could hear their distaste as they saw the two of you holding hands. Ignoring their whispers to each other. Probably complaining about the monsters ruining their day.
People don't change. There's plenty of room for them to share and it's not like Blue would harm them. This only darkened your mood. It's been years and still, people can't accept the monsters.
Blue-headed over to the bathroom stalls as you began to set up everything onto the benches. Your grateful Blue did all the heavy lifting because you could barely manage to push his giant bucket and bag. You took a brief break after adjusting everything. You look down to see you got a text from Papyrus. The silly goofball probably just texting you good morning like always. You hold off until your out of your clothes.
You start stripping down. Not giving it much thought. There's nobody around but you couldn't help but get a weird feeling of doubt. You look up to see Blue sprinting towards you. Just before you could take off your pants.
"PRINCESS! WAIT!"
You saw a blue blur before seeing a towel covering your vision. You turn a bit to see a blue skull holding it up. It takes you a bit to process it. You look down. It occurs to you that your date doesn't know you, and doesn't know your wearing clothes underneath. You couldn't help but laugh. Did he think you would strip to your birthday suit?
"Blue, I'm already done" you point to your bathing suit. Blues gawked as he pulled the towel away.
"SORRY I THOUGHT-UH NEVERMIND" His blue glow slowly faded. Lifting the towel away you got a better look at him.
He looked pretty hot with what he wore. (Would that be weird to say?). His ribs were bare as he only wore Blue shorts with yellow fish on them. His bandana was wrapped around his arm to prevent it from coming off.
"Thank you for the chivalry" you nuzzle his cheek. The idea was sweet and none of your previous boyfriends ever did that for you.
You pick up the ball as you head over to the pool. The thought finally occurred to you that Blue might need floaties to help him float. Considering he doesn't have anything that could support him. A huge splash appears behind you. Blue had jumped into the water.
To your shock, he didn't sink. Instead, he was doing laps around the pool. He moved around, similar to a fish. What do people call it? The butterfly stroke? He came off as a different person in the water. There was no smile when he swam. His eye lights were focused ahead and changed from stars to pinpricks. He looked so serious as he swam to the other side. You couldn't avoid the fear and wonder filling you.
How? Isn't fat what keeps people floating but he's all bones? It's a surprise that Blue can swim. His bones didn't drag him down as you imagined. Quite the opposite, it almost seemed like they were holding him up. You grab a beach ball and toss it over to Blue. He jumps up to catch it, leaving a giant splash along with it. He swam over with the ball on top of his head.
The heck???! At this point, you gotta give it to Blue for defying all physics at this point. Better not to question it. You're not ready to hear the response being magic again. It's safe to bet any skeleton antics involve magic at this point.
"COMING?" He showed off a cheesy smile.
You nod as you climb down the shallow part of the pool. Blue swims over in seconds as he passes the ball. You're going to regret asking buuuut.
"How are you able to swim?"
Blue gave you a puzzled look. An idea must have popped because he was back to his silly grin. He grabs your hand. Leading you closer to the deep end.
"HOLD YOUR BREATH"
He pulls you down. It takes you a sec to open your eyes to see it. Blue pointed to his bones. You could see his blue magic around it, but far more condensed. So his magic is keeping him up. So that's how magic works.
You both resurface.
"ALPHYS HAD ME DO DRILLS IN THE MORNING. IT'S PART OF MY TRAINING TO BECOME THE ROYAL GUARD. I DROWNED AT FIRST BUT OVERTIME I LEARNED TO ADJUST MY MAGIC, PRETTY COOL RIGHT!" he smiled as he posed a heroic stance.
"That's cool Blue, I'm sadly not that gifted" You show him your cheap imitation of a doggy paddle. Your hands moved like a flopping noodle. Barely keeping yourself afloat, scarcely catching yourself before your body could sink. "You could say I barely stay afloat"
"DON'T WORRY! JUST LET THE WATER BE YOUR FRIEND! IT'S SILLY BUT I HEARD HUMANS NEED TO RELAX TO FLOAT. "
You couldn't help but disagree. It's easy for him to say that. He noticed your discomfort and signaled you to follow him to the edge of the pool. He grabbed on and pulled himself up into a koala position before pulling his head back. You follow his lead and slowly move your head back. The water filled your ears, you couldn't help but pull away. The cold filled you with goosebumps.
"I LIKE LISTENING TO WATER. IT HELPS CLEAR MY HEAD" Blue was still holding his head back but he sounded more dazed. He looked so comfortable in the water. You tried giving it another go. Holding yourself back again. The water felt nice the second time. The sounds of glooping tickled your ears. And the sloshing of the water as it passed was strangely comforting.
The problem wasn't that you couldn't trust the water. You just didn't want to. Letting anyone take over you wasn't something you're comfortable with anymore. The feeling that you might drown by them was terrifying. Was this the reason you don't date anymore? Or was it easier to be alone than to be with anyone?
But Blues here. And he won't hurt you. But are you hurting him because you can't trust him?
Shoot. You went deeper than you intended, metaphorically. Was this philosophical water? You couldn't help but get a sinking feeling from it. This all-too-familiar dark friend just loved to visit at the worst times. The glooping sounded suffocating now, and your negative thoughts just kept piling at the slivers of hope in you. No one likes seeing you when you get like this and neither did you. At least, no one sticks around for them. It's easier than putting on a mask. You get off and move back to the shallow water. Taking small breaths with each step. Little by little you usher most of your thoughts back into your vault.
"I'm just not ready for this right now"
You pull yourself up to sit on the ledge. As you watch Blue from the distance, you can't help but feel down.
It takes him a bit to notice you left him before he swims over to you. He wore a look of concern. In a flash, you couldn't stop but see so much of Sans at that moment.
" Don't you trust me?"
"..No"
You quickly close your eyes and take a deep breath. You reminded yourself that he's not Sans. Things are different now. The monster before you is someone who wants to hang out and talk. And can be a bit weird with his magic, but he's kind. You open your eyes to a pair of starry eyes looking back at you. Solace.
"PRINCESS! ARE YOU OKAY? WE DON'T HAVE TO SWIM. I GOTTA BETTER IDEA!" he headed over to the benches. There's a feeling of relief to know that Blue didn't notice your brief freakout. As you walked over to your date, you saw him take out random things from his bag; Flashlights, matches, rubber chicken, a water bottle, pencils, chopsticks, and a picnic basket. The skeleton was set on finding something as he pulled a huge bucket from the bag. He dumps a vast amount of sand onto the tile floor. Oh Lord no.
"Blue stop!"
Blue looked up as if he was a deer caught in the headlights. He doesn't stop dumping the ever-growing mountain of sand until he sees your face. He begins to tilt it back up but the deed was already done. A huge pile was out in the open. There was more sand than the container should carry. The mountain was up to your shoulders.
"Blue!? Where did you get all this sand?" You say as you try not to freak out.
"THE BEACH"
You do a double-take, struggling not to facepalm at his remark. This raised far more questions that you needed to save for another day. If this sweet boy knew the crimes he's committed so far. You fail to ask what else he has in his Mary Poppins backpack and move on to your next question.
"Okay, but why do you have it?"
"WELL, RULE NUMBER 345 STATED WHEN DATES INVOLVE SWIMWEAR IT'S NECESSARY TO MAKE SANDCASTLES! AND I WAS HOPING IT COULD CHEER YOU UP" Blue said sincerely. As if he was a boy scout reciting their code. You stare at him for a bit as his expression remains the same. He seemed thoroughly convinced that it was normal to be prepared for this extreme.
At this point, you couldn't help but laugh at everything. Whatever thoughts that plagued you had fallen silent. All that you saw was a nervous Blue who seemed unsure of what to say next.
"Alright let's make a sandcastle!"
"YES!"
"Please tell me you have some way to clean this all up. l don't want to be banned from this place" Blue nodded as he pointed at the small vacuum cleaner perched on the bucket.
"..thats fair"
Your beautiful sandcastle turned into a giant empire- thanks to Blue's handy work. More people came in as you worked on it. People would glance from afar before little kids tried to join in. Blue happily agreed and ended helping them. Others saw this as an opportunity to join in. The castle turned out great with everyone helping. The downside, a guy kept trying to get your attention. You would move away but he would follow along. You turned to Blue for help but he was busy teaching some kids how to patch the sand walls.
"Um... Can you stop following me"
"Sorry, just trying to get the courage to say you look pretty"
"Oh! Thanks"
The guy seemed harmless. Though his height was a bit alarming. But he's not doing anything wrong. So you turn back to sculpting, making more houses for the empire. The guy didn't leave. You were hoping the long silence would give him a clue. Nah for some reason the guy thought it was a signal for him to stay because he remained stuck talking to you. The more he talked the more he seemed to hover closer.
Nope, you've seen this path too many times on the internet. Normally your brain would've come up with a good excuse right about now. The problem was there were too many people and it felt a bit intimidating to talk now. You know you didn't like how things were going. But your courage left you when Blue left you alone. You needed to come up with a better plan. Slowly, you distanced yourself more. Plus ignoring his weird questions as you moved to build a different structure around the sandcastle. Praying that the guy gets the hint.
"Anyway can I get your number?"
"No"
"Why not? I complimented you and talk-"
"EXCUSE ME, BUT THE LADY DOESN'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU"
Blue was right behind him. The skeleton wore his happy smile, he pushed in between the two. Shielding you from the guy. The lanky guy didn't like this one bit.
"Hey, what's your problem monster? We were talking"
Blue blinked a bit, he rubbed at one of his eye lights. Before chuckling a bit.
"IS THAT WHAT YOU THOUGHT? I SAW A ONE-SIDED CONVERSATION?"
The guy didn't like hearing that. This made the dude try to shove Blue away. Blue stayed firm and shoved him back with one hand. The guy fell on his back. Blue looked back to you.
"DO YOU KNOW THIS GUY?"
"I ashore don't hun"
You couldn't help it. It was your turn to give Blue your cheesiest smile. Blue turned back to the scrawny guy. He pauses. Giving himself a quick facepalm before lightly tapping your head with his free hand.
"SHE TERRIBLE, BUT PLEASE RESPECT HER REQUEST. SHE DOESN'T OWES YOU ANYTHING"
The guy was about to say something. More spectators were watched. Wanting to see how this quarrel settled. Your money was on your knight. The dude brushed himself off before walking away towards the entrance. A crowd of disappointed aw echoed. Slowly everyone went back to swimming. You couldn't help but hug your bonehead. He tried to keep you away. Saying he felt your bad puns should go punished. So you didn't get your hug. But he did stay by your side the remainder of the time.
It was in due time someone caught you guys red-handed. The whole ordeal was long. The pool attendant found out. Probably from that one guy. The lady gave you guys a fierce scolding. And made sure the two of you clean every last grain. It was a difficult task with the sand mixing with the puddles on the floor. Sand would end up covering you two head to toe. Luckily, Blue also prepared for this as he had soap to wash out nicely. After that fiasco, you decided to go back on the road. Up next shopping at the mall.
The mall Blue took you was the one he worked on his night shift. A few stores were starting to open up. Others were ready for people. You and blue strolled by as you passed the handful of people who were around. They would avoid you or not ignore you entirely. Blue explained the layout as you asked about the stores. Pointing to certain booths and the security routine. Later, did he take you to his favorite morning spot. A fun little coffee place with different brews and pastries. The smell of coffee and sweet bread filled your nostrils. You couldn't stop salivating.
"SO THIS PLACE SELLS COFFEE BUT THEY COME IN COLD! I RECOMMEND THE CARAMEL! YUMMY!" You already knew but went along with it. He led the way. Blue picked caramel. Instead of picking the usual flavors, you decided to try the chocolate pistachio. You two decided to sit down and relax before looking at more shops. The mall was endless to you.
Even though Blue can't feel cold. You see that he still shuddered from the first sip. Seeing his reactions left you grinning. This monster was full of surprises. The face he had when he swam was the most shocking.
"Hey Blue, You looked so serious when you swam" you couldnt help but point out. Blue straightened up, he looked away guiltily. "YEA, I CAN'T HELP IT. I JUST GET IN THE ZONE"
"Your parents must be proud. Being a royal guard in the making and all" You added with a nod. No response.
Blue blinked a bit.
"EHH, THEY WEREN'T THERE FOR THAT STUFF. IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO" Blue hesitated.
"Oh, sorry that's probably personal. Forget I asked" Blue slipped his hand into your grasp. The far-off look he had left you quiet. The next thing he said he was far from his cheerful self.
"Mom passed away during a cave-in. In the underground, there are these earthquakes. They show up every decade or so. Well, during that time the worst one came out of nowhere. This led to cave-ins all over the underground. A few monsters were dusted from the falling rocks. Mom only had time to push me and Papy to safety. I was just a kid when it happened. The details are a bit hazy from there" you squeezed his hand a bit before he continued.
"Don't worry, I still remember the song she sang to us. I sing it to Papy whenever he gets any nightmares. It helps" Blue explains. You remember when Blue held you as he sang to you in the morning. That explains his iron grip but gentle voice. A song meant for his brother to hear. That's sweet "That's tough sorry to hear that Blue, so what about your dad"
Blue shifted on his chair.
"He was busy helping his friend, the royal scientist at the time. And Ahhh-" Blue held his head. You moved closer, gently petting his back. A few minutes went by. Blue looked up sheepishly.
"Uhh BRAIN FREEZE? SO WHAT ABOUT YOUR PARENTS?" When he looked up the two of your heads collided.
The pain was brief but his head sure was sturdy. The pain settled after a bit. Failing to see how close the two of you got, you scoot a short distance.
"Ouch, I was adopted when I was young. The Cuervos took me in. They treat me like their own, I have a few siblings but nothing major like you" You shrug. "Not mu- hey Blue is that person in the red hoodie familiar. You bob your head in the guys' direction. Blue follows your direction. He smiles at you as he pulls you up, grabs your hand, and makes a run for it.
Blue was running at inhuman speeds. Nothing could help you catch your breath. In between sharp breaths you turned around to see the man running. Red hood as your calling it now was following along.
"FOLLOW MY LEAD"
Blue pulled you down in the last second. You hid behind a tree trunk. The hooded fellow ran ahead. Blue ran after him. Running and disappearing in seconds. You waited until he walked back. He had the hooded fellow by the scruff of his hood. The guy kept kicking as he tried to loosen the monster's grip.
"Dejame idiots"
( let go, idiot)
You know that voice.
"Carlos?"
The boy stopped. Blue waited a bit before putting him down. The red hood came down and your little brother's face popped out. He looked at you in surprise. Soon he lit up and ran to hug you.
"WHOSE THIS PRINCESS?"
"let me introduce you to my younger brother. Carlos. He's gonna be busted if he doesn't explain why he's here and not at school"
"Mejor me digas por que estas con el?"
(Better yet, why are you with him?)
He frowned as he pointed at Blue. The poor skeleton couldn't help but look confused. He pointed at himself and looked at you. Oh boy.
"How about we get some Lunch and figure all this out"
You can't catch a break.