Chapter Text
«Huh? Hey, Noelle.»
The doe stopped immediately upon hearing the door open. That minimal oversight was enough for the goat, lying on the ground, to seize the opportunity and throw a snowball right in her face.
Kris remained motionless next to Noelle. They both watched as their respective older siblings engaged in a childish fight, trying to knock each other into the snow. The struggle lasted only a few minutes, and the winner turned out to be Dess, who celebrated with an arrogant smile.
«What's up?»
The doe approached the younger duo, fixing her gaze first on Noelle, though her attention quickly shifted to Kris. It wasn't just any encounter: it was the first time in her life she had seen a human.
She knew the Dreemurr family had adopted one; there was no way not to find out. Asriel hadn't stopped talking about it all morning last week, at school… practically on any occasion. And now, finally, they were right in front of her. With a curious step, she leaned in slightly to examine them with her eyes.
«Your eyes are beautiful.»
Her hand rose slowly, giving plenty of time for anyone to stop her if they wanted. She gently lifted Kris's bangs to get a good look at their eyes. The human didn't react beyond a crimson blush that stained their cheeks.
—They don't really like to be touched— the goat's voice sounded from behind Dess, drawing her attention. The curious thing was that Kris, at no point, had rejected the contact or moved away.
«Hmm… sorry, little one.» The doe quickly composed herself and, with her usual arrogant tone, looked at her younger sister. «Wanna play? I could use some real competition.»
She laughed loudly, and her laughter grew even louder when Asriel pushed her from behind, forcing her to run while he chased her with another snowball in his hands.
The two younger siblings looked at each other in silence for a few seconds, until, without a word, they began to pack snow in their hands.
«Now who's chasing who?»
At some point in the chase, Asriel lost his advantage and ended up being hunted by Dess. However, they both stopped dead in their tracks when they found themselves in front of the two younger ones, who were already aiming at them with snowballs.
«Oh.»
Dess recoiled dramatically each time she was hit, as if she were truly receiving lethal projectiles. Finally, she fell into the snow, pretending to be dead with such ridiculous drama that the other three agreed she was overdoing it.
—Kids, breakfast is ready. Come and eat.— The deep voice of Patriarch Holiday echoed from the doorway. His gaze fell on Dess, who lay sprawled in the snow in her interpretation of a corpse.
Slowly, a human opened their eyes, only to meet those of a goat staring fixedly at them from just a few inches away. The second stretched into an eternity: neither of them looked away nor moved.
Asriel, with a mischievous expression, raised a finger and began to gently poke Kris's nose. The human closed their eyes and turned toward the wall, uncomfortable.
A few seconds passed, but the feeling of being watched didn't disappear. With their characteristic calm, Kris turned back to their brother and opened their eyes. The exchange of glances was repeated, intense and silent, until Kris grabbed the pillow and threw it squarely in his face.
Asriel panicked and ran out of the room with nervous laughter.
Kris stared at the ajar door, sighed, and picked the pillow up from the floor. They tried to go back to sleep, but the buzz of their vibrating phone interrupted them.
The annoyance vanished the instant they saw the name of the person who was texting.
Dess didn't usually wake up early on weekends. For her, waking up early was an unnecessary punishment. But this time she had a different reason, a humanoid-shaped one.
"Hey"
«?Got plans today»
“No”
«Breakfast together at the Diner»
«In 30»
“Ok”
The doe jumped out of bed with an energy uncharacteristic of her, grabbing random clothes while containing an excitement that made her smile like a fool.
She could hear Noelle preparing breakfast downstairs, true to her habit of waking up at seven like her mother. Meanwhile, Dess checked her phone again:
«I'll pick you up»
“👍”
Although Kris had learned over the years to lose their inexpressiveness when they were with close monsters, in messages they always responded with the minimum number of words. But for Dess, in the midst of her "honeymoon" phase, that simple emoji was worth as much as a poem.
Upon entering the Dreemurr house, the first thing one saw was a human sitting on the entryway armchair, phone in hand, checking it every ten seconds. There were still ten minutes until Dess arrived, but anxiety was eating them up.
—So there you were— Asriel's voice surprised them as he came down the stairs. He gave them a smile, though he immediately raised an eyebrow. —Why are you so dressed up? Are you going on a date or something?—
Kris shrank slightly in their seat when the goat plopped down next to them, taking up a large part of the sofa. The size difference between them was ridiculous: Asriel was two heads taller and several pounds heavier.
"I think… I'm going with Dess to the Diner" a hint of a smile appeared on the human's face, though it quickly vanished upon noticing how the older goat's expression hardened. Asriel watched them in silence for a few seconds, his expression torn between bewilderment and discomfort.
—Wow… I guess you'll be having breakfast together— he finally said, forcing a nervous smile that failed to hide the tension in his voice. He placed his hand on Kris's shoulder, a gesture that was meant to be supportive, though the weight of his words made it rather paternal.
—Look, Kris… I'm glad that you and Dess have decided to… start this new chapter— he added with some awkwardness, swallowing before continuing.
"But…?"
There always had to be a "but." Even from behind their messy bangs, Asriel could clearly distinguish the grimace of disgust forming on his younger sibling's face.
—I'm just worried,— he finally confessed, lowering his voice a bit. —I trust Dess, of course, we've known her our whole lives… but she's already eighteen and you're barely fifteen. I just want you to know that… I'll be here for whatever you need.—
Asriel smiled at them warmly, though that smile was accompanied by a protective air that made him seem more like a father than a brother. The silence that fell between them was uncomfortable; the goat waited, hoping for some response, while internally searching for the right words so as not to ruin the little tranquility he had managed to convey.
"What did you and Dess talk about yesterday?"
Kris's sudden question made him jump. A drop of cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he tried to respond with incoherent and disjointed phrases that led nowhere. Before he could clear his head, the doorbell rang through the house like an unexpected lifesaver.
—I'll get it. When you get back from your date, we'll talk… okay?— he said hurriedly, getting up from the sofa.
He turned his head towards the door, finding the older doe waiting for him on the other side.
«H-hi, Azzy… Is Kris here?»
"You're early."
Kris was quick to stand up and approach, offering a shy smile upon seeing their favorite doe at the threshold. They exchanged a goofy look, the kind that makes you forget the world around you, until Asriel's presence—arms crossed and visibly uncomfortable—brought them back to reality.
—Did you tell Mom?— the older one asked with a feigned cough.
Kris just nodded, though the truth was that only at that moment had they realized that neither they nor Dess had thought to tell their parents.
—I'll tell Dad when he wakes up. Enjoy your date, Kris— Asriel added, ruffling their hair with an affectionate gesture. The human frowned instantly: they had spent more than ten minutes fixing it in front of the mirror, an effort their brother ruined in a second.
«Don't worry, I'm just taking them to the Diner. Shall we go?»
A slight blush covered Dess's cheeks as she gestured towards the town. Kris hurried to cross the doorway and wait outside. The doe was about to follow when she felt a hand gently grip her arm.
—Remember what we talked about— Asriel whispered, low enough for Kris not to hear.
Dess nodded seriously, and after being released, she left the house. The sound of the door closing marked the beginning of their little adventure.
The journey to town wasn't long, barely a ten-minute walk, but it felt different. At first, Dess kept both hands in the pockets of her leather jacket, nervous. Finally, she took out her left, letting it hang casually, hoping that at some point her fingers would brush against Kris's. Of course, the height difference meant her hand barely reached the human's forearm, complicating her plan.
"Are you going to tell me what you and my brother talked about yesterday?"
Kris's eyes shifted from Dess's clumsy maneuver to her face, with a calm that contrasted with the doe's evident nervousness. The question took her by surprise.
—Yeah… probably later— she replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Kris watched her in silence but didn't press the issue. Shortly after, the doe's hand rose slowly until it intertwined with theirs. A tingle ran down Kris's arm, drawing out a smile they could barely suppress.
The Diner's menu had been in their hands for several minutes, though Kris was flipping through it more out of habit than interest: they knew it almost by heart. They only paused at the new dishes that appeared from time to time.
Dess's thunderous entrance interrupted the wait. The doe threw the door open, practically running, waving her wallet as if she had won a prize.
«It was on my desk after all!»
She dropped into the seat next to Kris, pushing them a bit to share the same booth.
"I could have paid, you know."
The waitress, a cat with a gloomy gaze and phone in hand, approached just in time to hear the comment. She put her device away after taking a picture of the doe's triumphant entrance, without erasing her macabre smile.
«No way. I invited you, and I want our first date to be special» Dess replied, wrapping her arm around Kris's shoulders. Only then did she notice the presence of Catti, whose expression seemed even darker thanks to the situation.
—What will you be ordering?— the cat asked in a monotone voice.
The choice was quick: Kris already knew what they wanted since they arrived, and Dess had no trouble deciding in these cases. When Catti left, the human checked their phone. A new message shone on the screen: "respect." It came from the chat with Catti, where memes were abundant and words were sparse.
«Whenever we eat here, you order the same waffles» Dess commented, raising an eyebrow.
Kris nodded without hesitation. Since they were little, they had staunchly defended the superiority of their mother's breakfast; the Diner's waffles were the closest thing to that flavor, so they always ended up choosing them.
It took the human almost the entire time the kitchen needed to bring the food to explain this, while Dess listened, amused.
«So you choose them because they remind you of mommy?» she laughed, giving them a playful nudge.
Kris huffed, offended by the mockery, though the pang in their chest wasn't from annoyance, but from disguised nervousness.
"Ha, ha, ha… I didn't know December Holiday had decided to study to be a comedian."
With that dry comment, the human tried to hide the butterflies fluttering in their stomach and leaned over their plate to start eating. Dess immediately followed suit, though she couldn't resist moving a little closer, as if that small space in the booth could be even smaller.
The dull thud of the door closing behind Asriel seemed to echo louder than usual on the house's porch. The sound mixed with the faint whistle of the night wind and the rustle of dry leaves scraping across the stone floor. The silence that followed was dense, uncomfortable, unbecoming of someone who had always been her best friend. That heavy stillness began to get on Dess's nerves, and she clenched her fists at her sides as if needing to hold onto something to keep her calm.
—Please, tell me what I think is happening between you and Kris… isn't happening,— his voice came out as a mix of plea and exasperation, as if the goat didn't know if he wanted to hear confirmation or immediate denial.
Deep down, Dess knew this couldn't remain a secret forever. It was obvious that Asriel would find out sooner or later, but what she had never expected was for it to happen so soon. She had hoped, however slim, to buy a little more time before facing this moment.
«Look, I know it might seem out of the blue, but…»
—For the Angel's sake, Dess!— Asriel interrupted sharply. The goat brought both hands to his face and spun on his heel, as if trying to flee his own thoughts. Frustration emanated from his every gesture, every word that escaped his throat. The mere idea of his best friend dating his younger sibling was overwhelming him.
Dess frowned, feeling the cold night air prickle her fur as she tried to convince herself she could calm him down, that if she spoke to him clearly, he would eventually accept it. However, Asriel's deep, tense voice abruptly pulled her from her trance.
—Did you at least talk to Noelle about it?— he asked suddenly, his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on her, as if trying to see right through her.
The doe pressed her lips together and let out a sigh that was barely audible over the wind. It was no surprise that Asriel would also think of that; for a long time, she herself had suspected that her younger sister might have a crush on Kris.
«Don't worry about that. I made sure she didn't have any hidden feelings for Kris,» she replied, trying to sound firm even though inside she was torn between relief and fear.
Asriel's face, which until then had been a mask of severity, softened slightly. There was a spark of relief, though he still kept his guard up. His ears twitched slightly, a sign that he was trying to think clearly, but his next question came out loaded with the full weight of his duty as an older brother.
—Then tell me… what are your intentions with them?— The word "intentions" sounded almost like a judgment.
Dess swallowed hard, noticing how the dim light from the porch lantern illuminated Asriel's harsh expression. She knew he had reasons to be this way. He consistently recounted how, on the first day he accompanied his parents to meet his new little sibling, he had made a silent vow to protect them from everything and everyone. And now, that promise seemed to weigh on him more than ever.
«Totally good, I swear. It's been over a year since I realized these feelings, and not a single day since then have I seen them with bad intentions» the words came out rushed, almost jumbled, but with a sincerity that left no room for doubt.
Asriel didn't answer immediately, though his gaze softened enough for Dess to breathe a little easier. The doe understood the goat's concern; if anyone started dating her younger sister, she would interrogate them relentlessly.
Asriel watched her for a few more seconds, and then, inevitably, the question that had been on his mind from the beginning finally came out, dragging with it a blush that rose to his cheeks.
—And… are you going to… you know… start dating? Or something like that?— The sentence got stuck in his throat, as if he were talking about something forbidden.
Dess tried to shrug naturally, but her restless ears and tail betrayed her excitement.
«I don't know yet… but I really hope so» she tried to say it quietly, as if she wanted the wind to swallow her words, but her excitement seeped into her tone, and the phrase came out loud enough for Asriel to hear clearly.
The goat couldn't help but let out a laugh that was part mocking, part liberating, shaking his head as if to rid himself of a great weight.
—Really, Dess… you never change,— he murmured, and for the first time in the conversation, he sounded more like the friend he had always been than the overprotective brother.
The tension began to dissipate between them, and for a moment, the silence that formed was no longer uncomfortable, but surprisingly light.
«Maybe we should go back inside» Dess finally suggested, breaking the calm with a soft voice.
Asriel nodded without arguing and turned toward the door. The wood creaked slightly under his hand as he rested it on the handle. However, before turning it, he stopped. His body tensed, and turning his head just slightly, he fixed Dess with a look that made the night air feel much colder than it actually was.
—Dess, I trust you… but if you ever hurt them… I'll make sure no one can ever find your body.—
The doe froze. For the first time in her life, her face turned pale, and a cold sweat began to run down her forehead. Asriel had never been good at joking; in fact, he had always been terrible at it. And yet, something in the way he said it, in the firmness of his voice and the strange glint that lit up his eyes under the dim porch light, was enough to freeze the blood in her veins.
«Y-you and your jokes, Azzy… it is a joke, right?» she asked, forcing a shaky smile, as if trying to convince herself more than him.
Asriel didn't respond right away. He just looked at her, motionless, for a few eternal seconds. Dess could have sworn that for an instant his eye turned reddish, though she couldn't tell if it was an effect of the light or a product of her own fear.
Finally, without another word, Asriel turned the handle and opened the door. He walked into the house with a firm step, and Dess followed behind, still trembling. The difference between them was stark: while the goat wore a satisfied smile, the doe could barely hide the paleness that stood out even through her thick, brown fur, so much like her father's.
«And that's more or less what happened.»
The sound of the bench creaking as the doe stood up echoed loudly in the empty park. It was lunchtime, and as if the place had been suddenly abandoned, only two inhabitants remained in a space that would normally be filled with children's voices and laughter. The wind swept dry leaves across the ground, and the swings creaked softly, moving on their own with the breeze.
"Well, that doesn't sound so bad."
The calmness with which the human responded had a hidden reason: Dess had decided to omit the darkest part of her story, the death threat, preferring to leave Kris with a lighter version of the events. After all, she didn't want them to be filled with unnecessary worries about their brother.
A few seconds later, the kid followed the doe's action and stood up. They both began to walk aimlessly along the paths that crossed the park, the sound of their steps echoing on the damp ground. Before long, their footsteps began to synchronize naturally, a detail that neither of them bothered to point out, though both clearly noticed it.
—Of course it doesn't sound so bad, you didn't have to put up with Azzy and his overprotective attitude.—
Dess's words were accompanied by a slight, almost resigned smile, and were followed by Kris's restrained laughter, who silently granted her the point. It was a small comment, but enough to further strengthen the complicity that was just beginning to blossom between them.
"Yeah… Hmm?"
The human cut off their response upon feeling the forgotten weight of their phone in their pocket. They took it out reluctantly, hoping not to find anything important, but the lit-up screen made them regret it instantly. Dozens of messages and several missed calls hit them with reality. They sighed deeply and, after a grimace of regret, looked up. "I guess I have to go… Mom has already messaged me several times to come back for lunch."
Dess, just by looking at them, noticed the urgency in their voice. She could have kept them a little longer, she even seriously considered it, but she chose not to. She knew well that if Toriel was insisting so persistently, there was little room to stretch out the encounter. «It's okay. Hearing your phone vibrate like that, I imagine Toriel wants you back now.»
Kris simply nodded. Their expression showed a determination to leave without much fuss, but their new partner didn't quite share that idea. When the kid tried to take the first step to say goodbye, a furry hand rested on their shoulder, firm, and turned them around gently but without giving them a choice. They barely managed to open their mouth to protest when the doe's lips met theirs.
The moment surprised them, but they didn't take long to surrender. Their shoulders relaxed, and the tension disappeared. They had waited too long for this to run away. It was what they had wanted, what they had imagined more than once, and now it was within reach of a single kiss.
When Dess let them go, just a few seconds later, she looked at them, her breath slightly ragged. The idea of teasing them for their flushed face crossed her mind, but she quickly abandoned it upon noticing that she was just as red.
«See you, Krismas.»
"See you, Dess."