Chapter Text
The street was mostly silent and still, illuminated only by a single streetlamp. Underneath that lamp sat a teal-haired twink in a beanie, curled up into the fetal position.
If one were to listen closely to the white noise of the area, they would hear simp-like sniffles and sobbing emanating from the young man as he clutched a photo of himself and another man, clad in a suit and top hat, roughly the same shade as the twink’s own beanie. The picture was torn and stained, but it was clear that the pair were both over the moon, at least in that moment.
They clasped each others’ hands, leaning on each other in a perfect picture of happiness.
Shin wiped his eyes, bringing the photo close to his chest and trying in vain not to burst out crying again. “O-onceler-kun,” the twink mumbled sadly. “H-how could you cheat on me with Vriska-chan…?”
Suddenly, there was a gentle tap on the boy’s shoulder. Shin turned his forlorn face up, blinking in the bright light of the streetlamp. “Excuse me, sir, but are you alright?”
The voice which spoke those six fateful words came from a girl with the most beautiful caramel-coloured hair and piercing emerald eyes Shin had ever seen. She stared down at him, stark white bow askew as she cocked her head to the side in concern.
The twink stammered, fresh out of breath from his crying session, but also: something about this girl was different. All his life, Shin had liked his women how he liked his coffee (He preferred tea) but for the first time in two decades, he found himself… simping.
“Hey, are you okay?” The girl’s melodious voice broke him out of his melancholy thoughts, and Shin replied “Oh! Um, yes… I… uhm… I’m fine, thank you.”
“Are you sure?” She brought her smooth-skinned hands out from behind her back, clasping them together in front of her school uniform. “You were crying just a minute ago. People who are fine don’t cry like that.”
The twink sighed heavily, pulling his beanie down like the incel he was to hide his eyes. “You’re right…” Shin muttered, barely audible. “I-I’m just going through some stuff right now. It’s nothing, don’t let me bother you, miss.”
“It’s no bother,” The girl said lightly, sitting down beside him and meeting Shin’s turquoise eyes with her own jade-coloured orbs. “What’s on your mind?”
He looked off to the side for a moment, staring idly at a stray cat rubbing against someone’s bicycle. Why would Shin even need to talk to anyone, let alone some girl? He didn’t need anyone’s help. But when he looked back at the young woman beside him, the warm, caring smile her lips had curved into melted the ice inside his heart and he couldn’t help but want to answer her question. And so, even against his mind, which screamed at him to keep his mouth shut, Shin spoke.
“My boyfriend cheated on me.” There it was. Out in the open. Just like that. The girl nodded, staring intently at Shin. “I’m so sorry to hear that. That must be very hard for you.” Idly, she twirled a lock of long, glossy, hazel hair around her finger. “Living in sin and being cheated on. I can’t imagine.”
Shin slumped. This girl was so nice. He had no idea she could be homophobic, but there he was. What a clown. “W-what do you mean?” The twink murmured.
The bow-clad young woman merely shook her head in response. “What’s your name?”
“Sou-” Shin stopped himself. There was no fucking way he was going to be that much of a bottom. “Shin Tsukimi. You?”
“I’m Monika,” Monika smiled serenely, gazing at Shin with her glittering green eyes. “Shin, have you ever heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour?”
Shin shook his head. He had grown up a staunch, fedora (but later beanie)-wearing atheist. “No… my parents weren’t religious.”
Monika nodded, chewing on her lip in righteous pity. “That’s okay, Shin. Jesus forgives. Soon you’ll see.”
If Shin had met any other man or woman, he would have laughed in their face. Evolution was real. He didn’t believe in God. But this girl, Monika? Well, for some reason he was just entranced by her. It was almost as if some angel had fallen from heaven and landed here. Right there, in front of him. Monika was just perfect. It almost made him believe in a God.
Though Shin had only known this girl for a couple minutes, he knew deep down that Monika had the love of Jesus in her heart. She was filled with righteous, radical love.
When he had been with the Onceler, he had felt love. But never like that. This was different… This was holy. He leaned forward, reaching for Monika’s slender, perfectly-sized hands. “Why don’t you show me, Miss Monika?”
For the first time in a long time, Shin was smiling a real, genuine smile. A smile that Monika was returning. “Of course, Shin!” She exclaimed. “Why don’t you come home with me, and we can write a poem about Jesus together?” With Shin’s hand grasped firmly in hers, she pulled him up, beaming.
Glancing downward, then back up again, Shin nodded. “I think… I would like that very much.”