Chapter Text
“And remember I’m right here if you need it!”
“Yes, brother, I know.”
There was no malice in Star’s voice as he spoke, just exasperated fondness as his brother nervously twitched and fixed up his clothes for the tenth time during that conversation (If only that had been an exaggeration). It was an amusing sight, if he were being honest here, just his constant fidgeting and need to fix up Star’s forever ruined clothes. Cute attempts, but not really needed right now.
The building behind Star was, supposedly, the base of the ‘bad sanses’, as they were so called. A strange name for a group Killer and Error had claimed to be so friendly. Though, knowing those two at least a little, perhaps they weren’t too far off the mark.
Killer had invited him over to hang out and, of course, Star had really wanted to go. Dream was really hesitant at first, trying to find any and all excuses for him not to go, and while he understood his brother’s concerns and fears on letting him leave, he just wanted to spend more time with Killer as they’d only really ever talk over the phone. It was a good thing Killer offered his phone number to him else it’d be really quiet on both ends. He always responded rather quickly, though, so Star was glad for that. He’d asked if he was ever interrupting something, and Killer just responded in a silly way.
[Kill la Killer]
- pfft, dw man, i always got time for u
It had taken Star far too long to actually understand what the message was saying, and he had to nervously go to Blue (the most advanced in technology between all of them- if Ink was, then Star wouldn’t know) and ask him what those words meant. Took a little too long in getting the answers he wanted, but he got them in the end and that was most important.
Now, though, stood in front of the building of the group he was going to officially meet. Killer had sent a few pictures of the others, and they all looked pretty cool. Most notably one of them had a crack on his skull, and while the rest were rather tame in their ‘unique’ looks to their bones (excluding Killer and Error) he still found himself interested in meeting them.
Once Dream fixed up his outfit one more time, he gave a quick kiss to his forehead and stepped back, allowing Star some space and took another glance at him. Dream gripped his wrist tightly, as if to stop himself from reaching out again, likely believing he’d never be able to stop if he didn’t now. Star gave his brother one more smile, and a promise that he’d be okay, before turning around to knock on the building’s door. It was only a few minutes, but soon enough he found the door pulled open and, in the fle- uh, bones, was Killer.
He took sight of Star and his easy going smile shifted into an excited grin, and he eagerly pulled the door open wider. Star took one last glance at his very tense, and nervous brother, smiled, and headed inside.
“Star! Thought you wouldn’t make it, come in, come in.” Killer closed the door after Star entered, giving an awkward wave at Dream right before he did, but didn’t pay the guy any more mind. Excitedly, Killer motioned for Star to follow him. “You have to meet everyone first, they didn’t get to talk to you during that meeting.”
“Sorry.” Star mumbled out instinctively, and Killer paused briefly upon hearing it and then turned around quickly. He was still smiling, and it was somewhat playful, but just a smidge of seriousness added to it as well.
“Here’s the deal, stars,” Killer poked his nose. “You don’t apologise for things like that, and I’ll give you more strawberry milk.”
“Doesn’t sound like you get much out of this deal.” Star countered, and Killer let out an amused laugh as he straightened up and turned around.
“Sure I do, I get your smile!”
Star sputtered in a flustered manner, ready to call him out for his unnecessary comments only to find himself entering a room filled with other skeletons, and any confidence or comfort he had prior to entering the room had completely vanished. Star froze as all the skeletons turned over to face them, and out of habit he found himself crawling back behind Killer in an attempt to hide.
Too many eyes on him and he didn’t even know where to begin in avoiding or confronting. Did they already know his name? Was it too stuck up to assume they knew? Should he introduce himself anyway? His thoughts raced around his brain and he wasn’t sure where to begin, but soon found himself face to face with strangely coloured eyes. Star let out a gasp as he reared back, and the other one copied his motion as if surprised by Star’s reaction. Or maybe it was more aligned with the wonder in his eyes.
“You really are made of goop!” The skeleton pointed out shamelessly, and Star flinched at the comment and quickly looked down, checking to see if he’d left any goop on the floor. He hadn’t, but it was only a matter of time. Star’s head quickly snapped up at the sound of a smack and a yelp, and he looked up to see Error standing behind the other skeleton with a subtle glare on his face.
“Apologise.”
“Sorry!” The skeleton didn’t even hesitate, before he bounced closer to Star again. “I’m Dust! Killer talked about you, you’re Star, right? Yeah, I’m sure you are, Killer wouldn’t stop talking about you.”
Killer pulled a face, a slight rosiness around his cheeks as he cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t say that-”
“I would!” He cut in eagerly, then grinned at Star. “He’s like that, see? By the way, would you like a tissue? I can get a tissue, wait here!” He didn’t wait for Star to even speak or hear it from everyone else before he rushed off towards some other room, and Star found himself at a loss for words at first. As well as self conscious. Tissue? He swore he hadn’t made a mess, but maybe he was- his nerves were causing the goop to drip down further, faster, and start expanding out to the floor.
He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, and the hand quickly jolted away at his head snapping towards it and up - Killer tried a warm, comforting smile and Star stared at him for a few, precious seconds.
“Sorry about him,” he said softly. “Dust just thinks too fast and doesn’t consider what he’s saying half the time. C’mon,” he nodded over to the couch and headed over to it where two other skeletons waited. Star hesitated, but found he didn’t want to be away from Killer and took the offer. He paused, though, as he stared at the couch and inwardly winced. Could… could he sit here? What if he made a mess- Killer was faster than his own inner demons, though, and easily patted the seat next to him. “There’s room for you.”
He almost wanted to point out his goop, and that he’d definitely make a mess and didn’t want them to deal with it, before a towel suddenly got thrown over the back of the couch near elegantly and easily landed on the seating. Star stared at it, then up at Error who swiftly left the room as well. He wanted to thank him, but maybe he’d have to do that later.
He slowly sat himself down and took a look at the other two monsters opposite him. One of them had a crack in his skull, and the other wore stripes. They weren’t a child, though, they had too many stripes. Kids typically had between one to three stripes, after all. Any more than that and then it merely became a fashion style.
“That’s Cross, and that’s Horror,” Killer pointed to each skeleton respectively. “We’ve known each other for forever, y’know? We’re all friends here.” He looked rather proud as he said it, and Star couldn’t help but wonder how happy he looked for all that his eyes lacked any lights. Maybe he wasn’t one to talk, he always looked miserable due to this goop regardless of what he was feeling, after all.
He couldn’t help but envy him.
Cross eagerly waved at him, though considerably far more slow moving than Dust had been. They had a somewhat similar air to them that Star was quick to notice but unable to pinpoint, but at the very least, there didn’t seem to be many negative feelings in this room. At the very least, Star could find comfort in that for all that it sapped his energy. He was used to it, after all.
“You wanna introduce yourself or should I?” Killer asked, and briefly Star wondered what the point of that was. It wasn’t like they didn’t already know his name, but Killer was willing to give him his own chance. Star hesitated for a few seconds before looking up at Cross and Horror and cleared his throat. He didn’t notice how Killer’s expression seemed to almost glow up.
“St- I’m Star.” He resisted the urge to chew his tongue at the awkward twist. “Sorry, um, it’s nice to meet you all.”
“Nothing to apologise for,” Cross’ gaze softened, and his face was that of a friend. That was the best way Star could describe it, and just with that alone he found himself more willing to open up. The skeleton pressed a hand flat against his own chest and spoke. “Star is a good name, I’d say!”
A shy flush burned his cheeks a little, and Star awkwardly smiled at Cross and was about to ask about Horror (who was staring at something on the wall with significant intensity) before he jumped and gasped as Dust suddenly popped into existence in front of him holding a bunch of different items, and he shamelessly dropped them all in front of Star.
“Here, I found all these things for you- also,” he grinned up at him and, as if by magic, somehow knew the conversation beforehand. “You need a cooler name, Star won’t cut it!”
“What-?”
“Here, here!” He grabbed the blankets and grinned up sharply at Star. “I got these for you cause you always curl up, you look cold- are you cold?”
“I-”
“It’s a good day today though, isn’t it?” He asked, then gasped as his eyes widened. “Does goop make you constantly cold? Oh that’s terrible! I’d hate to be constantly cold, here! Take this! I bet you love blankets! How cold do you get?” He went back and forth without waiting for Star’s responses and then was just about ready to reach out and touch his hand to feel the goop.
Star sure felt a splash of ice cut into him then when Dust was mere seconds away from making physical contact, and his breath caught in his throat with a sharp flinch. No time wasted, another arm reached out and grabbed Dust’s hand before smoothly pulling him back and giving him a playful spin. Star had to take a few seconds to process what had happened before he looked up at Killer who was pulling Dust to the side with an easy grin.
“You talked about your dance moves the other day, Dust,” Killer commented with a breathy laugh. “Wanna show them to Star? You’ve been working really hard, after all.”
Dust’s expression brightened, and he was quickly distracted as he jumped at the opportunity to speak of his excitement and show it off to Star, thankfully too focused in the dance to much care for touching Star himself. That, at least, Star was relieved by. He couldn’t help but glance at Killer, though, despite the very, erm… Passionate dancing.
The monster didn’t look at him, even as he sat back down next to him with the same amount of space between them as before. It all happened so fast and Star didn’t want to assume, but surely for that split second where Dust was about to grab him it wasn’t just convenient timing. Star looked back down at the blanket nearby him, then up at Dust’s goofy dance.
Star’s lips twitched a little - he didn’t know this group that well, and they were slightly off putting at times, but he had a feeling he’d really like it here.