Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Flying Sucks
God, You hate flying. You had just run to your final connecting flight and made it on board as they were closing the doors (15 minutes before they were supposed to START boarding!!) Now there were only 3 more cramped hours of travel to get through. It came as a relief to realise that You hadn’t deleted the movie You downloaded for your first time flying. After putting in your earbuds and starting the movie You let your mind wander to why You were flying in the first place: they were finally back.
The plane taxies into the gate as the final notes of Anatevka ring through your headphones. You quickly deboard and make your way to the luggage claim of the Boston airport. While You are waiting for the carousel to start your phone starts ringing. Glancing down at it You recognize your boss's number and groan before answering.
“Hi Jake, why are you calling me?”
“Hey (Y/N), when are you getting back to town?”
“I am picking up my bag now. I should be there in 45 minutes or so. I'm looking forward to a hot shower and an early night. Why?”
“We need you back at the office.”
“Why?”
“We are unable to get the movie screen working.” He can tell You are getting annoyed so he is giving you the bare facts. “The entire team has tried and now Harold wants you to try.”
Harold is Jake's “boss,” as the arbitrary chain of command goes. He started at the same time as You did but got a huge ego when he was put over the schedules.
“If everyone else has already tried then I don’t see how me looking at it will change anything!”
“Harold thinks it can.”
“Harold can’t do anything if I say no. I am technically still on vacation until tomorrow.”
“Come on, (Y/N), they’ve been here for four hours already.”
“...”
Jake lets out a long suffering sigh at your silence. “He’s also approved two extra days of pay, at overtime rates, for you if you come in tonight.”
“ … You have this in writing?”
“I do indeed.”
“ … Fine. Send it to me and give me 45 minutes and I’ll be there”
“See you soon”
And with that he hung up the phone. Jake is a great guy, really, but he has never travelled out of Massachusetts. He has no idea how hard jetlag can hit. And he knows how to get you into work. The conveyor started then, jolting you from your thoughts. You quickly grab your bags and order an uber to meet you at the curb, 15 minutes later You are home. You grab your luggage from the trunk of the uber and rush inside. Dropping your bags in the living room, You re-lock the front door and make your way to the garage. It’s only a five minute drive to work, so you aren’t worried about being late. Not until you get there and see Harold standing in the parking lot with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. You glance at the clock in your car and do some quick math. 50 minutes. He is angry that You are 5 minutes “late” on your day off. You are not in the mood for this. He starts yelling as soon as you step out of the car.
“Where were you?!!! They are waiting inside!! What took so long?!!!!”
“I just got off a plane, Harold, I got here as soon as I could.”
“Oh yeah? How long did you spend relaxing at home, huh?!!
He gestures at your car to emphasize his point. You roll your eyes before answering.
“I dropped my bags off and came over.” You narrow your eyes and snap at him. “I don’t have to be here right now. I could get back in my car and leave for the night. Make your decision and mind your manners.”
He stares at you, mouth gaping, for a few moments before starting in on the whole “chain of command” schtick. You roll your eyes again and drown him out. Yes, he is technically above your boss, and therefore over you, but he has no idea how your department runs. He is only above the supervisors so that he can help with timesheets in every department anyway. You also have some immunity to his rants now that they were back on the surface, your new position wasn’t on the official payroll. Yes, that last comment might have been a little too far but what is he expecting? You just got done with 9 hours of travel and rushed over here to try and sort this thing that could easily wait till tomorrow. You zone back in for a moment to see if he is done. Nope, still going and red in the face. Seems he has turned to insulting you as a person. How predictable. You raise an eyebrow at him and zone back out. Movement catches your attention and you glance up at the office building you work in. There are shadows at the windows, the guests have heard Harolds screaming. You bring your attention back to the “payroll specialist,” as he likes to be called, and are about to tell him off when-
“What is going on?”
The calm, bass voice caused Harold to sputter to a stop. You glanced up at the goat monster standing in the doorway before looking back at Harold expectantly.
“I-it’s N-nothing”
You blink at him in surprise. He’s stuttering? Is he scared of them? You almost laugh at that but just manage to keep it together. You turn to the monster and smile while extending your hand.
“Hi, I’m (Y/N). You must be Mr. Dreemur!”
Asgore looks confused for a moment before taking your hand.
“Call me Asgore, please. What was all of the shouting about?”
He keeps looking between you and Harold. Harold looks like he wants to keep screaming but is too scared to open his mouth. You smirk and answer the question.
“Just a simple disagreement Asgore. Sorry for causing you concern. Why don’t we go back inside and see what the problem with the screen is?”
Asgore stares at you for a minute longer before nodding and turning back inside.