Chapter Text
You know, jumping out a window and then having to climb back in was a lot harder than it sounds. They’d never really been the sporty type, sure, but they were still decently active. But goddamn was having to heave yourself through a window was difficult. Especially when the very thing that gives you life was currently underneath your sink. Well, that part might have been their fault, but still.
They dragged themself towards the cabinet, glaring at it. They hated having to be controlled, but they couldn’t just go on like this. The door creaked open, revealing the bright red soul that was lighting up the whole space with its glow. Kris sighed and pulled themselves closer, now sitting right in front of the sink. Gently picking up the heart-shaped object, they closed their eyes. They could feel it go back into place, returning to the strings once again. Or, so they thought. They opened their eyes and looked around. Raising their hand, they slapped themself. Nothing happened. Kris stood up so quickly it made their vision blurry. They caught themself on the sink as they were about to fall, looking up in the mirror. It was… them. This has to be some kind of mistake, right? This couldn’t be happening. They took a step back. Then another. They walked over to their bathtub and picked up a bottle. Holy shit . No weird internal monologue about them describing it. Nothing. They let out a laugh in disbelief, running a hand through their hair. They put the bottle back and stared at their hands. Sure, it had only been two days, but god they were long.
“Kris? The hell are you giggling in there for?” Susie’s voice questioned from behind the door. Kris looked over, unsure of what to do.
“You better not have put another bath bomb in the toilet!” Toriel yelled out, Susie chuckled in response. They cautiously approached the door. Well, they couldn’t just stay here forever, could they? Fingers lightly wrapped around the knob, they opened the door. Susie was back at the oven with Toriel, tucking the doughy crust of the pie into itself. The faint smell of cinnamon wafted through the kitchen, followed by the sweet scent of butterscotch. Their mother dusted the sugar off her hands and proudly admired her work.
“Are you guys already done?” Kris questioned, walking up to stand beside the pair and looking at the dessert.
“Shoulda took quicker next time, Kris! How do you even take 5 minutes to wash your hands?” Susie said with a smile, nudging them.
“Uhhh, I had to go to the bathroom?” They lied. Toriel put a piece of aluminum foil loosely over the pie and moved it over to the refrigerator.
“Well, it’s getting late, so let’s bake our pie in the morning, okay? Susie, would you like to stay over tonight? It would be easier than you walking around in the dark.”
“...Sure.” She said, looking around at the house. Toriel headed towards the hallway after putting up her apron. Before turning the corner she stopped and took a step back, seemingly forgetting something.
“Just call your parents and tell me if you need anything. Goodnight!” With that, she left the two alone. Susie pretended to be on the phone until she was sure that Toriel was gone, then ran over to the couch and plopped down. She stretched out her legs and rested her arm on the top of the back cushions. Kris stood in the living room, unsure of what to do.
“Hey, Kris, it’s not like someone has to tell you to sit, right!?” Susie said impatiently from her seat, stretching her arms above her head. Well, it was like someone had to tell them to sit. Emphasis on the 'was.' They quietly walked over, taking their place on the other end of the couch.
She rummaged in between the couch cushions while muttering about trying to find something. After a couple of seconds, she pulled her hand out with a black remote.
“Ah ha, there’s always good stuff wedged in the couch!” She claimed proudly, leaning back in her spot. She flipped through a couple of channels before finally deciding on an action movie. There was a giant dinosaur on the screen, wreaking havoc on a large suburban city.
“Hey, Kris. You know how there’s gonna be that giant dumb festival in town in a couple weeks?” They nodded in response.
“Well, if we were to go to it, who would you bring?”
“You?”
“Wow, way to avoid the question jackass! Obviously I’d go with you, I meant like other people!” Susie huffed as she put the remote down. Kris thought for a second.
“I don’t know who else then… Who would you go with?” Despite the quite simple response, Susie got unnaturally flustered.
“I mean, uh, I guess if I had to choose somebody, I’d go with Noelle. Just so I could watch her get all scared on the rides, y’know.” She tried to explain as Kris raised their eyebrows.
“...Really?”
“What? Shut up, don’t give me that look!”
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Sometime during their movie marathon, they had both fallen asleep. Kris woke up and rubbed their neck where it had been resting across the armrest. It was weird to get used to having control over your body again. They had no idea how it happened. It seemed like whatever was in their soul finally left, but why? No, you know what? They should just be grateful that they’re done with that now. There’s no point in thinking about it and getting themself all worked up. They looked to beside them. Susie was still asleep, snoring loud enough to shatter a glass. They drowsily checked the time on their phone. It was about time for them to go to school, so they might as well wake her up. After a couple of hard shakes, she slightly opened her eyes and squinted.
“Jesus fuck, do you always leave the blinds open like that… trying to blind me and shit.” She muttered tiredly, stretching her arms up in the air. The morning light was coming in from the windows, illuminating the whole living room with its glow. Susie let out a yawn and wiped her eyes.
“So, uh, I should probably go home and change.”
“Yeah.” Susie stood up and stretched a little more before patting Kris on the back. When they looked up at her, she smiled.
“See you at school, ‘kay? Oh and, please don’t show up late again. Snowy thought it was the perfect chance to try out his new material on me.” Kris snickered a little.
“...Was it any good?”
“No, of course not! There’s a reason he’s not a goddamn comedian, like have you heard his shit!?” A shit-eating grin came across their face as they thought of something.
“Well, I don’t think it’s that ba-”
“Nope, fuck you, I’m leaving before you even finish that sentence.” She yelled as she walked towards the door, swinging it open. Kris cackled at her reaction as she left, leaving them alone in the living room. They headed to their room to get ready. Ugh, they desperately needed a shower after sleeping on that old couch all night.
Even though they wished they had more clothes than just some sweaters and collared shirts, it made it worlds easier to get dressed in the morning. Maybe they should steal some stuff from Susie to wear. Bad idea, they saw what the inside of her closet looked like in the dark world.
After taking a quick shower and blow-drying their hair, they were back to staring at themself in the mirror. While yes, it was still them, they weren’t the same person they were the day before. They witnessed it all. Saw them and Susie discover a whole new world, make new friends, and then save the world multiple times. Would they be cut out to do all of that again?
“Kris? Are you almost done in there, honey?” Their mother called out from behind the bathroom door. They quickly pretended like they were just washing their hands and twisted the knob. Toriel was looking down at them with a concerned look on her face and her arms crossed.
“Sorry, sorry, I’m ready now.” They apologized chilly, picking up their bookbag that they had sat against the wall. She looked like she wanted to say something, but ultimately sighed and stepped back.
“We’ll have to walk to the school today.”
“Oh, why?” They knew why, but obviously, they couldn’t just tell their mom that they went out yesterday and slashed her tires in some weird act of rebellion.
“I think I must’ve run over a screw on my way home last night. It’s not a big deal, I can just get a new one after work.” Toriel lied as she grabbed their hand. They stayed silent as she led them out the door and down their sidewalk. They could see the marks they had left on her car. Maybe she just thought that they wouldn’t notice, even though it was pretty damn hard to miss. The rubber was split open, leading all-around its surface. The rims of the tires were now sitting on the ground holding the car up. They felt a little guilty, they might’ve gone overkill with that one. There was something strange about it, however. Well, besides the fact the tires were ripped to shreds now. Stray scratches engraved the van, some small and shallow, some running deep through it. Toriel gently pulled them forward, continuing their walk. They couldn’t help but keep looking back at the car even after they could no longer see it. They didn’t do that. They didn’t make those scratches. Kris couldn’t stop thinking about it as they were brought into town, as they walked into the school and took their seat in the classroom. Maybe they just didn’t remember it? But how would they not remember doing something like that? And if they didn’t do it, who did? They absent-mindedly tapped their pencil on their desk while Susie stared at their back. The class hadn’t started yet, so people were up out of their seats, talking to one another. While lost in thought, they suddenly realized something.
...I never washed my hands.