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Palette stepped through the portal, closing it up behind him with his device. Since he hasn’t gotten a good hold on his portal creation, his family opted to go to Sci to get a device that allows most residents of the multiverse to travel between AU’s, since his dads can’t always take him where he wants. In fairness his range of choices on where to visit can be more restrictive than most Sanses but lucky for him, Palette also gets to go to the universes that most can’t. Universes like Reapertale.
Running up to the front door, he knocks using the ornate door knocker. With a status like the God of Death, Reaper could own a mansion bigger than Uncle Mare’s Castle. But instead he went with something a bit smaller. Admittedly the two-story house was quite big, but it achieved the families intended goal, to feel connected with one another. Goth had once explained that the reason a mansion sized house would be bad is that all the open space and spread out rooms would risk making Geno feel isolated and disconnected. The current house made him feel close to his family while still giving them the space they need (and inflating Reaper’s ego as Palette had once heard Geno say).
Palette snapped back as the door was opened revealing Geno. The older lit up just a little bit at seeing him, a warm smile forming its way onto his face. It wasn’t the artificial smile that Palette is used to whenever anyone meets his mother, it was softer and genuine, like Geno was actually feeling better for seeing him. “Hey Palette.” The glitch stepped aside for the smaller to enter.
“Hi Mr Geno.” Palette took the offer, stepping inside and heading straight to the dining room where he dropped off his backpack. He watched the stairs waiting for Goth, who at any moment will come flying down to greet him.
“Sorry Pal,” Geno shuffled into his line of view, “Goth is out with his Aunty Life. He should be back soon if you're ok to wait with an old bag of bones like me.”
“Oh sure! Do you want to play a game?” Palette dug through his backpack where he had brought a bunch of games and toys to play, after all he would never allow a dull moment with Goth.
“Ok, how about you pick a game and I’ll get us something to drink. Do you want anything?” Geno asked as he left the room to the kitchen.
“No thanks, I'm fine!” Palette called out to the other room as he pulled a board game out of his bag, placing it on the dining room table.
“Are you sure?”
Palette hesitated, following Geno into the kitchen. The older was making himself a coffee, back to the counter watching Palette like he knew he was going to enter. “Do you have any apple juice?” He shyly asked.
Geno gave him a knowing smile going to the fridge and pulling out said beverage. “I’ve never had a kid ask for something as rebellious as juice before.”
Palette stared down at the ground kicking the toe of his boots against the tile. “Mum doesn’t let me drink apple juice. He says it makes him uncomfortable.” Palette peeked up at the other, over the brim of his hat. “Can this just be between me and you?”
Geno had already poured out the drink nudging it towards the other. “Don’t worry, I’ve kept more secrets about a lot worse.” Geno grabbed his own coffee adding in some milk and flavouring. “Reaper has bought a whole bunch of these coffee additives, later if you want I can make you a fancy hot chocolate?”
Palette drank from his own cup, while Goth had always had a preference for flavoured milk, Palette himself liked juice. He didn’t dislike milk, it was just if he had to choose he would pick the fruitier option. While he has had a range of different flavours, apple had never been one of them, it didn’t seem fair making his mum uncomfortable over a drink so he just ignored it. But now that he had tried it, it was definitely one of his favourites. He was so caught up in the euphoria that the words slipped out. “yummm... thanks Mum!”
It was the snort of laughter that had him rethink what he said. “No! Wait! That's not what I-”
“Your welcome kiddo.” Geno ruffled his hat as he headed back to the dining room.
Palette awkwardly trailed behind, watching Geno as if looking for some hidden emotion. “You’re not upset?”
Geno didn’t look surprised by the question, he just sat down at the table and gave Palette his laid back smile. “Nope. Why would you expect me to be?”
Palette sat opposite him preparing the board game as he continued. “Because when I called Uncle Blue ‘mum’ everyone laughed at me but Blue seemed uncomfortable and when I did it to Cross… he left. I didn’t get into trouble but the way Mum looked at me… it was like he wanted to tell me off.” Palette laid the board out over the table and picked up the green figurine, handing the other four to Geno. “I don’t do it on purpose, and I definitely don’t do it to upset people. I’m supposed to make people happy, not uncomfortable.”
Geno picked up two of the figurines, one red, one purple. He compared them both. Though both were cheap looking mice, the purple one seemed more poorly made, while the red one was smooth and identical to the others. “What do you mean you're supposed to make people happy? You’re 12, you don’t have to do anything.”
“But I’m Dream’s son.”
Geno fell silent, he didn’t know how to argue with that just yet. His eyes shifted to the game’s box where it read ‘Mouse Trap 2-4 players’. “If this game is 2 to 4 players then why are there 5 player pieces?”
“Huh?” Palette caught sight of the two pieces. “Oh. There were only 4 in the box but Gothy said his favourite colour was violet so I made an extra for him to play with.”
Geno looked at the figure in closer detail. It had all the same features as the others, from the pose to the tiny facial expression. “You made this yourself? Just for Goth?”
Palette fiddled with his own green piece. “Of course. He’s my best friend. I want to make him happy.”
Geno smiled down at the little toy, he put the red one aside and placed the purple one at the start of board as Palette followed suit. Geno picked up the dice and handed them to the younger, who proceeded to roll them and play accordingly. “So when you say you want to make him happy. Is that the same as you having to make others happy?”
Palette scrunched his face, handing the dice to Geno. “No, it's different. I want to make Goth happy because I care about him. He matters a lot to me and I want to let him know that. Even if it is by making him something stupid like a fake mouse.”
“Would you like to know a secret Pal?” Geno asked nonchalantly as he took a sip from his coffee.
Palette hesitantly nodded, as Geno said earlier he knows a lot of secrets and most of them are really bad, what if it’s one of those secrets.
“I think you’re better than your parents.”
“What?!” He didn’t know what else to say. His parents were looked at like gods by almost everyone. It didn’t matter how hard he tried he would never be held to the same standard. And that was ok! He made his peace with that a long time ago. But the idea that Geno, someone who has met both actual gods and his parents, thinks that Palette is better than Ink and Dream? “Why? How? I’m nothing like them?”
Geno lent forward over the table. “I know.”
Palette’s breath got caught in his throat. “Y-you’re lying! Don’t lie to me!”
“Palet-”
“I’m not better than them! I can’t be! They save people! Save worlds! I do nothing!”
“Pal-”
“I want to be like them! I do. But that just isn’t... possible.” He stared down at the board, sucking in gasps of air as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He jumped as something touched his shoulder. Turns out he had been too focused that he didn’t notice Geno get up to move beside him.
“I’m not saying that they are bad people. I’m just saying that to me, you are a better person than both of them combined.”
Palette could feel his whole body rattle as he heaved. Geno’s thumb brushed against the edge of his socket, causing him to flush with the knowledge that tears had been building up. “But I’m not.”
Palette squeaked as scooped up into the others arms balanced on Geno’s hip. “Who told you you aren’t?”
The smaller rested his head against the older’s shoulder. “Their fans. Some of them say that I should be more like them, stronger, more heroic… useful.” He closed his sockets, leaning into the touch of the back of his skull being caressed. “That I’m a distraction, I get in the way of their work.” He buried his skull into the puffy red scarf, taking in shakie breaths. “I try not to. I don’t get in the way, I don’t act out, I’m always in a good mood. I try to be perfect but…” He cuts himself off as he tries to keep the sobbing at bay.
Geno rocked the kid in his arms. He couldn’t pinpoint the saddest part; that Palette thinks he has to be perfect for his parents’ affection, that Geno doesn’t even know how they would even react if they knew, or that a twelve year old has to repress his emotions for the benefit of his mother.
“But it gets so lonely.” Geno knew how much time Palette spent at their house, but only now had it occurred why. He always assumed it was because Goth was Palette’s only friend, and maybe that was true to an extent, but he never really thought that it was because his parents were too busy on missions or in meetings to see their son. Now that he thought about it Palette probably sees him more than he sees Dream or Ink.
“That’s not your fault. You’re allowed be lonely and you’re allowed to do stupid stuff when you are.” Geno adjusted his grip on the child, carrying him to the living room. He sat on one of the plush armchairs with the kid sitting on his lap, nuzzled against his chest. “You're lucky you're talking to someone with a lot of experience with loneliness. I became crazy and did some pretty stupid things, but you know what? I don’t think I’m a bad person. I did what I knew I had to for me to feel better, and I can assure you that no matter what you do you won’t be a bad person. Guess why?”
“Because I’m Dream and Ink’s son?”
Geno gave a knowing smirk pressing something into Palette’s palm. “Because you care about people. You care about my son.” Looking down he saw that what was in his hand was the purple piece. “That’s why I think you are better. You do good because you care too much about people to hurt anyone. Your parents do good because they have to and they’ll be punished if they don’t.” Geno tilted Palette's head so he looked him in the eye. “Ink protects universes because it gives him emotions, Dream helps people because they’re happiness makes him stronger but you, you help people because it’s the right thing to do.” Geno tucked the smaller head against his shoulder gently rubbing up and down his spine. “I’m so proud of you.”
It was like a damn had broken. Everything Palette had been holding back had rushed to the front of his mind. When was the last time he had heard that? Has anyone ever told him they are proud of him?
For the first time in a long time, he gave himself a break. For the first time in a long time he allowed himself a moment of weakness. For the first time in a long time he clung to the closest thing he had to a parent, and acted like any child would under all his stress.
After a few minutes of Palette releasing his pent up emotions, Geno noticed a little someone out of the corner of his eye. He gently motioned to his son that he could enter. Goth shuffled up to the chair, Palette still not noticing as he sobbed into the crock of Geno’s neck.
“Pally?” Said skeleton flinch as recognition of whose voice called his name registered. “What’s wrong?”
Palette scrubbed at his eyes, face flushed a bright green. “G-goth!? I-I-I-I-um-it’s-uh-it’s-“
“He’s very stressed.” It was Palette’s decision on whether he wanted to tell Goth what’s happening, but for now Geno is giving him a way out. “He just needed to let it out.” Poor kid on his lap looked completely abashed. “I think I know something you can do to make him feel better.” Geno said with a smirk and a wink.
Goth puffed out his cheeks with determination, crawling up onto his parent’s lap, sitting flush against his best friend. Palette saw the all too familiar spark in his eyelight. He braced himself for the smaller pair of arms to squeeze around his torso. Goth believed you could fix anything with a hug, and Palette knew that was true.
Maybe when he goes home he’ll have to put up his facade again for the benefit of the multiverse, but right here and right now he knew that didn’t have to be the case. He didn’t have to pretend to be perfect, he didn’t have to be happy.
Because the difference was out there he was just Ink and Dream’s son… but here he was Palette Roller.