Chapter Text
His first words to you are a heartfelt and resounding, “frick.”
Personally, you are too busy staring at the cartoonishly-shaped heart which had escaped from your chest and is performing some kind of happy dance with another blue heart thingy in between you and the skeleton monster, into whom you had just rather unceremoniously bumped. And summarily apologized to, thank you very much, you may be a klutz but you’re a klutz with manners—
It comes again, even louder and more desperate-sounding. “FRICK.”
This rouses you from your reverie, and you tear your eyes away from the spectacle, which is actually kind of charming, in order to address the skeleton with no small degree of irritation. “What?”
“this can’t be happening.”
You suppress your annoyance and humor the monster. Purely out of curiosity, of course. “What can’t?”
He looks at you with an expression resembling agony. “good gods, you mean…you don’t even…frick! i’m not doing this. i’m out.” He turns and starts to stomp away.
“Hey, isn’t this yours, though?” You call out politely. You had seen the blue cartoon heart come from him, too. You prod it for effect and he immediately falls to his knees, making a high-pitched moan that causes everybody on the street to look between you and him with shocked and disgusted faces. A mother covers her child’s ears and rushes away.
He struggles to his feet and storms back over to you, a bright cyan blush high on his cheekbones. “you can’t just do that!”
“Do what?” you ask, starting to blush yourself. You don’t have much experience with that sort of thing, much less interest, but that noise sounded kinda—
“you—agh! the SOULs, you can’t—in public—“ He’s tripping over his words, still blushing but obviously furious.
“SOULs?” you inquire, completely lost. “Are you okay, dude? ‘Cause I didn’t think I bumped into you that hard, but—“
He drags his hand over his face. “do i seriously have to spell it out for you, human? these are our SOULs, the culmination of our very being. that little do-si-do they’re doing? that means they’ve found their match. you’re my SOULmate.”
You let that sink in for a bit.
Later, you reflect that it might have been a bit offensive, but it’s hard to stop the incredulous laughter from bubbling forth. “That’s the worst pickup line I’ve ever heard, random stranger. Anyway, this has been a blast and all, but I’m actually late, so—“
“yeah, too bad. you’re coming with me.”
And then there’s an aggressive hand on your wrist and everything is twisting and you’re in a very cozy-looking house that is definitely isn’t your own.
--------------
You’ve never really had much to do with monsters. Like, you know they exist and all, but you’ve only ever seen them in passing. Sure, you saw the news when the monsters emerged from the Underground—everyone did—and you read the occasional articles about monster rights that a friend posted on HeadSpace, but you kept well enough to yourself and for the most part, as far as you know, the monsters did the same. You were honestly pretty satisfied with the arrangement.
So you’re not exactly certain how you came to be in a living room full of monsters who are all staring at you.
Another skeleton is the first to speak up. “UM…SANS? WHY HAVE YOU BROUGHT A HUMAN HERE? WE ALREADY HAVE ONE, IF YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED.”
The first skeleton, the short one, lets go of your wrist and starts pacing. “trust me, it wasn’t my idea.” He points violently at the two cartoon hearts, which are still prancing around without a care in the world.
A gasp arises from the assembled monsters. You’re still trying to process the situation, so you stay silent and inventory them. There’s a tall blue one that looks sort of fishy—like, literally, like a fish—and a yellow one that looks a little like a dinosaur and a goat-looking one and then…oh. That one just looks like a little kid. They’re fighting a delighted smile.
“Y-you mean—“ stutters out the yellow one. “It can’t—“
“that’s exactly what i thought!” growls out the first skeleton. “but—“
“Yes, it does appear to be a bonding display,” says the yellow one thoughtfully, adjusting their glasses and peering at the hearts. “But I never even thought—“
“i don’t really care what you thought! can you fix it?”
“Fix it? SOULmates aren’t really an issue that’s ever needed fixing—“
“but i can’t be SOULmated to a human! i mean…just look at it!” They both look at you, one anguished and one curious.
You’ve been staying quiet, but that makes you bristle. “I’m not an it, and I’m not your soulmate or whatever either. Also, for the record, kidnapping is a crime. And I really was late. Can I go now?”
They all stare again, and the blue one laughs raucously. “Go? You?”
You scowl. “Yes, go, me. I’m not sure what this business is—“ You gesture dismissively at the hearts—“But whatever it is, does it really warrant this kind of rude behavior?”
The goatish one gives the skeleton a disapproving look and says reproachfully, “They’re right, you know. Did you even bother explaining to them before you dragged them here?”
The skeleton flushes and mumbles, “well, sort of.”
“Sort of isn’t good enough.” They rise gracefully from the chair in which they’ve been sitting and walk over to you, offering their hand. “I’m sorry for Sans’ behavior. What’s your name?”
Their voice is soothing, and you calm down slightly, though you’re still glaring a bit. “_______.”
“I’m Toriel. Everybody, please introduce yourselves.” It sounds more like a command than a request.
“I-I’m Alphys,” supplies the yellow monster quickly. “Sorry for not introducing myself sooner.”
“Undyne,” lazily offers the fish one from their seat on the couch. “Nice to meetcha.”
“I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS!” yells the tall skeleton, leaping in front of you and shaking your hand excitedly. “IT IS A PLEASURE TO MAKE MY ACQUAINTANCE!”
The little kid signs with a grin, “I’m Frisk. I hope we can get to know each other better!”
You smile awkwardly at all of them, because again, klutz with manners. “Um, nice to meet you all—“
“why are we making friends instead of fixing this?” demands the first skeleton. Sans, maybe? “is nobody else concerned that i’ve SOULmated with a human?”
“Amused, maybe,” guffaws Undyne. “You would!”
“what the crap is that supposed to mean—“
Toriel silences them with a firm gaze. “Now, then, ________. Do you know what a SOUL is?”
You try to remember Sans’ words from earlier. “Uh…culmination of our being or something?”
“Yes, essentially. It’s what makes you you. Every living being has one. What you see before you now is your SOUL.” Toriel gestures to the hearts.
“Oh, okay.” It would’ve been a lot simpler if Sans had just said that instead of mumbling nonsense.
“And,” she continues pointedly, “While I’m not sure about humans, every monster SOUL has a mate. It’s a SOUL that it’s irrevocably drawn to, its perfect match in every way. When your SOUL escapes your chest and does…well…that,” (she looks at the hearts—SOULs—again), “It means that it’s found its mate.”
You consider this. “And…that blue one…that’s Sans’ SOUL?”
“Yes.”
“So…” A growing horror gnaws at you. “Frick.”