Chapter Text
Toriel has been up on her feet ever since the break of dawn. It wasn’t an unusual sight - after all, she was somewhat of a morning bird… or morning goat, in her case?
Regardless, she diligently made sure everything was tidied up, the air in the house filled with so many delicious scents that anyone would salivate at the smell. The fridge was also packed to the brim with anything one would desire - all of this pointing to the fact that the Dreemurr household may have some company soon.
As the front door opens, Asgore walks into the house, placing a few potted plants onto the table, some dirt falling onto the carpet. Toriel shoots him a glare, causing him to hunch a little with an apologetic look in his eyes.
“Gods, my back. Perhaps I should use those ICE-E HOT patches later - carrying these around has been quite troublesome.” He muttered, sitting down in a chair with a satisfying thump. His nose twitches at the barrage of scents, a sigh escaping his mouth. “I can never get enough of this smell. It’s very nostalgic, Tori…”
“Yes, I believe all of us will feel the same… it’s been a while since this table has sat more than two,” she mentions as she handed him a broom, shooting her eyes towards the dirt piles. “I know you just sat down, but please clean this up. I do not want Kris’s first impression to be that we have gotten messier over the years.”
“Yes, yes… how many years has it been since they have been home? The last time either of them were here was before they moved to San Monsisco, correct?”
“Oh, dear… it has been at least 3 years now! They always mentioned how expensive the flights were and that they were sorry they could not fly out to visit… but Kris did mention they are close to securing a good deal on an apartment in Mon York! Once they move there, it is only a four hour car drive from Hometown, so they will not have to rely on air travel and with their new driver’s license, they can stop in for weekend visits!”
“Those darn children, going here and there! Ah, not to say I am not happy to hear that… but I am a little jealous,” he huffs.
“While that may be true, they have been pretty busy. Asriel hasn’t had much free time ever since he signed that contract with a major music label and Kris…” She chuckled, a slight smile crossing her face. “Even now, do you know how weird it is going to the local mall and seeing my child’s face plastered in the display windows? Not to mention, when our neighbours visit, they often show me their escapades on that MonstaGram application, stating how jealous they are to see Kris travelling. I try my best to leave comments on every photo…” Her eyebrows furrow. “...but new technology confuses me,” she sighs, taking out her smartphone. She pulls another chair from the dining table, sitting down next to Asgore before putting on her reading glasses.
“At least I learned how to use this WhatsGood app! The schoolchildren helped me set up an account, and now I can videochat with Kris whenever I please!”
Asgore chuckles a little. “Oh, yes - it is quite convenient, is it not? But now that you mention speaking with Kris… when were they supposed to arrive?”
“They said their plane has landed, but we do not have a local airport, so the road ahead for them is quite long.”
“I would have gone and picked them up, but alas, my engine…” Asgore grumbles, pouting. “It also is quite a shame that only Kris could make it - I do miss my little Azzy-wazzy. But, I did hear Kris is also bringing their agent with them… what was his name again…? Buntly, Burghley… Miss Benneton’s child…” He looks towards Toriel with a puzzled expression, which only causes her to sigh from frustration.
“Berdly… please try to remember our child’s friend’s name.”
“Right, Berdly!” He scratches the back of his head. “Those two do make quite a pair, don’t they? I would have never expected them to be friends, let alone coworkers!”
Asgore let out a bellowing laugh, finally standing up to clean up the mess he made earlier. It was only recently that they were able to partially mend their relationship, so it would be better if he avoided facing her wrath for the time being. Even with his romantic advances coming to a halt, he still wanted to be around her as a friend - especially for their children. He wanted to make sure their stay was as enjoyable as possible, no squabbles that could potentially ruin the mood.
While sweeping, he notices Toriel looking quite perplexed, a finger on her chin.
“Hm? What is the matter, Tori? You look… confused.”
Her grimace grows a little larger, her hand covering her mouth fully now. “You know… I have never thought about it before.”
“About what?”
“Those two did not have the best relationship growing up, correct? You may have not seen it as much, but their relationship was… odd. They were not best of friends like how they are with Susie - “A slight cough escapes her mouth. “...nevermind that. Regardless, Kris would pull various pranks on the poor bluebird to the point where I had to scold them in front of his mother. …though, in Kris’ defense, Berdly has been very persistent about that debt… maybe I should not say this, but I was close to walking to the Librarby and telling him off myself over that.” She laughs to herself, before clearing her throat to calm herself down. “Still, I was afraid things might escalate to them being bitter enemies when they grew older… but now Kris says their relationship is fantastic. Intriguing, is it not?”
“I was not aware of all of this… Kris never mentioned anything of the sort to me. Neither did you, unless it did come up in passing… much of that time is a blur to me.”
Asgore would never admit it in front of his ex-wife, but he was a complete mess at the time. Besides the obvious issue of their divorce, he also had this feeling of not remembering certain events of the past and no matter how hard he tried to recollect them, nothing came out of it. He wasn’t the only one who experienced the phenomenon, as other Hometown residents also mentioned the missing memories- it is as if they vanished into thin air.
In the end, they gave up trying to find an explanation, continuing on with their lives.
But then again…
A loud notification sound snaps him out of his deep thoughts.
“Oh, Kris just sent me a text message!” She scrolls through her phone, her face lit up. “Their taxi driver took a wrong turn and got lost at some point, but they are back on track and will be here within the next few minutes!”
“Oh, dear. We should get ready then - should I put on my tie?” He asks, smiling at Toriel, who proceeds to pat him on his shoulder.
“No need for that - your flowery shirt will do. No matter what we were to put on, it will not compare to the outfits Kris has worn for their job - the best dressed human in town is about to arrive.” She rises from her chair, brushing herself off slightly.
He laughs a little. “Very true, Tori… I will stick to my traditional “dad” fashion, then.”
As if on queue, a car pulls up the road to the Dreemurr’s house, with both monsters quickly rushing out the front door. There they saw their dear child standing in the driveway, helping the taxi driver pull their suitcases out of the trunk of the car. Toriel was right about their outfit - it looked expensive, the entire ensemble probably costing more than five years worth of Asgore’s salary.
“Kris!”
The human turns to look at the monsters as they barrel at them, embracing them in a very fluffy hug. Toriel could barely hold her tears as she felt her child hug them back. After what felt like forever, they release Kris from their grasp, letting them breathe for a bit before Asgore proceeds to take their suitcases off their hands, bringing them inside.
“Welcome back, my child… though, with how much you have grown, you are definitely not a child anymore.” Toriel says as she brushes a few loose strands of hair from their face, causing the human to blush a little.
“I did turn 24 this year, so yeah, haven’t been a child in a while.” Kris replied, before their embarrassed expression changed to a gentle smile. “But for you, I’ll always be one, right?”
“Of course, of course… but, uhm.” Toriel looks towards the taxi, which is now starting to pull away. “Where is your part-”
“He’s visiting his mom right now - he’ll stop by tomorrow.” The human grabs their mother’s paw and starts walking towards the porch. “Now, let’s go - I have a ton of gifts from Asriel to give to you guys.”
***
As soon as Kris walked into their childhood home, a sudden wave of nostalgia hit them like a truck. Everything was placed in the exact same spots, as if it was a time capsule - the same old couch, the childhood photos lining the walls… even Chariel still triumphantly stood in her own corner of the room. And the smell! Their stomach grumbled at the thought of having their mom’s butterscotch pie again, especially when all they’ve eaten today is an overpriced, undersized airport sandwich.
The smell only got stronger as they walked into the kitchen, another room that was untouched by time. The stove was still just as much of a cakey mess as it was back in the day, and the fridge still had all their childhood photos and magnets on them… along with some new ones, including clipped photos from the fashion magazines Kris was featured in. Kris blushed at the thought of their mom buying all of these magazines, showing them off to her neighbours, bragging about their success… but there was something endearing about it, too.
Toriel walks over to the stove, turning off the burner under the boiling kettle. “Kris, you have had a long day so far. Please sit down - I will make you some tea.” She looks at Kris’s face, pursing her lips when she notices slight dark circles under their eyes. “...or perhaps you might want some coffee?”
“No, tea’s fine. I drank enough coffee over the past few days - it’s gotten so bad I think I drink at least three cups a day,” they explain as they sit down at the table, a cup of tea and a slice of their mom’s pie being placed in front of them. When was the last time they were able to indulge in something so sweet…? Their happiness from eating the pie slowly fades over time as they notice their parents’ intense stares as they ate. They guess it was to be expected, with how long they haven’t been home, but they wished they would just treat them like they used to.
But besides that, it was also nice to see them getting along again, after everything that happened between them.
Asgore hummed in thought, eyeing Kris a little more closely now. “I do recall you being quite tall when you left for San Monsisco, and it might just be because I have only seen you on a small screen recently, but it feels like you grew even taller! What do they feed you in that big city?” Their dad laughed, taking another sip of his tea before continuing. “Your hair is also much longer too! Trying to take after your father, huh?”
She approaches the human, slowly sliding her paw through their hair, admiring its texture. “It is so silky, too… It feels like brushing velvet. Not even I had my fur this smooth when I was your age - you must have a very dedicated routine!” Kris, slightly flustered, swats their mom’s paw away, a giggle escaping her mouth.
“Then again, I would not expect anything else from a high-class model! I’m sure you have had your fair share of hairdresser visits.”
“Depends…” Kris murmured as they took another bite out of their pie. “It’s not just hairdresser appointments - I had to change my entire diet once I started working… it does most of the heavy lifting.”
“A diet?! Oh, child, you must not starve yourself! I cannot imagine the thought of you being thinner than you already are…!” Toriel exclaims worriedly, a paw on her cheek now.
“Not that kind of diet, mom. Just one with more greens, more vitamin-filled foods. Healthier… that’s all,” Kris reassured her, taking her paw from her cheek and holding it in their hand. “Me and Azzy still eat enough. We just… make sure not to eat anything crazy greasy. Plus, vitamin supplements help - my regular checkups always come up good nowadays, including my iron and potassium levels.”
“Oh, that is wonderful to hear. But on the topic of your health…” Toriel’s thumb brushes Kris’s palm, as if following the scar that runs on it. “...how is your… injury? Does it still hurt…?”
Kris grimaces a little, looking down at their palm as well. They slowly flexed their fingers, raising their right hand, their scar now illuminated by the lights of the kitchen.
“It’s… better than it used to be. Physical therapy helped - I can use it for longer, but sometimes if I use it for too long a sudden pain shoots through it. But besides that, I can play a few shorter songs on the piano again with no issue - I’ve even helped Azzy with composing recently too.” The human smiles gently while looking into Toriel’s eyes, and a small smile crosses her face as well.
“You are quite a gifted child… but please, do not overexert yourself too much, alright? We do not need you to go through that again…”
“Don’t worry, mom. I’m fine.” They get up from their chair, taking their plate and glass with them to the sink. “Now, if you guys don’t mind, I’d like to take a shower… the grime is starting to get to me.”
“Ah, of course! Please do so. Your father bought your favorite apple-scented shampoo - it should be in the undersink cabinet.”
And their face flushes again - nothing gets past their parents. But then again… if their hairdresser found out they used it, even just a single time… they shiver at the thought of her yelling at them off of a chair, her paw pulling their ear.
After pulling out some other toiletries from their suitcase, they lock themselves in the bathroom, leaving their parents alone with each other once again. Asgore furrows his brow a little as he traces his palm with a finger, a deep “Hmm” leaving his throat.
“What is on your mind, Asgore?” Toriel asked, washing the dishes that Kris left in the sink.
“It might be my old mind slowly leaving me, but… I just cannot recall. Tori…” He faces her, a twinge of sadness in his eyes. “...how did Kris receive that injury? I feel awful that I cannot remember how my child got hurt… was it a scuffle from when they were in school?”
“Oh, no, Kris never got into fights! It was actually…” Her expression turned from one in thought to one in fear, as she cannot recall what happened either.
To both of them, it was just a sudden, unexplained injury - a scar that formed as if out of nowhere, their hand being unusable for a while. They explained that it wasn’t anything serious, a lie so carefully crafted it left them having to believe it.
Meanwhile, Kris had the toothbrush mug up against the door, eavesdropping on their parents' conversation, eyes flitting around as they discussed the source of their injury.
Obviously, they couldn’t tell them the truth - how Kris barely managed to keep their hand attached to their body all because of a mistimed dodge of one of the Roaring Knight’s attacks. A few milliseconds later, and… they shuddered at the thought. Thankfully, Ralsei was able to heal them… but not fully, as he still needed some of his magical energy to stop the Roaring.
And speaking of the Roaring, only the people that were in the Dark World fully remember what happened that day… Everyone else has that same blank spot in their mind.
And after all these years of lies and deception, they’ve come to despise themselves for it. Nothing good ever came from keeping a lie going… and they’ve learned the hard way.
They slump down a little - they could tell their parents about everything without hesitating anymore… But would they even believe anything they would say about the Dark Worlds, about their scar, about…
Probably not. And they had no one else but themselves to blame for it. This was completely their own choice now.
They sigh as they take the shampoo out from under the sink and put it on the lip of the bathtub. They turn the showerhead on, feeling for the ideal temperature before getting in.
Perhaps they should leave these thoughts out of their mind for now and just… focus on having a good family reunion. Focus on letting their parents enjoy their presence. Focus on the now, not the past.
They grumble and put their head against the wall, letting the water run down their back, the striking scent of apple floating in the air.
“...good to be home,” they murmur. “...let’s leave it good as well.”
***
As Kris leaves the bathroom, wiping off their hair with their towel, their phone rings - Asriel’s contact photo gracing their screen.
As they accept the call, Asriel’s face fills it up, a wide open mouth grin following soon after, his eyes barely in view. He had an awful habit of holding his phone too close to his face.
“Yo, Kris! You at home already? I was keeping up with the flight tracker, but then I got called into the studio and…”
“No worries, Azzy. I landed a few hours back, no delays thankfully. And look-” Kris turns their phone around, pointing it at their parents who eagerly wave at the phone.
“Son! Son, can you see me?” Asgore bellows, standing up from his chair.
“Loud and clear, pops! Hi to ma, too!” Asriel waves back as Kris hands their phone to their dad before continuing to dry their hair.
“We miss you, Asriel… I hope you know that,” Asgore says with a sigh. “Work must be tough, with it keeping you so busy.”
“It isss! Today was supposed to be my day off, but I got called in for an urgent project and the faster we finish it the better. I’ll make sure to find some time to visit though, promise!” He exhales before turning his attention back to Asgore. “How about you, pops? Hopefully you and ma are doing just fine without us.”
“Oh, we are just peachy, Asriel! Do not worry about us!” Toriel exclaims with a cheery tone.
“That’s good, that’s good. Oh, also, have you opened up the gifts I left with Kris?”
“Not yet, son! It will happen soon enough - we have to let Kris recover from their flight.” Asgore sighs once again, an exaggerated frown on his face. “We really, really, wish you could have made it home as well - we miss you, Asriel! You do not understand how proud your old father is of you bo-”
Asriel laughs a little, waving his free hand at the camera. “Come on, pops, we don’t have to get all sappy - it’s all work at the end of the day. But also… maybe one day you’ll watch a movie with my name in the end credits and you’ll get to feel extra proud!” He says with a wink.
“Oh, son, I am going to tear up!” The exaggerated frown returns to his face, his eyes getting a little dewy.
Kris, their hair fully dried, walks past the group to sit down on the living room couch, their eyes falling to the TV stand that now houses a brand-new flatscreen TV - a little bittersweet, but Kris knows Tenna is having a good time in his new home. Out of the corner of their eyes, they could see their mom slowly approaching holding the remote.
“Ah, Kris, I hope it is not a bother, but…” Toriel sits down next to the human, handing the remote to them. “I do not understand how to use this new Smart TV… it confuses me to no end. Not that I do not appreciate the birthday gift, anything but…!” Toriel shifts a little, hunching over a little with an embarrassed expression on her face. “...but could you demonstrate how to use it?”
“It’s pretty simple - you just press the icon on the TV to open the app you want, like MonTube, Spottyvibe… it can be more than just a TV nowadays.”
Kris chuckled at their mom’s blank expression as the cogs in her head slowly rotate to try to make sense of what was being explained.
“Maybe it’s easier to just show you - let’s watch some videos on MonTube first.”
After watching a few videos and scrolling through some other applications, she slowly got the hang of finding what she wanted - even if it took her way longer to type out her searches. Meanwhile, a soft chatter escapes the kitchen, Asgore feverishly explaining how to properly tend a garden during the winter season to Asriel, who looked a little worse for wear now.
It felt like old times - the family sitting together, chatting about whatever. Nostalgic… almost like before -
Kris snaps out of their train of thought when a loud knock comes from the front door. They open it enough just to stick their head out - only to be greeted with their manager standing in front of them, his beak dripping a little, a soft chattering coming from it as well.
They chuckle at how pathetic he looks. “...your mom finally kicked you out for good?”
“You w-wish,” the avian scoffs, his eyes narrowing. “Ragebait failed, my dearest K-Kristopher. Now, please s-step - I’m starting to lose feeling in m-my talons.”
“Be my guest, Berdtholomule,” Kris says in a haughty tone, opening the door fully and beckoning him inside with their hands.
Berdly steps into the house, chest puffed up, his best smile on his face, before he locks eyes with Toriel.
“Oh Miss Dreemurr, how lovely to see you again!” Berdly chirps, walking up to her and exchanging a la bise greeting. “My, my, you look just as wonderful as ever - you haven’t aged a day! And I believe I hear Mr. Dreemurr as well… I shall greet him later - he seems… preoccupied.”
Toriel laughs a little, placing her paw on her cheek. “Oh, you know how he can get when he has the chance to talk about gardening… but besides that, why are you here so early? I would have cooked something besides the pie if I had known you -”
“Oh, do not worry Miss Dreemurr - that was not my intention! I was supposed to surprise my mother with my presence, but no one answered the callbox. I waited for a bit in front of the apartment building, expecting she may be returning from a grocery run, but alas…!” He puts one of his wings on his forehead, bending slightly backwards. “I was but a fool - she isn’t even in town at the moment! And with no spare keys, I am effectively stranded! Oh, woe is me!” An exasperated sigh leaves his beak as he lays down on the couch, his wing still placed upon his forehead.
This idiot…, Kris thought, rolling their eyes before pulling Berdly’s surprisingly heavy suitcase into the house, finally closing the door behind them.
“I told you to let her know you’re coming - she’s a busy woman.”
“Ah, but my dearest Kristopher, one must know that an unexpected arrival can lead to the grandest of entrances! And the stage here - a child suffering from success in a dog-eat-dog world, returning to his humble beginnings in the countryside!” He’s sprawled out even more on the couch, raising his wing at the climax of his speech, if that’s what you could call it.
“What you got was a lesson - and that’s why you look like you came from the freezer aisle.” Kris snickered at Berdly, before dragging a finger around their nostril, making Berdly turn a slightly darker shade of blue before he wipes his nostril off with a tissue.
“Now that you mention it, Berdly, Mercedes did say she was going to be out of town for a teacher’s conference - how unfortunate! She would have loved to see her little boy again!” Toriel pinches Berdly’s cheek a little, as if he was her own son, causing Berdly to sit up on the couch in a more attentive position.
Berdly clears his throat, patting down the feathers Toriel just put out of place. “It’s fine, Miss Dreemurr. It is but an unfortunate situation! Though… I do not have anywhere else to go for the night.” He places his wing on Toriel’s paw, his eyes trained on hers, a slight glimmer of hope in his eyes. “Would you allow this unhoused bird to find protection under your warm roof? If only for the night.”
Without thinking, Kris butts into the conversation. “You can sleep in Asriel’s bed.” They blurt out, before covering their mouth with a balled fist. “...that is, if the bed’s still up there.”
“Oh, yes, it is still up there. Let me just change the sheets on the bed - in the meantime, please make yourself at home, Berdly. You still remember how to use our shower, correct?”
“Affirmative, Miss Dreemurr. Thank you for your continued hospitality!” He says, bowing towards her which elicits a raised eyebrow and a slightly agape mouth, before she continues towards the stairs. Kris makes their way towards the kitchen, preparing two cups of tea for themselves and Berdly before placing them on the table, Kris pulling out a chair for Berdly.
“Ah, ευχαριστώ (Thank you), Kristopher. I guess chivalry isn’t dead after all.” He takes a seat, taking a sip of his tea, eyes glistening at the exquisite taste. “...Must be nice to be home, huh?”
“You can’t stop flexing your new-found language skills, huh?” they chuckle to themselves.
Berdly scoffs, rolling his eyes at the human. “You know I’m trying to learn the language so when the time comes to vacation in Greesha, I’ll be able to speak with my family and the locals properly? You wouldn’t want to be in a new place without at least knowing the basics! Plus, learning a new language improves cognitive ability, allowing a few more extra years before you experience mental decline!” He says matter-of-factly, though Kris can hear a smidge of his traditional snarkiness as well.
Kris lets out a single laugh into a balled fist. “Sure, sure, Mister Science Guy.” Their smile fades into a small frown, looking down at their tea a little wistfully. “Back to the “home” thing… it’s definitely nostalgic. But we’re not here to walk down memory lane, remember?”
‘Hm! And here I thought I was supposed to be the stuffy one who doesn’t know how to have fun, but et tu, Kris? Learn to live a little - wrinkles aren’t good for your complexion.” He takes another sip of his tea before looking directly in Kris’s eyes. “A-are you sure it’s okay for us to sleep in the same room? The couch is perfectly serviceable for me.”
“He wouldn’t mind… worst comes to worst, we’ll use the feathers you shed to fluff up his pillows.”
Berdly lightly punches Kris in the shoulder, causing them to let out a little giggle. “In that case, I’ll make sure to leave behind feathers of the highest quality!”
“He’ll be thankful for that.”
Both of them let out a laugh, Kris stirring their tea a little while staring at him.
Berdly quickly turns to face Kris, pulling out his phone in the process. “Ah! While I was on my way here, I received a call from a representative of Saphore! They wanted to send some items from their upcoming collection and wanted to confirm the address… With our upcoming move, I thought it would be safer to send it to Asriel’s apartment. Hopefully he won’t mind.”
“Worst case, he’ll have a new eyeshadow palette to play with. He’ll appreciate that at least,” they say with a smirk.
“He would, wouldn’t he!” Berdly laughed at the image of Asriel in a gothic look, the eyeshadow truly bringing out the color of his eyes, before he clears his throat and composes himself. “Anyways, on the topic of our move, we should be on schedule to be fully moved out by the end of the month.” He sighs, staring at his tea. “It’s a little surreal to be moving to Mon York… the city always seemed to have this certain… vibe to it.”
“Expensive. Pretentious. Filled with people who shit higher than their ass.” Kris mutters, counting off the reasons with their fingers.
“Precisely, Kris! I can feel the love emanating from your words. But honestly, if I had to choose, I also wouldn’t want to move there… but for the sake of your job, it’s more convenient. Thankfully, my university arranged an online learning curriculum for me - not including exam season.” A strained look crosses the avian’s face, an awkward grin growing on his beak. “...You’ll be able to handle yourself AND your schedules when I’m gone, right?”
“Of course.”
“You know that means not booking three photoshoots for the same timeslot, right…?”
Kris clawed at their eyes, a loud groan escaping their mouth. Berdly was never going to let that go until the day he dies. “It was one time! How many times do I have to say sorry?”
“Until I can make sure you never make that mistake again!”
Kris furrows their brow - they knew he was just trying to get a rise out of them - well, if that’s what he wanted, two could play at that game. Kris looks around them for a second, before leaning in close to their manager’s ear, whispering at a level that Berdly could barely hear himself.
“So… how are we gonna tell them… y’know… about…?”
Berdly first looks at Kris with a look of confusion, before it transitions to one of realization, the hue of his cheeks reaching a deep cerulean. He sputters a bit before he calms himself down, whispering back through his clenched beak.
“These are YOUR parents, Kris…! Shouldn’t I be asking you that?!” He shifts his eyes a little, his eyebrows furrowing upwards. “Why… you think we’d get the Bad Ending if we tell them…?”
Kris fiddles with their hands for a little, looking down at them with a sad glint in their eyes. They never considered their parents might disapprove of their choice… what if they think he’s not good for them…? And what if… what if they start believing them? They pick at their nails, a pit forming in their stomach before the warm touch of Berdly’s wing embraces their hands.
He gently looks at Kris, a slight smile on his beak. “How about this - let’s try to talk to them about it individually. It’ll be a success if at least one of them reacts positively! But in the case that neither -” They both get startled as the door to the bathroom suddenly slams open, Asgore bumbling out of it. Berdly quickly pulls his wing back, clasping them on his lap, once in a while trying to fix the feathers that were slowly falling out of place. He smiles as much as he can at Asgore, who in turn runs over to the bird, picking him up in one of his patented dad hugs.
“Oh, Berdly, my boy, you are here! What a pleasure to see you again!” He squeezes the avian a little tighter, before putting him down, gasps escaping his beak as his lungs try to recover from the assault they just endured. “What were you two whispering about? Are there any industry secrets I can also partake in?” He narrows his eyes, elbowing the avian. “...was it about a forbidden romance?”
The bird squawks over the question, his crest feathers no longer cooperating with him, all of them standing on edge as if they had a mind of their own. He finally manages to stammer a sentence out after a few seconds of his nerves taking control.
“F-forbidden romances… what k-kind of person do you take me for? And besides, N-NDA are v-very prevalent in this industry! There’s n-not much to mention, it was just about s-some…” Berdly gives Kris a quick glance, a forced smile on their face as if they knew he backed himself into a corner. “...s-stuff?”
Asgore raises an eyebrow, before putting a paw onto Berdly’s shoulder. “Stuff, you say…”
Kris quickly stands up from their chair, slowly walking backwards towards the stairs.
“I think I heard Mom calling for me… she, uh, can’t reach the shelf with the good pillows. And she needs help! Yeah.”
Nailed it.
“B-But, Kris!” Berdly shoots a pleading look to the human, as Asgore starts dragging Berdly to the living room. “I didn’t -”
“You can help my dad open up some of those gifts, and talk about our jobs, and our soon-to-be-apartment…! Σ' αγαπώ! (Love you!)” Kris puts two thumbs up, a huge grin on their face. Berdly on the other hand, opened his beak in shock at first, then let out a small laugh.
“You cheeky - have you been sneaking glances at my notes?! Ah, I’m flattered that you would want to learn my family’s mother tongue… but doesn’t that mean you’re the one trying to flex now, Kris?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyways, less talking, more unpacking - my mom’s waiting!”
“But… I swear, she didn’t…!” Berdly stammers, before he gets dragged fully into the living room by Asgore’s sheer will.
They glance back at the archway, crossing their fingers Berdly doesn’t reveal more than he has to, before continuing up the stairs.
Everything will be fine.
***
They open the door to their childhood bedroom, Toriel finishing up setting up the bed for Berdly, brushing the comforter to get rid of the wrinkles, before turning around to the source of the noise.
“Ah, my child? Did you need something?”
They take in the sight of the room, but… not much has changed. Asriel’s posters were still hanging on the walls (some corners have started to peel), the old CRT monitor still sitting on his desk, and the ceiling littered with stars that no longer had their shine - except for the one hanging above their -
They quickly shake their head, looking over to Toriel.
“...not much. I just wanted to see if you needed a hand.” They murmur, grabbing onto their upper arm.
“Oh, my child - so kind of you! However, I have already finished preparing the bed, so…”
They forgot how quick she could be, cursing silently in their head - they needed a little bit of time! Something to keep her upstairs, something that will let them… at least tell her the truth about what’s going on between Berdly and them.
“Is… is that so…? Uh… in that case, can we… sit down for a bit… and talk?”
A concerned expression crosses her face as she quickly sits down on the lip of Kris’s bed, patting the spot next to her. “Of course… should I call your father -”
“No, there’s no need. I want to tell you… one on one.” They sit down in the spot next to her, her paw laying down on their hands.
She side-eyes the human - they weren’t normally the type to want to… talk. Let alone one-on-one. Usually they would talk to their friends, but… she looks out, focusing on the posters on Asriel’s wall, waiting for a minute before finally speaking.
“It truly has been a while since our home was so… full of life. Since you two have left for greener pastures, it has gotten awfully quiet.” She sighs a little, a hint of sadness in her voice. “Hometown in general is not the same as it used to be… there are less children for me to teach, and once the children grow up, the local school might be closed… and on top of all of that, Miss Alphys is resigning from her position. Did you know she is also moving to a different town?”
“Huh? Alphys is leaving?” Kris’s eyes grow wide - she was one of the last people they expected to leave town, especially with Officer Undyne still working here… if she was leaving, what’s to say others with more confidence wouldn’t as well?
At some point, Hometown will be Ghosttown.
“Sorry, I did not mean to sour the mood.” She chuckles weakly.
“It’s okay - it’s good to know what’s going on. Maybe Berdly and I will visit the school later. A walk down memory lane, possibly. And if not today, maybe tomorrow…? We are staying for a couple of days, after all.”
“Right, right…”
She went quiet again, the only remaining sound being the muffled voices of Berdly and Asgore - an eager discussion about… something. At least they were in high spirits. Let us try to lighten the mood here, too.
“Kris, darling, I have been thinking…”
A “hm” escapes their throat, Kris then tilting their head towards Toriel. “Is something wrong?”
She shook her head, turning to face Kris as well.
“No, no, everything is fine. I am just…” she softly sighs. “Now that you are here with me, I would like to learn more about your job and what comes with it. Even during our phone calls you do not tell me much… that is, when you pick up your phone.”
“Ah, sorry, yeah, we can -”
“But in all actuality, I am more curious on how you and Berdly became work partners…? How did that happen?”
Oh.
They blinked a few times, their brain trying its best to process the question. Did she somehow know about… them? Their… engagement…?
“That’s a bit… sudden. What did you…?” They stammer, a bead of sweat forming on their temple, fingers fiddling with their amber earring - the same one Berdly presented to them that fateful day.
“Oh, my child, do not get the wrong idea! I just recalled that you two were always at each other when you were younger, like a cat and a mouse. So when I found out he was now your manager in a brand new city, in a field you had no experience in… I was surprised by the sudden change. It is not a bad change of course! It’s nice for you to have someone you can rely on so close to you.”
A shiver runs down their spine. She’s messing with them, right…? She definitely knows, but is just… waiting for them to tell her instead. Did someone tell her… did Asriel tell her? No, he wouldn’t, right? Or maybe she was oblivious, and they just couldn’t read her tone correctly? They hated the fact they could never get over their habit of overthinking, especially when it came to their mom.
In reality, Kris and Berdly have been together for four years now, but only announced it to their close friends. No Monstagram posts, no couple holiday postcards… they didn’t need the industry to know anything before both of them were ready. And they did keep it quite well hidden, especially with how quickly rumors can spread, possibly causing drama within the fashion sphere… they didn’t need any more trouble following them… especially after that run-in with a certain someone. Berdly’s aunt also advised them to keep it under wraps, and they agreed to it… but their parents were another can of worms.
Berdly, for one, can’t keep a secret to save his life, so his mother already found out from him - maybe she spilled the beans to Toriel. But then again, he did say she didn’t seem surprised, which means his aunt could’ve possibly told her, too… were they all playing a game of telephone with each other? But in the end, she was happy that Berdly chose “such a wonderful, considerate partner,” in her own words.
But Kris’s parents… that was a completely different story. Berdly has reminded them again and again that Kris is once again overreacting, but they know their parents… they always seemed more… old-fashioned. Traditional. They probably expected Kris to find a human partner, to have more in common with each other. Plus, their history wasn’t the greatest… but this new chapter of their lives changed both of them a lot. Hopefully she’ll understand.
Calm down, Kris. It’s just mom. You’re making yourself nervous for no reason. Just… take a deep breath, in and out. It’ll be fine. You can do it. They just had to… “lock in,” as Berdly would say.
They chuckle to themselves, puzzling Toriel a little as she also awkwardly laughs.
“Kris…?”
I’m ready. Time to tell her everything. They look at Toriel, a warm look in their eyes.
“Where do I even begin…? Ah, did you know Berdly and Asriel became friends in San Monsisco? He was even Azzy’s Thiscord moderator for his streaming server…”
***
4 years earlier
***
“Today’s stream was quite chill, wouldn’t you say so? There were also some generous donations.” Asriel said, taking a bite out of his burger.
“Couldn’t say the same about your chat, however…” Berdly pecked at his salad, doing his best to not get stray lettuce all over the table. “There were some real neanderthals in there - but nothing a swift ban hammer can’t fix!” He declares, a wingtip pointing to the ceiling, his other wing across his chest.
“Can’t help that… thanks for your consistent help, Berdly.” Asriel takes a glance at their sibling, who is fiddling around with the paper sheet on their tray. “...c’mon, Kris, you gotta eat something. Here, have some of my fries.”
Asriel turns their Windy’s fry cup towards the human, before he proceeds to start talking about the stream marathon he was planning with Berdly - even in the presence of friends and family, they still felt like… an intruder. Like they didn’t belong not only in this conversation, but… this group as a whole. They stare at the fries, their hands gripping the booth’s seat.
Asriel turns their attention to his sibling again, a worried expression on his face this time. “Does your stomach still hurt? We can buy some meds on the way back home.” Asriel said softly, rubbing their back a little. “If you’re not hungry, then that’s fine, but… you barely ate anything today. It’s not good to go too long on an empty stomach.”
“Your brother is correct, Kristopher! While Windy’s fries have a very low nutritional score, one must consume something to keep the hunger bar from falling too low, or-” Berdly quickly snatches one of the fries with a quick peck at the box, slowly eating it with a smarmy expression on his beak. “-your opponents might just have the chance to steal it from you with their superior sneaking skills!”
Kris narrows their eyes at the avian, quickly snatching the box of fries and putting it on their knees before grabbing one and slowly eating it. Asriel pats their back, a sincere smile on his face, before returning to his burger and shake, looking at Berdly once again.
“Hopefully with these donations, I can finally buy a new ringlight. The one I currently have is slowly on its way out - no amount of lightbulb changes will make it shine like it once did, I’m afraid.”
“So far there were no complaints about your face not being visible, but staying on top of your game is of utmost importance! We need to improve the quality of your facecam before the viewers take notice - you deserve to be seen in glorious 4K!” The avian proclaimed, before burying his beak in his phone, scrolling through several different channels in Asriel’s Thiscord server. It wasn’t the most active server, but it still needed a moderator - and when Asriel was looking for assistance, who would’ve been better than Berdly Benetton, the greatest gamer from Hometown! …though, currently, he was just using it as a cover to eavesdrop onto Kris’s and Asriel’s conversation.
This meeting in general was one huge chain of coincidences. They all knew each other from childhood, since all of them were raised in Hometown, but once they all grew up and went their separate ways, it seemed like their paths would never cross again. And so, Berdly started his college career as a premed major, despite his love for video games and anything related to technology - he was advised that was where the money was. Unfortunately, he bit off more than he can chew, and he was rejected from a top university in Mon York, causing him to have to fall on his Plan B - a Management and Marketing degree from a state university in San Monsisco. At first, he was completely uninterested and even considered attempting another shot at premed, but he found his niche in Social Media Advertising, influencing him to stay. Not to mention, thanks to his aunt, his room and board was paid for, in exchange for him doing an internship at her editorial office. Even if it felt like his own personal prison, in this economy… he really couldn’t complain (plus, it was another thing he could put on his resume!)
And as life went on, work and studies quickly became part of Berdly’s routine - but of course, he couldn’t leave his life of gaming behind! Whenever he found the time, he would get engrossed in a variety of games, ranging from singleplayer RPGs to multiplayer shooters. However, his top priorities remained clear: finish his studies, score an actual job that paid… maybe get into a relationship…? Simple enough, right?
That was until Berdly, by sheer coincidence, queued up with Asriel in Fortnya - he was never close with Kris’s brother to begin with, but somehow after that one round, they became regular gaming partners. Not only that, Asriel mentioned to Berdly that he was trying to grow his streaming career, talking about his own server and what came with it. His numbers were growing and Asriel couldn’t handle it on his own, so he begged Berdly (Asriel insists it was just a light request) to help moderate the server - and Berdly gladly obliged. It was another volunteer job in his long list of them, but it was also nice having a “friend” within the city - one that he has often met up with to go out to eat with, go watch a movie with, even help set up new equipment for Asriel’s streaming setup.
And on one of those days, when Berdly knocked on the door, he was surprised to see someone other than Asriel open the door - a person much taller than him, basically towering over the poor avian. But one quick adjustment of his glasses, a squint at their face, and he could confirm the titan that was standing in front of him was none other than…
“K-Kris?!” the avian sputtered, fixing his glasses once again. “What are you doing here?!”
Asriel would later explain that Kris moved in with him, hoping to attend the same university Berdly was going to, meaning they would see each other way more often. It would give him more time to get used to Kris’s new appearance - and what a change it was, considering it's been years since they last met!
But at the same time, another change they noticed is the sadness behind their eyes whenever their long bangs were slightly brushed to the side. Trying to start a conversation with them usually ended abruptly by Kris just nodding, a mumble that was barely audible, or them staying quiet until attention was no longer on them, in which they would go to another room, making Berdly feel like they weren’t much for conversation. However, the more Berdly stopped by, the more Kris engaged with him, to the point where they had short conversations about life, games, and their university experience. And so, life for Berdly was basically the same, besides Kris’s minor cameos in his main story.
Then, out of nowhere, Kris dropped out of university, and shut themselves in yet again, setting their relationship back to square one.
Stress, a major that barely interested them and overall a lack of effort and energy led to them leaving it all behind, basically alternating between rotting away in bed and trying to hold onto any part-time job that would keep them around and allow them to earn a living - but they weren’t exactly good at keeping them either, getting fired after a few weeks at a new job. It was… depressing to watch.
And Berdly knew the Dreemurrs weren’t rich enough to keep two separate households afloat, especially with one being in such an expensive city - hell, Asriel confided to Berdly that Kris wants to keep everything between them, with not a single peep to their parents, causing the bird to feel… bad for them. Back in the day, they were basically on par when it came to academics and games, but now… all he felt towards them was pity. It hurt his SOUL to see his long-time rival of wits become nothing more than… a depressed, burned out shell of their former self.
And normally, people go through character development - his, for example, was fueled by a certain someone showing him how humbling life could actually be, striving him to improve for the future (or that’s at least what he kept telling himself). But of course, others would spiral down to their lowest points, and some definitely deserve it… but Berdly would never wish that upon Kris.
Not to mention, anytime Berdly brought up Noelle and Susie, they would usually shut down and try their best to weasel out of the conversation, which made Berdly wonder if they were the reason they moved to San Monsisco - which would be incredibly odd, considering they moved to Mon York while Kris was still living in Hometown.
And this life was causing them to deteriorate more and more, making Asriel more worried about what their future looked like. One night, during one of their meetups, they sat on a park bench overlooking a river, the smell of cigarette smoke in the air. Asriel almost never smoked - only when he was really stressed, and never in front of his sibling, but the smell probably lingered long enough for them to figure it out anyways.
“Birdbro… do you think I made the right choice…?” Asriel lamented, putting the cigarette to his mouth.
The avain turned to him, a slight look of confusion on his face. “...regarding Kris?”
“Yeah…maybe I shouldn’t have convinced them to move in with me and leave Hometown behind. I feel like my offer really affected them mentally…” Asriel says, breathing out a puff of cigarette smoke before crushing it on the park bench, flicking it into the nearby grass. He puts a paw on his face, his voice choking up. “All I wanted was to give them a change of scenery! Something to make them feel less chained to a place that made them feel bad, but now… I feel like I fucking contributed more to their pain! They’re slowly fading away and it… it hurts to watch!” He puts his face in both of his paws now, tears running down his cheeks. “I just… I just don’t know what to do for them anymore. I don’t want them to struggle anymore. I want them to be able to smile, like when we were younger. And they started again when they met that saurian girl… Susie, was it? I never got to meet her, but I do know they don’t speak anymore. If she also hurt them somehow, I’ll - I’ll -”
Berdly puts one of his wings on his back, stroking it gently. “You’re not the only one. They always close up when I mention her, too… maybe there will be a day where they will open up to us.”
Asriel takes in a deep breath, wiping off his tears, running a paw through his fur.
“But if they keep shutting down like this, maybe… maybe they should go back to Hometown. To our parents. Maybe that way… they’ll be happier.”
After a few minutes of silence, both of them staring down at the river below, they say their farewells, both of them going their own way. Asriel’s words linger in Berdly’s mind… he knows Kris wouldn’t want to go back to Hometown. There’s nothing left for them there - it's essentially a 40+ club now.
He had to do something for them. Not to score brownie points from Asriel, not for some self-fullfilling reason… but because they were his friend. And seeing them like this… even if he doesn’t know what’s happening behind the curtain, he feels like he can’t leave them behind to suffer alone. He’ll find something for them - something they can excel at.
And that something came sooner than he expected - a something that would change their lives forever.
***
“Catti… is there a reason you’re… here?” Berdly asked the unexpected visitor, tilting his head to the side a little.
“Wishing I wasn’t here. Had no choice. She wouldn’t let me live… If I didn’t come and say… hello.”
“Ohmygosh, don’t saaaaaay that, lil’ sis! It’s birdboy that, like, visited, okay? You two were, like, besties back in Hometown, riiiiight?” Catty clapped her hands, spinning around in excitement before landing on the couch next to her sister, squeezing her tightly. “I’m, like, sooooo happy my lil’ sis moved in with me, so we can see each other WAAAAY more often!”
“...how exhilarating. You are… a bane to my existence.” Catti droned, not reacting to the sudden display of sisterly love as she continued to scroll through her phone. She looks up eventually, locking eyes with the avian. “She asked me. To help you. With some outfits.”
“Outfits - YES! Ohmygosh, birdboy, sweetie, you, like, HAVE to see these fits! Come on, come onnnnn, take a look!” Catti doesn’t give him any time to hang his jacket up before he’s whisked away farther into the studio and into the dressing room - one filled with tons of colorful… garments, if you could call them that. Berdly himself thought they were very… kitschy… it was the nicest way to put it.
“Look at this, like, new dress I got recently! The material is soooooo nice and fur doesn’t even, like, cling to it!” She does her signature laugh, paw barely covering her fully open mouth. “I love this company soooooo much! Everyone there is, like, the sweetest!”
He grimaces at the dress she showed - a colorblock dress with way too many colors and definitely way too many blocks. And to top it all off, it had a tacky… wave pattern on it? Whatever it was, it was too much for him - so much so that he almost said out loud how ugly it was. But that’s not why he’s here.
Today, he was at Catty’s fashion studio for one of his college assignments - helping create a mock social media campaign for a business or company - but mock wasn’t enough for Berdly. He wanted to show that he could do the real thing and create a proper campaign - and who better than one of his fellow Hometown natives? And thankfully, after reaching out to her, she gladly accepted the help, which was then followed with a stream of crying emojis and messages about how “like, no one’s buying ANYTHING!!!” and “I need this brand to, like, take off soon or else I have to like, go BACK to Hometown or whatever!”
One quick glance of their Monstagram account would explain everything to an onlooker - if a dictionary had pictures, this account would be right next to tacky. There was a lot of work that had to be done, but it’s nothing Berdly Benetton, social media extraordinaire, couldn’t handle!
…though, he wasn’t sure if he could handle Catty herself, considering she was a bit… overbearing. Clingy. Desperate… much like he was back in his teenage years. Still, he couldn’t leave a client hanging, even if she wasn’t paying him for the work that was to be done - a promise is a promise. He’ll just use this as a learning experience for future problematic clients.
He can do this. He can do this!
He can-
“So, like… do you knoooooow anyone, orrrrrr…?”
He blinked a few times at the cat in front of him, a confused expression crossing his face. He was so deep in his thoughts, he must have tuned out her incessant yapping.
“Sorry, do you mind repeating the question?”
The cat barely acknowledged the fact she was tuned out before and quickly puts on her cheery demeanor again. “No worries! Omigosh, so, like, I had this amazing idea for an outfit, but I need the, like, right person for itttt! And it’s a good vision, birdboy - you can, like, trust me on that one!” She cheered, winking at him afterwards.
Oh. A vision. From the same person that showed him… whatever that was earlier. Joooooy. He just couldn’t wait.
“And… the vision consists of…?”
She clasped her hands together, leaning closer to him, her eyes widened.
“A human model! I like, neeeeed, to find a human model! But, like, I know, like, NONE! Catti said she’d rather die or whatever before helping me, like, find one, so you’re, like, my last hope! Can you pleaseeeee find one - anyone will, like, do!” She falls to her knees, her eyes getting glassy. “Anyone!”
A lightbulb instantly goes off above his head - he proceeds to fix his glasses, a grin slowly crossing his beak.
“Heh… you’ve come to the right bird! I may know someone that can help!” He smirked, before the lightbulb went dark just as quickly as it lit up.
He did know a human, but that human… was Kris Dreemurr. And from the state he saw them in last time, there’s no way they would agree to doing this - or wearing something like that.
Catti has since gotten back on her feet, her claws almost digging into his upper wings. “Omigosh, REALLY?! Can you pretty pretty please, like, ask them to model for me? Like, pretty pretty PRETTY please?” She bats her eyelashes at him so quickly he swore she was causing a draft in the studio.
Kris? Modeling? Not possible. There is no way in hell that would work. But… it didn’t hurt to ask… after all, they didn’t have anything else to do. And in the worst case scenario, Berdly might bring a fleeting smile to Kris’s face.
Screw it.
“...fine. I, Berdly Benetton, solemnly swear to ask them to model for you. And what a convenient coincidence - you also know them, Catty. For the person I will be asking is none other than-”