Chapter Text
---
## POV The Cage
77
It was the 77th cycle. The Cage were truly disturbed by how persistently the parasite kept repeating those three days.
**Susie:**
— Hey, Kris, are you even listening?
̶L̶u̶s̶t̶:̶ ̶O̶h̶,̶ ̶s̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶e̶s̶.̶
The Cage’s thoughts were interrupted by the dragon sitting on the couch with them. They were in Kris Dreemurr’s house.
**Noelle:**
— Kris zones out like that sometimes. Susie, it’s better not to interrupt them in moments like that.
̶G̶l̶u̶t̶t̶o̶n̶y̶:̶ ̶W̶e̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶k̶ ̶m̶e̶a̶n̶i̶n̶g̶.̶
The girl sitting on the same couch said it with a light blush on her face — one that, apparently, always appeared whenever she addressed the dragon.
**Berdly:**
— Well, this is simply unacceptable! Kristopher, we are in your house. As the host, you are obligated to show hospitality!
̶P̶r̶i̶d̶e̶:̶ ̶W̶e̶ ̶o̶w̶e̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶o̶n̶e̶.̶
The bird completed the list of those present in the room. He lifted his wing and adjusted his glasses.
**Soul:**
— What would you like to do?
**The Cage:**
— What would you like to do?
̶W̶r̶a̶t̶h̶:̶ ̶H̶o̶w̶ ̶d̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶a̶k̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶u̶s̶.̶
As usual, the Cage repeated after the parasite. The feeling of déjà vu did not appear. That meant this cycle was fundamentally different from the previous ones. Even though the Cage didn’t fully remember the cycles, they only retained vague images, a strong sense of déjà vu, and the number of cycles — no precise information.
**Susie:**
— Umm… psst…
The dragon leaned closer to the girl and whispered:
**Susie:**
— What do people usually even do at sleepovers?
̶S̶l̶o̶t̶h̶:̶ ̶S̶l̶e̶e̶p̶.̶ ̶W̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶s̶l̶e̶p̶t̶ ̶p̶r̶o̶p̶e̶r̶l̶y̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶l̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶.̶
**Noelle:**
— A-ah… um…
She straightened up instantly and flushed even deeper — being in such close proximity to the dragon.
̶E̶n̶v̶y̶:̶ ̶…̶
**Berdly:**
— Well then, it seems I’m the only one capable of proposing something worthwhile on such a splendid evening. Obviously, we should watch a movie — something befitting our recent heroic feats!
Feats.
A strong word.
Right. It finally clicked for the Cage: the bird and the girl weren’t supposed to know about the Dark Worlds at this stage of events. Which meant the parasite had found a way to break the restrictions placed upon it.
̶P̶r̶i̶d̶e̶:̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶i̶t̶’̶s̶ ̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶t̶u̶r̶n̶.̶
The dragon immediately shot the bird a look, gestured for them to be quiet, and whispered loudly:
**Susie:**
— Listen, just because Kris insisted that you be told about the Dark Worlds doesn’t mean you have to bring it up all the time. Toriel is still here.
As if on cue, the door swung open and the one and only Dreemurr entered with a bag of groceries for her signature pie.
**Toriel:**
— Alright, children, who would like to help me with the cooking? After that, we can share the pie.
She offered it with a gentle smile.
̶G̶r̶e̶e̶d̶:̶ ̶W̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶d̶o̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶m̶e̶a̶n̶ ̶“̶s̶h̶a̶r̶e̶”̶?̶
**Noelle:**
— I’d love to, Miss Dreemurr!
The girl was the first to respond. She quickly stood and smiled back at the woman.
**Susie:**
— Can I?
The dragon followed right after, not hiding her excitement — a clear sign of how comfortable she felt here.
**Berdly:**
— Well then, since cooking is one of the skills in which I’ve invested considerable experience, I believe my assistance will be most valuable.
**Toriel:**
— How wonderful! You know, I’m so glad you decided to visit Kris and me. It’s been so quiet here lately… And Noelle, dear, please, just call me Toriel.
She scanned the room and stopped at the Cage.
Everyone’s attention followed, settling on the only person who hadn’t yet answered the lady of the house.
**Soul:**
— I’d be happy to.
̶P̶r̶i̶d̶e̶:̶ ̶N̶o̶.̶
**The Cage:**
— I need to use the bathroom.
Right after saying that, they left for the restroom under the questioning looks of the bird and the dragon — and the more concerned gazes of the girl and the mother.
---
## POV Noelle
The sounds of the movie drifted from the TV, but Noelle couldn’t focus at all. And how could she? Right now she was practically pressed against Susie while watching a horror movie. The perfect excuse to cling to her for comfort — not that she’d even need one, since she genuinely scared easily.
After a long argument between Susie and Berdly over what to watch, Kris insisted on a horror movie and then winked at her. She felt her pulse quicken because of that… obviously because of the prospect of watching a horror movie with Susie. The smile they gave her had absolutely nothing to do with it. Not at all.
**Susie:**
— AAAAGH!
Susie’s scream shattered her thoughts. A second later, she lunged at Kris and clung to them like a personal plush toy. Noelle’s own fear didn’t even register — and neither did the jealousy over the missed opportunity. No, her thoughts were fixed on the person currently trying to squirm out of the embrace of the object of her affection.
Kris…
*Why is everything with you always so complicated?* she screamed internally.
Lately, Kris had been acting strange. Stranger than usual. For the first time in two years, they were actively participating in conversations — even starting them. Maybe she wasn’t showing enough surprise? She meant, KRIS — and on their own — choosing to initiate social contact with HER. Just like that, they broke down the wall they had built themselves. Why? What changed?
But that wasn’t the strangest part of their behavior. Their walk, their gaze, their body language — it all felt like a completely different person.
And yet, sometimes, they showed their old self in the Dark World. In the Dark World, it felt to her like the “real Kris” appeared more often.
“The real Kris.” What a strange thought. She couldn’t help but wince. How pretentious. They hadn’t talked properly in so long — of course they could have changed. And yet here she was, thinking about the “real Kris.” What even made them “real” in her eyes?
No. Enough.
…
Alright. She couldn’t stop thinking about it.
She cast a brief glance at them and saw how they were sitting on the couch — wrong. Too straight. Too proper. That wasn’t “normal Kris.” *Her* Kris would have been sprawled across the couch, or sitting in some bizarre position that would make her wonder how it was even physically possible.
And just like that, without even realizing it, Noelle placed an equal sign between “normal Kris” and “her Kris.”
Slowly drifting off to sleep along with everyone else in the room, she let go of her worries about her best friend.
Just for tonight.