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You... didn't like going out.
You definitely hated it.
Just thinking about it made you tired, your stomach twisting with that familiar mix of anxiety and unease.
What a little anxious child you were.
Pathetic.
Depressing.
And that's why you were now staring suspiciously at the excited skeleton in front of you before lowering your head and returning your attention to the comic book resting in your lap.
"Come on, kid. It'll be fun! You barely even go into the garden! We won't stay long if you don't want to."
Killer said while continuing to look at you, or at least, you thought he was. It was hard to tell. Still, you could feel it. His gaze? His presence..?
"It'd be good for you to get some sunlight too, especially while you're recovering."
Would the sun feel comforting and warm this time? Or would it be unbearably hot?
"We can get ice cream." Or steal some.
Your little spot on the living room rug still looked far too comfortable.
There were always dangers outside. Even if this was probably a different AU, you could still run into someone, regardless of whether they were an alternate version or not.
And parks were boring.
Playing alone could be fun sometimes, but it could also be painfully dull. You'd probably spend most of your time on the swings, and the other kids were always so loud.
They scared you.
But he looked so excited...
And you'd always been terrible at saying no.
Even when you should.
"Are we going to be out for long...?" you whispered hesitantly, closing your comic book.
"Do you want it to take long?" You shook your head. "Then no." He patted your head.
You actually liked those pats. Not that you'd ever admit that to him. He'd get way too smug about it.
"Are we leaving now?" You had to tilt your head up to look at him from where you were sitting. "Maybe after a change of clothes."
Right..you were still wearing pajamas.
"Oh... right." Gently tossing the comic onto the couch, you got up and headed toward what was now your room.
It had taken you a while to memorize where it was. The castle was enormous and felt like a maze. You definitely hadn't explored all of it.
Maybe someday, when you had the energy.
Your room felt more like your room than your old room ever had. Which was surprisingly comforting for someone who hated change.
You even had plushies! Most of them had been secretly left there by Cross, despite the fact that you knew it was him.
At first, he'd leave them beside your pillow at night whenever he thought you were asleep. Your sleep was light because of the trauma. Even though he barely made a sound, you'd wake up from the slightest shift in the mattress.
You never let him find out.
Walking over to your wardrobe, you looked through your clothes. You had plenty now, although you barely wore half of them.
A simple shirt and denim overall shorts. You didn't like showing too much skin. You didn't like your scars, or the marks left behind by your injuries.
Not knowing what the weather would be like in the AU you were visiting, you decided to bring a sweater. Though you were pretty sure it would be hot.
Running back to Killer, you found him sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone until he noticed you. "Ready?" You nodded.
He extended a hand and rested it on your shoulder before teleporting both of you.
The sensation was always strange.
Like you were nothing more than air drifting through space. Something insignificant. Part of nothing and everything at the same time.
The two of you reappeared near the trees of the park, hidden and discreet. It was definitely sunny. You probably would've stayed beneath the shade if Killer hadn't been guiding you toward the playground.
You were already regretting this. The place was packed.
Seeing the crease forming between your brows, he squeezed your shoulder reassuringly. "Didn't realize it'd be this crowded. But I'm sure you'll still manage to have at least a little fun. I can play with you if you want."
You felt guilty about making him worry, so you shook your head. You could play by yourself.
The universe looked like Underfell.
You weren't sure whether Killer hadn't noticed or simply didn't care.
Sigh. Fine.
Fortunately, with the other children too busy running around and playing together, the swings were empty.
You took advantage of that immediately with great satisfaction.
As you swung back and forth, your thoughts began to wander.
Swinging felt like floating in the void. Like being suspended in the air.
Had it been a month since you'd started living with the skeletons? Maybe. Your sense of time still wasn't great. Why think about time when it passed regardless?
Lost in your thoughts, the high, energetic swinging from earlier gradually became slow and lazy. You never stayed on the swings for very long, as much as you wanted to, other kids always wanted a turn, and you felt too embarrassed to keep going.
But you were distracted. And you didn't want to leave that dissociative haze.
You didn't even notice the boy trying to talk to you until he tried to push you off the swing.
Ouch. That would've been a nasty scrape on your knee.
Actually, no.
Killer caught you by the arm and steadied you before you could fall. "You're really not very sociable, are you, kid?" He dragged you behind the swings while the boy immediately took your place.
"Sorry." Killer didn't answer.
He just lazily stared at the boy's back. "Ice cream time?" You nodded absentmindedly. "Mhm." This time, he grabbed your hand before kicking the swing seat with the boy still on it.
The kid tumbled to the ground and immediately burst into tears. You felt guilty. It wasn't really his fault.
He just wanted to play, and you'd been in the way.
Before those thoughts could sink in any deeper, Killer took off running while dragging you toward an ice cream shop, clearly unwilling to let the kid start a scene involving the two of you.
The shop was air-conditioned. The cool air was refreshing.
It looked cute, but you weren't really paying attention to your surroundings right now.
Killer got one scoop of chocolate and one scoop of vanilla. Meanwhile, you chose a scoop of mint ice cream loaded with hazelnut cream drizzle and even more candy piled on top.
"Wow. You're a sugar-coated nightmare." He said as you ate with one of the shop's custom spoons. "Having fun so far?"
"It wasn't... bad." You stared down at your ice cream. "Told you."
...
"Killer?" He hummed in question.
"The boy. Why did you push him?" You looked at him. You weren't the type to believe in revenge.
"Because he pushed you."
"But that's because I'd been on the swing too long. I didn't mean to hog it, but I did. It was my fault, and it makes sense. He wanted to play too. I think... it was unfair."
"Maybe. But he didn't have to push you." He looked at you.
"I wasn't listening either." You lowered your head, using your spoon to catch some melted ice cream before it dripped.
"Distracted?" You nodded. "Well, then it wasn't really your fault either. Grabbing you wasn't exactly the best option and—"
The glass door of the ice cream shop suddenly slammed open.
Crying.
Hurried footsteps.
"There they are, Mom! It was them!"
"Hey!! You two!!"
Oops.
Time to go home.