Work Text:
"Thanks for walking me home."
Those were the last words Susie had said before the closet doors slammed shut in front of Kris. The darkness flowing out of the door seemingly echoed through the halls of the school before everything came to a halt.
Kris began to tear up, thoughts swimming through their head. Things they had aspired for their whole life had seemingly been out of reach. Nothing had prepared them for heartbreak, especially not after today. The festival had Kris holding in their deepest darkest fears, and the thought of ending everything they had planned with the knight loomed over them the whole time.
Susie was never gonna love them like they did for her, it just was never gonna happen. The prophecy needed to be set in motion, and she was bound to find out everything within the next day.
Kris was too upset to even care about the soul controlling their movements, so they stopped trying to resist. The soul, now fully in control, decides to do something drastic.
After exiting the school, with the dim lights flickering around the streets of Hometown, the soul commandeered Kris to the last place they’d ever want to be. That Angel forsaken lake.
Memories began to flood into Kris’s head as their body took a crumpled position at the edge. Susie’s smile echoed in their head, almost taunting them.
It was then that Kris took some control back for themselves, and pulled out the flower seeds they had pocketed from before. Kris stared at them, considering if what they wanted to do was the right thing to do, for the good of everyone. Surely even their mother wouldn’t miss them if they were gone.
It was then that Kris had the strangest sensation in their chest, yet it was a familiar one. Kris’s very soul separated from them, without any outside input.
The soul began to morph and change before Kris, seemingly trying to mimic them, but not quite looking exactly like the human in front of it.
It was then that the figure walked next to Kris, and took a seat beside them.
”Don’t even start with me today….
Since when can you even do this shit?”
Kris tucked their head into their legs.
The soul began anyways.
”I understand your pain you know…
If I had a friend like Susie, I probably would’ve fallen for her too.”
”What do you know? You’re just a parasite, a demon even…”
”Whatever you call me, we’re still stuck together in all this.
I’m not gonna question what you’re planning with The Knight, but it needs to end here.”
Kris held their head into their hands.
”What’s even the point of going on anymore..?”
Kris held the seed bag in their hands, still considering many things.
“If you want to die, I suppose there’s a few things I should say to you first before you, well…. do it.
I couldn’t really stop you from doing it yknow?
It’d just be delaying your choices.”
Kris looked at the figure with tears in their eyes.
”I just want to say, it’s been a hell of a ride.
Here I was believing I’d get my own vessel made to my liking, when instead I’m stuck with you.
I honestly hated you at first, thinking you were this edgy ass teen that didn’t care about anything but themselves.
But then as I observed, I started to realize you’re not like that at all.”
Kris looked away from the soul, seemingly embarrassed.
”It’s now that I realized that, it wasn’t about The knight, or anyone else for that matter, besides… her.
Susie, I mean.
You’re in love with her because she’s the only one you think could’ve ever loved you back…
And when she chose Noelle over you… it devastated you rightfully.”
”You’ve done a lot for me… haven’t you?”
The soul perked up, genuinely confused at Kris’s comment.
”All you wanted to do was save the world, and help me, for some unknown reason…
All I have to ask is… why?”
“It’s because I feel it’s the right thing to do.
Be honest with me Kris, do you really want to be a pawn in the Knight’s plans?
It’s not too late for you.”
“What’s even the point…?
Susie will never love me no matter what happens.
Thats all that matters to me anymore… just having someone that cares…”
”I care.”
Kris looked towards the soul. The figure had a subtle smile on their face.
Kris chuckled a bit between their sniffles.
”You’re a real fucking asshole you know that?”
”I know, but I try to do what’s best for everyone involved.
The last thing I want is for you to be dead.
I don’t want to control your body, if anything I want my own vessel back.
But, I can continue what I’m doing now, and maybe manipulate our whole situation a bit…”
Kris’s eyes slowly panned across the lake, taking in this place of rotted memories.
”Is it wrong to say I kinda like you?”
Kris immediately sprung up from pure surprise and astonishment.
”I mean, the way you talk, act, fight for what you want, it’s all very inspiring.
Despite everything you still care about people.
You’re not a bad person Kris.
And there’s something very admirable about it.”
The soul gave Kris a subtle smile.
”I just wish Susie “liked” me…”
Kris began to cry again.
“Know what…. Fuck Susie.
She pushed aside your genuine friendship for a girl she met 5 days ago.
Sure she probably still cares about you, but it’s no use to simply sit on your ass and mope about it…
I see you for who you truly are.
A kind, strong, but broken person in need of someone to lift them up.”
Kris kept on weeping, but seemed to let up a little bit.
”Ill be right back…”
The soul drifted away, seemingly going off to grab something.
A few seconds later, the figure came back with a luminous blue rose. They slowly walked up to Kris before holding the side of their face towards them. They then proceeded to gently place the rose into Kris’s dark brown hair.
”It’s…. nice I guess.”
Kris slightly blushed before looking to the side. The figure proceeded to lift Kris up and tightly embrace them.
Kris began to cry even more, not just of sadness and heartbreak, but also, a small hint of hope.
The two “humans” stayed held together for what seemingly felt like forever.
”So, are you ready to forget about Susie for a moment and focus on what you truly want?”
”Y-yeah.”
Kris slowly wiped away their tears and looked towards the glowing figure before them. Kris proceeded to take the toxic flower seeds they had held, and tossed them into the water.
”That’s littering you know.”
”Shut up before I put you back in the cage.”
The two went silent before suddenly bursting out in laughter.
(Several hours later)
The two people were shooting the shit for the longest time of their lives, talking about anything possible in order to make themselves feel better.
”You’re such a prick Kris…”
The two stared at each other making stupid faces and taunting noises. They eventually got tired of it and went silent in each others presence.
“So Kris… what exactly IS your type anyways?”
”You know I’m never gonna answer that question, asshole.”
“I already know you’re into dragons, does that include other reptilian monsters?”
”Go to hell.”
”Im just curious dude, damn…”
”…(You don’t look half bad yourself.)”
“What?-“
”What?-“
The two stared in silence for a second before once again laughing their asses off.
”Fucccck dude remember that time you ate a WHOLE PIE after you slammed me into that bird cage a couple days ago?”
”What can I say? I got hungry at night and my mom makes amazing pie.”
“Dude you ate a chocolate so old that it legit had runic cracks on it.
You also eat moss and stuff…”
“Well excuse me, it’s not my fault I barely get more than one meal a day.”
“Maybe if you didn’t starve yourself you’d be able to take a bit more damage.”
“Careful now, I’m only just now starting to warm up to your body stealing ass.”
As the two continued talking, the sun was close to being fully risen.
Kris began to scrunch up again.
“Hey now, don’t think about all that garbage.
Just because Susie doesn’t love you doesn’t mean you don’t deserve love.
I tried wing manning for you, but she just wants Noelle.
it’s not your fault.”
Kris sniffled.
”T- thank you.”
”I should probably hop back in, school’s starting soon.”
”Yeah…”
Kris blushed a bit before slowly absorbing the soul back into their body. It almost felt like they were whole again, even if just for a moment.
Kris’s legs took the initiative, and as they had many times before, began walking on their own. But instead of resisting, Kris just smiled and let it go.
By the time they made it to school, it was still a bit early. They slowly made their way into Alphys’s classroom. Amazingly, she herself was there.
”O- oh! Kris!
You- never have been this early before…
(or at all for that matter…)
G- go ahead, take your seat.”
They sat down, just like usual, holding their chest gently. Kris smiled, knowing that they weren’t alone. The thing that once made them feel like they weren’t in control, now gave them a sense of comfort.
Kris began to think about what the soul had said to them at the lake. They almost started blushing again. Thoughts about everything circling in their head. Did they really hate them for all this time without getting to know them?
Eventually, Kris’s classmates came in one by one, with Noelle notably missing.
The last to arrive was Susie. She stomped into the class like usual, and sat right behind Kris.
Kris put their head down, as to not pay attention to her.
“Hey! Kris!”
Kris reluctantly decided to look behind them. For a second they had hope.
”Have you seen Noelle anywhere?”
Kris’s happiness immediately faded away. They went back to being slumped over on their desk.
“I guess you don’t know either… heh.”
Susie looked at her feet and played with her hands.
”I can’t get her outta my mind right now…”
Kris was already starting to tear up again, before they remembered what the soul told them. “(Just because Susie doesn’t love you doesn’t mean you don’t deserve love.
I tried wing manning for you, but she just wants Noelle.)”
Susie had thoughts beyond just Noelle though… She kept thinking about Kris, and how much they meant to her. Despite everything, she still considered Kris her closest friend.
She thought about everything that’s has happened in the past few days and felt almost guilty. Did she accidentally shaft Kris aside? Susie pondered this the whole class period. Susie felt… different about Kris today, in a good way. She felt sort of fuzzy when they were in front of her.
Kris stood by, oddly content with the fact that their crush seemingly didn’t love them back. They questioned why they weren’t upset, and yet they came up with nothing.
This feeling in Kris’s chest was unfamiliar yet comforting. It was almost like that hug they shared with the soul at the lake. Kris smiled once again, their worries starting to melt away.
The class lecture was as boring as usual, something about that stupid project again. Kris already knew that it was never going to get finished. Especially not with everything going on.
Kris nodded off, seemingly letting their worries drift away in their sleep.
By the time they woke up, class was over. Kris felt their legs moving on their own again. They walked out of the class, around the school, and wandered into the forest.
Once they were completely surrounded by woods, the soul came out of Kris’s chest once again. They then formed into a humanoid shape again before their eyes.
“So, what’s your plan today huh? Open a fountain in Noelle’s house?”
The soul had a smug smile on their face.
”I’m not planning to do anything anymore…
You were right… I can choose not to obey the knight…
But I know there will be hell to pay for it.”
Kris sat on a log nearby, and held their head in their hands. The soul sat beside them.
”I know you won’t tell me all the details.
We barely even really know each other by this point….”
”What’s important is that I’m not opening another fountain.
I’m done.
There’s no reason to keep listening to the Knight.”
Kris started to cry again.
”There’s nothing for me in the prophecy…
Im just the cage, the thing that’s supposed to house you.”
”Hey hey, don’t cry now…
You’re much more than that Kris…”
The soul patted Kris’s back. The two sat there, watching the wind blow the leaves on the trees around them.
”Why did you even bring me out here..?”
The soul twiddled its glowing fingers.
“There’s something stupid I think you should know…”
The soul began to seemingly… blush.
”In all our adventures, I’ve held a very high respect of you.
I’ve tried to pick the choices that you would’ve wanted in every circumstance.
Despite me controlling your body I just, didn’t want to manipulate your life.
You’re strong, brave in the face of danger, intelligent…
You’re genuinely talented despite everything.
Remember when you played the piano all on your own..?”
Kris wiped away their tears and stared at the soul.
”I was genuinely amazed… it was beautiful yknow…
Kind of like y-“
The soul paused, wondering if they should finish what they were about to say. But Kris understood perfectly.
”Hold the hell on, are you telling me that you-?”
”Kris, I like you… like… LIKE like you.”
”Angel above….”
Kris buried their face in their hands. They almost began to laugh.
”H- how fucking amazing, my own parasite has a crush on me…”
Kris was blushing, though they were trying to hide it from the soul.
”No need to look away from me you know…
It’s nice to look into those scarlet red eyes of yours.”
Kris went red like a tomato.
”Why do you cover them anyways?
Do you think they make you look bad?
They’re very pretty.”
”S-shut up…”
”I bet you wondered what it’s like to be on the other end of the stick.
Now you’re the one getting hit with a confession.”
”FUUUUCKKKKKK.
IT DOESN’T HELP THAT IM NOT AGAINST IT…”
”Wait.. what?
You’re not against it?”
The souls face lit up.
”Nu- NO!
I SAID NOTHING!”
Kris curled themselves into a ball of hair and cloth.
”This is a trip…
I don’t even know what to say…”
“You know exactly what to say Kris.”
Kris looked up at the glowing red figure next to them. They grabbed the souls arm and lifted them off of the log.
”What if I told you, I kind of always knew?
The way you treated me was just…”
”You just didn’t wanna accept that the thing that was controlling you also had feelings for you, I get it.”
The soul gave a small smile towards the human, gazing into their crimson eyes.
”So, what do ya think huh?
Gonna trust me?”
”(I can’t believe I’m about to do this…)”
”About to do wh-? Mmph!”
Time practically stopped. Kris reached around the souls glowing form and brought their head close to their own.
Kris suddenly locked lips with the soul that was once controlling them.
This time, Kris was in control.
Kris pulled them in deeper, seemingly embracing them while the kiss went on.
The souls mouth was not of flesh, but of pure warmth, and the sensation was seemingly ethereal.
The moment felt like it lasted for hours.
The two came apart simply to stare at each other for a moment. They both blushed heavily.
”A- are you sure about this Kris?”
“Completely~.”
They kissed once again, unmovable in their actions.
Suddenly, the two heard movement behind them. But that didn’t stop them at all. The two were inseparable in this moment.
Susie and Noelle were wandering the forest looking for Kris.
The two were on a “date” after school before Susie needed to introduce Noelle to the dark world.
Susie wanted Kris to be with her.
“Susie? Are you sure they’re out here?”
“Pfft… of course they are.
Where else in town would they possibly be?
We already searched everywhere.”
It was then that Susie saw Kris’s legs underneath the tree canopies.
”HEY KRIS!
There you are dude… what are you-.”
Susie froze.
Time seemingly stopped before her as her mind raced.
Noelle stood beside her, genuinely confused as to what was going on. She thought to herself, “First my dad breaks his spine, now Kris is kissing a glowing red human?”
Susie was livid in a way she couldn’t describe. Why did she feel so pained by watching Kris kiss someone? It hurt to watch. She held her breath.
Kris and the soul quickly noticed the two walking in on them, and immediately stopped the whole ordeal.
“Oh…. Fuck.”
The soul immediately deformed and absorbed back into Kris before making them run away.
“KRIS..!”
Susie yelled before chasing after them.
”Susie!! W-wait!
Who was that with Kris??!?”
”We’re gonna fucking find out, cmon!!”
The two of them chased Kris through the woods, dodging boulders and fallen logs along their escape route.
Kris and “their” soul were terrified, knowing that there was no coming back from this. For the first time, they both fully agreed on something.
Eventually, their luck had run out. They had hit the edge of the lake. Susie and Noelle quickly caught up.
Cornered and out of ideas, Kris decided they only had one choice left. They had to tell the truth.
“KRIS!!!”
Susie dashed at them before grabbing Kris by the shoulders and shaking them vigorously.
”Who was that…?!?
And why the hell were you… doing that… with them…?”
Susie looked like she was about to break down for some reason. Kris had no idea why.
“Susie… I…
Remember that red heart you saw when we sealed the titan in the church?
Well, that’s them…”
“Titan..? Susie what is Kris talking about?”
”I… just…. FUCK…”
Susie let go of Kris and kicked the closest tree.
“Kris… what the hell are you even talking about..??!?
Like are you, doing… that with your own soul..?!??
Like what even..?”
“Susie, now isn’t really the time for this, you said you needed Kris for something right..?”
”It… doesn’t matter anymore… cmon Noelle, I’ll show you…
You have fun doing… whatever, Kris.
Ill see you at the next fountain…”
Susie walked away hand in hand with Noelle, while a single stray tear dropped to the ground. As the two walked away, the soul once again separated from Kris.
”I’m… sorry about that Kris…
That was a really big fuck up.”
”I have no idea what you’re referring to.”
”That whole confrontation with Susie…?”
”That… doesn’t matter.
You were right…
If I don’t move on I’ll be miserable.
I care about her a lot but if I don’t do my own thing, everything’s just gonna crumble.”
The two stared into each others eyes, both smiling at one another timidly. The tension was higher than it ever was.
”So… are we like… a thing now?”
”We kissed in front of your friends, no shit we’re a thing now.”
”This is gonna be real hard to explain to mom…”
“Its not like you have to tell her right away…
Just tell her you made another friend.”
“That’s only gonna work before she actually sees you moron.
You glow like a damn lava lamp.
Plus it doesn’t help that I quite literally can’t live without you.”
”Aww is someone getting attached already?”
”I hate you.”
”Then why did you give me tongue?”
”I uhhh…
Fuck you.”
”Just say you love me you emo lil shit.”
Kris groaned before giving the soul another peck on the cheek. Even this made them both blush again. They both knew that they cared, they just didn’t want to say it.
“Let’s get home before mom gets worried…”
“Good idea…”
The two walked side by side, making sure that no one else could see them trudging through the woods. Kris reached out their arm and clasped it with the soul’s. The two looked away, blushing, while they wandered their way home.
At the door, the soul reabsorbed back into Kris, but didn’t take any control, simply leaving Kris to make their own choices.
They both smiled. Knowing that there was someone actually there for them in the end.
The cage felt free.