Chapter Text
The sun rose down from the lake, painting the muddy body of water a disorienting shade of orange. The only movement was provided by a very agitated Susie, trying to succeed in skipping stones on it; even if it's just for once.
When she kneeled down just to hold a perfectly round stone, she realized that this actually won't do it at all; thus, in frustration plopped back down while also throwing it deep into the lake.
Kris was watching her intently, laugh that was once stifled coming through them as they liked now.
"How do you still find it funny?"
"It just never gets old, y'know."
"Whatever, it's stupid anyway," she grumbled, but Kris could clearly see the way her lips pursed, an embarrassed habit of hers.
Lately, Kris wasn't sure what it was about, but something about teasing Susie felt even better. Perhaps it was the motion of knowing her better. She blushed easily, complained softly, perhaps trusted them a little too much; really, Susie was actually super cute.
When Kris realized that all it took for this girl to show her her true colors was a person that accepted her just the way she was (which was actually not quite as violent as she wanted you to believe) they just wanted to dote on her more. Which, unfortunately for Susie, meant teasing her to hell and back.
They took a perfectly flat stone, and with a swift motion threw it right onto the lake.
"One, two, three, four, five... It's skipped six times," they grinned, holding a victory sign to her.
Susie scoffed. "Well, that's nothing impressive. Let's see if you can beat... This!" She threw another stone in the lake, which pathetically sunk once again.
They were full-on laughing now. "Whatever!" She said. "Noelle's coming tomorrow. We have work to do."
"Huh? What kind?"
Rather than embarrassed, she was full-on pissed now. "Screw you, Kris. You know you promised that you'd give us flirting lessons."
Their smile only widened. "Susie doesn't really need them. She could use her pretty smile."
"Wha— pffft," she laughed. They thought about how pretty she looked as she did that, an offhanded thought. "You cheesy dumbass. Maybe it'll only get worse if we end up getting lessons from you."
They just shrugged and got up. "Ralsei's waiting," they said. "Maybe he still wants them."
"Let's find out," she swung an arm over Kris's shoulders. An air of calm washed over the town as the two of them made their way to the Dreemurr residence. It was a nostalgic place for all of them, Hometown was nostalgic overall. College scattered them around like marbles, and it was somehow difficult to keep in touch. Asriel had long since moved away, but he'd still swing by to try and convince Dess to marry him. It was ironic, really. In the end, Dess couldn't get away for long yet Asriel did. It left a bitter taste in Kris's mouth.
Well that was that and it was left behind. In reality, it would probably make more sense for Ralsei to stay over with Dess, but he was definitely more comfortable with Kris's family for various reasons, with one of them being how uncomfortable Carol made them.
"Ralsei! Guess what, we're back, stupid," Susie grinned, yet she soon shut up upon seeing him on the phone, talking hushedly.
"It's probably his job."
"What else could it be?" She jabbed Kris, then gestured to them to settle on the couch.
"Mhm, okay, I can cover for tonight," he was nodding, a habit, "I could use it, yes. Please let me know if there are other shifts available."
Watching him with concern, the girl leaned in to ask Kris. "Aren't they overdoing it?" They could only sadly nod, knowing about their financial situation.
There was only so much they could do to help Toriel. Asriel sometimes sent money, he did well for himself after all; but Asgore didn’t, or rather, couldn’t. Ralsei and Susie practically had nowhere else to stay, and while Toriel didn't really mind the lack of help, they absolutely did; so they ended up picking up jobs here and there.
Not without Kris, of course. Kris had finally found their people after so long, how could they let go? Plus, they also knew they had to contribute to the household somewhat...
The phone call had ended, and Ralsei's tired smile only got punctuated by the dimming sunlight. Something about sunsets and Ralsei went really well, both of them thought, the way light fell on their particularly fair skin, and really, fair composure overall made them look like something as comforting and nostalgic as the early morning childhood cartoons. "Welcome back. I've been waiting for you two," he rushed to hold them. "How was your day?"
"It was alright," Susie noted, "there wasn't much to do, really."
"Don't pay her no mind. All she can think about is Noelle." That earned them an elbowing from Susie, yet they didn't seem to mind at all.
"Oh, yes!" Ralsei pushed back his glasses. "Noelle's coming home, isn't she? We haven't even started our flirting lessons yet."
"Yeah, yeah... Whatever."
He seemed lost in thought. "We haven't even taken Susie out for shopping."
"I told you already, there's no need for that…”
"Nonsense! We have to find you something to wear. Maybe Toriel has some... Things?.." Kris and Susie were both deadpanning. "Um, maybe not?" Ralsei nervously chuckled.
"Gosh, fine," her brown locks slightly tickled Kris as she threw her head back. "You can maybe take me shopping," she grinned, "after I secure a date with her."
"Oh, I like your confidence Susie!"
"Why are you guys clapping?"
Susie's little crush was somewhat reciprocated, she wasn't sure, Noelle was distracted by her family events then college; with so many responsibilities on her shoulders she didn't really have time for dating. But she could see that there was something in the way that Noelle looked at her. Blushes, silly yet innocent high school sweetheart flirtings, the stammers, all that jazz. Yet neither of them could ask one another on a date, let alone to prom. Now that Noelle didn't have her hands full anymore, maybe this was finally her chance.
"Okay, so, teach me your ways."
Kris rested their head on their hands, looking at Susie with bored eyes. "What makes you think that I'm an expert at flirting anyway?"
"What do you think, dumbass?" She fiddled as she reminiscenced. "You… Uh… You could get anyone you wanted. I even thought you were dating Noelle at first, y'know."
"Susie thinks I'm hot, Ralsei."
"Oh my!"
"Kris, stop being a sleazebag already!” Seeing her grin at them like that, Kris felt a mysterious pang in their chest. Their pulse quickened as they did their best to one up her somehow.
"Have confidence. You're… You’re hotter." This should do it.
"Idiot," she grinned, "one of those days I might take you seriously." To be fair, Kris wasn't sure if they took themselves seriously, they probably should’ve judging by the warmth that washed over them after this exchange. But at the start, this was somewhat of a way of defending themselves. Susie used to hate them, she'd throw them against a locker, steal their lunch, give vague cannibalistic threats and verbally insult them constantly; Kris was scrawny and weak, so all they could do to fight back was to flirt.
They hadn't got a clue how they got that bright idea, but it somewhat worked. At first, Susie got angrier and her bullying increased, yet the key to escape was to strike when least expected.
Oh. Maybe that could be a great start?
"Strike when least expected," Kris nodded, "she shouldn't see it coming."
That was definitely a bad idea, Susie thought. Ralsei, however, was enthralled for some reason.
“Ralsei… You do know that we won’t get quizzed, right?”
“Mhm.”
“...Why the hell are you taking notes then?”
“Might be useful.”