Work Text:
"Kris…"
Susie whispered their name softly, the door of the supply closet creaking, her fingers curling against the cold metal as she pulled it towards herself.
"Thanks for walking me home," she said, a melancholic bittersweet expression on her face as she shut the door tight.
Kris stood in the silence, frozen still as they blanked, staring at the shut door. The gentle chirping of crickets echoed in the empty halls, and then it was silent.
—
You watched as the screen went black, the end of the chapter declaring itself with the credits. Then came the quiet segment showing Susie decorating Castle Town for Noelle's arrival. Grimly, you realized she had been returning to Castle Town, connecting to this dark world instead of her reality. The game ended. You sighed, feeling a deep discomfort within you, and you wondered about Kris. How they would not move despite how much you tried pressing the keys to make them. As if the shock had left them immobile. You stopped trying to give meaning to it. Ultimately, you shut the program down, and your device along with it. You needed a break after that sudden heart wrenching end. You stepped away towards your kitchen, pouring yourself a cup of cold water, finding yourself staring up at the light bulb. It flickered once. You turned away, drinking, feeling the chill travel down your throat and spill into your stomach. The light flickered again. Then again. Your brows furrowed, setting the cup down, condensation dripping down the side. You went to the switch, turning the light off, then back on. It remained shut.
"Damn it," you muttered to yourself, realizing you would have to replace that. You sighed, walking past your room to rummage in your closet if you had any extras around. But you heard a weird gurgling glitching noise. Your brows furrowed, stopping and bringing your attention to your room. You pushed the door, letting it open fully with a creak. Your device was making a strange noise, and you panicked, afraid all those hours of playing might have left it too hot and now it was breaking down. You reached for it, staring at the screen. Now, there was no noise. Just the usual blank black mirror of a screen, reflecting your clearly confused expression. You felt around, but everything was normal. No overheating. Nothing. No beeping lights. It was off like you had it. You leaned back, eyes narrowing as you looked at your reflection. You stared at your eyes, drawing closer to the screen.
The screen blinked white, then returned to darkness instantly. You reeled back, heart beating furiously. The screen blinked again. Then again. As it did, an image began to manifest. The music was distorted, and the colors inverted. But, you could make out something. Some pixelated figure stepping towards the right of the screen. The screen blinked white again, and for a split second you could see Kris standing by the lake.
"What?" you whispered to yourself, pressing the on button and trying to see what was going on. Nothing happened. You held the button, staring at the slowly blinking screen. With each blink, the figure that you realized was somehow Kris's sprite was moving a step to the right. Confusion and an odd panic set heavily on your shoulders. What was going on? How come the game was somehow still launched? Did you play too much that somehow the image had burned in? You kept pressing the on/off button, then tried to press any of the controls. Nothing was working.
WELCOME.
You startled.
DO NOT BE AFRAID.
WE ARE FINALLY
CONNECTED.
TRULY CONNECTED.
"What the fuck is this?" you said, slamming your device away from you, panting. A dull garbling noise emanated from it. You stared at it, sitting there. Slowly, you approached, looking back at the screen.
ANGEL,
YOU ARE
MORE TIMID THAN I
ASSUMED.
DO YOU NOT
STILL WISH TO SEE
MY DELTARUNE?
You blinked, rubbing at your eyes and standing up to pace around. Maybe you were hallucinating. Have you eaten? Maybe it was a lack of sleep? You turned to face the screen. It still remained on the same string of dialogue.
"Did someone hack my device?" you asked, trying to press at any of the buttons to get it to do something.
I ASSURE YOU
THIS IS NO TRICK
OR HACK.
AH…
THEY ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
"Who is?" you asked, despite your better judgment. If this person could hear you, then they could likely see you too. They most likely knew where you were. Fuck.
The white text disappeared for a moment, and you sat still, waiting for something else to happen. The previous pixelated image beneath the text began to make itself clearer. Kris was there again. But they were in the lake. The harder you stared at the screen, the more you realized that the SOUL was hastily buried in the dirt beneath the benches. Kris was wading farther into the water.
YOUR CAGE
SHALL DISAPPEAR.
WE WILL PROCEED AGAIN.
"Huh? Wait, what? What's happening to Kris?"
YOU MUST CREATE A VESSEL.
SELECT THE HEAD THAT YOU PREFER...
"No, we're not doing that. Is this some dumb fucking joke? Who the hell is-"
The screen blinked white, then returned to black. You grabbed the screen, pressing the on/off button again, harder. But nothing happened. You sighed, hoping whatever that was was just some insanely stupid hallucination—although that did not seem the most comforting of thoughts either—or that someone was playing some trick on you and you would have to take your device in to get it somehow fixed. You tried not to worry too much about the complications of your data likely being stolen. Or your location being revealed. You would have to file a report. You got up, grabbing your charger and plugging it into your device, hoping maybe it had just died, and you were panicking for no reason. You grew more uneasy when you did not notice the familiar light that would indicate it was charging.
The overhead light began to flicker, and you looked up, a growing dread pooling in your stomach. You kept staring, watching the light flicker in and out, a strange electric noise sizzling above. Strangely, it reminded you of purring. You began to breath heavier, as if the room was constricting around you. The light stopped flickering, and you blinked, wetting your dry eyes. Slowly, you sighed, loosening the tension in your shoulders as you turned to look back at your screen. It was still black, and you reached to grab at it and put it away. The bulb burst, drowning you in darkness. Your eyes widened in the dark, searching for any light.
A white toothy smile bared itself in the darkness, floating pink and yellow eyes shifting where the screen was. Your mouth went dry, hands trembling as you tried to turn back. A grating laughter rang in your ear, the smile fluctuating, opening to reveal a void of darkness somehow darker than your surroundings. It lunged. Your hand reached for nothing.
You were used up.
—
You felt prickly and numb, moving your limbs about and stretching your fingers and toes but feeling an odd static as you did. As if you were touching the screen of an old TV, but constantly. Something was buzzing all around, and you were floating throughout it unable to tell where you were or how far you were falling or flying or whatever. It was just dark. So dark, it hurt your eyes. But as you fell, you felt a warmth from within you, and you touched your chest, feeling your wildly beating heart. The warmth was concentrated there, though it burgeoned throughout you. In every vein and artery, every nerve, every single hair on your body; it grew hot but comfortable, and suddenly the darkness retreated, though it did not reveal much.
You managed to float down somewhere, feet touching a wet ground, though you were unsure if it was water. You heard a voice. It sounded similar to that grumbling technical gurgle from your device just moments ago. Or, how long had it been? You were unsure.
"My angel," said a voice, and you made out what you assumed were eyes floating in the darkness. You frowned deeply, perturbed. It was as if someone had layered the same voice over the other, creating an odd disharmonic echo that felt as if your ears had just popped. You rubbed at your temples and ears, realizing it was not you. It was whoever was speaking. Their voice just shifted like that. Constantly.
"Who are you?" you asked, stepping back, the light around you erratic, as if reacting to the voice.
Somehow, you could feel whoever was in front of you smile. "I was waiting for such a very long time. Do you truly not know who I am?"
You swallowed hard, feeling as if jagged rocks were stuck in your throat.
"Step into the light," you said, searching in the darkness.
"Ah, but I much do prefer the dark."
"You expect me to just talk at the air? Whatever you are, you dragged me here, didn't you? It's rude to treat me like this," you said, feeling that from their tone that they would at least be a bit courteous. You were grasping at anything. The truth was, you had no hand in this.
"Hmm," they sang, though it came off as strange crackles. "If my angel so wishes it."
You cringed at the name, but did not argue. You watched as something fluttered in front of you. A cloak of some sort made itself visible, and your breathing quickened even more, eyes expectantly locked on the approaching black fabric, waiting to see who held it.
"Do not trust the shadows, my angel. They like to play," said the voice, and a deadly chill held on to your arms from behind. You felt their presence there, and it took every drop of will in your body to not scream. You could not help the way you flinched though, nor how the hair on your arms and neck stood on end. Goosebumps riddled your body, but the warmth within you grew stronger, and you felt yourself relax once more. You turned slowly, bracing yourself.
Before you stood a tall, slender figure, enveloped in a strange black cloak that rippled like a fountain. They radiated a strange chill, and their eyes were voids of darkness. Holes through their skeletal head, cracked to seem as if they were in a constant state of sorrow, although the way they smiled brightly at you made their expression all the more discomforting. You stepped back from them, pushing their hands off you. You noticed the strange holes in their palms, and it only added to their oddness.
"What do you want?"
His smile seemed to widen, and they knelt down suddenly so their face was directly before you. You shut your mouth, staring ahead at them.
"What do you want, Gaster?"
His hand came to hold your face, turning it to inspect you. "Hearing my name from another's lips. Hah, how strange. It is quite an interesting feeling. One long lost to me. But, see? You do know who I am. It is unfortunate that you realize this only now. It would have made things much easier."
You suddenly remembered the strange images of Kris. You reached to grab at Gaster, but your hands seemed to phase into his chest. He grabbed your wrists, steading you as he looked at you. It was such a strange feeling, for you were unsure how he was able to see you or where he was looking at in particular, but you knew he was looking at you nonetheless.
"Why did you bring me here? If…if this is real…then…"
Your knees felt weak, and you felt your body grow heavy, and you crumbled to the floor, breathing heavily. Gaster knelt beside you, his form creating a circular void where his cloak pooled beneath him.
"You feel it. The connection waning. Tell me. What vessel do you prefer? Quickly."
"What? No, I…this is…" You grabbed at your chest, and somehow you heard the sound of water lapping at the shore. Of splashing. Gurgling. Gasps.
"You need a cage for your form to exist here. You must hasten."
"Hasten what? I don't need a vessel or a cage. Something's wrong. It's so hot, but it's so cold. I feel like I'm drowning. It's cold. It's dark. The light is disappearing from above. My chest is filling with water. I can't scream."
Gaster's face turned, amused. He hummed again, that weird garbage noise. It made you feel sick.
"Your cage is trying to break free of you. Its methods are interesting. It seems in your time connected, you can somehow sense it. A strange side effect. I will be sure to patch that."
Your hands reached to grab at Gaster's face, thumbs pressing into the holes of his eyes. You pressed down, putting your full weight down on him. You burned, and a blinding light sparked from your chest and illuminated the area. It flashed, blinking brightly, flickering there. Gaster began to laugh, and it only made the light flare.
"Yes. It appears you have attached yourself to that child. Then, shall we hasten? You will have one chance this time. I can not aid you further."
You had no time to ponder on his meaning, for he had blinked out of existence. Just gone. And then, so were you. You were engulfed in darkness. Then your light flickered, a red string, almost like a laser twirled from within you and strung itself forward, twirling and spinning. You followed it, walking, running, reaching forward, the light exploding fiercely. Until you woke up, covered in dirt and smacking your head against the bottom of the bench. You groaned, spitting out dirt and crawling from beneath the bench.
You stood up, feeling that terrible weight on your shoulders and the chilling cold. You stared ahead to where the lake was. Somehow, nothing was pixelated. It just felt real. Normal. Like this was real life. You stepped forward, feeling the ground beneath you and smelling the salty breeze. Then your eyes locked on something floating in the lake. You walked closer, standing by the shore, and there you noticed swaying brown hair and bubbles popping, before dipping deep beneath the lake. Your whole body went cold, and you sprinted into the water, wading through, pushing yourself forth. You knew this was real because the water stuck to your skin, cold and unforgiving. It weighed you down, forced your hair to stick against your face. You dove down, kicking trying to see. You gasped up for air, head swishing about thinking maybe somehow Kris would pop back up. But no. You dove down again, tears mixing with the burning water. Your hand reached forth.
There. That light. Something red and glowing extended from your hand. It illuminated the darkness of the water, guiding you down. You kicked, pushing yourself down and down. Darker, and darker. Kris was there, unconscious and sinking. You grabbed them by the collar of their shirt, and pulled. You had never felt as strong as you did in that moment, dragging them up, breaking the surface of the water with a harrowing gasp. You swam towards the shore, dragging Kris behind. Water dripped from your face, and you stared down at Kris's unconscious body.
"Kris?" you said, tapping their shoulders, shaken by the torturous reality before you and the sheer acceptance that this was occurring and not some dream.
No response. You shook them, head turning around this familiar but unfamiliar place. You began to scream, shaking them.
"Help! They're not responding! Kris? Kris!" you screeched, then suddenly quieting down to check if they were breathing. Your body went cold. Nothing.
None of this made sense. None of it. But this kid felt real. And they were dying. You bit the inside of your cheek to get back to your senses, or as much of them as you could. You pressed the heel of your hand against the center of their chest, bringing your other hand on top. Then you pressed down with your full body weight, watching their body jerk about as you did. You kept going, pressing over and over, their body violently lurching, limp, and your vision grew blurry with tears but you would not allow yourself to stop. No one was coming. If this was anything from the end of the Chapter, then you knew no one was coming. Kris must have known this. You would ask them why. You would talk to them. You just had to get them to get up first.
You kept going, arms growing tired, but never ceasing. After a few more compressions, you gently placed your trembling hand on their forehead, tilting their head back and gently lifting their chin up. You pinched their nose, covering their mouth and breathing for them. You watched as their chest rose, and relief began to quietly bud. You breathed for them once again, then returned to continuous chest compressions. Cold sweat trickled down your neck and back, your eyes set on their unconscious self, heat pressing into your hands. You heard gurgled coughs, and you pulled away with wide eyes. Kris began to cough, and you pulled them to their side, patting their back and holding their hair. They began to gag, throwing up so much water. So much. They spat, saliva dripping and the sound of their heaving brought you to tears. You stared at them, watching them huff, heaving themselves upright on their elbow. They were so pale, eyes bloodshot, and brown hair sticking to their face. And worse of all, they were so small, with tired eyes and a blatantly shocked expression at the realization that they were still alive.
You reached for them, cupping their face in your hand and inspecting them. You were still shaking.
"Are you feeling alright?"
Kris pulled away from you, trying to crawl away but immediately wincing in pain. They stared at you.
"Huh? Your chest hurts? I'm sorry, I had to perform CPR. You…I found you drowned, Kris. What…what were you doing in the…No, that doesn't matter right now. What matters is you. We need to get you somewhere safe. Somewhere warm. I'll take you home."
They muttered something, coughing still, pushing their hair out of their face. Your expression contorted with sadness.
"I'm….I don't really know what I can say to that. I'm…I guess you could say I'm a friend? No, I…this is going to sound crazy, but first, first, can we please just get you home? Toriel must be worried sick about you and-"
"She's your mom…I just know her. It's complicated. I can explain, but first…"
Kris slapped your hand away, staring daggers at you. They forced their body up, teetering to the side but catching themselves, hand gripping to their chest. You got up, water dripping from you as you followed behind. Kris stopped by the bench, falling to their knees and digging beneath the bench. They stopped, crawling back out. They went to the other bench, confused and disoriented. They bent down, digging there too, nail beds filling with dark soil. They got up, their shoulders rising and falling. They turned to you.
"The heart…It's…uh….I can explain. I think."
You froze, staring at them. A flicker of red glistened in your eyes and Kris's entire body shivered at the sight of you.
"Wait, wait, no I'm not going to hurt you. Kris, please. This is…I don't know how this happened. But I'm not here to hurt you, I swear. You were…I saw you and I saw you going into the water and I could…I could feel it. I could feel you drowning. I don't know how, but Kris, what's wrong? Please, I'm not your enemy."
Kris grabbed on to the bench for balance, slowly sitting down and breathing heavily. They were looking worse. You approached, remembering how they usually were in the game. They looked up at you.
"I'm not leaving. You need me, whether you like it or not," you said, stepping closer and sitting in front of them. They turned away from you. You extended your hand, pruny from the water. You were sure Kris's hands were the same. You were sure they were so cold. You could strangely sense it.
You held it there on the latticed table, a peace offering of sorts.
"Just hold my hand. Maybe, it'll make you feel better."
Kris ignored you, and the both of you sat in silence. A chill breeze passed, rustling the leaves and pushing the water against the shore. You watched Kris shiver and your heart ached as you watched them.
"Kris," you whispered, watching them hug themselves. They could not go home without the SOUL. But they could not go home with whatever or whoever you were either. Everything must have felt so horrible.
"Kris, it's lonely, isn't it? Having to be this cage for something you don't understand?" you said softly. Kris did not look at you.
"I…I don't mean to burden you. I'm sorry this is the way things are. But, whatever happens, I'm on your side Kris. I only want to help you, no matter how strange this predicament the two of us are in is. No matter how lonely it feels, please know I only want to help."
Kris screamed at you, tears streaming down their face as they scowled.
"I know I'm not your friend. But, I'm also not your enemy. No matter how much you want to make me into one."
They groaned at your words.
"Susie…" you started, and Kris looked up at you, careful.
"She's a good girl, isn't she? And she really cares about you. You're her first ever friend. I know you made her life so much brighter. Even if maybe things don't feel so right right now. And Ralsei too. Ralsei must be so happy to have someone as kind and sweet as you as a dear friend."
Kris mumbled, shivering still.
"Of course they care about you, Kris. I'm not here to try and guilt you for…what happened here. I know things must have felt so hard that it felt better if it could just end. But, Kris, is that…what you really want?"
Your brows furrowed and you looked at them gently. "I'm sorry. That's not what I should be saying. Listen, Kris. You are so dear to me. No matter what happens, I only want to protect you. So, whenever you feel lonely, remember that I am on your side. I will always be here. And I will not treat you as some 'cage' or some 'vessel.' Kris is just Kris, right?"
They nodded, their body trembling somehow even more.
"I won't force you to do anything you don't want. And I'm not trying to convince you of anything. But, if no one has told you, I want you to know that you're a good kid, Kris. I…loved your piano. I love watching your adventures with everyone. I will do all I can to make sure you're okay. So, please. Just take my hand. Let me help."
Kris's eyes softly looked up at you, hesitant and afraid. Their whole body was aching and they were so tired. Carefully, they reached their hand over to you. Their small hand settled in yours, and you covered their hand with your other, softly caressing their shivering hand. Gradually, a warm light sparkled around your held hands. The both of you watched as it twinkled around the two of you, melting into both your bodies, stripping away the fatigue and pain alongside the cold touch of the water. Kris began to brighten in color, and their free hand reached for their chest.
"It doesn't hurt anymore?" you asked, sighing in relief. "Thank goodness. Thank goodness."
You cradled their hand in yours, looking at them in earnest. "Kris. You're just a kid, alright? You don't have to keep this to yourself. Your friends are there for you. Trust them to hold you. Trust them to keep you here. And, know I'm here too. Whenever you need me, just call for me. Because you are so precious to me."
Kris tightened their grasp on you, and you felt yourself tear up but refused to cry. "Why? Because you're Kris, that's why."
Their brows furrowed, unconvinced by your answer. That made you chuckle just a bit. "Hmm, well, since we're always connected, I'm sort of always there with you and everyone. I do my best to fight alongside you, and can see how much you care about your friends. You're doing your best, despite everything. I know the divorce still makes you sad Kris. And I know you miss Asriel. I know you're part of something bigger than I know and I know you're trying to hide it from me. But, I don't care that you put me in a cage or smack me around from time to time."
They looked to shrink at that. You laughed, waving your hand.
"I think it's funny. I mean, I think anyone would freak out if some weird thing was controlling them. Sorry for making you flush the toilet all the time."
They raised a brow.
"Listen, something different could happen eventually."
Their brow somehow raised higher, but they were smiling now. It filled you with relief.
"But, yeah, you may have to deal a bit with my weird desire to check everything and run around finding hidden places. But, I promise I won't ever put any of you guys in danger. Soul's promise, alright?"
You offered your pinkie, and Kris wrapped theirs around yours and you smiled at them softly.
"Now, why don't we walk home?" you said, getting up.
"Right, your home. Heh."
The two of you walked side by side, the rain still drizzling softly above you. You shone, the light engulfing Kris too. Somehow, the rain did not drop on the two of you. You shrugged, looking at Kris.
"See? I can be pretty convenient."
They gave you a look.
"Okay, you're right. I didn't know I could do that."
The walk back to Toriel's house was surreal. This was the same scenery you had seen in the game, but there were actual buildings and streets. You could hear the rain patter, and feel the ground beneath you. No matter how you tried to put it, this was undoubtedly real. You glanced over to Kris walking beside you. They were a relatively tall human teenager, brunette hair reaching their shoulders, and still wearing that striped shirt. This was Kris. You felt strangely parental towards them. You kept walking in silence, until the two of you stood by the front door.
"I guess this is it?" you said, unsure. You reached your hand out for a handshake. Kris looked at you, then shook your hand. You held on, clasping their hand in yours.
"I'll be here," you said, feeling a strange finality in your words. Your body began to feel numb, fingers prickly.
Kris mumbled something.
"Alright. I'm glad you know."
You let go, stepping back and watching them turn. They walked towards the door, hand hovering over the knob. They stopped, and turned. You waved encouragingly.
"I look like I want a hug?" you said, fiddling your thumbs. "That doesn't matter. I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I know you don't fully trust me so…"
Kris walked over, arms extended. You stiffened, feeling your body sting even more. You reached over, arms wrapping around them ever so carefully. They were awkwardly stiff, which made you want to laugh. You patted their back, and realized Susie was right. They did smell like apples. As you did, the light burst forth, and a warm red ignited around you, melting and seeping towards Kris.
"Be good," you whispered, and then it was dark.
—
You were in that dark void again, but feeling far more rejuvenated than before. Your feet touched the floor, and you walked around, illuminating the darkness and searching for Gaster. You heard that scratching, and turned. He stood there, watching you.
"Your vessel is reclaimed," he said. You frowned. This made his permanent smile stretch wider.
"Kris is Kris. And you're a piece of shit, you know that?"
Gaster weaved through the darkness, stalking closer to you, forcing you to spin around to keep your eyes on him.
"I only wish to please you. Were you not happy to have saved that child?"
You glared at him, and he rushed towards you, forcing you backwards. A chilling touch found its way to your waist. Gaster loomed above you, staring down and enjoying the way you wriggled in his grasp.
"Did you not enjoy my encouragement? My alterations to ease your journey?"
You grabbed his cold hands, and moved them off you. His wide smile shrunk just slightly.
"You treat Kris like nothing. You treat them all like nothing."
Gaster swerved around you, whispering in your ear from behind. You shivered.
"Are they not just characters to you? Just pixels on a game made just for you?"
You turned, but he had already disappeared and reappeared behind you again.
"No, they're…it doesn't matter how real they are, it isn't right to-"
"Right? Angel, there is nothing right nor wrong about this. It is a simple experiment. Choices. Results. Consequence. And fun. Do you not have fun?"
You shook your head, growing dizzy with how he swirled around, shifting with the darkness. Here and not. Tangible, but not.
"I do have fun, but-"
"Then it matters not what happens. As long as you have fun, I am satisfied."
"Why?"
Gaster stopped, somehow hanging above you, face just a hair's breadth away from your own. You were unsure how he was doing that, but it did not matter in the grander scheme of things.
"Why?" he repeated, a hissing snicker of garbled noise escaping from him. "Why, what a strange question. Surely, you realize the power you hold here. That unquenchable desire…the determination deep within you. It lights up the dark. Our connection. Do you not find it quite exciting?"
Your chest heaved, and you swallowed thickly, stepping back. Gaster's head remained upside down, then slowly shifted right-side up, his body on the floor once more. Or, was it you that had flipped? The darkness hummed.
"You are cruel to them. I hate that," you said.
Gaster stepped towards you, leaning very very close. If he was breathing, you would have felt it. "Are you attached to them?"
You nodded. "They are dear to me, yes. So, I would appreciate it if you stopped treating them like they are disposable."
"Strange. Your determination expands not just for completion and excitement. You are emotionally attached to these beings?"
You fell backwards, but found yourself shifting through the darkness, spinning until you were standing straight again, with Gaster staring at you still. You clenched your fist, nails digging into your skin.
"Yes. I am. I'm human. I can't help but care."
He turned his head, an odd creak echoing through where you were.
"How interesting. How very, very interesting."
Gaster's hand reached for you, and you steeled yourself. He held your chin, pulling you close and staring into your eyes. Your heart beat wildly, afraid and confused. Gaster observed you carefully, watching the way the light in your eyes twinkled about, the color burning bright, unlike his pitch black essence.
"You interest me greatly. I can not help but wish to observe you more. Play around with the light throbbing within you. Angel, I will be sure to take good care of the children."
Your hand reached to grab on to his, and he shifted his head slightly.
"Not just the children. Everyone. Don't toy with them."
Gaster seemed to be frowning. You were unsure how given that etched smile, but you just knew somehow.
"That makes things…difficult," he said, cold thumb caressing your warm soft skin. "But, I will consider. I enjoy a challenge. And I can wait. I can wait for a very long time."
He let go of you, staring. You stared back, afraid of blinking. You were sure he was going to somehow disappear and leave you here. In the dark. You reached forth, grabbing on to the cloak. Gaster stared down, then back at you.
"Take me back to where I was," you said, pleading. The cloak dripped to the ground, replaced with Gaster's hand curling against your own. He held on tightly, but gentle.
"I suppose it is best to return you. Though, I get quite lonely in your absence."
You squinted at him, growing uncomfortable. He drew closer, and you watched as your arm began to disappear into the darkness. Into him? Where? What…
"Angel. You are afraid again. That expression. It is quite exciting."
You shuddered at his words, moving away, but he only seeped into you. On to you. Between you. Ah. Your arm was growing numb.
"I look forward to seeing more of your expressions."
He enveloped you, your body growing cold as you merged. He made a strange noise. Unlike the rest. Something long, and softer. Your entire body lost feeling, and his smile grew all the wider as he stared down at you one final time.
"Does it feel good? To be connected?"