Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

~~Chapter 5 start~~

“Are you excited about your first day at school?”

“Yes! I hope to make soooo many new friends!”

“Oh you, always wanting to talk to people. C’mere, lets take a picture!”

“By tḣ̷̬́e way̵̖̖̍̕, m̸̭̈́e̷͇̍r̸͓͐c̸̬̍ì̸̫, m̷̛̛̩̾̑͐́̋͒̅̐̒̎͌̈́̈́̉̀͐̕ą̵̨̧̛̛͍̪̪̪̺͚̗̜͍͍͔͖͖̆̆̃̀͗̀͒̏̒̐̃̽̀̀͒̇̔̐ͅm̴͔̞̻͉̏͂́̂̀̿́͛͘̚͝ȃ̷̼̬͇̙̙͓̲̣̫̫͇̰̙̝̓̎̔̑͂͌̃́̋̆̾̕͝ṇ̵̨̡̧̛̩̥͖̩͉̺̞̺̰͍̟̘̫̦̗̤̩̘̥͚̗͕̻̹̝̣̤͚͎̈́̀̃͆̾̀̈́͐̓̎̅͐́̅̓̊̈́͒̀̒̾̌̄̉͗̀̂͘͜͜͠.”

“Don’t touch me!” Someone exclaimed.

Another person chimed in shorty after. “I ain’t touchin’, I ain’t touchin’!”

A third person was giggling at the two, tugging on Ink’s arm.

Blue, Error, and Fresh.

Ink knew Blue was trying to cheer him up, but it wasn’t working. Especially since he didn’t know what was wrong in the first place.

He, Dream and Ccino always tried doing that. They’re fixer-uppers, that’s how they found each other. Even with that one huge argument they had once, they’re still great friends.

Ink never did get to find out what the argument was about, but any time he asked they’d start tearing up about it. Clearly it hurt more than they’d let on.

Suddenly, the little skeleton realized. “H-hey, um… where are we even going…?” He spoke up, looking over to Dream.

Dream shrugged. “We need to bring you lot to the assembly hall.” He responded, grabbing onto Ink’s hand.

Ink smiled softly. “Well, uh, later can I… like, speak with you?” He mumbled. It had been bugging him for weeks. He always felt like he was being watched. He knew he was back, he’d known for a while. How to bring it up? Unknown.

The taller nodded at him. “Yes, of course… if you want, we can step off to the side now? I am sure the others will not mind.” Dream’s entire demeanor and tone changed to a more serious one, this being his way of showing concern.

Ink shook his head. “I’m sure it can wait. I also don’t… want to talk about it here.” He muttered. Dream tightened his grasp on the other’s hand, giving him an understanding look.

Lust joined in, grabbing onto the other two as well. “Mind if we join the conversation?” He asked, gesturing towards Ccino and himself. Dream shook his head.

“I do not mind,” he spoke, smiling once again. “Ccino, how are your kittens?” He asked. Ink looked at them, before looking up ahead. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of that… black skeleton guy thing. He didn’t even know if he was a skeleton, he’d never seen one come in a different color. Dream says his brother got corrupted and that’s why he looks like that, maybe that’s what happened to this one??

I mean, he has some random glitches, and his voice sounds like somebody is speaking through a shitty mic. Whoever this guy thought he was, he does NOT have a good gamer chair.

L

Suddenly the group came to a harsh halt, causing Ink to almost bump into that guy. Almost.

“Here we are.” Dream spoke, signaling to the auditorium. It was huge.

“Holy fucking shitballs…” Ink mumbled to himself, causing a few in the group to chuckle.

They didn’t understand the hype though. The auditorium was beautifully built! Then again, maybe they reacted the same way when they first arrived. Or not, they’re not that into art.

Ink, however, loved art a lot. He came from a family of artists. His mother was a painter, and his father an architect. Well, his mother had taught him a lot of art stuff, she was kind of all around, but she mainly painted--not that you care, you’re only here for the ships.

He didn’t pay mind to his past though. The hall was beautiful, and that’s all he cared about.

After a while, it was almost as if everyone around him disappeared, feeling himself squeezing through empty spaces just to see more of it. Ink always loved fancy areas like these. It was shocking how big the difference between a middle and high school could be.

Eventually, someone came over a speaker, snapping Ink to reality. “Will all students take a seat, please?” Spoke a female voice on the stage. She seemed to be some sort of student council member or teacher.

Ink felt Dream tugging on his arm, indicating for him to sit down next to him.

[Time Skip!]

            “That’s about all you need to know! Classes will be shown tomorrow, and you can have the rest of the day for yourselves. Feel free to use campus resources, and athletes, don’t forget to attend to your practices!” She spoke in a whimsical manner. “Let’s have a good school year!”

The auditorium cheered, which was… weird, to say the least. No way high schoolers were this excited over a school. Impossible. Then again, Dream, Ccino and Lust did hype up the school.

Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as middle school…?

Suddenly, he felt himself snapped out of his confusion by Blue. “Hey Ink, do you have any gymnastics practices this afternoon?”

“I don’t think so, why?” Ink responded, standing up with the rest of the group.

Blue grabbed onto his arm. “Well, I thought we could all go out for a walk! Maybe we can try to get Error to make some new friends too!” He suggested. Ink glanced over at Error. It was… frustrating.

This guy, he was visually appealing? He didn’t know how to word it, it was just… He dressed nicely, and despite how strange it was, his bones were interesting. Ink wanted to know more, but Error was unwilling to talk to him. That was a given.

Ink’s focus shifted back to Blue. Maybe he knew more. “Sure, I’m down.” He confirmed, stretching. Blue smiled, giggling.

Blue likes him, maybe he isn’t that bad. Like this school.

Dream grabbed onto Ink’s other arm, his gaze on Blue. Naturally, Ink questioned it. “Why’re you two grabbing onto me like that-?”

“Oh, don’t worry about it.” Dream assured, Blue nodding in agreement. The others in the group seemed just as confused, but began walking as soon as Dream and Blue did.

Ink doubled down, tripping over himself. “I think, I think I will worry.” He stuttered out, his gaze down to try to keep himself from falling.

Suddenly, Ccino spoke up. “Oh, don’t tease Ink like that.” He scolded, seemingly catching on to what the other two were doing. “Ink’s they’re trying to lift you up until your feet can’t touch the floor. Dream and Lust did that to Blue yesterday.”

As soon as Ccino said that, Ink began squirming to get out of their grasp. “Why are you guys so mean to your own friends!?” Ink whined, knowing he was just as bad, or worse.

Okay, maybe not worse, there was no topping Blue. Once, he tried to use Ink as a fucking basketball. Sure, it was at a jumping park where the fall would’ve been softened, but still!

Ink felt his full weight again, listening to the other two giggling to themselves. They were outside now, which caught him a little off guard. Was the distance between the auditorium and the main entrance that small? How did they take so long to get there in the morning?

Before being able to think more to himself, he heard an unfamiliar voice. He turned around, and sure enough, Error was holding up a conversation with Ccino.

Ccino could talk to anyone, just like Blue. It was admirable.

“So your family owns a cat café?” Error asked, His eyes seemed to light up at that thought. “What kind of cats do you have? Where is it located?”

Ccino chuckled. “We have many kinds of cats, they’re all adoptable once they’re of age.” He smiled. “You should definitely drop by, maybe we can get everyone to walk there?”

Error nodded, turning to face Blue. Ink noticed his gaze landed on him instead, and he quickly looked away.

That’s… kind of awkward. He was making such a bad first impression compared to everyone else.

Ink wanted to be friends, he really did. Any friend of Blue’s was a friend of his. But this guy… he was scary. Appealing, but scary. Just like those humans. They were interesting creatures, but they were scary.

Ink shook himself out of his thoughts. He had to stop getting caught up in his head. It wasn’t safe to do so in the streets, outside of home.

He just, really didn’t know what to do.

Eventually, the feeling of being watched came back, and he began looking around nervously, grabbing onto the nearest person so he wouldn’t trip.

That nearest person turned out to be Dream, unsurprisingly enough. Ink and Dream were very close, since they both had problems with their family. Dream was like a brother to Ink, and he could only assume the other saw him the same.

Ink felt his hand be gently squeezed, seemingly out of reassurance. Dream hadn’t even turned to look at him, he was still talking with Lust. Those two had gotten closer as well lately.

Blue had joined the conversation with Ccino and Error. As always, Ink didn’t know how to join the conversation. There were two, and both were occupied and seemingly full. He couldn’t just… randomly join the conversation, could he?? That would be rude.

He figured he would just stay alert, try to figure out where that feeling of being watched was coming from.

In the past, Ink had been stalked by someone. They never figured out his name. That person had gotten arrested before, but no restraining order was ever put in place, so they could start all over again if they wanted.

And that’s what Ink felt like was happening.

This person already knew everything there was to know about Ink, and probably more. It was infuriating. What was he supposed to do about it? If only he’d pressed the authorities for a name in the past, the feeling wouldn’t be back.

God, he was such a fucking idiot.

And how was he supposed to tell anyone? Just interrupt Dream and Lust and tell them that “the shadow man is back”? What about that Error guy? This was personal information that Ink was not willing to give out like that.

Though… maybe he’d know how to help?

No! Ink, don’t drag Blue’s friend into this! You already have your friends involved, no need to bring in more people.

Though, that was last time… maybe since the authorities didn’t work last time, he could get some ideas from scary-looking people… who most likely are delinquents?

M-maybe not… without even knowing this guy’s appearance, it would be really hard to fight him… even then, it’s not like Ink had any muscle to even fight in the first place. He was a skeleton, and a small and slender one at that.

This is so frustrating!!! What is he supposed to do!?

Not even a day of being back to school has passed, and he’s already-

-

-

“There!” Ink yelled, stopping in his tracks and pointing.

The whole group stopped as well, looking in that direction. There was quick movement into the area Ink was pointing to, which was an alleyway.

Dream looked down at Ink, raising a brow. “I-Ink…? What happened?” He asked, clearly startled by the other’s initial exclamation.

“The shadow man! He was right there! He was there I’m telling you! I knew we were being watched!” Ink rambled, his voice louder than usual.

Ccino hushed him. “Keep it down, Ink. Are you sure you saw him? I thought he was in jail for a few more months…?” He mumbled, leaning down to Ink’s height.

Ink frowned at the doubt, and maybe at the fact that he crouched, but just maybe. “Yes, I’m sure! I felt like we were being watched the moment we stepped outside the school! Heck, since this morning!”

Blue and Lust walked next to Ink, before the group started chatting amongst themselves.

[Error’s POV]

‘Okay… what the FUCK is wrong with this little dwarf?? He’s been staring at me nonstop, and now he’s yelling at the top of his lungs! Is he fucking schizo? How did Blue even find this guy!?’

Error scoffed, watching them all form some sort of protective bubble around the freak. They were all chatting amongst themselves about some weird ass shit.

No way in hell someone would chose to stalk that… thing. No way! Error refused to believe it. Of all the pretty boys and girls and whatever else, it chose him.

That’s just unreal.

It’s probably some sort of fucked up prank being played on him. There’s no fucking way.

Error focused his eyes on that alleyway. His vision was so fucking blurry… But he’d rather run into oncoming traffic than wear his glasses.

Whatever. That Ccino guy mentioned his cats, he had to see them. If there was something Error liked, it was cats.

Well, obviously he liked chocolate or whatever. But cats, now that’s something.

He just had to figure out where this Cappuccino Cat Café was. If that was the name, maybe he remembered it wrong.

It probably was. It would shorten to CCC, so it only made sense. Right??

Didn’t matter, he’d rather be shown where it was. In all the summer he’d spent there, he hadn’t seen any of those gay little cafes, and he didn’t want to. Until he heard about the cats, that is. He’d love to see the cats. Call him a faggot all you want, Error’s getting his daily dosage of dopamine with those little furballs. And nothing, and he KNOWS nothing, is going to stop him from seeing them.

Eventually, he noticed the group dissipate slightly, but still standing around the midget protectively. Error rolled his eyes.

“We going?” He asked, his arms crossed.

Blue and Ccino, and the others, turned around. Those were the only names he remembered, if he was being honest. He wouldn’t even remember that Ccino if it weren’t for the cats.

That yellow one spoke up. “Yes, sorry, something came up. We’re still going to Ccino’s, but we’re going to have to walk at a quicker pace if you don’t mind.” He spoke.

His voice was gentle. It was nauseating.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever… I can probably outwalk you guys anyways.” Error mumbled, trailing behind the group. They were all quiet, clearly keeping watch of their surroundings.

What was so important about that guy anyways? So what if someone was stalking him. It’s not a big deal, just thug it out.

[Outsider POV]

From how they were all walking, you’d think Ink was someone famous. Error was behind them, keeping up their pace, and the rest were on his sides two of them holding his hands while the other two kept watch.

They kind of looked like a polycule. Now that’s something to laugh at.

Eventually, they all got to the café. Ink rushed in, followed by his now less rushed friends.

Error was the last one in.

He was also the first one to mutter, excitement hidden in his tone. “Oh my gods…”

~~Chapter 5 End~~