Chapter Text
The day is clear and warm, perfect walking weather. You do a light jog down the hill that's just a little ways around the corner from your rented one story house and a much longer trek from the community college where you tutor Monsters in Human Studies.
Even after living together all this time, there was so much Monsters and Humans didn't really understand about each other, like holidays, different mannerisms, magic and different attitudes towards things altogether. Monsters had a sort of rough around the edges, fight or be roughed up mentality towards... well, everything. However, they were always nicer to any humans they met since any one of them could be a possible Soul Mate.
Sometimes, on your walks to and from work, you wondered if your Soul would Resonate with a Monster's Soul, even though the chances were rare. Only about twenty precent of the whole population experienced Resonance-- that almost mystical connection two Souls made when their frequencies matched--- with the opposite race.
Well, you aren't in a hurry either way, though, you couldn't help but imagine what you would do if you experienced Resonance with a Monster.
Do you move in with them? Your little rented house had enough room for you, but adding a Monster---who tended to be bigger than Humans--- might make things crowded. Would you need to get a bigger place together? How long did you wait before even deciding on something like that? Wait, did you get married right away or date for a while?
The few Monsters you had talked to at work had had different experiences with Resonance, so you weren't sure what was normal or which path was right to take.
You were just going to have to figure out everything on your own when (or if) the time came.
Well, no hurry.
You continue down the hill at a little slower pace, taking in the small knick knack shops. "Oh." You pause at a window displaying cute little skeletons doing every day tasks. They had cute, big sockets and wore oversized clothes, like kids trying out their parents' wardrobe.
"They're so cute," You smile. "Maybe I should get one. The little gardening one is sort of cute...."
"Tutor?"
You straighten up and turn to your right. "Oh, Jerry!" For some reason, you take a step back, even though the squid (?) Monster didn't approach you at first. He just stared up at you with those beady eyes. "Uh... hello, Jerry."
"Hello, tutor," Jerry replied, breathing out of his mouth. "Fancy meeting you here." He took a deep breath through his mouth, making a sort of "hyck" sound in the back of his throat. "Do you, hyck, come here often?"
"I, uh, live nearby," You answer. "I was just doing a little window shopping on my way home."
"I see, I see," Jerry replied. "So, hyck, you aren't busy right now, are you?"
You shift on your feet. "No-not really, but, I should be heading home."
"Oh!" Somehow, Jerry's beady eyes grew larger. "If you're not busy," he continued. "Maybe we could shop together?" Did he just wiggle his brow at you?
You swallow the bile that had risen in your throat. "Uh, Jerry, listen," You start. "It would be really inappropriate for us to go shopping together."
"Ugg, well, I just,..." Jerry fidgeted his tentacles. "I just... find you so, hyyck, nice, tutor," he breathed out. "It's really surprising that you haven't Resonated with anyone yet. A, hm, Monster, would be the luckiest guy on the planet to have you as a Soul Mate."
"Um... right," You reply. "Well, I will see you Friday for your regular tutoring session." You turn around and continue down the hill without waiting for Jerry to reply.
This wasn't the first awkward conversation you had had with Jerry. Figuring out that he had a crush on you hadn't been too difficult, but you always kept the conversation between you two professional and short. You imagined in time he'd get over you once he realized that you had no plans to return his infatuated feelings.
Finally, you reach the bottom of the hill. Ahead of you, you could see a large white truck parked on the road, its back open and a ramp lowered to the pavement.
Someone must be moving in.
You slow to a stop to take a better look at the house.
In honesty, you had always thought this house had a sort of odd shape, like a bunch of silver-white rectangles stacked two stories high. There's a slick, silver spiral staircase going from the second floor balcony to the paved, large path near the front door, which has a small, white staircase leading into the darken house.
A few boxes are sitting on the small, lime green yard dotted with pink flowers and surrounded by a brown wooden fence.
You get a little excited about the idea of having new neighbors. Since this side of town was pretty Monster heavy, you guessed your new neighbors would be Monsters as well. Having new Monster friends outside of work could be a nice change of pace--- right now, you were only friends with the Monsters you worked with and you kept professional teacher-student relationships with the Monsters you tutor, giving some occasional small talk on the street, but never going farther than that.
You decide to make a good first impression by offering your help. You live pretty much right around the corner, so you would probably see these Monsters on a regular basis as you went to and from work. Might as well get on friendly terms as soon as possible.
You walk down the paved path that cuts the yard in near equal halves. "Hello?" You call towards the open door. "Is anyone in there? I'm just a neighbor. I live around the corner. Do you need any help?"
Something just inside the door slides around--- a box gliding across the floor maybe? You can hear heavy footsteps and a large shadow fills up the door frame. Even from here, you can tell that the shadow is taller (and rounder) than you are.
The shadow moves forward from under the darkness cast by the balcony and into the sunlight highlighting the bright grass.
You stare, eyes wide.
He's a Monster all right. A tall, round hulk of Skeleton wrapped in edge and attitude. His outfit --- jacket, t-shirt, shorts and sneakers--- is black, and red with highlights of yellow. His long fangs chew on of a toothpick and the red pinpoints in his sockets stare at you in curious concentration.
You continue staring back and then... something happens.
The feeling is slow at first, starting from you Soul and edging out, a cooling sensation that begins to warm and heat up your body, inch by inch. Your breath hitches in your throat, your Soul hums and pulses and you feel something touch you deep inside.
Him.
No....
His Soul.
His Soul is connecting with yours and yours is connecting with his and the connection is warm, pulsing. You feel complete, like everything makes sense, your questions have been answered, the puzzle has been pieced together.
You feel... Resonance.
Your Soul is Resonating with his, connecting, echoing back and forth, reassuring each other....
Already loving each other....
Already... unsure?
....Scared?
No, no, no, no. Not again, not now. I can't do this!
You don't hear a voice, just feel... him, his Soul.
Wait, this isn't right---
I don't want this!
Wait, hold on, let me help you!
Stop! No! Go away! Leave me alone!
But we--- we're Soul Mates, aren't we?
No! No! NO! I can't! I can't! I DON'T WANT THIS!!
And the connection breaks, snaps, shatters and the pain is like needles being shoved into your body, into your Soul. You gasp, double over, cough, gag, your body feels like it's revolting against itself, trying to purge itself of some poison.
His thoughts, his denial, his rejection.
...You Soul Mate has rejected you.
Tears pricking at your eyes, you straighten up, look up at him.
He's staring back at you, shaking, fangs chattering, sockets dripping tears.
His voice cracks.
"I'm so sorry."
He whips around and bolts inside the house just as a taller, thinner Skeleton stumbles out of his way.
"S-Sans, what!?" his voice screeches. "What on earth...?" He turns his skull and his sockets snap on you for long seconds. His skull then whips around to look back into the house, than back at you.
The gears turn for a few seconds.
"Damn it. Again already?"