Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

***

Undertale
Surface
Present Day

Edge had learned long ago the rewards one could reap by showing a little patience. Whether it was waiting for the opportune moment in battle or holding his tongue at the embassy, patience often returned more than it demanded. More the pity that Edge was currently fresh out of patience.

"What are you doing?” Edge tried to keep his tone soft, non-accusing. Still, it came out short and clipped, his displeasure coloring every word. He needn't have worried about his boyfriend’s sensitivities as Slim gave a cheerful wave, either oblivious or not concerned with Edge’s distaste to the scene in front of him.

“Hey babe!”

“What did you do to our living room?” Edge demanded, gesturing to the remains of the couch. Slim blinked as if he didn’t know what on earth Edge was talking about before looking to his left and right, surveying the damage around him.

The couch was on its side, the hinges of the footrests stripped and laid haphazardly throughout the room marking it as a war zone. The plastic panels the buttons controlling the footrests had once been a part of had been ripped off and tossed carelessly aside. When Edge had first entered the crime scene, Slim had been poking at the inside mechanism with a fork.

Slim had looked up at him with the same feverish intensity he had on bad nights when he’d carefully peel himself from their bed at two, maybe three am, only to inevitably trip on something and clumsily make his way down the stairs, outside and to the garage and conduct his version of science on whatever unfortunate technology caught his eyelights. Edge would always follow with two hot cups of coffee and a bemused expression not long after.

Slim got the “itch” his brother called it. The undeniable urge to create. It was a damn shame that Slim’s brand of creation was on par with a mad scientist. Or serial killer judging by the state of Edge’s living room.

The couch was not Slim’s only victim tonight. If the couch was mutilated, the tv had been vivisected. It was laid glass side down atop couch cushions, the back panel removed and wires pulled from their proper place, some strewn about like a macabre decoration, the work of a mad man.

“Huh.” Slim said, his eyelights trailing over the damage before he gave Edge a sheepish grin, his golden eyelights still lit with the fever that had taken over him. “Uh...science?”

Edge took a deep breath, placing his hands together in front of him. “Science.” he repeated, careful not to show any expression.

“Yep.” Slim said, stuffing his hands in his pocket, popping the P, looking nonchalant, as if Edge hadn’t stumbled upon his fiancee mid technological massacre.

Edge took a deep breath, silently praying to the angel for strength. “I’m going to pick up the chinese. In case you forgot, it’s movie night and we pulled the short straw so we are hosting-”

“Shit that’s tonight!?” Slim’s sockets widened and he frowned as one of the exposed red wires from the tv gave a half hearted spark of electricity, before a more eager spark, then another, and another. Edge stared at it silently before slowly looking pointedly at his lover.

“Slim. Please tell me you did not dissect the television while it was still plugged in?” Edge’s breath hitched in near panic. How had his boyfriend lived to the age of adulthood? How was his boyfriend going to survive past 40? Slim gave him a cheshire cat-like smile.

“Okay, I won’t tell you that.” Slim said sweetly as he gave the tv cord a firm tug, unplugging it and causing the sparking to cease. Edge closed his sockets, pressing his palms against them. Stars on fire, he needed to hire a babysitter for his fiancee. He wondered if Blue might be up for the task?

Edge sighed before looking at his boyfriend. His wondrous, beautiful, brilliant, quite possibly certifiably insane boyfriend. “I want the tv back where it was and fully functionable by the time I get home.” Edge said, not entirely sure this was a possible task. He considered the couch’s reclining ability a lost cause, but the couch would at least still make proper seating. The only damage seemed to be the button and reclining feature.

At least Razz was still in Rome so Edge wouldn’t have to hear him bitch about it. Not that his short legs even needed the recline. Not that Edge had anything against Slim’s brother. He didn’t. He didn’t. If he repeated it enough maybe it would make it true?

“Sure, no problem!” Slim said, eager to please, the cheshire-like grin replaced with a manic nervousness. It hits Edge like a punch in the gut. He knew that look and he immediately back pedaled.

“Should I ask Papyrus to host instead?” Edge asked carefully, straining to keep any judgment from his tone. Judgement Slim’s own brother threw at him in spades. Judgement Slim worked so hard to earn a respite from. All those old expectations that Razz had demanded with no patience for anything but perfection. Old wounds that made Slim jump through hoops to meet and please anyone and everyone to this day. Razz had always held a level of expectation Slim simply could not always meet and Razz knew that and still he’d put all these expectations-

Edge took a deep breath. He was not Razz. He would never expect more than Slim could give, and certainly wouldn’t judge him for failings, especially failings of unrealistic expectations. That didn’t mean the scars of that past didn’t make Slim overly eager to please and dead silent about his own limitations. These were shark infested waters and Edge had just sprayed blood in the water. “It’s no trouble, really, I'm sure Papyrus would be thrilled to host.”

He made his voice nonchalant, as if the decision didn’t matter. And stars knew, it really didn’t matter, did it? It was something so trivial and if it put Slim in a spiral Edge was going to kick Razz’s star damned teeth in for sins of the past. He gave Slim a small smile. “Either way works for me, it depends how much you want to work tonight, there’s always tomorrow.” Edge said gently.

If he made it seem like he thought Slim was incapable of fixing the television in a timely fashion, Slim would take it as a challenge and do his damndest to prove Edge wrong, not because of Edge, no, because of Razz. When Slim thought he was being challenged and needed to prove himself, well, things tended to get. . . messy. Besides, he was certain Papyrus wouldn’t mind a last minute host switch, Stars knew that when Stretch hosted he needed last moment host switching often enough, and Papyrus was usually the default switch.

Slim’s eyelights flickered to the tv on its impromptu operating table then to its exposed inners and finally to the mutilated couch, a calculating look in those frenzied eyelights.

“Yeah, I think- I think Papyrus hosting tonight would be for the best, babe.” Slim gave Edge a sheepish grin and Edge did all he could to hold back his sigh of relief and Slim gave him a bemused expression. “I can fix the tv, you know, I just thought-”

“I know you can.” Edge interrupted, closing the distance between them and gently grabbing Slim’s hands. “And you will, tomorrow.”

“I could do it before you got home with the chinese, before anyone arrived-” Edge silenced him with a demanding kiss, partly to shut him up, partly because he wanted to taste that clever mouth. Slim leaned into the kiss, the tension in his bones easing as he eagerly kissed Edge back. His baby had no problem taking more than what was offered and who was Edge to deny him?

Slim was the first to pull away, he gave a heated breath before he rested his forehead against Edge’s. “I love you.”

Edge felt warmth spread to his cheekbones, his soul soaring in his ribcage. such intimate words of declaration were nothing new between them, but still, those sweet three words from Slim’s mouth always made his soul flutter.

“Love you too.” He murmured, gently stealing another kiss from his boyfriend. “I’ll pick up the food and call Papyrus. No more dissections tonight?”

“I make no promises.” Slim winked.

Edge gave his boyfriend one last kiss and left him to at least clean up the remains of his mad science experiment, calling Papyrus once he got into his car on his way to the local chinese food restaurant.

***

If anyone was curious about the sudden change in movie night hosts, they were polite enough to not bring it up.That or the overall glare Edge sent toward anyone who so much as glanced Slim’s way was warning enough.

“Whoever writes these damn fortune cookies has a sick sense of humor.” Red grunted, ruefully crumbling a cookie with one bite of his sharp teeth.

“Your fortune offending you Red?” Stretch grinned maliciously picking up the small string of paper. “Help, I’m being held captive in a fortune cookie factory.” .

“Sounds legit.” Sans sniggered from the couch cushion that was slowly absorbing him.

“Three can keep a secret if you get rid of two. Heh. Fellverse monster definitely wrote this.” Slim read his own cookie before loudly slurping up some lo mein noodles.

“Mine says comfort zones are most often expanded through discomfort.” Blue said and hummed. “I guess that means to keep trying my best and even if things get tough, it means I’ll grow and get better!” Blue’s eyelights shifted to stars.

“That or it’s suggesting you try anal.” Red swiped Blue’s uneaten cookie, throwing the entire thing in his mouth.

“Brother!” Edge hissed as Blue’s entire face turned his namesake, his eyelights disappearing and Stretch looked torn between amusement and protective big brother mode.

“Red! That is uncalled for!” Blue regained his composure, squinting his sockets at the unrepentant fell monster. “Besides, I’ve already tried that.”

Stretch choked on the teriyaki chicken he’d just bitten into, spraying poor Papyrus with a mouthful of half chewed poultry and Red burst into loud rapturous laughter.

“Sorry, Paps.” Stretch grimaced and Papyrus sighed, wiping himself off with a napkin. “It’s quite alright. It is not surprising that Blueberry and Red’s lewd comments caught you off guard.”

Slim snickered. Well one of their comments caught Stretch off guard, and it wasn’t Red’s. Blueberry smirked at the mischief he had caused before innocently sipping from his shirley temple.

“You alright Papy?” Blue asked sweetly and Stretch cast him the evil eye.

"Yeah, I'm swell. Ya just caught me off guard. S’ no stretch of the imagination that ya got experience bro.” Stretch grinned at the scandalized look Blue sent him.

“No puns at dinner.” Papyrus chided, shaking his skull from side to side. If Stretch got the other’s going, there would be no end to the madness.

“Aw, come on bro. A dinner sans puns is no fun.” Sans said from the couch, having further sunken into the cushion to continue his journey to become one with it. Papyrus groaned, wincing as if pained while Red grinned like a shark at his double.

“Don’t think he was Red-y for that one.” Red mused.

“Enough.” Edge said, pinching above his nasal passage. Stars, the four older punny brothers were in rare form tonight.

“Aw, babe.” Slim cooed, wrapping his arms around Edge from behind him, resting his chin gently on Edge’s shoulder. “Don’t be so on edge.”

The four elder brothers erupted in a series of giggles and chuckles, Stretch having to lean against the couch for support as Slim grinned victoriously against Edge. Edge gave a long suffering sigh, nuzzling his boyfriend gently.

“You’re lucky I like you.” Edge huffed softly and Slim gave him a delighted look. “Think you more then like me, Edgelord.In fact you could say-”

“Don’t you dare-”

“You love me berry much.” Slim purred sweetly and Blueberry shot Slim a betrayed look, using his own nickname to torture them was a new and offensive low. Edge scowled at his boyfriend, narrowing his sockets, but Slim saw the twitch of his mandible, holding back a smile.

“Your chances of sleeping in the bed instead of the couch tonight are slim to none.” Edge grumbled and Slim’s delighted look grew at the pun.

“Edge no! Not you too!” Papyrus facepalmed. “This is anarchy.”

“Bro.” Sans sat up from the couch. “Bro-”

“No Sans, no. If you pun-”

“Aw, bro, come on.” Sans grinned wide. “No bones about it, ya know you like puns. You’re smiling.”

“This is a pained smile! A grimace!” Papyrus argued, hands on his hip bones. “I, the great Papyrus, am not amused by this tomfoolery!”

Blue nodded in firm agreement while Stretch and Slim dissolved into more laughter and Sans and Red grinned wide. “And honestly those puns were all terrible. Put some backbone into it, people.”

“Papyrus, no!” Blue all but stomped his foot while Papyrus laughed his signature laugh and Sans’s eyelights practically changed into stars like Blueberry’s. “Enough of this nonsense!”

“Bro, you don't want to join in on the skullduggery?” Stretch snickered and Blue all but growled, throwing his hands into the air.

“That’s it! We are starting the movie!” Blue yelled, herding the other five skeletons to the couch and arm chairs, except for Sans who was already half absorbed into the left most cushion.

Stretch sat next to Sans and wiggled his brow bones at Red, patting his lap. Red flipped him off, taking a seat next to him instead and Stretch yawned dramatically before draping his arm over Red’s shoulders.

Red’s eyelights disappeared, his face flushing his namesake. “‘Rus, ya wanna keep that arm?”

Stretch ignored the threat, snuggling the smaller close who looked a moment away from climbing up the walls in retreat, his eyelights darting around the room like a caged animal. Edge tensed, leaning forward to intervene, he’d seen the damage Red could do when pushed too far, but, finally Red calmed, stiffly tolerating Stretch’s affection. Edge took a moment to admire his brother’s rare vulnerability. The fact Red even let Stretch get close, get to be anything beyond the ‘occasional fuck and quickie’ was telling, but to see him not immediately lash out at the affectionate move warmed Edge’s soul. Had this been even a few months ago, Edge was not so certain Red wouldn’t have torn Stretch’s arm off and beat him to death with it, rather than simply give the threat.

As it was, Red continued to tolerate the affectionate touch, giving his date mate a dirty glare and cursing under his breath, nevertheless Red slowly melted into it, eyelights trained on the television as Blue set up the movie.

Stretch’s mandible curved in a victorious smirk and he seeped into the couch, his bones relaxing like wet noodles. Edge took a seat on a recliner and Slim smirked eagerly sitting into his lap, causing a red blush to color the captain of the Monster Guard’s cheekbones.

Red rolled his eyelights towards their direction, but Edge noted the smile tugging at his elder brother’s mandible.

“Are you all ready for tonight's spine tingling show?" Stretch asked.

"It's a real rib tickler." Sans called from the depths of the couch.

“No more puns!” Blue stomped his foot. The movie began to play, and Slim settled in Edge’s lap, a smirk gracing his angled features as he made himself comfortable on his date mate. Edge blushed at the public display of affection, rapidly avoiding Red’s eyelights and Sans wiggling his brow bones at him, wrapping his arms around Slim.

The world wasn’t perfect, even on the Surface. Edge and Slim both held scars from their respective verses, but they were here, together, on the surface, and that was enough for Edge, stars knew, that was more than enough. He never expected and definitely didn't deserve the skeleton in his arms, or their cross multiverse mess of a family, but here they were together, watching cheesy films. His life had never felt so right, so complete.

Chapter Text

A craving only lasts 20 minutes.

Breathe in one two three four out two three four.

Slim’s frantic pace back and forth in front of Undertale Papyrus and Sans’s house had literally worn a path through two feet of solid snow, and still the fell monster paced.

Breath in one two three four - out one two three four.

He itched. He ached. Every fiber of his being was screaming out, craving, begging for relief. Just one hit. One sip. He didn’t need a lot, just a little. Just a tiny bit, anything to make it stop, stop, s t o p-

“A craving only lasts 20 minutes.” Slim repeated his mantra, feet wearing into the frozen dirt revealed from the shifted snow. He’d learned that fact from NA. He also called fucking bullshit.

That warm bloom from the top of his head to the whole of his body, enveloping his soul, where everything felt good and right and free and light. He wanted it. He needed it. Persistence always felt so sweet. Like he was a stripeling again. No worries, no anxiety, no pain, no problems, just himself. Full of the fire and all the eagerness of youth long lost.

Not frozen like he was now. The passion and thirst for life beaten out of him. The desire to create, to understand, elbows deep in a machine as a passion of life rather than a hobby. Was he even remotely the same monster he used to be?

No.

He was his shadow.

A humorless puff of laughter escaped Slim as he clenched and unclenched his fists, his soul still twisting, still wanting, still demanding Persistence.

“Breath in, 1, 2, 3, 4, out 1, 2, 3, 4.” Slim felt incredibly stupid repeating the same words to himself. He wasn’t sure this was helping in the least. He was sure he looked absolutely crazy if anyone decided to look out their windows to see the tall skeleton pacing outside at 3 in the morning. Granted, this was Papyrus’s house, he was certain the neighbors were used to the whacky skeleton antics he and all their alternates brought.

Carefully unweaving himself from Edge and the pile of skeletons from the slumber party without waking them had been Slim’s magnum opus, he deserved a damn award, not even Edge or Red had stirred. Or a reward? Yes, a reward would be nice. That sweet Persistence for example- no. No.

A craving only lasted twenty minutes.

It’s been thirty.

Despite Slim’s misery the awful tension in his soul began to somewhat ease, and he tried to think about literally anything other than the gnawing need echoing from the very center of his being.

So he thought of home.

***

Swapfell
9 years ago

The queen was crazy, there was no doubt in Slim’s mind. Toriel was absolutely, certifiably, undeniably insane. He breathed in the nicotine, held it, let it burn his magic before he exhaled watching as tendrils of smoke seeped from his nasal passage and eye sockets into the cool air. The palace was cold, always cold. It made his scars ache. The smoke was almost enough to obscure the dimly illuminated silver and purple of the judgment hall around him.

“Didn’t you hear me, dog? I said; Execute him for his crimes.” Toriel’s voice was cold and sharp, ringing with a note of impatience from behind him.

Slim stared down at the trembling dog monster in front of him. After the massacres, the underground had been caught in a whirlpool of rage, grief, and confusion. Toriel was trying to stabilize it not with an iron fist but an atom bomb. She was going to destroy her kingdom until there was nothing left but the dust she so gleefully enjoyed scattering.That is, unless Alphys’s little rebellion gained enough monsters to overthrow her ass. Slim always did root for the underdogs.

“Your majesty?” Slim said as if he hadn’t heard, cocking his skull to one side.

“She said kill him, you idiot.” Razz’s voice cracked like a whip from the queen’s side. Slim took another long, slow hit of his cigarette.

And then there was his little brother. If Slim was the queen’s unruly mutt, Razz was the trained pitbull. Vicious, bloodthirsty, and loyal to a fault to the queen and her torrent of destruction.

“P-please! It w-wasn’t treason!” The dog monster fell to his knees in front of Slim. “T-tell them! Y-your the judge! You know the truth! Te-tell them!”

Slim summoned a single blaster, the giant canine-like skull appearing above his left shoulder. It grimaced at the begging monster as if in pain before its jaw unhinged, yellow energy building in its maw.

Slim’s similarly yellow colored eyelights flickered to the queen, hoping some sense would uncloud those wild purple eyes.

“What are you waiting for?” She demanded. Slim grit his teeth, setting his eyelights back at the groveling monster before him. He knew better by now then to argue her verdict, or try to make her see reason.

His last attempt at sparing a monster had ended with him receiving a broken arm and a month in a bleak wet cell in her dungeon for ‘sympathizing with terrorists’. Besides that, the judge within him, against his will, had unquestionably obeyed its queen’s direct order to execute despite his verbal refusal. He’d executed the monster anyway. The judge always did in the end, he could only hold it back so long. What was the point of having a judge if it had to blindly follow the Queen's command? Even if that queen had long ago lost her sense of justice? Even if that queen was insane?

Crazy bitch.

Slim swallowed hard and stared at the trembling dog monster. He’d seen him around the castle a few times, serving wine and cleaning empty plates during the queen’s frequent banquets.

Heh. Frequent banquets while most of her kingdom s t a r v e d.

Slim looked him in the dog’s eyes, he at least owed him that much. His blaster released its beam of energy, disintegrating the dog and turning him to dust instantly. Innocent or guilty, he’d been full of LOVE and Karmic Retribution was a bitch, sapping his HP in an instant, obliterating him from the weight of the massive amount of LOVE the dog must have had.

Fuck. High LOVE meant high Execution Points. A wave of EXP hit Slim like a punch to the gut and he took a deep breath, non-existent lungs burning, burning, (hE WaNTeD MOrE) At least his own LOVE hadn’t increased in bracket; this time.

Toriel’s peals of laughter echoed as the dust settled around them and Slim dismissed the blaster, his would be stomach twisting. He looked over his shoulder, at the queen and her guard dog. Razz’s face remained impassive, ice eyelights boring into where the dog monster had stood. The queen’s gleeful laughter came to a slow stop, a few more giggles and amused snorts escaping.

“Well? Clean that mess up.” She snapped at a shivering servant standing in the corner of the room, likely hoping to be forgotten by the mad queen and her dogs. No such luck. The skinny teenage cat monster hurried over with a broom and dustpan, another soul’s dust to be dumped in the trash. Slim put out his cigarette taking a ragged breath.

And today was the day Slim executed someone for stealing food to feed his family from the royal kitchens. He’d have to put this on the calendar; a new low.

***

“I’m cutting you off.” Muffet said, shaking her head, her five eyes narrowed at the slumped skeleton sinking into her bar. “Do you hear me, Papyrus? No more!”

Slim gave the spider a mutinous look, swigging back the last of the spiked barbeque sauce in the bottle.

“Don’t be like that, Muffy.” He purred. “I’m perfectly sober.”

“You are not! The last time I let you get this drunk you shortcut halfway into Onionsan’s wall, underwater. And I was the one who had to explain to your brother how you got down there! No more!” Muffet said, crossing four of her arms.

Slim gave her a betrayed look, a low groan leaving him as her stoic glare gave no waver. He crossed one arm on the bar and rested his chin against his fist supported by his elbow, glaring at her with all the petulance he could muster. She didn't seem to care as she began to clean dirtied glasses.

"You should head home before your brother arrives to take you home. It's past your bedtime." She said with a teasing smirk.

Slim's reply was muffled but it rhymed suspiciously with muck cough.

"Funny, that doesn't sound like ‘yes Muffet, that's a great idea Muffet, thanks for looking out for me’." The spider said, squinting her many eyes at the skeleton who was once again slumped against her bar.

Slim only grumbled, fingers circling his empty glass. "What's got you so glum?" Muffet asked, her voice growing soft. Slim never tried to drink himself into oblivion unless it'd been a very bad day.

"Execution." Slim said, spitting the word. "Do I look like an executioner?"

"More like the grim reaper." Muffet poured him a glass of water and he gave it a sour look.

"What good is my judgment, my verdict, if the queen overrules it?" Slim said, voice full of hatred.

"The queen is. . . wise." Muffet said after a moment, the lie bitter on her tongue. Perhaps Toriel used to be wise. Now she was a vicious psychopath who ruled her kingdom with the spirit of a malicious child with a magnifying glass over an ant hill. It was suicide to voice such an opinion out loud, so, Muffet lied. Everyone did. It was called self preservation.

"She's a crazy bitch." Slim snarled his fist clenched around his glass of water so hard it cracked, rivers of water seeping down onto the bar. It seemed Slim, while perfectly truthful, had no such self preservation. At least not this intoxicated. Muffet resisted the urge to facepalm.

"Papyrus!" Muffet warned as the bar fell deathly quiet. You could hear a pin drop. All eyes fell on Slim.

"She is!" Slim said firmly.

"Saying such things is dangerous!" Muffet warned slamming her hands on the bar, her eyes scanning the patrons of her cafe. The patrons who had grown silent. The queen had eyes and ears everywhere, this idiot was going to get himself killed.

"I don't care! I hate her! If I could kill her, I would!"

"That's treason!" Muffet hissed. "Shut up Papyrus. You're drunk! You don't know what you are saying! Go home!" Muffet's soul pounded in her chest. There were more than a few guard rabbits still here and Slim had everyone's attention. Monsters had been executed under the accusation of treason for far less than the dangerous words spilling from Slim's mouth.

“That so?” a guard stood up, hand on the hilt of the axe sashayed across his hip. Slim turned, and gave the rabbit a mirthless grin.

“Oh, make my day.” Slim said standing up, yellow eyelights burning with wild energy.

“Enough! There’s no fighting or dustshed in my cafe!” Muffet stood between the two.

“This is official royal guard business.” The rabbit said. “It overrides your little rules, spider. Stand aside.”

Muffet grit her teeth, her many fists clenching. “It’s alright, Muffy.” Slim slurred behind her. She turned to glare at him. Nothing about this was all right! Slim stepped around her, coming toe to toe with the rabbit.

“Listen, friend. I’m heh, feeling charitable. So, let's pretend this whole thing never happened, or, I'm gonna have a really good time.” Slim cocked his skull to the side, grin feral. The rabbit lunged swinging his axe and Slim dodged to the left, appearing on top of Muffet’s bar with a bark of laughter.

“That the best you can do?” Slim grinned wide. “Come on, hit me.”

The rabbit charged, axe over his head, a wave of killing intent leaving him as he rushed forward. Slim shortcut behind him as the axe cleaved the bar in two and the horrified cry startled out of Muffet was enough for shame to bubble up in Slim’s soul. The guard wouldn’t pay for that, and Muffy was behind on her bills as it was.

“Alright, alright, easy there-” Slim held out his hands in a placating manner, but the damage was done. Whether the guard would have been able to be talked down before was no longer important; he wasn’t willing to be talked down now. The rabbit picked up his axe and swung once more. Slim was forced to shortcut again and again, the guardsman’s attacks relentless and heavy.

“I’m calling Sans.” Muffet hissed, peeking up over the bar at Slim before crouching behind it once more.

“No, don't!” Slim groaned and he stumbled backwards as the guardsman unleashed a wave of carrot shaped magic attacks before swinging his axe an inch above Slim’s head.

“Fuck!” Slim cursed, zigging and the rabbit snarled, swirling his axe towards him once more.

He should have zagged.

Pain erupted through him with sharp, breath stealing, blank white noise. He couldn't see. His ears were ringing. He didn’t have ears. It hurt to laugh, why was it so loud? Or was it quiet?

The pain increased, he wasn’t Papyrus anymore. He wasn't anything. He was pain. This was all he was, all that existed, the non-stop, tearing- the white light faded, the pain seeping back, almost instantly, spots of color beginning to form images.

Muffet stared down at him, terrified, breathless, her shaking hand pressing an empty vial to his teeth and he noted the ceiling above her had cobwebs. Or spiderwebs? How long had they been there? They were glistening like webs that had caught stardust.

“You're alright, you're alright.” Her voice hitched, a sob escaping. “Papyrus, come back.”

“Im - I’m fine.” Slim groaned, sitting up. He was painfully sober - without the pain. Actually he felt good. He felt amazing.

Soul beating in his chest, a rising feeling in every bone, pleasure sweet, hot and all encompassing lacing through him, fogging his thoughts, fueling his soul.

“What-” Slim looked around, the bar was completely empty, a pile of dust and a discarded axe a few feet from him; the only patron remaining. “What’d you give me?”

Colors vivid, sound intense, manic glee building, building, the urge to fight, to fuck, to sink his teeth and taste every molecule of food, each urge surging and vanishing before his mind could even follow the cocottony of thoughts and desires.

“Oh thank the stars.” Muffet and several of her arms wrapped around him pulling him close, and oh that felt nice. So nice. He rubbed his cheekbone against her face, lust growing in his soul- the panicked thought that something was very wrong, he felt so strange, so wonderful, soul pounding, the room swaying. Slim blinked swallowing hard, were the lights always so blurry?

“You idiot. I thought I lost you.” Muffet rested her forehead against his and he shushed her with a sweet small skeleton kiss.

“I'm fine.”

“You werent.” Muffet pulled back just enough to break the kiss. “You got hit. Your HP - i've never seen-” Muffet shuddered and Slim laughed.

He laughed.

It wasn’t funny. Some part of him knew that. Some part of him was desperately trying to pay attention to Muffet, to what had happened, none of this was funny, but he felt elated. Everything was perfect. Everything was just right - why couldn’t she see that? What was she going on about?

He couldnt put his manic elation into words, he wanted to kiss her tears away and claim her right there on the floor of the bar. Okay so he was feeling a little animalistic but he’d always been called a dog, hadn’t he?

“Focus.” Muffet gently grabbed his jaw, eyes full of worry. “I know it's hard right now. Papyrus, please, listen. You nearly died. He drove his axe through your ribcage, into your spine. I thought I'd lost you.”

Slim’s eyelights trailed to his chest. He felt fine, but where had his coat and shirt gone? Bare white ribs glistened at him, untouched looking, unmarred as the day he’d came out of the test tube, his spine was virgin white behind it. Where’d all his scars go? If an axe had been driven through his ribcage into his spine - had he completely shattered? Bones flying like a mini skeleton firework? The thought made him chuckle.

“You nearly died. You were dying.” Muffet’s voice wavered. “The others scattered, he was waiting for you to dust and- and-” Muffet took a deep breath. “I did what I had to do.” she gestured at the dust and Slim felt another laugh rising but he held it back.

Muffet was upset. She’d killed for him. He didn't want to upset her more, but everything she was saying he found hysterical. He felt delighted. Everything was glorious.

“I gave you a drug. It’s called Persistence. It’s very rare, very expensive… it can save you from death but it's very uh, strong. The high is strong, very addicting…” Muffet’s words echoed around Slim, he tried to catch the words as they fluttered by, as if a cage of butterflies tipped over the door ajar and hundreds of colorful insects escaped. Pink, blue, red, orange, - unique sounds to each little creature-

“Papyrus!”

That wasn’t Muffet. He blinked looking around, eyelights meeting his brother’s unamused face.

Wait, wasn't he just on the floor with Muffet? Why was he at home, on their couch? Where’d Muffy go, and where’d he get the turtleneck and cup of tea, was he losing time!? More importantly, were the butterflies okay because he really liked them and-

“Papyrus!” Razz’s voice raised and he stamped his foot with all the entitled rage of a five year old. Slim giggled, was Razz ever going to grow up? Slim watched his brother amused as he nuzzled his favorite turtleneck. Welp. Someone had taken him home and dressed him.

“Useless!” Razz gave him an utter look of contempt and Slim snorted. Usually such venomous words and cold looks made Slim feel incredibly sad and guilty but for some reason he found the entire thing completely bizarre and hilarious.

“I need you to focus! Mutt, are you listening!?” his brother snapped his fingers in front of Slim’s face, whoops, had he been nodding off? A nap did sound nice.

“I need to go to work. You are to stay inside. Absolutely do not leave, for any reason. Do not answer the door if anyone knocks. Do you understand me? Mutt! Dog! . . . Papy?”

Interestingly he could see fireworks with his sockets closed as he felt a warm blanket being tucked over him, the door closing, darkness, darker, yet darker…

***

When Slim finally came too he took a moment to wish he hadn’t. Everything ached. His mouth was impossibly dry and his head pulsed with each breath. It was as if the very act of breathing was too much and it tipped the stabbing pain in his skull from ‘almost too much to handle’ levels of pain to ‘dear lord put me out of my misery’ levels.

“Oh- stars-” Slim panickily took in his surroundings, he was on the couch, in his and Razz’s home in Snowdin, a blanket around him, a bucket next to him and Slim put it to immediate good use by retching his magic into it. Wiping his mouth he shivered, pain cramping through him. He blinked at his spent magic, usually his magic was yellow but today it was a dark purple.

Stars, he felt like absolute shit, what had Muffet said she’d given him? A drug? He’d…shit, he’d been hit. Slim’s hands went to the orange turtleneck and he quickly lifted it, inspecting his ribs and spine. Pristine, too pristine. Bones likely shattered, the drug stitched them back together, shiny and new. He looked to his shoulder, hypothesis supported, still had the scar from that nasty rabbit’s little ‘cinnamon’ when the tyke sunk his fangs into him last year. So it didn't heal scars or old injuries, just things currently broken; interesting.

The door slammed open, startling Slim nearly making him fall off the couch. Razz stormed in, his eyelights cold and calculating and Slim noted the dust on his indigo gloves. Razz’s eyelights pierced Slim a look passing over his brother’s face that Slim hadnt had the pleasure of witnessing since he drunkenly threw up on Razz’s boots that one time.

“FInally awake.” Razz scoffed storming over. “You realize it’s been three days? You’ve been babbling on the couch like a drug addicted homeless person.” Razz scowling at him, hands on his hips was not nearly as hysterical as it had been in what little flashes of memory Slim possessed of the last three days and he swallowed hard.

“I, uh….I didn’t-? I-” Slim looked anywhere but at that piercing gaze, “I don’t really understand what happened.” He mumbled.

“What happened is you nearly got yourself killed!” Razz hissed, tone frigid. “Do you know how much trouble we are in because of you?” Razz clenched and unclenched his fists, ice colored eyelights flickering, specks of red bleeding in, eyelights changing from ice blue to magenta.

Cruelty replaced frustration as Razz pinned Slim with his gaze, like a child stabbing needles into a butterfly, and Slim was powerless to look away. “You were drunk and hollering treason for everyone to hear.” Razz reminded Slim and he grimaced, he vaguely remembered that, yeah.

“And apparently started a fight with one of my foot soldiers.” Razz continued. Slim chose to not express his opinion of said dusty foot soldier; the rabbit had it coming. “Muffet said he drove his axe into you.” Razz’s voice wavered, emotion trickling into the cold tone, ice cracking, barriers falling down. “She said you almost f-” Razz’s words choked, the great captain stuttering, “fell down.”

“Yeah.” Slim confirmed, guilt gnawing at his soul. He hadn’t been trying to get himself hurt or killed. He hadn’t meant to be overheard or start a fight or worry Muffet or Razz. He just- he was just venting. That’s all.

“You idiot!”

Slim was unprepared for the blow, Razz’s palm slapping against Slim’s cheek. Had Razz actually put any real force into it, it may have even stung. As it was, the blow was as weak as the intent behind it, a love tap more than anything, certainly not touching an iota of Slim’s limited HP, the sound far harsher than the actual smack itself.

Razz’s fuchsia eyes glinted wetly and his palms moved to comically cover his mouth, sockets wide in horror as he gaped at what he had just done.

“You finished?” Slim asked with no heat. If hitting Slim let Razz feel better then he’d take it. He knew he deserved it.

“Shut up.” Razz huffed the venom long gone from his voice, eyes fading back to ice blue. The tension seeped out of the shorter skeleton and he sat next to Slim, skull in his hands. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you.”

“I deserved it.” Slim shrugged and a low growl left Razz.

“You're my brother. We don't treat each other like that. Ever.” Razz seemed more angry at himself than at Slim, which made Slim want to redirect the anger back at himself, so; he opened his mouth.

“Well, it's not like ya never hurt me before, bro.” Slim gestured to the scar through his right socket and Razz flinched as if struck. Oops. Slim silently cursed himself. It wasn’t his intention to make his brother feel bad; quite the opposite. He’d have to try harder, piss Razz off well and good, let him direct his anger at Slim and get it all out. It was the only thing Slim was good for and he knew it.

“And ya hit like a girl. Where are my smokes?”

Razz gave him an indignant look, eyelights shrinking, but it wasn’t enough to tip Razz into violence, at least not at the moment. Shame.

Sometimes, Slim could really get Razz going, especially if Razz was riding some LOVE, Razz was always easy to rile up, but especially so after a kill. If Slim could get Razz to burn that LOVE on him, that’s what Slim called a win-win.

The art of getting his brother to beat the shit out of him was a well crafted song and dance of Slim’s. Not that he liked getting beat up, no, but he deserved it. Slim could breathe a little easier and sleep a little sounder after successfully getting Razz or anyone else for that matter to give it to him. It chased away the guilt for a few hours, and made his thoughts shut up. Unfortunately that tiny cheek pat Razz gave him wasn’t going to quell any of the guilt gnawing at his soul so he checked his pockets for a cig to at least slow down the self hating spiral he could feel amping up.

“Did you throw out my smokes?” Slim frowned as fingers found no cigarette shaped anythings in his inventory or pockets.

“Those things are disgusting. They stain your teeth and your fingers yellow.” Razz grumbled. Slim noted that was not a confession of guilt or innocence and Slim patted the couch he’d been sleeping on for any stray smokes that might have fallen from his pockets. Razz sighed, giving Slim a frustrated look before his expression shifted to an empty mask.

Slim hated that look the most; the perfect blankness and complete lack of emotion; an inpenitrable mask his brother paraded around with. It was most often used when the queen was involved.

“The queen knows.”

Slim closed his eyes, fists clenching; and there it was. The cherry on top of Slim’s’ fucking around and finding out sundae. Shit, he was in real hot water this time, wasn’t he?

“Knows what? That I got my ass kicked by a bunny?” Slim’s fingers twitched, a gnawing growing in his soul. “...does she know Muffet….”

“There were several reports from guard witnesses of you spreading blasphemy and treason. The reports state you were falling down as they fled the scene.”

Slm scowled. “Drunkenly calling the queen a bitch is not treason.”

“It is and you know it, you fucking moron.” Razz’s teeth were grit in a particularly violent looking snarl. “By the time I arrived after Muffet called me, you were completely drugged out. . . but seemed unharmed.”

“I don’t remember that.” Slim admitted. “I remember getting hit and…a lot of stuff after that,that doesn’t really make sense.”

“Yes you were very unhelpful.” Razz gave him a pointed look. “I had no choice. I could either report the truth; that Muffet killed the guardsman who was in the right to defend his queen or report that you killed the guardsman.”

“And which did you report?” Slim asked, ice gripping his soul. Toriel would almost certainly order Muffet to be executed and he knew for a fact Toriel would take great pleasure in making Slim be the one to carry out that sentence.

Toriel wouldn't kill Slim, or have him executed; he knew that much.Judges were a once a generation type of rare and were carried from one generation to the next through bloodline only and Slim had no heirs. If Slim died, it could take decades or even centuries before the next Judge naturally manifested into the monster population once more- if it did at all. With a monster population as corrupt and twisted as theirs had become it may have unforeseen consequences on the next judge. One may not even manifest, or if it did, it may be just as corrupt as the monarchy had become.

Not that Slim was a particularly moral or just judge, not with Toriel overruling all his verdicts, but, Toriel was old fashioned. The kingdom may be crumbling around her but she put stock in tradition. It mattered to her. She was the monarchy, and the monarchy needed a judge, simply because she believed it did. LIke puzzles, the judge’s role was a crucial part of their ancient culture, one Toriel and older monsters clung to, despite other old values and traditions being left behind.

No, it’d take a great deal more than Slim bitching about her drunkenly in public and some lowly foot soldier dusting to earn him an execution. Shame others were not extended the same privilege. Better Slim takes the fall for the guardsman’s demise than Muffet. His life, at the very least, would not be at stake. Still; he knew the price would be high for his ‘act of treason’ and the death of the guardsman.

Stars, why was his brother taking so long to answer? Razz was scowling at the floor, gloved fists clenched.

“Sans? Please tell me you didn’t-”

“I told the queen you killed the guard.” Razz crossed his arms as a sigh of relief left Slim.

“Thank you.”

“Fuck you. I should have turned the spider in. The queen is furious at you. For the record, so am I. I have no idea what she is going to do.”

“I can take it.” Slim said and Razz grit his teeth.

“Can you? Do you expect me to just stand there and watch while she breaks you?” He hissed nastily.

“I’ll be fine, and yes. Unless you want us both at her mercy?” Slim countered firmly and Razz scoffed glaring daggers at Slim.

When is my summons?” Slim asked, wishing once again that he had a cigarette. It was highly likely that while Slim was out of commission Razz raided the house and threw them all away. He’d have to get more, and he doubted his brother would make that particularly easy or possible.

“Five days. You need to rest. Stay inside, keep your head down. I’ll do my best to calm her rage.” Razz sighed, pinching above his nasal passage. “You really messed up this time, Paps.”

***

This wasn’t the first time Slim found himself on the opposite end of the judgment hall, kneeling before their queen as she regarded him as one might regard a particularly offensive ooze they found beneath their boot. He imagined it wouldn’t be the last time he found himself in this same position, either.

Razz stood like a statue at her side looking past Slim as if he could completely ignore the fact Slim was there waiting for the queen to decide how she’d punish him for daring to speak his mind about her in public. Oh right, and the death of the guard, can’t forget that.

“Anything to say, dog?” Toriel cocked her head to the side, her lavender eyes fogged more than usual.

“No, your majesty.” Slim bowed his skull.

“So the allegations are true? You don't disagree with the Captain’s report?” Toriel’s inflection was curious and she leaned forward from her throne, a calculating look appeared as the fog rolled through those stark eyes.

“It's true, your majesty. I was not myself. I am so very sorry, I have no idea what came over me.” He wasn’t sorry. She knew it, he knew it, his damn brother knew it and the lie sounded as fake as the chastised look on Slim’s face. Well, it was his best effort even if it wasn’t much.

Toriel clicked like a disappointed parent who had walked into their child’s room to discover a huge mess.

“I hope you understand what a bind this puts me in.” Toriel said with a put out look. “Dogs need to be loyal, Papyrus. I can’t have a rabid mutt barking all sorts of dangerous things, now can I?”

Slim really hoped she wasn’t expecting an answer and that the question was rhetorical because he had nothing to say to that and merely kept his skull bowed.

“And you killed one of my guardsmen.” Toriel pouted, as if a child with a favored toy that had been broken. “Captain, what is the sentence for friendly fire that results in the death of a guardsman?”

Razz blinked. “Fifty lashes, your majesty.” Razz’s voice was flat, as if he were informing their monarch of the weather, not of a possible sentence thatToriel could use against his brother. Slim’s mouth went dry, soul cringing in his ribcage.

“But this wasn’t friendly fire, was it?” Toriel hummed, her long black nails, long ago twisted into claws, were tapping against the silver arm of her throne. “This was intentional.”

“It was self defense, your majesty, I had no choice! He would have killed me.” Slim said quickly.

A giggle escaped Toriel, like the ringing of Gyftmas bells, light, jolly, playful. Never a good sign. “Captain, did you hear me tell the mutt to speak?”

“No, your highness.” Razz’s clipped reply came; emotionless, empty.

“He speaks out of turn.” Toriel hummed more to herself than to either of them, slightly rocking left to right in her throne. Razz didn’t so much as look at the queen as she began to whisper to herself quietly, words too jumbled for Slim to make any real sense of it.

Toriel seemed to snap out of her trance-like state after several minutes of intense whispering and giggling to herself. She cleared her throat, as if she hadn’t just had for lack of a better word, an episode, and the queen grinned viciously before looking directly at Slim’s brother. “Well? What are you waiting for? Show him what happens to bad dogs who bark when not told to.”

Razz, to his credit, didn't so much as hesitate before walking forward and backhanding Slim hard enough for Slim’s skull to jerk to the other side. Slim grimaced, resisting the urge to rub his likely bruised cheekbone, the sting painful and jarring. So much harder than the small slap Razz gave him days before.

Toriel giggled, unbridled sadistic joy etched on every line of her face. “Yes, yes! Do it again, do it again!”

Slim grunted as the second blow came just as hard and quick as the first, skull ringing as Toriel clapped and cheered, her unrestrained laughter echoing around the judgment hall. Razz was rigid, standing over Slim, arm raised for a third blow halted only due to waiting for the queen’s command. when one didn’t come he immediately lowered his hand, taking his place by the queen’s side, expression skillfully empty.

“Bad dogs only get to speak when spoken to.” Toriel hummed, looking positively pleased with herself as Slim attempted to keep his own expression neutral. “Captain? What is the punishment for intentional murder of a guardsman?”

“Death, your highness.” Razz said, jaw twitching ever so slightly, a crack in his impenetrable facade.

“And the punishment for treason?” Toriel cocked her head to the side.

“A slow death.” Razz dutifully answered, schooling his expression.

The queen sighed, tapping her chin in thought before regarding Slim with a disgusted look. “You see what trouble you cause me, dog? What is a queen to do when her rabid little puppy breaks all the rules? No one needs a dog that bites the hand that feeds, Papyrus.”

Slim wasn't sure if he was expected to answer or not this time. It likely depended on the queen’s volatile mood, unfortunately her moods changed from moment to moment; he couldn’t win. If he was silent he was ignoring the queen, if he spoke, he spoke out of turn.

“Speak.” She yelled and Slim took a quick breath, thankful for small mercies.

“Your highness, I would never betray you. My treacherous words were the ramblings of a drunken fool. I am unworthy of your mercy and don't deserve your forgiveness, but I swear I am loyal to you and will spend the rest of my life, however long or short that is, serving you.” Slim bowed his head, the lies bitter on his tongue.

Toriel hummed seemingly in thought. “Captain. What do you think? Can this dog be trained, or should he be put down?” Toriel’s gaze pierced Razz and Razz looked at Slim before glancing at the queen.

“It is not my place to say. Your judgment and verdict are far wiser and just than mine, your highness.” Razz replied. Slim tried not to take it personally. He knew, logically, they were both acting for the queen. Slim acting like the guilty pet and Razz the loyal guard. Razz couldn't risk showing he actually cared about Slim, it would put them both in danger.

“Yes, you are correct, but still, I'd like to hear your opinion.” Toriel pressed. Razz glanced at Slim, brow bones knitting together in thought and Slim’s soul dipped.

What did she want to hear and what if Razz got it wrong? Would she really kill Slim? Was she that far gone that she’d execute the underground’s only judge with no heir?

“I think he is a strong judge. It would be annoying to lose a judge’s power and a long tedious wait for a new one, especially with those idiots masquerading around as rebels these past few years.” Razz scoffed; voice icy. “He’s an idiot, but he’s trainable, in my opinion, your majesty.”

Toriel grinned her violet eyes landing back on Slim.

“Is that true, little puppy? Can you learn? We will see.” Toriel stood up and Razz’s sockets widened, only for a moment, a look of raw panic spread over the guard captain’s face before it vanished without a trace.

The queen confidently strode forward before grabbing Slim by his chin, raising his skull, forcing the skeleton to look up at her. “Now then, young one. Say you're sorry for being a bad dog.”

Slim swallowed hard, her grip on his chin like iron. “I’m so sorry, your highness.”

“For?” she prompted and Slim grimaced.

“For- for- betraying you, my queen?” Slim tried not to make it sound like a question. She tsked and released him and he breathed a sigh of relief, that actually hadn’t gone too bad-

His thoughts were immediately silenced as her hand came down on the back of his skull driving him face first into the cold stone floor, his teeth smacking against the hard surface with several horrific cracks and a strangled cry unbidden from Slim himself.

Marrow immediately flooded his mouth, his tongue materializing, poking and prodding, checking for damage. He didn’t dare move, didn't dare breathe.

“Try again, puppy.” She pulled his head back, painfully so, marrow rushed from his teeth down his chin, dripping and staining the floor below. “Say sorry for being a bad dog.”

Razz watched Slims’ torment impassively. Razz might as well have been watching a pair of birds flying along the roof of the underground for all the reaction he had. One would think he was casually admiring the environment not witnessing the queen brutally tormenting his brother.

“I’m sorry.” Slim said quickly, an ache in his mouth pulsing, she had to have broken a few teeth, if not his actual palette. That had really hurt, she had slammed his face into the cobbled stone floor hard.

“For?” Toriel’s foot tapped impatiently against the floor.

“I’m sorry for being a bad dog.” Slim said, completely humiliated. Toriel cooed, seemingly pleased, and she patted the top of his head, condescendingly so.

“Good boy. Now was that so hard?”

Slim didn't answer, couldn’t answer, the pain in his mouth jarring.

The queen seemed satisfied, walking back to her throne and lounging in it the same way Slim would on his couch on a Saturday night. Relaxed, stretched out, and dead weight. Getting comfortable to watch a good show. He really hoped he wasn’t the show.

“Your right, captain. He can learn.” Toriel smiled viciously and Slim ran the back of his hand across his bloodied mouth.

“Papyrus Serif, for spreading blasphemous and treacherous words about your benevolent ruler and the unfortunate death of private Bunjamin at your accidental hand I sentence you to twenty lashes and six months of volunteer service with doctor Undyne.”

Razz’s socket twitched; his body so tense Slim would worry he would get stuck like that if his own thoughts were not completely overridden by blind panic. While the volunteer service sounded like the more merciful part of the punishment, Slim and Razz both knew those who were sentenced to serve the community by aiding Undyne with her experiments, became her experiments. Most monsters didn't make it out alive, and those that did often wished they hadn’t.

Slim remembered several horrible occasions where Razz himself had been sentenced to volunteer for Undyne, never for very long a day or two at most, it wasn't often Razz earned the queen’s wrath, still, Slim remembered the pale, ashen shell of his brother that returned to him on those occasions, more dead than alive, nearly unresponsive, a trembling mess who could hardly walk. Slim grit his broken teeth as the deep seeded rage he felt for that fish bitch rose just thinking about it.

“Well, Mutt, aren't you going to thank me for my mercy?” Toriel cocked her head to the side, a sly grin taunting him.

“Thank you, your majesty.” Slim mumbled, not daring to move.

“Captain, you believe the mutt can be trained; from now on you have the honor of being responsible for delivering his punishments.” Toriel said, voice dripping with saccharin. Razz froze, completely so, eyelights stuttering out.

“Use the whipping post in the courtyard; I want everyone to see what happens to bad dogs.”

There was a silent moment where nothing happened. Razz stood stock still, eyelights empty and Slim’s soul rolled around sickly in his ribcage. He knew in some fucked up way he should be grateful. Razz had said 50 lashes was the punishment for ‘friendly fire’. He’d only been sentenced 20. Still, Slim didn’t think he was a particularly strong monster, and it wasn't like he had an abundance of flesh to take the blows; his bones were going to be completely wrecked from this.

He also hadn’t expected his brother to be the one to dish out whatever punishment the queen selected.

“Now captain.” Toriel said, raising a single eyebrow at the captain of her queen’s guard who was still rigid and empty socketed. Razz didn’t so much as blink or move, looking more like a statue than a monster, completely unresponsive to the queen’s prompting. Toriel gave him a puzzled look, completely taken aback - rightfully so. Razz never disobeyed the queen, ever.

“Sans!?”Toriel raised her voice, sounding almost fearful. Shaken from his stupor, Razz’s eyelights returned, a grim look of determination overtaking his features.

Razz marched forward grabbing Slim by his arm and pulling him from his kneeling position. Slim stumbled to keep up as Razz half led and half dragged Slim out of the judgment hall and into the courtyard. It was deceptively beautiful, the castle garden beyond it, Black roses and violets adorning most of the garden, black and purple, black and purple, Slim hated it.

A silver fountain adorned the center, benches were strategically placed to view the splendors of the garden, the fountain and the carefully cultivated flowers and bushes added to the deceptive beauty. Razz marched Slim right to one of the corners of the courtyard, towards the terrible post.

Slim’s soul did another nauseous flip as his eyelights found the stained blood splatters along the post and stone floor. Nobles and officials who had been socializing in the courtyard fell quiet, all eyes landing on Razz and Slim. The queen stepped out, grinning gleefully as if something particularly delightful was happening; stars Slim hated her.

“Turtleneck and shirt off.” Razz grunted and Slim stared at his brother, mouth agape as if he couldn’t quite understand his brother’s instructions.

“Mutt.” Razz snapped. “I said turtleneck and shirt off.”

Slim’s eyelights flickered to the staring nobles, to the queen who seated herself on one of the benches, comically large on a seating arrangement not made for a monster her size, kicking her feet back and forth like an overexcited toddler. Slim shuddered before obeying his brother, sliding his shirt and turtleneck over his head, baring his ribcage and spine to everyone, causing him to avert his eyes, shame filling him despite the fact he’d done nothing he wasn't told to do.

Razz took the two articles of clothing, sliding them into his inventory. “Arms around the post.” Razz’s voice was gruff, low, deeper than Slim’d ever heard it but he shakily followed the command and winced as Razz none too gently cuffed his wrists together trapping him to the post.

Slim swallowed hard as Razz tested the cuffs. “Try to use magic.”

Slim didn't need to be told twice; he attempted a shortcut but all that happened was a small fizzle from the cuffs. Right. No escape then. He knew that these were likely magic dampening handcuffs but still, some part of him had hoped.

“Good. Arms up, above your head.”

Slim clumsily obeyed, and Razz used magic to secure the cuffs to the ominous looking metal hook protruding from the post. Slim was perhaps lucky he was so tall because he was able to stand, he’d seen other monsters dangle completely, toes not able to reach the ground.

“Stand like this.” Razz guided Slim against the pole, practically pressing him to lean against it. Slim knew he’d need its support soon enough. Finally, Razz’s eyelights met his before instantly darting away as if burned.

Quietly, so quiet Slim almost hadn’t heard, Razz whispered, “Remember to breathe, Papy, okay? I’ll pull my swings best I can, but...this is going to hurt.”

Slim tried to reply but nothing came out, marrow tasting coppery on his tongue from his earlier injury.

Razz lingered for a moment before stepping back and Slim heard him summon his magic to make the whip. He’d seen him do it plenty of times before. Bone for the hilt, raw stark ice colored magic for the whip itself. Slim closed his sockets waiting for the blow. After several moments he opened his eyes, confused when nothing happened.

“What are you waiting for captain? Are you going soft?” Toriel teased and Slim heard his brother scoff, the only warning he got before Slim felt the harsh sting of the whip.

Slim hissed, bucking against his restraints, a line of fire across his ribs where the whip had struck ached something fierce making him resist the urge to stamp his feet as if that would work out the sting.

That had fucking hurt but it wasn’t unbearable. He could maybe get through this.

“What was that? Are you dusting him off, Captain?” Toriel’s mocking voice made Slim’s soul sink. “Hit him harder.”

“Of course, your majesty. I was simply warming him up.” Razz’s voice was gruff, it didn't sound like his brother’s voice, it sounded like someone else's. Unnatural, voice low and gravelly, as if Razz had been chain smoking the last ten years. Restrained emotions leaking out and causing his voice to deepen.

Slim heard the whip before it struck again. The pain was immediate and sharp, cutting through Slim like a hot knife. This strike was far more brutal than the one before, knocking the air straight out of Slim and his knees buckled, he was only standing due to his arms being held up by the cuffs. He sagged against the post, breath caught in his ribcage, no sound escaping as he desperately tried to calm his overloaded senses and breathe.

His soul somersaulted with panic, he could hear the crowd murmuring and hear Toriel’s high pitched cackles. With effort he took a strangled breath, a pained whine leaving him as he exhaled.

There was a momentary reprieve before the whip came again, the crack of magic against bone deafening and Slim felt his entire world shift as agony shot through him like a strike of lightning. His HP didnt waver, not one iota, but fuck, he felt every inch of that impact and as the third strike struck against his spine, his first scream escaped.

He could feel the warmth of marrow sliding down his spine, pooling uncomfortably around his tailbone, the sting and ache of his ribs as he panted, trying to breathe through the pain. Pull his swings Slim’s fucking ass!

If Slim had skin, he was certain it’d have been flayed off, peeling from bone like ribbons from those last three blows alone!

The whip came again, and again, and again. His brother relentlessly peppered Slim’s frame with bloody lashes, from the base of his neck to his spine, to the back of his ribs, and even the tips of his exposed iliac crests; anything and everything bare was a target for the bite of his brother’s awful weapon.

And the worst part was that Slim couldn’t help but notice the audience around him, their piercing stares, some sympathetic, most cruel and jeering, the way his brother kept glancing at the queen, making sure she was pleased with his performance. Slim hated her so fucking much, because even as he suffered, even as his brother tortured him, Toriel was laughing-

***

Present day
Surface

“Hey, hey! Calm the fuck down!”

Slim blinked before a snowball smacked him square in the face. He reeled backwards blinking his sockets stupidly, mind completely slamming to a stop.

Snow?

Sky.

Blaster.

Shit, blaster.

Slim quickly dismissed the gigantic dragon-like skull that had been in front of him, maw wide and energy building behind pointed teeth. Shit, it’d been a long time since Slim accidentally summoned a blaster.

Slim looked up, taking in the brilliant night’s sky, the sparkling stars, a sight he dreamed about since he was a baby bones.

The surface.

He wasn’t there, he was here.

He was here. On the surface, outside the tale’s home, pacing like a psychopath, right.

He scanned the area, searching for the snowball throwing offender and found Red, hands in his jacket pockets, rocking back on Stretch’s fuzzy orange slippers, sharp teeth pulled into a frown.

“Heya, Red.” Slim said, voice gravelly.

“The fuck ya doin’ out here, String bean? Tryin’ ta blow up the neighborhood?”

“Just thinking.” Slim shrugged, moving to stand next to Red as he drew out a cigarette. “Didn’t mean to summon it. Smoke?”

“Fuck yes.” Red swiped the cigarette and Slim withdrew another from his stash, first lighting Red’s cig than his own and drawing in deep with an appreciative groan before exhaling.

“What ya thinkin’ about that has ya wearing a fuckin’ path in the snow and summonin’ blasters, Slim?” Red’s crimson eyelights bore into Slim and Slim had to remember to exhale. Red was probably the least like Razz out of all their known alternates and yet there were moments where Red’s piercing gaze took him to an entirely different person and place.

Get up, Mutt.

“Home.” Slim answered taking another drag and Red smiled, unpleasantly so.

“Heh.” Red took a long drag of his own cigarette. “Home’s in there.” He jerked his thumb at the Tale’s home. “Home’s beneath yer feet, stringbean.””

Slim nodded, Red was right of course. This was home now. A far better, safer, wondrous home. Sometimes, after a deep sleep in the early mornings of winter Slim would wake with the windows covered in snow, Slim would spiral into a panic thinking a reset had happened and he was back in Snowdin. Those mornings were the worst, but usually just seeing or touching Edge was enough to ground Slim to the here and now.

“So, what prompted the trip down memory lane? Or do ya wake up every mornin’ at 3 am to have a good think about your shitty ass verse?” Red blew several smoke rings giving Slim an unimpressed look.

Slim flinched and grunted. Once again, despite being the least like Slim’s own brother, Red reminded him of him the most and he really couldn’t pinpoint why. It wasn’t like Razz smoked, they had entirely different accents, and Blue resembled Razz the most physically, not Red.

He should have lied, and he would have, had it been Sans or Blue; but he found himself telling Red the truth. Red was Fell, he’d understand in ways the tale verse monsters never could.

“Had a craving.” Slim sucked in another hit of nicotine. It burned in the best way, but it didn’t hold a candle to the drug he really wanted. “Bad one. Had to distract myself.”

“Hmm.” Red closed his sockets taking a deep drag. “Yer LOVE acting up or is it for that shit that’s only from yer verse?” Slim grimaced as Red studied him silently. Slim had been very honest and upfront with Edge early on in their relationship. Edge knew Slim was in recovery, and what Edge knew Red found out one way or another.

“Not LOVE.” Slim sighed. “Persistence craving.”

“Well that shit’s one of a kind aint it? Cuz it aint in this verse, or my shitty verse or swap. It ain't like ya can get any then, so no worries.” Red shrugged. Slim gave a humorless laugh. Wasn’t that the best part though? It was the one good thing Slim ever did, the fact that his verse didn't come with him and Razz.

When Classic did whatever the hell he did when he pulled Underswap and Underfell into this universe, tearing them from their reality and dropping them into this one, he pulled all of them. Every single monster from Underswap and Underfell yanked here, even the jerries.

But Slim and Razz? They weren’t pulled here by Sans’s mistakes, they were pulled here by Slim’s.

Slim remembered desperately smacking the shit out of the machine, dragging his unconscious half dead brother, boosting the energy flow to the old hunk of junk with the human soul he’d stolen from Undyne’s lab. He used that soul like a fucking battery to send them anywhere, anywhere else but there; and they’d landed here.It was the one good thing Slim ever did and he thanked his lucky stars daily for it.

Slim’s verse didn’t come with him, and Slim was forever grateful for it. There was only one person he left behind that he regretted and that was Muffy. Everyone else could dust in that hell hole.

He didn't even know their own verse’s name. Sans said he could find out with a small dust sample from Razz or Slim, but, if Sans could identify their verse name, he could identify their verse, and that meant he could identify a path for his machine and then Razz would want to go home.

It didn't matter they’d been here for four years. Didn’t matter they’d made new lives here. Didn’t matter their verse had done nothing but slowly rot their souls from the inside out, Razz would drop it all to go home, because Razz to his own self detriment was endlessly loyal to their insane queen.

Slim absolutely refused to let that happen, even if it meant never learning his verse’s name.

“I could get it.” Slim admitted to Red, voice quiet. “The Persistence. It’d be hard, and it’d be fucked up, but I could get it.”

Red stared at him silently for several minutes. “You…can get back to your verse?”

Slim shook his head. He couldn’t. He didn't know where to start. Stars knew Razz had demanded Slim bring them home, but Slim didn't know how he got them here in the first place. He’d powered up a machine he hadn’t built and hit a switch, that was it.

Sans maybe could get them home, but Sans only ever offered this to Slim and Slim always gave him a firm ‘no’.

“Ya know how to make it.” Red guessed and Slim nodded. Basically.

“Fuck, Slim.” Red tossed the butt of his cig into the snow and ground it with his heel. “Ya want me to get Boss?”

“No.” Slim shook his head. He didn't need to burden Edge with his stupid cravings. He was enough of a burden on Edge as it was. He was surprised his baby didn't strangle him when he came home this morning to find the mess Slim had made of the tv and couch.

The cravings would pass, it always did. He didn’t need to bother Edge with his stupid bodily urges. “I’m mostly through it.”

“That so? Ya know, I’m no rocket scientist - oh wait, I am; and I don't think thinking about yer shitty ass verse is helpin’.” Red deadpanned.

“I was trying to distract myself.” Slim admitted, but, Red was right. Thinking of home wasn’t helping, especially revisiting his memories about the first time he had had Persistence. Or thinking about his time as a ‘volunteer’ at the lab.

Stars, if only Toriel hadn’t sentenced him to volunteer with Undyne, maybe he’d have never gotten addicted in the first place?

H-hey Papyrus, you look like sh-shit, ha. I saw the captain made you dance in the courtyard. Cameras catch everything. H-hehe - he really laid into you, didn’t he? Then he sent you to work for me the next morning, real prize of a brother you g-g-got there!

I got something for the pain, here, bottoms up. Go on, its not fucking p-poisoned!

Or are you disobeying a direct order from the Royal Scientist? Sh-should I tell Queen Toriel you're not complying? T-there you go. That’s right, drink up. It’s P. That's the real good shit.

Heard ya tried it before. D-d-did ya like it? I bet ya did, it's my best shit. Real fucking rare so you better appreciate it, it’s a bitch to get. Saved y-y-your life though, heh, right? Look I really don't w-want to hurt you, y-you used to be my friend right? You are my friend, aren’t you? Yeah it hits quick, you with me? Papyrus, focus, Nod for me, g-good.

Good. We’re friends, and friends, they help each other. L-let me help you. You’re s-stuck with me for six months, that’s - heh- look, my e-e-experiments d-d-dont live that long an-and i don’t- i cant- i wont- heh… We go way back, d-don’t we?

B-b-b-be my partner. Do science with me, y-y-yeah? And when it gets too messy, gets too painful, gets too much, I’ll make it better with the good stuff, trust me, after a hit of this you wont care how loud the experiments scream… just like how you don't care right now about those strawberry lashes y-your bro gave you yesterday, do you? M-much better now isn’t it? Unless you’d rather be the experiment, you wouldn’t make me do that to you, would you, Papyrus?

“Papyrus!”

The memory was shattered as a new snowball paffed against Slim’s face and he sputtered, wiping slush from his sockets.

“What’d I say? Thinkin’ of yer shitty verse aint helpin’!” Red’s incredulous look was scathing.

“I wasn’t.” Slim lied, sullenly.

“Bullshit.” Red scoffed, sockets narrowed.

“I wasn’t trying to.” Slim sighed. Red’s firm gaze softened and he sighed, pinching above his nasal passage.

“Whatdya need?” Red stared at him and Slim balked at the question. He didn’t need anything, he was just having a weak moment. Slim wondered if Red was judging him, a superficial judgment, a peek at Slim’s general stats, slim wouldn’t even feel, not unless Red started digging and peeling back layers. If Red was judging him; what did he see?

What do you need?

“In the house, me and your brother’s I mean, there’s a first aid kit in the bathroom, underneath the sink. It’s got my last vial of Persistence. You want to help? Go pour that fucker down the drain for me because I dont think I can resist much longer.”

Red disappeared without so much as a word. A larger part of Slim than he cared to admit sunk at the ramifications of what he just did settled in. His last vial, the one he kept just in case. Break glass in case of emergency. One last vial, the anchor that held him together while he got clean. What once gave him strength was now a tempting siren calling out to him, and now, well now it was gone forever. Well, what's done is done, Red’d take care of it, Slim was sure.

Slim theoretically could get more, but he would never get it that way again. He refused to pay the horrific cost it took to make his own supply; never would he ever make that particular mistake again.

Red popped back into existence, the shortcut so silent that Slim wouldn't have noticed if Red didn't materialize from the void right in front of his sockets.

“Thanks.” Slim greeted.

“Yeah. Whatever.”

The two stood in silence as Slim tried to distract his obsessive mind. “Ya know you should talk to Boss about this, right?” Red’s crimson eyelights met Slim’s golden.

“I will, just not at 3 am.” Slim said and Red gave him another piercing stare.

“Whatdya really need, Slim? I ain't stupid and I know yer not alright.”

“What do you need?”

His brother on his knees next to him, holding a wet cloth to his forehead, ice eyelights lacking their usual frost, full of worry. Slim’s claws digging into their floor, his whole body convulsing, the heat and ache of withdrawal causing him to heave up another round of magic into the bucket.

Slim grimaced, willing the memory away. If it was 3 am here than it was 9 am in Rome; his brother was most certainly awake. He could call. He should call.

“I’m fine.” The lie came easy. He should be fine. There was no reason to not be fine. Nothing was wrong. He’d had a lovely evening with his fiancee and friends. A sudden craving shouldn’t cause him to spiral like this. He clenched his fists, claws spearing into carpals, the bone of the palm, drawing small drops of marrow.

A third snow ball bounced off Slim's skull and he scowled.

“Liar.”

“You want to help?” Slim asked quietly.

“Ya think i’m out here freezing my tailbone off for kicks?” Red raised a single brow bone at him.

“...Hurt me.” Slim said so quietly he wasn’t certain Red heard him until Red’s eyelights shrank.

“Heh, and people think Boss is the fuckled up Papyrus.” Red’s eyelights slowly returned to their natural size. “Pretty sure hurtin’ you is a job for Boss, not me. Ask him real pretty and I'm sure he’ll hurt ya real good.”

Slim breathed out focusing on the sharp pricks of his claws against bone. It wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.

“Don’t want it like that.” Slim grunted. He wanted to suffer. He should hurt. He should suffer for wanting that shit. For being so pathetic. For craving it years and years later. For all the times he’s fucked up. For being so w e a k.

He felt the heat of his LOVE long before he comprehended it was there. Useless. Murderer. Queen’s dog. Unruly mutt. Pressure building, level of violence crying out to be satiated.

Fuck.

Of course, Of fucking course. He was craving LOVE along with the Persistence. Because Slim couldn't just have one addiction acting up, no, that’d be too easy. They both had to act up together at the same time in the stars damned middle of the night. He needed something to ground him.

“Hey. Ya alright?” Red’s looking at Slim concerned and Slim holds back a manic laugh.

“Yeah, sorry.” Slim ducked his head avoiding eye contact. This wasn't Red’s problem; Red should be in there passed out on top of Stretch, not watching Slim lose himself outside in the snow. “I’m good, go ahead back in, i’ll be right behind ya.”

Red’s gaze gains a sharp edge as he considers Slim. “Yer a fuckin’ dirty liar. C’mere.”

Slim looked up, taken aback, uncertain where this was going. He had asked his brother’s alternate to hurt him after all, but he hadn’t actually expected Red to do anything. Red the least like his brother was the most like him, and they’d gotten quite close these last few years. Had Red changed his mind? Decided he’d give Slim what he asked for? Did he see in Slim what Slim saw every day; u n w o r t h y   t r a s h?

Slim walked forward bones humming with nervous energy as he stopped a few feet in front of Red.

Red gave him an unimpressed look and curled his phalange towards himself; the universal sign for 'get the fuck over here'.

Slim stepped closer, trying not to betray how nervous he felt. While he wanted desperately so, the distraction and alleviation from guilt pain gave him, he was worried how this would affect his friendship with his future brother in law. His brother from another reality. Red had never hit him before.

“Good.” Red gripped Slim’s sleeve and pulled them both into a shortcut. Slim groaned, the world spinning. Slim blinked several times before realizing Red had shortcut him to his and Edge’s home. It was a brief second after that Slim realized Red had shortcut him to his and Edge’s home with Edge waiting for him.

His baby was still in his nightclothes, gray sweatpants and a loose black tshirt. Edge had his arms crossed, leaning against their living room wall, blood red eyelights betraying nothing of his thoughts or feelings.

“Fuck you, Red.” Slim groaned with no heat.

“Fuck ya too, Stringbean. Here ya go Boss, have fun.”

Chapter Text

“Thank you, Sans.” Edge said. “I’ll take it from here.”

Slim sulked, crossing his own arms, giving Red a betrayed look. “Traitor.”

“Damn straight I am. Don’t hurt him too badly Boss, he might like it too much.” Red sneered and Slim let out a half hearted growl.

“Fuck ya both, i’m heading back to the slumber party to use Stretch’s crotch as a pillow.” Red flipped them both off before stepping back into a shortcut, Edge and Slim wearing mirrored images of disgust as he disappeared.

“...Mornin’ babe?” Slim gave Edge a nervous smile, breaking the silence that fell in Red’s absence. He didn't smile back. Slim swallowed.

“Were you going to tell me?” Edge demanded, arms crossed and eyelights piercing.

“Yeah, of course I was. Didn’t wanna bother you with it so late is all.” Slim hunched his shoulders, shrinking into his coat.

Edge gave a frustrated sigh, walking forward gently gripping Slim’s shoulders. “You’re never a bother.”

Slim gave him a wry grin. “I mean, I am sometimes. Like when I disembowel the sofa.”

Edge did crack a smile like that, resting his forehead against Slim’s he closed his eyes,one of the most ultimate signs of trust for a fellverse monster was closing your eyes, trusting the other not to kill you.

“Maybe once in a while.” Edge condeded.

Slim hummed in agreement wrapping his arms around his fiancee, holding him tight.

“Slim, you can always wake me. I want to be there for you. You are never a burden. It’s not fair to decide for me whether or not I want to be there.” Edge said gently, cupping Slim’s chin.

Slim swallowed hard, throat dry and sockets prickling.

“You’re always there for me when I’m at my worst, let me be there for you.”

“I’m sorry…” Slim whined, voice cracking as tears began to spill. Edge gently cupped Slim’s cheek, pressing his teeth to Slim’s forehead.

“You don’t need to be sorry. You need to let me in.”

“Okay.” Slim said softly, wiping at his sockets. Edge gently grabbed Slim's hands kissing them. “Now what’s going on? What has you upset?”

“I don't know what started it.” Slim sniffled, taking deep breaths. “I just- couldn’t sleep and then felt- itchy-i kept thinking of it then I couldn’t stop. I kept thinking about that fucking shit. I couldn’t get it off my mind.It wouldn’t stop, so I went outside and tried to cool off.”

“Did it help?”

“Not really.” Slim sighed. “Started thinking about my verse.”

Edge grimaced and he sighed, breath hot against Slim’s cheekbone. “You should have woke me up. You're going to get through this love, it’s just a bad night. You’ve had the occasional bad night for years.”

Slim knew Edge ws right. This wasn't his first Persistence craving, or his first LOVE craving, not by far. He figured he’d always have them. Price of having a high LOVE and having a heavy magic addiction.

Hell, tonight wasn't even his first LOVE and Persistence craving at the same time. He had his bad nights and Edge had his own. Price of being Fell, but they had each other.

“I know I just…feel extra restless.” Slim slowly breathed out, Edge’s bones against his warm and safe and grounding. “I think my LOVE might be acting up too.”

“Red said as much.”

“Red knew it before I did.” Slim sighed. For a judge, Slim was painfully not self aware.

“He’s gifted in that regard; annoyingly so.” Edge gently pressed his teeth against Slim’s. “What do you need?”

What do you need?

Papy, how can I help?

Razz kneeling next to him, desperately trying to break Slim’s fever, covering Slim in ice packs, stripping him of his sweater.

“I need it, please Sans, please, I can’t do this. Get me some, I can't do this!”

“Shhh. You’re stronger than you realize. You’re going to get through this; you’ve already come this far.”

“I can’t - I can’t!”

Slim grimaced, clinging to Edge desperately, lest his guilty memories swallow him whole.

“I-please babe.” Slim swallowed hard. “I need-”

“Please, please Sansy, please, I need it. I can't do this, I'm not strong enough.

“You are. You can do this. I believe in you.”

“You shouldn’t…”

Slim grimaced, willing the memories to stop. He didn't want to think about what came next.

“What do you need?”

“Please, Edge, please. Please hurt me. I can’t- I need-”

I need it Sans, I can’t - I need it n o w.

“It’s too much- I can’t-”

“It’s alright. I’ll take care of everything.” Edge says firmly, and he gently grabs Slim’s hands in his, tugging him forward when he feels Edge jerk back in surprise and Slim looks away guiltily as Edge’s thumb gently glides over the puncture marks that Slim’s claws had left in his own palms. Edge doesn't say anything, just gently guides him up the stairs, to their shared bedroom.

Too soft, too gentle; can’t Edge see that Slim deserves neither? Can he not see how terrible Slim is?

“You trust me?” Edge asks.

“Always.” Slim whispers.

Edge kisses him then, soft, sweet, surprisingly so for someone with sharper fangs than Slim. Edge breaks away from the kiss, his hands leave Slim’s and they find Slim’s jacket, tugging and pulling Slim’s jacket off.

Slim whines softly as his jacket is taken, feeling small without it.

“Color?”

“Green.” Slim sighs.

“You’ll tell me if it changes.” Edge looks at him in the eyelights. Slim nods. “Say it.”

“I’ll tell you if it changes.” Slim squints at his fiancee who gives him an unrepentant raised eyebrow.

Edge works on Slim’s turtleneck next and Slim’s soul flips as he’s completely bared from the waist up, thin scarred bones on display.

Edge pauses to admire the view, making Slim blush.

“Mm, it is very hard to keep my mind on task with a view like this.”vSlim blushed harder, wishing he had his coat to duck into, face glowing the same gold color as his eyelights.

“Alright, come.” Edge took his hand again, and Edge crawled onto the bed, gesturing for Slim to sit in front of him. Slim gave him a suspicious look but followed his fiancee’s gestures, sitting in front of Edge on the bed, wondering, not for the first time, what Edge was exactly up to.

Edge wrapped his arms around Slim, pulling him back against him. Slim hummed feeling his boyfriend’s ribcage against his, his tailbone against Edge’s pubis, the reverse hug comfortable and enticing at the same time.

“I love you.” Edge said softly and Slim melted some, looking over his shoulder at his alternate.

“Stars know I don't deserve it, but I love you too.”

“I’m going to hurt you now; prepare yourself.”

Slim took a deep breath closing his eyes, soul pulsing in anticipation, not knowing quite what Edge was planning to do.

“Ready?”

Slim nodded, tensing.

Edge summoned Slim’s soul from his ribcage and Slim immediately flailed against Edge, claws digging into their bed.

“Edge, no! You tricked me-” He growled as Edge gently took Slim’s hands in his, forcing Slim’s hands to cup around his own soul, the very culmination of his being.

“Look at you. You’re fucking gorgeous.” Edge breathed against Slim’s shoulder as he peered at Slim’s soul in their hands.

“You fucking bastard!” Slim growled,now knowing exactly what Edge was planning to do and it wasn’t fair.

“Color?”

“Green asshole.” Slim snarled, sounding more like Edge than himself.

“My, my we are angry.” Slim can hear the amusement in Edge’s voice and it makes him want to smack him. He doesn’t, of course.

“I asked you to hurt me!” Slim pouted knowing full well he sounded like a spoiled brat but he didn’t care, Edge tricked him!

“Oh trust me, this’ll hurt.” Edge kissed him gently on the neck, hands still securing Slim’s, cradling Slim’s soul as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

“Look at you. Look how you shine, Papyrus.” Edge purred a low rumble and Slim growled back, refusing to look at the ugly ball of light that was his soul.

“You are so strong.”

“Stop!” Slim hissed before freezing. Edge was right, this did hurt, and not in a sexy way, or in the way Slim actually wanted, which was the numbing grace of physical pain.This was so much worse; It hurt right down to the core.

“Color?”

“...green.”

“You are so smart.” Edge continued and Slim groaned as if struck. Slim closed his eyes, the compliments hitting harder than the queen’s punishments ever could.

“I’m not.” Slim whined. “I”m awful, I'm terrible. A murderer. All i’ve done is fuck things up, for everyone. I’m selfish and cruel.”

“You survived.” Edge said firmly. “Everything you’ve done, every scar you bare, your LOVE, are all battle wounds of a war you won. You are still here. Your asshat of a brother is still here. because of your actions, because of you.”

Slim shook his head, tears welling. “I just make things worse, especially for Sans.”

“Papyrus.” Edge growled and Slim shivered at the use of his true name in conjunction with such a stern tone. “You are trying my patience.”

“Oh? Good, maybe then you’ll give me what I want!” Slim said, knowing he sounded like a petulant child and not caring. He wanted to be punished. To suffer for all the terrible things he’s done. To suffer for craving that shit that ruined his life. To pay for craving EXP. To hurt for every bad thing he’s done. Every moment of weakness; stars knew there were so many. Pain to take off the edge of guilt for every monster he executed under Toriel’s order.

He chanced a glance at his lover and swallowed hard seeing Edge’s eyelights had gone out. Welp, it looked like his baby was finally out of patience.

Edge took a breath, his eyelights returning. “You wanna do it the hard way?”

“Wait- no!”

“Very well then we’ll do it the hard way.”

“Noooo!”

Edge paused looking at Slim quiet, waiting.

“Ugh. Green.” Slim scowled and Edge took Slim’s soul from Slim’s hands to his, his thumb gently caressed the quivering golden upside down heart and Slim cursed, spasming against Edge. His fiancee murmurs softly against his acoustic meatus.

“I’ve got you. I’ve got you, baby. You’re alright, you’re safe.”

Slim whined softly as Edge ran his thumb once more over the very culmination of Slim’s being and he practically melted, slumped completely against his lover, eyelights hazing over. If closing your eyes in a Fell monster’s presence was one of the most intimate moments of trust this right here was THE most intimate trusting moment; to trust another monster with your soul.

“I love you so damn much, Papyrus.” Edge said and Slim keened, Edge holding his soul like that, he could feel the other’s intentions flowing straight into him. How much Edge loves him. How beautiful Edge thinks he is. How strong Edge thinks he is. How smart, and capable.

A sob escaped Slim and Edge kissed his temple, holding him tight. “It's okay. Let it out.”

Edge kept up his projections, pouring all his love for Slim into his very soul and Slim began to crumble.

Slim gave in, sobs turning to wails,weeping because Edge is wrong. He tries to tell Edge as much.

“I’m not, i’m not…you’re wrong.”

“You think so low of my opinion?” Edge rumbled against him and Slim shook his skull left to right.

“No-”

“Then if you can't trust that what I think of you is a true reflection of yourself, trust it at the very least is true for me.”

And Slim sobbed, because why does Edge think so highly of him? He doesn’t deserve it. Slim cant stop. He sobs for his fucked up verse and all the souls still trapped there, wailing for all the unfairness he and his brother had faced, crying for the skeleton he used to be, crying for him whenever and wherever he had ended up.

All the while Edge held him close, projecting his feelings for Slim from his soul directly into Slim’s, strong hands cradling Slim’s soul, a safe protector as Slim let himself fell apart. Eventually Slim’s wails became soft sobs which became the occasional sniffle and hiccup.

“Better?” Edge asked and Slim huffs, energy spent and he nods. Edge hums non-committal and he returns Slim’s soul to his ribcage.

“ M’ sorry.” Slim said softly, turning to nuzzle his face into Edge’s shoulder. Edge wrapped his arms around him, resting his skull on Slim’s.

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for.”

“I pushed you, egged you on.” Slim mumbled.

“Yes it's one of your many endearing qualities, granted a frustrating one.” Edge said with a smile tugging at his mandible. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah.” Slim gave a sleepy nod, he was completely wiped, his soul feeling fuzzy and pleasant, filled to the brim with Edge’s soft worship of him. None of which Slim deserved but he was too tired to fight it and it made him feel warm and heavy, thoughts cloudy in a pleasant way. He could fall asleep. He probably should, it was still very early in the morning.

“M’ gonna wash my face. I’ll be right back.” Slim kissed Edge before untangling himself from his lover’s arms, limbs feeling heavy and stiff as he shambled his way to their bathroom. He washes his face with cold water taking a deep breath.

The most frustrating part is he really did feel better. The gnawing demand for Persistence had faded into a hardly noticeable ache, and the edge of his LOVE riding him had receded, quiet and still, as if he didn't have any.

He closes his eyes, feeling out with his soul. The soul bond between him and Edge meant Edge hadn’t had to hold his soul at all to project his feelings to Slim. Edge could do so at any time if he focused on their bond, but it was far easier for Slim to deny it and close his own soul off. Less so with his soul in the palm of Edge’s hand.

Bastard.

Wasn’t the first time Edge helped him this way, wouldn’t be the last.

Slim pulled out his phone, grimacing to see that it’s already 4:45 am. He began flipping through his phone numbers and pausing on one.

Bro

Slim paused for a moment staring at his brother’s number, soul churning before his finger taps it in a quick snap judgment that Slim immediately regrets.

It rang twice and Slim was about to hang up when his brother answered on the third ring.

“Mutt.” Razz greeted, tone frigid and hard. Slim’s mouth went dry, his words leaving him. “Isn’t it four in the morning there?”

“It’s almost five.” Slim eventually got out after several agonizing seconds.

“Is there an emergency?” Razz’s ice tone softened, only slightly.

“No.”

“Are you drunk?” tone even more frigid than it was before.

“No!” Slim sighs, rubbing at his socket. Stars, why was it so difficult to just have a simple conversation with his brother?

Hey Bro, how's it going? Ya like Rome? You know they’re the inventors of many a pasta dish…”

“Don’t you fucking do it, I swear if you pun-”

“You’ll never forgetti a dish of spaghetti from Italy itself-”

“I’m hanging up now.”

Was how this conversation could have gone. If Slim waited to call when it wasn’t nearly 5 am. If Slim’s brother wasn’t so aware of the time difference even. If things between him and his brother hadn’t gotten so fucked up and twisted.

He almost thought Razz hung up on him, having determined there was no emergency and that Slim wasn’t drunk off his ass he wouldn’t put it past his brother to simply hang up the phone, but, he heard papers shifting in the background of what he assumes is the Roman Monster Embassy or his brother’s temporary office.

“...Did you have a nightmare?” Razz asked with a tone less frosty than Slim’s heard it in a while.

“No.” Slim sighs. “I just…how is Rome?”

“You called me at 5 am to ask me how Rome is?” Razz said, sounding completely incredulous.

“...Yes?” Slim said.

There was a heavy pause, and Slim almost backpedaled when Razz began to speak.

“I like it.” Razz finally answered, sounding suspicious. “Their sweets are…enjoyable.” That meant Razz must really like whatever he’d gotten his hands on. Maybe Gelato?

“They have an interesting culture and history. Their museums have been informative. Their myths of monster kind are intriguing and based somewhat in reality. The trip has been very acceptable.”

“Fun even?” Slim smirked and Razz scoffed.

“Fun is for children, but, I suppose the trip has been...pleasant.” Slim raised an eyebrow at that. Razz must really be having a good time, which made Slim begin to smile. His brother was stubbornly resistant to enjoying himself in any capacity, especially on the surface. He knew Razz still was holding onto the possibility of one day going home and so Razz refused to let himself let go, adjust, or enjoy anything surface related as it was all ‘temporary’. It didn't matter how many times Classic of Slim told him he may never get home to his verse; Razz was determined.

Slim was appreciative that his brother was letting go, at least a little.

“Good.” Slim said.

“And things are alright there?” Razz asked and Slim paused in thought.

“Yeah, things are fine. Had a movie night with the gang.”

“Disgusting.” Razz sniffed. “I assume you and that attack dog you’ve soul bonded to were competing with Red and Smiley Lamppost for the most public display of affection award?”

“Don’t call him that.”

“What am I supposed to call him? Blue gave me a 40 minute lecture about me calling him the town bicycle.”

Slim snorted. Okay, that had been funny. Both the town bicycle nickname and the look on Razz’s face when Blue dug into him. The only reason Razz had gotten away with the nickname for months was because neither Blue nor Papyrus realized what Razz had actually been implying until Red spelled it out for them.

Everybody gets a ride on the town bike.

“Not Stretch, Edge. He’s not an attack dog.”Slim said firmly. He’d let a lot of his brother’s barbs slide, but not this one.

Razz sighed as if highly inconvenienced. “Isn’t he just you if I’d have been born first?”

“Don’t think that's how it works, bro.” Slim frowned. Underfell, while a Fellverse, seemed to have a much different history of its Underground than their own underground’s. Unlike Undertale and Underswap, he didn’t think their verse was just a ‘swapped’ version of Underfell. He had the inkling their verse was a little more different than that.

In fact, in some of his work with Classic, they found a universe called Fellswap. Slim had been extremely resistant to the idea of visiting it while cataloging the verses with Classic, afraid it was his own verse, but it definitely hadn’t been home. He and Sans had done a very brief visitation of the verse that resulted in them both getting their asses handed to them by a sharp toothed clad in purple Sans and a dark looking Papyrus in a purple hoodie who stole all of Slim’s gold. Definitely not his verse. He could entertain the idea that fellswap was Underfell swapped, even if the verse seemed more like Underswap Felled. Then again, was there even a difference?

In the grand scheme of the multiverse there were countless versions of every version of Papyrus, some varying greatly, some varying by the tiniest of shifts. A Slim was out there right now, somewhere in the multiverse with his exact history, calling his brother in his bathroom at 5 am. The only difference between him and the one standing here was something as tiny as a different taste in music or favorite meal. He was sure there was a special place in hell for all the Papyruses of the multiverse who supported any of Napstaton’s music, Stretch included.

“Whatever.” Razz scoffed. “I’m thankful to miss one of those terrible gatherings Papyrus insists on including me in.”

Slim couldn’t resist the grin that spread across his face, good thing his brother couldn’t see him. If Razz really hated the slumber parties, he simply wouldn’t go. Slim decided not to point that out.

“Don’t worry, bro. I’m sure he’ll have one for you after you come back.” Slim said and Razz actually audibly groaned.

“I’m hanging up now. I have to mentally prepare myself for the mental torture of tolerating a roomful of you idiots for an entire night upon my arrival home.You should get some sleep, it's very late where you are, I cannot even entertain the idea that you simply woke up this early which means you need to get your coccyx in bed.”

“Yeah, sleep sounds good, night bro.” Slim said and he took a deep breath. “Love ya.”

Slim winced as he heard his brother’s phone smack into what he could only assume was his brother’s desk. He heard a sharp scrambling noise as Razz’s claws pawed at the phone to pick it back up. Whoops. Who knew it only took two words to shatter his brother’s impenetrable armor?

The last time Slim had said he loved his brother like that had probably been since before the queen’s madness had set in. Before Razz became captain of the Queen’s Guard.. Before Slim had failed so utterly and completely. They used to say it all the time, and he missed it. It’d been too long, far too long.

“...I love you too, you idiot. Go to sleep.”

Slim closed his eyes, the last knot in his soul releasing and he felt lighter than he had in years. His brother hung up with a soft click and Slim put the phone away, taking several breaths before returning to Edge and their bed.

Edge was very likely awake for the day but he had not yet changed from his pajamas and was still sitting in bed. He had a book in his hands and his reading glasses on. Slim stopped to admire how sexy his fiancee looked.Edge in his reading glasses was always a special treat Slim adored.

“How’s the hobgoblin?”

“He likes Rome.”

Edge paused and lowered his book deadpanning at Slim. “Your brother actually likes something? Slim, quick, mark it on the calendar. Today is truly a day of miracles.”

Slim burst out laughing and Edge smirked looking proud of himself. Still giggling, Slim crawled into the bed next to Edge, slipping under the covers. Edge put his book aside and turned, wrapping his arms around Slim, making him the little spoon.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah.” Slim said and he meant it. He turned to kiss Edge, trying to pour his feelings into it. He let his wall down on his soul, letting the sleepy warm sluggish feelings of his soul seep through the bond, to Edge’s soul. He wanted Edge to know how happy he made him.

“Hm.” Edge’s voice even sounded slightly slurred from the waves of emotions Slim let go through their bond. “Good.”

“Love you, so much.” Slim murmured.

“Love you more.” Edge teased and Slim huffed, opening one eye.

“Love you most.”

“Cheater.” Edge scoffed and Slim smirked, nuzzling against his fiancee and finally, blessedly, falling into a deep warm sleep.

Chapter Text

“Remind me, what's the point of this project anyway?” Slim leaned forward, a bottle of barbeque sauce resting in between his knees, as he scrolled through Sans’s latest entries to the ‘Verse Compendium’. An elaborate name for his and Sans’s extensive excel spread sheet cataloging the different universes they’d been able to glimpse with Sans’s machine.

Sans cocked his skull to the side, his permagrin stretching and Slim narrowed his sockets in suspicion. “Told ya when I first brought you on board two years ago; the council wants me to document as many verses as I can find.”

“That's what you told me, yeah.” Slim opened his sauce and took a slow sip, enjoying the smoky burn as it went down. “But verses are infinite, we’ll never get them all. what's in it for you?”

“So long as I serve the monster community in this way, The Underfell and Underswap royalty have pardoned me for ripping them from their verses.”

“Hm. You did them both a favor, got them to the surface, didn’t ya?” Slim knew there was more to it than that, but he knew Classic well enough by now to know getting anything out of him was nearly impossible. It seemed this was a Sans trait all the Sanses he’d met so far shared.

“That’s what I said!” Sans shrugged.

“So what are you really looking for? Or who?” Slim cocked his skull to the side, letting one eyelight go out, his other glowing a deep gold.

Sans didn't so much as blink, his grin staying the same.

“Just following orders.” He winked and Slim sighed, turning his attention back to his work, his eyelights returning to normal as he began to scan the new additions Sans added before Slim got there this morning.

“What about you?” Sans asked and Slim blinked.

“Huh?”

“Why’d you join me?”

“You asked me too.” Slim shrugged. “I needed a job.”

“They offered you a job.” Sans said carefully and Slim grimaced. They had. The monster population had exploded when Sans pulled all the monsters from Underfell and Underswap into this one universe. A 1000% increase Alphys had told him. Underfell had more monsters than Undertale and Underswap combined, and the council had agreed that Stretch and Sans would judge the tale verse monsters, and Red would judge the Fellverse. Still, that left a lot of work for Red as Underfell’s population was massive. Slim did have some theories as to why there was such a stark difference in their numbers, but he’d kept those thoughts to himself.

Tyr, the name adopted by Underfell’s Emperor Asgore, had offered Slim a full time position as co-judge with Red. Slim had refused.

“Liked your offer better.” Slim said.

He felt somewhat guilty, but it wasn’t like Red had an extra load. Nothing had changed for Red, he wasn’t in charge of judging the taleverse monsters, just his verse, status quo.

Besides, not being a judge anymore? Well, that was the second greatest balm on Slim’s soul he’d ever gotten. The greatest being Edge.

Slim continued to scan their documents and frowned at the newest finding;

01000110 01100101 01101100 01101100 01110011 01110111 01100001 01110000

S W A P F E L L

Slim did not like the look of this verse at all. O2 readings normal, verse within the parameters of their own quantum rules and laws, gravity within acceptable limits, species to species similarity, A fell verse but visitable. Fuck.

“I don't think we should visit this one.” Slim said firmly.

“Afraid it's yours?” Sans asked and when Slim met his eyelights he found Sans had none and was staring at him with empty sockets. Slim resisted the urge to flinch back and instead grabbed a loose piece of paper and rolled it into a ball before throwing it and hitting Sans square in the forehead.

Sans’s eyelights reappeared and he winked. “Don’t worry if it is, t’ll be our little secret.”

“I don't want to visit.”

“You don't have to, just hold the door open for me.”

“We don't go alone if it's a fellverse, we agreed.” Slim frowned.

“Well you can't have it both ways.” Sans said with surprising gentleness. Slim sighed frowning at what limited data they had collected for the verse. There were an infinite amount of verses out there, the odds of this one being the exact same universe he and his brother came from were slim to none. Heh.

“Fine, we're doing this now?”Slim asked, taking another slow drink of his sauce.

“If you're up for it.” Sans said with another shrug and Slim grunted. He was fine. He felt better than fine really. He’d had that one rough night, but Edge had gotten him back in order and it’d been days since he had the cravings. His love had settled, why not?

“Sure, boot her up.” Slim said and San’s grin widened as he began punching numbers into the machine’s keyboard.

Slim’s phone went off, and he raised an eyebrow to see Red was calling.

“Yo.” Slim greeted.

“Hey, Need ya ta get yer boy toy outta the embassy and his bony ass home.” Red’s gruff voice growled into the phone and Slim raised a single brow bone.

“What?”

“Edge. Bring him home. He’s sick as a dog and he won't listen ta me! He wont go the fuck home! Get him outta there before I do it myself, and he wont like that.”

Yeah, that sounded like Edge. He hadn’t seemed sick this morning when he’d left for work, but he’d also forgotten Slim’s goodbye kiss which usually only happened if he was in a rush - or he was sick. He knew Slim’s magical defenses and immunities were utter shit.

“Ah, fuck.” Slim sighed. “Alright, I'll go get him.”

“Good.” Red hung up the phone and Slim sighed.

“Rain check on that verse exploration.” Slim said, standing up, twisting the cap back on his sauce.

“Everything okay?” Sans looked at him.

“Edge’s being a little stubborn.”

“Slim, don’t take this the wrong way. Saying Edge is a little stubborn is like saying Razz is a little cold.”

Slim snorted. “Okay, yeah. He’s sick and he’s being a pain in the ass and won't go home. Red’s sending me to go fetch.”

“Heh.” Sans grinned. “Good luck, you're gonna need it.”

“Stars know it. Don’t check the verse out without me.” Slim said.

“Me? Do that alone in a fellverse? Never.” Sans winked.

“I’m serious.” Slim crossed his arms.

“Hi serious, I’m sans, sans the skeleton.”

“I want you to promise me.” Slim looked Sans in the eyelights and Sans grimaced and his teeth pulled into a tight frown.

“That's not fair.” Sans sighed.

“I don’t care. I’m not explaining to Papyrus why I had to bring his brother home in a match box from some verse.” Sans flinched as if struck and Slim nearly apologized when-

“I promise. I won't check out any Fellverses without you or another Fell monster. Are you happy?”

“Thank you, Sans.” Slim said gently.

“Yeah, yeah.” Sans crossed his arms looking put out and Slim couldn't help but smile in amusement. Despite so many differences between their variants there were some things all Sanses seemed to have in common besides being impossibly elusive and that pout was one of them.

“Later.” Slim gave a two-finger salute and stepped back into a shortcut.

***

Edge silently cursed his own weakness as he coughed violently into his fist, whole body spasming. After growing up on the streets and surviving on an entire childhood worth of dumpster food and rancid scraps from grillby’s he’d thought by now he’d be immune to all possible viruses and ailments but the surface had gifts from the humans that kept on giving.

Humans, it seemed, were biological germ factories. The monsters need not fear their guns or bombs; biological warfare was surely the easiest solution to wipe them out.

His skull was swimming and his bones were hot to the touch, glowing a dull red at his joints. He took a deep breath, ignoring his ashen reflection and he took off his gloves, cleaning them, then washing his hands and face.

He couldn’t afford to be sick.

The Captain of the Fell Unit didn’t get sick days. If he could walk, he was going to work. It was as simple as that. He didn’t care how peaceful Asgore believed the surface to be. He didn’t care about the council’s overruling the Tyrant’s strict expectations and ‘guaranteeing’ liveable wages, work hours and sick time. It might say that on paper, but he knew his emperor. Such weakness would lose Edge everything he’d worked so hard for.

If only his useless body would make it easier to mask.

He washed his face one more time, trying to look as presentable as possible. He took a deep breath, a handful of cough drops and hesitantly returned to the meeting. He took his place next to his only superior in the Fell Guard, General Betta, or rather, Underfell’s Undyne. Her one yellow eye looked him over and she raised a single red eyebrow at him. He scoffed and looked ahead, at the council. He was fine!

Undyne matched her felled variant’s facial expression, giving him the same raised eyebrow from across the room and he scowled.

Alpha, Underswap’s Alphys simply looked impressed. Now that was the right response.

The council were still discussing their next order of business, Queen Scotch, Underswap’s Queen Toriel was rubbing her forehead in aggravation while Tyr, the tyrant himself, slammed his fist passionately against the table.

“These humans will never take us seriously with this pacifist attitude! Our confinement to 150 miles around Ebott City and Mount Ebott is not enough space for our people! If they will not give us the land then we will take it by force!”

“There are billions of humans out there, you understand that right?” Asgore gave his alternate a tired sigh. “All the nations of the world would join together to put us back underneath the mountain- or worse. We must be diplomatic.”

“I agree, the humans are not being hostile, they are cautious. We cannot fault them for the sins of their ancestors. We were myths and legends to them and then we materialized before their eyes, from fantasy to life. We must give them time to adjust, they are scared.” Scotch agreed.

“They should be scared.” Tyr snarled blood-colored eyes narrowed. “Your hesitance will get our people killed.”

“Our people?” Scotch gave a small smile and Tyr rolled his eyes, arms crossed.

“That's what I said.” He grunted and Scotch and Asgore shared a not so secret grin between each other.

It had taken a lot of work to get Tyr to agree to even parley with Undertale and Underswap’s royalty, nevermind join a council and co-rule. If it hadn’t been for Underfell’s missing queen Toriel, now going by the name of Poppy, reappearing and pleading to her ex-husband, Underfell likely would have turned to war against Underswap and Undertale; the casualties would have been immeasurable. Edge was really glad things hadn’t gone that way.

“I suggest we continue to wait to meet with the English parliament next month. They are open to negotiations and have been very generous in providing us electricity, water, and needed resources.”

“Their scraps are insults!” Tyr roared and Asgore sighed, pinching the bridge of his long snout.

“I understand your frustration, but we must show some patience.” Asgore said with infinite patience.

“You're both weak.” Tyr hissed, but the tyrant seemed to settle realizing he was outnumbered by his two other council members.

“How is the peace initiative going in Rome?” Scotch asked, scratching her ear frowning at her paperwork.

“My officers report the Roman parliament has accepted ambassador Frisk and agreed to a mutual embassy. Negotiations are going well.” Tyr grunted, sounding put out by the good news. He likely was. Edge knew the Tyrant's bloodlust was legendary and he hadn’t a soul to kill for years. Why he never absorbed one was beyond Edge. He could have freed them all at any time, but, the emperor wasn’t exactly sane.

Edge was certain Tyr chose Razz out of all of the possible candidates to guard Undertale’s former queen and the primary human ambassador in the hopes that the Fell monster’s presence might incur some human fear and violence from the humans, rather than choosing a fell guard out of any actual concern to protect the ambassador and queen.

“Any new reports on the gang violence in Ebott City?” Asgore asked, looking as if he regretted the question as soon as it left him.

Tyr grunted and looked at Edge and Betta.

“Sir!” Betta saluted. “The Fell unit has been working with the Swap and Tale Units to clear out the ongoing drug trafficking and gang related violence. One monster has been taken in for interrogation. She’s a Fell monster, possible gang leader, and has been taken in to be interrogated by the Fell judge.”

Edge grimaced as Betta gave her report.

“Handled.” Tyr turned to smile at Asgore and Asgore nodded.

“We look forward to hearing the judge’s findings.” Asgore said and Edge’s jaw twitched. Well, that explained why Red stopped texting him to go the fuck home, he’d call it a small mercy except he knew how hard judging was for Red. How much it took out of him, how much it took over him.

He’d have to remember to send Stretch a text. Underswap was the sweetest of the verses, between Blue and Stretch surely they’d be able to ease whatever tension Red would come home with? Blue was particularly crafty at that. There had been a few times Blue had been able to calm Edge himself during his early days in this verse, still riding LOVE highs and mean as a snake, and he’d been completely unprepared for Blue’s sneaky yet gentle and patient schemes to calm him.

“How about Ambassador C-...Chara’s trip to America?” Asgore asked, stumbling over the name of his long dead adopted child.

“Reports from Oolong are positive.” Scotch said gently. “The Americans have been overall very welcoming and are making me-mes?”

“Memes, your majesty.” Alpha said with a bow of her head.

“Ah, yes, memes. They seem good natured though? They are trending on human social media, and the Americans have also accepted our embassy.”

“Excellent.” Asgore said looking relieved while Tyr rolled his eyes.

Edge tensed, the urge to cough was sudden and violent. He stopped breathing, attempting to hold it in, ribcage trembling. He quietly made his way towards the door-

“Going somewhere captain?” Betta drawled and Edge grit his teeth, struggling to keep the cough down, keep it in. Now all eyes were on him.

He avoided the look of the Tyrant, instead lowering his eyes.

“Speak, captain.” Tyr said and Edge opened his mouth to give some excuse, any excuse for exiting again in less than ten minutes and that was his fatal flaw.

A deep wracking cough shook him then, one he could not keep in.

“Oh! Captain, you sound unwell!” Scotch was immediately by his side, alarmingly fast for such a large goat monster.

“I can brew you some nice golden flower tea.” Asgore was suddenly at his left and Edge was mortified.

“I’m-” another wracking cough, “I’m fine. I just need some water, your majesties.” Edge ground out. “Please do not waste your concern on me.”

“Nonsense!” Asgore said, placing a hand on Edge’s spine to guide him forward. Edge tensed every ounce of self control now focused on not lashing out at the unexpected touch.

“I- really-” Edge’s eyelights shrank. Do not lash out. Control. Control.

“Ya gettin’ handsy with my Edgy, Asgore?” Slim’s voice was as much a surprise as a deep seeded horror. Oh he did not just say that to the King of all monsters.

Edge looked over Asgore’s giant frame to see Slim at the door one eyebrow raised a look of amusement in those golden eyelights.

“Slim! How nice to see you!” Asgore said. “I just invited Edge for tea, it seems he’s under the weather!”

Edge pointedly avoided looking at anyone.He didn't look at Asgore, certainly not Betta or Undyne, and absolutely not at the tyrant. This would be how he died, manhandled by his emperor’s overly fuzzy clone with his boyfriend treating the monster royalty like old friends.

“Yeah, he still doesn’t quite understand what a sick day means, I'm afraid. I’ll take him off your hands. Tea to go? Thanks!”

Edge balked as Slim easily spun him out of Asgore’s grip and into his fiancée’s own, pulling several tea bags out of the box Asgore has produced (likely from his inventory) and before Edge could make a word of protest they were in the void, hurling through it, and into their own living room.

“You-” Edge sputtered, covering his mouth and turning to cough.

“Me?” Slim looked amused.

“You just- you can't just walk into my place of work, and then just interrupt an important meeting between royalty and abscond me to- to- our living room!” Edge stomped his foot, gesturing loosely at the couch.

Slim snorted. “Abscond? Really?” Slim gently guided Edge to the couch and he gave a squawk of protest as their throw blanket was gently tucked around his shoulders.

“Yes! Abscond!” Edge glared at him.

“Okay first of all, I didn’t barge in, Undyne let me in when I knocked. Second, I wouldn't have to kidnap you-”

“Abscond!”

“Abscond you if you called out like a rational monster.” Slim said and Edge glared at him mutinously. Slim’s look softened and he gently cupped Edge’s cheekbone. “Besides, I can't help but steal you all for myself, I don't like sharing.”

If Edge was angry at his body for coughing, he was even angrier at the blush that heated his cheekbones from that cheesy ass line. He stewed in his anger and watched Slim set the kettle on the stove and use one of the stolen teas in Edge’s favorite mug.

“Captain’s don't call out.” He informed Slim when he came back from the kitchen, a tray for Edge with tea, tissues, and cough syrup.

“Thank you.” Edge grunted taking the tray and Slim hummed sitting next to him on the couch. “I don't want you sick.”

“Yeah? Pretty sure I kissed ya last night, so, if it's my time it's my time.” Slim winked and Edge scowled.

“Not funny! I’m serious, your HP-”

“Can handle the common cold.” Slim countered. “I’m already infected, drink your tea.”

Edge narrowed his sockets at Slim, taking his tea and giving in a murderous glare before taking a slow sip. Mm. Slim always made his tea perfectly. Others always put too much sweetener in, but not Slim.

“I can't believe you talked to the monarchy that way.” Edge finally said and Slim blinked, looking truly confused and he scratched his cheekbone in thought.

“Was I disrespectful?”

“Not exactly.” Edge frowned. “Just…” he paused, “Informal.”

“I don't do formal.” Slim gave an easy shrug. “Too lazy for that.”

“You should be more careful. Asgore and Scotch may be lenient but the Tyrant-”

“Is checked by two reasonable monsters.” Slim interrupted and Edge grunted. “I served my time under one cruel dictator’s rule, I’m done playing respectful; it doesn’t suit me.”

“He’s checked for now.” He reluctantly agreed. “That could change. He is not a stable ruler.”

“Yeah? Well you wanna keep my informal ass away from him?” Slim asked and Edge raised a brow bone before giving a nod. “Then call out of work when you're sick. Boop.” Slim tapped Edge’s nasal passage and Edge scoffed eyelights shrinking in indignation.

“Calling out is a weakness-”

“You’re not in Underfell anymore.” Slim said gently. “You need to call out when you're sick, if you don't want ol’ fluffybuns to carry you off and make you tea.”

Edge scowled, knowing that Slim was right.

“Besides, if you're sick on the field, you're a liability, you know that.” Slim said no longer looking at Edge, staring off, as if in another time and place, perhaps with another captain.

“Yeah, yeah.” Edge grunted.

“You want soup?” Slim asked and Edge gave his fiancée a look of suspicion.

“You’re going to make soup?” he said slowly.

“Yes.” Slim smiled.

“...just don't set the kitchen on fire, love.” Edge sighed and Slim snorted, gently squeezing Edge’s shoulder he kissed Edge’s cheek before standing up and going to the kitchen.

Edge sighed drinking his tea and he begrudgingly took the cough medicine Slim had placed on the coffee table for him.

Slim was busy in the kitchen for a remarkably long time. Just as Edge was about to stand up and investigate Slim resurfaced a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup in hand. Edge gratefully took it and Slim sat next to him wrapping an arm around him.

Edge bit back a complaint about Slim’s health and about the risk of infection. Slim was right, he was sure to already be infected. Instead, the Captain sighed, taking in Slim’s gentle comfort, his own soul easing in his ribcage as he took a spoonful of soup he paused, eyelights disappearing.

A grin tugged at the corner of Slim’s mouth and Edge turned towards him.

“Yes love?”

“How did you make this?” Edge demanded.

“With my hands.” Slim deadpanned.

“This isn’t canned.” Edge said flatly.

“Nope, it's not.” Slim agreed. Edge stared at Slim suspiciously. “You made me homemade soup?”

“Don't tell anyone.” Slim winked.

“This is delicious!” Edge seethed.

“Then why are you so angry about it?” Slim asked, looking amused.

“How long have you been hiding from me that you can cook!?” Edge demanded.

“I can't cook, babe. I can make a decent soup, that's all.” Slim shrugged. “Sans got sick a lot as a kid.”

Edge hummed in thought before greedily taking another spoonful, and another. Once finished despite Slim’s protests Edge took his bowl to the kitchen and washed it, inspecting the area. Dirty cutting board, vegetable scraps in the trash.

Slim really had made homemade soup.

Edge stared at the opened trashcan dumbly for several seconds before Slim cleared his throat, watching him from the doorway curiously.

“Uh, babe? You find treasure in the trash or somethin’?”

Edge blinked once more before putting the kid back on and walking over to Slim. Well, if he was infected anyway…he grabbed the other’s hipbones and pulled him forward into a crushing passionate kiss.

Slim wheezed when Edge pulled away, face flushed the same golden color as his magic.

“I’ll make you soup every night if you kiss me like that.” Slim laughed.

***

What’s your favorite color?

Razz stared at the human child as one might gaze upon gruesome roadkill that they had the misfortune to stumble upon. When Frisk continued to smile and wait for a reply and Toriel raised her eyebrows at him Razz conceded.

“Blue.” Razz replied.

Mine’s magenta.

“I didn’t ask.” Razz said curtly.

You’re really tall for a version of Sans.

Razz pointedly ignored the human ambassador as he scanned the area for potential threats to the queen and her annoying adopted spawn, taking in humans various positions as they walked through the busy market place. Rome had been satisfactory thus far but that didn’t mean he could slack in his duties.

Despite the burning desire to strangle the child who would not leave him alone, he would die before anything happened to either of the charges he’d been ordered to protect.

What’s your favorite food?

“Chicken noodle soup.” Razz sighed, rolling his eyelights. There was a sharp pain growing in the back of his skull, the hint of a migraine and he named it after Frisk. “Enough with the questions, surely you have something, anything better to do?”

Frisk grinned, their hands moving so fast Razz actually had to pause his scanning of the area to pay close attention as Frisk signed.

I like talking to you. Sans says you’re just a little bit like Tsunderplane. Me and Tsunderplane are really good friends now.

“Sans is an idiot.” Razz scoffed.

Toriel clicked, giving Razz a disapproving look and Razz stiffened.

“They’re all against me Sans. Each and every one of them!” Toriel screamed, raking her claws along the palace walls as she advanced towards the bound sobbing Winsums in stripes, purple flames erupting from her hands.

“You’re highness please-”

“Enough!” Toriel extinguished one flame and pushed him aside, before her clouded lavender eyes reflected the beam of fire leaving her right palm aimed at the two children.

Razz covered his eyes from the blinding light and when he pulled his hand away, nothing but dust remained.

He gasped, staring at disbelief where the two monsters had been. Stripelings. Children. His fists shook at his side and he gave a shuddering breath.

Toriel clicked, before giving Razz a disapproving look. “Don’t be weak Sans; they were traitors.”

“...Apologies.” Razz said and Toriel’s look of disapproval turned into one of concern.

“Lieutenant, are you alright? You’ve grown quite pale!” Toriel’s gentle eyes were wide with concern.

“I’m fine-” Razz was caught off as a large explosion in the distance went off. He turned sharply, plumes of smoke rising, humans screaming and running.

“Get down!” Razz ordered, calling upon his blasters. The dragon-like skulls floated above him, each one bearing one blue eye, one magenta as his own eyelights scanned for the threat. When neither Toriel nor Frisk moved, both looking completely startled, he snarled. Another, closer boom.

He ran at them, half pulling, half knocking them down. Another closer boom, more screams, a child sobbing.

He dismissed his blasters. Target unseen, defense was the best offense now.

Toriel wrapped her arms around Frisk, who, for a child experiencing a traumatic event, looked more curious than fearful. Razz summoned multiple bone attacks, structuring them around himself, Frisk and the queen, creating a shield between them and their surroundings.

Another boom, and heat. So much heat, awful. Toriel covered Frisk and Razz grit his teeth, the shield around them shook, the top beginning to melt.

He summoned his magic, willing the shield to hold, protect the queen, protect the human.

It wasn’t enough. He threw himself over the queen, another loud boom the last thing he heard before everything went a starking blistering white, his mind going completely and utterly blank.

***

Slim nearly leapt out of the bed as Edge’s phone went off full volume and Slim groaned sitting rubbing his sockets with the back of his hands as Edge went from being completely asleep to awake and poised in seconds, ripping his phone from the end table.

Slim gave the clock a heated look. Who the fuck was calling at 3:28 am!?

“You forget your ringtone or…” Slim asked, a sinking feeling beginning to form. Edge never forgot to turn the ringtone off. If the phone went off, that meant it was an emergency.

Edge shushed him, answering.

“Report!” Edge snapped. Edge was silent for some time and Slim yawned, closing his sockets, leaning his palm against his hand.

Edge’s eyelights shrank to pinpricks as he listened to the other monster on the phone.

“A moment.” Edge pulled the phone away to cough violently. “Continue.” He ordered into the phone.

Slim groaned, flopping back onto the bed covering his head with a pillow, surely, it was nothing serious.

Chapter Text

When Edge hung up, Slim moved his pillow peeking at his lover with one lit eyelight. Edge’s grim expression was not comforting in the least.

“What is it?” Slim sat back up, soul clenching. His soul reached out to Edge’s, a flood of complex emotions were brewing in Edge and he could feel it through their bond. Fear, rage, worry, disbelief, sadness.

“I want to start by saying everyone we deeply care for is still alive.” Edge said, voice gruff from being asleep and the cold that’d been plaguing him.

“When you start with that, I really dont think I'm gonna like what’s coming next.” Slim said, any trace of sleep gone from him as he took his fiancee’s hands in his. Edge squeezed his hands gently.

“Queen Toriel and the ambassador were attacked in a small market in Rome.” Edge said and Slim’s eyelights guttered out.

“The Fell and Tale guard that accompanied them have had several casualties.” Edge’s voice roughened, a burst of rage and grief pulsed from Edge’s soul into Slim’s from their bond that nearly shook Slim to his core. Sometimes, he forgot just how much Edge cared. Genuinely cared for other monsters, to the smallest foot soldier to the esteemed high ranking officials.

“Several bombs went off in the market place. There were also human casualties. The Roman government was quick to express they do not condone these ‘radicals’ and ‘terrorists’. Their officers and police forces are working with the guards to figure out who or what organization is behind this.”

“My brother?” Slim asked quietly. Alive didn’t mean okay. Alive didn’t mean not fallen down.

“He’s alive.” Edge said firmly and Slim narrowed his sockets.

“Babe.”

“Reports say he and the queen both were injured. Razz severely, the queen minorly.” Edge’s voice was skillfully flat, the fear and worry in his soul betrayed the emotion he so skillfully had learned how to hide and Slim closed his sockets.

“Fuck.” Slim said.

“I wish I knew more.” Edge said gently.

“How severely injured?” Slim pulled away from Edge, digging a pair of pants out of his dresser and sliding into them before throwing his favorite turtleneck on and a leather jacket.

“I’m not sure, I'm sorry.” Edge pinched above his nasal passage in frustration. “We don't have many details. The Queen, Ambassador, Razz and several injured are being transported home now on a private jet. Your … your brother and some others are in critical condition.”

Slim didn’t so much as pause in his mission to get dressed, sliding his shoes on, stuffing down his nerves, fingers trembling as he fumbled with his pants button.

“Love?” Edge frowned. “Where are you going?” It’d be many hours before the jet arrived, but Edge understood the need to do something, especially when feeling helpless, unable to control a terrible situation.

Edge knew if it were his own brother he’d be halfway to the embassy by now even if there was nothing he could do but pace and wait.

“I need to be ready.” Slim said and Edge frowned further. He stood up, gently wrapping his arms around Slim.

“It’s the middle of the night and the plane won't be here until at least sunrise. Of course we will be there when it lands, but, just, pause for a minute?”

Slim grimaced and his golden eyes met Edge’s crimson. Edge looked his lover over, felt the raw panic pulsing from Slim’s soul, fear, regret, rage and worry.

“How critical?” Slim asked.

“We don't have many details. Unconscious, severely injured and critical. Your brother is strong. I'm sure he will pull through this.” Edge said carefully. If anyone was stubborn enough to survive a bomb attack he was certain it’d be Razz.

Slim gave a startled laugh, sockets widening and Edge stared at him taken aback. Not the reaction he expected while trying to be comforting.

“I don’t- you don’t get it.” Slim ran his palms down his face. “My brother, my verse-” Slim took a deep breath. “My Undyne did shit to him. Fucked up shit. It’s not him I’m worried about. If he wakes up, and he’s not himself…”

Edge’s mind reeled, trying to follow Slim’s unexpected train of thought, feeling the fear reverberating from Slim’s soul into his, taking a deep breath trying to quell it from overloading his own emotions. One of them needed to be calm and stable and it wasn’t his brother in critical condition.

“I remember you both shared that your brother had been ‘enhanced’ by the royal scientist.” Edge cleared his throat and scowled as it sent him into a coughing fit. After several hacking coughs, Slim had disappeared and rematerialized with the cough medicine which Edge begrudgingly accepted.

“Your royal scientist, she modified him? You never went into much detail? Enhanced his stats, right?”

“More than that.” Slim paced. “She violated- she modified his soul.”

Edge choked, coughing violently as he spit out the medicine he had just attempted to drink. “She what!?”

Slim paused to look Edge in the socket, pausing to appreciate how fucking scary Edge looked with no eyelights. It was a rare moment indeed that Edge was furious on Razz’s behalf.

“Look it’s - it's a long story and not my story to tell, but, you need to know the details because if my brother wakes up on that plane and he isn’t himself- …I don't know what he’ll do to everyone else. Do you understand?”

“No.” Edge said, taking a deep breath, feeling his own rage pulsing through their bond, flooding straight to Slim and trickling back, too much rage even shared between the two of them, so it came back at him and he felt his soul twist in agitation.

Modifying or changing a monster’s soul was one of the most heinous and disgusting crimes possible for monsters even in Underfell. Its use was forbidden, even as a form of capital punishment. Even the Tyrant had his limits it seemed, but the verse Slim came from, Edge was learning, had some stark differences. Judging by the rage and sickening feeling he was feeling from Slim, such a heinous act was considered as vile as it was in Slim’s verse as it was in Underfell, even if it was allowed by its matriarch.

“My brother had earned the Queen’s ire on occasion, and her favorite punishment for him is- was to send him to the Royal Scientist.” Slim grit his teeth.

Razz was screaming, his voice was hoarse and raw. His bones spasmed against the gurney as Undyne clicked. The royal guard captain was firmly strapped down, three leather restraints along his middle, one around his neck, another holding each wrist, and two more each ankle. He was completely helpless as the royal scientist pressed the syringe once more into his soul. Slim, half way through his six month sentence as her assistant, was face to face with an especially cruel task today as he watched helplessly, his own soul twisting in horror and disgust.

He couldn’t do this, he couldn’t watch this. He’d get them both killed but he couldn’t, wouldn’t sit there helplessly while Undyne tortured his brother ‘for science’.

“You won't hurt him too badly will you? He’s a good puppy, he just has bad manners from time to time.” Toriel hummed, deep purple eyes glinting in the dark of the true lab. “I find the vet helps.”

“He just needs a little bit of, h-heh, magic removal a-and m-medicine.” Undyne grinned nastily, pulling the syringe back, Razz screamed again, sockets shut face twisted in pain and Slim snarled before the sound of blasters reverberated around the four of them, three massive skulls began circling Undyne.

“Mutt don’t get excited.” Toriel clicked. “Your little brother knew the cost of disobedience.”

Slim was shaking, his blasters readying for a massive attack.

“M-Mutt.” Razz ground out weakly, ice blue eyelights hazed over from the pain, voice slurred. “H-heel.”

Slim growled his blasters disappearing, hating himself for it. He could kill the queen. He could. He’d die for it, he was sure, but she’d never hurt anyone again. Never hurt Sans again. He could do it right now.

“Feral, isn’t he? Not nearly as well behaved as my guard dog.” Toriel gave Slim a look of disgust and shrugged. “But his brother has a good hold on him, wouldn’t you agree?” Toriel giggled to Undyne.

“Sans is pretty g-good at reigning Papyrus in.There, last one, not so bad r-right?” Undyne pulled the now full syringe from Razz’s soul which she held in her gloved hand. The fish monster grinned at the blue substance. Razz had gone quiet, breathing staggered, sockets shut.

She pulled the vial from the syringe, putting it with six others that she had filled before it on a trolly.

“Don’t worry, puppy.” Toriel’s fuzzy thumb gently, almost motherly, caressed Razz’s cheekbone. Slim wanted to cut off the hand that dared touch his brother so tenderly aftering ordering his suffering. “It’ll all be over soon and you’ll be an even better guard dog for it.”

Razz gave a weak laugh at that, eyelights opening, having shifted from their ice cold blue to an intense magenta, the change had likely happened due to Undyne taking so much magic.

“Are you going to tell me this hurts you more than it hurts me?” Razz’s voice dripped with a dark saccharine sweetness, a deep crimson was bleeding into his eyelights, their color changing once again, this time to a deep dark maroon. “Is that what you told Asriel as he crumbled to dust in front of you?”

Toriel flinched as if struck, her eyes widening in shock

“Or maybe that's what Asriel told Frisk when he poisoned them with golden flowers?~”

“HOW DARE YOU-”

“Papyrus!”

Slim recoiled, soul pounding against his ribcage. Edge was pressed against him, hands on either side of his face, forehead pressed against his, ruby eyelights full of worry.

“I-...” Slim shuddered. “Sorry I-...” Slim looked around, relieved he hadn’t accidentally summoned his blasters. He scrubbed at his eyes, scowling as his hands came back with golden magic, when had he started crying?

“That was a bad one.” Slim admitted weakly.

Edge nodded in agreement, concern etched into every line of his face. “You were gone for a little while.” Edge admitted, hands dropping from Slim’s face and pulling him close instead. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“I’ll try.” Slim swallowed, returning the hug, squeezing the back of Edge’s nightshirt tight, to ground himself, here and now.

“Many years ago, before my brother was made captain, he had disobeyed the queen directly. He almost never disobeyed, but there were times even he struggled to obey her insane orders.” Slim began, pressing his face against the crook of Edge’s neck, breathing in his scent. He was here. He was safe. Razz was at the very least, alive.

“She sent him to the royal scientist, this is one of the most severe punishments she gives, and her favorite for Sans especially.” Slim grit his teeth and Edge felt his own magic nearly answer the rage he felt burning through the bond.

“My brother was considered lucky because he never got more than two or three days sentenced. Those that are sentenced longer usually don’t come back, or if they do, what comes back is a twisted monstrosity or a shell of who the monster used to be.”

Edge repressed a shudder, his mind going to the haunting amalgamates that his own Alphys, going by the nickname Hydra these days, had kept in the true lab in his own verse.

“She found GasT-” Slim frowned, stumbling on the name, “His old notes. She injected DT directly into my brother’s soul, while it was in transition from one soul trait to another.” Slim explained before taking a shuddering breath, “he’s never been the same since.”

Edge clenched his fists behind Slim’s back. No one, not even Razz, deserved that.

Soul traits changing was not an uncommon event for Fell monsters. He remembered the awkward presentation Alpha, Tetra, and Alphys had put together to teach the Undertale and Underswap monsters about soul traits and transitioning from one trait to another as, apparently, it wa unheard of in the softer verses and had faded into myth and legend after the war.

Every monster knew from a young age there were eight primary traits a monster’s soul could develop. Cyan; patience, Sans and Blue’s traits. Orange; bravery, Papyrus and Stretch. Blue; integrity, purple; perseverance, green; kindness, yellow; justice, pink forgiveness, and aquamarine; understanding.

Humans were born with these starting traits too, the only difference was a human could be born with a determined soul; red and a monster could not.

However, if a monster or human had gone through something traumatic, something that shook them to the core of their being, that soul trait could change. There were a number of other traits that a soul could twist into, all negative. This included Crimson; rage, Red’s and Edge’s color and current soul traits. It was the most common soul trait in Underfell, however there were other negative traits monster’s souls could be mangled into. This included dark purple; cruelty, dark blue; depression, dark green; lethargic, dark yellow, unjust, blood orange, anxiety, and so on, it seemed a soul could break into many potential negative traits.and of course, HoPeless, white, the color a monster’s soul took upon death or falling down.

Slim, oddly enough, had a new trait. A new trait was usually a positive trait that a monster could gain after their original trait took on a negative train. Slim and Underfell’s Toriel, Poppy, were the only monsters recorded to have ever obtained a new trait after their souls had broken and twisted into a negative trait. One’s soul had to heal for such a thing to occur, and neither Poppy nor Slim seemed to know how their souls changed or 'healed’. It was a very unknown science that Alphys, Stretch, and Tetra were studying.

What was interesting is neither of their souls took on one of the traits a monster could be born with. Slim’s soul was a deep gold and it was one of compassion. Poppy’s soul was a light violet; decency.

Edge had no idea what trait Poppy had before her new found positive one, he imagined rage or perhaps anxiety. Slim had shared he had been born with the bravery trait, like Edge, Stretch, and Papyrus, and that it had changed to cruelty during ‘the massacres’ a major event in his verse that neither Slim or Razz spoke very much of.

Razz’s trait was a mystery. His magic shifted from an ice blue to a magenta, and there were no records for either color, not that their records were that extensive. There had been no records for Compassion until they met Slim. He was sure there were many different traits and colors for souls that monsters were unaware of. Knowledge gets lost when an entire civilization spends millenia under a mountain. His Alphys; Hydra, was in the process of documenting human soul traits, which seemed to be an overwhelming amount of subtle color shifts and traits.

A sinking feeling met Edge’s soul as he realized Razz’s magic shifting from one color to another was probably very not normal and must have to do with their verse’s Undyne violating his soul. Edge’s soul twisted at the thought.

“He uh, he survived the DT injection, obviously. He didn’t melt or you know, turn into an amalgamate or anything like that.” Slim scratched the back of his skull, a heavy look in his eyelights. “She monitored his soul’s reaction, which had unexpected results. She also attached the blasters originally made for him, to the best of her abilities.”

“That’s why Razz has blasters and Blue doesn’t.” Edge discerned. “I always thought it was strange you came from a Swapverse but you both had blasters.”

“Yeah. That’s why. Undyne did her best to make him into the weapon he had planned on making him. She didn’t take into consideration how a soul in the process of losing Patience and gaining Rage might react to a dose of DT.” Slim looked down and Edge gently squeezed his lover’s hands.

“He, heh… developed a new kind of trait. One of a kind.” Slim pulled his hands back and covered his face and Edge hated how painful this seemed to be for him. He just wanted to hold Slim and make all of this go away.

“Because his soul was in transition, and shifting between his original trait and a broken one when she injected it with determination, there were unforeseen side effects.”

“Is that why his eyelights change color?” Edge asked.

“Yes. I’m sure you’ve noticed he is far more unpleasant with the purpley pink eyes than the light blue.” Slim said and Edge nodded. That most definitely tracked. Razz was always at his cruelest with magenta eyes.

“But, when he gets really injured, I mean really really injured, when his life is at stake then his soul becomes unstable.” Slim tried to explain. “I… don't know how to explain without…” Slim frowned, clenching and unclenching his fists.

“Just, tell me what we need to be concerned about.” Edge gently coaxed.

“He becomes unstable when he gets too injured and his soul starts trying to do what it was originally doing when he was first injected. It tries to transition to a rage trait.” Slim sighed and looked at Edge, looking small.

“Do you get what i’m saying?”

“That right now he is really injured so his soul might change to a new trait?” Edge asked, perplexed.

“I wish.” Slim sighed. “His trait won't change, not for long, it never does. His magic and eyelights turn red, almost like yours, but darker, and he’s completely, completely unhinged. Dangerously so.”

“Love, his condition is critical. He is very injured, I don't believe he will be capable of being a danger.” Edge said as gently as he could. He didn’t want to be negative about Razz’s recovery, but, his survival certainly wasn’t guaranteed and the wounds that were described to him, well, there was no way Razz was getting back up on his own without a hospital or a skilled healer.

“You don't get it- I…” Slim sighed and he swallowed hard. “Don't hate me.”

“I’d never hate you.” Edge frowned, gently taking Slim’s chin, tilting Slim’s face towards him and giving him a deep kiss. “Nothing could ever make me hate you.”

Slim gave a humorless laugh. “You say that now, you might change your mind.” Slim sighed but smiled fondly at Edge.

“Never.” Edge said, and Slim kissed him before looking down at his hands.

“My brother has an unnatural ability to heal and survive what would kill normal monsters.” Slim started, hands trembling.

“He does?”

“I've mourned him in battle only for him to get back up.” Slim shared quietly. “He’s amazing, but, when he gets that hurt, then- everything-....” Slim sighed a look of grim acceptance over taking his features and he looked back at Edge.

“Do you know what my brother’s soul trait is?”

“No.” Edge admitted.

“It’s Persistence.”

Edge blinked, taking a moment to process that. Persistence? Strange. He’d never heard of the trait in relation to souls, but he'd just ben thinking about how monsters still didn't know nearly enough about monster and human souls. Still, something was nagging at the back of Edge’s skull.

Persistence.

That was the same name of the drug Slim was in recovery from. Slim looked away, shame and terror crashing over Edge from their bond and ice gripped Edge’s soul.

No.

Surely not.

It was a coincidence, a coincidence.

“Do you- do you get it?” Slim asked, voice cracking. “He was born with a patience trait but his soul broke. He was losing patience. His patience was on the way out and rage was on the way in and he got injected with determination.” Slim explained and Edge frowned.

“His soul trait changed to something new, determination and patience with a bit of rage; Undyne called it Persistence.” Slim shuddered.

“But when he gets hurt, when he nearly dies, to put it bluntly he burns through his persistence. That determination kicks in and keeps him going, it keeps him alive, and it does what determination does; it refuses to give up.” Slim explained.

“When he’s too injured his body uses his Persistence and he heals, he gets back up; and then it's spent. So then the rage trait floods in. I don't know what rage and determination makes, but he turns nearly feral.” Slim swallowed hard, avoiding Edge’s gaze. “He does terrible things in that state. After time, his persistence builds back up, his magic reservoirs recover after rest and food and he goes back to normal.”

“...Love. The name of his soul trait, it sounds very familiar.” Edge said very carefully and Slim flinched.

“Your highness, p-p-please have m-mercy o-on him. R-removing m-magic st-straight from his soul ma-makes him n-not himself.” Undyne stuttered more than usual as she attempted to calm the queen.

Toriel stared at Razz for a moment before her eyes flickered over to the seven vials of his magic. “I see. I will spare him, poor confused thing. Very well. Continue your work. I expect more than just these seven doses, Doctor Undyne.”

“O-of course. It’ll- it’ll b-build b-back up, don’t -don't worry your highness!” Undyne said and Slim scowled at Undyne as Toriel scoffed and marched out of the room. Both Slim and Undyne gave a sigh of relief as soon the queen left.

Razz followed Undyne’s movements with those dark maroon eyes but otherwise was completely silent.

“Papyrus, here. Gather his magic and put them in storage fridge D.” Undyne ordered and Slim frowned, walking over to the vials of magic Undyne had taken from his brother’s soul feeling nauseous.

“You’re putting it with the drugs? What do you even do with this?” Slim frowned at the vials and Undyne raised a single eyebrow at him. Slim stared at her blankly and Razz gave a soft laugh.

“Holy shit, you're serious?”The fish monster said, staring at him in disbelief.

“Yes?” Slim frowned. “What do you need so much of my brother’s magic for?”

‘Ha!” Undyne grinned. “Don’t you recognize it?” Undyne picked up a vial, giving it a little shake, the icy blue liquid sliding back and forth. “It’s P.” She grinned at him as Slim’s soul squeezed painfully in his ribcage.

“The shit I've been supplying you for three months? This is it. Right from the tap.” Undyne winked. “Your bro’s magic is the best drug in the Underground and the queen profits on each vial sold. As for me,” Undyne shrugged before uncorking the vial and drinking deep, “I just like how it makes me feel.”

Slim bolted to the trashcan, retching into it in disgust, nausea and horror.

Slim looked at Edge, sockets full of tears. “It should sound familiar.” Slim all but whispered.

“It's…” Edge cleared his throat. “It’s the same thing, isn’t it? Persistence, the drug from your verse, what you're addicted to - it’s Razz’s magic?”

Slim nodded, shoving his hands in his jacket pocket, skull hung in shame.

Oh… oh love.” Edge covered his own mouth, turning away.

“I- I understand if you…” Slim swallowed hard. “If you c-cant stand the sight of me, or -or if you w- want me to- to le-leave or-”

Edge marched forward pulling Slim into his arms tightly. Slim broke into sobs, shame and relief threatening to swallow him whole.

“Don’t talk like that.” Edge said, pulling back to gently wipe Slim’s tears.

“You should be disgusted with me. I’m terrible, I'm awful. I’m addicted to my own baby brother’s magic.” Slim trembled in Edge’s arms, sobbing against him.

“You didn’t know.”

“You so sure?” Slim murmured darkly into Edge’s shoulder blade.

“I know there is absolutely no way you would have started it knowing what it was.” Edge said with so much confidence it nearly burned Slim. That someone could have that much faith in someone like him, stars, Edge was incredible. Slim released his breath against Edge sniffling against him.

They stood like that for some time in eachothers arms, before Edge gently kissed Slim’s forehead. “I need to be sure. You are telling me Razz could wake up from a critical state and be a viable threat to everyone on that plane and attack them, including the queen,” Edge looked in Slim’s eyelights and Slim grimaced.

“Oh suck it up, Papyrus!” Undyne laughed, smacking Slim on the back as he retched into the trashcan.

“Ya been drinking up P greedier than a pup on its momma’s teats. Don’t be all high and mighty just cuz’ you know where I get it from.” Undyne winked having finished her vial and already feeling the effects that a rush of Persistence gives she giggled swaying slightly.

“Sh-shut up.” Slim wiped his mouth, gagging.

“No, no, don’t tell her that. I want to hear her  s c r e a m~” Razz’s voice was unexpected, especially with a tone colored with all the delight and inflection of a curious child.

Slim looked up from the trashcan just in time to see his brother standing behind Doctor Undyne, having carefully, silently, broken or ripped through all his leather restraints. His left wrist still had a metallic cuff on it, a magic dampening cuff, but otherwise, Razz was entirely free and more worrisome, was holding one of Undyne’s surgical knives.

“Sans?”

Undyne in her high stupor blinked at Slim before her eyes widened comically and she turned around. Razz grinned up at her before jerking the knife up and forward straight through her left eye and out the back of her head.

She did scream.

A lot.

Slim retched again and when he dared to finally look back up Razz’s deep maroon eyes were boring into him, his brother taut and poised, like a predator waiting to strike.

“Sans?”

“Bored now.” Razz tapped his boot against the dingy lab floor. “She’s all tuckered out.”

Slim pointedly did not look at his frenemy bleeding out on the floor. She had high LV, she might just survive it.

“Sans- I didn’t- I didn’t know. I swear to you, I had no idea.”

“I know you didn’t.” Razz hummed, tapping the bloodied knife against one of the frosty blue vials. “What’s the matter? Lost your appetite?” Razz picked up a vial and uncorked it.

“Of course I have! I can’t drink that shit knowing-”

“Drink up.” Razz grinned at him before throwing the contents of the vial in Slim’s face.

Slim sputtered, soul twisting as he wiped his brother’s magic off him- it was everywhere, in his sockets, in his teeth, on his tongue, and stars, stars he hated himself. He hated himself because even knowing what it was, as horrible as it was, a part of him still wanted it. Wanted to swallow what had gotten in his mouth.

He didn’t.

He spit, he retched, and wiped it off himself. Never again, never again.

“Come on, you love this stuff. What’s the matter? You’re wasting all the doctor’s hard work.” Razz clicked before giving Undyne’s unconscious body a sharp kick. He tsked when she didn’t move.

“You think I didn’t notice you sneaking off in the middle of the night? Think I didn’t know what you were doing in the basement, high and out of your mind? Think I didn’t notice you stumbling home from a long night at the labs with your eyelights all hazed? You're not subtle, Papyrus.”

“I’m sorry.” Slim whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“Are you?” Razz hummed, picking up another vial and smashing it against the ground, glass and magic spattered against the floor.

“Well hello so sorry, I'm Sans.” Razz grinned wide and Slim blanched, completely taken off guard by the twist in his brother’s humor. “It's a beautiful day outside. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming. On days like this, skeleton’s like me. . . are going to make you cry for the mercy of hell.”

“Yes.” Slim said firmly shaking off the memories, now wasn’t the time. “He won't be himself, i’ve seen it. He could and would kill someone. Maybe not the queen, but anyone else? Absolutely. Especially the human.”

“I need to go in then, now. I need to get communication out to the guards on that plane.” Edge squeezed Slim before pulling back to dress himself.

“I’ll come with you.”

***

“Are you sure you’re good?” Stretch drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, pointedly looking at literally anything else than the seething monster next to him. He scrubbed the sleep from his sockets when Red didn’t answer and slowly, hesitantly, glanced over and immediately wished he hadn’t.

Stretch would be the first one to tell anyone who would listen how creepy Classic could be.

But Red?

95 percent of the time Red was a cinnamon roll, completely harmless and utterly precious.

The other 5 percent?

Red was this.

Fucking terrifying. One socket emptied the other bulging with one intense crimson eyelight boring so thoroughly into Stretch he was absolutely certain Red could see every dirty secret, fault, and weakness in Stretch and was thoroughly displeased.

Sans might give the impression you are about to have a bad time.

Red gave the impression that he’s going to have a great time and you’re not gonna survive it.

“I’m fine.” Red growled.

“Hi fine, I'm Stretch.”

Red didn’t so much as give a half hearted chuckle.

Fuck.

Red wasn’t fine, but there was an emergency going on and when the council ordered your presence you didn’t say no and Red was the Fell judge. Presence was basically mandatory. Asgore and Scotch might, perhaps, be sympathetic towards Red, knowing he had had a judgment earlier today, but he was still expected to be here. As for Tyr, there was no sympathy left in that feral monarch. Stretch gave a frustrated sigh. Even Blue got called in and he was just a sentry.

“Alright, you're fine,” Stretch agreed, “but are you ready to go in there and do whatever they need you to do? Because if you aren’t, then please, just take a few minutes.”

Stretch liked playing chicken, but the look of pure unadulterated rage on Red’s face made him simultaneously horny and terrified. Interesting combo. He nearly looked away.

Still, no one ever accused Stretch of having survival skills. He stared back at Red unwavering.

“. . . Five fuckin’ minutes thats it!” Red snarled. Stretch thanked the stars for small mercies. Stretch fished his lighter from his front hoodie pocket rolling the car windows down a crack and lighting a cigarette before Red shoved his own cig in front of him and Stretch lit it for him.

Red glared daggers at him before taking a hit and blowing smoke out the window.

“You gonna tell me what this emergency is?” Stretch asked.

Red gave him the one finger salute and Stretch sighed. He figured as much.

“You want to talk about what happened this afternoon?” Stretch pressed and Red growled low. ‘“You had a judgment?” Stretch pressed.

“Leave it.” Red warned.

“Would love to, can’t.” Stretch knew he was poking the bear but what were the alternatives? “Because see, you have to go in there and play nice for Tyr, and I need to be sure you can do it. Because I know how I get after a judgment. I know how much it rides you. You stop seeing people, you just see their sins, and it sickens you. You stop being you, you become judgment incarnate and every tiny sin or minor infraction boils your magic. Hell even you sicken you, and Tyr? He's the most disgusting.” Stretch nearly bit through his cigarette as he sucked the burning nicotine down.

Red slowly exhaled. “I’ll be fine, I got this.”

“Yeah? Last time you said that you nearly enacted unholy fellverse judgment on me for ‘enabling your bad habits’ with spiked mustard in your coffee.” Stretch gave Red an unimpressed look. He thoroughly believed that if Edge, who at the time had still been living with Red, hadn’t walked into the kitchen to make his own coffee, Red would have shown Stretch exactly how much of a good time Red was going to have.

“Ya ever gonna get over that?” Red looked thoroughly put out and gave Stretch a particularly sour look.

“You love mustard!” Stretch threw his hands in the air.

“I wasn’t myself!”

“That's what I'm saying! You came home today with the judge riding your ass so hard I’m half tempted to inspect you for a new hole!”

The car was utterly silent for a moment, an agonizingly long pregnant pause as Red processed Stretch’s words before both he and Stretch erupted with loud raucous laughter.

“Yer an asshole.” Red said with no real heat, still chuckling, grin less sharp and more relaxed than it’d been since before Red left the judgment hall this afternoon.

Stretch’s laughter slowly petered off as he took another hit of his cigarette. “You like that about me.”

Red’s reply was cut off by a loud knock against Stretch’s window causing Stretch to, heh, nearly jump out of his metaphorical skin.

Slim stood outside Stretch’s door, hands in his jacket pocket. He grinned and a second later, Slim had shortcut into the backseat.

“Thanks.”

Stretch balked as Slim swiped the nearly finished cigarette from Stretch’s hand.

“Dammit Slim, that was mine!” Stretch gave his alternate an accusing look. Slim, for his part, looked about as unrepentant as physically possible, giving Stretch a shrug, half laying in the backseat he tossed a particularly crusty and gray looking sock off the seat and onto Stretch’s skull. Stretch couldn’t help but be amused. Only Red would leave *socks* in Stretch’s car of all places.

Red stared at Slim for a moment and Stretch readied himself to use blue magic, to restrain Red if necessary, Red had attacked Fell monsters after a really bad judgment for jaywalking before and-

“Where’s Boss?” Red asked.

Stretch thanked whatever stars or angels were listening that Red finally seemed to have simmered, or at least was holding it back to fall apart later.

“In there in a big meeting with the council and guard.” Slim made a face, blowing smoke rings. “I’m allowed in the ‘waiting room’.”

“Us lowly scientists don't get clearance for nothing.” Stretch lamented and Slim nodded in agreement.

“He tell ya what happened?” Red asked.

“Yep.” Slim said and Red cursed.

“He wasn’t supposed to.” Red didn't look surprised.

“I don't think he cared.” Slim agreed.

“Do I get to know what happened?” Stretch asked and Red scowled at him. “What? Slim knows!”

“Ah, fuck.” Red handed Stretch his nearly finished cigarette which he gratefully accepted. “Fill the honey pot in then. I gotta get in there. Boss still hacking up a lung?”

“Lung? Nah, those are long gone.” Slim winked. “He filled up on dayquil and caffeine, he’s as good as he’s gonna get.”

Red grunted and his crimson eyelights met Stretch’s before he flipped both Stretch and Slim off and shortcut away, likely straight into that big meeting Slim hadn’t been allowed to be a part of.

“So? What’s going on?” Stretch gave Slim an expectant look.

***

Frisk really hoped their new friend was going to be okay. They didn’t want to have to reset unless there were absolutely no other options. If Razz lived, it might be worth a hike to the underground to look for a save point. Still, Frisk hadn’t seen a save point since before fighting Asriel. It was as if they all had vanished once monsters were set free.

Frisk liked Razz.

Sure, the skeleton was cold and a little rude and didn’t seem to know how to relax or have fun, but that just made Frisk want to try all the harder to be his friend.

What would Razz look like if he genuinely smiled? Maybe a lot more like Sans.

Toriel had spent hours pouring healing magic into the skeleton and was asleep next to them soundly. It seemed everyone was asleep except for Frisk.

Frisk couldn’t sleep. Razz was still unconscious, lying unmoving next to the others. Toriel and another monster had done their best to heal the injured but some were hurt worse than others, Razz being one of them.

When the light had faded and the booming had stopped, Toriel had moved off Frisk, and Frisk had seen that Razz’s magical bone barrier and defenses had crumbled around them, the skeleton in question and Toriel both battered from debris.

Razz had it way worse than Toriel.

Shrapnel had sliced him, his bones covered in shallow and deep cuts, several bones broken. One of the two arm bones, ulna, Toriel had called it snapped in half, femur splintered, skull cracked, Spine splinted with spiderweb cracks, kneecap shattered, and Toriel had listed other injuries that Frisk had already forgotten.

So it took Frisk entirely back to see Razz’s sockets open, deep maroon eyelights meeting Frisk’s.

“Hello Human~.”

Chapter Text

Frisk leaned forward and began signing slower than usual so the Lieutenant could keep up. Razz had been very injured, and Frisk wasn’t sure if his eyesight had been affected from the blasts. Razz sat up as Frisk signed, his deep red eyelights watching until Frisk finished.

You were really hurt, are you okay?

“Human, are you worried about me? How interesting.” Razz grinned at them, and Frisk was emboldened. A smile from him was incredibly rare, but maybe, the aloofest of the Sanses was finally coming around? Frisk had made friends with every monster they came across and they weren’t about to let Razz be the exception. Even Red was their friend.

Razz stood up, carefully stepping over the injured guard members who were laid to rest and recover at his side, nine other monsters were all laid out on their own cots. Razz maneuvered through the maze of slumbering guard members and came to stop a foot in front of Frisk who sat next to their mom, who snored gently in her seat. 

You look a lot better! You were-

Frisk grimaced, trying not to think about how Razz’s screams had sounded exactly like Sans’s in another life, a golden hall full of marrow and dust, another run.

 you looked really, really bad when mom started healing you.

Frisk remembered the sickening horror that had gripped their gut as the smoke began to clear. Toriel had moved from shielding Frisk to cradling Razz. His white ivory bones had splintered and charred black; his leg split down the middle, left hand crumbling to embers and ash, a gaping hole in his cranium and left socket and eyelights out, blood, or something just as crimson spilling from the cracks in his bones. Marrow?

Frisk shook the disturbing imagery away. Razz looked just fine now. The black must have been soot and not his bones like Frisk originally thought - his visible bones were just as pristine and white as ever, though Frisk wasn’t used to seeing him without gloves. His hands didn’t look damaged. It couldn't have been Razz’s left-hand crumbling to dust, that Frisk had seen as the heat scorched over them from the terrible attack, his left hand was right there and perfectly intact just as always.

Frisk paused to stare at Razz’s hands. They had always assumed Razz would have clawed fingers like Edge and Red, but his fingertips were as rounded as Sans’s or Blue’s. On closer inspection one hand had claws, the other smooth; that was weird, wasn’t it? 

Frisk made a mental note to investigate Slim’s fingers. Maybe pointed claws were strictly an Underfell thing? Despite Slim and Razz’s similarities to Fell monsters, Frisk knew they were from somewhere else. 

“Your eyes must have been playing tricks on you human; I'm fine.”  Razz’s grin widened and for the briefest of moments Frisk was strangely reminded of Flowey. “Where are we?”

On a plane, heading back to Ebott. I couldn’t sleep.

“I can help you sleep.”

***

He wasn’t even part of the royal guard. 

Blue scrubbed his gloved hands over his face taking a slow deep breath in. He was still just a sentry, but he knew, eventually, he’d earn his spot in the ranks of their proud and ancient military. His job mostly entailed of making sure that if monsters left the city grounds, they had their proper permits and papers. It was the same if humans entered the city grounds, they needed the same type of permissions. It wasn’t a complicated job, but it was way more entertaining than his sentry position in Snowdin had been. He got to meet all kinds of monsters and humans entering and exiting the small territory the monsters had been given, and it was always a joy to introduce a new human to the ancient art of puzzle solving.

Monster kind certainly had gotten a lot more personality and bigger than ever when his entire verse was swept into this one. Fell monsters were certainly interesting and there were surprising tiny differences between the Undertale and Underswap monsters that had been unexpected. To think this verse spelled Library as Librarby!

As a sentry, when he had gotten the call in the middle of the night, he answered as soon as he’d awakened. All service members, even the smallest of military personnel were to come to the palace immediately and that never happened, not even in their worst of drills.

Blue had quickly woken up Stretch and far more cautiously Red who had thrown a lamp out the window ten minutes before Blue’s cautious attempts at re-waking him.

Red was going to need a new nightstand lamp and Blue at some point was going to have to do more that subtly leaving pamphlets for anger management under his alternate’s bedroom door.

With a sigh, Blue entered the judgement hall. He was here, and he was ready! Whatever this emergency was, he was prepared to do his part to help. He stood next to Underswap Alphys; Alpha, concentrating on not rocking on his heels anxiously as they idled. The council itself hadn’t arrived yet, nor had Red. 

“Hey, where’s Stretch?” Alpha’s gruff voice pulled Blue from his thoughts.

“Oh- uh, probably trying to coax Red in.” He gave a strained smile. Despite both Stretch and Red’s assurances that Red was fine, Blue knew very well that his Fell mirror must have had a particularly bad day. Blue found that most Fellverse monsters had bad days from time to time. 

Stretch had casually mentioned that Red had needed to interrogate another Fell Monster about gang activity in the city and Blue knew that Fellverse methods of interrogation were not as morally regulated as the Taleverse methods. 

He knew his own Queen Scotch and Undertale’s King Asgore turned a blind eye towards how Tyr had his judge enact justice on the Fellverse monsters. They stayed out of it. Blue really wished they wouldn’t.

He knew that any time Red was called in as a judge he would come home rigid, easily provoked and looking for a fight. He would run their hot water out in a suspiciously long shower, trying to burn away the sins he judged and the ‘justice’ he was tasked with enacting. 

Today had been a very bad day. Very bad days were more rare and much more difficult. On very bad days Red came home covered in dust. On very bad days, Blue had to hide the bleach, peroxide, and cleaning chemicals.

The first time Blue had ever encountered one of Red’s very bad days he’d watched helplessly as Edge physically restrained Red who’d been scrubbing his arms with the ammonia Blue used for cleaning windows. Red still had some of the burn scars from that particular episode and Edge still had scars of Red’s teeth marks embedded in his left wrist. Blue had since switched to all-purpose vinegar, soap, and rubbing alcohol. 

Very bad days and even just the bad days also meant Red was overly judgy. Blue found this the most ironic. Red, who was maybe the rudest among the Sanses, who was loud and proud of his disregard for any rules or authority, Red who constantly sneered and verbally jabbed at Edge and the Royal Guard any chance he got, except on bad days and very bad days. 

Blue had seen his own brother like this on the rare occasion he was called in to act as judge. With Sans and Stretch sharing the role for the Tale monsters and Red covering the Fell monsters, Stretch wasn’t called in very often. When his brother had to go in, he always came home with the same righteous rage stewing under the surface, the same over sensitivity to ‘wrong’ behavior or ‘sin’ or ‘rule breaking’ in general. 

Stretch usually was just agitated, he never enacted his own brand of justice, except the occasional sarcastic tongue lashing; but Red? On very bad days, if your LOVE was low and your sins were few you’d be fine, but if not; you’d better watch out. 

Blue still mailed out an apology card once a year to that one unfortunate Fell con artist who had tried to sell Blue a faulty vacuum cleaner. He was glad the surgeons had been able to dislodge the vacuum from that monster’s- 

“Red, finally!” 

Blue was once again pulled from his wandering thoughts, this time by Edge, who despite being in his full captain’s regalia still looked pale and exhausted as he approached his brother who had just waltzed in as if the judgment hall wasn’t overpacked by military officials.

“Heya, Boss.” Red’s grin was sharp and the silence was heavy as he entered. His crimson eyelights scanned the hall, taking in the mass number of monsters who had been called in. His eyelights paused at a golden pillar and Blue followed his line of sight and immediately wished he hadn’t. The pillar in question had specks of  d u s t  littering the top . Blue immediately looked away as Red gazed at the spot, his grin twitching into a frown at the corner, hands beginning to tremor before he shoved them into his pockets.

 It wasn’t often the council met in the judgment hall and now Blue wished they had chosen literally any other space. The judgment hall was sure to be a trigger for any of the judges, but especially Red who had been in here earlier today doing stars knew what form of interrogation. Apparently, a form that involved dust spilling. Blue's soul twisted.

Then again, it wasn’t often the entire guard was called. From sentry to general, every personnel of the Fell and Tale Guard in the area were present, or at least, should have been, and there were no other halls big enough to hold them all. 

“We’ve been unable to reach General Betta. I want you to have your team find her.” Edge informed Red quietly and Blue shifted, his soul flipping. It certainly wasn’t like Underfell’s Undyne to not come when called. 

“Got it.” Red said, taking out his phone and immediately texting. Red had never exactly explained to Blue what he did for work when he wasn’t acting as judge, but Stretch had assured Blue it was important work for monster kind. He knew it had to do with monster security at the very least.

After a few long moments the council finally arrived, Scotch and Asgore looking grim and Tyr looking more menacing than ever. 

“Thank you all for coming in such short notice.” Asgore said, taking his seat in the middle, Scotch on his left, Tyr on his right, their three thrones a beacon of hope in the dark. 

“To those of you that have not been informed yet, there has been an attack on Ambassador Frisk and Queen Toriel in a market outside the monster embassy just established in Rome.” Asgore continued, voice pained and angry. Gasps and murmurs immediately shook the massive guard and service members attending, Blue grimaced and glanced to Red who had his hands in his pockets looking uncharacteristically calm.

“Several bombs went off throughout the marketplace yesterday afternoon. There have been fifteen monster casualties, and we have ten monsters in critical condition. Toriel and Frisk’s wounds are superficial, and they and our wounded are being transported home in a private jet.”

Murmuring continued to echo around Blue as the guard discussed the information given. Blue’s soul sank, who would attack a child and their mother? An ambassador for an entire new race of beings to share the world with? An ambassador that was human, to bridge the gap between monsters and humans? Horror and nausea washed over Blue at the thought of multiple bombs going off in a market full of innocent monsters and humans.

“Our reports are coming from 2nd Lieutenant Dogaressa, as Lieutenant Razz is one of the critically injured.” Asgore continued and Blue’s eyelights shrank.  Razz was critically injured!? Razz, at least in physical appearance and swap like nature was the Sans the most like Blue, a twin from another world if things had only just been slightly different. He couldn't imagine how worried Slim must be. While Razz wasn’t always pleasant, he was family, and Blue’s soul twisted with worry - and something else.  It took Blue longer than it should have to identify that it was anger that was burning through him, fast and hot. The burning energy coursing through him was as intense as it was foreign, he wasn’t sure he’d ever felt this angry before.

“We have a team of Fell and Tale Guard remaining in Rome to determine who is responsible for this attack-”

“Oh please!” Tyr interrupted Asgore, his claws digging into his golden throne leaving deep gouges in their wake. “As if we don’t know! It was the humans obviously! I told you humans could not be trusted! They only understand violence! We need to send them a message they will understand. Let us give up this passive charade and attack them in kind!”

“There were human casualties and injuries too.” Asgore countered. “We need more information before we take any action!”

“There are billions of humans on this earth, Tyr.” Scotch spoke up. “We can't declare war on humankind as a whole. This could be a specific organization, group, a small number of radicals or even entire governments, but we don’t know! We need more information. Rome itself has denied any collaboration-”

“Of course, they denied responsibility!” Tyr snarled, “Cowardly twisted apes would never dare admit to their own actions!”

“And they are working with our embassy and guard to determine who is at fault.” Scotch continued, eyes narrowing at the furious Fell King. 

“I have some news that may be of importance if I may-” Edge interrupted and fell silent as Tyr turned his full attention on him. 

“Where is my general?”

“Unfortunately, your highness, we have been unable to locate General Betta. She is not at her home or answering phone calls.” Edge’s clipped but polite response impressed Blue. He knew how much Edge disliked his own king, still, Edge did his best to serve his people and show respect to a ruler he called a tyrant behind closed doors. Blue knew it must have a heavy toll on the skeleton.

Tyr scowled furiously, eyes snapping to Red. “You-”

“Already on it.” Red answered. 

“Of course.” Tyr sneered. “When you find her, she’d better have a good reason for not answering the summons or we’ll be looking at a court martial.” His crimson eyes scanned the crowd of monsters who had answered their summons. “Where are my other judges?”

“Aint I yer only judge?” Red’s sockets narrowed.

“The other judges.” Tyr rolled his eyelights. 

“Only Red was called in.” Edge said.

“I want all of them, you!” A white fuzzy index finger pointed at Red “Go! Fetch all of them, even the retired one.”

Blue hoped the sound of Red’s teeth grinding was just in his imagination and not an actual audible grapple for self-control for all to hear. Judging by Edge’s ‘I don't get paid enough for this’ expression, Red’s teeth grinding was very audible. Or Edge was just losing the last of his patience with Tyr; Blue wouldn’t blame him.

 Red gave a lazy salute and disappeared without so much as a sound. A few moments later he reappeared with Stretch and Slim.  

“I’m not a fucking judge anymore!” Slim snarled as the three popped out of the void. Slim visibly paled, bones turning ashen as he realized what he’d blurted in front of nearly all of the guard and the entire council and Edge's attention landed directly on his fiancée. 

“You are today.” Tyr looked especially amused by the look of pure outrage in Slim’s eyelights. Slim opened his mouth and stepped forward towards Tyr when Edge cleared his throat. Slim’s mouth clacked firmly shut. 

 “Where’s Sans?” Edge immediately noticed the fourth judge’s absence as he stepped forward to place a hand on Slim’s shoulder. 

“Don’t know. Papyrus said he never came home from work, his phone keeps making garbage noises when we call, and I checked the labs, he ain't there.” Red grunted.

“That's troubling news.” Asgore frowned, looking thoughtful and Blue silently agreed. He couldn't begin to imagine how worried Papyrus must be. He also felt deeply for Papyrus’s inability to be in this meeting. Papyrus had no connection to royal staff or the guard; he was the only one of them who was not permitted to be here. Blue hoped they would get permission to fill him in. 

“Whatever!” Tyr rolled his eyes. “Three will do.”

Blue wasn’t sure he wanted to know what Tyr needed three judges for, but, at least whatever task it might be, Red wouldn’t be alone. He sincerely hoped it wouldn't be about Betta’s absence. While unlike the fish general, Blue was certain she wasn’t present for a very good reason. 

“Back to the topic at hand you two aren’t really thinking of just doing nothing in retaliation for this grievous attack against our people?” Tyr’s crimson eyes bore into Asgore and Scotch. 

“I understand your anger.” Scotch said, a harsh look in her usually gentle green eyes. “I am angry too, but we cannot risk war with so little information. We just escaped the mountain. I will not let them put us back beneath it; or worse.”

“That’s why if we attack now-”

“If we restrain our fury and wait this out, we may continue to gain favor and trust from the nations of this world. The Roman government is already aiding our people in the search for the culprits.” Scotch interrupted Tyr who rolled his eyes. 

“This may even gain monsters sympathy and compassion from humans who were on the fence.” Asgore added and Tyr crossed his arms, scowling like a child denied sweets.

“If we allow this attack to go unpunished, the humans will become more bold. More attacks will come.” Tyr growled out.

“What is the alternative, Tyr?” Scotch sighed. “I understand your rage, my friend, I do . We cannot take on the entire human race.”

“Can’t we?” Tyr scowled. “What we lack in numbers we can make up for in sheer power and magic!”

“The ambassador, that single human child, could have wiped out all of monster kind in the underground if they had chosen to. One child . Can you even imagine armies of grown adults?” 

“Maybe empty your underground.” Tyr sneered, red eyes boring into the underswap verse’s queen. “His underground.” Tyr’s thumb jerked towards Asgore. “Not mine. If we get some more LOVE in the Tale Guard and release my fallen army, I think you’d find the tables turn quite drastically.”

“That disgusting menagerie of yours is never being released-” 

“At what cost?” Asgore butt in, avoiding the furious look Scotch gave him at being interrupted. “Tyr, your own LOVE is on the cusp of overtaking your very senses and you’d do that to our people? To wage war with a population that drastically outnumbers us? No. You are out voted, my friend.” 

“Weak.” Tyr spat.

“If I may interrupt I have some very important news.” Edge attempted once more to gain the attention of the council. 

“The adults are talking, Captain; silence.” Tyr scoffed and Blue did not miss how Edge’s left socket twitched, fists clenching at his sides. Edge might have been annoyed but it was Slim who looked as if he were about to snap, going rigid besides Edge and eyelights petering out. 

“Don’t.” Edge grabbed Slim’s hand, squeezing gently. Slim’s eyelights relit and he sighed, before Edge let him go. Edge stepped forward towards the council.

“I'm afraid the subject matter cannot wait.” Edge said firmly causing murmurs to break out amongst the Fell Guard specifically as Edge spoke.

“You dare disobey a direct order - ” Tyr rose, flames engulfing his hands. Asgore stood up, gripping Tyr’s shoulder. 

“The captain has been nothing if not loyal. If he says he has important news for the star's sake let him speak. Sit. Down .” Asgore's voice was a rare stern gruff sound. Tyr laughed, whirling all the aggression previously aimed at Edge towards Asgore instead, flames rising from the tyrant’s hands, his blood red eyes glowing. 

“I could kill you where you stand.” Tyr’s fists clenched and the flames sputtered out. He reached out his hand, summoning his weapon, a black war axe answered his call; serrated and dust covered. “I could end you both right now and do as I please! Become sole ruler and prepare our forces for war. Take back the land the humans stole from us, herald in a new dawn of monster kind!”

“Enough!” Scotch yelled moving to stand between the two Asgores, her eyes narrowing in fury at the Tyrant. 

“You’d better check your attitude Tyr!” She wagged her finger at him with all the displeased wrath of a scorned wife and mother. Tyr looked completely taken aback, his axe sputtering out of existence and his eyes widening comically. “Show some respect! We are equal rulers of our kind. Do not expect me to sit idly by at your ridiculously brazen threats of regicide! Your pathetic attempts to manipulate us into action are as treasonous as they are childish, stand down!”

Tyr grinned, recovering from his momentary lapse of confidence and control. “You assume my threat was only a manipulation tactic. I could break you into pieces. ” His crimson eyes bore into her green. Scotch held her ground, glaring straight back the Tyrant; two stubborn old goats locked in a silent battle of wills as Asgore watched helplessly. 

"You wouldn't dare."

As the tension grew Blue began to wring his hands nervously. Scotch was his queen first and foremost overall and he did not like the tyrant threatening her in the least. Tyr’s little outbursts were not exactly uncommon, but they usually didn’t involve him threatening murder. Well, alright, at least the threats of murder usually didn’t involve Queen Scotch and King Asgore as the potential victims.

“Oh, fuck this.” Slim’s voice was abnormally gruff, like Stretch’s voice after he snuck to the basement to smoke the joints he didn’t think Blue knew about. “Toriel and the ambassador’s lives are in danger, so why don't you have a pissing contest with the alternate of your ex wife another time, Tyr.” A heavy tension fell over the judgment hall as Tyr stared at Slim in what Blue could only imagine was disbelief. Edge’s eyelights flickered out of existence and Asgore and Scotch both looked completely flabbergasted. There was a pregnant pause before Red burst into laughter. “H-holy shit- haha!” Red covered his face as he howled with laughter, the sound echoing around the otherwise silent hall.

With Red howling into his jacket trying to stop his laughter the tension amongst the council had been obliterated. Tyr, still gazing at Slim, slowly sat back down on his throne with all the grace of a putout toddler. Asgore mimicked this and Scotch’s gaze landed on Slim, she remained standing. 

“What do you mean, the ambassador and Toriel are in danger?” If calling her alternate self by her own name was strange, Scotch didn’t show it. Blue admired that. Sometimes talking to Classic or about classic was really difficult. To call someone with his own face and name ‘Sans’ was infinitely strange.

If anything, Slim looked far more rattled and uncomfortable with Scotch’s eyes on him than Tyr’s. Blue could only imagine what kind of memories Scotch might bring up of Slim and Razz’s own Toriel. Razz always looked at Scotch like she was something amazing and to be protected at all costs. Blue, privately, quite agreed. Scotch was a kind and fair ruler who Blue himself admired and cherished very much. Razz was a Fell monster, but not from Underfell. Bue would guess his loyalties lied with Scotch, not Tyr because of that. Blue wondered if she had Slim’s loyalty as well? Judging by the spooked expression on Slim’s face, maybe loyalty wasn’t the right word. Fear fit better.

“Slim has informed me that Lieutenant Razz had some. . .modifications done courtesy of his universe’s royal scientist. These modifications make him dangerous if his life is at significant risk. He becomes a weapon of sorts. The change is so drastic that I am told he could become a risk to everyone on that plane.” Edge explained. 

Blue frowned, not liking the way Edge nearly stumbled over the word ‘modifications’ or what that word implied. 

“He turns into a Fallen?” Tyr asked and Edge grimaced. Blue’s soul flipped and his mouth felt dry. He really tried not to think about the Fallen. Tyr and Scotch had mentioned them earlier and every time Blue thought about them he just felt angrier.  His people and their alternates in Undertale had never been exposed to a fallen monster before. Not to be confused with a monster that had fallen down, a fallen monster was a monster who had fallen to their LOVE. It was a concept introduced to them when the Underfell monsters had been accidentally thrust into this world. 

Any monster and presumably human, level fifteen or higher, could fall and be consumed by their own LOVE, from Blue’s understanding. The unfortunate monsters this happened to become more animal than person. They lost their finer feelings, deeper emotions, and became brutal killing machines. They were completely ruled by their cravings for more LOVE and were shells of the monsters they used to be, often losing the ability to speak above grunts and growls in the process. 

Blue had never seen Tyr’s menagerie but he had heard the stories. Tales of rabid beasts howling for the dust of their own loved ones, all personality wiped from the feral shadows the monsters had become. The Fallen Guard were kept in cells because they couldn’t function in society anymore, they would just kill and kill until they were killed. Tyr kept them alive simply to use as a weapon against the humans should war break out. The Fallen Guard were to be their front lines, far enough ahead to attack the enemy instead of the Tale and Fell Guard behind them.

Blue knew that Asgore and Scotch had forced Tyr’s hand with the Fell Guard, offering retirement and benefits for any monster who reached a LOVE of twelve or higher in an effort to stop more monsters from being overtaken by their own LOVE. Other than that, Asgore and Scotch permitted these broken monsters to spend their days imprisoned. It wasn’t fair, for any of those fallen monsters or their families, but neither Asgore or Scotch could force Tyr’s hand to end the project.

 The higher the LOVE, the higher the risk, from Blue’s understanding. While it was possible for monsters to fall to their LOVE at level fifteen and sixteen, many were still perfectly functionable, such as Edge. The real risk it seemed, was hitting a LOVE of 17. That seemed to be the level most monsters fell at, though, Slim had told Blue once that his own queen had been level 19 and still hadn’t become a mindless animal; though she hadn’t been far off. 

“Not exactly your highness, but a Fallen monster is a good parallel. Lieutenant Razz would act in a similar manner, from what I understand. He will be unable to control his more violent urges, but this state is temporary.”

“Have Second Lieutenant Dogaressa execute him and we will hold a hero’s funeral.” Tyr said and Scotch and Asgore both yelled their objections.

“Absolutely not!”

“Unacceptable!”

“Pussies.” Tyr grunted at his partnered council members and Scotch gave him an expression so cold that Blue wished he’d brought a sweater. 

Blue glanced at Slim in concern, whose eyelights had shrunk to the tiniest of dots. Blue had to hand it to him, had Tyr so casually suggest they execute his own brother Blue would have had a fit and stars knew Tyr was not a forgiving monster. 

“We will contact the plane and have them secure the lieutenant so he will be unable to harm anyone.” Asgore said firmly.

“He is in critical condition, is any of this really necessary?” Scotch asked with a frown. 

“He has enhanced healing abilities that activate when his life is at stake, my sources tell me this is a high risk situation your majesty.” Edge informed them and Blue blinked. Razz had never told them any of that. Razz certainly hadn’t had ‘enhanced’ healing abilities when he’d torn his arm from the socket during patrol when he’d caught a fell monster stealing from Grillby’s. It took Razz days to gain full functionality again. Then again, while painful, that hadn’t been life threatening, had it? Maybe it was an ability that only worked if Razz’s life was in danger? The thought made Blue’s stomach churn. Why would humans attack monsters like this?

Blue’s attention was drawn to shuffling and murmurs, he clearly had missed something while lost in his thoughts. He watched as Edge provided Asgore with a headset. 

“Capricorn to Leviathan, do you read me?” Asgore’s voice boomed.

“Well hello your highness~” Blue blinked at the unexpectedly upbeat reply, loud enough to be heard from where Blue was standing. That was Razz’s voice. Usually cold and stiff, now it was almost. . .playful?

 It was more than a little disturbing in Blue’s personal opinion. Mostly because of the stark contrast between that tone and how frigid Razz’s tone was the majority of the time, partly because out of all the Sanses, Razz sounded the most like Blue and even more so now with the upbeat tone. 

“Status?” Tyr demanded.

“Stable, the pilot has informed me we should be landing within the hour.” Razz’s reply was suspiciously professional for someone who had been described as uncontrollable and unhinged. Blue glanced at Edge who was giving Slim a perplexed look. Slim himself looked as if he had swallowed a lemon. 

“That is good news.” Asgore scratched his beard as he thought, “Could I please speak to my ex-wife?” 

“Well, that sure does sound like something you’d be very capable of doing, your majesty~ She’s resting, shall I wake her?” Razz asked and Asgore exchanged glances with Scotch and Tyr. 

“Yes, please.”

The silence was overbearing as they waited. Blue’s soul slowly began to sink as the seconds turned to minutes, and those minutes began to double.  

“Lieutenant?” Asgore spoke finally, brows knitted. “Did I lose you? Hello?”

The continued silence on the other end was deafening as it was damning. “We’ve lost signal.”

“I don’t like this.” Scotch said immediately. “I've never heard the captain sound so…” Scotch paused.

“Cheerful?” Edge supplied.

 “Carefree. They just happened to lose signal when you asked to speak to the ambassador’s mother, something is wrong.” Scotch’s eyes met Asgore’s.

“Don’t jump to conclusions.” Tyr scoffed, “I didn't hear any screaming in the background and he sounded civil enough.”

“He didn't sound like himself!” Scotch blanched. She would know, Blue thought to himself. Razz was lieutenant of the Fell Guard but every spare moment he seemed to be at Scotch’s side, not Tyr’s. It wasn't like Blue was jealous. He wasn't. But Scotch as his queen and somehow it seemed Razz always found his way to her side.

“Maybe he is a little buzzed from the healing magic?” Tyr gave a shrug. “That jet has many capable uninjured guard members on board to protect the former queen and the human. If the Lieutenant really is a danger, I trust our other service members to take care of him. I’d hate to lose him; he’s a good soldier.” 

“Sure you would, after you just suggested his execution.” Scotch scoffed, narrowing her eyes. 

“He didn't sound like himself, which is exactly what Captain Edge reported.” Asgore mused. “We need to be ready when that plane lands; we have no idea what we are walking into and communications are down.”

Blue’s soul twisted; he didn't like this at all.

***

“Are you okay?” Edge’s gloved hand squeezed Slim’s bare one.  Slim slowly breathed in and glanced at Edge. It had been so incredibly stupid for him to speak to Tyr that way. The fact he hadn't been executed on the spot, or, at the very least sent to a cell or tortured, was jarring. Everything around him felt a little unreal. 

“Me?” Slim scoffed. “You're the one that's sick, pulled out of bed because our people were attacked and had to pander to Tyr all night.” Slim gently hip checked him. 

Edge hummed softly, eyelights scanning the horizon. The plane had been due to land fifteen minutes ago, and if and when it landed, none of them had any idea what kind of scene they would be greeted with. The sun had peaked over the horizon, the pink and orange sky was quickly fading to blue.

Would the plane land at all, or had Razz, crazed and soul bled dry, killed everyone on that plane and crashed it into the ocean? Edge grimaced at the thought. Out of all the Fell monsters Edge thought at risk of falling to their own LOVE or mental instability, Razz had never been one of them. Razz was always a cold controlled mask, loyal to a fault never a loose cannon; until now.

“Yes you. Your brother nearly died and now may be a danger to himself and others. Our people were attacked, and you were brought in despite your retirement.” Edge reminded his fiancée. 

“I’m just worried.” Slim sighed, fingers itching for a smoke, he fidgeted with a couple of gold coins in his pocket to distract himself from the gnawing anxiety. The coin danced across his phalanges as the tension in his soul eased if only a little. 

“You think it's weird they haven't found Sans or Betta yet?” Stretch butt in.

“We all know Sans is asleep at Grillby’s. It’s the general I'm concerned about.” Edge scoffed and Blue shot him a disapproving look. 

“Ya don’t think Grillbys wasn’t the first place Papyrus looked?” Red gave his brother a piercing stare. 

“Maybe he never left work.” Edge shrugged avoiding his brother's gaze. “He’s slept there before.”

“There!” Undyne yelled, silencing the small group of skeletons. She stood spear in hand and at the ready. The jet was gliding down from the clouds at the Ebott Embassy's private runway, sailing towards the troops of monsters and the watching council. Slim gave a slow breath of relief. He wasn't sure what they would find when that jet landed, but at the very least the pilot was alive. The Fell Guard and Tale Guard waited with their magic and weapons at the ready as the jet made its landing. After several moments, the door de-pressurized and opened, Second Lieutenant Dogaressa climbing out.

“Report!” Tyr immediately ordered, the council stood just off to the side of the guard, close enough to intervene, far enough to avoid attacks.

“Sir! Comms went down when we hit turbulence. We have ten- er, I mean nine injured. Lieutenant Razz has made an unexpected full recovery and has taken charge. We have the injured ready for immediate evacuation.” Dogaressa paused as Scotch directed the monster medical personnel into the plane. There was a rush of activity as Dogaressa finished her report, her words drowned out for the skeletons as the wounded were carried in gurneys off the plane. Next came Toriel and Frisk, both looking no worse for wear as Asgore engulfed them both in a very large fuzzy hug. Frisk looked delighted and Toriel annoyed, both sporting minor cuts; superficial wounds. Blue gave a small wave to Frisk, who waved back. 

The last one off the jet was Razz, his uniform and armor were all but destroyed, chestplate caved in, leather burnt black and ripped or burned clear through on his sleeves, leather pants torn in various places. His baby blue scarf was remarkably untouched and maybe the only article of clothing intact. Razz himself seemed equally untouched, though his posture and facial expressions were alarmingly relaxed for someone who was so notoriously rigid. Razz’s eyelights were a deep crimson, the same as Red’s. It took Edge aback for a moment, reminding him of what his brother could have been had he gone to the guard as a scrappy teenager instead of the gangs. A different choice, a different world.

 The lieutenant scanned the area as he departed the plane and Edge squeezed Slim’s hand before walking towards Razz. Unfortunately, Undyne had gotten to the reportedly unhinged monster first by several seconds. Razz’s carefree look broke into a frown as Undyne spoke to him, blocking his path. Edge quickened his pace, not trusting him to keep his cool.

“Lieutenant, welcome home.” Edge cleared his throat, stopping beside Undyne. “How are your injuries?” 

“I’m uninjured.” Razz crossed his arms giving Edge a piercing stare before turning his gaze back to Undyne. “Explain to me again why you’ve been ordered to take me into holding?”

“It’s just a precaution, sir,” Undyne said carefully. “You were described to be in critical condition, nearly fallen down. We can run some medical tests-”

“That won't be necessary, as I said, I’m fine . Not that this is any of your business but if you must know, I have excellent healing abilities. Where is General Betta? Does she know you are wasting precious time with this nonsense protocol that I’ve never been briefed on?” Razz demanded and Undyne blinked looking floored, her good eye meeting Edge’s eyelights in a silent plea for assistance. 

“We’ve been educated on your abilities and the effects near death may have on you. It was made clear to us that you may be unstable and dangerous while in recovery. The council has ordered for you to be placed in holding and observed until deemed not a threat.” Edge worded carefully, posture stiff, ready to defend or attack; if necessary. Razz stared at Edge blankly before a slow smile tugged at the smaller skeleton’s mandible.

“You listen to that mutt, too much.” He scoffed, voice raising, higher pitched with a thick layer of sweetness that was so foreign for Razz that it made Edge’s teeth hurt. Like a twisted version of Blue’s voice, gone sour. “That's why dogs shouldn't speak unless ordered to.” He whisper-said and Edge clenched his fists. 

“Your brother-”

“Is dramatic.” Razz deadpanned. “I’m fine. There is no need for detainment. I don't know what ridiculous little lies he’s told you, but I am quite coherent, stable, and myself. Just a little. . . on edge .” Edge blanched at the pun and Razz’s grin widened.

“Then there is no harm in detainment, is there?” Edge said firmly, hackles raised by the pun. Razz never punned. Not ever. “Undyne, do you have those magic dampening cuffs?”

“800 degrees Celsius~” Razz casually said, and Edge blinked, thoughts halting. 

“What?”

“Or 1472 degrees Fahrenheit.” Razz tapped his chin in thought as Edge and Undyne shared equally baffled looks. 

“That's the temperature bones break down, burn, and turn to ash at.” Razz fake whispered, loudly and winked. “In case you were curious. Do you know how much of me burned and crumbled to dust before I fell unconscious and rebuilt?”

Undyne’s scales yellowed slightly and Edge resisted a primal urge to step back, his soul twisting with nausea. He resisted the compulsion to look around to make sure Slim was too far to hear the terrible reality Razz just spoke. It was bad enough he could already feel Slim reaching through their soul bond, towards Edge's horror and Edge had to pull away. He’d expected Razz to behave like a Fallen. He was prepared for a monster who was murderous, crazy, hungry for dust, and incoherent. Fallen were shambling echoes of their former selves. Endlessly hungry savages hunting for LOVE and violence who had lost their identities, nothing but LOVE seeking husks.This was somehow much, much worse. Razz was coherent and he was aware . He was still, primarily, himself and it was jarring.

Doubt pulled at Edge’s mind. Was Slim being dramatic? Maybe this was just Razz at his core? Just simply Razz, too tired to mask it anymore, all facades for social expectations and etiquette melted away? 

“13 percent of me was just, woosh, ash, gone.” Razz laughed. “According to the healers at any rate. Don’t worry; I got better.” 

“Lieutenant, just listen.” Edge all but pleaded but Razz confidently strode straight past him stopping only because Undyne side-stepped face to face with him.

 “Get out of my way.”

“Sir, stand down!” Undyne pointed her spear at the skeleton and Razz’s grin twitched at the corner.

“If you try to detain me, believe me when I say after I’m done with you, I will watch with glee as whatever is left of your flesh bubbles off your charred bones~” Razz cocked his skull to the side and his eyelights scanned her over. “Assuming you have any bones in there; Fish Soup.” Razz’s shoulder smacked into Undyne’s elbow as he marched past her leaving the Tale Guard Captain looking more spooked than Edge had ever seen her. 

“Sans, Stop!”

Razz’s sockets narrowed and Edge grimaced, his eyelights snapping to his fiancée who had shortened the distance between himself and Razz by a considerable amount and who now was only a few feet away, calling to his brother. “Quit barking, Mutt. No one cares what you have to say.” Razz scoffed, continuing to march past the shaken fish captain, not even looking towards Slim.

“Lieutenant, halt!” Edge ordered. Razz came to a complete stop at that, his grin widening as he looked over his shoulder at Edge. “Come into detainment willingly. We’ll make this as simple and painless as possible. It is just a precaution.” Razz cocked his skull to the side, like a curious child. His eyelights scanned the crowd of monsters, taking in both the Tale and Fell Guard before flickering over to the council, eerily silent, until finally- 

“No.”

“As your superior I am ordering you to stand down and let yourself be taken into custody.” Edge grit his teeth.

“As my superior?” Razz echoed, brow bones rising. “Pfft. I don't take orders from dogs~” 

Edge clenched his jaw. “You leave me no choice then. As captain of the Fell Guard I am ordering your detainment. Stand down or you will be forcibly detained. ”Laughter bubbled up from Razz and unlike Red’s gruff and somewhat disturbing cackles, Razz’s laughter was soft, delicate, and filled with a childlike twisted delight.

“You Papyruses are all the same, you know.” Razz’s expression was cruel and hard, dark red magic sparking at Razz’s fingertips. “Selfish and arrogant. Do you think Red’s as disappointed in you as I am in that Mutt?” Edge felt his soul sink into the bottom of his ribcage from the force of Slim’s hurt through their bond, knocking the breath from him. He reached out, trying to push how much he loved Slim, how worthy slim was through the bond. He was not going to let Razz tear him down.

“I bet he is.” Razz’s grin widened. “I-”

“Enough!” Edge snarled, trying to taper down his own rage and failing. How dare he, how dare he? How dare he treat Slim like this!? “Undyne cuff him.” For a Sans that couldn't teleport, Razz could move remarkably fast when he wanted to; he jerked back as Undyne reached for his wrists with the first feral noise he’d made yet, a deep guttural snarl. 

“I don’t think so.” Razz hissed, venom dripping from the souring words. 

“Dammit, Lieutenant! Stand down!” Edge clenched his fists. “It doesn’t have to be like this!”

“Don’t pretend like you aren’t enjoying this.” Razz cocked his skull to the side laughing softly. “I know how much you can't stand me, this is a dream come true for you!”

“Hardly.”

“What sob story did that mongrel whine to you about this time? What self serving lies did he weave so you’d come running to be his Knight in shining armor and make a scene?” Razz stepped to the left as Undyne leapt at where he’d been, hurling past him harmlessly.

“Don't put this on him!” Edge all but summoned his weapon, his fury on his fiancée’s behalf burned through him hot as cinder. Edge ground his teeth, using his full willpower to not beat his future brother-in-law to death with whatever weapon he could summon fastest. He couldn’t deny that the imagery was pleasing. “You should have reported the full extent of your abilities and weaknesses when you joined the Fell Guard! Because of your negligence you’ve put Queen Toriel and Ambassador Frisk at risk! You are resisting direct orders and are medically compromised; Stand down for detainment Lieutenant! That’s a fucking order .”

For a microsecond it looked like Edge had gotten through to the other skeleton. Razz’s sockets widened fractionally and he froze, eyelights shrinking.

“Sans, please!” Slim called and Razz’s expression shattered into a vile sneer, his teeth glinting in the rising sun.

“You know; I was Captain of the Queen's Guard in my universe.” Razz drawled looking at some imaginary dust on his fingers and brushing it off. “But now I’m here and I'm expected to follow orders from the likes of you ?” Razz gave Edge a look of pure disgust; far worse than the one he’d given him when Slim and Edge had informed the haughty little shit of their relationship for the first time. Edge hadn’t thought Razz was capable of looking more repulsed than that incident; until now.

“That's generally how the order of rank works; Lieutenant .” Edge may have added some extra bite to his last word.

“I've already told you; I don't take orders from dogs~.” Razz kicked against the dirt beneath them, spraying earth and dust at Undyne as she circled back. She growled, rubbing the back of her fist against her good eye.

“Are you refusing to obey orders?” Edge kept his composure, save for the twitch in his left socket. “Perhaps we’ll have to add disobedience to your increasing lists of infractions? Stand. Down.” 

“No~”

What little patience Edge had left him snapped. “Then you're under arrest.” 

Razz laughed and Edge darted forward. Razz looked startled for a moment and just barely avoided Edge’s grasp, hurling himself to the side. The amusement left his face instantly.

 “Are you serious? You arrest me?” Razz laughed, crimson eyelights glinting in the early morning sun.  “Unruly dog; know your place !” Razz held out his hand, his palm facing his future brother in law turning Edge’s soul blue, ripping him up from the ground like a rag doll before slamming him back down into the ground, up again, and back down, - 20 HP, -40 HP, -60 HP, gone.

Before Edge could even catch his bearings from the mistreatment Razz summoned a barrage of red bone constructs, small but with sharpened edges, and they all with a flick of his wrist pelted into the taller skeleton monster. Edge was caught entirely off guard, the slew of sharpened knife-like bones ripping through the fabric of his clothing and pelting his armor, he could feel his HP spiraling downwards and it hurt . Had he been a tale monster, he’d already be dead. As captain of the Fell Guard, he was more than a little sore and very pissed off.

 With a snarl, Edge fought the weight against his soul, willing Razz’s magic away from him and shattering the blue hold Razz had on him. Razz merely grinned.

“Captain! Look out!” Undyne hollered and Edge turned sharply. Three serrated sharp knife-like bones hurled at him slicing at his exposed radius and spine. Edge grit his teeth, pain sparking from the wounds and beads of marrow blooming from the shallow cuts. He felt Slim’s soul recoil in horror through their bond and pushed it to the back of his mind. He couldn’t deal with both brothers at once.

“I guess we’re doing this the hard way!” Undyne charged forward with her spear, sending a wave of spear attacks at Razz.

Edge was taken aback as Razz didn't even try to dodge. He'd fought with the lieutenant in sparring and side by side in battle to know Razz was strategic, methodical and he always dodged. Now, he stood still and took every last hit, his grin sharper. As the blue spears dispersed, marrow dripped from Razz’s new puncture wounds, the skeleton looking entirely unaffected, grin twitching upward and for the first time Edge could see a resemblance between Razz and Red.

Red covered in dust, grin wide as possible, one eyelight out the other bulging and glowing red, cracks splintering down his skull. 

“How pathetic. You call that an attack? Hit me. ” Razz scoffed, shaking Edge from the memory. That's where the similarities shattered. Edge went to take his turn but Razz cheated, skipped Edge’s turn entirely, sending a wave of bones at Undyne which she tried to smack away with a spear. Edge ran forward, cuffs in hand and dodged left as a series of Razz’s sharpened bones erupted from the ground, several striking and gouging at his HP as he attempted to get to the deranged skeleton through the maze of stabbing bones. 

***

Slim watched anxiously; every emotion Edge felt; shock, rage, surprise, unease, disturbed, they all hit Slim like a punch in the ribcage as his fiancée had tried to be as civil as possible with his brother. Razz really wasn't making it easy on him either. Toriel and Frisk had been rushed away, and the fighting monsters had been given a wide berth by the guard who watched the battle as still as statues. The council watched Undyne and Edge battle Razz quietly. Asgore and Scotch looked equally worried, and Tyr was ever eager sporting a look of excitement. 

“Why isn't anyone else helping?” Stretch demanded, white eyelights tiny and wavering within his sockets. Blue gripped his brother’s arm, looking up at him with worry. Stretch took a deep breath before giving Blue a reassuring half smile. Red stood next to them with no expression. If Stretch looked worried, Red looked calculating. Red’s eyelights were trained on Edge and the battle with all the intensity of a cat watching a mouse.

“Boss aint ordered it yet.” Red’s answer to Stretch’s question just barely carried over to Slim who could just still hear Red, Blue, and Stretch as he made his way closer to the battle to try and reason with his brother. Slim winced as Undyne and Edge were pelted with another wave of Razz’s sharpened bone constructs. 

“He won't.” Slim said to himself. Edge would never order assistance from the guard or ask the council for aid, Edge wouldn’t want to put anyone at risk. Most of the Tale Guard were ill-prepared for a battle with a Fell monster the likes of Razz. The Fell Guard could accidentally dust Razz in the process, and if the council themselves got involved, Razz’s life was surely forfeit. His baby was playing it safe, trying to keep Razz unharmed, but it wasn’t enough, not nearly and Slim was worried the council would step in sooner rather than later. Edge and Undyne both were aiming to capture; not kill or harm, and Razz was toying with them.

“Are you even trying?~ This is sad. If I don't kill you, maybe I'll give you both some training.” Razz hummed as one of Edge’s bone attacks sliced his cheekbone drawing a line of red. Razz ran his finger over the cut, gazing at the drop of marrow he’d collected on his fingertip before licking it, his socket’s meeting Edge’s. Slim groaned, feeling a wave of disgust from Edge’s soul.  

“No, that’s the point! We don't want to hurt you, sir! Stand down!” Undyne yelled and Razz chuckled, crimson eyelights hazed. 

“Maybe you don’t want to hurt me, but Edge has wanted this for years. Isn't that right, Dog?” Razz flicked his wrist, summoning his weapon; a whip made of his magic with a white bone hilt, the whip glowing the same dark red as Razz’s eyelights. “You’ve been waiting for an excuse to come at me since I entered this miserable little universe.”

“Not at all.” Edge dodged another wave of bones. “I’m just following protocol.”

“No, you’re all up in arms about whatever sob story that trash mongrel fed to you this time.” Razz scoffed and Edge grit his teeth. 

“Stop calling him that! He’s your brother not a dog -”

“You’re just like him.” Razz jerked forward and Edge scrambled back just barely dodging a stinging lash of the glowing whip. His fists clenched and he summoned a wave of bone attacks trying to create space between him and Razz. Razz let them all hit, continuing to advance towards Edge, confident and unbothered, on the edge of controlled coldness and complete insanity.

“Stand down, Lieutenant, this is your last warning!” 

“Loud, undisciplined, weak! You’ve convinced each other you’re both all bark and no bite but I know he bites; do you? ~” 

Edge danced backwards as Razz’s whip cracked towards him. “S c r e a m   f o r   m e!”

Edge dodged as Razz attempted to strike again and again, Edge’s frustration and rage had reached boiling point as he dodged another strike of the whip only to be smacked to the ground by several bone constructs that had been manifested behind him. If Razz was going to play dirty, Edge was too. Edge growled rolling to his feet before he sent his own wave of blue and red bone constructs, cursing as Razz did nothing to shield himself, took them head on, his HP spiraling further and further down and he didn't seem to care one bit.

“Take another step and you’ll find out if I bite.” Edge warned.

Razz gave Edge a delighted look before stepping forward, raising a singular brow bone at Edge in challenge.

“Enough!” Slim yelled, entering the battle, standing in front of Edge, back to him and facing the lieutenant; a barrier between his lover and his brother. 

Razz grinned at him and Slim swallowed hard before meeting his brother’s eyelights. “Enough, come on, bro, stop. Please?”

“Please? Is that the best you can do?” Razz sighed, looking unimpressed, “For a mangy mutt you sure aren’t good at begging.”

“Just let them take you into custody; it won't be too long and then you can go home and recover.” Slim continued, ignoring his brother’s jabs. Razz rolled his eyelights at Slim’s pleading expression.

“Slim! I can handle this.” Edge said, his soul twisting. Both brothers looked at him, Slim his golden eyelights full of pain and worry and Razz’s crimson looking mean and hungry. 

“Hey, Psst, Edge. Lesson time. This is what I call a teachable moment.” Razz whisper-yelled to him and winked, causing Edge’s frown to deepen. “Did you know that a kicked dog will always fear the boot?~” Razz’s voice dripped with black honey.

“What?” Edge blinked, uncertain if he’d lost his mind or if Razz had. Razz’s degradation of the both of them was hard to follow when he wasn’t deranged, nevermind now.

Razz rolled his eyelights at Edge’s bafflement. He scoffed and cracked his whip at Slim, missing his brother by a hair. The whip shrieked loudly against the air and Slim went entirely rigid, his eyelights going out and Edge felt an overwhelming surge of cold blind panic flood his system from the soul bond. Edge cursed as Slim’s fear overwhelmed his own system. Horror, disbelief, nausea, fear, fear, fear, f e a r. Not his fear; Slim’s. His own fear he could handle, but this? Slim’s fear was potent and crippling, coursing through his bones like white lightning. Edge grit his teeth realizing his own hands were shaking.

Edge failed to ignore the rush of his lover's emotions bombarding his own soul, sweat beading at his brow. He couldn’t keep composure like this. He needed Slim away, far away before he showed weakness in front of Tyr, Razz, or the Fell Guard. He had to make Slim get out, go, leave. But as Slim’s bones began to rattle, his knees looking like they would buckle Edge’s composure shattered. He ran forward and pulled Slim against him, into his arms.

“Slim? Baby? Hey! Hey!!!” Slim wasn’t moving, he wasn’t talking, he seemed completely unresponsive, pure fear and hurt were pulsing from his soul through their connection, making Edge feel dizzy and panicked. Did you know that a kicked dog will always fear the boot? Ice gripped Edge’s soul squeezing tightly and he looked up to glare at Razz who was smirking smugly.

“What did you do -”

“YEARGH!” Undyne barreled forward, slamming her entire body into Razz's, knocking him to the ground and silencing Edge’s question instantly. Edge turned his attention back to his fiancee, gently rocking him in his arms. This was bad. Really bad.

 Every Fell monster watching now knew that the easiest way to get to Edge was through Slim. While he was captain of the Fell Guard it didn't mean he didn’t have enemies within them. Razz might as well have signed both their death warrants. He could already see the hungry looks in the common soldiers, seeing weakness on full display and weighing whether it’d be worth killing Edge for his position. A voice in the back of Edge’s mind told him to calm down. Told him he wasn’t in Underfell anymore. The Fell Guard were loyal not fearful, Fell monsters didn’t attack their own anymore and those that did faced justice, Asgore outlawed monster on monster violence. 

Still, his instincts screamed otherwise. 

“Hey, it's okay.” Edge said, words trembling from the strain of trying to prevent Slim’s rushing emotions from overwhelming his own and failing, blind fear pounding through his bones. “I’ve got you. I’m right h-here.” 

Razz and Undyne rolled, grappling each other as Edge did his best to keep Slim together and not fall apart himself; his own rage and Slim’s panic drowning him. 

Undyne and Razz were a chaotic scrapple of bone attacks and spears. The guard appeared restless, soldiers looking to Edge and Undyne for orders to step in; but no orders came.

Razz gained the advantage, cracking the fish monster across the face with his whip. Undyne yowled and backpedaled, blue hands instinctively palming her injury and Razz rushed forward killing intent pulsing from him like a beacon.

“ I‘m going to flay you alive~”

“SANS, STOP!” Scotch shrieked, having moved from Asgore and Tyr to the side of the battle, visible, and Razz came to a complete halt, eyelights going out, his killing intent extinguished into nothing in an instant when faced with the mirror of his own queen.Undyne bolted forward, not missing her opportunity, wrenching Razz’s arms behind his back and cuffing him with the magic dampening handcuffs.

Razz screamed like he was being murdered, flailing and thrashing like a wild animal. “How dare you! Get your filthy hands off me!” Whatever spell Scotch’s words had put Razz under shattered and he twisted and fought against Undyne with the desperation of a wild animal. “I’ll fucking skewer your other eye you scaly bitch!”

“Take him to containment room B!” Edge snarled, snapping his fingers at the closest guards who were quick to offer their aid now that they’d been prompted to. Edge held Slim against himself as guards manhandled Razz into the Monster castle. 

“Come on- just- lets go home, let's go home.” Edge whispered to Slim, his own LOVE beginning to churn from the battle and flood of fear from his soul bond. Slim clung to him tightly, the world disappeared around them and then they were home, finally free to hold each other and fall apart.

***

Edge wasn’t sure how long they clung to each other on the couch in silence, trying to hold the parts of each other together.  At some point Slim’s eyelights came back and he nuzzled against Edge’s chest as Edge gently stroked the back of his skull. Slim didn't say anything for a long time, sockets closed, clinging to Edge like a lifeline.

“Are you okay?” Edge asked, voice rough from his illness, throat scratchy. He as sore from more than just his battle with Razz. 

“No, but I'm getting there.” Slim gave him a half smile. “Are you?”

“Yeah.” Edge said and he gently traced his fingertips along Slim's jaw.

“Liar.” Slim nuzzled closer. “You know I can feel your emotions.”

Edge sighed. Yes. He hadn't thought about that, while fighting Slim's brother. So worried about Slim's feelings, he hadn't thought how his own emotions may have leaked through their bond, his rage towards Razz raw and unfiltered. He hadn't met to let Slim feel that from him.

“He pissed me off.” Edge admitted. “I hate when he treats you like that. He degrades you! Calls you dog and mutt. I cant stand when he does it!” 

“I know.” Slim said into Edge’s chest. “You can't take what he said to heart, when he’s like that. He wasn't himself. He's a jerk, but not that much.” 

Edge’s soul rolled his LOVE spiking within him, telling him that Razz knew better, Razz had been his normal self, that Razz knew exactly what he was doing, exactly what to say and do to hurt Slim the most! He hissed feeling the LOVE roil within his soul and sighed out a small noise of relief as Slim squeezed his hand, sending feelings; love, support, gratefulness, awe. Edge swallowed hard, Slim's love and light too bright for him when he was this heavy with rage.

Razz said degrading insults like hie did today frequently, he was just unmasked and raw this time. Edge was convinced that was the only difference. He'd seen beneath the mask, and it was so much worse than he had ever imagined. 

“Red has the rage trait too, you know.” Edge said, swallowing hard. 

“Ya try that shit again and i’ll break yer arm, Paps.”

“Liar.”

“Get the fuck back in the house ya little shit- I said- ah fuck...just be back by eleven."

Edge pushed the memory away. 

“Rage, that's the trait Razz has, when his persistence runs out, right? It’s no excuse for the way he is. Red never acted like that. He was an asshole but he was all bark, no bite. He never turned it physically at me, not ever.”

Slim finally looked up at him, golden compassionate eyes unwavering. “I know my brother seemed like he was in control. I know he seemed just a little worse than usual, but it was a lot worse. He’s done stuff in that state he never would do, you don't have to trust him, just trust me.” 

Edge sighed, closing his sockets. “Did he hurt you, Slim? I mean more than his verbal abuse. Has he physically hurt you? Does he hurt you when… when he’s like ….that?” Edge swallowed hard, his LOVE rolling through his soul. 

Slim’s eyelights shrank to pinpricks and rage flooded Edge, straight from his soul and into Slim’s. Slim looked taken aback as he felt his fiancee’s rage and swallowed hard, memories flooding in. Did his brother hurt him? Well, it was complicated. 

“I’m sorry.” Slim whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“Are you?” Razz hummed, picking up another vial and smashing it against the ground, glass and magic spattered against the floor. 

“Well hello so sorry, I'm Sans.” Razz grinned wide and Slim blanched, completely taken aback by the twist in his brother’s humor. “It's a beautiful day outside. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming. On days like this, skeleton’s like me. . . are going to make you cry for the mercy of hell. ” 

Slim’s soul twisted and he stared at his younger brother wordlessly. Razz had always been well controlled, meticulous, and professional even before the massacres, before Undyne corrupted his soul.

 Even after the changes, even when his eyes shifted from blue to magenta, he was still controlled, mean as a snake, but controlled. This? Slim didn't know what to expect from this. His brother had maimed Undyne and thrown his own mana in Slim’s face, in his mouth. Would his brother attack him? Torture him? Was Razz even in there anymore?

There was also a part of Slim that knew he deserved whatever his brother was going to dish out. He’d let the queen turn his brother’s magic into a drug. Sell it. Get monsters addicted to it. Slim was addicted to it. He was terrible, awful, he ought to be bleeding out on the floor next to Undyne.

Razz’s boot crunched on broken glass as he stepped forward. Slim shook his skull in horror. Whatever his brother was about to do, he deserved it. He knew he did. He was addicted to his baby brother’s magic. He was awful, he was disgusting he was- 

“You're not worth my ire.” Razz whispered softly, mockingly, inches from Slim’s face, before slamming his shoulder into Slim's hip, marching past Slim and to the lab doors. He paused and looked over his shoulder at him. “There’s a surprise for you in our shed; you should go take a look~ and stay far away from me. I’m going to go pay Alphys a visit.” Razz gave Undyne’s body one last kick, and he left Slim to pick up her pieces.

“No, babe.” Slim said, squeezing Edge tight. “He’s never-" Slim backtracked. " he’s never physically attacked me when like that.” Slim said and Edge’s eyes narrowed, catching the loophole.

“What did he mean then? When he said that thing about the kicked dog? You shut down and you were so afraid, it was like I couldn't reach you through our bond.” Edge’s features fell. “Don't lie to me.”

 Slim grimaced. He wasn't lying, it was just more complicated than it should be.

“We’re Fell. There are things we both had to do to survive.” Slim’s golden eyelights slowly raised to meet Edge’s warm red. “We both did horrible things at the order of the Mad Queen even to each other, so long as it kept the other alive.” He knew Razz had hurt him. A lot. He wasn't going to suggest Razz wasn't capable of it, but he certainly never enjoyed it. Razz enjoyed what he did to Edge and Undyne today. If he could just get Edge to see the difference. 

Edge exhaled soul twisting. He himself knew what it was like to have to pander to an insane cruel dictator, but still, whatever Razz was alluding to and Slim’s fear, Edge never wanted Slim to feel that way ever again. He wasn’t sure what Razz had done to Slim but Edge wasn’t an idiot. It obviously involved a whip. 

 Slim had no scars though. Edge knew his baby very well, every knick, every blotch, every blemish and every scar. What was he missing? He looked into Slim's eyelights, holding his fiancée tighter.

“Are you okay?” Slim gently pressed his forehead against Edge’s. “You've got to be wiped, and we should get some more medicine into you. Then I’d like us both to sleep for days.” 

“Don't think I didn't notice the subject change.” Edge scoffed but he let him. Too tired and raw to push further. For now. He couldn’t help but feel like he has missing something big.

***

Sixteen hours earlier aka 4pm, yesterday.

***

“What kind of shitty verse is this?” Betta grimaced, tapping her claw against the frozen dusty bottle of barbecue sauce. They were standing in the middle of a snowstorm, snow whipping all around them and the wind howling.

“A Fellverse.” Sans’s grin widened as the fish monster turned to glare at him. “A swapfell one.” 

Sans was nearly positive this was not the correct verse. but the barbecue sauces had him invested. The thing about the infinite multiverse is. . . that its infinite. He’d spent years now trying to find Razz and Slim’s home. The odds of this one being it, just as last time, were not 0 but closer to 0 than 1 percent.

“I know. That's why you made me come with you.” Betta rolled her golden eye. “No one’s been here for a long time.” Betta gestured at the broken sentry station, the empty dusty bottles of barbecue sauce, and the silent path leading towards this world’s version of Snowden forest. Silent, cold, and air thick. Not even sounds of animals, just a heavy unnerving quiet. 

“Tell me again why it was so important we go this afternoon?” The fellverse version of Undyne demanded. 

“Honestly?” Sans shrugged. “I wanted to get one more done today and Slim was busy and I’m not supposed to go to fellverses myself. Maybe it wasn’t so much as important as I’m impatient.” Sans grinned and Betta scowled in response. She looked remarkably like his own Undyne. Same laugh lines, same frown line, same knit in her eyebrows that she saved specifically for when she was annoyed by his truly. 

“You’re so-” Betta froze, pupils shrinking. 

“I’m so what?"

“Shh!” Betta barrel rolled on top of Sans, manhandling the smaller monster behind the splintered sentry station, keeping them both low and out of sight. Her eye narrowed and she looked at Sans sternly before removing her palm from his mouth. Sans knew better than to question. Not a moment later, Sans heard it, the sound of snow crunching beneath rapid footfalls.

A small formation of monsters appeared over the hill, patrolling the path up to the ruins, up to Sans, Betta, and the broken sentry station. A familiar echo of underswap Alphys led the patrol, a yellow beacon up at the front in black armor, complete with missing one eye. She matched Slim’s description of his own Alphys, though giant yellow one eyed lizard may not be a universal rarity.  

The squad got uncomfortably close to them, stopping just a few feet in front of the ruins. Alphys’s eye scanned the area, she clenched her fists, her eye was a deep red, her claws black, matching the color of the eye patch. 

“SANS!” this strange new universe’s Alphys bellowed. Sans waited a moment to see if some swapped felled version of him would come out of the woods. No such luck. 

“I know you're out here! Undyne saw you on the cameras! Come out you coward and face me!” Alphys roared. Sans wasn’t able to see all that much with Betta practically pinning him beneath her, but, on closer inspection, that wasn’t royal guard regalia. The symbol on Alphys chestplate wasn’t the Deltarune but a fist on fire. Rebels. Just like Slim’s world. San’s soul flipped in chest. Maybe, just maybe...

“Hiding? Pathetic!” Alphys roared. “Face me you coward!” Alphys materialized a battle axe still glowing yellow from her magic she swung said axe and it thunked hard against the sentry station they were hiding behind. Sans was thankful for small mercys when the axe disintegrated and what was left of the station didn’t crumble. 

"Undyne said you looked chunky on camera. So, you faked your death and are living in luxury, getting fat while we all starve…”

Sans blinked and huffed. He shortcut out of Betta’s grasp, onto the road, across from the foreign distant cry from his own royal scientist and the army of rebel monsters behind her.

“Hey. Names Sans. Sans the skeleton.”

Chapter Text

The day was comically calm after such an eventful night and in Slim’s opinion, few days. Oh, last night was terrible, to be sure. He absolutely hated seeing his brother like that and it shook him to his core that humans would attack the monster queen and ambassador like that. Not to mention the loss of monster life. While monsters dusting was a daily occurrence in his home verse, it wasn’t so common here even with Edge’s verse’s arrival. 

But Slim hadn’t forgotten his recent bout with cravings, or Edge’s ‘not so little cold’ which was lingering longer than Edge would admit and the hacking cough seemingly was going nowhere. They’d both been through it lately, before the tragedy of yesterday. Edge still wasn’t 100 percent and it was Slim’s mission to make things easier on him. Somehow.

“So we officially have the day off?” Slim said to Edge who had been giving him a recount of the phone call he’d received from- well Slim wasn’t entirely sure who. Somehow he couldn't picture Tyr casually calling Edge to let him know his orders. Perhaps it was some clerical worker who was instructed by the council? Yes, that seemed probable. 

“We do.” Edge sighed in relief. Or at least that's what Slim interpreted it as. Edge would never admit to it though. 

“Thank fuck.” Slim collapsed into an armchair, eyelights darting away from the still lobotomized sofa. Edge was not going to let him get away with not putting the living room back together for much longer. Frankly, he was starting to wonder if that cold had infected Edge’s brain. Normally Edge wouldn’t tolerate Slim’s disasters for more than a day before demanding the innards of whatever machine was strewn around be re-assembled and put back together. He put the back of his hand to Edge’s forehead which was as cool as it ever was. His fiancee raised a single browbone at him. 

“I’m fine.” Edge deadpanned.

“Yes, yes I know how big and strong and scary you are.” Slim stuck his tongue out. “But you're still sick.”

“We have bigger problems.”

“Not today.” Slim grabbed his fiancée by the hips and pulled him down into the armchair with him, straight into his lap. He grinned at Edge, wiggling his browbones and Edge snorted, rolling his eyelight at his fiancée’s antics. 

Such a move even a year ago would have sent Edge scurrying away like an overstimulated cat, cheekbones flushed that pretty little red and eyelights guttering out like Slim had done some vulgar act. Slim grinned. Okay maybe it was a little vulgar. 

 Edge’s toleration of Slim’s bullshit was growing exponentially. Slim hummed, considering running a few tests, but the last time he’d treated their relationship like a science experiment he’d gotten a beaker full of saline water dumped over his head. 

He’d simply been curious if Edge’s reactions in bed were more or less excited depending on what Slim was wearing or lack there of- the beaker had just been for aesthetics really. 

“I don't want to get you sick.” Edge sighed, already looking defeated despite his lack of attempts at escape. 

“Love, im a filthy mutt, you can't give me a disease I already probably rolled in.” Slim winked but Edge frowned. 

“Don’t call yourself that.” He gently cupped Slim’s cheekbone. 

“Huh?” Slim blushed as Edge leaned forward, pressing his teeth against Slim’s in a skeleton kiss.

“Don’t self-deprecate. I really like you, you know it upsets me when you talk down about my fiancée.” 

“I hope you more than like your fiancée sir.” Slim said teasingly against Edge before running his wicked tongue up along Edge’s jawline. He gripped tightly to Edge as if he might disappear. Sometimes, he wondered if he had long ago lost it and was in some insane asylum or in a cell on the floor rocking back and forth and raving incomprehensibly. That seemed more plausible than the warrior before him letting him hold him. This wonderful, hilarious, if somewhat uptight skeleton couldn’t be in love with someone like him. Slim didn’t deserve such conviction, loyalty,love,and passion from Edge; not a bit of it. Stars knew he was too selfish to let him leave though. Sometimes he really wondered if any of this was real. It felt real.

“It depends on the day.” Edge’s eyelights were full of teasing mirth. “But no matter how much I like him I-...I love him.” Edge’s voice cracked slightly, on the L word. It was a hard word for both of them, but they were getting better at it. Saying it with less hesitancy. Loving as a fell monster almost always ended in disaster. At least in Slim’s world. Edge had described Underfell much the same. A lover was a walking talking weakness for anyone to take advantage of. Still, this verse was safer, and they could be free to love each other as openly as they pleased. 

“Good. He really loves you too.” He kissed Edge more desperately, trembling slightly, fingers scanning Edge’s bones, as if writing him to memory, every divot, every blemish memorizing it just as hungrily as the pristine. 

Slim shuddered. What if this was all a fever dream, or what if that fucking kid reset- and boy Frisk really could have reset yesterday couldn’t they have? Especially if they had- 

“Hey.” Edge brushed Slim’s cheekbone with his thumb, crimson eyelights meeting gold. “Whats wrong?”

Slim could lie but Edge would see right through it.

“I know its-its dumb. I feel like I almost lost you.” Like I still could lose you . Edge’s expression flipped from shocked to increasingly appalled.

“What? Do you really think your brother could hold a candle to be in combat- I’m *fine* Slim-”

“No, not that.” Slim rolled his eyelights. Though, he really hoped to never watch Edge and Razz fight ever again. Every swing had been nervewracking, Edge had been holding back but Razz had been aiming to hurt - and had. Despite how fine Edge had claimed to be, it was Slim who had helped bind his ribs last night and finally demand they get a healer once he found a break in the captain’s ribs. Edge was so stubborn sometimes and had been downright rude to the poor Woshua that had come so early in the morning to heal him at Slim’s pleading request. Their doctor didn’t mind making house calls but they lived in the fell side of Ebott so Edge and Slim tried to never need such services. 

“Frisk. They could have reset if they - and who knows when they last saved.” Slim swallowed. At a child’s whim, or worse, a child’s death, Slim would be careened back to his verse. Edge would awaken back at his. Hell, Edge might not even *remember* Slim should that happen. Slim would. He always remembered the resets. It wasn’t a secret amongst the skeleton group that Frisk could not SAVE any longer. They’d told Sans, who shared with all of them as well as the council.Overall, monsterkind had no idea, but,if Frisk died, he’d wake up underground and Edge? They’d both be In separate universes. 

“Hey.” Edge pressed his forehead against his. “It didn’t happen. I’m not saying it will never happen, it's a risk everyday. It hasn’t happened in three years. It hasn’t happened yet. If it does, I will tear apart every universe until I find you.” 

Slim laughed, soul swelling, kissing Edge hard. He had no doubt he would, if he remembered Slim, that was.  

“Frisk promised they wouldn't reset, wouldn't reload. If they die, they will make sure they reach the surface again, and we’ll reach each other, no matter what it takes.” Edge promised, eyelights locked with Slim. “You’re stuck with me.” 

***
Swapfell A day and a half ago
***

The air was thick as Alphys stared at Sans and Sans stared right back at the lizard warrior. She was bigger than any of the previous Alphys he'd met, but she was nearly identical to Alpha, Underswap’s Alphys, save for the scars under her missing eye and the slightly deranged expression and the extra head of height. Her armor was blackened, with bits of silver metal peeking through and the deltarune symbol upside down. The rebel group of monsters behind said lizard didn’t move. Some reacted, frowning at Sans, whispering amongst themselves, some looked entirely bored. None moved to attack. He’d been to his share of Fellverses, they’d never held back before and it caught him off guard.

He and Slim had been pushed into a fight many times before, and Sans wouldn’t hold back, he’d learned quickly they wouldn’t. 

 He raised a single browbone as nothing happened, the silence heavy. They clearly had been expecting someone more. . . like Razz, hadn’t they?

"Who the fuck are you?” Finally, Alphys spoke, voice strangled and blunt.  “You- you’re * not * Sans!”

“I’m a Sans-”

“Dammit Sans!” Betta stood from her hiding spot at the sentry station,her red pony tail whipping in the wind as she advanced forward,  scowling at him. “I thought you and Slim did these things covertly!”

“There’s not much we can do covertly if we don’t wanna be a pile of dust, Bait.” Sans shrugged and Betta’s one eye twitched. 

Alphys stared incredulously at Betta, then Sans, then Betta again, eyes comically bulging as a soft creaking came from the axe she was squeezing. “Undyne-You- I- Wha!?” Alphys’s fists trembled as she looked completely baffled at the alternates as Underfell’s Undyne and Sans softly bickered. 

“Let's get out of here, the locals don’t look friendly.” Betta sneered at Alphys and stood next to Sans. If they attacked him, they’d have to answer to *her* . 

“I don’t know what the hell is going on but you’re coming with me.” Alpjhys turned to a white rabbit monster, one who ran an inn in San’s version of Snowdin. This version of her had near black eyes and gray scars and wounds matting her darkening fur. 

“Bonnie, I need the cameras taken out.”

Sans didn’t like *that* in the least. “We need to get to the true lab without the queen….” Alphys continued to speak but Sans heard white noise, a high pitch whirring in his skull.

T R U E   L A B.

“Y’know what, yeah, let's go.” Sans said under his breath to Betta as Alphys barked out orders to the unit of guards or rebels, Sans wasn’t entirely sure. 

“If she sees him- if anyone sees him and thinks-” Alphys’s words came to a stop as the ground beneath them quaked, shadowlike hands sprouting from the snow beneath them, gripping at their legs.

Sans shortcut backwards as hard but shadowy looking black fingers gripped his sneakers; he panted looking around for the source of the attack as Betta hurled her spears at the multiple shadow hands tugging at her greaves and boots. Alphys and her lot were just as unprepared for the surprise attack, several guards being pulled beneath the snow, screaming as they vanished.

“Fuck, scatter!” Alphys roared kicking and stomping at black slithery hands that reached for her and her charges.  “This isn’t over!” Alphys pointed her axe at Betta and Sans, and Betta hurled a spear that smacked into Alphys’s shield as harmless as a stick. Alphys raised a single eyebrow at that before kicking another set of slithery black hands that rose from the snow and barreling in the opposite direction. She paused to look over her shoulder.

“Don’t let anyone see your face, Sans. The real Sans has a lot of enemies and I’d hate for you to dust before Undyne interrogates you.”

Before Sans could answer he screamed, hands gripping his ankles and pulling him beneath the snow, down, down, descending past the snow, into the earth, into a small tunnel deep, dark, black as night. He felt himself being released and stumbled, hand pressing against hard rock. He summoned a blue bone construct, the light emitting from it giving him a small view of the cavern he found himself in. Two green eyes stared at him from the darkness perplexed and more than a little angry.

“You’re not Sans.”

***

“I don’t see why we have to be there.” Slim slammed the footrest of the couch back into position, a screwdriver in between his teeth as he fit a coil back into the exposed innards of the television in his lap. Edge sipped a cup of black tea watching as Slim attempted to restore the living room to its prior condition. He quietly wished Slim wouldn't insist on restoring the couch and television *at the same time*. 

Their peaceful day had come and gone. They’d been spared a mere 24-hour break before both receiving a summons to return to the embassy at the start of the evening. They really ought to leave in the next few minutes but Slim was damned if he wasn’t going to finish soldering the god damn lever mechanism. 

“Well, it's a delicate situation, there’s been a serious attack on monster kind, the council has been meeting with various human leaders from all over Europe, Asia, the Americas.  and. . . your brother might be ready to be released. I haven't been briefed or updated and you know that’s not typical.” Edge tried, he really did, to keep the sour note from his tone when speaking about Razz. 

Slim exhaled slowly, glancing at the clock and putting the tv - and all its wires and innards - to the side and he stood up dusting himself off. Edge glanced at his phone, frowning at the group chat.

Blue: Stretch and Red have a summons to the castle tonight at seven.

Slim: us too

Papyrus: Is it about Sans? He still hasn’t come home. Please, please let me know if they have any news!

Blue: He still hasn't come home!? That lazy bones! The last time this happened he’d slept at Grillby’s for three days after a bender - you remember?

Papyrus: yes. I remember. He’s not there though. I’m really starting to get worried.

Blue: 🙁

Stretch: I’m sure he’ll come home soon, he always does. 

Red: ima find the fucker

Papyrus: I’d appreciate that Red, but do you have to be so crude? 

Edge grit his teeth. It wasn’t unusual for classic to overdo it at the bar and spend a day or two, even three recovering on Grillby’s couch or in Edge’s personal conspiracy theory, in his bed. Still, he personally knew General Betta had not reported to duty and was deemed Missing In Action and the two just happened to both be unaccounted for since before The queen, Frisk, and Razz had arrived home.  Edge clenched and unclenched his fists. Something was off. 

“Ready?” Slim gently squeezed his shoulder. 

“Edge nodded and Slim shifted them through a shortcut, the two appearing just outside the entrance to the monster Embassy in the heart of Ebott City. Stretch and Red were already there, Red having no expression and Stretch looking just as unsettled as Slim felt. Stretch lit and unlit his lighter, chewing on an unlit cig.

Edge grimaced slightly, the shortcut making him somewhat queasy but he schooled his features quickly and tossed Stretch a judgemental stare as Blue had not been summoned and could not be here to scold his older brother and his unhealthy habits. Not that Edge really had any room to judge but he’d keep that to himself.

“Do we have any idea what we are walking into?” Stretch scratched the back of his skull, his white eyelights darting from Red to Blue to Edge and then Slim. The day before yesterday had been more than a little stressful for the skeleton, between Red’s mood and witnessing Blue’s alternate beating the shit out of Edge and Undyne, he had enough of the palace and the embassy for a month. 

“Nothing good.” Red grunted, shoving his hands in his pockets. 

“I’m sure it's to brief on any news regarding Rome and perhaps release Razz.” Edge said, trying not to show how foul Razz’s name tasted on his tongue. 

“Nah, that ain't it.” Red disagreed but he didn't say anything else, merely running his ecto tongue along his sharp teeth. 

“Let's just get it over with.” Stretch sighed. “Then maybe we can figure out where Sans might be holed up and get him home? Papyrus is really worried about him.”

“He really needs to stop putting his brother through this.” Edge crossed his arms, anger at Razz shifting towards Sans. Red’s eyes darted away from them all. There’d been many a bender where Red had gone and disappeared for days or even a week, sleeping off his boozing in dark alleyways and caverns in Waterfall, long before Edge became captain of the royal guard in their own verse, this had been a major problem, but, Red had broken that habit. Or perhaps Edge had a hand in that. Sans, it seemed, never got past their shared little problem.

Red stared at Edge hard, catching Edge’s gaze and Edge raised a single brow bone at him. Red scoffed and glanced away. Checking up on him. Absurd. Why would Red be checking on Edge? Edge was fine .

“Let's go.” Stretch motioned for them to enter and reluctantly the four skeletons made their way into the palace and to the throne room past the judgement hall. 

There waiting were the three council members already arguing and a few select guards silently watching the chaotic mess that was their monarchy. “Thank you all for coming in so soon.” Asgore gave them a fatherly smile that Edge scowled at in return. Red didn’t so much as blink and Stretch coughed awkwardly.

“...Yes, well. We have an update on Sans and General Betta. Dogaressa and Dogamy found evidence of Betta’s scent and coffee mug in the central lab.” Asgore paused and scratched the back of his head, glancing up at his own horns. “Well, we believe Sans and the general used the machine to explore another world. It is worrying that they have not returned yet. We would like to grant one of you to go with a Fell guard escort to search for them.”

Edge crossed his arms trying to work out why Betta would entertain Sans’s shenanigans while Slim’s sockets went out. They would have to be sure to update poor Papyrus on his brother's status. Unfortunately it seemed this was far worse than Sans being on a bender.

“What…wait, do we know what the name of the universe they are is? It’d have been displayed on the machine’s screen. Sans and I had been looking at one that is really dangerous. . . um.” Slim fell quiet seeing that everyone was looking at him and his soul pounded in his ribcage painfully. Edge gently gripped his hand. 

“T-The verse’s name translated to ‘Swapfell’.” Alphys stuttered standing next to her Fellverse counterpart Hydra. Underswap Undyne, Tetra, was with them as well. It seemed the council had been in discussion with the scientists long before they decided to involve Slim, Stretch, and the other skeletons.

Slim had no reaction, none whatsoever before a strangled laugh reverberated out of him stabbing Edge right in the soul. He’d heard a sound similar to that * once * before and that had been when Red had pulled a knife out of Edge’s socket. That’d been a really unlucky day. 

“Slim?” He said gently, resisting the urge to squeeze Slim’s hand. He would not show Tyr how much Slim meant to him, at least not more than he already revealed. He could feel Slim’s soul shrinking, pain, fear, and disbelief bombarding Edge through their bond and it took everything he had in him not to wrap his arms around Slim and demand they shortcut home. 

“...Slim is that the name of your verse?”

“I didn't exactly look at my verse’s name when I ran from it.” Slim released a strangled giggle. “It-it was Swap something. Sans and I were looking at the specs for this verse the other day. I told him not to go alone and that I couldn't do it until this upcoming week.”

“Seems he didn’t.” Scotch said with a worried frown. “He and Betta are both missing. Slim, you’ve been working closely with Sans on his projects. If this is your verse, you know how to traverse it easily. We need you to get the General and Sans back. Please pick someone to go with you-”

“Absolutely not!” Edge covered his mouth like a child caught swearing as the words left him and echoed around the throne room. Scotch looked absolutely taken aback and Asgore looked worried. Tyr however, Tyr looked furious. 

“If this is Slim’s actual verse he fled it for a reason, is all I mean.” Edge cleared his throat looking embarrassed. “He might be a major target there.”

“And he still would know the verse and be crucial to navigating it and locating my general.” Tyr said sourly. Edge bowed his skull, his eyelights trained on the floor. Slim could feel the pure contempt and rage Edge felt for his king crashing into his own soul like storm waves. 

“If it's my verse I absolutely will be a target.” Slim said point blank. 

“Then send the brother.” Tyr sighed. “It's not like he can die-”

“He can!” Slim pinched above his nasal passage, desperate for the patience to get through this council meeting. “He’s a target too. We are both targets, but, please, don't send him. I’ll go.” 

“Then I’ll go with you.” Edge said.

“And risk me losing my general and captain? I think not. You are staying, Papyrus, that is an order.” Tyr growled, Edge’s old name slipping from his tongue like a slave name, reminding Edge who his owner  was. Edge merely bowed his skull, still as a statue. His true emotions betrayed only in Slim who felt the pure rage and disgust towards Tyr barreling through his bones like lightning.

“It’s a fellverse, I wouldn't suggest a tale monster.” Slim said, more than a little relieved Edge wouldn't be coming with. Edge didn’t need to see the verse that broke Slim. As much as Slim wanted his support, a part of him, a small part was terrified of Edge seeing where Slim came from. Seeing what made him. Seeing what Slim used to be. Would Edge still love him if he knew the depths of the darkness Slim had clawed out of? 

Edge was pissed. Slim could feel his pure rage and dissatisfaction through their bond and gently squeezed his fiancee’s hand that still so loyally held his. 

“I’ll go.” Red grunted and Slim glanced at him in surprise.

“And lose my judge?” Tyr scoffed.

“Edge and Slim would be the most logical choices.” Asgore said and Tyr scowled at him. 

“If you want the job done discreetly and quickly, Edge would be the most suited.” Scotch agreed. 

“I won't risk him when the general is missing. We’ll send Red. He’s scrappy and fell and has a habit of surviving. Besides, even if he dies I have a back up.” Tyr’s eyes flickered from Red then landed on Stretch who looked absolutely appalled either by the offer of Red as a sacrifice or the implication that he will be Tyr’s back up judge. Perhaps both.

“But first, Go deal with the brother. I want answers, now.  You know what to do.” Tyr snapped his fingers at Red and the look Red gave his leader was one that promised treason.

“Take Hydra with you.” Tyr added and Red scowled at Underfell Alphys who nervously waved.

“What does that mean?” Slim demanded. “What are you going to have him do to my brother?”

“Simply ask a few questions.” Tyr smiled like a shark, all sharp teeth and dark promises. “Once he’s finished with the lieutenant you and him are to leave immediately to rescue my general and that clown that calls himself a judge.” 

***

Red grit his teeth before schooling his face into a casual mask and he sauntered into the small cell Razz had been confined to. 

Razz’s change had seemingly reverted. His eyelights were their common icy blue. Dark black circles mirrored Classic’s, stark against Razz’s usual pristine bone which were a sickly ashen gray. It seemed the fiery rage that had possessed Razz had not only burnt out but taken half of Razz with him. 

"You look like shit.”

Razz didn’t even bother to answer, just raising a single eyebrow at him. 

“Come on. Don’t you know how to greet an old pal?”

Razz gave Red an incredulous look and gave a sharp exhale. “‘Lo Red. Are you here to execute me or bore me to death?” 

“Execute? Makin’ a lot of assumptions ain’t ya?”

“Tyr wouldn’t let such disloyalty slide.” Razz’s voice cracked like a whip. “And we both know I'm not important enough to Asgore or Scotch to interfere.”

If Red were a tale monster, he’d, perhaps, jump to Asgore and Scotch’s defense. He’d tell Razz he was wrong. There’d be no execution, but Red couldn't promise such things. Depending on what information Red gleaned, Tyr would decide what to do with his rogue Lieutenant and it could very well be a death sentence. Red swallowed back the bile rising in his throat. 

“Relax.” Red smiled and Razz became visibly increasingly unrelaxed, eyes narrowing towards Red. Welp. Red tried to be comforting or some shit. Not that Razz deserved it after the other day’s display in his opinion. 

“So. Some ground rules so we can get this bullshit over. One, don’t lie. I’ll know and you won't like how I get when I’m lied to, capiche?” Red took Razz’s rolling eyelights as capiche.

“Two, It aint personal.”

Razz gave a slight curt nod, teeth gritting slightly. “I-”

Red’s right eyelight went out, his other glowing red as he *judged* his alternate. He read through Razz’s stats quickly, ignoring the heated look Razz pierced him with. Judgements weren't exactly comfortable but he needed the basic information to please the Tyrant.

Sans Serif

(01010011 01110111 01100001 01110000 01100110 01100101 01101100 01101100)

LV: 11

EXP: 320,000

HP: 880/920

ATK: 66

DEF: 80

WEAPON: Whip, bone constructs, Gaster Blasters

Armor: Queen’s Guard plated armor

Gold: 227G

Sexual Orientation: Straight as a circle 

SOUL trait: Persistence

Magic: standard bullets, Blasters

Favorite condiment: ketchup

-C R I M E S-

Lying to his previous queen, hiding rebel locations, names, and information from the queen and other guardsman, aiding rebels, nepotism, murder, torture, mutilation, sadism

Cheats at cards.

-Facts-

* Suffers from chronic nightmares

* Would do anything for his brother

* Doesn’t trust you

*Is more powerful than he looks

* Don’t trust him

“Interestin’.”

“Anything useful?" Razz asked deadpanned. 

“Nah.” Red grinned bone constructs shooting out from the floor, caging Razz in a circle of bones. Razz clenched his fists but didn’t react otherwise. 

“Ya remember Sunday?”

“Yes.” Razz grunted.

“Ya calm now?”

“Very.” Razz hissed as the bones closened to him, shaving off bits of hp when he accidentally touched them, they were circling him, rapidly, and it was easy to get cut.

“Good. Let's make this as quick as possible.” sweat had begun to bead on Red’s skull, his left eyelight still out, his right red and bulging, Razz was for the first time impressed with his fell alternative. 

almost scary~ 

Razz promptly ignored his thoughts. 

“We’ll start simple, you attack my brother again and they won't find yer dust, capiche?” The bones ground against him, draining HP rapidly and Razz flinched, ice eyelights shrinking with some unnamed emotion and Razz nodded his understanding, something almost like respect flickering across his indifferent expression and the bones eased, circling him tightly but not grinding against him anymore.

“Tell me everything about your abilities.” 

Razz scoffed, sockets narrowing at Red. “I’m sure Tyr’s just waiting with baited breath to know how to make an army of monsters who can get back up after a bomb.” Razz said and it was Red’s turn to flinch. Red glanced away, sourly. He certainly did not want that to happen.

“Tell me what he needs to know.” Red said barely a whisper and Razz’s eyelights searched his cell for a camera or another monster. Someone else must be listening, Razz hardly caught the whispered words.

“Ya gonna make me make ya talk?” Red growled, the circling bones grinding just a hair against Razz to motivate him to not look suspicious as fuck. 

“I was experimented on by the royal scientist in my verse, Undyne. She injected my soul with an unknown substance in micro doses. This was done to my entire unit, after we failed to capture the rebel leader in a close fight. In my queen’s displeasure, my unit was sentenced to experimentation. I was the only survivor. The rest had melted into some horrible amalgamations."

Red exhaled sweat now dripping down his skull. “Ya don’t say?” He looked otherwise unaffected by the crimes against the Geneva convention Razz described. 

“And what abilities ya got?”

“Gaster blasters mostly. Whatever they did to me saves me from a killing blow - it's done it at least three times now. My magic is…potent and volatile always and it gives me an unusual soul trait.”

“Yer eyelights. They change from blue to pink-”

“Magenta.”

“That from your persistence trait?”

“Yes. I am in control most of the time.”

“Were ya in control Sunday?” The question was just as casual as the rest but Razz knew a trap when he saw one.

“Of course not.” Razz scoffed. “I was blown up by the humans. When I regained consciousness- I don't even remember half of it.” Razz closed his sockets. “I remember pieces.” 

“Ya dangerous when ya like that?”

"Yes.” Razz admitted. Very much so. 

“Ya didn’t seem that much different to me.” Red admitted, stepping closer. Razz stared back. 

“Then you don't pay very close attention, do you?” Razz drawled, voice condescending and arrogant; his usual mask. “I’d never disobey direct orders from my superior if I had a modicum of control.” Razz said and Red’s left eyelight lit back up. 

That, Red could not argue. 

“Alright. So, what, are you immortal then? Every time someone lands a killing blow you just turn into that and a few hours later you’re good as new?” Red scoffed.

“No.” Razz said. “I’d die with two killing blows, just not the one.” Razz did not mention how if Edge and Undyne hadn’t been so careful, they could have very well killed him. How low his HP had been, how he recklessly walked into their attacks. Stars now that he was clear headed, Razz knew exactly how much Edge held back . Razz sneered at the thought. Edge had been actively trying not to hurt him and Razz had been too far gone to care about his increasingly fragile HP. He was frustratingly indebted to Edge for that.

“Right.” Red sighed, his eyelights dampening some. “Right. Ya know I can’t go and tell Tyr you're a fucking super soldier made from DT, right? He’ll reinstate G’s old projects.” Red scrubbed his face with his hands and growled.

“I never said DT.” Razz growled looking around wildly.

“It's just us. Ya didn’t have to.” Red grunted. Gaster, at least, in his verse, and to what he could gather, in the others, did terrible experiments with determination. Razz was the only monster Red had seen that survived a DT injection without turning into a haunting amalgamate.

“Then what do we tell him?” Razz asked.

“I dunno but you better think of somethin’ better quick cuz the show’s about to start.”  

“Show?” Razz demanded. Red dismissed his attacks, freeing Razz from the circling threat of bones and his gaze left Razz.

“Tyr wants answers, Hydra’s comin'. M sorry.”

“What?” 

Razz screamed as bones jutted up through each of his hands, straight through the palms in a grotesque mockery of Gaster’s own maimed hands. Bood ran down his cracked palms and onto the floor and Razz snarled, the attack painful, but not leeching his HP, no karmic retribution this time. Razz growled. He couldn't move, couldn't attack, restrained in a disturbingly painful away. Razz’s cuff sizzled as it blocked attack after attack he attempted to summon. 

The hall door opened with a creak and Hydra appeared, covered in sweat, her labcoat sporting unidentifiable stains and her tail dragging as she hurried in. “Subject’s HP 1050 to s-start.” Hydra’s voice echoed through the cell as the lizard monster made her presence known. 

“S-subject is said to survive killing blows.” She said into her recorder. 

“What is this?” Razz demanded. 

“The council wants to know the true extent of your abilities. You weren't exactly honest when we first met those years ago, were you? Minor enhancements? P-p-please. Now we are doing it Tyr’s way.  R-Red?”

Red grimaced and the bones impaling his alternate sunk into the ground pulling Razz down to his knees. The monster snarled, eyelights darkening from an icy blue to magenta, his usual pissed off look searing Red as he gazed at him. 

“Now, let's start easy.” Red gave a lazy smile and grin despite the clear discomfort he’d shown prior to Hydra’s entry. “I ask questions ya answer, capiche?"

"Yes." Razz growled.

"You disobeyed direct orders from yer captain, attacked two officers, one of them your superior. Slim said when you're close to dyin. Ya lose control. Explain.”

“Soul rate normal, within parameters.” Hydra murmured into recorder. How she was monitoring Razz, he wasn't sure. It wasn't like he was hooked up to any wires, but maybe she like Red, could extensively check his stats.  

Razz sneered at them both. “I have enhanced healing from experimentation in my home verse.” Razz said. "And when in that state i'm aggressive. Anyone and everyone becomes a target to me, I don't have control its like- i'm watching my actions through my eyes and - its like someone else has control." Razz swallowed.

“Why were ya experimented on?”

“I disobeyed my queen. Punishment for such crimes resulted in experimentation at the hand of our version of Undyne.” Razz scoffed. 

“What kind of experiments?” Red hoped Razz had come up with a believable lie, or else they were looking at a pile of future amalgamations in Tyr’s mad quest to replicate Razz’s ability. 

“All kinds of experiments.” Razz was trying very hard to focus on anything other than the unyielding ache in his hands from Red’s fucking bones. He was going to remove each of Red’s teeth, one by one for this, if Tyr and the council decided to spare his life.

“I don't know what they injected me with. They don't even know. Sometimes she used acid. Sometimes she used magic. Its hard to say what made me this way.” Razz stared at Red who deadpanned back. 

“Is t-that so?” Hydra hummed. “Motivate him. Make sure he’s telling the truth.”

“He is. Ya think I can't tell when another Sans  is lying?” Red scoffed.

“I think you’d cover for him. Motivate h-him.” Hydra said and the two glared at eachother for a long time then- 

Razz cried out as bones jutted into him, small, jagged, superficial. Each one shaving only a few HP but hurt like a bitch.

“Really, Sans?” Hydra sneered. “Push him harder than that. We need to know what we are d-dealing with here. T-T- ty- ….he won't appreciate the gentle handling!”

Red scowled at her furiously before his crimson eyelights met Razz’s. Razz exhaled and gave the smallest of nods. For what it was worth, he understood the demands of duty. Orange bones jutted into his still form, and he screamed, attempting to move but restrained by the bones impaled in each bony palm. It was  a g o n y.

***

“You people keep saying that.” Sans let his construct float and shoved his hands into his pockets, casual like as he took in the monster before him. Monster Kid, or rather, this verse’s version of them, stared back at him, unimpressed.

At least, Sans thought it was MK. The dinosaur-like monster was older in this verse, past their stripes, taller and - apparently formidable if the black shadowy hands that had pulled him beneath the earth were any testament. Green eyes, yellow scales but still, monster kid. They were taller than Sans and wore a purple tunic and some pants with holes in them, typical fell garb. They were as armless in this universe as his, and their yellow spikes along their head and back, well, several of them were dented. Scars littered the monster’s body. Too many for one so young. They looked even more edgy than Underfell’s version of MK and they were far more feminine than Undertale or Underfell’s version of MK. They seemed to be a girl, akin to Underswap’s version of Monster Kid.  

A hollered scream announced Betta’s presence as black shadows pulled the fish monster down through a small opening and onto the floor before Sans and the armless dinosaur. 

“And you're not Undyne.” MK gave a soft, broken laugh, one empty of amusement. 

“Dammit, dammit, dammit!!” she screamed, kicking the wall of the small cavern she’d pulled them down into her tail lashing furiously. “You -” her eyes burned towards Sans, “are low LOVE. What were you thinking going out in the open like that? If they were hunting for LOVE you’d have made easy prey.” 

“Agreed.” Betta grunted, arms crossed. She looked relaxed, but Sans knew better. Sans knew Betta, like Edge, was always on guard, had already scoped the room, checked the exits, determined the threats from least to most likely and would be ready for a battle in a near instant. 

“You two are from the other world aren't you?” MK looked hard at Sans and Undyne, lips pressed tightly, yellow scales taking on a sickly look. 

"We are from a world.” Sans said. “What do you know?” 

A barked laugh left MK. 

“I know that when I told Papyrus I wasn't going to make it to the machine in time he said we’d never see each other again, sorry, and flipped the switch.” she sneered, her spikes bristling and Sans winced. That sounded like it was a possible Slim thing to do. Slim carried a lot of guilt for a guy Sans found as dangerous as a puppy. The guy had no bark or bite, and yet. . . 

“Sans was wrecked. Broken to pieces, barely alive.” MK’s voice cracked, the emotion flickering from her eyes as Sans tried to read her. He slowly exhaled. They've really found it. Slim and Razz’s verse. Stars. 

Razz had been well, not broken, but ribcage shattered, broken legs. He’d been a wreck when Sans discovered the two of them. Sans had shortcut to the underground, straight to his shed in Snowdin when an alarm said life was found in Alphys’s monitoring of the underground. It had never been the same, sincewell, since Underfell and Underswap got pulled into this verse and Alphys kept a sturdy eye on their underground because of it. 

 The monsters collided with their verse quite literally, the underground a mess of three distinct versions all aligned parallel. They monitored them for Fell monsters mainly, who often had illicit business down there. The underground and its parallels had been ordered to be evacuated but Fell monsters took advantage of their empty homeland. 

Sans knew there was a drug trafficking ring in underfell’s twisted version of the underground, a route straight from his waterfall to underswap’s waterfell to underfell - they all converged at the water, it was a well known route for illicit activities to boot.

Sans shook his head. All this to mean…. When he’d teleported in and found Slim and Razz, well, it matched MK’s description. Slim looking so broken, defeated, hurt himself with such low HP and Razz, completely broken. 

“Don’t hurt him! He’ll dust!” 

Sans glanced at MK who stared at him near unblinkingly. 

“That sounds rough.” Sans said.

“Where’s the machine?” Betta demanded, sharing a look with Sans. They didn't need anyone in this verse attempting to cross over.

“You didn’t come from it?” MK looked them over with a frown. 

“No, we have a different way of travel.” Sans winked and shrugged. Like hell he’d tell her about the return bracelets or their entry at the ruins of every underground. She didn’t need to know the details. 

“So you're from another universe.” MK said flatly. “I can tell hers is like this one. But you, you're a snowflake.” MK stared at Sans flatly. “You need to be careful here. It’s kill or be killed.” 

Betta grunted and rolled her good eye. “It’s a typical Fell verse, that’s for sure. Like the Alphys with the axe though. Nice.” 

“Bait.” Sans shook his head. 

“Look I love Hydra, but fish, we don't mind harems ya see?” She grinned showing sharp teeth and Sans snorted. At least she was honest. 

“I’m sure a harem of Alphys would be a dream come true.” Sans couldn't think of any puns to go with harem or lizard monsters so he focused his attention towards MK. He could tell her he likely knew her sans and Papyrus. That they were alive. That he could take her there. Slim might kill him though. He’d begged Sans to keep any potential universes that might be their home a secret from Razz, but the idea burned Sans. He had enough secrets, what was another? Why did he feel so bad about keeping one more?

There’d be no secrets if he brought her home. 

“So ya a friend of theirs? Or not anymore?” Sans fished - heh he glanced at Betta - for information. 

“Not really any of your business, you're not Sans.” 

“I’m a sans.” Sans sighed. “And i might know yours.” Sans shortcut as MK rushed at him, black shadows forming two arms on her as she tried to grip his sweater lapels.

“He’s alive!?”

Relief. Sans was sure that was relief he heard in her voice. “Unfortunately.” Betta grunted and Sans sighed. 

“Betta.”

“He’s a prick, Sans. An absolute prick. He, like most mold, just won't die.”  Sans facepalmed at Betta but the dinosaur monster seemed oblivious to her, she had covered her face, body trembling. 

“Hey…kid… you - you okay-” Sans’s voice softened.

“I’m- just- shut up.” Mk sniffled, tears trickling down their face. She wiped at their eyes furiously with their shadow hands. “You better not be fucking with me or i’ll shove you bone by bone up Toriel’s ass.” 

Sans balked at the threat and Betta roared with laughter. 

“I like her. Let's keep this one.”

“We aren't supposed to take tourists home.” Sans said knowing full well telling Betta something they weren’t supposed to do would result in-

“Who the fuck said so? Hydra? She can kiss my scaley ass. Kid we’ll take you to your Sans and Papyrus then you can give him a good kick in the ass.” Beta winked.

MK laughed and cried, still wiping their weepy eyes. “I-...” MK took a deep breath. “I can’t- how do I know any of this is true.” MK crossed her shadowy arms, her green eyes narrowing at them both. 

“You don’t.” Sans shrugged. “You know I look remarkably like Sans, you know my check says I'm Sans and hers says she’s Undyne. You know we aren't your Undyne and Sans.” Sans looked at her. “And you know your Sans and Papyrus left in a machine to ….an alternate universe.”

“Something like that. Paps just said… it’d take us somewhere else, anywhere else had to be better.” She crossed her shadow arms staring off at the shadows on the wall reflecting a past only she could see. 

“Look we aint supposed to take ya. I’ will. You don't deserve to stay here alone if they were all ya had.” Betta’s accent came out gruff, a telltale sign of her younger rougher years. Now that was a story Sans would like to know. The fellverse versions were so tight lipped Sans knew very little about what they’d been through but he knew Red and Undyne both held an accent that Edge had seemingly eradicated from his own verbiage. 

“I-...i’ll think about it. First we need to get out of here. The dogs will sniff us out.” MK ran a shadowy palm over her face. “Come with me. I wont kill you, probably.” MK grinned at Sans’s incredulous look. “You stick a knife in my back and I'll use your spine for a new chandelier.” 

 Shadows moved, revealing a path that had been cloaked in the darkness. Sans and Betta followed the monster through a series of winding and twisting tunnels. Without her they’d likely be stuck down in the maze like tunnels for weeks. Maybe months. 

“Here.” She climbed up a long tunnel  and Sans  grinned shortcutting to the top in view and he reached down a hand to help Betta up. They climbed out into- a mirror of Sans’s kitchen. Well, Sans’s old kitchen. In his old underground. If everything was on the wrong side of the room and broken to all hell.

“You have an underground tunnel system from their house?”

“My house now.” MK grinned, pulling herself upwards and she peered out the window, eyes narrowed, as if expecting an attack. 

“We’re not really safe here, but its safer than most other places. They’ll come here once word of ‘Sans’ being here reaches the queen.” 

“Popular, isn’t Razz?” Betta grunted. 

“Look I'm not 100 percent sure but this seems like their verse.” Sans said.

“Razz?” MK raised a single eyebrow.

“Nickname for who we think is your Sans. There’s a few of sans and papyruses…and monster kids running around, where I come from. We got a few verses colliding and we can't call them all the same name.” 

“Literally.” Betta grinned. 

“And while your verse didn't collide with us, we do have a Sans and Papyrus from one described like this…and Razz came pretty beat up.”

“Razz.” MK blinked. “He lets you call him that?”

“Not willingly, no.” Sans admitted. “But he’s gotten less aggressive about it the last few years.” 

“The timeline matches.” MK said, and she walked away from the window seemingly satisfied with the fact they were not at least currently being raided. 

“If you are taking me to your verse thing- we better go. Soon. the dogs will come, or the resistance. Or a random vagrant, either way, i’m ready.”

“Really?” Sans and Betta exchanged looks. 

“Kid, this is your verse. Your whole world. Your whole life. I dont know for sure its your Papyrus and Sans. The multiverse is infinite.”

“Anywhere is better than here.” MK deadpanned.

“Fellverses are shit, yeah.” Betta didn’t look surprised. 

“Right well-” A ball of fire barreled into the living room and Mk shrieked falling backwards. Sans short cut a safe distance away the heat sapping at his limited HP. Betta snarled, summoning her spear staring at the crater sized hole that had been made in the wall. Betta froze seeing none other than Toriel on the other side of the burning debris. Her arms outstretched, flames dancing above her grey palms. Her white fur was matted and stained gray from d u s t. Black mascara ran from her eyes down her face. Her eyes were a wild purple.

“SANS.” Toriel yelled.

“Holy shit- the queen is here!? The queen came!?” MK immediately dove for her tunnel when another ball of fire struck, this time hitting Betta and MK both. MK howled, rolling out the flames against the floor and Betta huffed as her fire-resistant armor fizzled the fire on her to nothing. 

“We need to go.” Sans said his eyelights shrinking to pinpricks. He was not supposed to interfere with other verses’s governments and monarchies. 

Sans didn’t get much of a choice as guards flooded in, First Mk then Betta, then Sans were overwhelmed by the sheer number of guards and their magical attacks. Betta held back, she didn’t swing, didn’t strike, she stared at Sans hard. Sans wished he knew what secret message she was trying to convey. He never knew Betta not to fight, but then again, he’d never faced a monarch and multiple troops either. He better mark it on the calendar; something new.

The guards manhandled them forward, out of the debris and into the snow before the queen herself, all three forced to kneel. Toriel stared down at Sans, a furious expression in those clouded eyes. 

“You….You're not Sans!”