Random Reference Squad: Book 3

Chapter 1

Good morning sweetheart,

May sat up and crawled out of her bed after a long sleepless night, but she received no such greeting. She shivered in the absence of her partner as she walked downstairs. The couch she curled up on had once been her throne, a perfect place to survey things going on inside her palace. Now, it didn't feel any different from the poor excuse of a backyard her own mother left her in since she was a baby: a cold, filthy place where it rained frequently and in no sense could be called her own. No, this place belonged to the Anderson sisters, who could kick her out any time they wanted. Maybe she should head back upstairs and pack her things in preparation.

All of her things were packed and she was ready to leave when necessary, but where did she have to go? What did she have left? No love, no power, no family...no home, and to top it all off, the worst job ever! Never had she so badly wanted to sob away her pain, but she had no right to, especially when there were points in her life when she had even less. What did she still have? How about a roof over her head, access to indoor plumbing, a way to get money to build her future, a dog, and was that food she smelt?

Come here sweetheart, you'll feel better after you've eaten.

As much as she wanted to deny it, she always did, whenever she was sad or sick, even if she didn't like feeling stuffed, it was still better than having a rumbling stomach bothering her all day. She peeked into the kitchen to see if breakfast was ready. It looked delicious, but something was nagging at the front of her mind, and before she knew it, she found herself trying and failing to stabilize her breath. She hid underneath the arm of the couch facing away from the kitchen door, holding tight onto her lucky halberd, feeling somehow she was in danger.

Shhh... It's okay...

No, it wasn't, not without him here to provide a safe space for her in his arms. How she yearned to curl up on top of his warm body right now. He would snatch her right up and stay with her until she was safe, but the last time she saw him, he had told her that he couldn't visit her as often anymore, not even giving her a goodbye hug before he left! How dare that jerk abandon her like that? He knew she needed him, and he left anyway, but she had no time to cry over him, she had to defend herself against...what did set her off? Maybe she should make a note to herself to figure out what she was up against before she- "Hello?" oh. Well now she had her answer. Papyrus, previously her sworn enemy, now an annoyance, but Mettaton wasn't here to prevent any conflicts, and this was one deadly skeleton. Who knew what he would do to her without anyone backing her up? Just one look in the eye and-ah! He found her! "Keep away from me you filth!" She exclaimed as she backed into the corner of the room, keeping her halberd pointed toward him. Shallow breathing, eye twitching, and using her weapon to keep distance, Papyrus knew he wasn't looking at a vengeful murderer, he'd never been. This, was a damaged soul desperate to escape with her life. How was he supposed to indicate he didn't mean her harm when she believed she needed protection from an old blade? "Did you not hear me? Back off before I yank out one of your ribs!" Papyrus was hardly fazed by this threat, but he kept his distance anyway. "What's going on here?" Cleo. If anyone could sort this out, she could. To start off, she slowly pulled the halberd out of May's grasp. "For your safety and everyone else's, I think it's best if we keep this tucked away. Now, I want you to tell me what happened this morning. As for you Pap, I think it's best if you leave the room for now,"

Sweetheart...are you alright?

Anything but. One minute she was laying upon her throne planning a fun filled summer to spend with her emperor, then suddenly she found herself alone, surrounded by danger and in debt, but she still forced away her tears, as she didn't have the right to shed them. She did nothing to earn the pampering she once received from him, but she missed it. How was she supposed to survive here without his help? "May?" She looked up to find Cleo sitting next to her on the couch. It wouldn't be a smart move to expect comfort from her, but May's heart pulled her toward a warm body of desperate need and no care who it belonged to. Seeing that she wasn't shooed away, she reverted to her instinctive cling. This wasn't anywhere near the usual relief, but still better than nothing. She closed her eyes, willing her mind to let her pretend she was hugging her protector, however the feel wasn't the same, and she didn't smell him at all! Why? Why did she cheat herself in such a way? Disgusted by this vile act of mockery, she detached herself from Cleo and retreated to her bed, the only place she could call her own. Oh that's right, not even that could be called hers. "May, I told you I wanted to hear what happened this morning," she rolled her eyes at Cleo's reminder, but she couldn't afford to displease the owner of the condo. "I went into panic mode," Cleo sighed. That response might have been vague but at least she was being honest. "I won't make you say anymore if you don't want to," As Cleo walked downstairs to get Papyrus' point of view, May attempted to sort through her disorganized thoughts, scouring for a clue, a survival guide, an instruction manual, anything to lift her back up. If he had been at work, she would be fine, because he would at least return later that afternoon, but now, would he come back at all? No, don't think about that, you're making things worse for yourself, you are above this!...Was she?