Repurposed

Family

*Warning: Dissociation, references to suicide, gore.

Whoops! forgot to add warnings :D*

Dust breathed out in relief when we came to get him. He carefully maneuvered his way around the starved monsters to us.

"Oh, thank god!" he exclaimed. "I thought you were gonna leave me behind!"

I crossed my arms playfully. "I thought you'd have more faith in me."

Dust contemplated that for a second, then began apologizing. Horror and I laughed, and Dust blushed in embarrassment.

We soon prepared to leave, and Horror's brother came up to us. I watched him warily, but I could sense no ill intent.

"Thank you, stranger. I knew there was something different about you."

My brows knit together as I looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

His smile grew wider, but less unsettling. Strange, but I felt less on edge being around him now that I knew he wasn't a threat. "The moment I saw you, the Great Papyrus' excellent intuition told me you were here for a reason. I may not have known at the time what you would do, but the Great Papyrus is never wrong!"

He puffed out his chest in a way that made him look admirable, though still a little intimidating due to how tall of a monster he is. I laughed softly at his words and nodded in agreement.

"I suppose you were right. I wouldn't have left you or your AU to suffer like this. I know if I had been in your situation, I'd have done anything for-" My breath hitched as the name refused to leave my skeletal lips. I looked down and shook my head in frustration, belated realizing the others were waiting for me to finish. I smiled apologetically to them. "Ah, forgive me. I think it's best we go. Dust?"

Dust was giving me an odd look, as if he knew what I wanted to do. Horror, though, put his hand on my shoulder.

"Hey, it's ok. Ya don't have to talk about it." His expression relaxed to a lazy smile as he switched the subject. "Still gonna invite me over to see Kitty?"

I gave him a grateful grin. "Of course! Just watch out for Error. He's a little... unhinged around strangers."

He nodded, and I opened a portal. I watched with a sad frown as Horror said goodbye to his brother. The tall skeleton was confused and worried for his older brother, most likely wondering why he was leaving.

"Don't worry, Paps," Horror said reassuringly. "I'll be back soon, with enough food for the whole Underground to last for months! Doesn't that sound great?"

I winced at how Papyrus' smile faded. He fiddled with his gloved hands, then smiled hesitantly. "Alright, brother. Just stay safe!"

Horror smiled a hugged him. "I will, bro."

We came back to the castle to find Error asleep on the couch. It has become his favorite place to take a nap, a well-deserved one if I'm being honest, and we quietly left him be. I led the way to the cellar, where Kitty and her litter were resting in the darkness.

"Hey, Kitty," I said softly. She meowed and got up, promptly pressing her body against my leg in what I assumed is meant to grab my attention. It instead grabbed Horror's, who knelt down and began petting her. Dust went over to the bed where the kittens were and studied them.

"Yo, boss. Ya think we could name them? This one looks like they could be named Misty."

I shrugged. "I was gonna name them by their personalities, but we don't really know what they're like, yet. I was thinking we move them upstairs, get them used to the rest of the castle."