Chances

2

3rd POV

A month and a half. A month and 2 weeks. 44 days. That's how long Dust was trapped in the damn punshiment chamber. The punishments going on and off, not having a pattern, always keeping Dust guessing when he would next suffer at the hands of his boss. Dust hated it and despised it with his very being.

It was ironic that the 'punishments' he suffered through could be argued to have brought him the best thing in his life. It was those very punishments that he suffered through were what allowed Dust to connect so deeply with Lust, who Dust would swear up and down was the best thing that ever happened to him. With Lust having gone through something similar to Dust, it was easy for them to connect, though Dust would never admit to how truly he suffered at the hands of his boss.

This time, though, it had been so. Much. Worse. He could suffer through the pain, through the shame, through the panic. He had never felt the complete and utterly self-hatred before, though, not before that day... He didn't think his boss could have been any worse. He was wrong. So, so, so wrong.

That utter bastard had made Dust... there was a sound of Dust's fist hitting the floor of Lust's living room floor. Dust had actual tears flowing from his sockets, tears of pain, regret, and self-hatred. Nightmare had taken away the one thing Dust thought he would never lose, his pride.

Dust felt absolutely filthy. How could he have gotten any pleasure from those horrific actions?! He was disgusting. Tainted. His once untouchable pride, shattered. No, not shattered. That would assume there was something left of it in the first place. His boss had effectively ripped it away and turned it into nothing but a mere memory like it was nothing.

Helplessly, Lust looked at her friend in deep concern. Dust had immediately taken off to Lust's the moment he was out and has been there since. Lust had been handing Dust bottles of her special vinegar, hoping beyond hope that it would somehow help.

Dust POV

Wordlessly, I took another of Lust's special vinegar bottles and chugged it. I could feel a buzz in my magic, but it wasn't enough. I could still remember everything that happened, could still feel his fucking hands on me, making me-. I shook my head, I wanted, needed, to forget.

I glanced over as Lust sat down. Lust... she was way to good for me. I have stabbed, killed, experimented on, and tortured people. How could she put up with me? Knowing what I've done, what I did, what I do... Yet, knowing all this, she so easily opens up her home to me, sits so close without any ounce of fear...

But... as much as she knows about me, she doesn't know how dirty, tainted, used, b̶r̶o̶k̶e̶n̶, I was. How I could contaminate her... I appreciate her presence, but she shouldn't get too close... I silently reached over for another glass of vinegar she had gotten me, silently appreciating her presence even if I was so broken that she would be better off never talking to me again.

I frowned as I noted a sad smile that had somehow crept onto her face... Why was she upset? Was it because of me? Was someone from the council bothering her? Maybe she was planning on handing me over... I wouldn't blame her. In fact, I encourage it. I'm one of the biggest multiverse dangers, under only Error and Boss himself....

3rd POV

Dust had gone quiet as his thinking spiraled. The only noise was Dust drinking the bottle of vinegar Lust supplied and Lust walking to and from her bedroom to get the vinegar. It was honestly a pretty sorry sight, but a somewhat common one for the duo. Especially after Nightmare... well, it was better left unsaid.

The somewhat tense atmosphere was cut through like butter as Dust's stomach reminded him that he hadn't been fed very much during the last 44 days and was demanding food compensation for not being fed properly. Dust was tempted to ignore it, but he knew better and knew he should eat, so he quietly asked Lust if she would get him something from Grillby's.

Lust smiled and agreed, taking the opportunity to grab some special vinegar from Grillby. It would help knock Dust out, and he wouldn't have any dreams, good or bad ones. It didn't take long for Lust to put the food and drink down in front of Dust, who quietly thanked her. It wasn't too much later that the duo went to bed. Dust was exhausted, and trusted Lust and Lust knew that tomorrow could either be a calm one or go straight to hell.

Time skip the next day

The next day, Lust was the first to wake. She had taken the time to get some chores done, knowing Dust likely wouldn't wake until at least noon. As usual, Lust was correct, and soon after she started cooking a big brunch, Dust woke up.

The first thing the hungover skeleton did was take a shower. He was in there much longer than needed, crubbing his bones raw. He could still feel those hands and tendrils touching him! Once Dust was done showing he had changed into some clothes that Lust had insisted he keep here for the times he spent at her house. The clothes from before were destroyed by his magic, but Lust didn't mention it when he came down.

Dust POV

I was quiet as I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where I saw Lust cooking a bunch of brunch foods, most of which helped with hangovers... I walked over to her and hugged her from behind. "You're too good for me, you know that?" She was the sweetest person in the multiverse, and she stuck with me through thick and thin...

Sadly, she didn't seem to agree. "No, I'm not.. besides... I like playing housewife for you..." She said the last part in a barley whisper, but I heard her and tightened the hug a little bit. As much as I loved the others, Lust was my sanctuary. While I know the others would always have my back, Lust was there through the worst of it.

The others also suffer at the hands of our boss, I know that, and I can't remember the number of times I took a punishment for them. We were family and would stick which each other until death. I wasn't too sure what types of punishments they got, but I could guess. Thankfully, I don't think he does to them what he does to me... Still, I don't want the others to know just what goes on between him and I if I can help it.

3rd POV

Lust found herself forcing back tears as Dust was lost in his head. Yes, she loved playing housewife for Dust, but in her soul she didn't think he felt the same way she did. She was too tainted to be anyone's housewife. Of she wasn't, then that damned experiment Gaster did to her would ruin any potential relationships. After all, who wants a useless skeleton that can't carry nor have a male Ecto to sire?

Dust muttering, "You really are too good for me..." pulled Lust out of her downwards spiraling thoughts, and she looked up to him. Dust, however, didn't seem to notice and was still lost in his head. Dust desperately wished he could tell Lust how much he loved her, how much he cared, and how much he wanted to get with her. However, if Nightmare found out, when he found out... it was too dangerous, he didn't wanna risk losing her.

Dust muttered an apology that said everything yet nothing at all. He was sorry for everything. He was sorry he couldn't tell her how he felt. About how her being friends with him put her in danger and got her harassed. He was so deeply sorry that his love for her would put her in danger with his boss when he eventually realized that he would choose her over him in a soulbeat.

Lust just put a smile on her face and shook her head, saying he had nothing to apologize for. Dust disagreed but didn't say anything, and instead followed Lust's instructions to eat and relax. Neither one of the duo knew it, but soon, their lives were going to change. The winds of fortune and favor slowly start to blow, determined to help the duo get their happy ending.
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Here is chapter 2! Any questions?? What are your thoughts?? Tell me!