No pieces missing

Chap 10

"Hey"

The words echoed in his head for hours. Only that word.

And it made Ink mad.

Dream had came up to him and said that exact word 5 hours ago and all he has felt since was rage. No, sorrow. No... a lot.

After weeks of not speaking, Dream comes up to him and just says 'hey'? Like nothing has happened? Granted, he followed up with 'how are you doing?' but the 'hey' shocked him like turing on a warm shower only to find out the heats been turned off.

Ink didn't say anything. Like a coward. He ran away, leaving Dream sitting there in confusion. Well, maybe not confusion. Dream knew what he did. It hurt him to see that once bright Ink turn grey and dark. Black hoodies like an angsty teen were normal, but not normal for Ink. He wanted as much colour as he could have. And the quick change made Ink another subject to bullying, as like it wasnt bad before.

Dream felt guilty. Watching his once best friend go down a deep spiral. It hurt him. Maybe it was selfish. Maybe thats all Dream ever was.

Dream wandered the halls again, trying to find Ink. To say something more than 'Hey.'

He didn't wish to become friends again. No, he couldnt take on that burden again. Never again. But he did want to apologize for the way he left. For the promises he never intended on keeping. You see, Dream is a people pleaser. He makes false promises to see someone smile. And the amount he gave to Ink was... tiring. He couldn't take it on again. He couldn't be the ray of light in his life. He couldn't, no wouldnt do it to himself again.

Ink was sitting alone in the art room again. Graduation was tomorrow and Carrot was kicking him out. So by logic, the art teacher would allow him to move in. It just made sense.

As he got closer, he heard them discussing rent- or the lack of need for it, when Toriel glared at Dream and gave him a wave of her hand. She wanted him gone. She didnt want Ink to be hurt by him any longer. Or anymore, she should say. Ink was going to be hurt by this betrayal for a long time.

Dream didn't follow the goat womans silent instructions, as he came closer and put a hand on Inks shoulder.  Ink jumped sky high, not realizing someone was there. But when Ink turned his head, the look that was given broke Dream's heart. Ink immediately began tearing up when he saw his old friend. It hurt to see him, of course.

"Ink I-"

"Can we be friends again? I will do better." Ink promised.

"No, honey, no.  I came to apologize for the way I treated you-"

"I don't wanna hear it."

Inks gaze turned hard and he looked .. angry? At Dream? No one was ever angry at Dream, besides maybe the odd stranger who didn't know him. He was a perfect person who did no wrong. Why was Ink mad at him?

"Leave." Toriel snapped.

Thats when he realized he had been standing there, mindlessly, for a good 30 seconds. When he got the command, he turned on his heel to leave.

Timeskip

"Well, Dream told me to tell you he was sorry for hurting you." Swap said on the walk home.

"He should have thought of that before hurting me."

"Come on, people make mistakes."

"Yeah, but he doesnt wanna fix his. He just wants to feel better."

The conversation ended as soon as they hit the front porch. Swap offered to help Ink pack, but he refused. He wanted to go through it alone.

Ink felt alone. His once friend seemed like a distant memory compared to this Swap. He never wanted time with Ink. Or did he ever? Was he just there because of Dream?

Ink walked up the stairs and put Fireflies on his headphones. He now knows the boops are something like binaural beats, made specifically for autistic people, since OwlCity has ASD too. Thats another thing Ink has been doing. Research to find other people like him. A lot of celebrities have neurodivernagcy, which surpised Ink. He thought it was all weird people who couldn't take care of themselves.  And surprisingly, a lot of his favourite book characters had it too. It made Ink feel better. Seeing people with his condition living good lives. And seeing that it wasnt that bad. It was more a different wiring of the brain, rather than a death sentence. It all made sense when he began to think. Why it took him a different way to learn. Why he needed sensory support. Just- a lot of it made sense. It didn't change anything about him other than give him an answer.

Ink began singing along to the song as he packed the little he had into a new suitcase from the thift shop that Carrot got him for graduation.  Talk about a hint.

He chuckled a little to himself. It was funny how so many people hated him. For no apparent reason. His mum, Carrot, Nightmare.. Dream. Swap?

Maybe he could make some new friends and life wouldnt be so lonely and full of hate anymore. Maybe life could be fun again. Maybe if he tried, life could have a ray again.