Forbidden Flame (Mafiatale Grillby x Reader)

Chapter 2- Secrets Revealed

(~Your POV + Time Skip~)

Two guards silently stand on either side as I approach the podium. Attached to the podium is one single microphone. The council called for this meeting to silence the constant chatter in the city. If it weren't for the reason being that I am legally required to be here, I wouldn't have come.

'It feels like I don't even have time to breathe.'

I'm blinded and snapped back to reality by camera flashes at every turn. I don't even try to fake a smile. My soul has been aching for weeks. Me saying that my sleep is terrible would be an understatement. The conference room is filled with people of every kind and they're all squished in as if we're in some kind of a bomb shelter. The crowd booms with one question after the other. I believe it's mostly newspaper writers and journalists trying to get a popular headline.

"Miss Y/N, do you have any comment about your father's death in the incident two weeks ago?" One screams above the rest. It is the first question that my muddled brain can understand right now. My hands tightly grip the sides of the wooden podium. It feels as though another huge weight is placed on my soul.

'If this is the only topic they want to hear about, I might as well walk away.'

I stare across the crowd. Things do get a little quieter with everyone muttering amongst each other.

'Why did I agree to this?'

Still, I have to give them an answer. I take a deep breath and collect my thoughts. My soul has felt so lost lately. I'm supposed to be carrying on my parents' legacy. Yet, I'm giving people hope that even I am struggling to have. "My father was a great man. Hearing of his death truly shook the council members and everyone who knew him." I'm barely allowed to finish before the uproar of questions began again. I listened carefully but was only to make out two of them. "How will the council be affected?" and "Who will be taking your father's place?"

(~Sans' POV~)

"She looks exhausted. Politics never rest, huh Grillbz?" I ask, prying my eyes away from the television tucked on the far end of the bar. The woman broadcasted there is supposed to be the sole heir of a councilman that was assassinated some time back. I don't really pay attention to the news much but I hear it was the big topic downtown. I understand the feeling of being alone from before Frisk brought us up to the surface. So, I already feel myself feeling sorry for the girl.

"Exactly why I choose to stay neutral." Grillby replies. "Well, doesn't hurt to peak your interest. Turn up the volume." I say through a smirk. Grillby definitely rolls his eyes at me and yet he steps over and does as I request. Now the woman's voice is a little clearer as she speaks. "My father believed in a world without territories, corruption, protection fees, and merciless crime. I still have hope, that together, we can make that happen. It is with a heavy heart that I choose to take my father's place in the council." I find myself arching an eyebrow.

'Hm, you would think she would want nothing to do with the council after what happened.'

The television erupts with a wave of sound like static, no doubt the sound of the crowds becoming restless. It's not like she has much of a choice but to endure the public turmoil. The woman with (h/l h/c) hair and (e/c) eyes remains firm. She doesn't say another word until another voice roared from the crowd. "What about us monsters, huh?! Ya and the council's little 'new world' means getting rid of us too?!" A frown of disapproval makes its way onto my face. "Geez, give the woman a break." I mutter in frustration.

'No ONE person is going to solve the conflict between species. In fact, humans are still fighting against others of their OWN species.'

The woman took another moment to gather her thoughts. This pause seemed to last an eternity. "Monsters will not come to any harm by my doing. I wish for everyone, including monsters, to have equal rights." It was in that moment that Grillby's bar went completely silent. Apparently, I wasn't the only one listening in. The chatter dies down and now everyone's eyes are glued to what's being broadcasted. Grillby, however, remains unfazed and continues to wipe down a cup with his polishing cloth.

This is a first... For a higher upper class person to publicly take the side of monsters, I mean.

'She might as well be two seconds away from signing her death certificate.'

Unlike the past few times the crowd became restless, she now continues to speak over the raging side of humans. "I wish for peace with monsters as my father did. He sacrificed time, money, and even his own life while trying to help them." Another harsh question arose, "On what grounds?! (or "For what reason?!")" Everyone in the bar including myself silently wait in anticipation of her answer.

And then came the words that shook society as we knew it: "My soulmate is among them."

'That's it- Now she's done it. She's signed her freaking death certificate.'

I stand abruptly from my stool at the bar. Several others stood too, not believing the words we'd all just heard.

'A monster. Soulmates with a human-'

She better not be kidding around. Even if she is or isn't, a human knowing or saying such a thing is unheard of. The whole soulmates thing is a big part of monster culture, not humans'. To make it crazier, a human and a monster being soulmates? That's practically forbidden, especially for a member of higher class. This is not looking good for her...

'That woman just became a HUGE target.'

She was quickly whisked off stage by her security before anything could escalate into violence. Soon after, the broadcast was ended as if it'd never happened. It still left all of us in shock.

'I have to tell Frisk.'

My thoughts were interrupted by the loud shatter of glass. Grillby had dropped the cup he was holding and is staring at the television screen. His hands quiver and shake, showing unnatural flicks of movement in his flames. I've never seen him like this. "Get everyone out." He mumbles timidly. My eye socket quickly sparks with both worry and magic. "Out. Bar's closed! EvEryOnE oUt!" I shout urgently.