Abandoned Past

Chapter 6: Worrisome Children

"Hold on. Ya not sayin' that ya colleague came back here to keep us from leavin'?"
"That is exactly what I said, Apple. Please learn to listen."
Having moved to the old office with the skeletons in tow, Daddy shuffled through the piles of paper as if attempting to find something. That had to be the only explanation. His copy was quite possibly the most petty person he'd ever met. There'd be no way he would just let these skeletons roam free in this universe.

"U-uh sir?"
Guava looked over the humans shoulder, shuffling back as Daddy Sans turned to look at him.
"What?"
"W-well... Don't you t-think he w-would've just stayed a-and continued to experiment r-rather than keep us f-from leaving o-our quarters?"
Dragonfruit nodded in agreement. It seemed a bit random for the assistant scientist to come back for an hour and then leave just before the back up generators kicked in. Shoving one hand in his pocket, Daddy's mask puffed out as he exhaled sharply.
"Put yourself in his shoes. He failed one of the most important experiments before he left. His pride was tarnished. He didn't care for any of you. He wanted to have you suffer and remain unknown for the rest of your lives. He's a petty creature."
The human explained quickly, frowning as he felt his phone buzz against his hand. Who the fuck was calling him now?
Pulling it out, his eyes almost rolled back into his skull. Awesome. Strawberry may have promised to not tell Mint but lord knows he didn't promise not to tell anyone else. Especially not Blank. Who was probably worse than Mint...
Sliding across to answer it, he held up a finger as Apple went to speak.

"What do you want?"
"Don't play dumb with me you crusty loaf of bread. Where the fuck are you?! Did you even think to tell the rest of us you were disappearing?!"
Daddy immediately moved the phone away from his ear, the heavy accent of the British skeleton heard even without the phone being on speaker phone. Of course. Strawberry told everyone but Mint. Sometimes he wondered if half the kids were even his.
"I thought about it but then I remembered something."
"Yeah and what would that be?"
"I wouldn't have even gotten three feet before being latched onto! The last thing I need is to hear the begging of you for me not to leave."
"Yeah well Mint was asking where you were. Your stupid kid-"
"His name is Pumpkin."
A heavy sigh was heard through the other line, Apple seeming to frown heavily. Pumpkin? Mint? Were they the other experiments he had performed after he left?

"Whatever. Pumpkin said he went lookin' for you to read his bedtime story. He couldn't find you so he went to Mint."
Shit. He had totally forgot that Pumpkin would go to Mint if he didn't find his "Papa" first. Balling a fist in his hair, he groaned in frustration before turning on his heel and pacing past Apple and Guava, and then pacing back.
"I should be back in like...two weeks. Get off my ass."
Sifting through the papers again, Guava stood beside the human before speaking.
"I-is that an expression, s-sir?"
Waving his hand to dismiss him, Apple replied instead with a hint of sarcasm coating his voice.
"Nah ya wingnut! Someone just happens to be on his ass at the moment! Can't ya fuckin' see them?"

Daddy watched as the two bickered, putting Blank on speaker phone just before his blood ran cold. A stern, icy voice cut through the air like a knife would with melted butter.
"Dad."
Apple and Guava stopped bickering and turned, Dragonfruit swallowing hard. Great. This was going to be fun to try and explain.
"Listen, Mint. I'm away on business and-"
"Business my ass. Dad, you can't be trusted on your own! Your health is not at its peak. You keep disappearing at random intervals and it's not... It's not that we don't completely trust you. It's because... It's because when you leave, you've slept with another monster and bring back another kid."
The human was silent, able to feel the three pairs of eyes staring at him. What is it or in here or was it just him. With both hands on his messy desk, he could barely think straight.
"I'm...worried for you. You claim to see visions of your past. The past you don't want to tell us about. You say you see these being's from your past in these visions but... What happens when you have another? Another vision?"
"I go to the source and fix whatever is plaguing my conscience. These visions... They're memories of my past. None of you are ready to hear it. It's for the best."

A heavy sigh echoed through the phone, Dragonfruit fiddling with his phalanges as he stared down at the floor. Wherever the scientist had gone after he left, it was clear that these new experiments cared about him. They were worried. And the scientist loved and cared for them a lot. Yet he dropped everything to come back and set things right. Apple felt a pang of guilt. This human...protected his experiments. He was just doing what he thought was right.

The human started thinking about it all, running his fingers through his hair as he did so. What if he never did come back? What if he got injured and wasn't able to reach Mint or one of the other kids. No. No, that wouldn't happen. He wouldn't allow himself to put the kids through that pain. Clearing his throat, the human began speaking again.
"I've got to go. But, uh... Tell Pumpkin I said goodnight and I'll read him all the bedtime stories he wants when I get back. See you in two weeks Mint."
Stifling the crack in his voice, Daddy heard a content sigh before Mint started talking again.
"Alright. Just stay safe out there for us. We care about you."

Pressing the button to hang up the call, Daddy exhaled shakily as he pulled out his office chair and sank into it. Staring up at the ceiling in a successful effort to prevent any tears leaking out, he glanced to his left as a cold hand rested on the top of his. Seeing the lopsided head of Apple, he huffed before looking back up.
"You gonna tell me that I shouldn't have made more kids? That I replaced you? That I shouldn't have come back?"
Guava nudged Apples side, nodding his skull to get him to say something. The small skeleton looked back at the human, squeezing his warmer hand with his bony phalanges.
"We're... We're thankful that ya came back. Ya have a family out there and ya...ya dropped everythin' to come back. To sort shit out. So uh...thanks... Boss."

A weak laugh exited Daddy, sitting up and resting his forehead in his hands which caused Apple to move away. This was a big mess that he had created. Wiping away tear that attempted to leave his eye sockets, the scientist swept the remaining papers to the side.
"I'm just a kid trying his best, buddy. Nothing special."
Apple huffed, turning his skull to Guava who didn't look nearly as nervous as before. The sound of joints popping got their attention, the humans fingers cracking before rolling back his shoulders.
"Now. Let's get this shit show on the road."