Under Water [completed]

XIII

The machine started to whir and buzz. My soul slowly came out of my chest. I grabbed onto it and curled around it. A feeling, like millions of pins and knives and needles going into my body at once began flooding my body at once.

I saw Error's shadow float down and I closed my eyes. The world slowly faded out of existence; all the energy was draining from me. I was losing my determination; again.

~~

"Frisk! Frisk! Hey, please, wake up!" I couldn't recognize that voice. I knew it was male, but who? M.? Sans? Error?

"Frisk! Frisk! Please don't leave!" I could hear he was crying, or had been.

Slowly I opened my eyes, the world blurry. It was M.

"Frisk! Thank God!" He hugged me, in the awkward way that only the armless could.

"W...What happened?" I asked, loopy.

"The glitch he...He was trying to steal your determination! And he almost did, you only have, well, see for yourself."

I moved away from the huge, letting me see my soul. It was only the very bottom, the rest of it was a glassy, clear substance.

"Oh, my God!" I stood up, panicking.

"I called Alphys and she says she can get it back! But it'll take sometime, a lot of time, she said." M. sounded like he was grieving.

"It's...It's okay. I'll make it through. I just, can't sleep until then. Or protect myself." I sighed.

This would be difficult.

~~

"What?" Sans shouted, M. shrinking underneath his tone.

"Sans, there was nothing he could have done. He got there as soon as he could."

"And Frisk! Why didn't you call me?" Sans turned his attention to me.

I felt anger well up in my chest and throat, "I did! I called you and you didn't pick up!"

"N-No! I would have picked up!" Sans choked on his words a little, making me pity him for a moment.

"I do not appreciate you doing this, Sans. You are yelling at the man who saved my life and blaming me for it not being you. Can you just, go? Go and calm down, maybe? Because I know you're sensible. But you're just not being so right now." I crossed my arms.

He nodded, teleporting out of the area.

I sighed, "M., I'm sorry about him. He's just... protective."

"It's alright," He gave me a broken smile, "I'm just happy I was there, after all he said."

"Thank you, also. Thank you for saving me since, I was being an idiot. Or something."

He laughed, "Being an idiot? Trust me, Frisk, you are not an idiot. But, you will need to be a bit more cautious now. Alphys should be here soon to help you get your determination back but, it'll still take sometime."

"You sound just like her!" I teased, nudging him playfully.

"I kind of did, didn't I?" He blushed a little.

I felt myself stop dead in my actions for a moment.

"Anyways," He started, looking away, "I should get going. My parents will be wondering where I am." I heard a distance note of sorrow in his voice.

"M.," I said before he turned away, "Where are your parents? I've never met them; I've never heard their names. You keep them very hidden."

He stopped, just breathing for a moment.

"You...You know, don't you?"

"That you don't have parents? I'm not an idiot; we just established that," I put a hand on his shoulder, "You don't have to pretend. Nothing will change. You're an orphan; that's okay. You have a family, still."

He turned to face me.

"I know. It's just hard; for me even."

"But you have your family. We won't judge. And if anyone else does, then send them to me." I did the threatening hand gesture, making him laugh for a moment.

"Thank you, Frisk," He gave me a small smile, "Now I'm going to go home...To my house."

I nodded, "See you at school. Or, sooner, depending on what happens and...You know what I mean."

M. nodded, waving goodbye to me as he rounded the corner. I sent a short prayer for him, to no one in general.

Sorry for not updating as of late, but I have no idea where this story should go. I may think of something over the next few days, but if anyone reading this had an idea, please let me know. Because I feel like this story is kind of wrapping up on its own. I have further plans for it, for the relationship between Frisk and Sans, what happens with M., explain the past in more depth, etc. But I'm not sure what to do at this point.

If anyone has ideas, please post.

And remember, stay glitchy my glitches, because those imperfections are beautiful.

~ Anna