It Started With The Stab of a Knife : An AfterDeath Tale

A Promise Of Life To A Caged Bird

~~💀~~

"Death?"
Reaper glanced over at the goat lady, her paws grazing the lush grass beside her. 

Ever since the day that Reaper started to visit Geno, he started to search for ##### more often. He feared that the child would find his new friend and would brutally execute him.
After a while of fruitless searching, he came to the conclusion that he should think BIGGER. Reaper was somewhat aware of 'alternate universes', but didn't dare search through them just yet. He settled for the very few places he had never set foot in his own world. 

That is when he met Life. 

After eons of circling each other, dancing around one another in a sacred flow, the two omniscient beings finally stood face-to-face.
The reaction to their first meeting was obvious, both lashing at each other in superiority and curiosity.
However, after a while, the two had begun to be accustomed with each other. Life would show Reaper the beauties of her existence and Reaper... He would silently listen and watch, his stories and utter reality too dull and gloomy to share. 

"Death, I-" 

"Reaper. Sorry, I just prefer that name. I've grown used to it." 

Life bit her lower lip, but kindly nodded. "I see. Reaper...Is...Is there something on your mind?" 

Reaper looked over at her. "...No, I was just day-dreaming." 

"Ah. Alright. Would you like to see the stars together? They twinkle brilliantly in the night sky and the view from here is amazing." 

"Oh, no I'm fine. I actually need to head out today." 

"Visiting your friend?" 

Reaper smiled. "Yeah." 

The skeleton enjoyed visiting Geno. He couldn't keep the glitched clone a secret for long, since Life and himself had grown so close. She noticed Reaper leaving a lot and managed to  get Reaper to spill about him. Life swore to never tell anyone and began to desire to meet Reaper's friend.
Alas, the goddess was also informed about Geno's condition and understood that she couldn't see him any time soon. 

Nevertheless, She was happy for Reaper. 

The god gave his final goodbyes before vanishing, leaving Life alone in her sanctuary.

~~💔~~

That's it. 

Geno groaned. 

Erasing his world was the only solution to saving his brother from the loop. Now that he knew it didn't work, there was nothing else to do. 

All of this loss of hope had been taking a toll on Geno. 

He had noticed that his movements became more sluggish and his soul started to beat less and less. He was losing DETERMINATION, his vital life source. If Geno ever 'gave up', then he might...
The thought wasn't so bad. He was going to die sooner or later, so he accepted that. If he could never save Papyrus, what was the point of staying alive? His existence didn't matter. Geno could just give up and let Sans live his life.

Let Papyrus live his life.
Let everyone live their lives. 

Slowly, Geno retrieved his own soul, examining it. Little by little, small shards were slowly breaking off. By a quick glance, it would appear that it was alright. However, it was shattering. The process might be slow, but it still is going. He was so close to giving up that it was scary. 

A flash of red caught his attention. 

The skeleton glanced over at the couch a few meters away. It was sitting there peacefully. 

Reaper. 

What would Reaper think if Geno gave up? 

He probably wouldn't care. The god's job was to kill Geno in the first place, so it would be easier on his part. 

"Why aren't you using the couch I gave you?" 

Geno turned around to find Reaper staring at him questioningly. "I don't know. I like the floor." 

"Well, If you aren't going to use the couch, I can always take it back." Reaper huffed. 

"Nah. I'll keep it. It gives this place a nice aesthetic." 

"Great, 'cause I'm too lazy to carry a couch back to a stupid shop." Reaper flew himself onto the couch, lazily spreading out over it. 

Geno chuckled. "Busy day?" 

"YES. I'M SO TIIIRED." 

"Welp, I'll leave you to rest, I guess." 

"Nononono, I didn't skip a chance to go stargazing just to laze around here and NOT talk." 

Geno sat onto the armrest-part of the couch. "Stargazing? That sounds nice." 

"Yeah! There was a beautiful view and everything!" 

"Huh. Y'know, I've never seen the stars before." 

Reaper shot up from the couch, gawking. "WHAT!?" 

"Come to think of it, I've never seen the sky either in person." 

The god couldn't believe what he was hearing. "SERIOUSLY?!" 

"Seriously. I've actually never been above ground in my life." 

Reaper grabbed both of Geno's hands, startling the other. "When I figure out a way to bust you out of here, I will show you the stars and my favorite places on the surface." 

Geno blinked. "Yeah...Like THAT will ever happen." 

"No, I'm ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT serious! I'll even PROMISE you that I'll do it." 

"Really?" 

"YES." 

Geno withdrew his hands from Reaper's, setting them in his pockets. "Then, Good luck, I guess." 

Reaper flashed Geno a smile, a familiar sensation burning within him. His eyes dazzled with a new found power. Geno had immediately recognized it, smiling himself. 

Reaper was DETERMINED.