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

A Deadly Sickness Can Bring The Love Out Of Any Stubborn Soul

~~💔~~

Reaper was lying on the floor, groaning. 

"What's up with you today?" Geno asked, casually walking past Reaper and into the kitchen. 

"I feel ill..." Reaper grumbled, dragging himself across the hard floor. He coughed, letting out a small wheeze. 

"Maybe you shouldn't have always used smoke as a transportation." Geno stated, taking a sip of some coffee from a warm mug (that was left out by Life). 

"Ha Ha. I'm laughing SO hard."  Reaper growled, trying to stand up. He managed to get to his feet, his legs shaking. 

"Why don't you just fly?" 

"Flying makes me dizzy..." 

"Huh. Oh well, I guess." 

The god leaned against a nearby wall, using it for support.
"I didn't know gods could get sick." 

"They usually don't." Reaper agreed, his eye-sockets starting to slowly droop. 

Geno caught sight of Reaper's exhaustion and set down his mug onto a nearby counter. He turned, striding up to the god. Using a firm hand, the skeleton was able to guide Reaper to the couch, letting him flop down onto it.
Geno turned to a door, assuming it was a closet, and swung the doors open. His judgement was correct, the closet full of towels, blankets, and pillows. Geno reached for a blanket and a few pillows, pulling them out of the closet and closing the doors.
He walked over to the Reaper, laying the blanket over him. Once he was done fluffing the pillows, he set them under Reaper's head. 

"Need anything?" The skeleton asked, looking down at Reaper. 

The other simply coughed, too tired to say a single word. Geno stared at him for a few minutes before walking back to the kitchen. The skeleton grabbed a small ice-pack from the freezer, going back to the unconscious god and plopped it onto his forehead. 

The god flinched, being whacked in the face with a bag full of hard ice. "OW!" 

Geno knelt beside Reaper, removing the pack. "You okay?" 

Reaper brung his hand to his forehead. "Y-Yeah. Just be a bit more careful in the future, please?" 

Geno nodded, setting the ice-pack more gently onto the other's forehead. Reaper sighed contently, shutting his 'eyes' once again. Geno couldn't help but smile. The peaceful look Reaper wore put him at ease.
Silently, he stood from his spot and made another trip to the kitchen. He snatched his mug of coffee from the counter before leaving the kitchen and heading towards the door. 

"Where are you going...?" Reaper croaked, his 'eyes' too heavy to open. 

"Outside. I'm not planning on going anywhere else." Geno grasped the door handle, twisting it and opening the door. 

"P-Please be careful." Reaper called out, his voice faltering from his exhaustion. 

Geno glanced back at the god, a small smile forming on his face. "Don't worry. I will be." 

~~~

"So, Reaper is sick." 

Life looked up from the birds she was cradling in her soft hands. "He is?" 

"Yep. Stuck on the couch and knocked out." Geno was sitting across from Life, sipping his drink. 

"Hm...I could prepare some warm soup when he gets hungry." 

"Sounds good." Another sip. 

"...So, about the other night..."
Geno peered up at Life, knowing immediately what she was going to say.

"What happened?" 

"Nothing happened." 

"Are you sure...? You seem pretty tense." 

"It's..."
Geno's mind wandered off to the time Reaper was with him. They were standing underneath the tree, their 'mouths' connected- Geno nearly slapped himself.
SNAP OUT OF IT, GOD DAMN IT.
The skeleton took a big gulp of his drink, nestling his face deeper into his scarf. 

"...Ah. I see." Life smiled sweetly, Geno's gaze laying on her. 

"W-Wha-?" 

"Young Love. It is simply magical. You two bicker just like a married couple!" 

Geno didn't realize his face was heavily flushed until the skeleton brought his scarf up to his face. "L-Love?! I don't know w-what you're talking about." He was stuttering.
Usually, he would simply shrug off the topic, but a recent feeling as been bothering him. It bugged him so much that he could barely think at all. 

Life giggled, the birds flapping a little around her. "I know the feeling, Geno. I used to feel the same thing towards someone when I was younger." She let out a light sigh. "I am so happy for the two of you." 

"REAPER AND I ARE NOT TOGETHER!" Geno shouted, his palms covering his face. "WE ARE JUST FRIENDS...I think." 

Life's smile grew, a little amused. "Child...It's okay to fall in love." 

The skeleton hesitantly removed his hands from his face, letting them grasp around the mug in his lap. "I'm not saying that it's not okay," Geno shifted, quickly gulping another sip of coffee. "I'm just saying...uh..."
He felt uncomfortably hot, his clothes becoming steamy. "I just...don't..." 

Life set down the bird she had been caressing, letting it flutter off. She stared into Geno's conflicted 'eye'. "You don't think you're good enough?"
Geno was silent for a few minutes, his visible eye-socket devoid of an iris. 

He then nodded, the lights coming back. "I'm nothing compared to a god." 

A fluffy hand settled onto Geno's bony ones. Life came a little closer to Geno, providing him a reassuring smile. "I believe not. Have you not noticed the way Reaper gazes at you? Every time I see him look at you, his eyes are filled with pure Happiness. Compassion. Love."
Each word was gentle, meaning poured into each pronunciation.

"I  hope you can trust me when I tell you that." 

A grin crept onto Geno's face, a light blue-color dusting his cheekbones. "...I do. Thank you, Ms. Toriel." 

Life gave him one last reassuring smile before standing up and walking to another side of her sanctuary. "Well, I will be off to take care of my plants and animals." 

"Alright then. I'll leave you to that." The skeleton jumped to his feet, heading back inside. 

~~~

Reaper was curled on his side, the rhythm of his chest rising and falling going up and down. He was still asleep, the blanket covering him neatly. The ice-pack had fallen off, laying on the floor in a small cold puddle. 

Geno quietly tip-toed to Reaper's side, kneeling down. He wasn't sure if it was appropriate at the moment, but he gathered his heart and leaned forward. 

Geno gave Reaper a small kiss on the forehead, smiling warmly. 

"Sleep well, Reaper."