SoulFire ( sans x frisk AU)

Lauren

As Gaster and I stepped into the room, an automated feeling of dread choked me to the point where I couldn't do so much as breath. My eyes began following the movement of a familiar silhouette's head shoot up, her cheeks moistened with tears. She held her breath while my heart stopped, our gazes aligning and leaving me paralyzed.

She didn't look the way I had left her months ago. By that, I don't just mean how her hair had grown in length, or how she'd gotten taller. I mean, besides her being upset, she looked tired. Tired and drained. I guess she was thinking the same thing by the look on her face.

Her eyes widened to reveal their ember glow, burning a hole into me while her lips tightened into a thin line and her fists clenched against the lap of the violet dress she wore for the coronation- The event that I intentionally missed and now regret not attending.

I wanted terribly to turn away, but she had me in a position where I didn't have the guts to do so.

"Sans is that you, boy?"

Thanking God, I turn to Gerson, but when I do my mouth drops. If I had a stomach, I'm sure it would start churning.

Gerson's once dark lime green skin had changed to a much lighter grey-green, the age spots I had no background knowledge of before now showed through his rough, leathery skin. In his hand was a crimped white cloth with red stains all over it, the same color smeared across his chin.

Even though he looked like someone sucked all of the light out of him, he was somehow managing to shine the brightest smile I'd seen in a while.

"I hope that's ketchup on your face, turtle man. Otherwise..."

I can barely grin back but find the strength to anyways. After a few seconds of composure, I stride over to the bed he laid in the one to the right of the doorway. When I start to get close Frisk lays her hand on the side of Gerson's head and kisses him just above his brows, murmuring loud enough for Gaster and me to hear her. Her voice trembled and I can see a tear trickle down to the tip of her nose.

"Tell them what's going on and don't pull the same things you did before. That isn't a suggestion. It's a direct order."

Before I can catch a glimpse of her face again, she brushes past me, swiftly rushing down the hallway. Someone else slams the door shut as soon as I turn around, sending a chill up my spine. I guess I deserve that.

The Doc taps my shoulder blade with his index finger, gesturing me back to Gerson. I sigh, smiling slightly for him when I kneel down the same way Frisk had.

"Hey, Old man. How's my honorary, adopted gizzard of an uncle doing?"

He chuckles weakly, his eyes squinting shut and a thousand wrinkles forming deep bags beneath them.

"I couldn't be any better, Sans Serif. And yourself?" Gerson has been part of my small family since Gaster first brought me up into the world. He was practically the one who taught me what feelings were- what love is. He showed me that by just being my first friend. He's forever been like a sibling to my old man, and they have been together like glue for as long as I can remember.

I grin, shaking my head a bit. I still can't believe he calls me that. My name or not I'm not too comfortable with hearing it. But, if it makes this old bastard of a man happy then hell, I'll let it slide, again.

The whole time Gaster and I spent in the room with Gerson I couldn't stop thinking about Frisk and how much I missed while I was away. Between questions we asked about his health, Gerson would pop the occasional joke or random thoughts he had had earlier that day. The thoughts would actually stretch back to weeks, months maybe. Each one grew to be more ridiculous and worrisome the more he asked them.

"You know what, boys? I think all the monsters in Waterfall are loony. I hear them sometimes when I'm at home and doin' something or just sitting around."

"Well, friend. What is it that they say?" Gaster asked halfheartedly while he examined Gerson further. Neither of us had any idea what the dilemma was. Every time we tried to get to the bottom of his illness he'd just change the subject as if he wasn't listening to us or even thinking straight. When he responded it felt like a knife was jabbing into my bones.

"They keep sayin' to look at them, "Look towards us, son. Luren's a waiten' for ya!" And uhm... You know? I can't remember what else! "

Lauren was his late wife, she was actually one of that fish girl's relatives. What's that kid's name again?... Shyren, I think. Yeah, that must be it.

The room felt cold now, and everything was quiet. Before we knew it Gerson had talked himself to sleep. 

((Sorry for the short chapter but I thought it was a good place to stop.))