When Lightning Strikes

chapter fourteen

chapter warnings: Nonsexual nudity and shared bath between family members

. . . .

 The water was hot, scalding hot, way hotter than what the heater could get it to. It wasn't the first time that Undyne had used her magic to heat up a bath for you, although last time had been under a very different circumstance. You had appreciated it then, and you appreciate it now. The knots in your muscles that had been pulled taut loosened and unwound. The smell of lavender and magic hung heavy in the air.

Steam rolled off the surface of the water, off of Undynes skin, clouding the room. Her golden eyes almost seemed to glow in the dying light. You were sure that if Undyne didn't have such dark red hair, that you wouldn't have been able to see her from where she barely peaked above the water. You could see her lips moving under the water, saying words you couldn't hear.

Pain prickled at your scalp, your lungs, your neck, your hands, your spine. You grimaced and shifted around, looking around the apartment, trying to focus on anything other than Undyne gripping your hands just a little too tight, trying to focus on anything other than the barest sparks of magic pricking into your skin. You could feel your cheeks swell up, feeling as if they were about to pop. Sticky, pitch blank ink spilled out of your mouth, the pressure in your cheeks being relieved.

Undyne frowned, putting an end to her spell, and straightened her spine, sitting up properly.

"hm." she CHECKED your soul once more. "the chains are cracking, but no where near enough. I noticed that your skin color kept shifting. did you feel anything change? other than your ink I mean."

You nodded, "Yeah, it hurt. Like I had something under my skin that was trying to get out."

"i don't think traditional magic is going to cut it." she said, gesturing to your soul, to the chains wrapped around them, "i will ask the others if they'll help us. maybe science can do something about it.

You sighed deeply. You didn't really want to involve anyone else in this... but it seemed as if Undyne had already made up her mind.

"Okay."