Late Night Walk

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As I finish putting the children to bed at the orphanage, I go to my office/room and sit at my table.

"Why did I agree to go visit the monsters?" I say to myself.

"Because you know it's the right thing to do." A new but familiar voice says as I look up and see Branden standing there.

"How do you do that?" I ask him curiously, while also semi-startled. "Just appear where ever you want to."

"Magic." He answers. "Truth be told, it is magic, just not sure which kind."

"So, what do I owe the pleasure?" I ask.

"Want to make sure you remember about tomorrow." He says and looks around the room. "So, you live here too?"

"Yeah, didn't want to leave the children all alone at night." I say and smile at my room. "Not that it isn't tempting to hop into my bed instead of getting paperwork done, but I know the kids need me."

"They don't need you." He says and I immediately take offense. "You want to help them, it's just who you are and who you've always been." He smiles and I try to stop myself from blushing. "So."

"So." I reply.

"You want to go for a walk?" He asks curiously. "It's a good time for one."

"It's late out." I say.

"Would you rather stay and talk in your room?" He asks. "Or have an excuse to teleport for a bit?"

Considering the options, I relent. "Fine, where did you want to take me?"

"My Ebott." He says and I freeze at the name. "Just to where the barrier was. It's something to experience."

"You seem pretty confident." I say getting up and walking to him.

"Well I did survive the fall down there." He says and I take his hand as it's offered to me. "Besides, I have a few new tricks to use." Suddenly we're at the base of the mountain already. "Probably shouldn't use that trick for a while though." I look at Branden and see he's already out of breath. "Takes a lot out of me."

"So, we're walking up this mountain?" I ask.

"Of course, don't see why not." He answers and starts up the path. "I'll keep you safe from any shadows in the darkness."

"Well, if you insist, then fine." I say and slowly walk up the path with him. As we walk he talks about his time in the Underground, even the time he spent with the monsters, and even what happened when Frisk showed up down there. As we get deeper into the topics, he eventually goes quiet before we reach the top, nearby an opening on the wall that leads into a dark cave. "Please tell me we aren't going into that cave."

"We're not going in today." He says and I sigh in relief. "Eventually we will, but not today."

"Good." I say and turn around to see, well, everything. The tall towers of Ebott City, the Monster village outside of town, and even the wall of the two places separating the two. "Woah."

"The wall kinda sucks to look at, but it's still my favorite place to come to when I want to clear my mind." Branden says. "Thought it'd be a good starting point for you to want to come back."

"I do like this view, but it's in Monster territory." I say and look down.

He sighs. "You know, we're not in a war with them, right?" He looks at me. "They haven't made any outrageous demands that the humans clearly have."

"What are you saying?!" I snap on him.

"Just think of it from your perspective for a moment." He says and looks at me. "You spent years wanting to get somewhere but we're blocked by some kind of barrier that trapped you from accomplishing what you wanted. Finally you've accomplished your goal, smashing the barrier and getting to what you want, but now you have to do everything different from the rest of the world. You aren't seen as normal, so your placed in your own area, separate from the world, and forced to live by the rules of people that are afraid of you even when you do nothing but show compassion and honesty."

I look down. "I'd feel like I wasn't supposed to be there in the first place."

"Even though you were there to start off?" He says and I sigh. "What?"

"I get it. It's not fair what's happening but we've had the surface to ourselves for a long time, Branden." I say. "How do you expect us to just be okay with letting them in so quickly?"

"That's what tomorrow's for." He says. "I want to introduce you to a few of my friends, let you see what the Monsters are really like. Believe me, you'd be surprised at what you find."

"Why do you say that?" I ask him.

"Because I was." He smiles and adds. "Alphys is the one who did me in. But I wonder who will get through to you."

"You assume that someone will?" I ask.

"Well, you're more open then most." He says and shoves me playfully. "Even if you try to hide it."

I shake my head and we sit down on the edge to watch the night sky. "It's been a year, I suppose meeting a few of the monsters wouldn't hurt."

"Just remember to keep an open mind." He says. "Some are pretty energetic."

"I'll try to keep an open mind." I say. "But it's getting late, and I'm tired."

"Right, let's get you home." He says and reaches out to me. I take it and we're back in my room. "Oh shit." He says and falls forward onto the ground. "Whoops."

I let go of his hand and help him to his feet. "You idiot." I say and he just laughs. "What's so funny?"

"You were worried for me." He says and I drop him. "Ow, just found it funny because I used to do the same for you."

I freeze and stare at the wall. "I forgot about that."

"Clearly." Branden says and gets up on his own. "It's alright though, I'll get home safely I'm sure."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." I say and he nods and walks out of my room. "God I'm so stupid!" I go over to my bed and lay down. "Tomorrow can't be too bad. What's the worst that'll happen." Suddenly my phone buzzes and I look at it to see Branden's messages me. He says that he has to help his mother in school tomorrow so he won't be able to show me around until after school gets out. "Guess that gives me some free time."

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