Over The Rainbow (Ink Sans X Reader)

Chapter 11

We're all eating Chinese takeout for dinner when we hear that recognizable thud. I exchange knowing looks with Ink, who seems to silently offer to accompany me. Everyone has gone silent, and no one is moving, besides Blue, who is trying to open a bottle of Coke I bought yesterday, but his gloves are slippery and he can't get a good grip on the cap. With a little jerk of my head, I motion for Hip-Hop to help him, then I spin around, throw open the kitchen/dining room door, and dash to the base of the stairs with Ink hot on my heels.

The first wooden step creaks mournfully, like some sort of wounded animal. I cringe and take another step. It's quiet, so I hurry up the stairs, feeling immensely like a secret agent. Ink continues trailing me.

"You take the guest and bonus room," I whisper to Ink. "I'll get my room and the bathroom." He nods and slips through the first door on the left, while I go right, which leads me into my room.

Everything is the same as how I left it; bed made, clothes folded neatly on top of my dresser, and all the books are aligned in a tidy row on the shelf. It certaintly doesn't look like a tornado passed through it, let alone a skeleton.

Ink meets me out in the hallway. "All clear," we say in perfect, unplanned unison. Without missing a beat, I look down the stairs. The newcomer was down there the whole time?

"Y/N! LOOK WHO I FOUND!" Ink bolts down the stairs, skipping two at a time so he can follow Blue's voice. He's gone before I can even register what Blue screamed up to us.

There's more shouts, mostly Ink, but I hear Red's voice mixed in too. I suspect I should probably say hello to the new guest, so I trot downstairs and into the living room, where everyone is gathered.

To my surprise, there's not just one, but two confused skeletons on my couch. One is smaller than the others but taller than Blue, and he wears a fluttery cape and a strange pendant-headband. He's talking animatedly to Ink and Blue, who are both listening intently. Meanwhile, on the far end of the couch, the second skeleton looks exhausted and is slumped against the back pillows. He has on a giant gray jacket and shorts. Odd combination. Hip-Hop and Red watch him carefully, and I can't tell whether they're being protective of him or want to murder him. Maybe both.

I stand motionless outside the living room staring blankly at the scene for about three minutes when Red notices me. Before anyone else can, he races to my side and points at the new arrivals. He calls the first one "Dream" and the second is supposedly "Classic". I nod like I was paying close attention. I'm still trying to process how two skeletons got here at the same time. Did they come together?

I snap out of my trance when there's a tug at my hand. It's Blue, looking up at me eagerly. "DREAM WANTS TEA," he fills me in. I don't get anymore context, instead, Blue just skips back over to Dream and Ink.

"Um," I say absentmindedly. "Does peppermint work?" Said skeletons nod vigorously. I tramp into the kitchen and shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Why do they all have to come to me? There are millions of people in the world and they had to end up here? I'm so puzzled and frustrated that I slop the hot water over the side of the mug. When I try again, I forgot to strain it, so it was just leaf water. Not too appetizing. I finally master it on the third try.

When I tiredly hand the mug to Dream, he closes his hands around it and beams. His smile lights up the room, literally. Everyone seems way more cheerful and relaxed. I sit next to Dream and rest my chin on my hand.

"I apologize for arriving so suddenly," Dream says distantly. His voice is soft and almost a bit mystic. "I didn't expect to end up here." I'm tempted to say yeah, me neither, but instead I keep my trap shut. Dream smiles again. "Thank you for taking Classic and I in. That is very kind of you."

I breathe in deeply then sigh. "No problem. I'm used to it by now." Dream opens his mouth to say something, but before he can, Ink leaps up. Seeing my bewildered expression, he sits back down, sheepishly, but smiles widely.

"I forgot to introduce us!" he exclaims.

"I already know who you are," I remind him gently, treating him like he has no recollection of who the hell he is, but Ink just laughs.

"No," he smiles, then motions to himself, Blue and Dream. "We''re the Star Sanses!"

I sit back. "The Star Sanses, huh?" They all nod. "Sweet. I'm guessing you're the 'Bad Sanses'' worst enemy?"

Ink and Dream look at each other, puzzled. "Red let me know," I shrug. They don't look alarmed, nor happy about this news, but I tell myself Red isn't as evil as the others treat him.

"Well, now that we're settled," Dream says cheerfully, "I guess we should pick places to sleep. I can share with Ink and Blue, and Classic can take the couch." Everyone agrees that that sounds good.

"Thank you for the tea," Dream says earnestly as he follows the other Star Sanses upstairs. "Your hospitality is appreciated by all of us. You're very nice." He then hurries after the others, cloak flapping.

"Huh," I say aloud as I walk into the kitchen to clean up. Everyone's gone to bed. "I am pretty nice."