Wounds Heal, Scars Fade

Chapter 17: Scars Remain

Deci finally stands, collecting himself and sighing softly.

"I guess I should probably...play along while I can..." Deci straightens up, stretching, wincing as bones pop into place.

"Damn..." Deci opens the door, ducking as a rogue bone flings past Deci. He stands up, blinking as every single Sans looks right toward him. He feels sweat slowly bead up on his skull, panic blossoming in his soul.

"Uh...why is everyone staring at me...?" Deci jolts as Lag lands beside Deci, smiling widely.

"L-l-l-let's g-g-g-go t-t-t-to t-t-th-he k-kit-tch-hen, r-rig-gh-ht?" Deci looks at Lag, panic causing his soul to beat faster and faster. Lag leads Deci to the kitchen, catching the attention of the Sans in the kitchen, the Sans turning around to reveal Blue. Deci flinches, looking away from the skeleton, his soul beat relaxing.

"You sure?" Lag nods, and the skeleton smiles at Deci.

"My name is Azul! What's yours?" Deci looks at the ground, mumbling softly.

"M' name is Deci..." Azul smiles, going back to his food.

"Well, feel free to relax in here and watch me cook!" Deci moves to the furthest corner away from Azul. Lag and Azul make eye contact, the former leaving the room and the latter settling into the routine of making food (mostly tacos). Eventually, Miel enters the kitchen to say hi to his bro, Deci stiffening in place as he looks at TK Stretch, his eyelight extinguishing and his magic beginning to glow within his fist.

"Heya bro. Who's the skeleton in the corner?"

"Deci. He's the new one, remember? Imprint went on and on about him." Miel nods, walking over to Deci, who is trembling and breathing sharply.

"Heya pal, Deci, right?" Deci doesn't respond, Miel waving his hand in front of Deci's eye sockets.

"Can he even see?" Deci's eyelight shines Red, Dark Blue, Yellow, and Purple as he grabs Miel's soul, surprising the two Swaps.

"Miel!" Azul steps in between Deci and Miel, frowning sadly.

"Deci, I do not know what has caused you to react in such a way, but please, put my brother down." Deci shakes as he holds Miel, his entire body trembling without his consent.

Repose, Imprint, Solar, and Lunar all enter the kitchen, Lunar immediately rushing over to Deci, the latter dodging away from Lunar's touch. Lunar frowns, closing his eyes and focusing. Instantly the aura of the room seems calmer. Deci slowly stops trembling, glaring at Lunar now instead of Miel. His magic releases Miel as he turns his gaze on Lunar. Lunar straightens, looking Deci straight in the eyelights.

"I don't know what triggered you, but if you let me, we can find out together." Lunar is unafraid, Deci looking down at Lunar. Solar is tensed up, Imprint watching with excitement and Repose with interest. Deci suddenly drops to his knees, sending a glare at Miel as Miel uses his blue/orange magic to grab Deci's soul and pulls it out. Deci flinches violently in response, everyone looking at the soul that has been forced out into the open. It flickers back and forth between a whole uncracked soul with the four colors displayed in his eyelight and a cracked and broken soul with all seven known traits.

All the Sanses look at the soul, but Lunar's gaze is pulled to Deci, who is trembling and glitching out badly, a black boned skeleton occasionally appearing where Deci stands.

"Hey...calm down..." Lunar speaks softly, placing his hand on Deci's shoulder. Deci violently flinches into a counter, cowering and pulling himself inside it, closing the door. The room goes silent at the development of Deci. Miel releases Deci's soul, the thing phasing through the cupboard, returning to its very traumatized owner. Lunar looks at all the Sanses, moving towards the cupboard.

"...Deci...are you okay?" The mentioned skeleton doesn't respond, Lunar sighing and sitting against the cupboard, his back to the skeleton within.

"I do not know what happened to you, but I'm thinking this goes deeper than your AU..." Lunar closes his eyes, projecting his calming aura into the cupboard Deci is in, smiling.

"I understand if you are scared, upset, or stressed, but I want you to let me in a little. Allow me to understand you, and what is happening within your head right now." One half of the cupboard opens slightly, revealing the red scarf of Deci. Lunar smiles, knowing his aura is to blame for Deci's slowly relaxing state.

"Deci...I know you don't like touch. Am I allowed to touch you?" Deci turns his blind side towards Lunar, clearly nodding.

"Just don't stab me with a sharp needle or anything." Lunar frowns slightly, blinking when Deci slowly moves his hand to where Lunar can touch it.

"I will try my best to ensure you aren't hurt. I promise." Deci chuckles tiredly and dryly.

"It doesn't matter. Eventually you'll hit me, or hurt me, drown me or choke me. Eventually, one or all of you will target me. So let's get this over with so you can hate me sooner." Solar walks over, sitting beside Lunar. Phantasm and Delusion wander in, watching the twins creating a chain between the two, Solar holding Lunar's shoulder as Lunar reaches towards Deci's hand.

"We'll find out what you've been through, and then we'll do all we can to help you." Lunar speaks, determination filling his words. Deci just looks away.

With that, Lunar clasps with Deci's hand.

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Phantasm and Delusion set up a fort around the twins and Deci, keeping everyone out. Time wandered into the kitchen, to find the unusual situation.

"Are they adventuring?"

"Yes. A lot of sh-...stuff went down and ultimately, Lunar decided to venture into Deci's mind with his permission, in order to understand why it all happened." Time nods, looking at Delusion.

"And you?"

"Solar helped Lunar to remain stable." Time nods, tapping the table rhythmically, thinking.

"I'd prefer if Lunar didn't get traumatized, but I suppose it's for the best they know so they can help him begin to heal." Time sighs, looking at Phantasm.

"You'll help Lunar to cope, right?" Phantasm nods, smiling.

"Of course, Time. I'll protect my young friend as best as possible."

(1026 words

Here we go. Back to regular chapters and plot. Can you tell I forgot/didn't know where I was gonna go?

Lol.