A month later, Geno's POV

I sit at a table, eating a pancake. I shake my head, lost in thoughts. Grillby insisted on giving me some days off to celebrate the holidays, even though it is mid-January to humans. But I can't say no to my boss and friend. Cross says he tripped on a stick while running for his after-work job, so he is recovering from that. I have the hologram up as I eat. Reaper is now showing up in each view of the house. Did he really die? Is he still there? How? What's he doing? What did I see? Where has he been if he's just showing up here ever since he entered the diner? So many questions...But I don't want to see him. Part of me is scared. Still unwilling to find the truth out. Part of me finds being in the unknown better than in the known. Cross believes he pretended to die and came back as some silly game or trick. Chara isn't happy with him at all, he's a trickster but Chara isn't a fan of those tricks. Though, Chara is getting stronger again and is strangely content nowadays, proud of himself for some reason. I don't want to even talk to Reaper. Because then, if he faked it all, I won't be hurt. It will just be a silly thought. I shake my head. I need to focus on the task at hand. I scroll through the hologram repeatedly. I will protect them. Ensure all is well. Keep the promise. I will....

"Ya know you don't have to do this, right?"Cross asks, limping over

"Do what?"I ask

"Assign yourself as their guardian. Nobody assigned you to be their guardian. You're dealing with a lot right now. Nightmares, emotions and the same threats the rest of them are. I get the promise is yours to keep, but that's only to protect the three kids. A lot easier than watching for 10, 20ish people and yourself. They can handle themselves. You should put yourself first."He says

"What? But I'm fine. I can handle it."I say

"You've been watching that for weeks. You've had nightmares and hardly ate. You are not okay. You've been stressed and down this entire time. You need a break. A real one. You are overworking yourself."He says

"And how do you suppose I do that?"I ask

"This is."He says, taking my hologram

He deletes all the views of the places that Raven, Goth and Raven would go or is at. He hands it back to me.

"You worry about yourself and the promise. And you go elsewhere. If all you are gonna do here is worry about them more than yourself and make yourself miserable, you need to go. You deserve to feel as secure and happy as they are."He says

"Where do I even go?"I ask

"Go to a fresh start."He says

"Getting a fresh start? You're funny."I tell him

"I'm serious. Take this. It can be real. I got it from Science."He says, handing me a vial

"I'm not abandoning them all."I say, though tuck it away

"Well, if you change your mind, just take a sip."He says

I nod.

"I think I'll for a walk."I say getting up

"Ok..."He says

I leave the house that we're renting and stroll down the street. I find a payphone post and get some G out. I slip it in and dial Goth's phone number. Not all the questions in my head are for Reaper. Goth actually picked up.

"H-Hello?"He says

"Hello Goth."I say

"Geno! So good to hear from you! Where are you? Are you ok?"Goth asks

"I'm alright. I'm somewhere. Now, I have learned from certain sources that you have been having nightmares. Is that true? Why? For how long?"I say

"Yes....I'm scared. I don't want anyone to get hurt by...them. I also have seen how upset you were. I just want you to be safe and happy as well, I know about the promise. For a while now...."He says

"Well you on't have to worry about that. I'm okay and I have just been busy. Plus, I'm not the most expressive with these things."I say

Then I get an idea. I have found his soul pieces in other AUs. Maybe if I go and get them before they can be used, that will make him happier. 

I smile at this thought and we talk for a few moments over the phone. Goth told me of his nightmares and how everyone missed me. Especially Reaper from what he says. My soul got filled with hope. Maybe there's a chance for us to get along again. Then I hear someone from around the corner of the street that the payphone post was at. I recognize it. It's Reaper's.

"Ya, he sucks. Don't get why I stuck around that idiot. Should've just dealt with death and move on. I would've rathered that much more."He says

I'm silent. 

"Geno? You okay?"Goth asks

"I'll see you around....or I won't. Stay safe kid."I say

"Geno! Don't-!"He says

I hang up. 

I sneak up to the corner of the building and listen in.

"He's so stupid! So clueless! And you can forget about it when he's in a bad mood, such a selfish jerk. He shouldn't even be around! Why'd I even become his friend or get stuck around him?"Reaper's voice says

I peek around the corner. He was talking on the phone, hovering across the ground. He shuffles and takes out a flower crown. My flower crown.

"I wish I never met him!"He says, slamming it to ground

I watch in silence. I tense. My soul sank.

"Oh, then there's the kids! From the alternate timeline! They just are a reminder of what I don't want! A nightmare! Ugh, I feel so bad for that other me."He says, dropping the flower crown Shino made for him

Then he sliced both flower crowns in half with his scythe. I know how hard Shino worked on those and if she saw this, she'd be broken. His actions are crossing a line. It's bad enough he is hurting me, but Shino doesn't deserve it. I step around the corner. I glare at him. He sees me.

"Missed me, huh? Those broken flower crowns and what you just said seem more like good riddance to you! Good luck explaining those to Shino!"I snap

"Geno! Wait, I-!"Reaper says, dropping his phone

"I get it, Reaper! I get it! I heard every word you said and I get it! You're sick of dealing with me! So you know what? I'll go!"I say

"Geno!"He yells

"Maybe then I won't be some idiot you're stuck with! And to think I thought you were dead! You have no clue what that was like! But I guess you wouldn't care! Because I'm some idiot you're sick of! What a great joke to pull on the idiot, huh? Haha, so funny! I regretted the moment I left you because I thought if I stayed with you, you wouldn't have died. But clearly that wasn't the case. Maybe this time you will, I don't care. Maybe I will, I don't care. I'm just done with all this pain."I snap, feeling tears go down my face

"Geno...You don't understand!"Reaper says

I open a portal.

"Don't lie to me, Reaper. Especially when not understanding things is your specialty. Tell everyone I said hi."I say, then step through

I shut the portal and the moment I did that, a great weight was lifted off my shoulders. Nobody assigned you to be their guardian. You deserve to feel as safe and happy as they are. Yes, Cross is right. His advice is what I should take, not this pain. Get a fresh start. I know exactly where to go to find that. I look around and open another portal. I go through it and I'm at my save screen. I do some things with code and create a list of AUs that don't have a Geno but the timeline would allow. There were over 4,000. I take the vial out and sip it. I black out moments later. 

When I woke up, the vial laid broken on the ground. I reach out to it, only to find that I had a human hand. Others would jump in surprise, but I smile. This narrows it down. I get up and add human  to my search. This narrows it down to 40. I choose a random one and make a portal to it.

I land on the ground softly. I shut the portal. I look around to see I am by a lake. I am on the surface. I peek into the water. The reflection did not surprise me.

It worked! Cross is the best! Now, to get that fresh start! 

I look around and see a trail with a town it lead to in the distance. I run, skip even, to it. But I spot something on the ground. I look at it, stopping. It's a soul piece. I use blue magic to make it come closer and to check it. It's Goth's! I open another portal, smaller, to where Goth is. He is in clear sight.

"Hey, buddy!"I say

He looks at me and jumps.

"I believe this is yours." I say, sending the soul piece to him

He takes it and it successfully fit into the outline of his soul. It was his.

"T-Thank you."He says

"Stay safe out there, Goth. If Reaper comes with flower crowns, hide them from Shino so she doesn't get upset. Bye!"I say, then shut the portal

I skip into town and look arond. Such a weight has come off of me already. It felt good. I feel good. I feel happy. 

"Hey! You!"A voice says

I look and see a girl come running over. I smile. It's this world's human Ink. I look around and point to myself. She nods. I tilt my head. She smiles and comes hopping over, stars in her eyes. She looks at me with excitement and stars in her eyes.

"I haven't seen you around here before! Are you new?"She asks

"Yes, I am."I say

"What's your name? Where ya from? I'm Ink! How are you? Do you wanna friends? Do you want a tour? Have you been here before? Or is it your first time? Wait---gotta slow down. Can't overwhelm others with questions. Sorry."She asks excitedly

"Hehe, it's ok. I'm Geno. It's nice to meet you. I'm from many places. I am good. Sure! I'd love to be your friend. I haven't been here before so it's my first time. I'd love a tour, though. Can you show me the ropes?"I reply

Her excitement went through the roof when I answered. I chuckle at the joy on her face and the excitement in her eyes. It reminded me of the Ink I know. She grabs my hand. She has this determined look now that said challenge accepted all over it.

"Then come on! I'll show ya around! Let's go, new buddy Geno!"She cheers

She runs off, pulling me with her. I smile and laugh. I laugh genuinely for the first time in a while. This wasn't so bad. 

Thank you, Cross. This is just what I needed.

Error's POV

I groan and facepalm. I didn't know anything but just seeing Reaper walk in and his expression told me something went wrong. Goth came over and took two broken flower crowns from him. Goth glares at him, then runs off to hide them from Shino. I reach over behind the chair and get a chancla from behind it. He comes and sits beside me. He looks at me and opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.

"WhAt dId yOu dO nOw? ClEaRlY yOu mEsSeD Up wItH sOmEtHinG."I say

In walks Nightmare to the room.

"He was being an idiot again, Error. And he broke Geno's soul all over again."Nightmare says, shaking his head and dusting his sleeves off from dirt and grass

Reaper glares Nightmare down that said be quiet all over it.

"WaIt! YoU fOUnD GeNo?"I ask Reaper

"....."Reaper is silent, bowing his head

"Sure did. I saw the whole thing go down and got to be shoved into the dirt for being a witness. Who shoved me there? Oh, Reaper right there, no big deal. Just him trying to keep me quiet. But at least it didn't hurt as much as what Geno heard and believed Reaper said about him. Who were you on a call with, Reaper?"Nightmare answers instead

"....Dust."Reaper says

"I'm gonna go change and clean these clothes."Nightmare says

"ThAnKs fOr tElLing wHat hE wOULDn'T, NiGHtMaRe."I say

"No problem, Error. I'm on Team Geno after all, unlike some people. Poor dude hearing the things this guy said. Call me back in if he won't tell the truth."He says, shooting a glare at Reaper before leaving the room

"DUsT! GeT iN hErE!"I yell

"Whaaaat?"Dust says, coming downstairs

"WhaT wAs tHiS idIoT sayIng to yOu oVeR tHe pHonE?"I ask

Reaper tried to leave but I caught him in my strings. Dust looks at us and quickly understands what must have happened. He facepalms. 

"Reaper, I told you not to tell me those things over the phone for a reason! Ugh, but you clearly didn't listen!"Dust growls

"HoW bAd dId hE mEsS uP? WhaT wAs hE sAyIng?"I ask

"He was talking about him and Geno. But then it switched to something that I didn't even understand. I quote: Ya, he sucks. Don't get why I stuck around that idiot. Should've just dealt with death and move on. I would've rathered that much more.He's so stupid! So clueless! And you can forget about it when he's in a bad mood, such a selfish jerk. He shouldn't even be around! Why'd I even become his friend or get stuck around him?I wish I never met him! Oh, then there's the kids! From the alternate timeline! They just are a reminder of what I don't want! A nightmare! Ugh, I feel so bad for that other me. Then the call ended, though he didn't hang up. Did I miss anything, Reaper? What did that all even mean? What even happened?"He says

Reaper shakes his head.

I glare at Reaper and analyze every word he said according to Dust.

"No...You didn't."He says

"YoU aBsOlUtE iDiOt. LeT's aLl gIvE hIm a wElL-dEsErVeD slOw cLaP."I say, clapping slowly

Dust does the same. Goth comes running downstairs with Ink. Ink looks at me. I look at him. I've hidden from him and tricked him this whole time. Science is working on a cure to get me out of this spider form. Ink comes over and looks at me curiously. He puts a hand out. I crawl onto it. He lifts me to his shoulder.

"Glitchy?"He whispers

"HeyA, InkY."I say

He smiles.

"It is you....good. I'll talk with you later. What are you doing?"He asks, looking at the situation

"Oh, yA kNoW, sLow cLapPinG aN iDiOt fOr hUrTiNg OuR fRiEnd GeNo."I say

"Oh! Goth has some information about Geno too, but I think it may be better than whatever Reaper did."He says, placing me on his shoulder

I smile and nod. 

We all slow-clapped him. Reaper bows his head. I look at Goth and could tell he was holding something back. Bottling something up. But the way Reaper hid his face in shame and tried to leave must've been the last straw because Goth snapped.

"Why are you trying to leave? You caused this! He did you no wrong, nor did he do wrong to anyone here! All he wanted to do was keep us safe! And now, he may be gone because of you!"Goth snaps, tears in his eyes

"WhaT?"Dust and I snap

Ink shakes his head.

"You're about to learn the info...."Ink whispers

"That's not true."Reaper says

"That's not true? How? Who caused him to be soulbroken in the first place, then? Who made him cry? Who called him weak? Who didn't pick up on the signs he gave? Who caused him to run away? Who made him disappear? Who? Tell me, Reaper! WHO?!"Goth says, summoning his scythe and pointing it at Reaper's neck

Reaper remains silent. Goth has reached his breaking point. But he took some deep breaths. He lowers his scythe.

"No...I shouldn't do that. As much as you've hurt him, it would hurt him more if you're gone. If something happened to you. So I won't be like you and hurt him so terribly. I could faintly hear you, Reaper. I know what you said. Geno heard and boy was he upset."Geno says, narrowing his eyes at Reaper

"What? How?"Reaper asks

"Like you'd want to know. Error, Geno called me and was talking with me. He was checking up on everyone, including Reaper. Making sure all is well and everyone is ok. I told him how things were good and everyone is safe and good. I told him how everyone missed him. I even told him how Reaper here missed him, loved him and wanted him back. Ya know, the things he's been telling us. But at one point, Geno went silent and I heard...very faintly.....Reaper saying:Ya, he sucks. Don't get why I stuck around that idiot. Should've just dealt with death and move on. I would've rathered that much more. I didn't know it was Reaper or what was going on. I thought it was just someone on another phone or line nearby. But now I do. I feel so bad for Geno, because now I understand why he ended the call the way he did."Goth says, breaking into tears

"What?"Dust asks

"GoTh....Don'T pUsh YoUrsElF. I sEe hOw uPsEt YoU aRe-"I say

"No,"He cuts me off,"You need to know. It could help you find him before something goes wrong. I asked him if something was wrong or if he was okay and his response....He responded with pain in his voice already:I'll see you around....or I won't. Stay safe kid. Then he hung up."

Reaper's eyes shrank. It's as if he was reminded of something or something clicked in his mind for once. Goth turns to him with a cold gaze as tears ran down his face.

"Why'd you have to make me lie to him? Why? You know what, don't answer that. Because all you'll do is lie to me as well."Goth says, then runs off crying

Palette was entering the room and bumped into Goth. Goth stops, looking up at him. They talked but none of us could hear. Goth ran past Palette and Palette gave Reaper the dirtiest look. The anger burned in his star eye-lights told the message easily. You make my Gothy cry?! You gonna pay! He leaned against the door frame, probably wanting to hear the entire case before getting on line for the make Reaper pay line. I asked Reaper for an explanation, but he was silent. Dust says he is buffering, processing everything that went down, like a true idiot. I call Nightmare back into the room.

"Yes? The idiot being quiet?"He says, entering

I nod.

"What did you see or hear after he said those things?"Dust asks

"Hmm, well, I dunno. I don't want to break a friend's trust. Oh wait! I do! Because that's exactly what he did to Geno. From there, I took video in case nobody would believe me. Can I get a projector? I can show you all."He says

Ink makes a projector with his paintbrush. Nightmare thanks him. Dust shuts the windows and makes it dark enough for the projection to be seen. Nightmare plugs his phone into the projector and pulls up a video. The perspective was from across the street. Geno was in sight and so was Reaper. Two broken flower crowns were in front of Reaper and he has his scythe out, covered in petals. He broke them. Nightmare looks at us. We nod.

"PlAy It."I say, tying Reaper to the ceiling

He hits play. What played to me made me so upset. It filled me with rage to Reaper and even more care for Geno.

"Missed me, huh? Those broken flower crowns and what you just said seem more like good riddance to you! Good luck explaining those to Shino!"Geno snapped

"Geno! Wait, I-!"Reaper said, dropping his phone

"I get it, Reaper! I get it! I heard every word you said and I get it! You're sick of dealing with me! So you know what? I'll go!"He said

"Geno!"Reaper yelled

"Maybe then I won't be some idiot you're stuck with! And to think I thought you were dead! You have no clue what that was like! But I guess you wouldn't care! Because I'm some idiot you're sick of! What a great joke to pull on the idiot, huh? Haha, so funny! I regretted the moment I left you because I thought if I stayed with you, you wouldn't have died. But clearly that wasn't the case. Maybe this time you will, I don't care. Maybe I will, I don't care. I'm just done with all this pain."He snapped, tears going down his face

"Geno...You don't understand!"Reaper says

Geno opens a portal.

"Don't lie to me, Reaper. Especially when not understanding things is your specialty. Tell everyone I said hi."Geno said, then stepped through

The portal shut. What followed was Nightmare speaking.

"You just couldn't stop, huh? Hurt him once and had to hurt him again! Great job, great job, man. NOT!"Nightmare said

This was followed by Reaper coming over and knocking the phone away. I assume this is when Nightmare was shoved into the dirt. The video ends. I make a connection that worries me. What Goth heard:I'll see you around....or I won't. And what Geno said:Maybe this time you will, I don't care. Maybe I will, I don't care. I'm just done with all this pain. Everyone slow claps Reaper.

Geno is hurt deeper than Reaper knows. He doesn't care if he dies. He just wants the pain to end. Poor Geno....We need to find him. What if he does something....? But we also need an explanation.

"NoW wHY tHe heLl wOuLd yOu saY tHoSe tHiNgs ReApEr? AbOuT GeNo? WhAt wAs gOiNg tHrOUGh yOuR sKULl? DIdn't YoU tHinK oF hOw He wOulD fEeL? HoW hE-?"I ask

"I wasn't talking about him!"Reaper snaps

"What?"Nightmare says

"Lying again?"Ink asks, displeased

"No...He's not lying about this. I can sense it. He feels shame, guilt, regret, but has honesty with what he's telling us."Nightmare says

Everyone is silent. You could hear a pin drop. I'm shocked. Everyone is.

"TheN wHo wErE yOu tAlKinG aBOuT?"I ask

"I was talking about myself. I was telling Dust how I bet he feels."Reaper says

"I wasn't really listening since it's obvious."Dust says

"All those things, I said it about myself. I bet that he was saying, thinking, feeling that about me. After what I did, I wouldn't be surprised or offended if he did. I'm sorry...."Reaper explains

I look at him and see the emotions in his eyes. But I could see the honesty there as well. That's what was important. I shake my head. Sure, Geno may be angry or thought that at first, but not anymore. He was probably ready to forgive Reaper. Geno's call to Goth certainly proves it. But this sent Geno back to square one. Reaper also clearly doesn't know or still realize how Geno felt toward him. And from what Geno understands, Reaper hates him.

"WeLl tHanKs fOr tHe hOnEsTy. BuT nOw, GeNo ThInkS yOu fEeL LiKe tHat aBoUt hIm. AlSo, yOUr WoRdS aRe inAcUrrAtE. He LoVed tHe kIds. He wAnTeD tO pRoTeCt tHem. AnD fOr yOu To sAy wHat YoU dId is WrOng oR meAn aSsUmPTiOn. I kNow GenO, I bEt hE wOuLd'VE foRgiVen yOu, bUt nOw hE's wHo kNoWs WhErE. BrAvO."I say

"Wait, so let me get this straight..."Palette says

I nod. He walks over to Reaper.

"You did all that? Then he witnesses an illusion of you dying? Then all these weeks later, he hears ya saying these things? You actually thought that was a good idea? And you say you love him? But now he may be gone elsewhere, in danger, hurt or worse....because of you? What the hell man?Oh, whoops, sorry Ink. I used the word again."Palette says

"No, no. Now was a time where it's okay to use it."Ink says, anger in his eye lights

"Error, Geno may think some other things about Reaper because of the illusion."Palette says

"LiKe wHat?"I ask

"Like faking his death. That's gotta hurt. I mean, he does care a lot about Reaper. The illusion causes him to see nightmares, which it did. How could Geno explain to himself how the person he saw die before his eyes come back perfectly okay?"Palette says

"Wait, he cares about me?"Reaper says

Everyone in that room:

https://youtu.be/3O8J2locx5o

Palette has had enough.

"Error. Hand me that chancla. Please."He says

I toss it to him. He catches it and thanks me. Reaper then got a clean smack in the head by the chancla from Palette.

"Yes he does! Get that into your skull for Asgoro's sake! How do you sound so surprised? Is that a fact really so hard to register in to your mind? You've gotta be kidding me! You really are blind! I wonder when you'll figure out the truth! Probably never at this rate!"Palette snaps at him, whacking him again with the chancla

"But nobody EVER makes Gothy cry! Nobody upsets his family! Because they are like family to me! You, are an exception. You are coming with me."Palette says, tearing him from the strings

He drags Reaper to a corner, sits him on a stool and puts a DUNCE hat on him. Palette returns.

"Ok, so how are we gonna find Geno?"He asks, holding the chancla

I can see the anger and determination in his eyes. We look at each other. We don't know.

"Eureka!"A voice shouts

Bang! Crash! Bam! Patter, patter,patter, patter, BAM!

"Science fell down the stairs again!"Dust says

Moments after, Science comes running over excitedly, not giving any acknowledgement to his injuries.

"Guys! I found Geno! His phone at least! Come on!"Science says, then runs out the door

We all look at each other. Palette goes to watch over the idiot in the corner. The rest of us went after Science. 

We go to this house on the other side of town. Science politely knocks on the door, but he is estatic with his achievement. The door opens and Dust had to catch his jaw. A wave of shock, worry and joy hit us all.

"Cross!"Ink cheers

"Hey, guys. What are you all doing here? Why is Nightmare like that?"Cross says

"I tracked Geno's phone to here! What are you doing here?"Science says

"I have my reasons."Nightmare says

"Oh, I've been living here with Geno. He kinda helped me out."Cross says

"How?"Ink asks

"Well, when Chara took her turn to contorl us, we got shot by a chemical-covered arrow. Chara lost control and I left you all to try to keep control. I failed and I'm sorry Blue paid the price for it. But then Geno fell for a trap and we were in the area, witnessing it. He helped give the motivation for us to break free. Good thing we did too, the trap was not doing anything good for him. He cured us of the control and I cured him from the nightmares. I've been protecting him, he explained everything."Cross explains

"Is Reaper here? Cause I'll gladly take him down for what he did to Geno!"X!Chara says

"Ya, Chara isn't happy with him either. Faking his own death..."Cross says with a shake of his head

"Cross, Reaper never died. That was a hallucination."Dust says

"Then what he said to Geno didn't happen?"Cross asks

"Oh, it did."Nightmare says

Cross shut his eyes. He shakes his head.

"Chara....We don't know wether that is better or worse. Geno isn't here. He went for a walk and left his phone behind."Cross says, opening his eyes

"Ya, and he found Reaper. Now Geno's missing. Reaper was being an idiot saying stuff again but got caught."Nightmare says, handing Cross the phone

Cross watched the video and the anger from both of them is clear. Science gets notifications on his phones according to two loud dings.

"Guys, I have recently put trackers on my chemical vials. The one I gave to Cross went into an UnderSwap timeline and then Geno's Save Screen. It's now empty and broken according to the notification status."Science says

"What? How can that be?"Ink asks

Cross smiles. Chuckled a bit even.

"WhAt dO yOu kNoW, CroSs?"I ask

"He followed my advice. He's getting what he needs."Cross says

"And what is that?"Dust asks

"A break. A new start. A chance to relax. A chance to be happy and not a self-assigned guardian for all of you. I gave him that vial for when he wanted that too. The fact that he it's like that meaning he used it and is who-knows-where. But he took my advice and I'm glad. He deserves it. Not, what did he call it? All this pain."Cross says

Dust, Ink, Nightmare and I look at each other.  Science was already researching his findings. Ink pulls Cross over and we hug him.

"Thank you."We say

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Palette:Hey guys! So, while I watch over Reaper and they figure stuff out, Take a poll I made! I'm curious!

Ok, so the question is do any of you think Reaper will stop being stupid and fix his mistake?

A:Yes

B:No

C:Maybe

D:No comment

Second question:Do you think Reaper will find out at this rate?
A:No, he's a blind, lost cause

B:-shrug-dunno

C:Yes and he won't even realize it

D:He already knows but is too much of a dunce to realize or realize it

E:Yes, he will.

Comment below! I'm curious! Reaper you stay in that corner!

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