AN:

Must Read

1.) I deeply apologized for suddenly disappearing like that. I haven't been feeling okay(physically) for the past several months and the last couple of months had been the worst but thankfully I made it through and am now recovering.

2.) I am not abandoning this story. Its true when I said I had more ideas for this book. But no spoilers.

3.) I'll try and make it up to you.

Enjoy.

Also, thank you for all your support!

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Chapter 13: Nightmare and Lies

Third POV

"That's... very concerning." Ink commented. Obviously disturbed by what he had learned. "And how's Geno doing?" the creator added worriedly.

Ink knew Geno had a fragile state of mind and based on Reaper's story, Ink was afraid that Geno might have broken. Geno usually can't handle this much stress.

"Physically, exhausted but okay. Mentally, he seemed fine. He's actually happy that he had finally end Chara. But I can't be sure. He could just be hiding it, like always." Reaper said, his concern growing by the moment.

Now that he thought about it, Geno had a bad habit of hiding things from everyone. Selfless as ever. Always putting others first before himself. Reaper would have to fix that.

Ink's shoulders sagged in mild relief but it's not enough to wash away his worry. "I see." He really want to check on Geno now.

"Can I ask you something?" Reaper said, breaking the brief silence.

"Yeah, sure." Ink said as he glance at the grim reaper from his side of the couch.

"I mentioned Geno was reborn here, in this universe, did that change anything in him?" Reaper's tone was heavy with worry but with a hint of anticipation.

"What do you mean, exactly? How did Toriel gave him a new life anyway?" Ink asked, quite confused as to what changes Reaper was referring to.

"Tori somehow managed to create a blank soul and she told me she transferred Geno's 'existence' into that." Reaper explained with a bit of uncertainty. He admits that he still could not fully understand how Life did it.

Reaper didn't gave it much thought because Geno seemed to be doing fine, physically. But now he was starting to get anxious as Ink's concern expression morphed into terrified.

Ink abruptly stood up from the couch and demanded "I need to check on him now" before practically sprinting upstairs.

"Wha-! Why? What's wrong?!" Reaper stuttered as he quickly followed Ink.

Ink didn't respond and just kept going. Reaper was getting more and more anxious and Ink's sudden silence was not helping at all.

"What's going on? Ink!" The grim reaper called. "If it's something about Geno, then I need to know." Reaper added in an almost threatening way which made Ink stop on his tracks.

Ink realized something. He knew Reaper was madly in love with Geno and would do anything for him. Reaper was just worried and it's not right to leave him in the dark especially if it's about the one he care about the most.

But Ink also doesn't want to make Reaper any more worried than he already was by telling him the consequences of recklessly creating a soul.

"I just need to check his soul." Ink said calmly but inside his soul was pounding. He needed to act calm or else Reaper would see through him and know that something was terribly wrong.

Reaper seems to buy it as his shoulders sagged but only slightly and his expression remained serious. The grim reaper floated around Ink and proceeded ahead. Leading the creator to where Geno was currently sleeping.

Reaper opened the door to his bedroom carefully. Not wanting to wake the person occupying the said room.

It was dark inside but they can make out a figure on the bed. But instead of lying down, the figure was sitting up and most likely curled up.

Is he awake? Reaper and Ink silently questioned themselves.

"Geno?" Reaper softly called.

Geno was startled as he swiftly looked up with a gasp revealing glowing blue tears rolling down his face.

Reaper's eyes widened in alarm and he immediately flipped the light switch on before sprinting beside the bed.

Geno violently flinched as artificial light filled the room and momentarily blinded him. His hands instinctively flew to his right eye socket that was uncovered with glitches.

Reaper was horrified to find Geno partially covered with crimson liquid that could only be identified as blood.

"What happened?!" Reaper urgently demanded as he went beside Geno and tried to reached out. But Geno shied away from him. Desperately trying to hide his right eye socket.

Reaper, of course, noticed the strange action. He looked closer at the other's face. Geno's hands were soaked with blood as well as the right side of his face. The glitches were gone and Reaper could only assume that it was Geno's right eye socket that was bleeding profusely.

"Let me see it." Reaper tried to reach out again only for Geno back away until his back hit the head board.

"No, I'm- I'm f-fine!" Geno stuttered and clenched his teeth to refrain himself from sobbing. No, he can't let Reaper handle all his problem. He have to stand with his own two feet.

But Reaper was having none of that. Something snapped from the back of his head as he felt the red hot fury bloom from deep within and course throughout his body.

He had enough.

"Don't you dare tell me you're fine!!" Reaper angrily yelled which made Geno flinched in fear.

"You're crying and bleeding! You're not fine! Don't you dare lie to me!" Reaper raged as his magic flared around him. More tears burst from Geno's left eye socket as he trembled.

Ink immediately stepped in and pulled Reaper away.

"Reaper! Calm down! Get a hold of yourself. You're scaring him!" Ink yelled as well.

Reaper quickly realized his mistake as he looked at Geno's trembling form. His eye shut and silent sobs wrecks his body as he curled up like he was trying to protect himself.

A sudden guilt hit Reaper like a punch on his nonexistent gut. F*ck!

Reaper swiftly turned away, distancing himself from the two. He paced back and forth as he rub his face with both hands in absolute frustration. He took a deep shuddering breath in an attempt to calm himself but it did almost nothing.

He looked back at the bed to see Ink trying to comfort Geno.

Ink sat on the bed in front of Geno who was cornered on the bed's head board.

"Geno, it's me. Ink." the creator said softly before reaching out and placing a hand on Geno's shoulder.

Upon hearing Ink's soft call, Geno cautiously open his tearful left eye and saw Ink in front of him with a very concern expression. His gaze drifted to Reaper who was behind Ink and had a serious and somewhat disappointed look on his face.

"Nonono. Look at me. Just focus on me. Okay?" Ink said as soon as he saw fears flashed in Geno's eye.

Geno did what he said and focused on Ink.

"Okay, good. Now, let me see it." Ink gently coaxed as he pried Geno's hands from his eye. Geno hesitated for a second but then let Ink pulled his hand away from his bleeding eye.

Reaper felt a pang of hurt when he saw Geno opened up to Ink and not him. It was his own fault, anyway, for suddenly snapping like that.

Geno looked down at his hands and found it soaked with his own blood. A terrifying sight but not for him. He was used to seeing his own blood.

"Open your eye." Ink once again commanded softly.

Geno cautiously did. He opened his eye slowly to reveal the 'damage'. But instead of the usual black, it was red. It alarmed Reaper as he immediately went over to have a closer look.

It's not just red. Upon closer inspection, there were weird colored glitches and incoherent words blinking in and out of existence. What the hell?

Ink wasn't surprised. He'd seen it before. It happened before. But he doesn't know exactly what it does.

"Now, tell me what happened." Ink ordered firmly.

But instead of answering, Geno said "He's here." His voice small and cracked. Like a scared little child.

"Who's he?" Reaper lowly demanded as he subconsciously activated his magic and scanned the room. But found no one.

"Who's he?" Ink also asked but more gently.

"Him! He's here!" Geno almost yelled and gave Ink a pleading look. He knew Ink knows who's he talking about. This happened before.

Ink soon realized who's he talking about and grab both of Geno's shoulders.

"He's not here. He can't reach you here." Ink said with firm determination in his mismatch eyes.

Reaper's eyes widened in disbelief that he's the only one who doesn't know what's going on. "Who's he?!" He once again demanded but more urgent. If there's a threat to Geno, Reaper would instantly get rid of it. But sadly, he was ignored.

"He is! And he's coming back for me! *sob* He told me!" Geno frustratingly insisted. Why won't Ink believe him?

"Who the fuck is he?!" and Reaper was running out of patience.

"Reaper!!" Ink scolded him with a harsh glare.

Reaper realized that he was losing his temper again and shut up. The frustration was unbearable. He was once again pacing back and forth as he roughly rub his face with both of his hands.

Why won't they tell him?

"Listen! Tell me, where is he." Ink commanded as he looked at Geno straight in the eyes. Daring him to prove that he was wrong. It's impossible. 'He' can't reach Geno here.

Reaper perked up upon hearing Ink's demand. Now this, he needs to hear.

But Geno was silent. He looked away to the side as he search his mind to find the answer. Where? He doesn't know. Everything was dark and black and he couldn't see anything but 'him'.

Ink narrowed his eyes as he studied Geno's expression. There was a sense of lost and uncertainty to it.

'I knew it'. Ink thought. His suspicion was right. What Geno was saying was impossible. That 'he' can't come to this universe.

"Geno," Ink called and Geno looked up at him, meeting his eyes. "It's just a nightmare." the creator said.

Reaper felt the tension in his shoulders disappear as he stared at the two with utter disbelief yet very much relieved that it was just a false alarm.

Geno couldn't believe it. But that can't be. "No... Then... What about this?" Geno gestured for his bloody right eye. "This always happens whenever he's around." He added.

"I don't know. But trust me, as long as you're here in reapertale, you're safe. Okay?" Ink assured him and finally let go of Geno shoulders.

Geno cast his gaze downward as he leaned back limply against the head board. His hand unconsciously moved to cover his right red eye. It was still bleeding and it stings a little.

Reaper was thankful that it was just a bad dream but upon hearing the last part of their conversation, he concluded that 'he' is real. So there is a threat.

Ink stood up and Reaper saw this as an opportunity to finally have some answers.

The creator noticed Reaper approaching him with serious and calculating eyes. Ink knew he wanted answers.

"Are you gonna tell me what's going on? And who the hell is 'he'?" Reaper asked calmly but his voice was low. Almost threatening but not.

Ink momentarily glance at Geno worriedly before shifting his gaze back to Reaper. The action speaks hesitation.

"Gaster."

Like the name itself was a trigger, black magic flared around Reaper's body and giving the room a sense of cold dread. The feeling of death looming over your head.

Reaper turned away and was about to leave but Ink stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Ink was now most likely annoyed.

"I got some work to do." Reaper said in a terrifyingly calm tone.

"You can't just leave!"

"It won't take long." Reaper replied in the same calm but cold manner. It's true. He only needs to reap one soul.

"No!" Ink commanded as he walked around the grim reaper and blocked his path. "You are not leaving him. Geno needs you now." the creator said as he gestured at Geno who had been silent for a while now.

He was curled up and unmoving. Hugging his knees close to his chest and his head bowed. His eyes were unfocused and seemingly lost in thought.

Upon the sight of his broken partner, Reaper's mind went blank and all he could think about was Geno.

He went over to him and sat on the bed. He looked back at Ink and asked for some privacy.

Ink didn't want to leave. Not after what had just happened. Not after seeing Reaper raising his voice on Geno.

But on second thought, maybe it was better to give them privacy. His presence could only distract either of the two and end up misunderstanding each other. So Ink reluctantly left and closed the door behind him with a click.

He didn't walk away. He stayed there by the door, listening to their conversation. He wanna make sure Reaper wouldn't snap at Geno again.

Back inside the bedroom, Reaper turned back to Geno who was now aware of his presence.

"Geno," Reaper began and reached out to touch Geno's cheek.

Geno tried to move away but he had nowhere to go. He was cornered. He had no choice but to let Reaper caress his tear-stained cheek. But he didn't dare look up to meet Reaper's eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I was just scared when I saw you crying and bleeding. I thought you're badly hurt." Reaper said.

Geno remained silent and unresponsive. So Reaper continued as he place his other hand on Geno's shoulder. "Honestly, I'm glad that you didn't want me to worry. That means you cared for me but please, don't ever lie to me. Especially if you're hurt. Or bothered. You can tell me anything."

Geno felt like crying again. Why was Reaper being so soft and caring. He's not used to this kind of treatment. He didn't know how to interact. More like he'd forgotten. Just like what Reaper had said before.

"Come here." Reaper gently commanded as he pulled Geno into a hug. Holding him close to chest and wrapping his arms around Geno protectively.

"I'm really sorry. You didn't know how much you scared me when I saw all the blood. It always reminds me of that time that I thought I lost you. I thought you were gone. You didn't know how terrified I was." Tears starts forming on the brim of his eyes as he remembered the horrible feeling of hopelessness.

"I feel like I'm a failure. I failed to protect you. But then you came back. You gave me another chance and I promised myself that I will never let you get hurt again." Reaper had now tears rolling down his face. His arms tighten around Geno's smaller form.

Geno had buried his face on Reaper's cloak. Silently crying. He clenched his teeth to refrain himself from making any sound. He always thought Reaper was just over protective by nature. But no. There was a reason behind it. Reaper was traumatized.

"Now do you understand? Why I suddenly snapped like that was because I was scared that I'll lose you again. You're turning back to your old self. You're shutting me out."

"I'm sorry." Geno shakily whispered. It was barely audible but Reaper could hear it clearly.

Reaper smiled tenderly and pulled away to look at Geno in the eyes. But Geno refused to let go. Refused to show his crying face.

"It's okay. No more lies, okay?" Reaper said as he rub Geno's back soothingly.

Geno weakly nodded.

Outside, Ink heaved a relieved sign and walk away.

 
 
To be continued...
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