AN:

1. I can't believe this story is still going strong? How?

2. This took forever!

3. <insert my shitty excuses here>

4. I'm back ya'll!

5. Thank you all for staying with me TvT

6. Enjoy the long-awaited chapter!

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Chapter 34: "You're Not a Mortal"

Third POV

It surprisingly didn't take Reaper long to find Geno. All he had to do was follow the quiet sobs through the already quiet, snowy forest of pine trees.

He found him there, backed up and curled under a short pine tree and hidden beneath the low branches spiked with pine needles. Hugging his knees close to his chest and burying his face onto his knees. If Geno hadn't been wearing the grim reaper's dark-colored clothes, Reaper wouldn't have noticed him there.

Sighing softly, Reaper made his way closer. Moving the branches aside which shrivels, shrunk and hardens with audible cracking sounds as it dies at a fast rate by the mere touch of the god of death.

Geno didn't even look up when he heard the rustling of the leaves nor the soft crunching of the snow as the god of death lowers himself to the snow-covered ground before him. "Hey," Reaper calls, voice ever so gentle, instantly earning the smaller's attention as the latter's head rose slightly just enough for his eye to peek over his knees.

He saw the god of death tenderly smiling down, offering comfort, but Geno's stubbornness wouldn't allow him to accept it. Instead of responding back, Geno dipped his head back down and completely ignoring the grim reaper's attempt at consoling him.

Reaper's smile fell, his shoulders sagging in disappointment and a shallow sigh escaping him before he knelt down on the cold snow. Crawling closer, trapping Geno between him and the tree trunk. Geno visibly tensed, sensing the grim reaper's presence closed in on him.

Reaper reaches out a hand and planted it on the smaller's shoulder, only to feel the freezing bones underneath the damp clothes followed by a hand slapping his aside.

"Go away," Geno said, voice muffled by his own body.

Reaper didn't say anything as he quietly retracted his hand back.

When Geno didn't hear a response, fear immediately crawled up his chest as his arms tightened even more around his legs. Seemingly shrinking in on himself as he can feel the other's burning gaze fixed on him.

Geno knew he probably offended the god of death, which he admittedly intended to do for a selfish reason, then followed by a complete silence made Geno instantly regrets what he said in fear for the repercussion of his action.

A part of him wished that he didn't piss off the grim reaper because obviously, Reaper didn't do anything wrong, but a larger part, the stubborn one, hoped that he did. He's a mess. He's a total mess.

He took a shaky breath, hiccuping near the end, and braced himself for the oncoming wrath of the god of death.

Seconds. Minutes. Nothing but silence. Maybe he already left? Geno, with still pounding soul, managed to gather enough courage to lift his head once again just enough to peek over his knees to see Reaper was still there. Sitting on the snow-covered ground before him, staring right back at him with a grim expression on his face.

Geno quickly dipped his head back down again. "Why are you still here?" he asked, sounding realistically irritated that he himself almost flinch at the harsh tone he used. Regret already clawing at him from the inside before it subsided, the tension instantly breaking upon, finally, hearing a response from the other.

"Do you really want me to leave?" Reaper asked back, knowing full well Geno didn't mean anything he had just said. From the smaller's curled up position, Reaper can see Geno turning his head to the side as if avoiding the gaze that didn't even meet his.

Another sigh escaped the god of death. Geno has a bad habit of shutting everyone out whenever he's not feeling okay. Unfortunately, most of the time, that still includes Reaper. But Reaper completely understood why. Geno was afraid.

Geno was sick and tired and scared of getting hurt again that he'd rather distance himself so no one can hurt him. He's traumatized. Isolation has become his coping mechanism but Reaper knew that wasn't healthy.

So here he was, trying to comfort Geno, at times of need, with the best he can. Reaper only wanted Geno to know that he can always rely on him to make him feel better again.

If only it was that easy since Reaper has to go through Geno's defense first. But if it means for Geno's own good, Reaper will use force.

In an instant, Reaper had Geno locked in his arms, startling the latter who immediately struggled upon finding himself pressed against a solid chest. With his remaining strength, Geno tried to push the other away but his arms were pinned to his side. He tried kicking his legs but only succeeded in further disturbing the snow underneath them.

Reaper was strong, that much was obvious, but Geno wouldn't let that minor fact extinguish his determination of getting away from the taller.

He just has to! "Let me go!" Geno knew he has to get away from the other. If he stays any longer in Reaper's arms, he wouldn't be able to... he couldn't hold... he's... he's gonna...

Hot tears overwhelms his vision, distorting his sight, and all the emotions he willed himself to hide came pouring out; And just like that, Geno unwillingly melted in Reaper's arms.

Letting out all the pent up frustrations, self-hatred, and anger in a form of tear-converted magic that drains away every ounce of his strength. Each sob wrecks his lithe body and each hiccup, his lungs burn for oxygen which he couldn't seem to heave enough.

Everything went spiraling out of his control and all he can do was helplessly cry.

It only grew worse when Reaper started rubbing circles on his back. Encouraging more of that awful feelings to come forth and wrecks his entire being.

Reaper remained silent throughout the whole process. Patiently waiting, holding the smaller close, and giving the latter some time to let everything out. He knew that if he says a single word, things could erupt into an argument, which was the last thing Geno needed as of now.

It took a little while, nearly an hour straight, for Geno's sobs to subside to occasional hiccups. Reaper had loosened his arms and settles for cradling the smaller on his crossed legs.

"Why- *hic!*... Why do you keep putting up with me? I'm nothing but trouble." Geno broke the silence with equally broken and raspy voice without even looking up at the grim reaper.

"You're worth the trouble," Reaper replied almost instantly and lovingly cradles the smaller against him for emphasis but Geno refused to believe it. He knows he's more of a trouble for what he's worth. If he had any at all.

That thought alone was enough to summon more tears but Geno wiped it away as soon as it had come. He couldn't handle another break down right after the other. Taking a breath, he spoke softly "I'm not worth anything,".

"Of course, you do-"

"Reaper, stop." Geno interrupted.

"No, listen. I-"

"Please..., stop." Geno pleaded, breaking Reaper's figurative heart at how pitiful Geno's voice sounded. So small and lonely. "I'm tired," Geno continued, closing his worn eye, his arms unconsciously slithering around himself and his body gradually going limp; heavily leaning against Reaper's chest. "I'm really, really tired." he breathes out, barely audible and voice almost gone.

Reaper couldn't bring himself to defy Geno's wish and therefore, remained silent. Instead, he shifted his hold on the other, moving his arm higher up Geno's back and wrapped it around the smaller's shoulders to keep him steady. His free hand pressed flat on Geno's spine, pressing the smaller body against him. Taking note of the other's freezing temperature worsened by the damp clothes Geno was wearing.

Without pulling away, Reaper somehow managed to peel off his cloak (with much difficulty) and draped it over Geno's shoulders. Pulling the hood up to cover the smaller entirely before returning his arms to their initial position around Geno.

More silence as Reaper quietly listened to the other's soft breathing. Feeling the smaller's chest expand and deflate against him with each breath interrupted by occasional hiccups. But Reaper noticed, there was no change in rhythm. Geno was awake, as opposed to Reaper's first thought that he'd fall asleep.

Sighing softly, "do you wanna go back home?" Reaper kindly suggested, seeing as this wasn't the proper place for Geno to rest. But Geno shook his head in refusal and Reaper frowned in disapproval. It's freezing out here and Geno's clothes were damp, he might get sick.

Reaper opened his mouth to insist but Geno beat him to it, albeit unknowingly, and sounded so quiet that Reaper had to strain his ears to hear him. "I'm not allowed to go there,".

Reaper's brows furrows in mild confusion. "Who said you're not allowed to go there?" the grim reaper asks with a slight tone of demand and a tiny hint of aggressiveness in his voice that made Geno tense up for a bit before relaxing again.

"Aren't mortals not allowed in god's realm?" Geno stated, not really asking for an answer but a confirmation and Reaper's silence was enough to prove the statement correct. Geno's already heavy soul only became unbearably heavier as more sorrow and even regret weighed it down.

He should've known. What does he expect? Ink, the creator of the multiverse, had said it himself. Mortals aren't allowed in the god's realm. Why did he even think he was an exception. Just because he can enter Reaper's realm, doesn't mean he's allowed to.

Geno let out a defeated sigh, it was just yesterday that he had chosen Reaper as his partner -his lover-, he was so happy, both of them, only for to be ruined by the harsh truth of the reality. The one time Geno let himself be selfish, the one time he allowed himself to be happy, was the biggest mistake he ever made.

He should end this... this mistake of a relationship before it hurts him-... both of them even more than it already was. Lifting his hand, Geno planted it flat on the grim reaper's chest and slowly applied pressure. Gently pushing away the taller, hoping the other would take the hint and let him go.

But instead, Reaper's strong arms tightened around his small form, pressing him against the taller without as much as a room to squirm about. Geno wasn't really surprised anymore. Reaper has his own version of being stubborn.

"Reaper, let me go," Geno quietly called, not having any energy left to argue. He was exhausted. "This isn't right," was the only thing he can do; talk and try to convince Reaper to, somehow, let him go. In more ways than one.

"Geno," Reaper suddenly calls and Geno turned all ears; giving Reaper a chance to speak out. He even closes his eye to better focus on the other's next words.

"You're not a mortal," Reaper said in a serious tone. "...not anymore," he added in a form of whispers.

Reaper definitely kept Ink's warning in mind. But he just couldn't bear seeing Geno hurting and misguided by a missing little piece of information about himself. It felt even worse because Reaper knew what it was, he has this little important information in him, embedded in his head, but he couldn't tell Geno because Ink said no and wait for the 'right time'.

Well, Reaper thinks now was the right time.

"Do you know why you can enter my universe while Sans and the others can't?" Reaper began, taking things slow and careful; not wanting to screw things up. This was a pretty unbelievable fact he's about to reveal that will surely make a huge change in their relationship; it will make it stronger. The last thing Reaper needed was for Geno to not believe it.

"Because I'm a glitch?" Geno bitterly replied in almost an instant. He remembers exactly what Ink had said about him being able to enter the god's realm.

Reaper was not expecting that kind of answer but nonetheless, he tried to steer the conversation back to its original path. "No, you're something way better than just a glitch." he pauses for a moment, making sure that the smaller was listening and indeed he was.

But before he can continue, Geno answers again, unintentionally interrupting the grim reaper. "I'm a mistake, I know." bitter and lifeless.

This took Reaper aback. "Would you stop saying that?!" he almost snapped, straining his throat as not to raise his voice too much since he has no intention of arguing with Geno in the first place. And no, he wasn't mad at Geno, he was mad because of how Geno thought so low of himself and Reaper knows that wasn't true.

"You are not worthless, you are not a glitch anymore and most of all, you are not a mistake!" Reaper firmly stated, voice getting harder and harder, making sure every word will get right through Geno's thick skull.

Geno reacted aggressively to the forceful treatment and began squirming to get out of Reaper's arms. But Reaper had anticipated it and kept his hold firm around the other. Geno had managed to slip his arms in between their pressed bodies, granting him the tiniest bit of space 'away' from the god of death.

"Is it really that hard to understand?!" Geno screamed at the other's face while struggling against the grim reaper's hold. "You knew better than anyone else that I'm nothing but a burden! I brought nothing but trouble! Your house is destroyed because of me!"

"Who the f*ck cares about the damn house!?" Reaper countered just as aggressive, his arms only tightening further around the smaller and not giving the latter the tiniest chance of escape.

"It's your f*cking house! With all your stuff?! Don't you even care about that?!" Geno retorted, grunting as what little space he had earlier had vanished, his arms pinned in between their bodies and he's trapped in this tight space in Reaper's arms.

"Why the hell would I even care about that garbage?!" Reaper countered again. "I'm the god of death, for f*ck's sake! You think I needed that?!"

That rendered Geno silent but only for a few seconds as he thought of another counter-argument. "What about Error then?! Do you really want to stick with me even when the 'Destroyer of the Universe' is going after me?!"

"I don't give a sh*t about Error!" came Reaper's instant reply, nearly spitting the destroyer's name out his mouth as it leaves a bitter taste. "All that matters to me is you! You're all I care about! And the only thing I want is to be with you!" Reaper continued, feeling the smaller tensed in his arms for a brief moment and Reaper instinctively loosened his arms but not enough to allow Geno to slip through." Why can't you see that?" the god of death almost pleaded, his tone void of spite, but soft and gentle and almost hurt.

Bitter regret comes crawling up Geno's chest, up to his throat but gulped it down along with the growing uneasiness. "Do you really want to be with a mistake like me?" He replied, looking away to the side so Reaper wouldn't see the hurt in his only eye.

It ticked Reaper off. "Why do you keep saying that?" he asked, annoyed all of the sudden. He hated how low Geno thinks of himself. He was better than that and he's certainly was not a mistake.

"Reaper," Geno called and when he was sure that he had the grim reaper's attention, he continued. "Out of thousands of timelines, hundreds of resets all across who knows how many universes, I'm the only one who didn't die. What would you call that other than a mistake?" Resting his forehead against the taller's chest, Geno felt his anger diminished and the fatigue to settle back in his bones. He closes his eye, settling in with the silence knowing Reaper couldn't counter that statement for it was the truth. But Geno was mildly surprised upon the grim reaper's next words.

"No, you're wrong," Reaper said and Geno gently opens his eye but didn't make any other unnecessary movement such as looking up at the taller. Merely focusing on his hearing senses to listen to what the god of death's about to say.

"There are millions of timeline, thousands of resets across hundreds of universe." Reaper began, further unraveling his arms from around the smaller until it shifted into a gentle cradle. Instead of comforting, as to what Geno assumed Reaper was doing, Geno found himself more hurt by that fact.

Because it means there's more of him, like him, but still, he's the only one who never made it to the other side. Geno found himself sighing in self-disappointment, closing his eye once again and dwelling in self-loathing until he heard Reaper's next statement.

"Out of all that, you're the only who survived." Reaper said, a gentle smile forming on his lips when he felt Geno went still against him. And so he continued, "I wouldn't call that a mistake."

Geno finally lifted his face up to look at the other, wide eye meeting the grim reaper's soft gaze and tender smile. Reaper grin wider. "You're a miracle."

Geno's soul leaped to his throat, and probably lodged there, too, as he found himself unable to speak and feeling his cheeks' rapid increase of heat until his face felt like it was burning. Reaper let out a soft chuckle at seeing the smaller's adorable reaction.

Geno, snapping out of the daze, realized that he's been staring and immediately ducked his head, pressed his face against the taller's chest and hide.

Reaper let out a chuckle again and earned a weak punch from the smaller. "You're a jerk!" Geno said, a bit muffled, before punching Reaper's chest again. "Jerk!" and again, "jerk!" with every word "Jerk! Jerk! A f*cking jerk!"

Someone's embarrassed! Reaper laughed. "What?" mocking a confused tone bouncing with laughter. "How did that make me a jerk?"

"You've always been a jerk!" hitting Reaper's chest with his fist one last time before his arm went limp, aching tired and Reaper misinterpreted it as giving up and worried that he might've gone too far.

"Aw, come on. Look at me." Reaper cooed, slipping his hand under the smaller's jaw and attempted to lift up his face. But Geno shrugged his hand off, turning his head away from the taller without pulling away. "Come on. Please?" Reaper asked nicely, once again reaching under Geno's chin and this time, Geno complied. Allowing Reaper to guide his face up look at him.

Reaper saw Geno's face was of a deep shade of blue, concentrated around the area of his cheeks and eye brimming with shy tears. Lips pursed, holding himself back from crying. In any other case, Reaper hated seeing Geno cry. But crying in embarrassment was an exception as it was too amusing for the sadistic god of death.

Reaper smiled wider. "There's my cute little jelly bean."

Geno's face burst to flame before diving his head back down. Hiding his blushing face from the other. "You're insufferable." he insults.

Reaper merely laughs at the comment, a little bit proud of himself for successfully getting through Geno's defense once again.

Compliments, Geno's only known weakness.

"Stop laughing! It's not funny!" came Geno's muffled scream after hearing Reaper's laughter.

Yes, it is, Reaper wanted to say, but instead, complied in silencing himself with a little bit of difficulty but managed to do so with the occasional burst of chuckle that shook his shoulders.

Once Reaper quieted down, Geno instantly relaxed and Reaper began rubbing his back. They settle down with the cold silence enveloping the pine forest. Reaper scooted closer to the tree, dragging Geno with him, and leaned his back against the trunk.

Sighing in relief as his aching back finally been granted some rest. The grim reaper resumed soothing Geno by rubbing the latter's back while his other arm was secured around the smaller's waist.

"Geno," Reaper called after a while and received no response but Reaper was sure the other was listening and so he continued. "What if I told you...?" he trailed off, hesitating the last second.

If Geno had ears, it would've perked up, wondering what happened to the rest of the sentence. "Told me what?" Geno asked, without lifting his head nor meeting the other's gaze. He remained fixed in his position; too tired to move, too embarrassed to look.

Reaper bit his lower lip, his nervousness started showing through his features and his soul pounding so loud that Reaper swears Geno can hear it. Heck, his head was pressed on his chest, of course, he can hear it.

But Geno gave no thought about it, he's focused on feeling the constant pulsing, soft vibrations and the steady rise and fall of Reaper's chest under him were lulling him into a blissful sleep. But the deep and peaceful concentration was unfortunately interrupted when Reaper spoke again, abruptly pulling him back in reality.

"What if I told you..." Reaper paused, looking down at the smaller to make sure he was listening for this was very important. "...you're a god."

Deafening silence as Reaper waited, unconsciously holding his breath and bracing himself for the questions the smaller was about to throw at him. But at the same time, hoping to stars that that was enough to bring to Geno some happiness.

Reaper waited but Geno gave no response and the longer it stretches, the more doubt clouding Reaper's mind. Wondering if maybe Geno didn't hear him? Or maybe his voice was too quiet? Or maybe he had taken too long that Geno had fallen asleep on him? He was nervous, that's for sure. But why Geno wasn't reacting at all? There was no movement, no vocal response, no anything! He didn't even wince or flinch or tensed up or perked up. Nothing!

This was a huge revelation that could change their life together, forever. Wasn't Geno happy about? Did Reaper do something wrong?

The god of death opened his mouth but shut it up when he finally received a response. Except, it was nothing like he'd expected: a scoff.

"Pfft! Now that's funny," Geno said, giving a light chuckle at the grim reaper's joke.

Reaper was shocked to hear that. "No, I'm serious! You are a god!" Reaper quickly amended, panic evident in his voice, shaking the smaller's shoulders slightly for attention.

But Geno merely continues to lightly chuckle, not believing a word Reaper had just said. "That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard."

"Geno, be serious! I'm telling the truth!" Reaper insists, worry taking over as things slip out of his control. This wasn't what he meant to happen! It wasn't a joke!

"God of what? Mistakes? Ha! Yeah, sure." Geno joked, laughing harder with tears in his eye. Finding that mocking his own existence with dark humor was very entertaining and hurtful that it almost felt so good. To laugh at your own misery, how ironic.

And pitiful.

Geno found himself crying once again accompanied with dry chuckling and soon transformed to full-blown sobbing.

Reaper suddenly feeling regret gnawing at his soul, realizing that Geno was currently in no condition, mentally, to receive this news. Geno wasn't ready yet. Just like what Ink had said. But Reaper thought it was the right time. It really felt like it!

The grim reaper took a mental note to ask Ink later. Sighing in disappointment, Reaper returned to quietly comforting the other.

"I know- *hic!*" Geno began. "I know you're just trying to cheer me up... *sniff*" he paused and Reaper listened intently through despite the broken sentences. "And I- *hic!* I really appreciate it..." This brought a smile in Reaper's face, chasing away his regret lingering in his chest. At least Geno understands that it's a good intention. "...but we both know that isn't possible."

Reaper smile melted into a frown. He completely disagrees with that but remained quiet nonetheless. Given by the current situation, there's no way Geno would believe him now even if he insist or gave a proper explanation.

Although it was true that there has been no record of a mortal transcending to being a god and the mere thought of it was... ridiculous, just like what Geno had said.

That was until Geno happened.

Geno's entire existence was impossible, to start with. How he came to be, no one knows and no one can replicate him. Maybe Ink can but that's cheating! Ink can literally paint anything to life. But Geno... he's different. Geno was a natural spawn of the universe but a little unexpected and beyond reality that even the gods and goddesses and maybe even Ink himself didn't predict him coming into existence. Geno was truly fascinating.

Too bad, Geno couldn't see that. It had been ingrained in his mind that he's nothing more than a glitch, a mistake and that he shouldn't exist. Trapped in that hell hole for thousands of resets, suffering from a critical wound but never allowed to die.

Reaper admittedly once thought of him as an anomaly, too. But not anymore. Things have changed for the better but the past still haunts Geno.

Reaper believed Geno wasn't 'raised' right. But he also believed that with the proper care and nurture and company, Geno would- will be okay. It may take a while but they have all the time in the multiverse.

"I'll take you home," Reaper whispered, pushing his back off the tree trunk and re-positioning his legs to plant his feet onto the snowy ground. But before he can push himself up, he felt Geno's hand gripped the front of his shirt and pulled him back down. Reaper, of course, complied and asked the matter.

"I don't want to go back to the Save Screen," Geno whimpered against Reaper's chest. Pleading to be not taken there. The place he spent almost all his life, the dark empty space he was trapped in, he didn't want to go back there anymore.

He felt Reaper's strong arms once again engulfed him in a protective embrace. "You are never going back there ever again." the god of death stated firmly, his tone hard and cold that Reaper was almost growling, embedding every word into Geno's head.

That alone was enough to bring a smile onto Geno's face and finally -finally, Geno hugs back. Slithering his lithe arms around the taller and grabbing a fistful of Reaper's shirt.

Although, Geno wondered. Where will they go? Reaper's house was destroyed.

Reaper gave Geno a confident smile before presenting an answer. They can take Ink with them and get him to paint them a new house. Easy peasy.

Except, Geno didn't want to go back to Sans' house, too. It was a total wreck. And it was all because of him, again. He couldn't possibly be able to face them after all the trouble he gave them. Geno suggested to let him stay there while Reaper goes back to Sans' place to get Ink. That'll work.

But Reaper was against leaving Geno alone. With the threat of Error hunting Geno down, Reaper couldn't afford to leave Geno alone even for just a few minutes. It's too much of a risk! This was Error they were talking about. The 'Destroyer of the Universe'!

Reaper would rather not go against him (not that he wouldn't fight for Geno), but he prefers to Not let things go out of control. If he can prevent it, he would and he will. Meaning, he have to keep Geno safe and as far away as possible from Error's reach.

It was better than rescuing Geno in the hands of Error and risk Geno getting hurt or worse, cease to exist.

Reaper's power was death itself. But even then, Error's is still far more dangerous.

Error doesn't simply ends someone's life.

He 'deletes' their entire existence.

To be continued...

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AN: I'll see you next week! Love ya'll! Ta-ta!