AN: You know, I felt so much better when I stopped stressing over the deadline and focus on the story.

Anyway, now that the other characters are gone, we can finally focus on our favorite ship. :>

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Chapter 36: New Home

Third POV

The portal closed and Reaper's sharp glares slowly waned as he loosened his arms around Geno. The first thing he did was check on Geno upon noticing the smaller's lack of will to lift his head. He bent down just low enough to peek at his lover's face and saw tears collecting in his only visible eye.

A pang of guilt struck Reaper's soul knowing he had practically forced Geno to come with him back in Sans' house. He even promised he'll keep the others away just to convince him to come. Reaper did it because he couldn't leave Geno all alone and risk Error finding him.

Unfortunately, the encounter with the mortals went worse than expected and now Reaper partially blames himself for not being able to hold the others back just as he promised.

He planted a kiss on Geno's forehead before muttering, "you did great". A praise for making it through the conflict. Then took Geno's hand in his, taking note of the smaller's still freezing temperature and began leading him through the new environment they were in.

Unlike his original territory, which was a forest of dead trees, the place was full of life. It wasn't exactly Tori, the goddess of Life's territory. This forest, a rainforest to be specific, has been left unkept for thousands of years. Allowing the plants, vines, moss, and all sorts of greens to take over every inch of available space.

It is one of the many unclaimed areas in god's realm and in Reaper's opinion, it was the perfect place to hide Geno. The area was massive, dense and dark with the giant trees of hundreds of years of age stretched out their branches to form a canopy that looms high above them.

Scattered on their path were small but dangerously sharp crystals protruding from the ground, obscured by the leaves and quite hard to notice. It would be bad if they accidentally step on it but Reaper was doing a great job locating them and leading Geno to a safer route while at the same time, keeping track of his deadly magic.

Suppressing it just enough to not kill the life around him. He didn't want to leave a very obvious trail of dead, withered plants that'll lead anyone, especially Error, to their soon-to-be new base.

Ink followed suit, trailing behind Geno, who couldn't help but feel as if the two were closely guarding him. Being in between them and all. It was a little stifling being always under their protection but that may only be his imagination. After all, they only wanted to protect him.

Which only led Geno to feel as if he was being such a burden to them.

Sighing softly, Geno's head bowed in shame. Fixing his gaze on the cluttered ground of dried, fallen leaves and following Reaper's steps.

Reaper, from time to time, would look back behind to check on Geno. His soul aching at the sight of his lover so down and even more so knowing he was unable to ease the other's sorrow. He tried but it didn't work. For the first time -in terms of comforting Geno- Reaper didn't know what to do.

If Reaper could, he wouldn't let Geno associate with those mortals anymore. They were much more of a trouble than for what they're worth. Reaper couldn't care any less if they were Geno's friends, if they caused him this much pain and stress, they aren't worth keeping.

But no matter, Reaper didn't have to worry about them anymore. For once, Reaper was actually glad for the rules made by the higher up gods and those same rules apply to Geno, as well.

Reaper had initially thought that those rules might be too harsh on Geno but after what happened, after what they had done, Reaper had a change of mind. In fact, he'll be glad to enforce those rules over Geno if it means sparing the latter of any more distress.

Soon, they found a good spot to build a new house. In the middle of the three trees overrun with vines that hangs from the high branches and around. Making the area looked as if there were curtains made of leaves drawn to hide the trees itself. A perfect hiding spot.

While Ink and Reaper started on building the house, Geno walked off to the side and sat on the edge of the nearby tiny, shallow stream; wanting to have a bit of space and time alone. Letting his restless mind to wander as he watches the clear water wrinkles on the surface as it runs over the mossy rocks and gold nuggets.

Not that he's of any help anyway. He didn't think his opinion matters, too. It wasn't his house. It was Reaper's. So he has the right to decide over everything. He's nothing more than a freeloader.

Geno's shoulders further sag. A part of him wonders why he's even here. He doesn't belong here. Was he even allowed here? If he wasn't allowed here, where will he go? He has nowhere to go. He has no universe of his own. He's just a lost soul. Does his whole existence mean anything anymore?

Questions after questions spawned in Geno's head. The more he thought about it, the more clouded his mind becomes, the less he wanted to continue with this life. He just doesn't see the purpose.

~~~~

Meanwhile, Reaper was having trouble focusing on his current task at guiding Ink with the house's structure and design. Even though Ink had been throwing a bunch of ideas at him, Reaper's mind was too preoccupied to pay attention.

Geno has been very quiet since they came here. He hasn't spoken a word. Now he's there, sitting alone, head bowed and looking absolutely defeated. Reaper was worried. Even more so that now he doesn't know what to do.

"I don't understand!" Reaper burst out at Ink who blinked at him from his position on top of a partially made concrete wall.

"Oh, that's simple," Ink exclaimed. "We're gonna infuse the walls with-"

"No, no! Not the house!" Reaper cut him off, "I meant Geno!" and made a huge gesture with his hands and arms at the said small skeleton's direction.

Ink blinked twice, his shape-shifting mismatched eyes turned to Geno and stared for a moment as if scanning the latter to see what's wrong before jumping down and landing next to the god of death. "What about Geno?"

"You said I shouldn't tell Geno yet because there's a 'right time and place'," Reaper began, looking at Ink in the eyes, who nodded to confirm the statement. "Earlier," Reaper continued, "when we were alone, I thought it was the perfect chance. I thought it was the right time." Reaper's shoulders sagged and bowed his head as his mood visibly depleted. "...so I told him."

"...and?" Ink encouraged.

Reaper looked away to the side. "He didn't believe me." His hand automatically went to his other arm, rubbing it up and down as an unconscious act of comforting himself.

Ink's eyes softened as a shallow sigh left him. "I told you," he muttered and turned away, ready to go back to work. He was about to leap when Reaper grabs his arm.

"But it really felt like it!" Reaper insists, "It really felt like I should tell him! We were on the topic! If that wasn't it, then what? When?" Reaper was almost desperate to know. "How will I know if it's the right time?"

Ink turned to him, compassion written all over his face. "Reaper, you gotta understand. He's not ready yet," Ink said, eyes gazing at Geno's back from a near distance. "When you said you felt it, that was you." the artist looked back at Reaper. "You were ready, you've always been... but Geno wasn't."

Reaper's eyes widened as the slow realization dawned on him. He'd been reading the situation wrong. Oh, stars. Had he been making things worse? "Oh stars." he hoped he didn't. "I'm sorry," he whispered, more likely to himself.

Ink planted a hand on his shoulder. "It's fine. It's not your fault," he said before stealing a glance at Geno. "Just... just give him some more time." With that, Ink went back to work. He should finish the house as soon as possible before Error could pinpoint their location.

~~~~

A hand landed on Geno's shoulder, gently as not to startle him, and he turned his head to look at the two gods standing behind him with a small tender smile. Behind them, Geno can see the two-story structure mostly hidden behind the curtain of leaves.

Reaper knelt down beside him and took his hand in his. "How are you feeling?" the god of death asks. So soft, and loving, and careful that Geno couldn't help but feel warm. Despite this, the question he was presented with brought back his initial thoughts.

He looked away to the side, momentarily assessing his own emotional state but failed to touch any conclusion. "I..." He wasn't sure. Nothing feels right as of the moment. Everything's a mess. "I don't know anymore."

Even saying those words felt wrong. Here are these two, doing their best to cheer him up and here he is, being such a pain in the as*.

But then, Geno was surprised when Reaper flashed him a small gentle smile, and reaching out a hand and giving him an encouraging rub on his back. "It's okay to not be okay," he said.

Geno stopped.

Something clicked in his head. Subtle, almost unnoticeable but it was definitely there.

It was certainly something he had heard before. Had he? He wasn't sure. Simple, common, everyday words, yes, but the message had left an echoing impact on him and it keeps getting stronger and stronger like an impatient knocking on the door. An idea beating down on him, trying to get through his skull and bury itself inside his head like a seed.

What was it again? 'It's okay to not be okay'? Such simple, plain wordings and basic logic that Geno would've thought it's stupid. But thinking about it, it actually wasn't as idiotic as it sounds. It's just common sense.

He wasn't accountable for everyone's feelings, yet he was thinking as if he was. He felt bad for not feeling okay because he thought he was dragging everyone down.

He actually wasn't. Geno mentally kicked himself. How stupid can he get? He wasn't dragging them down. They, Reaper and Ink, were willing to sit with him even- no, especially in his darkest hour.

This was what Reaper meant, right?

A grateful tear rolled down Geno's face and a small, barely noticeable smile gracing his 'lips'. "Thank you," Geno whispered gratefully, earning him a beaming smile from the two who rewarded him with the warmest hug they could offer.

Geno felt better already. The fog that clouded his mind immediately clears up. Although his problems were still present, they weren't as bad as they were just a second ago.

Crap, he really should stop overthinking things. When will he ever learn that overthinking always makes things so much worse than they are.

"Come," Reaper ushered as he stood up, tugging at Geno's hand in an encouraging manner. "I've prepared a warm bath for you. You're still cold, aren't you?"

"The last thing you need is to get sick," Ink said as he stood up, as well. Dusting the dirt off the end of his ridiculously long scarf.

Geno could only smile as his soul pulsed happily at the amount of love and care it received before standing up and allowing the two to lead him to his new home.

To be continued...

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AN: Before you go, I'm tagged! I know I am but I can't find the notification anymore! It's you,  SilvertheDelta , aren't you?

Anyway, I'll only gonna do one of the dares(write spoiler) there so... BUT, no.

Check this! Art NOT mine, tho.

I didn't know this was a thing! Minecraft, btw. They're Skeleton and Wither Skeleton. I stumbled upon them on Pinterest on pure accident.

They're so cute! They might as well be Reaper and Geno. >.<

Also, there's this...

mmhmm, I smell love triangle. It's Skeleton and Zombie.

Honestly, the reason why I am attracted to these two ships is that they pour out the same energy as AfterDeath.

I actually wanted to write a story about them but I'm not sure if anyone will read it (I already started it XD).  But they're not a popular ship yet, I guess.

Now, I tag people.

Sunkissed_Lemon I only brought you here to drag you with me in Minecraft fandom. Stop Resisting!

PearltheCat999 Hi there! You don't have to respond. I already messed up this tag, lol.

They are the only people I would dare disturb. >.<

Tell me what you think!