AN: Enjoy the fluff while it lasts

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Chapter 40: Messages

Third POV

Geno stirred when he felt the mattress shift under him, next was the disappearance of warmth. He let out (what he thought was) a soft whine and the warmth immediately returned. Wrapping around him like a blanket cocooning him in cozy softness.

Satisfied and comfortable, Geno drifted off to sleep once more.

When Geno woke up the second time, he found himself alone in bed guarded by two incredibly soft pillows on either side of him. The first thought that came to him was 'where was Reaper?'.

He reached out a hand to rub the sleep off his eye before pushing himself to sit up. He wondered what time was it and briefly scanned the room for a clock. Surely, Reaper or Ink would've remembered to put up one.

There was none. Why was he even surprised? Time is irrelevant to the gods.

He peeled the blanket off, shivering as he was exposed to the cool air and willed his sleepy bones to move. Swinging his legs over the edge, he expected to feel the cold, bare floor but was mildly startled when his feet sank onto the cottony fur. Far softer than a carpet, he believed.

He looked down and inspect the culprit to find a new pair of fluffy slippers. Oh, Reaper. Geno smiled warmly. How thoughtful.

He slipped his feet into the slippers and made his way to one of the windows. One hand reaching up to check on his new scarf as he went. He drew the curtain only by an inch, enough for him to peek through and what he saw made his eye grew wide in wonder and amazement.

Everything was sparkling with magic in the darkness of the night. It wasn't enough to light up the forest but it does accentuate the shape of the objects. Broken strings of lights crawling the tree trunks, tracing the lines on the bark and making their way up to the very tip of each individual leaves.

Geno drew the curtains wider, granting him more view of the magical world outside. He awed at the sight and took his time to take everything in.

His gaze caught a leaf practically pressed against the glass -probably from one of the vines that cover the entire house, and leaned closer to inspect it. He was amazed to see the individual veins flowing with lights spreading along underneath the green surface.

This was what Reaper meant when everything in god's realm was charged with magic.

"Wow," Geno whispered breathlessly before remembering the dangers of exposing. He quickly drew the curtain closed and stepped back. Sighing as the very, brief panic subsided.

His mind went back to its initial thought and second objective; to find Reaper. Turning around, he caught sight of a lone glow atop the bedside wardrobe. Curious, he went over and found a small piece of folded paper underneath.

He picked it up and set the crystal aside. He opened what appears to be a letter, only to realize that he couldn't make out the hand-written words through the dim lighting no matter the angle.

Defeated, Geno set on finding a brighter light source as he exited the bedroom.

The chilled air greeted him in the equally dim-lit hallway. The crystals, this time, were embedded on the ceiling. Filling every inch of it. The purplish light pouring down on him like a graceful waterfall.

Geno thought this was bright enough and unfolded the piece of paper once again. Upon reading the first sentence, he bolted downstairs. Reaper left.

He left him alone.

After he promised to stay with him...

Tears pricked his eye as he scanned the dark living room. Twice. Thrice. Denying the sight that there's nobody there. That he's all alone. He sniffed, clutching the letter close to his chest.

He whipped around, saw a doorway which most probably led to the kitchen. Before he knew it, he was already running for it.

He stopped when he saw a dark figure that reminds him of him standing motionless in the dim lights of the kitchen. Geno quietly backs up.

Geno went stiff when the dark figure turned in an eerie slow pace and had to surpass a scream that threatened to rip through his throat.

When he didn't see the blood-red eyes, his knees nearly gave out in relief.

Reaper was chugging on a canned drink. He choked and coughed when he saw Geno crying, he immediately slams the beer down on the counter, next to the fridge where he was standing by, and rushed to Geno's side.

"What's wrong?! What happened?!" the god of death inquired worriedly as his hands cupped either side of Geno's face and tenderly wiping the tears with his thumbs.

Geno trembled, the sudden panic and adrenaline rush was too much, and he cried. He latched onto Reaper and wailed against the taller's chest.

Reaper did what he could to soothe the smaller. He brought him even closer, enclosing his arms around tightly and began whispering sweet, comforting words. He rubbed the other's back and patiently waited until the smaller was calm enough to talk.

"What's wrong?" Reaper asked again, softer this time.

"I thought you left," Geno responded with a muffled, broken voice that ended with a hiccup.

"I'm right here," Reaper assured.

Geno shook his head even when Reaper emphasized it with a kiss atop his skull. Geno handed the letter to Reaper, who broke into a sheepish smile.

"Oh. This?" Reaper briefly checked the letter. "I didn't think you'd wake up in the middle of the night."

Geno pouted, prompting Reaper for more explanation. "Are you going to leave?" The question nearly brought Geno to another fit of crying.

Reaper leaned down, pressing their foreheads together and that sly smile never leaving his face. "I already did." He pecked a kiss on Geno's 'lips'.

Geno's eye grew wide and his first instinct was to pull away.

Reaper saw it coming and once again pressed the smaller against him, leaving no room for the other to escape nor push him away.

Geno tried to wiggle out of the taller's iron grip but gasped and does the opposite when they were lifted off the ground.

Reaper hovers several inches from the ground, carrying Geno in his arms as he retraced the latter's steps back upstairs. His newly opened beer completely forgotten.

Reaper sets Geno back on the bed, adamant on keeping him there for the rest of the night.

"Where did you go?" Geno asks as he tucked himself back in bed. Reaper doing the same after taking off his cloak. Geno couldn't understand why he felt hurt. It's not like Reaper betrayed him. Even if he left after he promised he'll stay.

But he did come back right after so that cancels out the 'betrayal' part, right?

"I went to talk to Asgore," Reaper replied, turning on his side to face Geno.

"Oh." That's all Geno needed to know. Oh, that's right. Geno pulled the blanket high enough to cover the lower half of his face. He can't blame Reaper for that one. Reaper is still the god of death and he has a job to do.

Just because they're a couple figure, doesn't mean Geno can have Reaper all the time.

"I talked to him about our situation," Reaper said and it caught Geno's full attention.

Which situation, exactly? Was it his intimate relationship with Reaper, a mortal and a god? Or the threat with Error? Geno dreaded both.

"I told them to not look for you in the meantime," Reaper continued and Geno could already feel the growing loneliness by simply knowing that the others are to be kept away from him. "We wouldn't want to create more suspicion to our location."

Geno shrunk. Ashamed. He really does bring trouble wherever he goes. "Are they okay with me here? In their universe, I mean." Geno quietly inquired while looking away.

"Why wouldn't they?"

Geno frowned. "I'm a mortal, aren't I not allowed here?" he pointed out. He waited for a response but he didn't get any. Just silence.

He turned his head and found Reaper staring at him. A disapproving frown settled firmly on his 'lips'. In one swift motion, Reaper had pulled Geno in his arms, securing the smaller against him in a tight hug.

"Do you feel like being crushed by thousands of tons of pressure?" Reaper questioned.

Geno instantly remembers that conversation and he answers with a shake of his head.

"Then why do you keep saying you're a mortal?"

"Isn't that what I am?"

The silence followed, leaving the unanswered question lingering in their heads.

Reaper didn't dare continue the conversation after seeing the first sign of denial. He has to be patient. The time will come.

"What do...?" Geno hesitantly broke the silence. "What do the others... think of me?"

Reaper broke out into a wide grin that further sparked Geno's curiosity in a very good way. "They were excited to meet you." When those words left Reaper's 'lips', Geno felt the surge of warmth bursting from his figurative heart.

With a snap of his fingers, Reaper had his phone in his hand. He played a video, raised the volume and handed it to Geno.

"Hello, darling!" Mettaton piped up, her face covered the entire screen. She stepped back, allowing an entire view of her body... was she made of crystals instead of metal? "I'm Mettaton! Call me! Death has my number!" she made a 'call' sign with her hand next to her head. The camera shifted.

"Hello sweetie! I miss you!" Toriel, the goddess of life, politely waved her paws and gave a 'flying kiss'.

"Hello, dearie!" Muffet's sweet voice came in as she came in view, her right hands waving gently. "You are invited to my tea party," she squealed in delight.

The camera shifted again and turned to the ever so quiet Grillby timidly waving a hand and then nodding after. The camera turned to a short yellow dinosaur.

She visibly jumped. "Uh- I- uh... um..." Classic stuttering Alphys. "Do you- do you- uh... do you uh... still re-... remem- remember m- me? From- from- from last- last time we uh... met?"

Someone walked up from behind Alphys and the camera turned up higher. Undyne flashed her sharp teeth as she grinned and mocked a salute with two fingers. " 'sup, punks!"

Behind her, Geno noticed, was Reaper. He was talking to Asgore from a distance. Geno thought he was the one recording. Reaper in the video turned and flashed a wide smile and a wave of a hand. Asgore doing the same.

The camera turned a hundred and eighty degrees and the screen was filled with Papyrus' face. "NYEH-HEH-HEH!" Oh how Geno missed that silly, obnoxiously loud laugh.

Behind Papyrus was the group, squeezing together to fit in the screen. "HI, GENO!"

Geno's soul leaped to his throat, overwhelmed with joy when Papyrus called out his name.

"We can't wait to see you!" They all said in a messy unison.

"Be safe!"

"I have a fabulous gift for you, darling!"

"Me, too! Me, too!"

"M-me uh... me three!"

"WHAT! NO FAIR!"

"Ha-ha! Loser!"

*crackling fire*

"What is going on here?"

"Paps, what're you doing with my phone?"

"ACK-!"

The video abruptly ended after that and Geno was left smiling like an idiot. He only became aware of the tears when Reaper scooted closer and wiped them away. Then pecked a kiss again on his cheek. This time, Geno didn't mind.

"Welcome to your new family," Reaper's breath smelt of a beer but that only intensifies the 'celebration' feeling, multiplied by the explosion of happiness in his soul.

"Can I have a beer, too?" Geno requested, the smile never leaving his eye.

Reaper smiled back. "Just for tonight."

In a very brief moment, Reaper had retrieved two cans of beers and the couple repositioned themselves to be sitting up and leaning against the headboard.

Geno played the video again as he sipped the cold drink, enjoying every second and every drop. When the video ended, he played it again.

He watched it again, and again, and again. He watched it in repeat for hours on end. Noticing more tiny details with each replay. Sometimes, he'd pause. Staring into their widely smiling faces. Absolutely delighted that those smiles were directed at him.

Their messages were for him. They were waiting for him.

For the first time, since he's been trapped in the Save Screen, there was someone waiting for him.

"This is the happiest day of my life," Geno croaked, slightly intoxicated, with tears in his eye.

Reaper leaned against him. "And there's many more to come."

To be continued...

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AN: The first part is like the reverse of Chapter 7. Sort of. But I like it! I really do. ^-^