AN:

1.) I didn't think I'm capable of writing a Oneshot but I really like this and I wanna share it with you.

2.) Updates are uncertain.

3.) No smuts. We all know I'm terrible at that.
      

Alright!

     
A note you MUST read:

This is modern AU. So Geno's constantly bleeding slash wound doesn't exist. Because it doesn't makes sense.

Warning: Mentions of suicide, depression and blood! Be careful!
      
       
       
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#01 The Space in Between 

Third POV
        

It has been two months since Reaper had last seen Geno.

It has been two months since they've fought.

Reaper wasn't exactly sure how it happened. It just did. Like cracks on fragile glass, slowly spreading without anyone noticing until the glass finally breaks.

Reaper wasn't sure either when it started. When Geno began feeling cold towards him. He started noticing his unusual silence.

Geno has always been the quiet type but recently, he hasn't been talking at all. His smiles came out forced that gradually grew smaller until it completely disappeared and never returned.

Then, next thing Reaper noticed was that Geno was distancing himself. Subtly at first but became evidently obvious as time goes on.

He'd scoot away when Reaper sat next to him and when Reaper would move closer, he'd leave. He'd lie on bed far away from him, nearly falling off the edge and Reaper would almost always wake up alone in the morning.

Breakfasts and dinners became lonely and boring as Geno seemed uninterested at every topic Reaper offered him. It had been quiet and uncomfortable that they'd stop eating their meals together.

There were times when Geno would lock himself for hours in the bathroom and when Reaper would try to coax him out, he wouldn't answer.

Reaper had been deeply worried then. Geno was drifting away and he had no idea why.

He tried to talk to him, asked him what was wrong but Geno was always quiet. Simply looking away to the side as his arms hugs himself. Reaper didn't know what to do.

Maybe he wasn't loving him enough and so Reaper gave him everything he has.

He started spending more time with him, he started bringing home gifts and flowers and other surprises. He smothers him with love and attention every second they were together.

But it seems as it only added fuel to the fire.

Like a twig that had been bent for too long, Geno silently snapped.

"Reaper, please..." Geno pleaded, exhaustion lacing every breath as he rubs his hands over his face, unable to look at the taller in the eyes. "...just, please." That was all Geno can say.

Reaper was on his knees, begging the other to tell him what was wrong, what was he doing wrong.

When Geno looked up, tears were in his eye and the mere sight of it alone pushes Reaper into desperate state to fix this mess. His hands grips Geno's arms tighter, afraid that if he let go, he'll lose the other.

"...give me some space," Geno croaked, his voice nearly gone from days of not using it. "I just needed some space," he whispers, unable to look at the other once more.

And that, Reaper did. He packed his stuff and left their home. He took his car and stayed at his brother's house.

He didn't do it out of spite. No, he could never do that to Geno. He did it out of respect.

He thought it was only going to be a couple of days, a week at most but no, days turned to weeks, then a month, then another.

Reaper was a mess. He stayed up late and went to work early. He busied himself with the pile of paperwork that he has been putting off for a while.

He tried to take his mind off of things for the mean time but they always come back when work hours is done, while he was driving home and when he's left alone in his room.

Since day one, Reaper has been staring at his phone, at Geno's number to be exact. His thumb hovering over the screen. Trembling. Hesitating.

He was one tap away from talking to Geno, from hearing his voice again but he couldn't do it. He was afraid that if he approach the other, he'd end up pushing him farther.

Even if it was killing him from the inside because he knew it would hurt him far more if he loses Geno.

So far, Reaper didn't believe they were over. Geno had never officially called it off. They were just taking a break.

Yeah, that was it. 'Just a short break,' Reaper kept telling himself. It's the only thing keeping him grounded.

It's been two agonizingly slow months Reaper has been waiting for a text or a call or something -anything- from Geno, a message he long to receive that says they can be together again. But alas, Geno remains silent.

Their friends got a gist of the story and went to help both of them. Error came barging into Reaper's temporary home. "You asshole, what did you do?!" He demanded, a hand clutching a fistful of Reaper's shirt.

Good thing, Ink was there, too, to hold Error back. And so were the rest of the gang.

They all came to see Reaper as according to them, they can't get through Geno. His phone was off and he wouldn't answer the door.

Reaper invited them inside, they settled scattered in the living room; some sits on the couch, a few prefers to stay standing and the rest settles on the carpeted floor around the coffee table.

Reaper then started telling the entire story from his perspective; that he had done and gave everything he have to make Geno happy but something was wrong and Geno wouldn't tell him.

That was enough for the crowd of friends to calm down, especially the fuming Error knowing that his brother had been treated right.

Although their worries remains, amplified by the fact that none of them have heard from Geno for two months.

"He said he wanted some space," Sans said, "we should respect that." And he has a point. It would do no good to force Geno to open up when he's not ready.

Reaper knows that. That's what he's been doing the whole time. Just... waiting.

Blue and Dream suggested they drop by and check on him. Maybe with Reaper, they could get a response.

"If I told someone to leave me alone, I mean it." Nightmare bluntly emphasized the situation and all lowered their heads in shame.

They knew stepping on someone's boundaries will only make things worse.

But still. Blocking out someone is one thing, shutting out everybody is another. It was deeply concerning.

They all knew Geno is the quiet type, but considering his current situation, they didn't think it was a good idea to leave him alone.

They tried to call him... but still nothing.

Discussions grew long, opinions were thrown around and none of them noticed the time until it was already deep into the night.

The friends decided to stay for the night, Blue turning on the TV and he and Dream flicks through the channels.

It's an inappropriate time but the TV provides good background sounds that drowns out the tension in the air.

But it could never distract them from the dreadful thoughts lingering in their heads.

Reaper have never been so scared. He just found out that Geno has been all alone the entire time they were apart. There's no one looking after him.

He just shut everyone out without a foreword or even giving them a proper reason. He just did.

It wasn't only Reaper, all of them were terrified of what could happen to Geno; of what he might do to himself.

No one was brave enough to say it, because if they did, they were afraid it may come true. Yet the thought is constantly present, lingering in their heads like a bad omen. Nagging at them the more they try to ignore it.

Reaper didn't want to think about it. Geno wouldn't do it, would he? There was no reason to. He treated him right and well and-

His thoughts were interrupted by ringing tune in his pocket, catching everyone's attention. He fished out his phone and read the caller's ID.

His soul leaped to his throat as he shot up to his feet, alarming everyone. He immediately answers the call and pressed the device against his ear.

His metaphorical heart thudding in his chest and blood pounding in his ears as he addressed the person on the other line. "Geno?"

Everyone was instantly on alert, all traces of drowsiness immediately left their facial features as they all shut up and listens attentively. Sans even hastily muted the TV which left them in total tense silence.

Reaper strained to hear from the other line. It was faint but still audibly recognizable.

Sobs and crying. Faint, small and distant. Then, "...I'm sorry..."

Reaper's blood ran cold and he bolted out the door, alarming the rest of the occupant of the room. He jumped into his car and quickly drove off through the night, not even bothering to buckle his seatbelt, and ignoring his friends' frantic call.

"Geno, talk to me! I'm here, I'm here!" Reaper coaxed into the phone, fear and panic riddling his voice as he speeds through the street. His other hand gripping the steering wheel tightly.

Reaper heard three words before his car screeched to a halt before a familiar house. The darkness creeping through the windows stirs the fear in his nonexistent guts. He jumped off the driver's seat and sprinted straight to the front door.

It was locked. Reaper cursed.

He stepped back before slamming his shoulder against the solid wood. Once, twice, thrice. He should know it's tough because it was him who installed the locks.

He heard cars' engines and doors slamming closed behind him. "Reaper! What's going on?!" His friends have arrived.

"Help me!" was his only response and Error was by him in an instant.

Together, they slammed their bodies against the front door. Again and again. Until the door nearly flew off its hinges.

Reaper and Error stumbled inside, it was darker than the night outside but there was a faint glow of light coming from upstairs.

Reaper was already racing towards it. Adrenaline pumping through his bones. Coming up to the second floor, he pauses, and found the light pouring out of a slightly ajar door of the bathroom.

Reaper ran for it, soul pounding and lungs burning for oxygen. He slams the door open and froze at the sight.

A mixture of intense worry and faint relief flooding his system as he rushed forward and engulfed the trembling, bleeding Geno curled up on against the side of the bathtub.

Geno immediately latched on to him, clutching a fistful of Reaper's shirt in his blood-stained hands as he helplessly cry against the taller. "...I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." he whispered again and again with shaking, hoarse voice.

Reaper was beyond relieved that he made it in time, that he can finally hold Geno in his arms but the amount of blood pooling underneath his lover is gravely worrying that forced Reaper pull away despite how badly he longed for closure.

Geno panicked. His desperate pleas for the taller to not leave him alone again tears at Reaper's 'heart' and he immediately cave in. He pressed his lover against him once more, wrapping his arms protectively around the smaller as he whispers soft, comforting words upon his ear.

He ignored the frantic crowd behind him, their panicked calls, and horrified gasps when they saw them.

Nightmare, being the calmest, took over the situation. He gave everyone a task to fulfill.

Ink, Dream and Blue rummage around the bathroom for a med kit while Sans, Fell and Error were told to clean the bedroom fast and clear out any blade or sharp object they come across.

Cross was sent to the kitchen to dissolve a couple of pain killers in a glass of water.

It took a lot of soothing from Reaper and the star trio before Geno complies to their pleas but even then, Geno remained adamantly pressed against Reaper's chest and only held out his arms from under Reaper's hug.

Cuts, both old and new, overlapping with each other, littered his thin arms up to his elbows. Reaper hissed at the sight.

The others didn't have time to be sick as they immediately set on cleaning the wounds and tightly bandaging them after.

After making sure that Geno doesn't have any more hidden injuries, Nightmare ushered Ink, Blue and Dream out the bathroom and left the couple be.

Cross handed Reaper the glass of water mixed with meds and Reaper have to literally beg Geno to at drink at least half of it.

Error came in to bring a fresh set of clothes for Geno before wordlessly exiting the room with Cross. Although they left the door slightly ajar and they all crowded the hallway; listening worriedly to the two's conversation.

That night, nobody went to sleep.

Geno was put in a suicide watch. Reaper took a leave from work to keep a better eye on him and at least one of their friends would come over to help.

They expected Geno to argue against it, to shut them out, or throw another tantrum. They were prepared to counter it -it was for his own good after all- , but he never spoke a word about it.

Either he didn't mind or that he was in too deep to notice. Both ways are deeply concerning.

Geno spends the majority of his time in their bed, sleeping the days off with much needed rest.

Reaper took great care of his lover and spends the much needed time together. He never change his ways. He's still the same caring, protective, albeit overwhelming partner and on the back of Reaper's head, there was a nagging thought that he was making the same mistake again.

But all doubts vanished when Geno smiled at him. Real, genuine, although small and weighted with fatigue but it's a smile.

But things are far from okay. There were times when Geno would have an episode, he'd seek a blade without even realizing it and often Reaper caught him rummaging the kitchen drawers.

Geno wasn't allowed to enter the kitchen anymore. At least for the mean time.

There was one time when Geno was crying, begging to be left alone as he try to forcefully shut the bathroom door on Reaper.

Reaper wouldn't let him. Not again. Not after what almost happen. He stuck a foot between the door and the doorframe and carefully, gradually apply pressure on the door; not wanting to overwhelm nor startle the smaller.

In his weakened state, Geno could only shrunk to the floor, unable to hold himself together and he finally falls apart once more.

Reaper was by him in an instant, gathering the smaller in his arms and letting him cry his heart out.

Never again would Reaper let his lover deal with his demons alone.
      
       
      
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AN: so...?