"Here you go, sir." Kia smiled at the villager, handing over a pair of emeralds. The villager hummed in response and nodded, handing over a couple of iron.

The girl quickly took it and shoved it into her bag, scurrying off as she gave a wave to the trader. She kept her smile bright, but it slowly faded as her pacing slowly stopped.

Why am I even trying.

Why can't I just sit around like I used to.

These statements flooded her head like ants over food, making her glare at nothing. The same old, rusty pick she kept was held tightly in her hand, it's luster at a low state.

She heaved out a sigh, continuing to walk once again. She kept her gaze locked at the cave slowly appearing in her sight, a cold and eerie breeze flowing from it.

Taking out a torch, she entered the dim cave. She carefully placed the torch by a small pit, raising her pick as she started to mine.

The sound of cold stone breaking echoed around the walls of the cave, the torch's fire shining brightly.

Kia continued to boredly mine, eyes half-lidded as she watched the stone perish into a floating block. She picked it up and shoved it into her bag, sighing.

"This job is fucking boring." She grumbled under her breath, continuing the break the gray block.

"Then why is it your job?"

A raspy voice mumbled from behind the girl, making her jump. She quickly turned around and swung her pick, yet nothing was hit.

She raised a brow, but quickly shook it off and took out a torch. "Whoa, calm down, lady. I'm not here to spook you." The voice repeated, a bit closer this time.

"Then be a man and fuckin' fight me face to face." Kia responded, her glare getting colder as the figure slowly appeared into view.

"I don't think I can be a man again, lady." The torch lit up a pale face, a graying one at that. His brown hair dropped a few locks in front of his face, a sharp and menacing grin appearing on his lips.

"After all," He chuckled. "It won't be fun to be something I kill."

Kia's eyes widened by a fraction, her grip on the pick tightening. He cackled out loud, head thrown back a bit as he amused himself.

Torches started to light up the cave, appearing at random places to show each spot of the cave. Her eyes darted around, yet she barely moved her head.

"Did I scare ya?" He asked, his grinning face returning to a smirking state. Kia looked back at him and was thrown off for a split second, but quickly returned to her cold emotion.

He had a red cap, a backwards one placed neatly on the top of his head. He had his hands shoved into his gray hoodie, a part of a white shirt peeking through his neckline.

His pants were blue and was already losing it's color, quite the opposite of his clean-looking red sneakers, a similar one to Kia's.

His legs floated a bit from the ground, which never made Kia flinch, even just a bit. His smirk got a bit wider as he neared his face to hers, eyes shining in amusement.

"I did, didn't I?" He held in a chuckle, if possible, his voice was smirking as well. Kia kept her glare as he started to laugh again, a hand lifted up to his mouth to try and cover it up.

Kia placed the torch by the nearest wall and hid her pick, a sigh escaping her lips as he continued his obnoxious cackle.

"...Hako."

The laughter quickly stopped, an eerie silence starting to rise. He turned his head over to her, a glare starting to appear on his features.

"...How do you know my name?" He asked, his voice low and unsettling. Kia kept quiet and just stared at him, staying expressionless and stoic.

"Hey. Say something." He stated a bit more sternly, approaching her a bit more. He grinned slightly, grabbing the tall girl by the collar.

"Don't tell me..." His grin got wider, his grip tightening. "...you're a royal guard."

Kia's face scrunched up a bit, her expression slightly annoyed. He started laughing again, letting go of her collar.

"Oh man, this is hilarious." He placed both of his hands on the back of his neck, fingers interlocked. "Did they threaten to fire you or something?"

"I've never seen royal guards move out by themselves." He softened his smile. "And a female one, too."

She gave a deep sigh, crossing her arms as she drooped her head down low. "Why can't you stop being so fucking stupid..."

"Can't even remember an old friend, huh?" She mumbled quietly, a click of her tongue escaping her mouth as she did.

She took out a steak and held it closely in front of him, his grin disappearing. "W-What are you gonna do with that?" He stammered a bit, his hands shifting uncomfortably in his pockets.

She lifted her head and opened her mouth, lifting the steak just above it. She slowly and carefully started to lower it, eyes closed as she made an 'Aah' sound.

Hako jumped and quickly stole the piece of meat, munching it all to his own. "You're cruel, you know? Eating right in front of me when I'm hungry."

Kia smiled slightly, but it quickly faded into nothing as she sat down. "Still an idiot, I see. Still loving steaks but hating stakes."

Hako stopped, cocking his head over to the girl as he raised a brow. "And how'd you know that?" He squinted his eyes, brows furrowing. "...You're not a guard, are you?"

Kia quickly placed a palm over her face, her sighs starting to sound like a groan. "How nice. You found out my secret. Oh noooooooo."

Hako stood from his spot and walked over, giving a hand. Instead of taking it and standing, she took it and pulled him down to the ground.

"So, did that baldy erase your memories too?" She asked, carefully resting on a block of stone. Hako looked up and gave a confused smile, head tilted slightly.

"...Seems so." She chuckled lightly, hands rested onto her stomach. "I just can't believe no one can remember Kiana Aerspark anymore."

Hako's expression faded into a surprised one, his elbows propping him up from the cold floor. "Kia?" He blurted out, getting a hum in response.

He genuinely smiled and jumped to hug her, pushing the girl off her spot. "I haven't seen you in years! How's Steve?!" He bellowed, his voice echoing around the walls.

"I-I don't know. We went our separate ways when I turned 18." She nervously cracked a smile, her body being crushed by his hug.

"Ah, dang..." He mumbled out, but still flashed a smile. "No matter! You're here again and that's all I care about!"

Kia managed to lift a smile, but only for a moment. She hesitantly hugged back, hands trying to comfortably grip the gray cloth.

She buried her face on his shoulder, keeping silent. His bright and cheery smile quickly disappeared, only a worried frown replacing it as he felt salty tears soaking his jacket.

"Kia..." He muttered, placing a hand on the top of the girl's head. He gently placed his face on her hair and sighed, starting to stoke her kindly.

"When'd you turn this soft?" He chuckled softly, still continuing. She kept quiet, but little sniffs and coughs escaping.

"...Do you like this job?" He asked quietly, causing the girl to shift from her spot and look up at him. "O-Of course, why wouldn't I?" She smiled widely, eyebrows furrowed.

He glared, letting go. "After all, it reminds me a lot about my childhood!" She laughed, but it came out rather awkwardly.

"And that's supposed to be a good thing?" He asked, raising a brow. Kia grinned but kept quiet, staring at the boy.

He stood and dusted himself off, starting to walk out of the cave. "Let's talk about this outside, you dork." He stated, leaving the torches back in the cave.

She quickly stood and quietly followed, head turned towards the ground. The bright sunlight blinded her for a moment, but she didn't stop a second.

Hako waited patiently outside, looking back in Kia's direction. She stopped in front of the boy, head still cocked towards the ground.

"I'm sorry, I just...I..." She mumbled, tears threatening to spill once again. "...I fucking hate myself for what I've done..."

"My...m-my smile's so colorful." She looked up, giving a small and soft smile. "...but my eyes, they're so dull."

"Gray, it's all I ever see." She continued to smile, but the waterworks started. "It's always like that, ever so monotonous..."

Hako listened to every word, not opening his lips at least once. When she finished, he cracked a large, but gentle smile, saying:

"Then just smile with your eyes closed and hope for the best."

===

wew look at that

wEW UNDERTALE'S GOTTEN ME GOING BROS

anyways

hako's just an old oc that i decided to revive because he is my precious steak vampire asshole

yeah