Your face flushed as you glared at the familiar faces of drunks that made a pass at you. "What're you guys doing here?" You asked, tone low and still.

"We've come to pay you back. You see, we don't take too well to being shown up. Especially by some weak little pansy of a girl who just happens to be in a bad mood and her skeleton boyfriend, who's in an even more pissy mood."

You blushed, lips pressed shut as your hands balled into fist. "Let's get one thing straight. Don't ever, and I mean ever call me weak. The things that's I'VE gone through just to fucking be alive right now would make pathetic monsters like you shit your panties. And don't underestimate me either, because I can drop your ass faster than you can blink."

The leader of them laughed obnoxiously as he met your gaze. "Bull. Shit. You're just a fragile little girl who's stuck in her childhood because daddy was a mean man, wasn't he?"

You stiffened. It wasn't true, but it still bothered you. He seemed pleased with your reaction as he cackled. "You gonna cry Little Miss Daddy Issues."

Sans stepped forward but you motioned for him to stop. Your body moved in rigid movement as your teeth beamed through a twisting grin. "Oh no, did I strike a cord?" He asked in a sarcastic tone.

His lackies laughed as you circled to the front, squaring against the leader. "Oh no," you gasped, feigning pain. "You've struck my weakness!" You cried, dramatically grasping your chest. "How could you have seen through my perfect disguise?!"

His face fell as you laughed. Your hand slipped into your pocket and you flipped a Swiss knife between your fingers. Your expression fell to a blank as you buried the tip of the blade towards him. A button fell as you sliced the thread. He paled and you continued.

"Oh, I'm sorry." You teased. "Did I surprise you? Daddy issues must be the go to for EVERY GIRL that just happens to be at a bar. Oh no! Look out, I might break down into violent tears and cling to you for comfort."

Suddenly, you swung your leg at his knees, hooking your foot and collapsing him to his knees. He cried out as his knee clicked in displacement. His lackies tried to rush you but you held the blade at his neck.

You eyes remained on him as you lowered your mouth to his ear. "Sorry big fella, but you were wrong. I don't have daddy issues. In fact, I didn't have a daddy at all. Or a mommy. Or a friend or a sibling or a guardian. Do you want to know what I had? I had myself. The vague memories I do have are too faded to make sense of. Having parents at all, ha! What a joke..."

You removed the knife and planted a shoe in the middle of his face, kicking him back into his buddies and away so he could see the venom in your eyes. He seemed to trembled as you looked at him. "How about a deal?" You cooed, squatting down before him. "You don't show your ugly, ass of a face to me ever again, and I won't shove a dildo so far up your ass you can feel it in your throat, okay?"

He shook his head mutely and stood shakily, pushing his friends ahead of him. "L-Lets go." He ordered.

"But boss! What about markin-"

"Forget marking! That bitch is crazy!"

You smiled and waved as they scrambled away, leaving you and Sans alone once again. He seemed impressed by you as you returned, sorting the laundry in quiet.

"You handled that well." He said. "Experience?"

"Sorta. More adaption than anything." You said quietly as you started the last load. You leaned against the machine. "Adapting will always be better than any experience."

He chuckled. "Clearly so. You managed to scatter them without dealing a single blow."

"Sorta." You snickered. "His knee is gonna hurt like hell once the adrenaline wears off."

Quiet fell again and you sighed, tapping an impatient foot on the floor. "Hey Sans?" You spoke softly, raising your gaze so it matched his. "What did they mean by marking? I'm not familiar with it."

He chuckled. "Well hopefully you're not familiar. It's supposed to be a one time thing?"

You raised a brow and waved for him to go on. He nodded and continued. "It's a monster mating thing. When a monster finds another monster or human they want to be theirs, they mark them. It bonds the too permanently.  It's kinda an intimate thing, but a lot of gang members will just do it to secure strong members and tie them down."

You snorted, a laugh tumbling over you. "And those dipshits wanted to make me. How funny. What happens when one of the people defies the bond?"

"Immense pain of its a strong bond." He explained. "But if it's a weak bond, or one of the participants is much stronger, then it can be broken. Though in most cases it leaves permanent scars on the soul."

"So it's like branding your significant other. Seems kinda stupid to me."

He shrugged. "I dunno Kitten. It's a huge deal with monsters. Once you've been marked it's like telling the world 'I dare you to fuck with me. I have backup.' Hell, it's even in marriage ceremonies."

You smiled. "See, now that seems more appealing. Do both people have the mark?"

"Yeah."

"What does it look like?"

"Depends on the monster. Monster type, magic, strength of the bond... they all factor in."

"How... do you mark?" You asked, more sheepishly.

He seemed a bit stunned but grinned as he poked at you. "Oh... are you planning-"

"HELL. NO. I'm just curious." You muttered.

"You ask a lot of questions." He observed.

"It's the first time in my life I've been able to."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Okay fine. You can mark in different ways. More conservative monsters turn to spells and do it that way. You can do a procedure and have bits of magic sampled from each side, but that's for the wealthy. However the most common way is through biting."

"Biting?!" You blushed. "What?"

He laughed, holding his gut as he composed himself. "Yes, I said biting."

"So like, what if you fall in a really crowded subway, and the guy in front of you falls too, and you accidentally bite his leg. You're just soul mates then?!"

"No, both parties have to share a strong bond first. It doesn't matter what the bond is. Sexual, Family, hatred... just a bond."

You hand covered you neck as you squeaked. "He was gonna bite me?"

"Probably." Sans shrugged. "What? I thought that was a human thing too."

"Not a common thing? It's a kink!" You shuddered. "Weird."

The wash buzzed and you lifted the lids, transferring the clothes to the dryers. Your face was lit in red as you hid your color in the clothes. Sans loaded the others as you shook your head.

"I'm gonna take a breather. Stay with the clothes." You instructed.

"Got it Boss."

You smiled thankfully and capped your fedora. As you opened the doors, a blissful chill brushed your skin leaving goosebumps along your arms. The doors swung shut behind you and you turned to your right. Your back rested against the brick building, your lungs refreshing with deep cold breaths.

Your face returned to its original hue as you milled over what he had to say. So monsters were willing to risk immense pain at their expense to lock you into a mold. You were experienced in a fight, but what they'd seen you do in the bar was basic defense. It wasn't enough to warrant a logical desire to enlist you as a permanent role. What was it that had made them want you so bad?

Your thoughts were cut off as the hum is plasma shot before you. You ducked as a spear of flowing blue barely missed you. You whipped in the direction of your attacker, heart racing again.

What now?!

"Who are you?" You asked cautiously as the monster approached. She was a tall monster with body covered in blue scales. Her left eye was hidden by a patch while her other eye was a large, yellow orb. She had no iris, but it seemed to work for her. Fins replaced where her ears would've been and her grin was full of sharpened fangs. She had fiery red hair, pulled back in a ponytail and leaving bangs to hang over her head.

She was dressed almost identically to you, with expecting of the jacket she wore over her buttoned shirt. "I might be off hours, but there's no way I'm passing up a human." She grinned. "Asgore is gonna love this."

You flushed as you threw up your hands. "Hold on! You've got this all wrong. I'm (Y/N) (L/N). I signed a contract with Asgore today. I'm a friend."

"Ha! I'm not stupid! Those monsters told me you'd say that. Asgore would tell me if we recruited a human." She exclaimed. Another spear appeared as she rested it in her palm.

Your face fell and you groaned. The trio tipped her off. "Listen, I promise I'm telling the truth. I don't want to fight you... I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"I'm Undyne, Head of Guard."

You paled as you sighed. "Undyne please listen. I can prove it! Let me just go get-"

She gave a mighty call as she launched the spear towards you. You flipped back wards, watching from above as it stuck itself in the pavement. You landed against its shaft and bent your knees, launching yourself even further away. Undyne seemed impressed as she launched another array of spears at you midair. You panicked, throwing your arms in front of you. The blades sliced your skin neatly as the passed you, but not a single one went straight through.

You fell to the ground and looked down at your shirt, blood seeping through the rips. Your heart sank and you growled. "Fuck it, I'm just throwing this one away."

Your hand clasped one of the discarded spears and you flipped it so you held it poised for battle. "Undyne, I know who you are. You're Asgore's top guard right? You work with the Skelebros, Sans and Papyrus."

She paled and crouched, looking even more dangerous. "So you're a spy huh?"

"Ugh, no! Papyrus told me so myself!"

"Ha! Now I know you're lying. He only goes between work and home, and today he left early, like me, so he could check on his new pets."

Your head fell to the side. "Pets?"

"Yeah, duh. He and Sans got a puppy and a kitten. Personally I don't think they're ready but..."

"Hold on Undyne..." You interrupted. "You think, he got two new pets, and that's why he left early."

"Obviously! I'd rush home if I had two new baby animals at home too." She explained.

You slapped your hand against your forehead as you sighed. You couldn't help but snicker a bit. "Undyne, Kitten and Lil' Pup aren't animals. It's me and my brother. We live with the Skelebros now."

She seemed unable to process it for a moment before shaking her head. "I don't believe you. Prove it!"

"Okay. Let me go in there and-"

"No!" She snapped. "Stay. There."

You raised a brow. "You want me to prove it, by standing here."

Her eyes shifted and she was quiet. "Yes....?"

You sighed. "Just let me-"

"Fine! If you can't prove it I have no choice but to accept you're lying. Let's fight!"

"Undyne no!" You pled in an exasperated tone. "NYAH!"

"Hey Kitten, do you plan on coming back insi-"

You and Undyne both snapped your head in Sans' direction. He seemed stunned as you took the chance to run at him and hide behind him, glaring around at Undyne. "Sans can you call off the fish?! She won't believe me!" You begged. "I'm done fighting for today."

He chuckled, stepping to the side so he wasn't hiding you. "Undyne, Kitten. Kitten, Undyne. Now you know each other."

"Sans!" Undyne called. "Did Asgore really employ the human?" She asked.

He nodded solemnly and her jaw dropped. "But why-"

"Don't ask me. Ask him. I'm just here to watch (Y/N)'s back."

"Some job you did." You pouted, sticking your tongue out at him.

"Oh...." Undyne uttered, blushing. "I'm, uh, sorry then."

She then smiled and shook your hand aggressively. "Welcome on board Kitten! See you at work tomorrow!"

"Um, okay?" You gasped, stroking your now sore hand. "See ya..."

She offered one last grin before retreating to wherever she'd come from. You sighed and walked into the laundromat, collecting your clothes in your basket and turning to Sans. "Hey Sans? I'm kinda tired. Can I just fold these tomorrow?"

He shrugged. "Sure, I don't care. Shortcut?"

You nodded. "Shortcut."