-Sci's Pov-

Today was the day! Today he turned sixteen! I rolled out of bed and got ready in the early morning for my shift in the lab. I quickly put on my lab coat and made some peanut butter and jelly toast. While I ate the toast, I pulled the notes of the core that Gaster gave me from the cabinet. I quickly made a plan for the workers to follow while they fixed the layout. I sighed, this day was going to be long.

As I packed the messenger bag that I normally took with me to the lab, I spotted something unusual about one of the papers. Stapled to one of the papers was a picture of the staff that was taken one Gaster's sixteenth. I smiled at the writing in the corner; 'I know yours will be just as good as mine!'. I smiled, the old man was almost like my adoptive father from the way he treats me. I know that Gaster has planned something for today, so I have to wary. With that final thought I walk out the door, starting my walk to the lab.

The lab was strangely quiet as I walked in. Why were the lights off?

Going to flip the light switch, I see a string get pulled out of the corner of my eye. The lights turn on and a balloon above me pops and drops buckets of confetti on me. Then all the scientists in the lab spring out of nowhere and shout,

"HAPPY SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY SCI!"

I shout in surprise and summon my blasters on instinct.

"Calm down Sci, it's just us." Hearing the familiar voice of the old man, I unsummon the blasters. I sigh. This was only to be expected on my sixteenth. As I echo the last thought aloud Gaster chuckles and puts his hand on my head.

"We just wanted today to be special, that's why we're taking a break from work, all of us. After all, it's not everyday that someone around here turns sixteen! If we're lucky we might even see Death, but then again, his timing is always unfortunate."

I facepalm, that's right, I forgot. When someone turns sixteen they get the book. I just have to hope my soulmate on the other end is nice to strangers.

"Well what have you planned now G?" I commented, wanting to get the party along.

"Nothing too special just some cake and ice cream, hopefully by then you'll have gotten a Death present."

And we do just that, everyone sings to me and it was all well and good, but I can feel the watchfulness of the others. Not a lot of people turn sixteen around here anymore, not many kids and too many freak accidents. The only kid I can think of who will turn sixteen soon is my little brother, Papyrus. Even then he still has about five years. Nobody has seen death gift a book in many many years. I think the last one was Grillby's daughter.

As if the slightest thought of Death would call him, the room grew monochrome, a sign of Death coming to the scene. I inhaled sharply and began to stand and walk over to the clear 'Summon' space. Everyone gathered in a circle and Gaster came to my side.

The world got darker and darker until only me and Death were standing in the darkness, well I was standing, he was floating. I couldn't even see Gaster anymore only his warmth on my shoulder. I was surprised to see that Death was another skeleton... just like me. His scythe was tied to his back and his eyelights came to life as he examined me. He floated closer until his feet reached the ground and Death could touch me with one hand.

He looked into my eyes with his own vibrant blue, and spoke in the most scratchy voice I have ever heard.

"Are you Science Sans?"

"Y-yes."

"Good, I believe I have something that belongs to you, something that I can only give you today."

His hands began to glow a heavy red, and a book slowly formed in the hands of Death. I took a shaky breath and reached out for the book once it laid solidly in his hands.

He smiled and commented, "I know you will like them, they always do."

With Death's job done he slowly faded away, his eyelights were gone but the smile remained. I was left in the black void for what felt like an eternity.

The world's color slowly came back and my legs gave out. I felt Gaster catch me and sit me down on the lab couch. As much as G tried to stop the barrage a question they got through anyways

"What was Death li-?"
"Are you oka-?"
"Did you touch Dea-?"
"How hot was D-?"

So many questions swirled in my skull I passed out.

When I came to I was still on the couch, but now lying in it.

"I guess the whole experience was bone rattling?" Joked G. I groaned, it was too early for this, or was it too late?

"Anyways everyone went to work on the CORE while you slept, also I wrote down everyone's questions, so you didn't get out of that."

"Okay, but why didn't you wake me up? You know how i feel about sleeping." I rubbed my skull trying to get this headache to go away. G responded with his normal, 'you needed it' and asked if I wanted the questions or not. "hit me with the questions I guess."

"Ok first one, what was Death like?"
"Uh kinda friendly, definitely a bit creepy. Also hes a skeleton."
Gaster wrote the answer on his notepad. "Ok, that's weird, next question. Are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine just a bit shaken from literally meeting Death."
"I was like that too, don't worry. Ok did you touch him?"
"No why would I? Doesn't everyone know that's a death sentence?"
"Yeah, also weird question. On a scale from 1-10 how hot was Death?"
"Uhhh, I don't know??"

We continued like this until I was finished with the questions and Gaster left saying 'I'll go tell the others, you stay here for a bit, you might still be in shock'.

I looked around and sat up. The soulmate book fell off my chest and clattered on the floor. I picked it up and inspected the cover, it was a deep red that reminded me too much like blood, I open the first page and see a very faint message that was in a red ink.

'hey this is your soulmate or something'

A pen drops into my lap, seeming to fall out of the spine. I write a bit in the corner and see it still works. I brainstorm a good message to send my soulmate, but nothing comes to mind. I decide to just write;

'Hey, I hope your ok. Today is my sixteenth, so I hope your not too mad.'

I closed the book before the anxiety could force me to change it. A slid the book into my bag and put it on. I went to the CORE planning on talking to the workers about the layout.

(Time skip brought to you by me being unable to stand secondhand embarrassment)

After work I walked home with a new stack of papers to look over before bed. As much as I don't want to do it, I can't make any excuses post-sixteenth. I sigh heavily and prepare to stay up for a while, maybe even all night.

-Fell's Pov-

Why did I even try to help Boss anymore? He clearly didn't want help, and the only reaction I got from 'im was a beating and an attitude. As I stumbled into my room to heal myself with my shitty magic, I noticed a soft glowing coming from the corner of the room. I turned on the lights and watched as the flickered before stopping and shining as they usually do. I went over and picked up a book from a pile of clothes. The faded green cover shaking in my hands and bringing back memories.

A punch to the ribs, then the stinging words.

"Today you turn sixteen? I don't care, it just shows how long I've had to put up with you. Get to you station and don't fall asleep."

I sighed and waited for the stinging to fade. As I walked to the sentry station, Death himself appeared.

"god I wish you did this earlier." I mutter under my breath as the floating skeleton asked for my name.

"yeah, but why should you give a shit?"
"I'm here to give you something of yours, don't take this visit for granted."
" 'k now move so I can start my fucking job."
"As you wish," Death sneered. "Don't get yourself killed."

Death disappeared and I was left with a bright green book in my hands. Here it was, my soulmate book. I don't even know why people still get these, no one 'round here looks for their soulmate.

I go to my station and prepare to fall asleep. Before I do, I think, 'whats the harm of writing a note?'.

"fuck it, I don't have anything better to do."

I open the book and a red pen falls out of the spine. I write a small 'hey' in the red ink and move on.

'hey this is your soulmate or something'

I close the book and tuck it into my jacket.

When I got home and saw there was no answer i simply chucked the book into the corner and forgot about it.

Now the book was pulsing with a bright green light in my hands. I open the book and see the new message;

'Hey, I hope your ok. Today is my sixteenth, so I hope your not too mad.'

Just like before the red pen falls into my hands and a reply comes to my mind

-Sci's Pov-

take a sip of my coffee and look over the last page of notes and brainstorm what to improve. Out of my eyes my soulmate book glows a faded red. I almost drop my mug in surprise. I quickly open it and find the green pen.

'its whatever
anyway what are you doing?'

I quickly pen in a response,
'Just looking over my notes. Not really planning on sleeping. Why are you up?'

I watch in excitement as a reply slowly starts to appear on my page.

'got back from work, -my bos-'

The last bit was scribbled out. What were they going to say? They kept writing;

'its nothin
what should i call ya?
im fell'

Fell... What an interesting name, I swear I've heard it before.

'I'm Sci and what was that about your boss?'
'like i said it was nothin'
'If you say so.
Hey, I have an idea.'
'what dya want?'
'So, do you know people you'd rather not write in here?'
'of course
doesnt everyone?'
'Well i have an idea to fix that. Y'know, so we don't think one person is another.'
'k what were ya thinkin?'
'What if we had like a secret code so we would know when we're talking to each other. Like a phrase.'
'ya i could do that
what dyja have in mind?'
'Just a phrase I've known for forever. Here let me write it;
The quiet shade,
Across old bark.
In the Ancient Glade,
It's always dark.'
'ok nerd
ill go with it'
'Why am I now a nerd?'
'cuz i can tell that's from a game nerd
anyway how are we going to prove its us with the code?'
'When one of us starts a conversation with the other, they start with the first two lines:
The quiet shade,
Across old bark.
And then the other person responds with the last two lines;
In the Ancient Glade,
It's always dark.'
'aight i guess I can do that'
'Can we practice?'
'sure nerd'
'Okay
The quiet shade,
Across old bark.'
'in the ancient glade
its always dark
happy'
'Yeah. Thanks.'

I thought for a second and penned in something I thought would be cool.

':)'
'jfc youve got to be kiddin me'
'Okay Edgy Mc MCR I'll talk to you tommorow.'
'talk to ya later nerd'
':D'

When they didn't respond I took it as a sign that my emoticons weren't the funniest to them. I sighed at the conversation that was fresh in my mind. I finished writing the notes down and washed my mug. I laid in my bed thinking about all that happened today.
And for once, I could sleep.