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Chapter Text

Leaves crunched under your feet as you took a walk down the Dark forest. You wanted to come down here often but never got the chance to, but for once, your overbearing parents finally let you in on the agreement that you were to go there and only there. However, you didn’t realize that this was going to change the course of your life forever.

They were reluctant to let you go anywhere unless someone -usually one guard was with you- all because you were royalty; you were told. That it was dangerous to go out alone. It was hellish. Freedom and will didn’t exist for you. You never truly understood why your parents never let you go out on your own.

Until tonight.

While walking, you heard a voice yell. “God, Damn-it!” You spin your head to the source. A few good feet away was a tall figure, bent over on the ground. Without thinking, you run over.

“Are you alright?” 

They turned around, surprised, not even noticing you standing behind them. It looked to be a man your age, with long white hair and dressed in fancy clothes that exactly matched the shade of blue that was his skin. Beneath him appeared to be a puzzle, a work in progress. It was nothing more than a box and a button.

The mystery person stood up, studying you as well. “Am-est just fine, thank-eth you.”

The accent took you aback, however, you somehow understood him. “I thought I heard someone scream, sorry. I’ll be on my way.” 

As you faced your back towards him, he responded. “Halt!”

You turn around. 

“Do you like-est puzzles?”

You nod, smiling. “I love puzzles.” You met no one else who liked them before. Growing up royal meant growing up lonely. Could this be your chance to make a friend?

They mirrored your smile. “Maybe thoust can help-eth me with mine puzzle.” 

You look at what you assumed was the unfinished puzzle on the ground. “What do you need me to do?”

He clapped his hands together. “Quite simple! Solve-est it and I may-est give-eth thou something in return.” 

Suddenly interested, you ask him. “What would that be?”

His smile only grew. “Find out for thyself”

You approach the puzzle. It seemed a little too easy, just a box and a button. Still, you push the box on top of the button. A sound played. You looked back at Rouxls. “Did I do it? That was insultingly easy.” 

He frowned, and his tone switched. “Insultingly easy? Worm! How dare-eth thou call-eth mine puzzle-est insulting easy? I am-est Rouxls Kaard! The Duke of Puzzles!”

You blinked, confused. You had never heard of such a title. “The Duke of Puzzles?” You repeated. “I’ve never heard of you before.”

Rouxls’ expression shifted from anger to curiosity. “Really now? What is thine name, worm?” 

You tell him your name, to which he replies with a blank face, nearly grave. You immediately felt a pit in your stomach. “What’s wrong?”

His accent dropped completely. His voice was quiet. “Your last name… as in,” He repeats your last name again. “Are you royalty?” 

You nod, not sure of what was going on, but what else could you do? “I am. Is everything alright?” 

“Thoust fool! Are you not aware? Do you not recognize the name ‘Kaard’?”

“No, I don’t. Can you explain it to me?” 

“Are thou really so foolish? How could thou not know? Were you never told the tale?” Rouxls quickly points at you. “I could have-est thou be-headed!” 

You instinctively took a step back, unsure of whether to run or stay. “The tale? Be-headed? For what?” 

“Thou were never told?” Rouxls quickly grabbed his work-in-progress puzzle. “I must make haste! It is not too late after all!” Just as he ran, you called after him. 

“Wait!”

Rouxls stopped and turned around to face you. 

 “You said you would give me something in return if I solved your puzzle, right? You never said what it was.”

Rouxls blinked, as if he had forgotten. He hummed. “I didn’t say, didn’t I? I didn’t think thou would solve-eth it.”

You frowned at the insult, but you let it slide. Looking at his watch, you definitely needed to go home. “Will you let me see you again tomorrow? Tell me this ‘tale’ you keep mentioning?” 

His eyes widened, his voice went stern. “Fool! Are thou reaching the levels of insanity? What are thou plotting against me?” 

You shake your head. “Nothing, see?” You empty your pockets and put your hands above your head to prove your point. “Not that I’d doubt you’d go against your promise, Mr. Duke of Puzzles.”

Rouxls visibly thinks over it before giving in. “Fine-est worm! Meet-est me here tomorrow. Make sure thou aren’t being followed. Who-est knows what could happen if we were to be seen!” 

You nod. “I understand.” You wave, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

Rouxls waves you goodbye as you head back. You probably needed to hurry. Your parents were most likely worried sick. Lucky for you, it wasn’t too far of a walk. 

Once you got back home, your parents scrambled over to you, their faces painted with worry. However, after finally seeing your face, they immediately looked relieved. Your mother was the first to speak. “Oh goodness. You scared me to death.” 

“Sorry, I hadn’t realized I had been gone for so long.” You apologized, meaning it. 

“Just try to be back sooner. We just want you safe. Who knows what kind of evil people would come for you?” 

You force a smile, “I know, I know.” You force a smile, knowing that they’re trying to keep you safe, but it feels overbearing at your age. It was getting late. You wave and tell them goodnight and promise them you’d never stay out too late again. 

Going up to your room, you see one guard, Sans, standing in the hallway. He always has a smile, but this one felt uneasy, like he knew what you had just done.

“What are ya looking at, kid? Is there something on my face?”

You shake your head, not even realizing you were staring. “No, sorry.”

“You should probably get to bed. It’s getting late.”

“Yeah, I’m just about to do that but,” you look around, dropping into a whisper, “I have a question for you.”

“What is it?”

Well, you had wanted to ask about this “Tale” Rouxls kept bringing up, but now just didn’t feel right. “Nevermind. Tell Papyrus I said goodnight.”

“Will do.”

You feel him watch you as you finally get to your room. Finally, you feel as if you could breathe easily.

Chapter Text

The next night came slowly. Not an hour passed where you weren't excited, yet nervous on seeing Rouxls again. You had never had much of a friend all your life, your parents never let you out of fear that they would do something to you. 

Carefully, with a bag slung over your shoulder, you were able to sneak out. It felt so pain-stakingly slow. You hope that this would be worth it. 

The moment your castle was out of sight, you ran towards the forest, trying your best to remember the spot. Lucky for you, it wasn’t that hard to miss, with a blue puzzle block on the ground. However, Rouxls wasn’t there. You had showed up a bit early, he would get here soon enough. 

However, you were nervous, glancing and looking back and forth for Rouxls, or anyone. Hardly any time had passed and you felt slightly annoyed. Where was he? Was this some kind of joke? 

As if on cue, a bright flash light suddenly came out of nowhere. A shadow came from it, which had formed into Rouxls himself, his back facing you. 

“Rouxls?”

He quickly turned around. The minute he saw you, a warm smile washed over him. “Thou made it here before I. Such a noteworthy achievement coming from thoust!”

You frowned. “You don’t know me.” 

His genuine smile and tone turned rather cocky. “No. However-est, thou begged to see-est me again. Ah! How could I resist such an offer when they begg-est like-est thou?” He started laughing.

So Rouxls had an ego. This wouldn’t be your first time dealing with a prick who thought themselves to be better than the rest. “Hey, I didn’t beg you! I just don’t have many friends.” You glanced downwards, remembering about the bag you had taken with you. “Here.” You started rummaging through it and pulling out a rubix cube. You handed it to him. “I brought you something.” 

Rouxls looked at it suspiciously at first, eyeing it carefully. “For me? Why should I take anything from thou- wait-” his eyes studied it a bit more, widening, “I’ve heard of these before. Is this a rubix cube?”

You slowly nodded. “Have you ever seen one before?”

“I cannot say I had.” Rouxls hesitantly takes it from your hand, looking at it and every angle. “How does one solve it?” 

“You try to get all the colors on one side.” You hold out your hand, Rouxls gives it back to you. “Like this.” You then start to mess it with, making the colors move. Rouxls watched in amazement. You hand it to him. “Now you try it. It’ll take some time to do.”

Rouxls started to tweak the cube, trying to solve it, but to no avail. “I suppose-eth I’ll solve this later, this seems too time consuming, although it is quite entertaining.” He puts it in his pocket and looks back at you. “So, thou want-est to know the tale?”

You nod. 

He lets out a sigh. He sits down, leaning on a tree behind him. You follow suit. “If thou really are so painfully unaware… Alright, I’ll give you the tale, however-est, tis a long one.” 

Rouxls took a deep breath and dropped his Shakespearean speech. “It was many years ago, far before we were born, our families once ruled together. So close that one could argue that they were almost considered one family. It was peaceful, joyous, harmony ruled over. 

“However, much like everything else, it didn’t last. One member of the family fell in love with the other. Their relationship was mutual and happy. As happy they were, they were keen on keeping it secret. The family despised it, wanting them to drift apart. However, to their surprise, as time passed, they grew tolerant and allowed them to marry.

“Just before the ceremony, one was murdered at the hands of another. It was unclear as to why, however. The wedding was called off. Rumors and accusations were thrown at the remaining lover, which was found to be true. At first there was mourning, and then rage. The family of the deceased thought it would only be fair to kill their murderer and avenge them.

“It worked, both lovers are now dead. However they didn’t cover their tracks well enough, causing a war between the two families, killing each other until they eventually they both agreed to part ways. The kingdom now split into two.” Rouxls looked back at you. “Ever since then we’ve agreed to never speak.”

You sat there, slowly taking in the information. So there was a reason your parents never let you out, why Rouxls seemed to be on-guard. Rouxls looked at you blankly. “I know it’s a load of information, but I hope that you understand now. That is why we can never meet.” He stood up, dusting his pants. His back began to face you. “With all said, I will depart-”

“Wait! Hey!” You called out. There was a pit in your stomach. You couldn’t explain it, but you didn’t want him to leave. 

He turned. “What could possibly want to say?”

“I still want to be friends with you.”

“Friends? Us?” He laughs. “Art thou insane? Do thoust not have-eth a single friend? I pity you.”

“Do you have friends?” You asked him without a second thought. “You seem lonely too. I’m sure you’re not allowed out much either.” 

Rouxls had definitely taken it as an insult, but tried his best to not let it show. “I may-best be lonely, but I am-est not as desperate-est-eth as thou to communicate with those such as thou!...Art thou really that desperate, knowing the history? My! Thou’re really as desperate as I thought.” However, his expression softened, conflicted. He rubbed his hand on his forehead. “You seem nice, and while clearly innocent, I cannot risk to be your friend. I have-est responsibilities only I can fulfill. ” 

“Well.” You stand still and take a deep breath in, trying to be calm and choosing your words carefully. “I may not know anything about you, Rouxls, I don’t intend to hurt you.” 

His expression softened more, looking down to the ground. You continued. “And I don’t think you want to hurt me either.”

Rouxls kept silent.

“You said you don’t have many friends either and this is as good as we’re going to get. Just because our families hate each other, doesn’t mean we have to.”

After a bit of visible consideration, Rouxls let out a deep breath. “Alright. Thoust have won me over, but we mustn't be seen! Rumors spread fast, and this could end in listening to the sweet song of death!” 

You held out your hand to him. “Friends?”

Rouxls blinked. Hesitantly, he shook it, smiling. “Friends.” Rouxls checked the time on his watch. “Really, I have to go.”

You take a step back, matching his faint smile. “Perhaps we can see each other again. Maybe next week?”

He nodded. “Same time. Goodbye.” And with that he faded into light, waving as he teleported away, leaving you to go back home.

Chapter Text

A week had passed, and you had once again snuck out. Your parents were none the wiser last time, or at least didn’t make a big deal if they noticed, but that didn’t sound right. Like you had done before, once the castle was out of sight, you ran, knowing exactly where to go. 

Like Rouxls had said, he made it back before you. He sees you and smiles, his hands hiding behind his back. “Ah, thou-st made it!” 

“Of course. I wouldn’t leave you here alone. Have I ever?” 

Rouxls shrugs. “I suppose not-eth. Now that we are here, may I enquire what we are to do?” 

Then followed awkward silence, the both of you looking around, thinking of what to say or do. You looked down a little small dirt path, pointing at it.

“Well, what if we explore this place? Go for a walk.”

“Go on a walk?”

You nodded, already starting your way. “Yeah. Besides, if we stay in the same place, we might get caught. And I haven’t been around here before.”

“Thoust have-est a point, but beware, they can easily see us walking around. Here! Let me be thine guide!” He steps in front of you, making his way. He stops at the entrance, motioning you to follow. “It’s quite easy to get lost.” 

You follow him as you both trail through the forest. As you kept waking, you took mental note of everything around you, like the leaves on the trees, a few with some stars hanging above them like fruit. 

Rouxls stops and turns, noticing you looking at the tree. “Ah, do thou like-est dark candy?”

“Dark candy?” you repeated. “I never heard of it.” 

“Really? Oh, how surprising! Alas, I had never tried it.” Rouxls then goes over to the tree. “I’ve heard it tastes rather good.” He shakes the tree, two of the stars falling down. He handed you one, and you accepted. You inspect it.

“What does it taste like?”

Rouxls sits down and leans against the tree. He tears off one point of the star. “I don’t know-eth. From what I heard, thou just have to experience it.” He puts the torn off part of the candy into his mouth. His eyes grow wide as he chews on it. 

“Well?”

He shallows, looking surprised. “It’s… good!” He pulls another piece off and puts in his mouth. You do the same, pulling an arm of the star off. The texture was like a marshmallow, the inside of it a nice, dark pink, in the very center, seemed to be some kind of syrup. You put it in your mouth. It was like Rouxls had said, sweet, and it melted in your mouth. It tasted like strawberries with a hint of magic, it seems. 

“You’re right. This is good.” You pull another piece off and put it in your mouth. “Say Rouxls, if you’ve been here before, how come you haven’t had it before?”

Rouxls takes another piece. “I would come-eth down fetching them for… someone else. The Spade King forbids it.” He puts it in his mouth.

“Why?” 

Rouxls shrugged, still chewing, then swallowed. “A cruel monarch! He’s placed many laws down and no one would dare-est question him, even-est I, his loyal servant!” A slight pause, his accent and demeanor dropping. “Although. I guess I’m not loyal if I’m here with you, am I?” Rouxls gives you a faint smile, trying to lighten the mood, but it fades as he finishes the last of his candy.

You didn’t have an answer for him. Instead, you try to lighten the mood. “Have you solved the rubik’s cube I gave you?”

“Oh, this?” Rouxls pulls it out of his pocket. Colors scrambled all throughout the cube. “No, I haven’t.” He shuffles around, trying to solve it, his accent coming back. “Am-est a busy man. Someone such as I have-est little time for activities such as this.” 

“Oh yeah? Like what?” You ask without thinking, eating the last of your dark candy.

“Ah, that’s a little more probing, yes?”

“Then how about another question?”

He smiles. “Another? What is of thine interest?”

“Why do you talk like that?”

Rouxls looked at you, confused. “Like-eth how?”

You hold yourself back from laughing as you clear your throat, preparing to do an impression of him, butchering a few words. “I am-est Rouxls Kaard! I speak-est like-eth this!” You laugh at the end, unable to hold it. 

“Don’t make-est-est fun-eth of mine accent thoust worm!” His voice was quick. Rouxls seemed to be genuinely upset with you, as you were still giggling. 

“I wasn’t making fun of it! I was just curious!” You tried to defend yourself. “I didn’t say it was awful.” As your laughter died down, you changed the subject.

“So what do you like to do when you aren’t busy, then?”

Rouxls smiled again. “My hobbies include-est calligraphy, law-making, bug-keeping, and cages.”

“Cages?” You asked him. Everything seemed like an actual hobby. 

Rouxls’ smile turned to a grin. “Oh, of course! Am'st the jailer at Kaard castle! I don’t hate it.” 

“How’d you become the jailer?”

Rouxls checks his watch. “I’m honored that thou find-est me so interesting,” Rouxls stands up, “however-est-eth I’m afraid-est I must leave, and I’m sure thou should too. We mustn’t spend too much time together!”

You stand up, feeling sad to leave what felt like too soon. Rouxls continues, pulling something out of his pocket with a smile. “Before I go, I have-eth a gift for thou.” It was a small, slim, black box. He hands it to you with a smile.

You look at him in confusion, pointing at yourself. Rouxls giving you a gift felt odd. “For me?” 

Rouxls nods. You take the box and open it. Inside was a fancy calligraphy pen and a bottle with a bit of ink. You take it out of the box with wide eyes. It was really nice, well made.

“Do thou like it?” Rouxls asked you, looking at you with anticipation. 

You nod, smiling. “I do.” You put it back in the box. “But why?”

“Thou give-est me a puzzle cube, I thought-eth it would only be fair to give thou something in return.” 

Your stomach fills with a soft swarm of butterflies. “Thank you.” You then start off. “I guess I’ll head home now. Can I see you next week?” 

Rouxls smiles. “I’ll make time for it! I’ll see-eth thou then!” He waves you goodbye before a bright light flashes and he disappears. You smile as then head home, the box still in your hands. 

It wasn’t a long walk back. As you approached your home, you heard footsteps approach you. You suddenly stop in fear, looking around you, but you see nothing but trees. They kept coming, sounding closer and closer till they halted. 

“Hey.”

You jumped, behind you was none other than Sans. He had a permanent smile, but something told you he was grinning more. “You scared me!”

“And you scared me. What are ya doing out this late, kid?”

You keep walking. “It doesn’t matter.”

“You don’t normally go out this late this often. Or coming back with gifts. What’s gotten into you?”

You look at him, frozen again. You try to play it off, but Sans seemed to just know everything. “What are you talking about?”

Sans takes a deep breath. “Look, kid. I know what you’re doing. And It won’t end well. Ya know that, right?”

“You’ve been watching me?”

“That’s not the point. I’m asking you to stop before things go wrong.” 

You get back to walking, Sans following you. “You won’t tell them, are you?”

“That won’t make your situation any better. I won’t stop you, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

You both walk in silence. As you approach your home. Sans grabs your hand. “Come here, I know a short-cut. We won’t wake anyone up.”

Sans takes you through his “short-cut.” Everything fades to black before the both of you are in your room. Sans goes up to your door. “Remember, I warned you. Goodnight, kid.”

Without waiting for a response, Sans closes the door, leaving you alone. With the recent events playing in your mind, you get ready for bed. 

Chapter Text

“You’re still gonna go, even after I warned ya?”

You turned around. Sans was behind you at your bedroom door-frame. You had stood there at the open window, frozen for a second. It had been a week since Sans had warned you. You let out a breath, whispering, facing the window again. “So what if I was?”

“You don’t know what you’re getting into, do you?”

You faced Sans. “I thought you said you wouldn’t stop me.”

“I did, but even Papyrus is worried.” 

“You told Papyrus?” Your voice raised higher than what you would’ve liked. 

“I didn’t tell him. He’s just worried about you, and so am I, kid. You don’t know what you’re getting into.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

You didn’t reply. An awkward silence filled the room until Sans spoke up again. “I’ve seen things, kid. That’s all you need to know.”

You turned your back on him and started making your way out. Sans looked out from the window and watched you go, deciding he did all he could. 

***

You climbed up the tree, high up enough to where you hid in the leaves, and Rouxls slowly made his way up, sitting just a branch higher than you. You looked around you. The scenery was nice but still made you anxious enough to sit still and try not to move. 

“What do thoust think we can do-est here?”

“Well,” You look down at your bag, and pull out a notebook and the pen Rouxls had given you. “I was thinking of writing poetry.”

Rouxls smirked. “Poetry?” He noticed the pen, and for a slight moment, you could see a “they remembered” expression, smiling before returning to a smirk. “Ah, thou have-est mine pen?”

You nodded, flipping the notebook open to a blank page and handing it to him. “Do you want to go first? I’d love to see your calligraphy.” 

He takes the notebook and pen with a smirk. “Of course.” He then looks around him, thinking of something to write before scribbling away, pausing here and there to think. While he did this, you picked some dark candy from the tree, eating one. A few minutes pass before he proudly hands you your notebook back, like a toddler proud of their crayon scribbles. Only it wasn’t the writing of a toddler. His handwriting was impressive, writing: 

“One must follow the rules to win a game

And one can win with proper strength 

Just what is it you aim?

There is almost nothing to gain

Even with all the pain,

I respect that you even tried

To start this deadly game

is to listen to the sweet song of death

But this may be worth it

I hope I’m right

but I learned that the glow from the dark candy in the trees,

look like a dim light compared to your heart.”

“Impressive, right?” Rouxls looked at you, studying your face for any kind of reaction. “What does thoust think of mine poetry?” 

At first, you don’t know what to say. You liked it, but it sounded more romance-y, not exactly what you thought of for Rouxls’ character, but it fit him somehow. You smile. “It’s great. I think you’re good at writing poetry.”

“What about you? Are thoust familiar with poetry?”

 You then take the pen and flip to a new blank paper. “A little.” At first, your mind goes blank, unable to think of anything to write about, but one look at Rouxls gave you an idea. You do your best and write:

“There’s a man who comes from the light

Made of darkness, hardly any trouble,

to make his puzzles come to life.

So pretentious,

What a way with words.

So mysterious.

This mystery man, just who does he think he is?

He’s none other than the Duke of Puzzles

The Rouxls Kaard.”

You felt like it wasn’t your best work, but you hand it to the notebook back to Rouxls. He excitedly looks over it, before his expression melted into a more flustered look. His smile was gone, yet you could tell this had been the happiest he’s ever been around you. His accent wasn’t completely present, sounding calm. “That’s- really nice. Nobody has ever-est created-est-eth poetry about me before!” Rouxls handed you your notebook back. “Where-est did you learn to write like that?”

You shrug, not even sure yourself. “I guess it just comes to me. I just do what feels right.” You then tore out the page and handed it to him. “Keep it.” 

“Really?” Rouxls hesitantly accepted. He smiled at you, his accent gone. “Thank you. Keep mine too. It’s only fair.” 

You glanced at his watch, frowning. “It would be best if I got going.” 

He looked down to see the time, his accent returning. “Ah! Is that so? Well, this has been quite fun, hadn’t-est it?” 

You nod before slowly climb down, Rouxls coming down after you. You quickie dusted your outfit. “It has. Same time as usual?”

Rouxls nodded. You wave goodbye and head back home, Rouxls waving back. Only Rouxls stood from afar and watched, still clinging on to the paper. He read it again to himself and noticed you were out of his sight. It wasn’t the best poetry in the world, yet he still felt some connection to it.

Rouxls finally went home with his heart aching. It was wrong, but that day he learned he was in love with you. 

Chapter Text

Rouxls gestures his hand in a theatrical motion, encouraging you to look around. “Welcome-est to my home!” He tells you as he lets go of your hand. Having needed to for teleportation, direct contact was a need. It was dark, cramped, but it was still charming in its own ways. “Feel-eth free to look a-bout!”

You noted the more obvious things. A bookshelf filled with books, some of them history books, something about light worlds and an underground. A few tall candles here and there to give the room some light. You also notice a desk with papers slightly scattered, and a few calligraphy pens and bottles of ink. On the desk, you notice a piece of paper on the very top, written in your handwriting. It was the poem you had written for him. Seeing it again made you smile. 

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

You nod. “It is.” As nice as his room was, it gave you anxiety. Being in the dark forest was already risky, but inside Kaard Castle made everything else look like a haven. Strangely enough, it wasn’t you who asked to be here, but Rouxls. As much as he cares about keeping this friendship secret, you’d think this would be the last place he’d want to be seen, his own home.

Before you could ask, Rouxls sits down on his bed, looking at you. “Thou like-eth, what thou see?”

“I think it fits you.” 

“Really?” His accent slips a bit. “Thou mean it?”

“Of course.” You look around the room. “Although I can’t really see details, candles make it cozy.”

“Ah, pardon me, I cannot stand-eth bright lights. Do you want-est me to light more? I have-est plenty.”

You wave your hand dismissively. “No, thank you.” Silence filled the room for a moment, the two of you trying to think of something to say. You finally break the silence. “Say, Rouxls, why did you invite me here if it’s dangerous? For me to be here, I mean.”

His smile slowly fades into a puzzled expression. “Well-, I-.” He stopped and finally just smiled at you. “I thought-est would-eth be far better-eth than the woods. Other-est places are just as dangerous, you know.”

You shrug. “I suppose so. It just has me on edge that I could so easily be caught-”

A far-away sound of opening a door and a bell cut you off. Rouxls quickly stood up, alarmed. He gestured for you to hide. Without thinking, you had hidden under his bed, even darker. You heard his door close and heard him cheerfully talking to someone.

“Ah welcome-eth to mine shoppe dear-est prince!” Rouxls ran a shop?

 The prince, most likely a young boy, gleefully responded, but you could not make out what they said. That wasn’t, however, until voices moved closer to the door. 

“Lesser Dad! Why won’t you let me back there?”  

Oh no. A part of you worried, the other confused. Who is Lesser Dad?

“I’ll get it for you, my prince-” but it was too late. The door opened and what you made out to be light blue paws were on the floor, walking around, looking for something. 

“I’m pretty sure I left my MP3 player in here. I think I left it under the bed.”

You look around the surrounding floor. Sure enough, a blue MP3 player with headphones connected to it was right next to you. You internally panicked and froze. This was it and you just had to face it. Before you had time to move away, a new curious face peered under the bed and looked at you. A spade-shaped head and a small little nose, almost animal like. The face looked at you, confused. “Whose this?”

You could hear Rouxls panic as he looked down and met with your eyes. Internal panic washed over his face before he regained his composure. “Oh, just a friend of mine. You can come on out.” 

Hesitantly, you crawled out from under the bed, grabbing the MP3 player. You saw the small prince in full view. He was a small boy, no older than 12 at most. He looked up at you puzzled, and back at Rouxls for an explanation. 

“Ah, excuse-est, my friend here. Quite scared of new people.” He looked at you, smiling. “Everything is fine. Thou have-est nothing to fear.” Rouxls then gestured towards the boy. “This is the King’s son, Lancer.”

Lancer beamed, nearly yelled. “A new friend!”

Rouxls quickly put a finger up to his lips. “Yes! Yes! A secret friend! Donn-eth let anyone know-eth about this, especially the king.”

“But why?”

“Because I said-est so!”

Lancer smirked. “Oooh.” He cooed. “I think I get it.”

Rouxls gave him a confused, yet hopeful, look. “You do?” 

He nodded, still smirking. “I’ll leave you love-birds alone, I won’t tell dad, I promise.” Lancer put a finger on his lips and closed the door, still grinning. The bell attached to the door jingled seconds later, signaling Lancer had left.

Rouxls sighed in relief, swiftly down on his bed and resting his head with his hand, mumbling. “Thank-eth the gods, I was worried.” You couldn’t help but laugh. He looks up back at you. “Thou’re laughing? We could have died!”

“Lesser dad, huh?” You kept giggling. “That’s cute.” 

“Ah yes, he call-eths me his lesser father.” Rouxls frowns. “His real one is quite… awful.” 

Your laughter died down abruptly. “Oh, I’m sorry.” 

Rouxls continues. “He’s quite bothersome, always asking me the worst of queries and making me listen to insufferable music!” He sighs, his smile coming back. His accent in his voice was gone, talking slower, “But otherwise, he’s just fine. The King mostly ignores him, so he’s often in my care.”

“That’s cute still, that he sees you as a dad, and that you take care of him. I’m sure he really looks up to you.” 

Rouxls blinks, flustered. “O-Of course, there is no one else to take care of him but I.”

You couldn’t help but gaze at him with a smile. He was looking at you right back. It became a game, looking off for a few seconds before looking at each other. Tension filled the air. 

Rouxls cleared his throat. “I should probably go check on him… and attend to my other duties. Thou art welcome-est to stay, but stay where thou art. If you hear someone coming, even if thou think-est it’s me, hide.” 

You nod. He waves goodbye before he teleports out of the room, leaving you alone. At first, you just stand, looking around before you get curious and walk around a bit. 

First was his desk. You had already noticed the papers and pens. Rouxls had a wide variety of pens. Fountain pens, brush pens, felt-tip pens, even feathers, and bottles of ink that were mostly black and a dark blue. You glanced at the papers scattered on his desk. The top paper was the poetry you had written for him the last time you saw him. You smiled and picked it up, wanting to reread it. Beneath it was a paper with your name written in calligraphy with a small heart at the end. You felt something warm and fuzzy in your chest.

Deciding to stop snooping at his desk, you sit on his bed, sinking easily into it. It was really comfortable. You lay down. It felt illegal for a mattress to be this comfortable, like sleeping on a pile of dreams. Like the smell of books with a floral hint and lavender undertones, a musky scent covered the bed. Your eyes flutter. Before you knew it, you had fallen asleep. 

***

You heard your name, muffled at first but slowly growing louder. You quickly opened your eyes to see Rouxls close to you. Once both of your eyes met, he sighed, relieved. 

“Oh.” You sit up, realizing you had fallen asleep on his bed. “I didn’t mean to sleep in your bed, sorry.” You stand up, secretly embarrassed. 

“Donn-eth worry. If you are really that tired, I can teleport you home.” 

“It’s best if I went back.” You didn’t want to go back. A part of you wanted to stay, but who knows how long you were out. 

“Well then, off we go.” He reaches for your hand and holds it. A bright light flashed and in the blink of an eye, you were back in the dark forest, the castle in sight. You wave goodbye and head off. Behind you, you hear the magical whir of him teleporting. 

—

Rouxls lay back on his bed. The room felt empty now without you, even if you were only there for a short while. Heat was still present from where you had fallen asleep. He rolled over on top of it, unknowingly wearing a faint smile. Rouxls lay there for a few minutes, slowly feeling the drowsiness take over him. He quickly sat up, realizing his mistake. 

“No, no! God Damit!” 

He got over and went over to his desk, and hastily picked up your poem, crinkling the paper lightly. “All because of this-!” He placed his thumb at the top, preparing to rip it. It shouldn’t mean so much to him, this piece of paper. You. You shouldn’t mean so much to him. 

But you did. And Rouxls hated it. 

“Maybe if I-, I can-, it can stop-”

Rouxls stared at the paper, unable to speak a full sentence. He couldn’t bring himself to rip it up. He couldn’t imagine how you would feel if he destroyed it. For a moment, Rouxls wondered if you even saw it sitting on his desk. He took in a deep breath and put it down. For the past week, he had been trying to push down any positive emotion he had for you, any thought of you, but it only came back harder. 

Rouxls then went back to his bed, accepting the truth. 

Chapter Text

“Hey, Rouxls? Where exactly are we going?”

Rouxls were a couple of steps in front of you. You had followed him in the purple grassy field that was as tall as your knees. The field of hopes and dreams, as Rouxls called it. He stopped momentarily to turn his head towards you with a small grin. “Tis a secret.” He then looked away and kept walking.

You match his smile. “Ooh, is it now?”

Rouxls hummed, nodding. 

“Do I get a hint?”

“None! Haven’t thou been through-est here before?”

You shake your head. “No.”

“Good! Be very surprised!”

You take a few quick steps to walk right next to him instead of behind. You playfully wave your hand through the grass. It tickles but it feels nice, freeing. Even if this was dangerous, this was the most free you’ve ever felt in your life. 

You think that this is probably the most happy you’ll ever feel. But your anxiety had to ruin it.

What if something happens? And what if you never see Rouxls again? What then? Something in your stomach dropped. The thought of never seeing Rouxls was-

“Something wrong-est?”

You look back over at him, snapping back to reality. “Huh?”

“Am-est sorry, thou looked as if something was wrong.”

You shake your head, trying to play it off. “Nah, I’m good.” 

“Art thou sure? We have-eth ways to go from here to there.” He slightly tilted his head, his accent gone. “Do you wanna talk? Is this about the surprise? I promise we won’t be seen-”

As much as you wanted to, you couldn’t bring yourself to talk. “No, but I’m okay, thank you.” You gave him a weak smile. “It’s not about the surprise, trust me. I’m excited.” Despite that, you thought it was rather nice of him to ask, giving you this new feeling of reassurance you never felt before.

Rouxls matched your smile, talking in the drunken Shakespearean speech. “Good!”

The two of you kept walking in silence. You would occasionally run your hand through the blades of grass. You looked down to see Rouxls hand at his side, and how close yours was to his. Something in you wanted to hold it, to feel it. Would it be warm? Cold? Your heart ached to know. 

You look back up, still walking. “How much longer?”

“Not too terribly long! Donn-eth worry!”

After a few more steps, you could see a small building fading into view. “Is that it?”

Rouxls proudly smiles. “None-eth other than Seams shoppe! I direly need puzzle materials and thought thou would like the place!” 

The two of you got closer and stepped inside. “Just a moment.” A large, plush-like cat had its back turned, pushing a box up on the shelf. They turned around, with the first thing you noticed was button eyes. They gave you a warm smile. “Ah, Welcome Travel-” something in their expression changed. The cat went silent, not knowing what to say at first, but finally replied. “Well, this would only happen anyway.” 

Rouxls stands still for a moment before going around the shop, picking out things he needs. You had stayed put at the counter with the cat. 

“What?”

They looked at you with a faint smile. “The names’ Seam.” 

“I’ve never met you. How did you know me?”

Seam only smiles more. “I’ve been around for a long time. The events that took place were many years ago. I guess rules don’t last forever.”

You look to check on Rouxls, who were too busy peering inside a book Seam had. You look back at Seam. “Since you seem to know a lot and were there, and I’m left out in the dark here. Can I ask you some questions about it?”

“Go ahead. It’s not like time is better spent.”

You lean in, your voice dropped to a whisper. Do you remember if a skeleton was there? During the murders?”

Seam visibly thinks for a moment, leaning onto the counter with their arm, their hand serving as a headrest. “I do, two, in fact. Sans and Papyrus, brothers I think. Weird guys, but I wouldn’t mess with them. They make good guards, ones better than at Card Castle.”

“What happens if me and Rouxls get seen together? I know it’s not good, but I have to know.”

For a moment, you could see pain in Seams’ expression before it hardened into something indescribable. “I don’t know, but it won’t be good.”

A growing pit was in your stomach. Rouxls came back with some items and placed them on the counter, as well as the money. Seam quietly counted before he stored it under the counter, and put the items into a cloth bag. 

You look back at Seam. “You’re not gonna stop us? Or anything?”

They shook their head. “It’s best not to be involved. I had a feeling something like this would happen one day.” They let out a chuckle. “guess I was right, but you two should be careful.”  

Rouxls spoke up for you. “We are, don-eth worry.” He looks at you. “Could-est thou step-eth out for a moment? I’d like-est to talk alone with Seam for a mere moment.” His expression was silently asking you to go along. You nod, closing the door with a long creak. 

You couldn’t hear any conservation, not that you were actively listening. There was a small breeze flowing through the tall blades of grass. It was calming, but somehow it served as a reminder that you’d never be out here again. You’d never have memories like this again. Every part of you was trying to sink in every detail, and to never forget. You couldn’t explain why you couldn’t let go of Rouxls, knowing this would have to end. More people are finding out, the signs are showing, but you can’t bring yourself to go.

The door opened with a creak, making you jump back to reality. Rouxls’ voice shortly covered it, calling to Seam inside with a smile on his face and holding his bag of items. “Thank-est thou!” He closes the door and looks at you, his smile fading immediately. “Is something wrong?”

You shake your head, walking back over to Rouxls. “No, why?”

“Something seems… amiss. Thou normally don-eth look so gloomy.” Rouxls walks back to the way you had come. You follow, walking next to him.

 “Art thou sure nothing is wrong?” 

You stay silent, not sure of what to tell him. Your expression seemed to have done that for you as Rouxls searches through his bag of items. 

His Shakespearean accent dropped. “I got you something.” He hands you a drawstring bag. You open it. It was a small book of poetry. 

You smile, meaning it. “Thanks, Rouxls.”

You could easily hear the joy in his voice. “Of course.” 

The two of you continued to walk in silence. You glanced at him time and time again, studying him. How his hair moved with every step, the smaller details of his clothing, his free hand conveniently next to yours. Without a second thought, you slowly reach your hand to his... 

Rouxls turns to you, stopping, you pull your arm back. Rouxls didn’t seem to notice. His accent came back. “I suppose-est walking back home would take-eth too long. How about I teleport?”

“So then, why did we walk earlier?”

At first Rouxls doesn’t answer, his face frozen. His eyes nervously darted around and finally replied. “I just thought-est it would make the surprise more interesting! That was all!” 

You felt there was certainly more to it, but you didn’t want to press him on about it. 

Rouxls holds his hand out and you could’ve sworn he looked dead into your eyes. “Let’s get thou home, shall we?” You grab his hand, fading into a bright light. His hand was warm. 

The light had faded as he brought you back to your castle, just far enough to go unnoticed and for you to sneak back in. You look back over at him. “Next week?”

He nodded with his signature grin. “Next week.” 

With that came another bright light and had teleported away.

Chapter Text

It was late, and the next week had passed, the two of you deciding to go to Rouxls shop. You were in Rouxls room again, supposed to be helping him design a new puzzle, but he seemed to take over the whole thing. Rouxls sprawled out on the floor, blueprint papers and designs he was making surrounded him. You were on his bed, watching him from above. You finally speak to him. 

“So, what are you exactly doing?”

Rouxls looked up at you, his smile locked into place as always. “Designing a puzzle worthy of making and using to terrorize mine enemies!” 

You smile. “Not me, right?” You look down to gaze at the papers, most being doodles or concept ideas. “What do you have so far?” 

“Well, I have-eth this one.” He hands you a paper. It looked to be a simple block pushing problem, not at all being complicated. It actually looked close to the same puzzle he made you solve when you first met him. 

You hand him back the paper. “That’s way too easy.” 

“I’d like to see you try, worm. Can thoust create better puzzles than I? The Duke of puzzles?”

You think for a moment, thinking. “What about a Rubik’s cube type puzzle?”

“A Rubik’s cube? Like the puzzle thou gave-est me?”

After getting off the bed, you joined Rouxls on the floor. You grab a blank piece of paper and a pen. You started sketching out a puzzle. “See, like, maybe you can make a color or a pattern match to solve it.” You finish it up and hand it to Rouxls, going back to his comfortable bed, not wanting to be on the floor out of fear of accidentally messing up the papers carelessly laying there.

 Rouxls looks over it, impressed.“Such a wonderful idea! Thank-est thou!”

“Oh.” You smile with shy pride. “Well, you’re welcome.”

Rouxls then stands up. “I’ll supposed-est I’ll work-eth on a last sketch tomorrow.” Talking as Rouxls picks up his other papers scattered on the floor and neatly putting everything back on his desk.

You study the room again, how everything seemed so calm, how Rouxls seemed calm, but you weren’t. The anxiety from the field of hopes and dreams never left you, and it was tearing at you. You finally decide to speak up. “Hey Rouxls?”

He doesn’t look away from his desk. “Yes?”

“Remember last week, when you asked me if I was alright?”

His expression changed into something more serious, but insanely curious. He stopped what he was doing and made his way towards you, even dropping his accent. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t really know, I just feel… anxious.” 

 He sits down on the bed next to you. “Over what? What’s the matter?”

“What happens if we get seen?”

Rouxls seemed taken aback for a moment, visibly debating on something. He opened his mouth to talk, but quickly closed it. 

You pushed further. “Rouxls?”

He finally replied. “I don’t know.”

Awkward silence filled the air for a moment before you spoke again.

“I just don’t want to lose you.”

Rouxls eyes widened. “Lose-eth me?” 

“I mean, I know we shouldn’t be friends, but you’re the first friend I’ve ever had. How do I just not see you again and pretend you don’t exist?”

Rouxls looks down and stares at the bed beneath him, thinking to himself for a few moments before he finally looks at you again. He says your name softly, “Listen… After today, I want to pretend we never met.”

A pit opened up in your stomach. ”No. No Rouxls I-”

Rouxls held a hand up, cutting you off. “I know it’s hard, but it’s for the best.” 

“I can’t just leave! Not after everything. I know it’s the right thing to do but, you made me feel free, like my life had a purpose! You gave me happiness, showed me new places and things! I love you! I loved you… I can’t just- I can’t just leave!” You could feel tears coming. Was this really the end?

Rouxls’ face looked conflicted. His voice was soothing. “It’s hard for me, too. Believe-est me, I want to be thoust friend” He says your name softly. Rouxls grabbed your hands softly. They were warm. You looked into his eyes as he spoke. “Thoust enriched mine life as well, but we both knew-est this can’t last. Thou knew this would have to end. I knew this had to end. Nothing lasts forever.” 

The tears were streaming down your face. You tried your best to not let your voice crack. “We can leave this place. Let’s run away. There’s got to be somewhere safe!”

“We’re royalty! They would find us quickly.” He takes a deep breath. “Look,” Rouxls says your name again, “I love you too. And I don’t want you hurt. So please. Let me take you home one last time, then pretend I never existed. This never happened.” He extends his hand out, a look in his eyes almost begging you not to take his hand. 

Instead, you nearly tackle him, hugging him tightly. Your head is right up against his chest. Rouxls lets it happen for a moment before hugging you back. 

You whisper into his chest. “Can we just stay like this for a while?” 

Rouxls doesn’t answer, instead he only hugs you tighter. You get a whiff of what perfume he uses, like books with a floral undertone to it. You stay like that for a few minutes before you finally pull back. The two of you look into each other’s eyes, slowly leaning closer and closer. 

Until the door slammed open. 

Both of you jumped back, surprised. A tall man with an uncanny resemblance to Lancer stood at the doorway. It hit you he was Lancers father, the King of Spades. It didn’t take long for the king to notice you, either. His face scrunched up and his voice booming.

“You.”

You didn’t look over at Rouxls, scared to even look away from the king, but you could hear the panic in him. “Sire! I-”

The king pointed at you. “You know not to be here. What are you planning?”

“Nothing, sir.” 

“You’re in my territory! I will have you beheaded!” He makes a quick step towards you with a hand reaching out to grab you.

Before you could do anything, Rouxls grabbed your hand, and a bright light flashed your eyes. 

Chapter Text

Fading into the dark field of hopes and dreams. Barely processing what had just happened before, Rouxls grabbed you by the hand and started running through familiar purple blades of grass. A part of you wanted to smile, being here again, but there was no good reason. You tried your best to keep up with Rouxls. 

“Where are we going?” You asked him. 

“To Seam’s Shoppe!... They’ll know what to do-eth!”

Your breath was failing you. “So… why can’t we teleport?”

“I’ll admit, teleporting take-est… far too much… energy.” Rouxls seemed to be tired as well. 

You were both tired, but continued to run, as your lives depended on it, but it wasn’t without accident. A sharp pain shot up your leg. You felt your leg give out beneath you as your ankle rolled and stumbled to the ground, nearly bringing Rouxls down with you. He stopped and pulled you up. 

“Art thou alright?”

“I think so.” You tried to stand up on your own. One step at a time carefully. “Maybe- Oh fuck-!” You try to walk, nearly stumbling to the ground if Rouxls hadn’t been there to catch you. 

“Here, hold-est on to me!” He half-shouts, helping you. With that was a bright flash of light. Before you was Seam’s door.

Rouxls quickly opens and slammed Seam’s door. Luckily for them, Seam was at the counter looking alarmed by the sudden appearance, yet the look on their face showed they already knew what was going on. You both went over to the counter, you were still hardly able to walk. Seam looked at the both of you with concern.

“We, may-est, possibly have-eth a problem or two!” 

The cat raises an eyebrow. “Just a problem?” 

“Do thoust have any healing items?”

Seam looked down at your ankle, noticing you had injured it. “Unfortunately, I’m no healer, but this should help you recover.” He hands you a dark-burger. You take a bite of it. Seam was right. It made your ankle feel better, but you were certain you had broken something. 

You pull out as much money as you had on you and place it on the counter. “What can this get me?”

“What do you think you’ll need?” 

“Food, medicine, a place to hide?” 

Seam collected and counted the money before they turned around, searching across the things kept on the shelf behind him. They place a key and a few food items on the counter. “There’s an old abandoned house not too far from here, just a left from here and that should take you both right to it, but if I were you, I won’t stay anywhere for too long.”

Rouxls grabbed everything from the counter. “I thank-est thou greatly! We’ll be on our way!”

“Be careful.” Seam called out after the both of you as you two went out the door. You put an arm around Rouxls and limp as you both started heading left. 

“About thou’re leg. Is it any better?”

“A little, but I think I broke my ankle.” You look back down, noticing it already swelling up. Rouxls winced at the sight. “Either way, it’s still painful.”

You both continue to walk in silence, Rouxls helping you the best he could. You finally run into a small house, sighing in relief. “Oh, thank god.” Rouxls unlocked the door. It was dusty. Nobody had been here in a while, but it at least had furniture, nothing like you were used to growing up with in your castle, but still better than the floor, or nothing at all. 

Rouxls helps you to the couch. Dust springs up, but you couldn't care less. Rouxls waved his hand in front of his face. “So dusty.”

You shrug. “It’s not ideal, but we won’t be here long. Maybe tomorrow morning we can start looking for an escape route. There has to be someplace safe.” 

Rouxls sighs as he locked the door to prevent anyone from coming in. “I agree-est with thou, however-est, thine leg will take-eth time to heal.” Rouxls wipes away some of the dust off the couch before sitting down next to you. He pulled out something to eat. It was some bread. Rouxls split it into two, giving you the other half. You take a bite. There was nothing special about it. 

Silence filled the air as you two ate. Rouxls intertwined his hand into yours. You squeeze it. He squeezed back, with you finally speaking. 

“I’m really sorry.”

He looks at you, confused. “What-est there to be sorry for?”

“A-lot. The reason we are in this mess is that of me. I should have just let you take me home. I’m just… selfish.” 

“It’s more of mine responsibility than it is thou.” He pauses and drops the accent, his tone softer now. “I should have brushed you off the moment we met, but I didn’t. And a part of me is glad.” He smiles at you, squeezing your hand. “If I hadn’t met you, I would have never made a friend or a lover.”

You smile back. “I’m glad I met you, too.” Both of you leaning in closer and closer, centimeters apart. You pull him in for a kiss with Rouxls giving in and kissing you back while cupping your face before his hands slowly trail down to your back. It wasn’t long before the both of you got handsy with the other. 

You kissed him down his jawline, Rouxls humming in response. You pull away and look him in the eye. Rouxls wearing a smile of shy pride. “As much as I want to continue, we should head to bed and prepare for tomorrow.”

You give him a playful pout, but you push nothing on to him. “Do you think there’s a safer place out there?”

“Well, we have to try, but for now, let’s just get some rest.” Rouxls stands up. “I’m sure this place have-eth a bed.” He walked around the house a little more and came a few moments later. “There-est only one bed, but it’ll do-eth.”

You reach your hand out towards him, and Rouxls comes to help you across the house. Instead of you leaning an arm around him, he picks you up bridal style.

“I can walk, you know.”

Rouxls smiles at you playfully, his voice calm. “Just let me carry thou, worm.”

 You look around the house, but there wasn’t much of anything to note, dust everywhere. Rouxls gently put you down on the bed, the blankets already pulled back for you. 

Rouxls gets in with you, pulling the covers above the both of you. The bed was creaky, and the fabric felt odd, but you didn’t mind. Tonight was too hectic to care. You inch closer to Rouxls, who pulls you close to his chest, his long hair almost tickling your face. 

“Good night, Rouxls.”

He closes his eyes, mumbling you a goodnight.

Chapter Text

You wake up the next morning to an unfamiliar ceiling, and with arms wrapped around you, and an angry knock coming from the door. Rouxls seemed to be still asleep. It tempted you to ignore the knocking until you remembered where you were and the events prior. You quickly jolt Rouxls awake, whisper-shouting. “Hey, Rouxls! Rouxls! Hey! Hey!”

His eyes opened. He looked at you and nearly opened his mouth to talk before you put your hand over him. The knocking kept on. Rouxls eyes widened, finally understanding the situation. He quickly pulled the blanket over both of your heads. You free your hand from his face. You could still hear the knocks. 

“I locked the door, they shouldn’t get in.” Rouxls whispered.

You whispered back. “Despite that, how did they find us? Did Seam say anything?”

“I doubt-est! I’ve known them for years-eths!”

“Do we just wait, then?”

“I, I don’t know.”

Suddenly, the knocking stopped. Silence filled the air, both of you completely unsure of what to do. Was it worth going out there and making a run for it, or do you stay and enjoy what little freedom you have left? 

You didn’t have to make that decision, someone else answered for you. “I warned ya, kid, and look what happened.”

Your head peaked out of the blanket. “Sans?”

Sans was standing right at the foot of the bed, holding some handcuffs. Of course it was Sans who could easily get in, though you never understood his ability to do so. You sat up at the edge of the bed. Sans walked towards you. “I’m just doing my job.”

“I know you are.” You reluctantly held your hands out in front of him. Rouxls followed suit, holding his hands out.  

Sans looked and noticed your broken ankle. “I’ll be back. Don’t leave. Not that you can, anyway.” 

You and Rouxls look at each other in unison before Sans almost immediately comes back with his brother, Papyrus. You felt an instant pang of guilt when you saw the look on his face, a mix of worry and disappointed. He didn’t give you the usual friendly hello. Instead, he just grabbed you bridal style without a word or hint of emotion. Nothing had ever made you feel so guilty in your life knowing you visibly upsetting Papyrus.

 The skeleton brothers lead you out of the house, greeting you with a mob of guards from both of yours and Rouxls families. Hardly paid any attention to them, or anything, for that matter. You could hear them talking, rumors and questions spreading among them, wondering if you were lovers, or if Rouxls had broken your foot on purpose and taken you to an abandoned house for torture. You only stared down at the ground below you as the guards escorted you somewhere. 

***

You spent the day as follows; being dragged to your own home for medical attention and to see your parents absolutely pissed. You didn’t listen to what they said, nor do you remember. You can only remember the deep feeling of regret. 

The families met together to discuss the matter, but they knew the result. Because you were on Rouxls’ property, their castle, it was ultimately up to Rouxls’ family, not that Rouxls himself was going to be spared either. Neither of you were present for the chaos, only hearing the bits and pieces where things had gotten too heated and out of control, but nothing to hang on to. This would not be good.

Hours passed. The day was a long one. It was late into the night, or so you assumed. The dark dungeon walls had no clocks, and Rouxls didn’t have his watch. They placed both of you into the same cell. The Spade king had them thrown together, quote: “Lovers to the end.”

Neither of you were bound to walls or handcuffed, which you found odd. The cell was dirty, moss growing in the corners, but the iron bars were tight and locked well. Luckily, Rouxls had sneaked the food he had bought from Seam the day before to keep you two from going hungry. The two of you sat close together. 

“What do you think they’ll do? Is there anything we can do?”

Rouxls doesn’t look up at you, continuing to staring off into the floor. “Alas, there is nothing-eth we can do-eth. I’ve placed many innocent ones down here. Once thou’re in these cells, there’s nothing thou can do-eth.”

“Aren’t you the jailer?”

“I was-est the jailer, however-est now am unemployed-est.”

You could hear large footsteps, a shadow overcast as the figure came closer, the king of spades. Rouxls Kaard winced as the king stared into him. 

“I expected better from you, Rouxls.”

“O-Of course, sire! I-”

“Silence!” His voice boomed over the walls. “Consider yourself fired and disowned! As for you!” He turned his head, looking at you. “Do you know what you just started? How lucky you are for not bearing witness to what’s about to happen.”

You didn’t dare react to anything he said, only staring at the icy wall behind him. The King didn’t say a word as he walked away.

The moment the King was out of earshot, Lancer came over to the cell they trapped you in. There were tears in his eyes. The both of you came over the bars. Both of you crouched down on your knees, eye-level to Lancer. “I didn’t do anything to hurt you! I’m really sorry.”

Rouxls put on a smile for him. “We believe-est thou! Don-est worry-eth. What is the matter, my dear-est prince?” Rouxls slipped a hand through the bars and grabbed Lancers. “Everything will be alright.”

Lancer shook his head. “No, it won’t. They’re preparing for tomorrow.” 

The reassuring melted off his face. “What are you talking about, young sire?” But something about Rouxls told you he already knew.

He breathed heavily, a tear running down an eye. “It’s really bad. I was told not to tell you, but-” 

“What’s tomorrow?” You ask him, cutting him off. 

“They called for your execution, both of you.”

Adrenaline rushed through you and felt your stomach drop. Execution? You look over at Rouxls for his reaction. His face was almost the same as it was before, only a wide-eyed mess of anxiousness. “I’m sure you’ve heard it all wrong.”

Lancer shook his head. “No, I’ve seen it. I-”

The disembodied voice of the King interrupted him, yelling. “Lancer?” 

Lancer was visibly holding back hiccuping tears as he let go of Rouxls and waved goodbye, scurrying off after his father.

You and Rouxls looked at each other. Your head hurts, the pressure was forming in your nose as tears were coming, leaking out of your eyes. You didn’t want to die. “You can teleport, can’t you? Do you think we can make it out?”

Rouxls shook his head. “The guards will only find-est us again. There-est no point.” Rouxls covered his face with his hands in frustration, crying out. “Mine god what have-eth I done!”

You cried, half mumbling. “I’m sorry, Rouxls, oh god, I’m sorry! I’m sorry! It’s not your fault! If only I had done what you asked of me, I could be at home, we could be safe and-.” Panic was finally bubbling out of your system. You felt weak and attached to the stone floor, choking on sobs. “If only!”

Rouxls put a hand on your back, speaking clearly. “We were going to get caught either way.” Rouxls got up off the floor and moved to the back wall of the cell, sitting in a corner. “The execution won’t be the worst part of it all. We’re actually quite fortunate.”

You look over at him, trying to control your sobs. “What do you mean?”

 “We started a war,” He says your name. “After our death, they’re going to fight again.” 

You barely pull yourself off the floor and make it to where Rouxls are, but you couldn’t stand or use your legs for long. Your chest, your arms, your whole body was in physical pain. You didn’t want to die! If you had known from the very start- if only you had known. 

Maybe you did and went on anyway, because you thought it would be worth it. And for you, it was. 

Rouxls pulls you closer to him. You’re leaning on him now with your head on his lap. You look up at him. “Are you not scared to die?”

Rouxls shook his head. “From the moment we arrived-est, I knew this would-est be the outcome. We were not-est tied or held-eth for questioning. I’ve been around these walls too long to not know-eth how it works here.”

“But aren’t you scared?”

He gives you a faint smile, his fingers tangled in your hair. “Of course I am. But I will get to die with you.”

You stayed there in silence. The dungeon was cold, but the two of you kept each other warm. The panic in you kept you awake, but the crying had tired you and your brain didn’t know either to sleep or to stay awake. In the end, you opted for sleep, as it’s the only thing that can help you escape this situation for now. 

“Goodnight.”

Rouxls pulled you for a kiss. You kiss him back and cup his face. Although you couldn’t see much, his face was wet with what you guessed were tears.

“Goodnight-est.”

Chapter Text

Neither of you had slept well that night. You were never asleep for very long. Before the sun had thought of waking up, the guards had come by, unlocking the door. Rouxls weakly pushed you off of him as he walked over to the guards to be handcuffed. You didn’t have the energy to get off the floor. You could feel hands cuff your wrists as they then dragged you and out into another cell. They escorted Rouxls to another room as well.

In this new room was another guard, only in this room were fresh clothes, a wall to change behind and scissors for cutting hair if needed, as long hair could make the execution painful. You were being beheaded. The guard looked up at you with no emotion, like they had done this before, and you were just a number.

They handed you some new clothes, neatly folded. They were your clothes. The guard pointed at the wall. “Please change behind that wall over there.”

You make it behind the wall somehow and change into your clothes. They were old, slightly comfortable, but they felt tight, knowing you were going to die in them. After getting dressed, the guard told you to take a seat, preparing you for the execution.

***

You could still barely walk, but it didn’t matter to them or you as the guards still dragged you across the dirt path outside.

The guillotine was tall, a clean blade hung high in the air. The sunrise was on its way and a crowd surrounding you. You could spot a few, your parents crying, Sans and Papyrus, Seam. They all meant something to you, but seeing Lancer out in the crowd shot you in the heart. Not because of you, but you couldn’t imagine the pain he was about to feel watching his father figure die right in front of him. Speaking of, Rouxls was behind you, his hair cut short and in a cleaner uniform.

You wished you could turn to Rouxls, or speak to him again. Your regrets were piling high on your shoulders. To see Rouxls smile at you was all you could ask for. 

Of course, the king was next to the guillotine. He looked at you and pointed. “You! I want that one first!”

Your parents cried out in protest, but you didn’t listen. You couldn’t care as they escorted you to the machine. The guards adjusted you laying down. They line your head up at the guillotine. Poor Rouxls, he was right in front of you in clear sight with the guards kept him there tightly; the King forced Rouxls to watch your death.

The king read out your name loud and clear to the crowd and your crimes. He looks at you. “Do you have any last words?” 

You look over at Rouxls instead. Rouxls looks at you. You’ve never seen him more terrified in your life, like he was choking on air. You try to look him in the eyes calmly with a faint smile. “Hey Rouxls?”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

The blade came crashing down with a thud, cutting your head clean with one swift motion. Rouxls flinched and screamed along with many others, his eyes shut immediately. When he opened them again, your head had rolled to his feet, and your blood dressed his clothes and face. You still have brain activity after death. You couldn’t feel or talk, but you heard Rouxls scream in horror again. Everything was fading, regret was still on your mind…

Some guards removed your headless body from the machine and went off to begin the cremation process.

Rouxls were up next. He was barely processing the death of a loved one he had just witnessed. Rouxls was still in visible shock and grief. Still, he made his way up the guillotine, being adjusted the way you were. Once again, the king said his full name and his crime before he looked over at Rouxls. “Any last words?” 

Rouxls accidentally saw Lancers pained expression and gave him a short-lived smile. Next he saw your head. Tears came out of his eyes on their own. 

“I love you too.”

THUD