Chapter Text
*Knock, knock.*
"Toriel? You home?"
...
"H-hello?"
.....
"M-maybe she left the lights on by a-acciden-"
The door opens.
Her fur is ruffled. Eye bags have begun to form under her tired eyes.
Her age doesn't usually show through her typically bright demeanor, but every wrinkle suddenly seems much more pronounced today.
"A-are you alright...?"
"Ah, do I look so unwell....? I apologize. You caught me at... a-a bad time, now.."
"A-are you okay?? What-what happe-"
"Wait, T-Tori... did you...?"
"..I have dumped it out. I think it is better if you took the rest of it."
They enter Toriel's home.
"I am sorry you had to see me in such a sorry state. Please give me a moment to go freshen up some. Please wait for me before heading into the kitchen. I... would not want you to get hurt."
Once Toriel leaves, Alphys peers into the kitchen.
There is broken glass littering the floor. A cabinet door with a shattered lock is barely hanging open. A few floor tiles around it are shattered as well.
Alphys carefully maneuvers around shards of what was once a glass bottle, reaching to open the cabinet door. Upon closer inspection, claw marks appear to be dug into the wood of the door.
In the cabinet is an assortment of various wines. Toriel was true to her word. Just one bottle is out of place, and that one...
appears to have met an equally fortunate and *un*fortunate fate.
Alphys lets out a sigh of relief.
Borrowing one of Toriel's grocery bags, Alphys carefully takes the remaining bottles one at a time. Wouldn't want any bigger of a mess.
———
"I did not mean to take so long. I hope you do not mind."
"N-no, not at all."
Toriel now looks mostly like her normal self again, if not a bit sleep-deprived.
"Let me sweep the floor, so you can-"
"Ah, you've already gotten them? I hope you did not hurt yourself."
"I-I'm okay. But, Toriel, a-are YOU alright?"
"...."
Toriel notably pauses, clearly thinking of something on her mind.
At this point though, Alphys has already heard of what had happened to start all of this.
"Have you c-checked your phone?"
"...It may need a repair..."
"I-is there anything else that was caught in the... uh, c-collateral damage?"
Toriel looks slightly embarrassed.
"Ah.. n-no, that is all, thankfully."
Alphys takes the phone from her, to begin assessing the damage.
Toriel starts to sweep up the glass pieces.
———
"I think I can repair it by tomorrow, i-if you're alright if I take it with me for now."
"Yes, that is fine. Would you like something to eat? You can stay for dinner, if you would like. Frisk and Asriel should be home shortly as well."
Almost as if right on cue, Frisk and Asriel burst through the door, shouting about their day.
"Children, please remove your shoes first at least."
She looks them up and down, observing their mud-stained clothing.
"Perhaps you should wash first, as well.."
They both remove their shoes and say a quick hello to Alphys before heading into their rooms, fighting to get the shower before the other.
——
By the time both of the children have showered and changed, Toriel has their meal ready.
"I am a bit tired, so I hope macaroni will be alright for tonight."
Toriel barely finished her sentence before they were already scarfing it down happily.
"Haha, I will take that as a yes! I suppose I will have to make macaroni and cheese more often."
"Alphys, are you finding it to your liking as well?"
Alphys swallows down a mouthful.
"Y-yes! This is r-really good!"
She goes in for another scoop.
"I suppose you really can't go wrong with something so simple.."
Alphys stops, as if she's remembering a traumatic memory.
She recalls the first time Undyne tried making macaroni and cheese with Papyrus.
That was also the last time Undyne ever made Macaroni.
"...Some people definitely can."
She resumes her inhalation of the macaroni.
————
"Thank you for dinner, Toriel. I-I'll have your phone back by tomorrow."
The pieces of the phone sit in a plastic sandwich baggie inside the same bag as the wines.
"Thank you as well. For putting up with me. If there is ever anything I may do for you, please do not hesitate to ask."
"....C-can I have the macaroni leftovers?"
Toriel retrieves a plastic container from the fridge.
"As long as you return my tupperware at some point."
"I-I'll bring it back this time."
Toriel gives her a slightly skeptical look.
"I'll make sure to return the o-other ones, too.."
"I would appreciate that."
"G-good night, Toriel."
"Have a nice night Alphys."
"W-wait, one more thing."
"Yes?"
"I think s-
someone
would like to talk to you tomorrow."