Chapter Text
The Multiversal Hub never slept.
David was halfway through alphabetizing a list of banned portal items (“No, we don’t allow chainsaws, again, Denji.”) when the Portal Room sparked with a loud, unnatural hum. Normally, that meant a new visitor—nothing too wild. But this one pulsed differently. Not chaotic. Not dangerous.
Just... heavy.
From the white-blue shimmer emerged four figures. Confused. Alert. Some armed, some wide-eyed. David blinked once, already on his feet.
Siffrin, who had been quietly sitting near the corner café table with Frisk and Sayori, froze. His hand involuntarily clenched around his drink.
Through the portal walked Bonnie, Isabeau, Odile, Mirabelle... All he could see were the eyes that knew them.
Bonnie’s frying pan lowered slightly as they scanned the room. “This… isn’t the Castle.”
“Nope,” said Gojo, appearing behind them with a lazy grin and a cookie in hand. “Welcome to the Multiversal Hub. You’re not in Kansas anymore.” What's bro yapping about?
“Gojo, don’t scare them,” Mari said, hurrying up beside him with Sunny and Hero trailing behind. “They look confused.”
“Understatement,” muttered Odile, raising a hand. “Where are we?”
“The center between realities,” David said, now fully composed behind his desk. “The Multiversal Hub. Don’t worry. You’re safe.”
Siffrin still hadn’t moved. They felt like the floor had vanished beneath him.
“Wait…” Mirabelle’s gaze found him. “Siffrin?!”
Everyone turned. Even Denji paused his chip-eating mid-crunch.
Siffrin slowly stood. “Hey.”
Sayori looked between them, lips parting. “You know them?”
“We’re… friends,” Bonnie said, cautiously stepping forward. “Well. We were. Siffrin disappeared.”
“Vanished,” Isabeau clarified, voice edged with a quiet hurt. “Without explanation.”
Yuri, standing beside Natsuki and Monika, shifted uncomfortably. “Sounds familiar.”
Monika tilted her head. “People arrive here with baggage sometimes. Sometimes they leave with it.”
“They don’t usually leave us,” Odile muttered.
Siffrin opened his mouth. Then closed it. Then quietly said, “I had to.”
Bonnie folded their arms. “Why?”
“I can’t explain it. Not now.”
“Oh, that’s helpful,” said Rex Splode, who had been listening from a nearby sofa with Mark Grayson. “Dude, just say you needed therapy and go.”
“Rex,” Miku scolded gently.
Papyrus bounded over with Toriel and Sans in tow. “HELLO, NEW FRIENDS! WOULD YOU LIKE A TOUR? OR SOME SPAGHETTI?”
“Please don’t give them spaghetti,” Frisk added under their breath.
Sprout peeked around the corner beside Ginger, both blinking. “Oh wow, they’re tall,” Sprout whispered.
“They’re armed,” Ginger muttered nervously.
“Everyone’s armed here,” Cosmo said. “You’ll get used to it.”
Siffrin still hadn’t moved. Not really. But he was watching them.
“You didn’t want to be found, did you?” Mirabelle asked gently.
They shook their head. “No.”
“Then why are you shaking?” she whispered.
Before they could answer, David smoothly stepped between the crowd and Siffrin. “Alright. Let’s give them some space. Dandy, can you get them a booth? First visits get free food.”
“Of course,” said Dandy cheerfully, guiding the newcomers away. “Come along now, we’ve got waffle towers, multidimensional root beer, and existential fries.”
The four followed, eyes still trailing back toward Siffrin.
Siffrin watched them go until the door to the café closed behind them.
“I’m guessing that wasn’t part of your plan,” David said quietly.
Siffrin exhaled, voice rough. “Not even close.”
Monika gently touched his arm. “You don’t have to talk about it.”
“I know,” they replied. “But I probably should.”
As the others filtered back to their routines—Denji resumed arguing with Makima over pizza toppings, Sonic zoomed past yelling something about rings, and Shigaraki glared at Papyrus—Siffrin remained still.
Not quite ready to face the past.
But no longer alone in it.