Work Text:
Asriel sat on his bed, finally finishing the report he had due until midnight.
"Phew… that was close."
"Who are you talking to? To the computer? That's worrying."
Kris said from their bed, monotone and expressionless, just because they always found it hilarious.
"Yes I am losing my sanity, I'm even talking to a floating sweater right now."
"Ohh, creepy." Kris answered, hinting at a smile.
Asriel put the notebook aside on the floor, stretching on the bed.
"Yo Kris, can you turn off the lights?"
"Wait, already? We were going to play minecrap bedwar tonight…"
Kris sounded monotone, yet the hesitant tone showed the subtle disappointment.
"Man, I'll go bedwarm my BED. G'night."
He laid on his side like a cartoon character, hands under head and all that.
Kris didn't say anything, staring at their brother for a few seconds before finally walking to the light switch. They turned off the lights, laying on the bed facing the wall.
After a while, Asriel hesitantly got up, opening the window of the room. The cold air invaded the ambience. Asriel checked if Kris didn't mind, but they appeared to not have noticed any change.
“I'm- I'm opening the window. Half close it if you feel cold, ok?”
The human raised a thumb, not looking away from the wall.
‘maybe tomorrow?’ he wanted to ask, but he could not promise to be any less occupied tomorrow, or after that…
Sometimes, Asriel felt guilty for not spending enough time with Kris. They used to play together ALL the time – they even brought an old console together with the money from HIS halftime job and Kris suspicious fundings – and now he didn't even have time to play a little before going to sleep – better saying: he didn't have the energy to play after studying so much.
Kris would have to accept that. Asriel was just… tired. Things were changing, and they wouldn't keep doing the same routine forever.
…
The sound of the wind beating the curtains was relaxing, almost unnoticeable. Asriel moved on the bed with the sudden cold.
Faintly, steps could be heard in his dream, he woke up groggy. His eyes parted slightly, noticing a blur in the room.
Like a sleep paralysis demon, something moved around mindlessly.
Startled, Asriel felt more awake, sitting down in his bed and rubbing his eyes to understand the vision of the creature.
It was Kris, walking back and forth, slowly, rapidly, stopping. Mumbling disconnected words without an understandable connection.
Kris was having another sleepwalking episode.
Asriel knew Kris used to have episodes like this, mostly when they had a nightmare or had any change of routine.
Asriel just had to lock the door and the window and try to go back to sleep.
He groaned, raising himself out of the bed and locking the room. Next, the windows…
"Asriel?" Kris asked, their tone startled, like if shocked to see his brother in his own room.
Asriel glanced at them, noticing something slightly different:
Kris' eyes were completely open. They were awake now… probably.
"Yep. Me. Your BFF. You were sleepwalking. Go to sleep." He adjusted the windows, other than closing, he left a gap for ventilation.
Kris looked down, clenching their fists.
'it's not their fault…' Asriel sighed. Kris was already embarrassed by so many things about themself, things they didn't have any control of.
"Sorry. I know it just happens and you can't control it. You can go back to sleep now, it's okay…"
"Did you make it?"
?
Made… it?
"Made… what?"
"Did you made it?" Kris asked again, louder than before.
It was different from the sleep talking they usually did. It made some sort of sense, but lacked a gigaton of context.
Were they dreaming or not?
"I- I dunno- I think I did??" Asriel tilted his head, looking at the sides for anything he could have 'succeeded' on.
Silence. Kris hands unclenched, moving themselves closer to their brother.
"I knew you w come back."
A sudden hug, quiet and awkward. Asriel confusedly retrieved the gesture while listening to the next words Kris said,
"I missed you."
After seconds, Kris moved away. Their eyes were now closed as they walked back to their bed, once again facing the wall.
Huh, that was weird.
It was probably just… a semi-lucid-sleep-walking or something, it's not like Asriel knew enough sleepwalkers to know that (He would check this online later).
And yet, that 'I missed you' made him think it was not a good dream.
He made his way back to bed.
…
Next morning, Asriel woke up at 6 am, preparing for school. He rocked the human back and forth mindlessly, making the other throw themself out of the bed.
"Well, good morning?"
"Morning." Kris answered, still on the floor.
…
In the kitchen, Asriel glanced at the window, the wind gently blowing the curtains over the sink, the movement was smooth and almost cinematic, odd.
It reminded him of yesterday.
"Kris, tell me something," He grabbed his cup of coffee and turned to the table, Kris sat looking down at their food.
"What did you ask me that I made last night?"
Kris stuffed their mouth with bread, their face cringing at the words.
"Hm?"
He gesticulated his hands, trying to find a way to explain it.
"You asked me if I made it, you said you knew I could. You remember what it was?"
Kris swallowed the food, finally turning their head in their brother's direction.
"I said your name?"
Asriel sighed. It was not unexpected. They wouldn't remember if it was a dream, it made complete sense.
"I was probably talking about your homework or something, I guess." They shrugged it off, finishing their breakfast.
Asriel watched as his sibling walked to the front of the house; mom must have left with the car to school sooner than them.
"Never mind, then…" He adjusted the schoolbag in his back, walking to the door.
"Asriel?"
The same tone from yesterday. Almost so identical it felt nostalgic.
"Can I- y'know?"
Asriel sighed, looking distant.
"No, Kris. I won't carry you on my back, my backpack is stopping you. We'll go walking, k?"
Kris stood in silence, sighing. Their steps quickening their distance.
He couldn't help but wonder if he was changing too fast.
Kris was growing, but they were still a kid, a lonely kid. They would have to get used to the change, he knew that, but at the end of december, next year, he would be in another Town. Going to college, changing everything.
Maybe Kris just didn't want to change yet.
But he did, didn't he? He needed to change.
Asriel quickened his pace, getting behind Kris. He held the other's shoulder, asking in the gentle way he was always known for.
"Hot chocolate after school?"
A brief silence, a slight hesitation and, finally, a nod.
"Good." He messed their hair, then held their arm through the rest of the way.
It had to change, but not that fast.
At least until college, he could try to make it a routine, at least until college.
It was already October, anyways.
And hot chocolate always made things easier to deal with.