"Let's go back there tomorrow. Alright?"
The last words spoken in the hallways of Hometown High that night, the walls illuminated dimly by the setting sun through the windows. Looking down at her partner of the Dark World, and her newfound friend, as he watched her insistence. She gave a small smile, the first real one toward Kris she had given, before pulling her hand back from his shoulder. He didn't respond to her, but that should be expected of him. He's been the quiet type for nearly the whole time. Even still, she couldn't help but notice the small hint of a smile on his face, giving a small nod of approval. It put her at ease just a little, even if his silence was a little aggravating. Without another word, she made her way down the hallway, quickly pushing through the school's front doors before heading off. She practically jogged back to her home, giving the older goat monster in her parked car a wave as she passed.
Her jog slowly moved to a walk, her chest pounding from the previous exhaustion of adventure. Walking down the streets of the town, she was greeted to the Light World by the basic everyday setting: Catty standing in front of stores to gossip to strangers about the daily life of God who knows who, Alphys softly praising her current anime obsession in an alleyway while waiting for her kitten, and Undyne obliviously causing traffic jams off on one side of the road while screaming about how bored she was. Basic daily routine. She just quietly walked along, a few monsters she passed either staring in fear or backing away from her path. Even Catti, who was staring blankly ahead while walking to her job, couldn't help but wince and shuffle to the side as the larger lizard passed by.
Reputation at its finest.
Hands in pockets, Susie silently went her way downtown. After everything she and Kris had just gone through, the normally obnoxious town was nothing less than a godsend sent to welcome home heroes from a century-long battle to the death. Not that it took that long, but it was still nice to see a world of light once again. Almost like the previous adventure had been unreal. A dream maybe. But it wasn't. Yet no one outside would believe her or Kris. They probably all assumed she hurt Kris. Maybe they would think she told him to tell that story to prevent her from getting into trouble. A fair assumption, but wrong all the same. After everything they had gone through, how could she possibly return to her known world with such an attitude change? She sighed, flicking some of her ragged stray hair from her shoulder. 'Well,' she thought to herself, 'Whatever we just came back from, it'll feel like heaven compared to what hell I'm gonna have to go through.'
Susie dreaded going back to her place. She had a curfew set up by her father, and judging by the sun, she was already fully aware that she was well passed it. She trudged west, moving past the small cemetery to step through the woods. A broken gravel path of twigs and leaves lead her straight to her home. If she could even call it that. A five-minute walk later had finally lead her to her shack.
A worn-down log cabin with molded rims and cracked windows. Trusses of the roof splintered through here and there, small holes littering the shingles. Terrible for the upcoming weather. The door barely fit in its frame and tended to stick fairly easy every now and then. She stepped up, twisting the nob and ramming her shoulder into the door to pry it open. She stumbled inside, keeping her stance after she stepped up. Closing the door behind her, she just pulled off her jacket and dropped it next to the door in the small pile of boots and old clothes. The floor creaked with her steps, molded wood flooring threatening to give way with each step anyone would take. Wallpaper was coming undone, falling apart at the corners and peeling off in strips. Furniture was either ripped at the seams or splintered apart, depending on what it was made from. The house itself smelled like rotting fish and rancid tomatoes, but it's not like she could do much about it.
Susie stepped into the living room, taking a deep breath. She turned toward the couch to observe the sick looking beast, holding her hand up for a quick wrist-bound wave while keeping her expression as blank as she could. "Hey, Dad. 'M home."
Another lizard monster was hunched over on the couch much bigger than Susie was. Darker complexion and messed up hair to cover his eyes. Filthy white tank top and torn sweatpants as his only clothes, calloused bare feet, and dried blood on his hands. Two fingers pressed to hold the long cigar in his mouth. He glanced over at the teenager, pulling it out as a small puff escaped his jaw. "... Susie," He said, his voice raspy with a small growl in his tone. "You're late."
"Sorry old man," Susie said, crossing her arms. "Got held up by Ms. Alphys. Some stupid extra assignment held me back after school."
"It's 6:30," Her father snarled, standing as he rubbed his cigar into the couch's arm to put it out. "No 'extra assignment' takes that long. What else did you do, you little brat?"
Susie flinched at that slightly, gripping her bare arms. "Nothin' much," She added. "I... Just spoke to... a friend for a bit, that's all."
Silence. Susie's least favorite song. The older man stared at her blankly, barely any reaction given past his hidden eyes. "... A friend," He repeated, sounding unsure of her claim. Like it was something unbelievable. "Since when? You've never had any friends before. Is this some kinda joke?"
"No...!!" Susie softly growled, looking up at him. "It's not a joke this time. I really did make a friend today."
"You've never even had the decency to act nice toward anyone for years. How am I supposed to believe that in the blink of an eye you made some new friend?"
Now Susie was starting to get a little bit annoyed. Her own father didn't show faith in her? Why? It's not that insane for her to have a friend... right?
"Dad, for God's sake, stop acting like I can't be decent!" Susie snarled, her dark hair starting to stand on its ends.
"You're a monster, you're not supposed to be decent!"
"Well guess what? Turns out I am, so you're just gonna have to deal with it!"
"Then who in this God-forsaken town is foolish enough to want a friendship with you??"
"Kris!"
He went silent again. Her sudden burst of an actual name seemed to have been unexpected to both of them. The look on Susie's face shown how much more surprised she was to have said that in front of this man. Her dad looked similar. She gave him an answer. Susie remained in place, yet her father's expression shifted into a smirk. The name soon rang a few bells for him, then he quickly broke into a burst of twisted laughter as he recognized its origin. His hand reached his hair, his fingers brushing through it as he cackled.
"Kris?? That's the best joke yet!" He sneered as his yellowed teeth bared. "Kris Dreemur? That adopted human that belongs to the goats?! You're stooping so low for an excuse that you're willing to lie about that freak being your friend?" He then sighed, slowly calming his laughter. "What a pathetic excuse. The biggest lie I've heard from you. I expected better. I'd believe that annoying bird guy more than him."
Susie tensed again, already knowing what the conversation was building up to. But after everything she had just gone through, she couldn't back down now. She caused him enough trouble already. "He's not a freak." She mumbled, her piercing yellow eye peeking from her bangs to glare up at her father.
The call back put him off, and his head slowly tilted to his lesser child. His laughter ceased instantly like a switch was pulled to shut him down. His fingers twitched, and his head slowly tilted to one side. "... What...?" He muttered quietly, shifting a little.
"He. Is not. A freak."
Fingers that twitched folded into a loose fist. How dare she claim such a thing? Everyone in town knew what he was. He knew a lot about the rumors of Kris Dreemur. A jokester to harm, a pathetic excuse for adoption, and a quiet husk. His own daughter, the most judgemental of all he could think of, dared to speak against her own father for the sake of a human with that reputation? It had to be a lie. "... Shut up."
"No," Susie answered, more firm. "Kris is not--"
"Shut your damn trap," her dad interrupted, slowly stepping closer to her. "This joke has gone on far enough. I'm tired of your games, Susie. I raised you to never take any form of crap from anyone. I turned you into the monster you needed to be. Everyone fears you, and no one dares to ignore your voice. And this is how you intend to thank me? With lateness and lies? An excuse that no one is going to believe? Who do you think you are?"
Susie could only get out a small 'I' before her throat was suddenly grabbed onto, her body lifted off of the ground. She struggled to breathe, her hands quickly brought up to the man's one arm in an attempt to claw it off of her. No avail, as she had expected. It was at this angle she could barely see the rage in her father's bright green eyes. "You're lucky I don't take you to the ocean and toss you in with an anchor on your back. You belong to me. You obey me. YOU ARE BENEATH ME. Am I clear, you little hellspawn? I know you aren't friends with that thing. Admit it!! Before you get into even more trouble!"
Struggling to catch a breath, Susie could only manage a few small gasps in place of words. She knew she couldn't win. She didn't have the power she used to have in the Dark World. She didn't have her ax or armor. She was powerless against him. Just as she had been time and time again. So, with as much force as she can, she let out her only option to get out of this.
"F... Fine... It was a joke, alright...?!"
"Good answer."
His hand loosened, and Susie was dropped from his hold. She fell to her knees, taking in a long gasp before coughing. Several breaths were needed to regain herself. Her dad crouched in front of her, huffing. "Weak," He said bluntly. She glared up at him, giving him a better look at her face. He squinted, then grabbed onto her muzzle from below her chin, harshly turning her face to either side. "... Frosting streaks. Someone give ya food today?"
Susie didn't answer as she was still panting. She just turned her head from his hold, looking in any other direction so she wouldn't have to face him. She knew she didn't do the best job of cleaning after stealing the cake from the Dark World, but how was she supposed to explain at this point? She just silently wiped her face with her sleeve.
"... Can't even say?" Her father grumbled. He then stood up, crossing his arms. "Guess you don't need any dinner tonight if you got food someplace else. Great. Saves me the trouble of spending extra money on a thankless brat." He flicked the back of her head and then stepped toward the kitchen in a hunched walk, going through the half hinged cabinets for a minute before slamming them shut. "Get my room tidy for tonight. And make sure my plants are watered well. Don't want my supply to get wasted in this old run-down house, right?"
"Hmph," Susie responded, pushing herself back to her feet. "Whatever, Pops. 's not like its goin' anywhere."
"Do you want another bruise on your neck, 'oh sweet daughter of mine'?"
Susie only winced, turning her back to him. "Pass," She said, quickly making her way up the stairs. More creaks to add on to the tensity of each step she took. She stopped at the top, letting out a small sigh of relief as she heard the front door open and slam shut. Her father had left to go to town. A moment of reprieve.
She stepped into the doorway of her father's room, giving a quick scan of the scene. His blankets were half collapsed onto the floor, as well as one of his three pillows. A nightstand was knocked over, envelopes littering the poorly carpeted floor. The window was cracked open, an attempt to ventilate the already humid area. The bed's mattress was crooked compared to the bedspring. She grumbled as she brushed her bangs from her eyes, stepping farther in.
She pulled the nightstand back to its legs, picking up each letter with a small glance at each. Declined bank statements, failed payments, old letters from the mayor. She just tossed them onto the table, going to pick up the pillow and blankets. She quickly made his bed, rushing over to pry open the window further. She looked out, leaning against the railing to peer through the trees. From where she was, she could barely see the town. Stable and nicely built houses, people chatting about their daily lives in the distance, and the sun setting through the thicket of trees. Shadows moved silently across the area, splitting apart her world from theirs.
She stepped back, turning around to face her father's bed. She knelt down, pushing the nicer placed blanket up to look down underneath. In dimly placed light, three pots of five-point leaf plants were sprouting from the colder soil. She carefully pulled each out one by one, scoffing at the bright green leaves. If it was up to her, she would have these all tossed away. But due to past experience, she knew better than to try something that reckless. She just grabbed them all in her arms and stood. Making sure none of the soil fell out, she went to the kitchen and turned on the water in the sink. Running each one for less than a second, she quickly turned it off to get these hideous weeds out of her face. She rushed back upstairs and had to hold herself back as to not knock over the pots as she put them back under the bed. She got up and grumbled, almost in turn with her stomach. She glanced down at it, huffing.
"Guess I'll just head to my room," She said to herself. She would have snuck in some food while her dad was gone, if there was any. But she knew for a fact that there wouldn't be. She's checked. The only food in the house would be the stuff her father brings home for himself. She made her way to her bedroom, pulling back the curtain door from her way. Her bedroom was arguably the messiest part of the house.
A ripped punching bag in a far corner with stuffing all over the floor. Clothes littering another corner in a pile so wide it could count as an extra bed. Old homework papers and report cards all over the rest of the floor. A thin blanket and flat pillow plopped on her weak and splintering bed. And her window was nothing more than a 2-foot long frame with no glass. Fantastic for winter. To top it all off, stained white wallpaper to decorate the walls around. The room itself was also fairly small, so what wouldn't seem like much of a mess was actually the aftermath of a tornado ripping through.
Susie simply trudged to her bed, flopping on her back in the smaller bed frame. A long creak followed, but nothing surprising at this point. She lifted her feet up on the frame of the bed, one arm folded behind her head. She stared up at her ceiling, her other hand rubbing her neck. How strange. She felt more at home in the Dark World than her actual home. She felt safer with the town freak than she did with her own father. As this thought came to mind, she began to rethink everything that had happened.
Falling from the school's supply closet to far depths she thought she never thought she could reach.
Meeting a 'villain' that turned into a little brother of sorts.
Joining a party to defeat evil.
Fighting a corrupted king to free the kingdom.
Almost dying after Ralsei's mistake.
Kris protecting her.
Kris saving her.
That scene began to replay itself in Susie's mind.
Forced onto the ground, the magic of the king's spades ready to kill her in an instant. She was defenseless in the state she was in. She was too weak, despite her rage, to keep up on her own. Yet at the last moment, Kris ran in front of her to block the attack. Out of nowhere, he ran and took the blow for her. He was then singled out from the group. At that point, it was her turn to protect him. She gathered her strength to give one good attack before it was Kris's end.
'Get.
'Away.'
'From my.'
'Friend.'
The first time she took it upon herself to call someone a friend. Yet that person she called was the one she had bullied the most. So many years of teasing, threatening, beating. It almost made her question what was wrong with him.
Why would he save her?
What was he trying to gain from it?
Nonetheless, she simply closed her eyes, turning to her side. "Well," She said to herself. "Guess things'll get sorted tomorrow. Somehow."
A few minutes pass before she hears the front door open and close, the signal of her father's return. She didn't want to bother, however, as she knew his drill. Eat, inject, watch TV, pass out drunk on the couch. So, she decided to give herself some space from her father. No use in teasing an angry wasp. She just remained on her bed, recollecting herself until sleep slowly took her over.
Tomorrow is another day.