* VIOLET TORMENTOR.

"...Susie?"

Teenagers were temperamental creatures; that was a simple fact of life. And unfortunately, he missed a lot of the kids' teenage years while he was unplugged. He usually doesn't go into their rooms; he's not really their parent. He still doesn't know if he's even taking care of them both properly, like Toriel would have.

However...

"You've been in your room a lot today, kid... Just, wanted to know, um..."

Sure, she wasn't home all the time--neither was he. But the monster was usually around lounging (or at least making noise!) when she was.

"...Is everything okay?" He asks through her door, still lined with the KEEP OUT! ZOMBIE OUTBREAK! tape from last Halloween.

It had been, for what felt like days; but it was probably just.. a few hours. Since the start of her day. Honestly, she couldn't even tell anymore; she was still trying to really understand everything she suddenly remembered, like a whole other part of her life hadn't drastically changed again. So much of it was for the better-- at least, for a moment.. until..

At the sound of Tenna's voice, the girl suddenly jolted from her bed; that same stunned look on her face ever-present, as she listened to the soothing sounds of her guardian. As much as she needed time alone to process everything, to not have to do it alone was a blessing-- she'd been in a haze for a while, not even sure if Kris was going through the same as her. Of course she'd figure it out with them too eventually, but for now..

For now, she rushed straight to her door; opening it up and hugging Tenna without an ounce of hesitation.

The grip around his torso was as tight as she could muster, shoving her face into his shirt. She remained quiet for a moment, until she caught her breath; craning her head back to look at him through her mess of bangs.

"Tenna.."

"It's.. home. When I went back, everything.. everything was the same there. Nothing was different, but now.."

Where should she even have began? Her date with Noelle, the Dark World? Or..

Or that bastard, the same one who hurt him? The one who was trying to take everyone away?

"I remember.. all these different things.. like I was there. Like another day went by, but I.."

It's the realization that Susie really was, for a time, gone.

She was gone enough to be back there, see Toriel, see the mess of back home.

The pressure of her finger curled around theirs is what actually cracks their poorly constructed mask of normalcy. Kris's mouth tenses, lower lip quivering slightly even as they try not to, and their eyes are burning.

I missed you.

The words are so hard to get out. They don't feel like they deserve to say them. I missed you, please don't leave me again. Don't take her away again...

"That's.... good." Kris's voice is too quiet, and they tighten their grip on her finger. Then, fully lace their fingers with hers, with both hands, like they're trying to physically root her in place. They're not going to be able to stop the tears from coming, their throat is too tight and the world feels like it's condensed down to just her hand in theirs. They let go with one hand, reaching up without lifting their head to push their palm over her eyes.

The tears fall easily now.

Almost as if they were.. like it was taking everything in them not to--

"Kris..?"

But as she turned back towards them fully, Susie's face met the palm of their hand; blinking against it as the world became dark, obscured. She could feel their other hand now fully holding onto hers, fingers intertwined with one another; and that, coupled with the one over her eyes rendered her cheeks with fluster, for just a brief moment.

Until she heard the hitch in their breath. How their voice sounded so small, so quiet, as they pleaded in their own way for her not to look. Her shoulders stiffened, the beat of her heart skipping as she stood; almost like she didn't know what to do. What to say, if she should move..

.. no. She knew what to do. And even if it was a different approach.. it would still be what Kris was asking her to do.

Behind their hand, Susie closed her eyes; before gently pulling it away from her face. Instead, she reached behind their head; guiding them into the safety of her shoulder as she wrapped her free arm around them, resting her chin atop their mess of brown hair.

She could smell their shampoo as she let the weight of her head rest there, bringing a little smile to her face. Even here, they still used the apple scented stuff.. everything here should have been different, but so much of it.. wasn't.

Even though she'd left, Kris was still the same. Susie was still the same. They were just.. two dumb kids, who had an entire world of adventure waiting for them whenever they managed to go home; but for now.. this was their home.

Because they were here-- together.

"..."

If she opened her eyes for even a second.. damn, she'd probably be crying, too. But Kris needed her right now-- to know she was there, to know she wouldn't leave them again.. and she'd stay there holding them until they could believe that, with everything they had.

Kris is trying really hard not to let those thoughts linger.

They just want to have fun with her again.

So they do what they've always done when they're trying to keep their worries and thoughts away from Susie's mind: grin and act like they're alright and hope she doesn't notice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... really glad you're back. And, I can sing! I was in choir for a bit... sort of." They weren't actually, but they did help Noelle practice, and Dess always let them sing with her. So that counts. Probably. "But, either way, I just wanna kick some butt and rock on. Maybe Tenna can broadcast our badassery." They hesitate, smile faltering.

Their pinkie catches on Susie's, and they use their other hand to brush their hair over their eyes, trying and failing to mask their weakening enthusiasm.

That's why she held onto them for dear life once she knew-- it was still Kris. Nothing had changed, other than they left and came back. They weren't even gone for as long as she was, so.. how were they holding themselves together so well? Was she overthinking it, or did they just.. not want her to worry?

"Trust me, I'm glad, too. I definitely didn't take off because I wanted to.." even though she knew what was waiting for them back home, all their responsibilities.. Susie couldn't help but be selfish when it came to this place. All the happiness it brought her. "But.. heh! Me too! I bet Tenna'd be super happy to have us on air again! And I definitely need to hear you sing, ya big nerd. I guess it makes sense with your mom and everything-- have you been holding out on me and Ralsei, or what?! Heheh!"

Maybe it was because she brought up Toriel, or maybe it'd already been on Kris' mind-- but when they reached for her pinky, suddenly growing quiet.. what they were asking.. suddenly clicked into place.

".. I, uh.."

"I.. saw her, yeah. But.. honestly, I don't remember anything being.. different? It was like.. I went back to that same night after we were done in the church, and we walked back to your place. And I.."

The feelings she felt in that moment.. everything was still so fresh. Taken aback by how Toriel was speaking to her, the way she was laughing, the drink in her hand..

".. I, had to go. But she was like.. laughing, and stuff. So she's.. good."

She looked away, almost feeling.. guilty, for how she felt about that time. Kris was just worried about their mom, probably missed her like crazy-- but Susie couldn't even fathom being in the same room with her again anytime soon. Hesitantly, she hooked her pinky tightly around Kris'; rubbing the back of her neck with her free hand.

"I do agree, foragin' for food can be really tasty sometimes! As long as you're careful. But, uh...."

"FUCK YEAH I'm talking about moss!! Dude, Whimsy, it sounds like you're living on a gold mine!!" With other adults, Susie might not have been so keen to share her eating habits.. but since the last time they met, she sort of had a feeling her and Whimsy were on the same wavelength when it came to this sort of thing. And hey-- she wasn't knocking the idea right away, so maybe she was right!

"Moss is like.. okay, honestly, it's kinda nothing. But it's also dense?? And has a weird texture?? That's what makes it awesome. I guess it's probably good for you.. I just like it cause it's green. Oh, and my friend Kris got me on it!"

The blonde adjusts her hold on the book, blinking at the joke. Well, really, it flew over her head.

"No, I'm fine," she answers instead. She turns the book over. "It says Gothic Landscapes. I was thinking of looking through this for some ideas."

Oh well. The change of subject was clearly welcome!

"Gothic.. landscapes? Huh. Like, places where goths hang out?" she guessed that could be pretty cool, if there was a bunch of blood and spikes involved. This girl didn't really seem the type though-- honestly, her style.. sort of reminded her of Noelle.

.. but, then again, Noelle was into some weird and cool stuff. Maybe she shouldn't have been judging this human so quickly.

"Who the heck is Gumbo?" Now the entire gang is confused. "Harmless huh...I'm glad I give off that impression. Well let's see." He starts to count off on his fingers. "I'm super smart, sooo clever, and I've got incredible aim."

"Y'know, the green guy. He's all long and stretchy.. got a horse. That's what you look like." Alright, this guy was kind of funny at first, but now he was kind of getting annoying. Susie probably would've just blown him off after he started listing off his best qualities-- but the sudden weapon definitely got her attention.

At that, she just grinned.

"You know. It's particularly rude to snipe someone's target from them." And it appeared they both had the same idea. If the obvious glitter bombs were anything to go off of.

"Although...Great minds do seem to think alike." Ever willing to risk it, he held the bomb behind his back and leaned into Susie's personal bubble.

"SHIT, DON'T SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT YOU LITTLE FREAK!! You scared the fuck out of me!"

Susie had been very, very inconspicuously inching towards Tenna's office; making sure he was out for the evening before hatching her genius plan. She'd been gone for a bit, so obviously the best thing to do to remind him how awesome she could be was to leave a glitter bomb in his office, right? ... right?? It wouldn't do any harm, it would just make everything sparkly! Like his jacket!

But somehow, it seemed she wasn't the only one who had that plan.. somehow. Once her heart stopped beating so hard, she grinned at Shadow; leaning in just as close to gently grab the top of his head and shake it around a bit.

"Listen, man-- I'm doing this in good fun. I'm not interested if you're gonna actually wreck any of his stuff. I just wanna.. spruce up the place, y'know?"