#goopy gaster

It always started the same way. Stretch would wake up to the sound of something dripping, like a leaky faucet. As he became more aware of the sound, it would shift and distort, become thicker like oil, and he would try to sit up to figure out where it was coming from.

Only, he couldn’t sit up. Couldn’t move at all. Soon a feeling of cold, dark dread would creep over him as if death itself had entered the room.

It had happened the same way since he was a young teenager, the night after he’d woken up in the labs with his younger brother and knew that something big had changed. He couldn’t ever place what it was, but something was missing. It didn’t happen every night, and had diminished over time, but at least twice a month he would wake to the same hallucinations he’d had as a teen.

This night was no different. As Stretch lay there on his back, he tried to control whatever parts of him he could. He kept his sockets shut as best he could and sucked in quick, sharp breaths. If he was lucky, his husband would hear his breathing and wake up to help him. If not, then he was in for a hell of a night.

A soft groan, deep and unsettling, seemed to come from right beside him. His sockets flew open, but he couldn’t even turn his head to see what it was. He knew what it was. It was the same every damn time.

With all the effort he could muster, he tried to reach out a finger to get Edge’s attention. His fingers only twitched helplessly. He couldn’t even whimper or call out, couldn’t open his mouth.

“Papyrus…” The voice was distorted and sounded as hollow as the void, seemed to echo in his head. “...help...me…”

Beside him, just off the side of the bed, a dark figure began to rise. He felt something thick and gooey splatter against his bones, the same thing that caused the dripping noises. It was black as night and just as cold. Large hands crept over him while a pale face leaned over him.

The figure moved as if it were made of the leaky substance, as if it couldn’t stand up straight. The only solid parts of it were its hands and face. The face was cracked through each socket, and yet still managed to stay together.

“...please…”

Stretch thought he might scream as he stared into those hollow sockets. He could feel how much this being wanted to take him, wanted to use his body as a conduit to live in this world again. How he knew that, he wasn’t sure, but he was absolutely positive that the thing wanted to cast his soul out and inhabit his bones.

“Stretch?” Edge’s voice cut through the air like a bullet, shattering the being’s concentration. Then Edge’s hand took his, gently squeezing. “Love? You’re okay. You’re safe. It’s time to wake up now.”

A deep growl erupted from the dark figure, and then it vanished. Stretch blinked a few times, suddenly able to control his own body once again. He sucked in a deep breath and turned over to lean into his husband.

Edge wrapped his arms around Stretch and held tightly. “Shhh, love, it’s okay. I’m here. You’re safe.”

Stretch nodded, unable to stop himself from crying. He couldn’t express how terrified he’d been, nor could he convey to Edge how thankful he was that he was out of it now. Instead of trying, he sniffled and leaned back a little.

“thanks, babe,” he said, trying for nonchalance.

Edge saw right through him. Instead of calling him out, however, he just leaned in and gave Stretch a small kiss. “Anytime.”