#vlowey

Chapter 7

Lost slowly opened his eyes, yawning as the sun hit his face. "Ngh......" He slowly sat up, wincing at the pain in his back. Shit....ow... He looked around the small hotel room, confused for a brief moment before the memories of last night flooded back into him. Xans....holy shit.... He blushed darkly and looked around for the albino, but he didn't see or hear him. "Xans? You there?"

Hearing nothing, Lost slowly got up, rubbing his arms and looking down at the floor. His tattered shirt and pants laid there, and his face turned even redder. "I...I can't believe we did that...." He looked at his arms and finally noticed he was wearing Xans's black jacket. "Why am I wearing this?" The jacket was a little baggy on his slightly thinner frame and he fiddled a bit with the leather strings. It's comfy....warm.... He inhaled, then let out a soft sigh. Smells like him too....like... He frowned a little. No. Nope. Not going there.

He took the jacket off and went to stand, only to have pain go up his spine. He hissed and sat back down. "Ow...shit...that hurt...." After taking a few moments, he stood again and made his way to the bathroom. After taking a quick, hot shower, he felt more refreshed and dried his black hair. "Ugh....what a night..."

"I will say so." Lost's red eye glowed and he spun around, holding his scythe out at the figure behind him. "Easy there Lost......I am not going to hurt you." Lost narrowed his eyes. A tall, purple monster stood before him, wearing clothes he recognized. White eyes looked down at him, sharp horns on his head. A small flower was coiled around him and Lost sneered at it. "Sorry to startle you."

"Perhaps you could've fucking knocked." He growled, still holding his weapon. Blood leaked through his fingers and dripped onto the tile floor. "Who the fuck are you? You're clearly one of the viruses."

"Ah, my name is Vasriel. I do not live with the others." He said and Lost backed up slightly.

"Oi, don't forget me, jack asssssssssssss...." The flower loomed behind Vasriel. "The name's Vlowey......bessssssssssst not forget it!"

"I don't give two shits who either of you are. Get the fuck out of here." Lost snapped. These two...they feel different from the others. Stronger....and I can sense the malice in them. Lost frowned.

"Now that is quite rude." Vasriel smirked as he moved closer. Vlowey raised vines in the air, wrapping them around Vasriel's arms gently. "And all we wanted to do was give some advice."

"Right, like I'll believe that shit." Lost spat. He made to brush past Vasriel, but the virus goat monster easily pushed him back into the bathroom. "Get the fuck out of my way."

"Why?" Vasriel smirked. "You could just kill us. I mean....your LV is quite high.....25, isn't it?" Lost's fingers twitched and he looked down. "Are we wrong?"

".....What the hell do you want?" Lost growled, glowing eyes hidden by his bangs.

"Like I said...to give some advice." He chuckled. "You truly think so badly of us?"

"I don't know you." Lost countered.

"Just like how everyone else doesn't know you? The real you?" Lost paled as Vasriel held a screen out. It showed him killing countless people, their screams echoing in his mind. "The you that you're so desperate to hide? The you that kills without mercy?" He watched as his scythe cut through people, sometimes cleanly, other times more bloody. His blasters fired and incinerated flesh from bone, dusting monsters of all sizes.

"I....I'm not like that anymore..." Lost shook his head, looking off to the side. "I haven't been in a while....I..."

"You've changed. That's what you think, isn't it?" Vasriel smirked as Lost's weapon finally vanished. "But it isn't true...and you know that." He smirked as Lost backed up further, his back hitting the sink counter. "And if they knew the truth.....where do you think you'd be now? You think Frisk would look at you with the same kindness?"

"Stop it...."

"You think Valphys would be willing to help you get home? You think Vapyrus and Vundyne would joke and laugh with you?"

"Please...stop...."

"You think Xans would waste his time on someone like you?" Lost flinched and turned away, gripping his arms tightly. "Ah....hit a sore spot, hmm?" Vasriel chuckled. "Face it. To him, you're nothing more than another fling." Lost's eyes widened as vines slowly brushed his hair from his face and a fuzzy paw pressed to his cheek. "You mean nothing to him. All he wanted out of you was your body...and even that wasn't much."

"Shut up...." Lost trembled, gripping the sink tightly. "He...I know he doesn't...see me like that but he isn't that shallow!"

"So you think. But people never change....and he is no exception." Vasriel chuckled. "Why do you think he left you here all alone?" Lost shivered as Vasriel grinned, hands placed gently on his shoulders. "I'm even willing to bet he lied about what you both did last night....and where you currently are."

"No. He isn't like that."

"Still trying so hard to cling to that delusional hope?" He smirked. A screen flashed in front of Lost, showing him Xans wandering around at night, meeting up with random people and leaving their homes at night, sometimes with a slight limp. Lost felt his chest tighten as he watched, unable to look away. "Always the same....never changing...." He then showed Lost last night, and Xans leaving him behind after waking up three hours before him. "And no one can make him change." Lost looked down and shivered, trying to hide his bare chest. "Look at yourself...."

Lost looked in the mirror, his scarred riddled chest sticking out to him the most. "Hideous. Your sins cling to your body just as dust would cling to that ghost." Lost's breath hitched and he covered his chest more. "Imagine how Xans would react if he knew the truth about you...."

"Go away!" Lost spun around, eyes glowing angrily. Vasriel backed up slightly, a grin on his face as Vlowey cackled.

"Sssssssso sssssssensssssitive~...." The flower grinned. "Do you truly think he'd care about your feelingsssssssss? I mean, he left you here all alone......and it wasssssss your firsssssssssst time assssss well...." Lost looked at the floor, shivering slightly. "You are hopelessssssssss."

"However....we are just like you."

"Huh?" Lost looked up as Vasriel stepped closer again, an almost comforting smile on his face. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

"We aren't allowed to stay there because of.....past events. They are unforgiving to those who hurt others...even if it was for the right reasons. In that regard, we are very similar, aren't we Lost?" Lost remained silent and Vasriel chuckled. "I see...you need some form of proof." He turned as Lost's cellphone went off. 

"That must be him...go ahead and answer.......and you'll see." Lost walked over and picked the phone up.

"Hello?"

"Well mornin' ta ya, sleepyhead." Xans's light, teasing tone echoed over the phone. "Hey, ya mind gettin' some groceries on yer way home? I told them that's why yer out,oh, and I left ya a little money fer a new shirt."

"You...didn't tell them we-"

"Tsk, ya honestly think I want Frisk ta hear that? She's just a kid." Lost turned to Vasriel, who just shrugged. "Also, please be careful with mah jacket....it's important to me."

"...Alright. I'll uhh...see you at the house." He heard the call hang up and he slumped.

"See? I told you so."

"Piss off...he had a very valid reason."

"Keep telling yourself that Lost." Vasriel smirked. "Well....We'll take our leave for now. But if you ever wish to talk...just come to the park alone." He smirked. 

"Also...for your safety, best not mention that we were here." Vasriel flickered and vanished, leaving Lost alone again.

Xans isn't like that.....he....he isn't...... He thought, but his chest ached even as the words entered his mind. ....Right?

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Xans hung up and sighed, running fingers through his hair. Ugh....damn. He didn't sound to happy... He thought, sitting down on the couch. "Fuck..."

"Alright Xans....what did you really do?" Sans asked, arms crossed.

"Tsk, why ya so nosy? Wish ya were there?" Xans chuckled. Sans rolled his eyes and tapped his foot. "It's none of yer business."

"True...but Lost never leaves here without telling someone. If he was grocery shopping, he'd have waited until we were awake to tell us." Xans ignored Sans, looking out the window and sighing. "Xans-"

"Whaddya want me ta say that ya can't figure out on yer fucking own?" Xans growled, his lips curled into a snarl. "Yer really pissin' me off this mornin' Sans..."

"Oh really now?" Sans frowned. "And you're being a no good, grumpy asshole. What did you-"

"We fucked, alright?" Xans sighed and rested his head on his arm, looking out the window. Sans was quiet for awhile and Xans glanced at him with his green eye. "What?"

"...You're serious right now, aren't you." When Xans didn't reply the small skeleton shook his head. "Xans-"

"I don't wanna hear yer shit."

"He isn't just a fling, you dipshit! Sure, leave those behind if you want, but this is Lost we're talking about here!" Sans snapped. "He isn't someone you can just fucking ditch! He lives here-"

"As a guest." Xans said. "This ain't his home." Xans felt a hand grab his arm tight and he glared down at the small monster. "Release m-"

"You have no right to say that. Frisk welcomed him here, same as all of us." Sans hissed through clenched teeth. "This is as much his home as ours!"

"He may be living here, but this isn't his home, and we're not his family!" Xans snapped, spinning around and holding Sans by his neck. His teal and green eyes seemed to flicker with emotions and Sans coughed, clawing at the hand squeezing him. "Get that through yer fuckin' skull, you idiot!" Sans struggled more as he was lifted off the ground, Xans baring his teeth in anger. "He ain't fucking staying here! This-" Blue magic surrounded him and he was tossed aside, releasing Sans as he hit the floor. "Fuck!"

"What the hell is your problem?" Xans looked up to see Lost walking over, his blue eye and left hand glowing. He knelt next to Sans as he coughed, rubbing his neck. "You alright?"

"I-I'm fine Lost....thanks." He said softly, standing up. Lost walked over to Xans and held a hand out. Xans looked at it before slapping it aside, getting up on his own.

"What were you doing?" Lost asked. The groceries were sitting on the counter, and Xans could see his jacket still on Lost, hugging his frame slightly.

"....Nothin'. Just a family squabble, that's all."

"Family squabbles don't usually result in you nearly choking someone to death." Lost narrowed his eyes.

"And what the fuck would ya know about our family fights?" Lost's eyes widened a little, and for a moment, Xans's stomach churned painfully at the slightly hurt look Lost's eyes held. "Ya haven't been 'ere long enough to know jack shit."

"I-"

"Yer an outsider that got stuck 'ere." Xans continued, despite his own Soul panging hard in his chest. He walked forward, jabbing his finger into his chest. "Ya don't know anything about me."

"...I never said you." Lost said softly, his red and blue eyes flickering with hurt and uncertainty. Xans's eyes widened and he scoffed, backing away. His form flickered, as if to teleport, but it ended abruptly and he wobbled on his bare feet. "Xans?"

"Wh...what the....the fu...." He felt light headed, and the world tilted in his vision. The last thing he felt was arms wrapping around him as the world blackened.

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When Xans opened his eyes, he could hear voices from near the entrance to Frisk's room. "He isn't going to like this...." Valphys sighed, rubbing the back of her head.

"Well tough shit." Vundyne piped in. Xans slowly sat up, rubbing his head as it pounded slightly. The two turned to him as he sighed. "Ah, he's awake. Good evening, ya dumb fuck."

"Evening? How long was I out?"

"Several hours. It's 7 in the evening now Xans." Valphys said, pulling a screen up. "Vundyne, go let them know he's awake...that way Frisk and Sans will eat something." Vundyne walked off as the doctor sat down next to Xans. "So....I'm just going to say it. You're losing your magic."

"I...I what?" Xans laughed, shaking his head. "That's fucking stupid. I'm not-"

"She isn't lying." Xans looked up to see Lost standing next to him. He was in the corner of the room, arms crossed in front of his plain red t-shirt, blue jeans hugging his legs perfectly that made Xans's gaze linger on them. "I've been losing it to."

"Then how come ya haven't passed out, eh?" Xans scowled.

"Because unlike you, he doesn't use his magic at a constant rate. Your screens, teleporting...even your tail is a constant use of magic." Valphys explained. "I've been monitoring you since you appeared here as a human, and I would have more evidence earlier if it wasn't for the 'other distraction'....." She growled slightly, glancing at the young man in the corner. Lost shrugged, his face showing indifference. "Regardless, you need to cut back on using it."

"Or what?"

"You'll lose it all and be stuck a human." Xans's eyes widened as Valphys left, his gaze then turning to Lost.

"Not surprising. Humans in this world don't have magic, so it'd make sense we'd lose our powers." Lost said. Xans huffed and looked away, irritated. "It isn't that big of a deal."

"Maybe ta you, it ain't." Xans grumbled. He sighed and rubbed his neck. "Ugh...look....sorry." Lost raised a pale brow in confusion. "I uhh....prolly should've at least left a note or something...ya know, explaining why I left."

"Or you could have stayed." Lost scowled. "Look, it's fine, alright?" Xans frowned as Lost rubbed his upper arms slightly. "I get it. You're right. This isn't my home....I'm lucky Frisk has been kind enough to let me stay." He sighed and went to say more when Frisk burst in, tackling Xans in bed.

"W-Woah kiddo-"

"You're ok! Thank goodness....I was so worried Xans!" Sans walked in also, the small doll of Chara floating in only to be slapped aside by Vapyrus, who also hugged Xans on the bed. "You just....you collapsed and-"

"Heh, I'm fine kiddo. Guess I was bone tired."

"Xans! That joke is old and no longer counts!"

"Well, tibia honest, I'm just out of new material." Sans snickered as Vapyrus screamed at him. He turned as everyone chatted, and his gaze caught Lost's. Lost's eyes seemed to hold a deep sadness to them as he watched them all.  Xans watched as he quietly slipped out of the room, with no one the wiser. Lost......shit.

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Vasriel watched from a distance away, smirking as Xans left the house at night. "Typical. He never truly learns...."

"Can we follow him?" Vlowey asked with a twisted grin on his face. "I wanna sssssssssssee what he'sssssssssssss up to."

"It doesn't take a genius to figure that out, Vlowey." Vasriel shrugged. "Besides....he isn't the one we're focused on right now." He held a hand out, watching it flicker and glitch out slightly. "He won't ever let his guard down. But...." He turned around to the park, seeing Lost sitting once again at the lakeside. He looked lonely, the dim moonlight shimmering on the lake in front of him. "He will. With time and patience."

"Time is sssssssssssssomething we do not have Vasssssssriel!" Vlowey snapped. "We sssssssssssssshould find a way to sssssssspeed thingssssssss along!" Vasriel moved in closer to Lost, a grin on his face. "What do you have in mind?"