fanfic time. ink gets dragged to blue’s funeral and spends the entire time reflecting on himself. ~900 words
(crosspost from tumblr)
Ink hadn’t really wanted to come here. He was busy, had a lot of other, more important things to be doing - but Dream had insisted. He’d pleaded enough that it went from a topic he’d brought up to a note on Ink’s scarf to a plan set aside to, well, this. The famed Protector of the Multiverse, curled up on a stiff chair in some scratchy suit in an Underswap timeline that was probably going to get reset the next day anyway after its player had had time to grieve.
His posture was unprofessional. A horrible impression. Nothing like Dream, back rod-straight and hands folded in his lap sitting next to him, the perfect picture of politeness as he listened to this universe’s Papyrus give his eulogy. Ink had been asked to write one of those too. He’d declined, unable to find the words.. he never was very good with those. And, if he was honest with himself, he’d never really gotten attached. This push and pull with Blue’s life was almost routine.
Alphys was next. She was saying something about Blue’s bravery and kind heart. All true, objectively. He is - was - a very good person and a good friend. (Not that Ink really knew him that well anyway.)
His home timeline had made it to the Surface this time, and monsters’ customs had changed to match. (Too quickly, if you asked Ink.) There still was no coffin, but an urn similar to a cremated human’s sat on a table behind the Guard’s former captain. Ink was pretty sure that when all the talking stopped, they’d go out to some place he liked (where, again..?) and spread his dust over it. He’d be one with the world he loved so much. (He didn’t spend much time there, not that the rest of his timeline realized it.)
Dream was crying. He always was emotional. Was that the correct response for this? Ink checked with himself. He’d taken a proper mix of paints just a couple hours ago, but all he felt was numb. He tried to remember what grieving would feel like and came up empty. Hopefully this was it.
Alphys was done. The rest of the congregation was standing. Where were they meeting? Ink hoped he could just follow them and find out - Shit.
Dream was saying something. He couldn’t quite focus in on what.
“.. going to miss him. He did so much for us. I hope that he’s finally found a little peace, wherever he is now.” Dream paused, looking for any sort of reaction in Ink. Eye contact, maybe. “Ink? Are you even listening?”
Ink looked up. How long had he been staring at the floor? Why was the room empty? “Yeah, I’m listening, I promise.”
A sigh. ”Ink, I know this is hard for you, but-“
”It’s not hard. I’m fine.“
”Something tells me otherwise.“ Right. Magical empathy. Ink had to keep from rolling his eyelights. ”If you need to talk, or step away, we don’t have to join them for the spreading of his dust.“
”I know it’s important to you. We can go if you want.“ Ink scrubbed at his face, and Dream reached out to put an arm on his shoulder.
”I’ll survive without watching this again. I think I might be better off, honestly.” Dream’s voice was gentle, like he was talking to an upset toddler. It made Ink’s nonexistent skin crawl.
“Let’s just go see it,” Ink huffed. He hadn’t meant for it to come out so short, but what’s done was done. Dream shrank back, paused for a moment, then smoothed down his dress shirt and took a deep breath.
“Alright, if that’s what you want. If it’s too much, we can leave-”
“We’ll miss it if we don’t hurry.“ Ink paused. ”Where was it, again?“
Annoyance flashed across Dream’s face, but he smoothed it over almost before Ink could notice. When he spoke again, his voice was almost too level. ”His favorite pond, near the nice cream shop in Waterfall. He used to take us there during breaks.“ It didn’t ring a bell, but Ink nodded anyway. He could probably find it based on vibes.
He held out his hand, and Dream took it without hesitation, despite his annoyance.
”Ready?“
A nod, and they were through the portal just in time for the final spreading, squeezing into the back of the small crowd. (Fast travel was advanced now. Shame it would be gone soon.) Stretch - Papyrus - was holding his brother’s urn, head bowed, mumbling one last private message. Blue’s scarf materialized, probably out of his inventory, and Ink watched as Papyrus placed it carefully in the water before opening the urn and pouring the dust inside over it.
”Goodbye, friend,“ Ink heard Dream mumble, voice choked. For once in his life, Ink didn’t have anything to say back.
The scarf was already sinking, and the fine particles of dust were dissolving into the water. Most of the crowd had started to disperse, either too grief-stricken or too uncomfortable with death to watch. All that remained was Stretch and Alphys, the human, Ink, and Dream. (Ink wondered if Blue considered him a close friend. Something twisted in him at the thought.)
Dream pulled Ink ever so slightly closer. Up where he could see, Blue’s remains were beautiful, glittering like stars. Ink pointed it out, which made Dream light up briefly, corners of his eyesockets crinkling with a smile.
”He always did like those.“
”..Yeah.“
