Flighteningverse Week 2024
Day 6: Brothers(and Day 7)
It was just another supply run. They needed some more herbs that Horror didn't already have in their greenhouse, as well as some meat and other foods they were running out of. This time Sanguine and Dust were doing the supply run, they all usually take turns doing them, and sometimes all of them do it. They saved enough money from doing some odd jobs in AUs.
They were in two separate shops, but not too far from each other, it was Dust's insistence that they don't stray too far from each other. As much as Sanguine has gotten better at being in crowded places, he secretly admits he enjoys that his friends care enough to always be nearby on supply runs or just trips to other AUs.
He was looking through some produce when he felt... something. Something he hadn't felt in so long, or, rather, someone. He immediately whipped his skull around, looking for just a glimpse, enough to know that he wasn't imagining this feeling. It had to be his brother, right? He has to find him. He has to. He just can't let him get away again. He misses him so much, it hurts.
Just as Sanguine was turning the corner of the next aisle, he saw someone with a large cloak leaving the shop. But, looking closer, he noticed some feathers. Normally, that wouldn't be too weird, other normal monsters can be feathered and/or have wings. But, while he may not be able to tell whose feathers they looked like, he had this gut(or lack thereof) that was his brother. He started making his way to him, following him out of the store, produce forgotten inside.
"Hey! Hold up!"
The stranger jumped, turning around. Yellow eyelights met purple eyelights, for the first time in so long.
"Dis-"
Disper then started fleeing before Sanguine could even finish speaking, having panicked at seeing his brother after so long. He was scared that Sanguine still hated him, and while he sorely missed his brother, he couldn't help but to still fear that he'd hurt his brother. Even though he's had plenty of time to get used to the strength he gained from the negative apples, he still has the anxiety and self-doubt that he'd lash out against the ones he cares for.
Sanguine gave chase as soon as the shock wore off. He was going to catch him so they can finally talk. It hurts, to have his brother run from him as though he was going to hurt him. The fear he saw in Dispir's eyes in that short moment, why was he so afraid of him? Or was it something else?
They ran through the streets, several humans and monsters having to jump out of the way of the two. Sanguine tried calling out for Dispir to wait, he just wants to talk, but Dispir didn't listen and kept running. The only thing that kept either of them from taking flight was the crowded area they were running through. But Sanguine knew that at some point, it'd be clear enough that Dispir would likely start flying to keep avoiding him, so he had to catch up to him before then.
And, sure enough, after turning a corner onto a relatively clear pathway, Dispir starts unfurling his wings and takes off. Sanguine follows soon after, taking their chase to the air.
After a short while, Dispir weaves through the buildings and, when he has enough distance, opens a portal and flies through. It closes quickly after, which Sanguine just barely missed. He vaguely saw the other side of the portal, but not enough to know for sure where he portaled to.
Sanguine just hovers there, in shock and defeat. Did he just lose his brother again? Why was he so scared of him that he was trying to fly away so fast? Why couldn't he catch up to him? Did his brother really not want to see him anymore? Did he hate him? As his thoughts spiraled down, he didn't notice that he's been lowering in altitude, only vaguely noticing when he touched down in an alley.
Dust later finds Sanguine after he's collapsed on the ground crying, having noticed that he wasn't in the other store or nearby and went looking for him. He wished that Sanguine had a phone, especially in situations like these. They tried to recommend one, but he was reluctant to get one, not used to the technology since it confuses him. Guess that's what happens when you grow up in an AU that didn't have modern technology. They're still helping him acclimate to the more modern stuff.
Dust ran over to him, only somewhat relieved that he was not hurt, but became more concerned when he saw him crying and mumbling to himself. "Hey Night, what happened? I couldn't find you for a while there. I got worried."
Sanguine only continued mumbling, "I couldn't reach him. He was right there and I couldn't, couldn't reach him- why was he so scared?"
Dust was only more concerned, who was he- Oh. He kneeled down, "You saw your brother? Did you see where he went?"
Sanguine flinched, snapping his head around, apparently only just now realizing he wasn't alone. "Dust? When did you get here?" He tried wiping his tears away, but more kept coming.
"Not too long ago, bud. Heard ya mention someone being right there? If I am guessing correctly, you were talking about your brother? You saw him?"
Sanguine nodded, looking down again. His wings subconsciously wrapping around him and Dust, who was right next to him. Dust ran one of his hands through his feathers as Sanguine told him about how he found his brother and the chase that followed. At some point, Dust's wings were also spread a bit and one was in Sanguine's hands, being massaged.
It's something they all noticed about Sanguine, he had a habit of fidgeting with his hands when he was nervous or otherwise overwhelmed. And if they had their wings extended out to him, he would start preening or massaging them as he worked out his stress, and enjoyed others doing the same for him. It helps calm him when he's too overwhelmed by his emotions or doubts. All of them got used to this new habit, unintentionally building this habit for themselves when everyone's wings had finally grown in. Not that any of them were complaining, it was a very pleasant habit, and definitely better coping mechanisms that isolating themselves if they were having bad days. They gave each other their own space of course, but inevitably whoever was having the bad day would eventually come out and ask for it in their own way.
After finishing his story, Sanguine leaned into Dust, who put his other arm not running through the other's feathers around his shoulders. "I sure missed a lot, huh? Well, let's think of what to do next. Did you see anything through the portal he made?"
Sanguine, calming down, started concentrating, trying to recall any details about what was on the other side of his brother's portal. "... There was snow, I'm pretty sure it was a Snowdin? I saw the banner, but not entirely sure cause I didn't see much before it closed."
"Okay, that's not much to work with, but it's a start. But that would also be assuming that he either stays in that AU or even frequents it. Was there anything else?"
"I think I saw that there was a Muffet's? It looked different than Grillby's, at least."
Dust thought it over, going over the AUs he remembers them visiting. They haven't visited a lot of them, there were the regular visits to the AUs that they got supplies from, then there were the ones they looked for Sanguine's brother. There was one AU type that had a Muffet's in place of a Grillby's. What was it called again...?
"Oh, I think it was an Underswap universe. Or maybe one of the Fell variants..."
Sanguine perked up, "Oh? Well, I guess we have a lead, if he stays in one of those, anyway, but it's something rather than nothing. But there has to be so many of those. How will we even narrow it down?"
"We'll figure it out. One step at a time, though. Let's go back and get what we need and head back home first. As much as I know you want to immediately go and find him, rest is important, too. As you've been telling us," Dust added cheekily.
A chuckle escaped Sanguine at that last remark. "Alright, alright, I guess you're right. Let's go, then."
~Much later, after looking through many different Underswap AUs~
Sanguine opened a portal in the woods close to Snowdin, and entered with Horror, who insisted on coming with, and Killer, who Dust shoved into the group. Dust has a headache, only aggravated by Killer's seemingly endless energy, thus why he shoved him into the others and stayed home. Cross stayed behind to keep an eye on things, and is generally quieter, which is good for Dust's headache.
They kept their wings closed and tucked into their coats, more or less trying to blend in a bit. Horror has his hood up, too. They wandered a bit in Snowdin, just trying not to draw too much attention to themselves while looking for any sign of Dispir being there at all. Killer split off to look over at the Snowed Inn and shop, while Sanguine and Horror explored around the other side toward the skelebros' house.
As they got closer, Blue exited his house in his usual dramatic flair. What got Sanguine's and Horror's attention more than that, was the feathers on Blue's back. It looked almost exactly like when Sanguine's friends started growing wings. Although, it didn't make too much sense to Sanguine. His friends started to grow wings and such because of them being outside their universe, right? Could it also be from his presence? This is unknown for now, and has to wait until later.
Blue noticed the two upon exiting, and especially noticed their staring, but it didn't bother him, he was the Magnificent Sans! But they also weren't from here, he could tell. He could also see the feathers on their faces, and it reminded him of Dispir. He waved at them, and greeted them.
"Hello! I am the Magnificent Sans, who might you two strangers be? Would you like to come inside? I can make hot chocolate!"
Sanguine and Horror were a little hesitant, but Sanguine answered, "Hello, this is Horror, and I'm Sanguine. We wouldn't mind, but only if you're sure? We don't want to intrude."
"Of course I'm sure, I wouldn't offer if I wasn't!"
"Then sure, we'll accept your invite. Thank you for inviting us. Oh, but if it's alright, we have a third person with us, he's back over there somewhere," he said while pointing in the general direction of where Killer was, "would it be alright if he came, too?"
"Oh, of course! I was about to go find my lazy brother, Papyrus, but I'm sure he's around somewhere, and will be fine waiting a bit longer, mweheh."
"Thank you, I'll go get him real quick, Horror, you can stay here if you want, I'll be right back." Horror nodded and stayed with Blue, who led him inside to start making hot chocolate for everyone.
When Sanguine came back with Killer, the hot chocolate was almost done, and they sat next to or near Horror on the couch. As they settled in, a portal opened up in the living room, startling them.
Dispir walked through the portal, not noticing them yet, calling out, "Hey Blue, I'm back! I know it hasn't-"
Sanguine, shocked but acting immediately, tackled Dispir in a hug, holding tight in fear that if he let go, he'd disappear. The action did make them fall to the ground, Dispir squirming to get out of the surprise tackle. Upon realizing who is holding him, he panics.
Blue comes back into the room to find Sanguine and Dispir struggling on the floor while Horror and Killer are looking ready to either join the pile on the floor or ready to jump behind the couch. Wings are flailing about and feathers are ruffled. "Hey! Let's calm down, now! Why are you two on the floor?"
Sanguine ignores him, but addresses Dispir while tears are running down his cheek bones, "Please calm down, I'm not going to hurt you! I just want to have my brother back! Please listen!"
Dispir doesn't register what's being said, but as Sanguine keeps holding him in place and repeating that he won't hurt him, just stop trying to run from him, he loves him. He starts actually hearing what he's saying, and slowly calms down a bit.
"You... don't want to hurt me?"
"No! I would never dream of hurting you! Why did you think that? Is that why you've been avoiding me all this time? I've been searching for three years, more or less." In a quieter voice, he admits "I thought you hated me..."
Dispir's eyes widened at that, "No! I don't hate you! I never did! I'm sorry, I never wanted to make you feel that way. I was just afraid I'd hurt you again." By this point they're facing each other, finally talking to each other ever since that fateful day.
Everyone else in the room relaxed more, seeing that the brothers have stopped semi-fighting on the floor. Deciding that they needed some time to themselves to sort out their feelings and misunderstandings that have been unresolved up until now, they moved to the kitchen. Blue made another cup of hot chocolate for Dispir, and served the other two their cups that he had finished making before the small scuffle. He then gave the brothers theirs afterwards, leaving them on the coffee table for them and going back to the others.
Both Sanguine and Dispir were in tears as they cleared up misunderstandings, and talked about the Incident(tm) and what led up to it. They both learned things the other had kept secret, and what they've experienced since. They both hugged near the end, but both of them hadn't stopped being in any kind of physical contact, especially Sanguine, who would never admit that he was clingy. His friends(might as well be family though) already know this, but they don't tease him for it. Except for Killer, but Sanguine knows now that it's all light-hearted, so he doesn't get too embarrassed about it anymore.
Eventually, they ended up falling asleep there on the couch, their emotional talk had drained them and just passed out after they finished talking. Blue got extra plankets and pillows, and Horror and Killer helped Blue get them comfortable on the couch. At some point Honey showed up, and before he could say anything, Blue motioned to keep quiet and pointed upstairs. So both of them went upstairs, likely so Blue and Honey could talk about the unexpected guests they suddenly got. Honey was fine with it as long as they didn't hurt Blue. Even if Killer and Horror seemed a bit sketchy, he wasn't going to turn them away.
Killer and Horror set up a spot on the floor to the side of the couch to rest with the extra blankets and pillows for them to nap there. They knew that they'd get a proper introduction to Sanguine's brother when they woke up, but for now, best to just stay nearby and let themselves rest. They did text Cross and Dust that Sanguine had found his brother and they managed to talk to each other. They fell asleep soon after, feeling happy for their best friend for finally reuniting with his brother.
It's here!! So glad to get this done, and I can finally show you all the art for Day 7!! It took so long due to a bit of writer's block and working on other things, but it's done!
Flighteningverse AU belongs to me Dream and Nightmare belong to joku Underswap belongs to p0pcornpr1nce(don't remember the correct spelling, forgive me if it's wrong) Cross belongs to Jakei Killer belongs to rahafwabas Dust belongs to ask-dusttale Horror belongs to horrortale comic on tumblr/sour apple studios(I was told they changed their name but putting both anyway)
Also, little extra under the cut