"Do we really have to be doing this?"

"Yes. Stop whining, Error." Error groaned. Apparently, their parents said that Geno and Error had to introduce Fresh to their friends so that he can be friends with them too. Geno was way more on board with that idea than Error. Error wanted to ship Fresh back to whatever hole he came from.

"Why can't Fresh make his own friends?" Geno turned to him, annoyed.

"Error, school's almost out. How is he supposed to make friends?" Error hummed.

"Okay, then why does he need friends?" Geno scoffed and hit Errors arm. Through his jacket, of course.

"Error, it's just for a few weeks, and then you don't have to share your friends or your boyfriend at all." Error huffed, crossing his arms.

"He already stole my boyfriend. Ink and him are besties now. They act exactly the same, so I see why." Geno raised an eye, just as Fresh skated over, and all their friends behind him.

"Okay, bruhskis, I found all ya dope friends, so, get to da introductions." Geno cleared his throat, and Error just rolled his eyes.

"Guys, this is Fresh, our cousin. Fresh, these are our friends. Killer, Horror, Dust, Dream, Nightmare, Cross, Blue, Lust, and you already know Reaper and Ink." Reaper saluted him.

"What up, bro?" Fresh finger gunned him, and Error gagged. He couldn't wait to go home and be completely and totally free from Fresh for at least a few months. Fresh's glasses changed to question marks as he sat up straight, tilting his skull, staring at Lust. Error raised an eye.

"Hey, Lusty brah, do I, like, know ya?" Lust blinked, folding his hands in front of him.

"I'm not sure. Is there somewhere I'd know you from." Fresh shrugged, then shoved his skeletal hands in his jacket pockets.

"We used to go ta school together, brah. When we were little itty bitty skele-brahs." Lust's eyes widened as something dawned on him. Probably realization. Error would just hide in his dorm until school was over to avoid Fresh. Geno would probably scold him for it, but he would do what he felt was necessary to avoid him.

"Now that I'm thinking about it, I don't feel so well." He stretched his arms in the air, yawning dramatically. "I'm gonna go to bed." Reaper snorted.

"We weren't even talking about not feeling well. How'd you start 'thinking about it'?" Error flipped him off, and Fresh's glasses changed to "WOAH".

"Because I did." Ink starting skipping to catch up with him.

"You mind if I come with you?"

"Sure, whatever, I don't care." He beamed.

"Okay, cool." And Error just groaned.

Life didn't make sense. Horror didn't know how to make sense of life. His boyfriend was talking and laughing with this strange skeleton that just appeared that day, and they apparently knew each other. They were catching up like old friends. He guessed they technically were old friends. He sighed, looking down at his food, starting to eat it begrudgingly. Killer poked him.

"You okay, dude?" He groaned, resting his head on the table.

"What am I supposed to do about that?" He flippantly gestured at the two of them, frolicking. Killer looked at them, slurping his smoothie.

"I don't know. Damn. That must be pretty scary. Like, this super hot skeleton dude just comes in here and apparently the two of them are old friends, and the way Lust is giggling is the same way that people giggle when they have a crush on someone. Like, you know? And, plus, there's only a few more weeks of school anyway, so, since they used to go to school together, they probably live close by, and you two don't, so there's no way that's gonna last." He laughed. "Like, no way." Horror groaned as he face-planted into the table, and Dust hit Killer's arm.

"Way to make our friend feel worse, Killer." Killer rolled his eyes.

"I'm just being honest. You should ask him, though. If he used to have a crush on him. He probably did. I know I would." Dust narrowed his pupils at him.

"Do you ever know when to shut your mouth?" He shrugged, taking another drink of his smoothie.

"Nightmare says I struggle with that. Which, I do not. Anyway, Horror, go over there. Ask him. Stake your claim on your boyfriend." Horror groaned, hiding his skull in his hood.

"No. I'm just... gonna give him space." Both Dust and Killer frowned.

"That's not a good idea. Like, when people are struggling with feelings of jealousy, they should talk to their partner." Horror pulled his hood up further.

"Well, maybe later, but for now, I'm just gonna let him hang out with his new best friend."

Horror was sick. That was the only explanation for why he'd been so distant. Lust had heard there was a stomach bug going around, but Horror's shouldn't have gotten that. Maybe he ate something bad...

Point was, he was sick.

So, because he loved him so much, he was going to bring him a get well soon basket, and sit with him and take care of him. It'd probably make Horror feel better too if he was having someone take care of him. He'd been staying in Killer's and Dust's room, so Lust had the dorm to himself, and when Geno said that Fresh needed somewhere to stay, he immediately said he could stay with him. He, of course, asked Horror if it was okay first, to which he just nodded, grunting. Lust was worried about him. He didn't know why he'd be so withdrawn and distant if he wasn't sick. He knocked on the dorm, and Dust opened it. His eyes widened when he saw him, and he immediately opened the door further.

"Oh. Hey. Come on. Killer's out... you know, I'll just give you guys a minute." And he left, shutting the door behind him. Horror was laying on the bottom bunk, just staring up at the top. Lust sighed, relieved. He was just sick. Why else would he be laying in bed? He sat up once he saw him, his legs hanging off the side of the bed.

"Oh... uh... I got you this basket." He held it out to him, but Horror didn't take it. Lust frowned. "Okay then... do you need water? Are you feeling sick in your stomach or your head? Do you know what you have?" Horror just stared at him, slowly blinking one eye, and then the other. Lust's frown deepened. "So, you don't know what you have? Or do you not feel well enough to talk? I get that. I can do the talking. Do you want me to stay with you? I can stay with you if you want. We can watch a bunch of movies together and eat popcorn and cuddle. I know you love cuddling. You're a big ol' teddy bear." Lust poked Horror's shoulder, but he didn't smile, or even slightly move his mouth up. Lust looked down. "Okay. You don't have to say anything. I know you don't feel well. Do you want me to change the blankets? It's not good to be laying in the same sheets and stuff when you're sick."

"-m tired." He said, laying back down and pulling the blankets over his head. Lust started to get anxious. Well, even more anxious. He'd already been anxious.

"Okay. That's okay. You can sleep too, and I can make you some food for you to eat when you wake up. You said you liked my cooking. What do you want? I'll make you whatever you want." Horror didn't answer him. Lust frowned. "...Horror?"

"Can you come back later? I'm tired." Lust's eyes widened as he shot up.

"Oh-oh, yeah-yeah! I can totally come back later." He waved his hand, blowing out a breath. "Don't even sweat it, Horror. The get well soon basket's right here, and so am I. I'll be back later to check on you, and then we can have our movie marathon. I'll even make your favorite foods, and it can just be the two of us."

"Mhm." Lust frowned, walking towards the door. He reached for the handle, but hesitated. "I'm here for you, Horror. I love you." But he didn't say it back.

"Okay, I'm not gonna kick you out of my room, but, like, your boyfriend is gonna have a mental breakdown if you don't respond to his attempts to shower you in attention and love." Horror hummed, clicking through the channels on the tv with the remote.

"Like Killer said, him and Fresh are just living it up. He's not worried about me." Dust raised an eye.

"Really? Because he sent you, like, three hundred love letters and get well soon cards in the span of three days. That's a hundred letters a day. Wow. I did math. I'm so smart." Horror chuckled, and Dust glared at him. "Anyway, the point is, he's worried about you." Horror slumped back in the bed, turning the tv off, pulling the blanket above his head.

"Yeah, well, I'm sure hanging out with Fresh makes him forget all about me."

"You know how this can be solved?"

"How?"

"Communication." Dust sung the word. Horror just pulled the blankets off his head, looking at him with a "really?" look in his eye. Dust dropped his shoulders, scoffing. "He probably didn't even have a crush on him. It's been a while, and he just seems super excited to catch up with him. But that doesn't mean he doesn't care about you. He really likes you. Otherwise he would not be harassing me because you won't let him come in here. He brought you a teddy bear. Like, an actual old fashioned teddy bear. And if you squeeze it, it says 'I love you'."

"You can have it."

"What I don't want it it's for you." Horror turned over on his side, facing the wall.

"Then give it to Killer, I don't care." Dust frowned, coming to sit at the edge of the bed.

"Why are you being so weird?" Horror sighed, sitting up, hugging his legs to his rib cage.

"From the very first second we met, I knew it was too good to be true. I knew it wouldn't last. And look. Killer was right. We don't stand a chance." Dust hummed.

"No. Killer's not right about anything, and you can tell him I said that. If Lust didn't care about making things work out, he would not be sending you all this stuff." Horror sighed, smothering his face with a pillow.

"Yes, but he's only actually come in here once." Dust lowered his eyes, annoyed.

"Because you told him not to? Do you really expect him to go against your wishes?" Horror groaned, falling back onto the bed.

"I'm gonna chill out in here until we can all go home and our separate ways. Then, I can forget about any of this." Dust sighed, shaking his head, rubbing the bridge of his non-existent nose.

"Okay, fine. If you won't talk to Lust, at least talk to Fresh." Horror stuck out his tongue, blowing.

"Yeah, and say what exactly? 'Hey, back off my boyfriend'?" Dust shrugged.

"I mean, if you need to." Horror sighed.

"Whatever."

Horror didn't know why he listened to Dust, and he wished he didn't. Fresh was staring at him, obviously confused, and Horror didn't even know what to say or how to say it. He scratched the back of his skull, nervously.

"So, uh, hey. I've noticed you've been hanging out with Lust a lot." He grinned, flashing his golden tooth. It was a relaxed grin.

"Yeah. Lusty-brah's the best, my rad skele-dude. Why? Is somethin' unrad?" Horror looked down, then back up at him.

"You don't, like, have a thing for him, do you?" His face was blank for a second, before he started hysterically laughing. He wiped under his glasses, still laughing, but not as hard.

"Oh, you're funny, skele-brah." Horror blinked, confused.

"I'm not joking." Fresh stared at him, and he looked confused. Finally, he stood up straight, frowning.

"Nah, brah, I don't have a thing for my skele-pal. He's just a good pal, is all. No need's to worry yourself, bruh. I ain't goin' after Lusty-brah." Horror let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Thank you." Fresh grinned.

"Anytime, pal."

"Why is Horror ignoring me?" Dust sighed, his shoulders slumped.

"He's not ignoring you. He hasn't been feeling well. He got the teddy bear you sent him. He really liked it." Lust's eyes lit up.

"Really?" Dust nodded.

"Yup." Lust shifted back and forth on his feet.

"Can you tell him I love him?" Dust snickered.

"I think he got that from the hundreds of letters and gifts you've sent him. And the countless times you've tried to get his attention. But, sure, I'll pass on the message." Lust nodded, looking down.

"Are you sure he's not mad at me for something?" Dust patted his shoulder.

"What would he have to be mad about? You know what, I'm going out in a couple hours, and Horror should be back by then, so, why don't you come in and spend some time with him?"

"He said he doesn't wanna see me." Dust clicked his tongue, wrapping his arm around Lust's shoulder.

"Eh, it'd help him feel better. He needs to get over himself anyway. Come on." He stopped for a second, looking to the side. "In fact, there he is right now. So, I'm gonna go hang out with my boyfriend, and you and your boyfriend can talk." Lust frowned.

"Are you sure that that's a good idea?" Dust scoffed, waving his hand at him.

"Psh, all my ideas are good ideas. Anyway, bye. Have fun!" And he was gone. Lust sighed as he turned to Horror, who nervously shifted on his feet.

"Hey... Lust..." Lust frowned.

"What's been going on with you, Horror? And don't say nothing, because I know something's up." He sighed and the two of them walked into the dorm, Lust closing the door behind him.

"I just... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you. You didn't do anything wrong." Lust's frown only deepened.

"You don't need to apologize, Horror. I'm just worried about you. Please tell me what's wrong so we can fix it." Horror sighed, sitting down on the bed. Lust sat down next to him.

"I was just... jealous. You were hanging out with that other guy all the time and I just thought that you two used to be a thing or you had a thing for him, and I just got insecure, and so... I started avoiding you. I know it's stupid... you know what? Just forget I said anything-" Lust leaned against him, closing his eyes.

"It's not stupid. I just wish you'd have told me instead of avoiding me so I could make you feel better. I thought you were sick, love." Horror sighed, stroking his skull.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Just don't worry me like that again, okay?" He opened his eyes and looked up at his boyfriend. His soulmate. The love of his life.

"I'm sorry." Lust cupped Horror's cheek, smiling up at him.

"It's okay. I love you, you know that, right? Nothing and no one's gonna ever change that." Horror smiled, holding Lust's hand in place.

"I love you too, Lust."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

anyway, all the couples except cross and dream have had their school's almost ending moment, so watch out for that next. also, the next underverse episode is coming out soon, and i'm so amped about it.

Thanks @BraxtynP1 for this awesome idea, it was great and fun to write