He dreams. Sometimes.

Sometimes it was short. He dreamed of standing in the front of his home, quietly watching the snow. Each white and fluffy flake fell in slow motion, twirled and swung with grace. Willow then watched them disappeared into puddles beneath his feet.

Sometimes the dream seemed to last forever. He found him chasing after his little brother in a speed he doesn't know he could. The moment he caught him by the sleeve, Willow looked in horror at his face. The skeleton's smiling become millions of dust dancing away to the wind while he stood there, gripping on his brother's leftover scarf.

Sometimes it horrified him, he saw the human child swinging their knife. Everything hurt. Blood dripped down his chin, fell on the yellow boarding ground. Drip. Drop. Drop. A gruesome melody. No words slipped from his tongue, but tumbling over the floor. Their berserk smile flashed on his sight one final time. But wasn't it the last?...

But sometimes it was strange. He dreamed of a blurred face. A monster, a skeleton monster sitting among Echo Flowers. They had small hands, little phalanges as if a person could crush with ease. They held in an object figured like a book, fingers brushed smoothly over a new page, studied its material. And from their mouth, a sentence came out quietly.

" I love you... Willow.. "

----

As simple as a dream, it could be unreal, an illusion created by the brain, a trick just to comfort his mind. 

Though, Willow couldn't help but think about it all day after waking from the dream, reminiscing the way his soul skipped a beat upon the dream scenery. A sad yet comfortable feeling filled his chest.

" Willow? Are you okay dear? "

Toriel pulled out a chair, placing it next to him. The wooden furniture being trailed, created a sound to the  floor.

" Oh... Toriel.. What are you doing here? This isn't the Ruins. "

The goat monster took a good look another time at Willow, raised an eyebrow showing her concern.

" We're already on the Surface, dear. Frisk has already broke the Barrier, us monsters kind parted away to find new jobs, also to bring a message written in peace to human kind. "

Toriel put down heap of books, sighing, " I became a primary teacher, now spending my little time of lunch break to visit you " She took out a book then glaring at him again, " you didn't happen to forget about opening a bookstore on your own, did you? "

" I... Sorry, Ms. Toriel. I was thinking of something else. "

" You made me and Frisk worry, dear. Ever since he... "

His face darkened.

" Please don't talk about him. " His hand subconsciously made its way to his scarf, his brother's scarf. Willow instinctively snuggled up to the cloth and exhaled deeply to calm himself from shaking. The scarf smelled of fresh laundry and rose scented his nose. Not dust or burn ash.

" I.. I still can't.... If I wasn't.... I.. " Willow sighed, reluctantly a moment before gathering his words into sentences. " I still dream about him.. Papyrus... Miss. "

Was hopeless he feeling? His dearest brother was walking too fast, and Willow ran after him. Each step weighed with guilt and lament, his soul pounding in pain, sweats rolling, or tears he tasting? He ran and ran, even his legs at their limits, bones started to rattle and ready to give in.

" I...couldn't stop running. I was afraid if I stop for a moment then he'd disappear. "

Yet.. By the time he reached for Papyrus, the skeleton began to dust as his grasp caught his brother's scarf, eyes widening in terrors.

" Willow.. " After a moment of silence, Toriel eventually opened up to say something consoling, only to end with a helpless sigh. The goat monster gently squeezed his shaky shoulder. Willow continued.

" Even so... Even if I could reach for him.. It was too late. All because of this stupid me. " He gazed down the book he was reading, gulping as he felt his eye sockets burned out resentful tears.

Wasn't he pathetic? Crying over something he couldn't fix...

Willow restrained not to being emotional, his fist hiding under the oversized sleeve coat curled up.

" ..Ah dear. Would you look at the time! " She standed up quickly from the seat while grabbing some books.

Willow raised as well from his seat, ran a finger under his eye socket.

" Sorry.. Miss. I was stalling your break with my sorrow story.... "

" Nonsense! "

A hand reached out to his head and Willow understandingly bent down to receive a small pat three times on head, finished with a tender ruffle from the goat monster. His soul swank in unspeakable warmth.

" I remember once told you to call me Tori, Willow. We're friends, don't be too formal. " She gave a smile while fixing her bag. Willow lit up his face with gentle smile at her before Toriel headed to the door, waving goodbyes. " I'll come visit soon. "

The smile dropped when she turned left behind the near building.

Pathetic. He could always put on a fake ill intent attitude, Willow wondered where his smiles really were? Fading away where his brother went, perhaps? Brother.. Papyrus...

He held the scarf tight.

-----

Past afternoon, Willow was lovely munching down his lunch. A box of homemade bento made by Willow, of course! The shop was filled every sound he made which was a little embarrassing, Willow taking his food slower.

He sighed.

Now thinking about it, his store wasn't that new, two months was quite long time though at this rate, he felt unsure if he could have more customers. Finished the lunch at last, Willow checked items . A small notebook appeared on his hand.

-----

Customers ( written in black ink with red underlined)

• Toriel: educational books ( A Brand New Editon History of Two Races by Gerson <marked on red ink as an urgent need> )

• Gerson: <came to sign all of his books and bought them> <where did he get money? >

• Undyne: martial arts books, self-teaching piano books, she requested selling mangas ( To Kick or Not To Kick Their Ass by Undyne; Rock Your Piano by Emoswa; ????? manga names???? ) < the word ' consider ' in blue ink >

• Some school girls : yaoi(?),  yuri(?), origami self-teaching books ( My Boyfriend Is Death by Htaed Retfa; I Want To Lock You Up by Iruy L.; I'm In Love With My Uncle by PJ; To Take An Enemy's Heart by Glitchy Boy; Sexy and Magik (S&M) by Ufil Si Htop; How To Master Your Master's Heart by Durkling; A Star in a Sky by skouterluvvvvvvvvvvv;... )
<marked in blue ink> <they wouldn't stop talking if he didn't write down some of the names>

-----

He sighed. His skeleton phalanges started tapping rhythmly on the surface of table. Willow found it okay to deal with silence at the store yet he couldn't stop thinking of how little his money had. He said to himself, it was the same back at the Underground, a world with Gs or money, what's the difference? He has overcame with that problem, but then, Willow found helpless for a moment. And it was terrible.

Why.

How can't he live without something, someone to protect?... Just fake his smile, the more calm it was, the more chaotic he had on mind. Oh poor him, lost his only purpose in this world, the voices whispered softly and repeated-ly, taking form as hundreds of needles  injected in his soul.

Willow closed his eyes, pursing his non existent lips.

Pathetic pathetic pathetic.

-----

Ring ring ring

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I hope you like it! Kawaii_Otaku_Artist
DarkxSoulzyxCaliberx

Sorry for tagging •3•)/ and thank you if you took time to read this. Next chapters will be out soon. ^_^