Y/n groaned as she walked outside into her backyard, seeing her pool and archery area before she sat on the hill that lead to both, she watched the sky above her: the birds gaining her attention.

So many weak puns.

So many half-assed puns.

She groaned in her head before feeling a sharp pain in her chest: She didn't give any sign to anyone watching that she was in pain.

She didn't need them being 'concerned' about her.

"It is nice to see Geno getting along with Red, even if it was a pun war." She whispered to herself, wrapping her arms around her knees to stare at the forest nearby.

"It was a poor excuse for a war."

She heard the grass bend behind her as something made its way towards her: trying to be silent it seemed, but failing miserably.

"Hey Exco, what is it?" She spoke aloud, not turning to look at them as she felt a cool breeze move her hair and blindfold.

She felt Exco wrap around her foot, the red glow shining softly in the light. It nudged Y/n's leg and gave her a concerned stare before it too, turned its attention to the forest.

Exco hissed and turned to stare at her again, seeming to communicate with her as their red glow got brighter and dimmer; even flashing sometimes.

It was concerned.

Very concerned.

"Yes. I underst- no Exco I don't. Quiet Exco. I know, now please, just enjoy the fresh air and the view, okay?" She told them, setting a finger on Exco's head: petting it gently.

Y/n didn't have any emotions, she knew that, but, with time and observation, she learned how to blend in. And, very rarely, did she allow herself to momentarily feel any sort of emotion.

Even if she was in pain.

She only wanted Exco to know that she cared.

She and Exco sat quietly, enjoying the slight breeze that enveloped them like a cool blanket, and listened to the birds chirping, watching them fly overhead.

They were content.

Safe.

They watched the sunset and ignored the multiple footsteps coming towards them and sitting beside them: also watching the sunset with Y/n and Exco.

Y/n felt a skull lean on her shoulder and Exco let out a warning hiss, turning their head to glare at said skeleton from around her foot: The red glow getting slightly brighter.

A warning.

Geno sighed as he laid his head against Y/n's shoulder as he felt the most comfortable around
Y/n: she was the only human he felt comfortable around. He watched the sunset with awe, he never had the chance to see the sun, or even the surface while his Universe still existed.

Y/n looked around, her white blindfold moving slightly in the breeze. She saw Red sitting on the other side of her with Classic and Ink standing behind them.

They all enjoyed the silence. Not knowing that Ink had started to smile mischievously, walking towards Y/n while reaching for his paintbrush.

Y/n heard the crunching of grass: she ignored it.

Classic rose a bone-brow and looked at Ink before he painted Y/n's back a bright purple. Classic snorted. Y/n tensed before turning towards Ink. Geno and Red did the same: Red glaring, Geno looking at Ink with wide eye-sockets and Exco hissed before slithering away and into the house.

It didn't want to get paint on it.

"Ink." Y/n stated. "Start running."

Ink laughed and ran away, Y/n giving chase, leaving Geno to run after them.

"Y/n! Don't seek revenge!" Geno yelled.

"Too late." She stated, running after Ink as he dodges her attempts at grabbing him.

Red and Classic laughed and teleported after them, choosing their own way of catching them. Unknown to them is that Y/n and Ink started throwing balloons filled with paint at each other.

How they got them?

Magic.

Classic teleported in front of Ink and tried to use his magic to catch him, the blue flame around Ink's figure getting disrupted as Ink dodged and paint covered Classic's skull.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Classic: Red snickering in the background. Geno gasped as Classic's pinpricks disappeared, leaving a void of darkness in his eye sockets.

"Run. Now." He spoke eerily.

He summoned a bunch of balloons. Again, out of nowhere: he started to chuckle, signaling that everyone should probably listen to his threat.

Y/n and Ink immediately ran away, deciding to team up without even speaking. They started to dodge the flying paint balloons.

Red and Geno getting hit when Ink and Y/n decided to use them as shields: they were not happy.

"This means war." They all growled and started to throw the paint balloons, dodging them left and right: instead of their usual colors, everyone now looked like a walking painting that went horribly wrong.

Y/n looked at Geno as he prepared to throw a balloon at her before getting hit in the face, his skull now a bright orange.

A burst of victorious laughter from Red signified who had made Geno temporarily malfunction.

And, with that simple attack: Y/n broke. Falling to the ground and started to laugh, the pain in her chest unbearable. But, that didn't stop her from laughing: she held back the blood that threatened to choke her.

She knew she had to be careful and it was very difficult to stop herself from coughing.

Geno, Classic, and Exco appeared beside her, surprised, shocked and worried: Classic and Geno looking like malformed rainbows.

This reminded Y/n that she had to get the skeletons new clothes, that or she'll have to program the house to have new clothes appear in their rooms.

Geno and Classic were in a confused state of emotions: They were surprised that she laughed. Shocked that she was not coughing blood and worried that she feeling something.

Danger.

"Wow. This is the first time we've ever heard ya laugh, Doll." Red watched, unaware of their concerned gazes.

"Yeah, it sounds nice." Ink spoke, Red nodding in agreement.

Y/n's laughter quieted down as she regained control of her breathing, coughing up the blood quietly, it landing near Classic's slippers as he started to get more worried. He placed his slippers in front of the blood: hiding it from view.

"I'm fine, guys." She whispered and started to get up, Geno and Classic helping her up as Exco hissed at them. Not liking the fact that they were touching
Y/n. However, Exco allowed it, knowing that they only wanted to help.

Exco still kept its attention on them.

Not trusting.

"Come on, we should relax. Um- how about a movie?" Ink suggested, aware of the now tense atmosphere: painting dripping off his form.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good plan." Geno agreed as he and Classic helped Y/n inside: paint trailing behind them in droplets of rainbows while Exco followed them, leaving a trail of bent grass behind it as it avoided the paint.

Red teleported inside, wanting to get the paint off his clothes as quick as possible before it dried: he also didn't want to stain his favorite hoodie.

Ink watched them go inside before glancing at the ground where Y/n collapsed. He recognized the emotions in Geno's and Classic's pinpricks: having seen it many times before.

He walked towards that spot and knelt down, seeing a small puddle of blood starting to soak into the ground. His eye-sockets narrowed. He knew this is where she collapsed. So why was there blood? She didn't get hurt.

Did she?

"Ink! Are ya coming?" Classic yelled from inside the house.

"Yeah!" Ink got to his feet and walked inside, but not before glancing at the blood one last time and he closed the door with a sigh.

He had questions now: questions and concerns.

———————————————————————————

Click: Paint? Really? Wait- oh Cryptic!

Cryptic: Stay the fuck away from me.

Click: You can't escape me!

Cryptic: I can if I throw you in the void!

Click: You said if! If!