Platonic

    He was always one of the first ones up. He had to be, in order to make breakfast. A habit he picked up from when he first joined. 

    Horror woke up at 7, like usual. Got up, got dressed, and was about to head out of his room when he spotted the clock. 

    Usually he’d be out of his room by 7:15 at the latest.

    It was 7:30.

    Horror’s singular eyelight widened before he started towards the kitchen. And if he was going a bit faster than normal…well it’s not like anyone else is around to see him.

    Sure waking up a bit later wasn’t that big of an issue to most, but it was catastrophic to Horror. He refused to let the pack gang go hungry, so he had to have food ready at a certain time. 8 am for breakfast, 1 pm for lunch, and 6 pm for dinner.

    If he was late then they wouldn’t eat, and if they didn’t eat they’d starve and if they starved they might die—

    Horror’s thoughts just kept spiraling as he made his way to the kitchen, him panicking more and more until he realized something. There were noises coming from the kitchen. 

    And…? Horror tilted his head a bit. Was that singing?

    He walked through the open door and saw…

    A little blue-eyed skeleton, cyan bandana around his neck, far too large shirt on. Matching cyan gloves holding a pan and spatula, making eggs. A bowl of pancake batter sitting next to him on the counter.

    And still singing that song. Horror couldn’t understand what the words were, but they sounded nice.

    “Blue?”

    The small skeleton jumped, barely making sure the eggs didn’t go flying. He turned to look at Horror and smiled.

    “Hey Horror! I didn’t hear you making breakfast and figured you were still sleeping. And I know how you are when it comes to having food done on time so…”Blue trailed off, fiddling with his gloves. 

    Horror looked at him, then at the eggs and pancake batter, then back at Blue. He walked over and grabbed a second pan.

    “I’ll help,” was all he said before turning on another burner and getting a second spatula. Blue looked up in shock before beaming at him and finishing up the eggs, sliding them onto a plate beside him.

    “Thanks big guy. I know you don’t really like people in the kitchen, so once we’re done I’ll leave ok?” 

    “Don’t.” Blue looked at him, eyesights large in his sockets. Horror deemed the pan hot enough and poured enough batter for one pancake. “None o’ the others really like cooking. Might be nice ta have a helper.”

    Blue smiled, opening a pack of bacon to get made. 

    The two of them made quick work of breakfast, not really talking much for the time being. They finished at 7:55, right on time since they could hear movement from the dining room. 

    The two of them gathered the platters of pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs, as well as some plates for everyone and made their way to the dining room.

   Everyone immediately stopped talking once the door opened, shocked at seeing the two of them.

    “Damn, and here I thought nobody was allowed in the kitchen H,” Killer said, permanent grin growing ever so slightly. Horror just looked at him, while Blue put down the eggs and started passing out the plates.

    “I thought you were still asleep, Blue,” Dream said. “I was just about to go find you.”

   “Nah, I was just helping out Horror in the kitchen,” Blue responded, smile wide in his face. Dust, Killer, and Cross all exchanged a glance, one that only Nightmare caught. 

    Horror and Blue both sat down, having finished setting out the food, and everyone started digging in. It was as Killer and Cross started their one of their usual arguments that Horror turned to Blue.

    “How did ya know I wasn’t up yet?” Horror asked. Blue blinked up at him before answering. 

    “I’m usually awake at like, 6, so I hear once you get started in the kitchen. You’re usually there at 7:20 or so, so when I didn’t hear anything, I figured you had slept in. And I wanted to help!”

    The two were quiet for a moment.

     “Thanks.”

    Blue looked at the taller, who seemed to be refusing to make eye contact. He shrugged, smiling at the childish behavior.

    “No problem H.”