#I forgor my fic tag I’ll look it up in a min

[capricioussun]

Patch & Void

suggested by @rainbowut

Ao3

Dark grey clouds swirled overhead. Heavy with rain yet shed, they drifted along slowly, almost at pace with his meandering. Even though it was just sometime after noon, the world looked desaturated in their overcast tint.

Some might call it dreary, or somber – he would call it nice. Bright sunny days were too hard on his functional eye anyway. Maybe the humidity aggravated his joints, but what didn’t anymore? The clouds and mist also kept the temperature from reaching high enough to prevent him from partaking in this particular, favored pastime.

Walking aimlessly around their quiet little neighborhood.

The surface was nice and all, but their little slice of it was plenty. Even a little too much, sometimes. He wasn’t as old as his bones tried to convince him, but…things take their toll. As much as he’d liked working at ‘Hugs ‘n Stitches’ the past few years, his fingers just didn’t move like they used to. Like when he’d helped his brother make his costume-

They wouldn’t miss him too much if he quit, and Papyrus’s work made more than enough for them to stay comfortable. They wouldn’t have to worry about…anything.

It would be fine.

Lost in thought, he was reminding himself he could always stop in to visit his ex co-workers when a chill trickled down his spine. It had nothing to do with the light rain that just started.

His sight landed on a tall form standing a few yards down, at the very end of the walkway leading to their porch. He couldn’t help a shiver at the sight before his eye adjusted, like a silhouette cut straight out of reality. A missing piece where there shouldn’t be one. The deep red scarf broke that illusion, though, and Patch recognized him instantly.

“hey, preacher man,” he rasped once he was close enough to be heard, a breath as he slowed to a stop before him, “what gives us the pleasure?”

Void had waited pristinely, uncaring of the misting rain. His eyes only drew from the trees across the way once Patch spoke, finding him in a faintly off putting neutral acknowledgment.

“Do you have a moment to talk?”

———

“Are you certain?”

Void’s gaze fixed outward, watching the branches and leaves bend in the wind as rain pelted down on their back porch’s roof.

Patch took a deep breath, humming quietly on the exhale. “you take me as the kinda guy…to make rash decisions?”

The other didn’t look to him, distractedly shifting the mug in his hands. Patch had never seen the other look so uncertain before, it served to drive home just how worried he really was about this guy.

“No.” He finally answered, looking down into the murky tea, long since gone cold. “It’s a lot to ask. More than I would normally, but under the circumstances…”

Patch cleared his throat, scratching his chin as he leaned back in his armchair, “nah, i get it.” His gaze drifted to the windows as well, “ain’t that much…” he took a breath, “ain’t much different from the last one.” He glanced back and caught Void’s expression pinch, “right?”

Finally, the other’s lightless eyes turned to him, looking more himself, “It’s significantly different and you know that.” It could’ve been a scolding if he didn’t sound so tired.

“heh,” Patch’s sockets crinkled as he smiled, “not ta me though.”

At that, Void’s expression sobered, deflating as he looked back to his hands. Another silence ushered in, making the storm sound so much louder. Funny, how it looked brighter out now than it did before.

“Thank you,” almost a murmur, and Patch tried not to think too hard about why this had him in such a twist. Even if he fully understood, he’d still do it. They owed a lot to this weird alternate version of his brother which he tried not to think about too hard either.

“no hay problema,” he sighed, sinking deeper into his chair. The rain was letting up, pattering more softly against the windows, the sky growing lighter still, pitching everything in a faint glow.

“and uh…since we’re gunna be seein’ more’a each other…” Patch set his own mug on the side table and caught the corner of Void’s eye with his own, “don’t be such a stranger, huh? …mi casa es su casa.”

His brow bones knit up with confusion, not fully turning his head to look at Patch as he flatly asked, “Why are you talking like that.”

Shrugging, Patch’s smile softened more sincerely, “paps been…gettin’ into all these spanish soaps lately.” Void’s own expression eased, and it finally seemed like he’d come back to himself. “dunno why, but…eh, makes ‘im happy.”

The other breathed a light laugh, taking a sip of his tea and straightening to his more normal, back breaking posture. “How is Dove? It’s been a while since we’ve spoken.”

Bait taken, Patch smirked to himself as he started updating their friend on what he’d missed since his last ‘check in’. As always, Void listened patiently as Patch took his time so as to not run out of breath. And if he took more time than usual to drag it out, well, it didn’t seem like Void was in any hurry.

Dos.

He’d have to write the name down before he forgot again. It was looking like the next few months were going to get very, very…interesting.