Archive of Our Own

The rain swept down the streets of Hometown, but even it could not wash the grime and dirt off them. The night sky reflected in the forever puddles without a star to be seen. Smog from distant factories that employed have the town dominated the sky, forcing Hometown into a seemingly never-ending overcast.

P.I. Kris Dreemurr stared down at their reflection in the dirty puddle. Their blank narrow red eyes stared back a face they barely recognised anymore. Hair that screamed long nights and sleep deprivation covered their eyes as brown as the coffee that kept them going during these endless nights. Their face was only illuminated by the cigarette in their mouth on this dark street. Kris hated cigarettes but once Kris started something, they found it hard to quit. A pile of lollipop sticks and nicotine patches littered their small apartment, but it seemed nothing worked. It frustrated Kris to unimaginable heights. They hated the loss of control as they dragged this ball of tobacco and nicotine wherever they went. Kris flicked the cigarette into the puddle and watched as the flame died and their face darkened.

Finally reaching their building, they entered the door and went upstairs to Dreemurr & Co. Private Investigator agency. A place Kris inherited from their father, Asgore Dreemurr after he was forced to retire in shame. Kris never learned the full details of the case. All they knew was that it nothing but dirt not even the best janitor could clean up.

Kris never dreamed of being a P.I. but they at least found some comfort in continuing the family business. Kris removed their damp trench coat and placed it on the coat hanger. Brushing their damp hair out of their eyes they gave Catti, their secretary, a simply nod before walking into the office. Catti wasn’t much for conversation or smiling so she preferred Kris’s more quiet approach to greeting her. Kris let out a long sigh as they sat down at their desk. There was more paper than wood on the desk as old and new case filed towered towards the ceiling. An ash tray filled to brim with ash threatened to topple over and recreate a mini-Pompeii right on Kris’ desk.

“Long night?” Kris heard from that familiar raspy deep voice. It was Susie their partner. She had a sly smile on her purple face as she looked at Kris’ dishevelled appearance. Susie wore a simply white shirt that seemed a couple of sizes too small for her. Either that or her muscles were just that large. Kris often wondered why she didn’t become a boxer or hired muscle for the mob with a body like hers. Along with a tie that hung low on her chest. She often struggled to tie it and when she did, it wasn’t long before she had pulled it far from her neck.

“What’s new?” Kris replied as they popped a lollipop into their mouth. It did little to help them, but Kris liked the idea of it helping. “Whatchu working on there?”

“Catti threw it at me this morning, a couple of Tasques chewed up a telephone line or at least the police said that they did” Susie flipped the page before scribbling something down in her notebook, mostly likely a simple doodle. “But Mrs Manager refuses to believe it as true and now I’m stuck playing as lion tamer” She grunted in annoyance.

“Well, I never said this job wasn’t exciting” Kris scoffed sarcastically.

Susie rolled her eyes “Dumbass”

Kris found their way into this job around when they turned 20. With Asriel gone, Kris asked Susie to be their partner. They had been best friends all the way through school but drifted apart when Susie left Hometown. She quickly returned however as Noelle Holiday wanted to have their wedding in their hometown and they stayed ever since. The pair worked well together and often found themselves at odds with the police as Kris never got along with the police chief Undyne

Suddenly a call ended the silence of the office from Kris’ desk. They wrapped their slender fingers around the phone and answered the call. “Kris, there’s some guy here and he’s looking for you” Catti said in her usual monotone voice. She also wasn’t one for formalities. “Let him in” they said before putting the phone away. The clouded glass door opened, and the man stepped through.

His white fur shone brightly and was well groomed. It contrasted against the long black fur coat he wore. His makeup exaggerated his features and made his beautiful face look like one of a renaissance sculpture. He wore a red head scarf that hid his little horns along with an expensive looking pink scarf around his neck. Big pink eyes stared into Kris’ soul hidden behind pink rimmed glasses. Kris struggled to look away. Words ran out of their head as they were mesmerised by him. Susie chuckled finding Kris’ reaction humorous.

“How can I help you?” Susie greeted standing up to talk to him.

“Where should I leave my coat?” He spoke with soft voice but one that had a quiet authority to it.

“Here, I'll keep hold of it for you” Susie gestured for the man to hand her his coat.

The man purposely slowly removed his coat. From beneath the coat, he revealed his outfit. A short pencil skirt that threatened to reveal everything with the slightest bend and simply white dress shirt that fit his slender body to a tea, with just one button undone it was able to reveal just the slightest bit of chest. Kris stared at him before forcing to themselves to look around to try and not seem like a total creep. Susie placed the coat on her chair and looked back up at the man.

“What’s your name mister-" Susie was suddenly cut off by the man.

“I’d like to speak to Mr Dreemurr please”

Susie grunted in annoyance as she sat back down in her chair. She had her hopes up that she could escape the Tasque case but that was not the case for poor Susie.

“You got a job for me?” Kris asked putting a cool face in front of this mysterious man. Kris stood up from their desk to greet him.

“My name is Ralsei and I need your help” A sudden sadness appeared in his eyes as his thick eyelashes fluttered. “My friend Lancer has gone missing. No one has seen him for days and I’m really worried” A small weak smile appeared on his face, revealing his small predatory teeth.

Kris let a long dramatic sigh as they leaned on their desk. Missing persons case. Kris had dealt with them before. They were a can of worms they hated to open. “We ain’t the police Mister. Go to the Missing Persons Bureau if you want help” Kris said dismissing Mr Ralsei.

“The police won’t help me. They don’t want to find my poor Lancer. He’s very innocent…I’m afraid someone may have taken him” Tears began to form in Ralsei’s eyes as he recounted what happened to Lancer.

Kris pondered for a moment about Lancer. Lancer. It sounded so familiar to them. They looked to Susie who was already looking at them with an anxious expression. “You don’t mean King’s son, do you?” Kris asked in anticipation for they already knew the answer.

“Yes…he is” Ralsei replied putting on a face of confusion. King was a dangerous and influential man in Hometown. He was the kingpin of the mob. Everyone knew he was as crooked as a tree branch, but the police stayed away from him in case they ended up with smashed kneecaps. His son on the other-hand, Lancer was the complete opposite. He was the friendliest person in Hometown. He often went around handing out cookies. Inedible cookies but it’s the thought that counts. Kris was surprised that he could have even went missing with how protective his father was of him. Although he never showed it, King always had someone keeping a watchful eye on Lancer.

“Now I see why the police didn’t give a damn” Susie scoffed.

Ralsei stepped closer to Kris, his perfume surrounded all their senses. It smelled like sweet strawberries. “Please Mr Dreemurr, I need your help. I’ve heard things about you detective. I heard you’ll always help someone in need” Ralsei wrapped his soft hand around Kris’ arm making them shiver. He stared deeply into Kris’ eyes. His eyes like those of a sad puppy

Kris tried to step back but they backed up against their desk. “I’m sorry but I ain’t dealing with King’s son”

Ralsei sighed and reached into his purse. Out came a fat wad of cash stuffed inside of an envelope. “Is this good enough for you Mr Dreemurr?”

Susie threw a paper clip at Kris’ head to knock them out of their trance while they stared at the envelope. She looked at them demandingly to stop being scared and take the cash. They both knew ho badly they need it. Kris scoffed and took the envelope from Ralsei.

“Where was this kid seen last?” Kris asked while shoving the envelope into a packed desk drawer.

“Diamond Shop, Mr Kaard remembers seeing him there”

“Did some investigating yourself didya?"

“It was a last-minute attempt to find poor Lancer. I had to make sure everything was okay with Mr Kaard”

“One last question” Kris stepped close to Ralsei “What’s a cute thing like you hanging around with a guy like King”

“I don’t speak with King. I only know his son. I don’t see eye to eye with that man” Ralsei said straightforwardly.

Kris shook their head. It was strange. Kris would have thought King would have sent one of his goons to come and hire him, if he even bothered to hire someone. Either this Ralsei was being a Good Samaritan or there was something else going now and they were going to found which road this journey took them down.

“Please be fast Mr Dreemurr. Don’t keep me waiting” That last part of his sentence was said much sultrier than the start as he reached out and stroked Kris’ cheek gently. Ralsei turned to leave grabbing his coat from Susie, putting an extra sway in his hips as he left the office.

“Hate to see him go but love to see him leave, eh?” Susie jeered Kris who stared intently at Ralsei’s behind while he left the office.

“Shut up” Kris couldn’t help but smile as much as they hated it. Susie always had that ability to make Kris feel better. “I’m gonna head down to this diamond shop. See what I can figure out. Susie nodded before begrudgingly looking back down at her case file.

The rain softly hit Kris’ hair as they walked to their car. The banged-up minivan their mother had gifted to them when they turned 18. It was slow and unreliable but at least it beat walking in the rain. Kris sighed as they turned the key to start the car. They were dreading having to talk to Rouxls Kaard. Other than Susie and their parents Kris wasn’t much of a fan of talking with people especially someone like Kaard. Like the rest of the Darkners in Hometown, he just showed up one day and asserted himself. Hometown expanded a lot since Kris was a kid, thanks to the arrival of the Darkners. Unlike Monsters when Darkners die they don’t turn to ash but instead turn to stone. Usually, their stone bodies are melted down and turned into bricks. Despite being a detective, a part of Kris hoped that when they entered the shop Kaard would simple be a statue.

Kris pulled the car around the side of the Diamond Shop and entered. Although it had a flashy name it was simple bookstore, with more puzzle books than normal literature.

“Ah, Mister Dreemurr” Kaard purred. Kaard was a tall person. He had long white hair that reached his shoulders. He was wrapped with what he thought looked like a professional coat, but it looked more like skin as it was same colour, blue. This wasn’t the first time Kris had encountered Kaard. Before opening his shop, he often bothered Kris and Susie by making them play puzzle games with him. Safe to say, Kris did not have the best feelings towards Kaard. “What bringth thou to my boutique?”

Kris shook their head “Boutique? You sell books” Kaard let out his obnoxious laugh that Kris hated. “Novels are accessories for thy mind”

Kris leaned toward on the counter. “I ain’t here to play games. Lancer has gone missing. Know anything about that?” Kaard’s face turned a light shade of blue. He quickly forced a smile on his face. He turned to the Shadowguy who was stocking some puzzle board games on a shelf. “Haveth thou heard of poor Lancer?” The Shadowguy let out a sad note while shaking his head. Kaard looked back at Kris with that corporate smile they always give you before telling you something bad. “I knowth nothing” Kaard ran to the back of the store disappearing into the darkness.

Kris groaned as they watched him run off. A dead end. Right as Kris turned to leave, they saw something in the corner of his eye. A picture frame stood on the back desk behind the counter. Kris leaned over and grabbed it. It was picture of Kaard struggling to hold Lancer. Kris ripped the picture from the frame and turned it over. There was a note of the back of the picture. “Lancer loves Lesser Dad!” Kaard knew more than hhe let on and Kris had just let him get away. Kris cursed before sliding over the counter and running into the back of the store. They found a fire exit and rammed through the door. They couldn’t let Kaard get away. Now knowing of Kaard’s relationship with King, if Kaard told King that Kris was investigating him, Kris wouldn’t wake up tomorrow to close this case. It seems Kaard didn’t make it so far judging the noise of a car that won’t start. Kris walked over to Kaard’s car and knocked on the window and Kaard rolled it down. Kris motioned him to get out, and he quickly followed their order.

“As thy say before, I knowth nothing” he said his hands starting to shake. Kris showed him the picture. “Stop lying to me Kaard. I know your pals with King. Cough it up” Kris said backing him to the wall. Although their voice was calm their body language was not.

“Thou are just my friend like thy said” He mumbled as if he knows it was terrible lie. “Alright Lesser Dad. You keep lying to me and maybe somehow, King learns that you are reason poor Lance is missing” Kris threatened, their red eye gleaming into Kaard.

“I work for thy King!” He blurted out. “He launders money through thou boutique but I swearth I don’t know anything about Lancer!” Kris leaned closer, making sure they can squeeze out all the information Kaard knew.

“Thou maketh me investigate Mr Ralsei.” He muttered out in between shaky breaths. “Ralsei? The baker?” Kris stepped back from Kaard, they had a confused look on their face. “Tell me everything you know” Kris ordered but before Kaard could comply a loud high pitch shriek rang down the alleyway walls.

A tall imposing figure stood at the end of alleyway, shrouded in darkness. The creature ran towards Kris and clocked them squared in the face causing them to fall to ground. It grabbed Kaard by the neck and dragged him away. He tried to scream but the figure tightened their grip around his neck. Kris looked up long enough to make out the creature. It was a Swatchling. He was wearing a black tuxedo. Kris knew of one place where Swatchlings wore tuxedos as a uniform. Ralsei’s bakery.

Kris laid down on the ground letting the rain mix with the blood pouring out of their nose and mouth. The whole case was rotten from the roots and Kris was on clean up duty. They groaned as stumbled their way back to the red minivan, the colour matched well with Kris’ face at the moment. Once in the car, Kris shoved bits of old tissue up their nose to stop the bleeding and drove back to their small studio apartment.

Kris unlocked the door, taking off their damp coat and flicking on the lights. The lights always took a second too long to turn on. Kris entered the bathroom, trying to wash the blood off their face but it had dried in and proved harder to wash off than they expected. They stared into the mirror in front of them. Tired eyes stared back. Kris regretted taking this job, but they weren’t going to stop until they solved it. Whether that was because of their sense of justice, money or an attraction to Ralsei, Kris didn’t know. Jobs like these, ones with no clear start nor end, ones where details are like puddles, dirty and unclear. These were the kind of jobs that ran Kris’ father out of business. Kris didn’t care much if the agency shut down or not. A part of Kris hoped for it to close, one less chain keeping Kris chained to this hellhole they called home. However, Kris needed to keep the lights on for themselves and for Susie. This job was her life; she found a sense of purpose even if was chasing cats up telephone poles. Her idea of justice was much purer than Kris’.

Kris stepped out of the bathroom and sat down on the coach. They switched on the TV; some Kaiju movie was on. The ones Susie used to make Kris watch when they were younger. They grabbed their phone and rang up Susie. It didn’t take long for her to answer.

“What’s up Kris? You kinda disappeared there for a sec. Everything alright?” Susie asked, she was always the one to speak first.

“Yeah...I’m okay. Susie, I need a hand with this Lancer case” Kris asked, speaking softly as they always did around Susie. Susie agreed to help. “I need you to find out what you can about Mr Ralsei”

“Ralsei? That sexy baker?” Susie repeated. Kris could hear her smile through the phone.

“Yes, that one”

“So, you think he’s sexy huh?” Susie snickered.

Kris let out a sigh trying to hold back their smile. “Look, I think he has more to do with the case than just a concerned citizen.”

“Really? That guy seemed like a big softie when he came into our place”

“That’s what I thought too, just a pretty face. That was until a Swatchling showed up and clocked me the jaw”

“What!? Are you okay? Don’t lie to me Kris!”

“It was only a punch Susie. Can I explain what happened first before you do a medical checkup?”

“I wasn’t going to do all that, dumbass” Susie replied allowing Kris to tell their story.

“Right, I was speaking with Rouxls Kaard when one thing led to another, and I’ve got him pinned to the wall. He starts spilling this tale about how King gave him a job to investigate the baker. But before he could get to the good part, bam! A Swatchling whacked me before he dragged Kaard off”.

“Shit...but how do you know that Swatchling has anything to do with Ralsei?” Susie asked.

“I don’t know about many Swatchlings that wear a tux out and about, unless they work in that bakery”

“So now, this is a double missing persons case, and our chief suspect is our client” Susie said trying to process all this information. “Alright, I’ll see what I find out about our baker”

“And I’ll speak to him in person tomorrow, see if we can’t find this missing boy.”

“And Kaard?” Susie replied unimpressed.

“Fine, and Kaard”

There was a sudden silence for a moment until it was broken by Susie. “Everything alright these days Kris? I know you haven’t talked to your folks for a while.

“I’m fine Susie” Kris quickly replied.

Susie sighed. Getting Kris to talk was like pulling teeth, it took time. Time Susie didn’t have at the moment. “Alright Kris, I gotta run, Noelle has the dinner on. Speak to ya tomorrow!” Kris said goodbye before hanging up the phone. They lit up a cig and decided tonight to mindlessly watch TV until they fell asleep.

The next day, Kris arrived at the bakery. Some Darkners were sat in the shop enjoying some treats while Swatchlings ran around doing their tasks. Standing at the desk was not Ralsei like Kris expected but instead Swatch. Unlike Swatchlings, Swatch could speak, something Kris was grateful for. Swatch stared at him through his orange and gold tinted glasses. “Welcome to Castle Bakery, let us warm your day” Swatch sounded like he had said that a million times, which he probably has. “Is Mr Ralsei in?” Kris asked taking off their coat. “Sorry detective, but I can’t let you see Mr. Ralsei unless you have an appointment with him". Kris gave Swatch a confused look. An appointment? They thought. This was a bakery not a doctor’s office. But before they could open their mouth to complain. Ralsei stepped out from the kitchen. He was wearing an apron that showed off his curves in a way that made Kris’ head spin. Something they hated. A small slender but sharp hand appeared on Swatch’s shoulder. “It’s alright Swatch. Them and I have some business to talk about”. Kris watched as Swatch acted like a wounded puppy, suddenly apologising to Ralsei for wasting his time. Ralsei let out a cute giggle before beckoning Kris to follow him into the back office next to the Kitchen.

Kris wondered what kind of power such a small guy could have over Swatch. All it took was a touch and a whisper to bring him to his knees. A power Kris would soon learn how effective it could be. The office was small and was lit by a lamp with a green shade covering it. Kris sat across from Ralsei, his mesmerizing eyes staring back at Kris. “I know why you're here Kris” Ralsei murmured softly. Kris’ eyes widen at this revelation. Ralsei appeared to be a lot more in control that Kris predicted. “You do?” Kris blurted out. Now Kris was in Kaard’s position, on the backfoot. Ralsei stood and walked around the desk before sitting on top of it, forcing Kris to look up at him.

“I heard what happened, how one of my Swatchlings treated you” Ralsei leaned close, placing his soft hand on Kris’ cheek, rubbing the bruise ever so slightly. Kris leaned just a tad into his palm; it had been a long time since Kris felt the warm touch of someone else. “My Swatchling meant no harm really, he saw you and Rouxls and thought he was in danger. That Swatchling is such a good boy. He tries to help everyone” Ralsei spoke with a soft pleasant tone. But Kris knew not to fall for it, even the friendliest of bosses did not refer to employees as theirs.

“Well, he didn’t seem too friendly when he dragged Kaard off, neck first”. Kris said, standing up face to face with Ralsei now. But his face showed no sign of nervousness, just a simple smile.

“He can get a bit handsy sometimes, but Mr Kaard is unharmed. Actually, I’m pretty sure he’s in his shop right now".

“Business doing good? Seem to have a lot of employees for a small bakery?”

“I know, my accountant tells me the same thing!” Ralsei giggled, letting their glasses lie low on his snout. “But the poor Swatchlings. Not many people hire them since they can’t talk. I provide them with something they need, and I get what I want”

“And what is it that you need?”

“Oh Mr. Dreemurr, you know better than to ask someone their secrets”

“How come you wear such nice things, I can't imagine your accountant is happy with those purchases” This was it, Kris knew it had to be. Find out how Ralsei is getting money and find out who this man really was. Then they could find Lancer.

“I can write off most my ingredients as a business expense; I make my own food. I spend little money on groceries, so I have much to spare which to treat myself with” Ralsei explained sounding more serious and a tad annoyed.

Kris tried to ask another question before Ralsei cut them off. “Mr. Dreemurr, I hired you to find Lancer, not to investigate whether I’m paying my taxes or not”

Kris grunted as they stood up and got face to face with Ralsei. The sudden scent of his strawberry perfume made Kris lose their train of thought for a moment. “You seem to have sent me on a wild goose chase” They spat out, much softer than they had hoped. Ralsei leaned closer, their lips mere inches from one another. That same smug smirk appeared on his face. “Maybe I like watching you sweat, Mr Dreemurr”.

A slight blush appeared their face. Had Ralsei hired them just as an excuse to get to know him? “I think there's better ways of making me sweat, than making me run around”. Ralsei’s apron fell off his body, he puffed of his chest making his shirt ride up just slightly revealing some midriff to Kris. Kris struggled to keep their eyes of him. He crossed his legs, his skirt riding up his smooth thighs to show off the lacey underwear he wore hidden beneath the fabric of his clothes.

“Oh, I know Kris, I know lots of ways for you to break a sweat” His voice low and sultry. Kris was stunned for a moment hearing their name be uttered from his sweet lips. Suddenly Ralsei spun his legs around the desk and slid away from Kris. “W-what are you doing?” Kris asked suddenly their voice vulnerable. “We both have work to do Kris” his hand gliding over Kris’ shoulders and down their back. He tied his apron back around him, squeezing his curves once again. He waved Kris goodbye as he stepped out of the office leaving Kris alone, out of words and... aroused.

Kris headed back to their own office still slightly dazed from his encounter with Ralsei only a few hours earlier. They greeted Catti at the entrance who handed him a note. They stuffed in their pocket and vowed to read it later. Susie was alone in the office, illuminated by the small desk lamp she had. A wedding gift from Berdly, he told her it was so whenever she was in the dark, Berdly could always be her knight in shining armour. She looked up at Kris while they sat down across from her at their desk. “Learning anything from Mr Baker?” she asked, concentrated drawing a doodle in a case file.

“No, nothing” Kris replied sliding down onto their chair putting their hands on their head.

Susie let out a sigh in response “Me too, the guy’s a ghost. Like every Darkner he a showed up one day. Although seems like the Swatchlings were a hometown addition. No reports of them coming together”

“But they all seem fierce loyal to him. Ready to kidnap someone at a moment’s notice” Kris muttered.

“Kaard was fine by the way, I checked up on him. The dumbass thought I wanted to play puzzles with him” Susie shook her head trying to hold back a smile.

“Ralsei told me the same thing. Seems the Swatchling let him go shortly after he gave me a bloody nose.” Kris looked up at the time. 6pm, closing time. “You best be going Susie”

“You staying late?” Susie asked with a slight concern in her voice.

“Yeah, gotta look at a few things” Kris explained.

“See ya around” Susie parted farewell as she grabbed her coat and left the office.

A moment later, Kris peered down from the window on their second-floor office. They could see Susie standing the rain when a fancy looking car pulled up to pick her up. It was her wife, Noelle. Who also happened to by the mayor of Hometown. A sombre sigh escaped their lips watching Susie get a quick peck on the cheek by Mrs. Holiday. There was a moment in time when Kris could have been the one wearing that wedding band around their finger. But that chance had come and gone long ago. Kris didn’t know if was just the sheer amount of time they had spent with Susie that made them feel this way but alas it didn’t matter. Kris at least was Best person at her wedding. Susie deserved someone better than Kris. Someone who wasn’t the monarch of hand-me-downs and crippling addiction to nicotine. At least that was what comforted Kris at night. They lit up a cig to take the edge off; time seemed to pass faster than normal and before Kris knew it the night had arrived. They stood up and moved to leave the office when there was a knock on the door.

Who could be calling at this hour? Kris thought as they opened the door. There he was in all his shining beauty, Ralsei. He wore the same outfit he was wearing at the Bakery, a dangerous short pencil skirt, a form fitting dress shirt but no apron this time, instead replaced with a red scarf wrapped around his head. “Sorry to bother you this late Kris, but I was hoping we could talk?” he said smiling. Kris smirked now knowing they were on a first name basis.

“You always calling into places this late?”

“Do you always sleep in your office?” Ralsei smirked gesturing towards their messed-up hair where it had been resting on their desk. Kris scoffed, standing up to face Ralsei.

“You ain’t wearing a coat in this weather?” Kris asked with just a hint of concern in their voice. Ralsei shook his head, stepping an inch closer to Kris.

“Well, I was hoping to find something that could warm me up”. Ralsei was close to Kris now, Ralsei was naturally just a bit taller than Kris but with the heels he was wearing that difference became more pronounced.

“Guessing that’s me?” Kris held back a smile. They boldly wrapped their arms around Ralsei slightly nervous about how he would react but was reassured when Ralsei leaned into their touch.

“You could get trouble for this Detective Dreemurr” A sly grin appeared on his face while his hands rode up the detective’s back moving in small smiles. “Fraternising with clients”

“You make it impossible not too” Kris reached up and pulled Ralsei’s face in close until their lips touched. The detective’s hands gripped tighter onto Ralsei’s waist when Ralsei opened his mouth letting Kris’ tongue into explore. Their tongue swept around his teeth before Kris used their thumb to lower Ralsei’s lip allowing them to suck on his tongue. Ralsei’s hands wrapped around Kris’ neck, loosely hanging their while he let out quiet moans from Kris’ tongue invading his mouth. When they finally pulled apart, they were both left panting. Ralsei let out a whine as Kris moved in to make a trail of kisses down his sensitive neck.

“You taste so good, baby” Kris managed to say in between their barrage of kisses that now had them kissing his jaw. All thoughts of crossing boundaries and of poor missing Lancer had long gone out of their head. All they could think of in that moment was that damn baker. Ralsei’s hand gripped onto Kris’ shirt pulling them in close, so he had kiss them again. Their lips meeting once more and their tongue’s plunging deep into their mouths. Kris broke away of his iron grip and turned around to swipe everything off their desk.

“Mhm, hyper aren’t you detective?” Ralsei said with his familiar sultry voice. “Let’s enjoy the moment” he said as he sat down on the desk. Kris watched eagerly as he threw off the red scarf wrapped around his head to which he then threw at Kris. Kris stood in front of desk and once again gripped his waist but daringly moved their fingers down to caress his ass making Ralsei release subtle noises. Moving their hands up his body, they stopped at his collar. “May I?” Kris asked their voice almost shaking with anticipation. “Such a gentleman” Ralsei chuckled softly before giving the go away to unbutton his shirt. Kris quickly got to work opening his shirt to reveal his creamy body below. Their hands moved to his chest feeling the firm but soft plains. Their thumbs brushed over his nipples to which Ralsei’s whined in response. Ralsei pulled his shirt off his shoulders allowing Kris to move in close. Their lips wrapping around Ralsei’s nipple, sucking it gently.

“Oh...god” Ralsei tried to hold back all the noise he was making from the feeling of Kris sucking his nipples. His hands rested on the back of Kris’ head, gripping their dark hair slightly. Kris gently pushed Ralsei on his back as Kris climbed on the desk to be on top of him. Ralsei placed his hands on their cheeks and pulled them in close. Ralsei kissed Kris deeply before biting their bottom lip gently. Kris moved their hand down to caress their exposed thigh as his skirt had ridden up while they made out.

The pair suddenly pulled apart when the noise of a phoning ringing sounded around the office. Kris looked down at the culprit, the desk telephone Kris had pushed off the desk during their heated moment with Ralsei. “Just ignore it” Kris said with great annoyance while they leaned in to kiss Ralsei once again, but he pulled away, sitting up the desk pushing Kris off him.

“Who calls this hour of the night? It could be important” the baker said with concern in his voice. Kris groaned pulling themselves off the desk. The phone ringing had really worn it’s welcome and was starting to annoy them both. “Who is it?” Kris spoke with a quiet anger in their voice.

“Kris!” the purple monster shouted over the phone. “What took you so long to answer the phone dumbass?! We got a situation over here!”

“Woah, slow down Susie. What the hell are you talking about?”

“I found a body” Susie uttered the words with low and grim voice. “A Rudinn, I think- I think he’s a member...was a member of King’s gang” Susie struggled to get the words out. Kris’ eyes widen in shock at this revelation. A missing boy and body all happening at the same time. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Where are you? I’ll be right over”

“I’m at the lake. I’ll meet you at the park entrance” Kris could hear a subtle shakiness in Susie’s voice. She wasn't used to dealing with something as serious as murder. This missing person case was the most high-profile case the pair had ever taken on. Kris was also inexperienced but was better at masking their nerves. Kris turned around, they had forgotten Ralsei was still here during this whole ordeal. It looked like he had a small grin on his face, but it was difficult to make out in the darkness of the office.

“I gotta go” Kris explained watching Ralsei button up their shirt.

“I should head home as well, good luck detective” he purred walking out of the office leaving Kris to watch in awe. Kris quickly snapped out of their trance, focusing on the task at hand. They raced down the building and got into their car. The engine coughed and wheezed but eventually turned on. Kris cared little for the speed limit. All they wanted to do was see Susie, they knew this was hard for them and for Kris too. Kris pulled the minivan into the park’s carpark and got to the gate. They were greeted with Susie who was sitting by the gate chewing on some chalk. Kris immediately recognized this as her nervous tick.

“Kris!” she exclaimed when she saw them finally. Kris noticed how the tension in her body vanished when the pair meet up. However she continued to bite down on the chalk.

“Mind filling me in?” Kris asked as the detective duo walked along the dark path of the park only occasionally lit up by lanterns.

“I was following up a lead on Ralsei like you asked when I found out the police had a witness for a murder. He told me he saw someone big throw the body into the lake...” Susie swallowed, unable to finish her story.

“But seems like someone went fishing?”

She nodded in response. “And it wasn’t the police. First Lancer goes missing, then a goon from his dad’s gang turns up dead at the bottom of a lake. They gotta be connected”

Kris agreed knowing they had come up with the same realisation. Eventually the pair reached where Susie found the body. She guided Kris into the forest surrounding the lake. There it was. Laying in the dead leaves of once full trees was the Rudinn. His body turned to stone. “What have we gotten ourselves into Kris?” Susie said looking away from the statue.

“This is a message” Kris said while examining the body. Susie gave them a confused look. “Whoever left him here wanted us to find it. You found the key to the puzzle. I just ain’t got a clue where it’s supposed to go”

“I called the police. Hopefully they can find some prints on his body. Bring this crook to justice!” Susie’s optimism never failed to make Kris smile even during a time like this. It seemed like she could light up this whole dark forest with just her smile.

“Come on, let’s head outta here” Kris shoved in their hands in their pockets. They hated dealing with the police. Especially Undyne who seemed to have no problem lying to keep her position as police chief and Kris wondered how Napstablook was still hired considering all he did was make mixtapes, but Kris wondered the same thing about themselves sometimes too. Kris felt paper in their coat pocket when he pulled out the note Catti had given them.

“Shit, I had forgotten all about this” they muttered to themselves using the nearby lantern to read it, with Susie trailing close behind.

“What is it, Kris?” the purple detective asked peering over their shoulder to read the note.

“Kaard wants to meet me, says he has something to discuss with me”

“Tomorrow?” Susie asked with concern etched on her face. “Look, you meet Kaard tomorrow and I’ll follow up on these prints hopefully”

“Sounds like a plan” the pair walked back to car park when they could hear the incoming sirens of police cars. The drove off back to their homes knowing they had an eventful day on the horizon.

That day came the next night when Kris pulled up to the abandoned lot Kaard invited him to talk at. Kris checked their watch. Half past a eleven. Kris was here on time, but Kaard seemed to be nowhere. Kris journeyed into the empty lot. The streetlamps shone down into the lot, illuminating it in a golden hew. “Kaard?” Kris called out but heard no reply. “This netter not be a goddamn puzzle, or you’ll know about it!” Kris threatened but once again there was no reply. Kris reached the end of the lot. Two alleyways stretched out either side of the lot. They looked right and saw nothing, but an empty alleyway shrouded in darkness. However, the left side alleyway held more promise when Kris saw something descend into the darkness of the alley. Something red. Kris ran down the alley. Kaard was nowhere to be found.

Just then Kris heard the deafening roar of a car's engine as the tyres streaked down the road. They only got a glimpse of the car as it turned the corner. It was the same one they saw when Ralsei left the office late last night. Kris knew it. They knew they had been completely seduced by that baker. The baker had blinded them from the truth. Kris ran back the way came and jumped into their car. Kris raced down the road hoping to follow Ralsei. They could see Ralsei’s car in the distance, Kris trailed behind him trying not to draw suspicion to themselves. Eventually the two cars pulled into a fancy looking estate. Kris switched off the engine making sure the headlights were off. They knew their beat-up minivan looked like a fish out of water but hoped no one would notice. Ralsei parked his car outside a large two-story house. Kris got out of their car. They couldn’t let him escape into the safety of his home. They had to spring while the iron was hot. Ralsei unlocked the door to the house, he entered his home and went to close the door but was got off guard when it didn’t close. He turned around in horror to see Kris holding the door open.

Kris walked in uninvited and shut the door behind them suddenly making Ralsei jump. “Kris...what a surprise to see you here!” He said strained, forcing a smile on his face.

“Stop with the act. What did you do with Rouxls Kaard?” Kris spoke firm and with an anger behind each word.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about” Ralsei folded his arms and refused to make eye contact with the detective.

Kris grabbed his wrist and pulled the man closer to them. “Tell me everything you know”

Ralsei broke free from his grip “I told you! I don’t know anything! I’m just a baker!”

Kris furrowed their brow and opened their mouth to argue back to Ralsei but no words came out when a kid's voice was heard coming from the kitchen. Ralsei’s face turned white as a ghost when Kris shoved him out the way and burst open the door. There Kris saw him. A small round black and blue boy. The boy Kris had been looking for all this time. Lancer. The boy placed a cookie into his mouth, crumbs falling out of his lips as he looked at Ralsei’s terrified face. “Are you okay toothpaste boy?” the child called out.

Kris kneeled to see Lancer eye to eye. “Heya kid, I’m a detective. I’m here to bring you home” Their voice, much softer than the one they had just used with Ralsei moments earlier. Kris pulled back from Lancer when he suddenly began to cry. “No! No! I don’t wanna go! You won’t make me go back!” Lancer cried out running from Kris to Ralsei and wrapped his arms around Ralsei’s legs. Ralsei reached down to rub Lancer’s back gently who cooed him quietly. “It’s alright, it’s okay, you won’t ever go back”

Kris stood up straight and gave Ralsei a look. A look Ralsei immediately understood. It was time to explain, everything. “Lancer, honey why don’t run up to your room so me and the detective can have a talk okay?” Ralsei patted his head as Lancer ran off upstairs to his room.

“We all have skeletons in our closet don’t we, detective?”

“Some more than others. I know you didn’t hire me to find the answer to a question you already knew. So, spill”

Ralsei face changed completely. Gone was the warm, gentle and captivating face instead replaced with a cold one. His pink eyes turned dark. Ones that looked willingly to kidnap a child. “It started a year ago. Lancer would come to the shop. He loves my cookies” A quick warm smile appeared on his face before returning to the new cold state. “But some days he would come in with bruises on his body. He tried to hide them, but I noticed. Every time I tried to ask him about it he would clam up and find an excuse to leave” Ralsei let a sigh and sat down at the table.

“Then, two weeks ago I got him to open up. Despite what people thought, King was not nearly as protective as he put on. He hurt poor Lancer. That’s when I knew enough was enough and I asked him to stay here with me until I could find him a new home”. Ralsei looked away from Kris staring down at the table.

“That doesn’t explain why you hired me”

Ralsei felt a shiver run down his back as he realised his story didn’t add up. “Let’s stop pretending. I know what you are. I figured it out from that slight darkness in your eyes. The Swatchling giving me a busted lip and Kaard gone missing twice in one week” Kris scoffed as they walked up to Ralsei at the table. “You’re playing the same game as King expect you ain’t as loud about it. I’m guessing you were a bit too loud tonight when you got rid of Kaard at the lot. That’s how I found you here”

Ralsei looked up at Kris and nodded in agreement. There was no point in lying anymore. “You are a much better detective that I expected Mr Dreemurr”

Kris was taken aback by the statement from the baker not expecting his voice could be so cold. “The reason I hire you is because I had heard that you were a subpar detective. A person who took the easy road and gave up when it got too difficult. I knew taking Lancer would provoke King. Get him to do something stupid. But that wasn’t enough. I hired you to make sure King would up behind bars”

Kris opened their mouth to fight back against his words, but it was hard to argue the truth. “But that's when you failed. The body by the lake, you know all about it don’t you? Weren’t expecting me to know about that were you?”

Kris was stunned to see Ralsei with a smug smile was on his face “Please, the body? That was my golden opportunity. Thanks to your associate, King will be found guilty of murder. I hear he's being arrested as we speak”

Kris’s hands began to shake as they realised the truth. “And you will be left to take over the remnants of his gang”

Ralsei hummed in agreement. “But how can you prove it was King? He never does the dirty work”

Ralsei stood and began to explain as he walked to the other side of the kitchen. “That Rudinn was tasked with watching over Lancer while he was out. Clearly, he wasn’t very good at his job. King was outraged when he found out his son was missing. In a blind rage he killed him by the lake and threw the statue into the lake about a week ago. Then yesterday I had my Swatchlings bring it to shore for your friend to find it”

Ralsei returned to the table with a telephone. “Why don’t you phone a friend for the answer” His fingers brushing off Kris’ shoulder as he placed the phone in front of them. Kris dialled Susie’s number who quickly picked up.

“Kris! Where have you been? I’ve been calling the office for ages!”

“Do you get the prints?” Kris said trying their best to act calm to not worry Susie.

“That’s what I was calling about. King’s fingerprints are all over it. Seems like he killed Rudinn at lake too. The Ralsei road was a dead end, I guess. Did you-” Kris hung up the phone. They quietly stood up and left the kitchen. Kris lit up a cigarette since the rain outside would put it out. They took a quick puff before leaving the house. Kris had been utterly and completely fooled. They were pawn in a much bigger game than they realised. A game that ended with Ralsei on top and Kris right where they started. Hometown was a town covered in smog and darkness. The darkness had been around so long that sun would burn the residents if it appeared. Kris knew there was always going to be someone to keep that smog, that darkness there and right now that was Ralsei. All Kris could do was slow the output of smog. Kris walked in the rain back to their car. They had no idea how they face Susie tomorrow knowing that they were both the key to Ralsei’s plan with King in jail and Ralsei as the new kingpin.

Kris always had problems with addiction. Whether that might be cigarettes or that baker. Kris knew they were bad for him, unhealthy and slowly killing him but Kris would be lying if they said they didn’t feel good in the moment. Kris didn’t know whether it was shame, embarrassment, attraction or laziness that made it so Kris would never speak a word of this to anyone. It wasn’t like anyone would believe him. Ralsei the baker is a kingpin? Kris would have an easier time trying to get rid of the smog. Kris switched on the engine and flicked the cigarette out the window. Descending into the darkness that was Hometown.