Reborn as Error

185 - Outertale Warmth

Author's note: My excuses are as followed, tired, life, new interests, yada yada. I'm not dead.

Going to Outertale wasn't a new endeavor for me or a fair number of others. Quite the regular location really, for better or for worse.

Being around Gradient also wasn't new. I couldn't speak for other Errors in different multiverses or aus or whatever but it was a very normal thing for me. He was my kid and I paid attention.

So the fact that this situation felt off putting despite those two known factors was very weird. The situation being me just sitting in the Outertale Grillby's waiting for my kid's return while speaking with another.

From the beginning to recount events.

Usually, I was the one making sure that Gradient ready to go if there were plans to head somewhere. This time around however, he was the one seeming a bit antsy. Making sure I remembered that we were heading out, making sure I remembered currency since I never pulled a Sans and had a tab, making sure I didn't head off for a sudden task, etc. I never questioned him. I never felt a need to.

Was he up to something? Possibly.

Was he going to harm me? I doubted it. He knows I wouldn't be pleased if he tried to pull something while we were in Outertale.

Until I get proven otherwise I'll just see this as a family outing. Just the two of us.

It's not like the others had a choice even if they wanted to crash and tag along. Nightmare had immediately assigned jobs for the day, getting them out of his realm. I just assumed we were low on stuff or he wasn't taking the chance to have everyone out for a day to himself. Not like I would ever fault him for that.

Though there was a nagging feeling that there was a possible other reason. I wasn't going to assume anything yet and headed off with Gradient to Outertale.

Upon getting there Gradient really wanted to go to Grillby's so I didn't have much time to look around. I didn't have a choice since he had a hold of my hood sleeve. There was nothing weird on the way there or going inside.

The first weird thing was that he wanted to sit at the bar seats, not a table. It wasn't that weird but it was different. I just chalked it up to him wanted to sit somewhere different. I got up on a seat and didn't really bother looking at the menu since I already knew what I wanted. I didn't see the multi colored flame man nearby and just assumed he was in the back.

I placed an elbow on the top before resting my head in my palm as I looked at my kid.

"So, kiddo, is there a special occasion I should know about?"

"Huh? No-" He seemed caught off guard which I wanted.

"Did you get a little girlfriend?" I asked. An amused look crossed my face when I saw him look a bit flustered.

"What?! Baba-!" I cut him off, waving my hand like I was downplaying the situation happening.

"Or a boyfriend. I don't judge... unless they're going to be a problem."

"Oh my-" Gradient huff a bit while rolling his eyelights. He took a breath and lowered his tone, "no Baba. I didn't get a partner."

"No? Huh, guess I'll have to wait for that heart attack for the future." I chuckled a bit as Gradient deflated in his seat a little.

"Why is that your first guess?" He asked and I shrugged with a relaxed grin.

"Does it really matter? Even if I was correct you probably wouldn't have been honest. Besides, you were being quiet. I figured a sudden question would get your mind going." There was a beat of silence as he registered what I said.