Her Majesty

Chapter XVII - the Claim

The way down in the elevator was quiet.

Undyne focused on Alices, and Alices focused on Undyne, pretending they were in the elevator that took them to New Home. Neither said a word, yet it was oddly as if they were both shouting at each other, every time their eyes met.

By the time the doors opened again, both were blushing, holding each other's arms as closely as possible.

Michael led them out and back down the main lobby of the building. Neither he nor any of the other officers surrounding them hesitated, even when it was clear that they made whoever they passed hesitate. Undyne glared a few times, but then stopped looking altogether once it only made things worse.

"Stay close to me, please," Michael said softly. "And don't worry. Just keep your focus ahead."

"Okay," Undyne agreed, and Alices nodded.

Granted, it was honestly difficult at times to do so, since they were quite obvious when walking together down the sidewalk and towards the hotel, so they got noticed by quite a few people. But it helped their nerves not to look, as then they could both pretend that no one actually had noticed them.

"Don't worry," Michael said softly, so that only they could hear. "It won't last."

He sounded more optimistic than either of them felt, but it did help a little.

In what felt like an eternity - but also a short time - they finally stopped.

Both Alices and Undyne looked up the moment they did, finding a tall, tower-like building in front of them.

"Hey," Undyne whispered, as Michael spoke to a few of the hotel staff. "It's kinda like New Home."

Alices nodded, feeling surprised. Again, she marvelled at how similar humans and monsters really were, and she allowed that to smooth over her anxiety.

Undyne could feel her starting to tremble again, and she couldn't help it - she leaned over and put an arm around her. To her delight, Alices moved closer, slipping one of her arms around Undyne's waist, and Undyne felt her face heat up again.

"Okay," Michael said once he came back. "Go on in and show them the card. No one will say anything, and if you have any trouble, we'll always be right outside any door you're behind, okay?"

Undyne looked at him with scepticism. "Every door?" she echoed.

"Yes," he replied calmly.

Alices was nodding. "Th-thank you."

"Go ahead, then."

The two exchanged a worried look, then nodded together, turning back to the door. Together, still arm-in-arm, they walked in to the lobby and to the front desk.

The human sitting there was clearly nervous, unable to smile and clearly sweating. But they were still kind to the two, and when they started down the hall towards the elevators, they caught Michael and his team slowly making their way after them.

Undyne shot Alices a sudden, mischievous look, and before she could process it, Alices found herself being dragged into a run for the elevators by Undyne - who was unable to bite back a laugh.

They threw themselves into the elevator and quickly closed the door before Michael could catch up, both bursting into laughter once the doors closed. It was laughter brought on not because something is funny, but because the relief they felt from finally being able to just be alone and breathe, was so overwhelming. It was high-pitched, with a slight edge to it, as clearly they were both exhausted, but it was real, all the same.

Once they'd managed to calm down, they were almost on the right floor. Undyne looked up and saw a camera in the corner of the ceiling, and she grinned at it and waved - something that Alices started laughing at, and which in turn had Undyne laughing again, too.

When the elevator finally stopped, they tumbled out, breathless and wiping away tears. Alices grabbed the keycard, then Undyne's hand, before she moved down one side of the hallway - then having to circle back the other way. She stopped finally, and they went in.

It was very, very big, and had so many windows that they were both frozen in fear from what they saw, finding the windows almost too thin between them and what they saw outside.

For a moment they stood there, sharing the same awe and surprise at the sight, before they eventually relaxed and walked in.

Undyne immediately went to the small fridge, flinching when she found it was a normal one. "Ugh," she grumbled when she looked in. "Booze, booze, and booze. And two water bottles. The hell?"

Undyne glowered at these contents, wondering if this was a joke.

"Grab the water," Alices advised, sitting on a slight-worn chair with a folder in her hands. She opened it and lit up, and when Undyne went to her side and held out a bottle to her, she grinned and took it.

She held up a few flyers. "Look! Delivery!" she said, excited. "Look at this food! Look at it!" She was pointing to one of the pizza flyers. "Look!"

Undyne nodded, sitting down on the armrest and opening the bottle she held. She took a gulp, then said, "Order it."

"Order what?" Alices wondered.

"All of it," Undyne replied. "I'm starving."

Alices nodded, feeling the same way. "Good idea; let's order a bunch, so we can save it. Look, they even have an app!" She grinned and pulled out her phone.

"Is that still working?" Undyne asked.

"Yep," Alices agreed, typing on the screen so fast that Undyne was impressed. "I don't know why and right now, I don't care. I'm just happy we're still connected."

Undyne pulled out her phone and opened a browser, typing in the news website for the Undergound. She then paused, shocked: it was still displaying yesterday's news. It hadn't been updated, yet, save a few threads on the message board. Undyne opened a few and found families looking for loved ones, and some loved ones looking for families. It was heartbreaking.

Undyne closed it and looked to the side, turning her head away from Alices. She was tearing up, and didn't want to worry Alices - especially now that she looked happier.

Papyrus would be super pissed if he knew I had this chance, only to blow it, she thought suddenly. He was the only one who knew just how much I love her; he was always trying to get me to grow better ovaries and send a damn letter. But I always wussed out...

The reason for that was a good one, though she hated it: she hadn't wanted to get close to Alices, and then, if she died fighting a human, break her heart with that dying. The thought was just too much to deal with - especially when she realised just how close that actually came to being reality.

But it's not, Undyne thought suddenly, looking back at Alices, who was grinning at her phone, still. I survived. The barrier is broken. I didn't die.

What the f**k am I waiting for?!

Undyne swallowed hard, then, her whole body flooding with nervousness - but also giddiness. She bit her lip and blushed, but found herself unable to look away from Alices.

When Alices noticed, she jumped, then blushed and smiled shyly.

"Hi!" she squeaked out, raising a hand and waving it a little, making Undyne burst into laughter.

She's so cute, she thought fondly, gazing at Alices with a grin, now. She reached over and trailed her fingers over one of her cheeks gently, feeling how warm it was. She felt a little jab at that, one of deep affection from so little a gesture, and she pressed her palm flat on Alices's cheek, keeping it there.

Alices closed her eyes and leaned into it a little.

"Alice," she murmured.

Alices opened her eyes and nodded; her other hand was holding Undyne's in place. "Are y-you okay?" she asked gently. "Do you...? Please, Undyne, if y-you want to talk about it, g-go ahead."

Undyne swallowed again, a lump forming there and sticking.

Even now, Alices was thinking of her. Even now, Alices asked her to be honest and open.

Undyne felt her breathing go a little funny, felt a small shiver along her skin, and suddenly it felt like her skin was too hot for her.

"W-we have at least an hour b-before the food gets here," Alices went on, her voice a little shaky. The way Undyne was looking at her made her think of a great deal of unhelpful things. "W-what do you want to talk about?"

Undyne opened her mouth, then shut it, her eye darting down for a moment before going back to Alices's.

Alices blushed deeper, clearly understanding that, and now Alices couldn't speak.

Undyne leaned down, shoving her phone aside and placing both hands on her face, bringing it towards her. Alices's hands twitched a little, especially when their lips barely touched.

Undyne saw Alices's eyes go a little dark, and felt yet another jolt; it was clearly from desire - mutual desire.

Undyne kissed her, then, and felt her arms slip around her waist and pull her closer. Alices returned the kiss shyly, her eyes closing as though pulled shut, yearning flooding through her veins the moment she did. Undyne then deepened the kiss, pressing closer and licking Alices's lips apart slowly - achingly slow. Alices's claws dug into Undyne's back a little, but neither stopped, especially when Alices reached out to touch her tongue to Undyne's.

Undyne made a sound, then, from deep in her throat, and she leaned down, grabbing Alices around the waist and pulling her close. Alices jumped up and, surprising them both, hooked her legs around Undyne's waist, just as she stood up. Undyne staggered for a moment, both from surprise and a sudden jab of desire forcing her to, before she sat back down in the chair, this time with Alices on her lap.

They kissed deeper, both not wanting to break apart unless it was only for air. Alices pressed herself against Undyne, something that had Undyne digging her nails into Alices's back instead - especially when Alices slipped her hands down to her breasts and trailed her palms over them. Undyne pulled her closer, gasping a little against her lips, especially when Alices's fingertips trailed over now-hardened n*****s through her shirt.

"Take it off," Undyne whispered between kisses.

Alices opened her eyes in surprise; it actually sounded like Undyne wasn't asking, but begging. This was made even more obvious when Undyne's hands moved under Alices's shirt, her fingers moving up and along her back until they landed on the back of her bra.

"Alice, take it off?" she repeated, her eye opening and lit a little, the green colour glittering.

Alices broke from the kiss and reached down, tugging loose the belt at Undyne's hips, setting it aside, before grabbing onto Undyne's shirt and pulling it up. Undyne pulled away and grabbed it, yanking it off and throwing it to the floor, before she quickly tugged her bra off over her head, as well.

Alices froze, her eyes going huge on her face, and only then did Undyne think to blush - especially from the way Alices looked at her.

Alices bit her lip, one hand going back and gently cupping one of Undyne's breasts, her whole body going hot the moment her palm met bare skin. Undyne wasn't exactly greatly endowed, but Alices didn't really care; what mattered was that it was Undyne.

"Quit it," Undyne muttered shyly, especially when Alices grinned at her.

"Quit what?" Alices wondered, her fingertips now trailing over the surface of that breast, her eyes dancing when Undyne shifted a little and shivered.

"Nevermind," Undyne answered quietly, leaning her head back a little. "Keep staring at me."

Alices laughed and leaned against her, hoping for another kiss and getting one right away.

Undyne's hands moved away from the now-undone bra, and she pulled them out and tugged on Alices's shirt. Alices pulled away and shrugged her coat, then shirt, off, hesitating a little when it came to her bra. Undyne kissed her again, reaching up and pulling Alices's arms away from her chest, gently, something Alices allowed with a racing heart.

When Undyne grabbed her bra, Alices swallowed and shrugged it off, and Undyne tossed it on the floor to join the rest.

Alices was scarlet, now, her hands starting to shake, closing her eyes quickly so that she wouldn't have to see Undyne's reaction. She buried her face into Undyne's neck, sliding her arms around it. She pressed her body against Undyne's, and was surprised not only because she sighed from it, but that Undyne, did, too - even going as far as to bury her face into Alices's shoulder.

"Alice," she whispered into her skin. "Don't hide, okay? I want to see you."

"N-no," Alices answered, her hands twitching a little. "Y-you probably d-don't."

"Don't even try to tell me what I want and don't want, nerd," Undyne answered sharply, though she smiled a little sadly, too. "Please?" she added. "I... uh, really want to. I think you look... really good..." Her voice trailed off near the end, clearly feeling shy.

Alices bit her lip, squeezing her eyes shut, before she pulled away and sat up, her hands now on Undyne's shoulders. She turned her head away, not sure what she was expecting.

Undyne stared at her, her mouth going dry again. Alices was a plump monster, and it was something that clearly embarrassed her, but Undyne didn't see it - or her - that way. What she was seeing was beautiful because it was Alices, not because of a specific shape or size.

Therefore, she couldn't help herself - she leaned forward and nuzzled the soft skin right between them.

Alices jumped in surprise, almost tumbling over before Undyne caught her and pulled her back. Alices's heart was racing, her breaths so fast that she felt a little faint - but she didn't push Undyne away. She didn't want to.

Undyne sighed deeply, letting herself linger for a moment before pulling away. Alices turned back to her and met her gaze shyly, one hand gently curving over her cheek.

"Wh-what are we doing, Undyne?" Alices whispered, leaning closer to her and brushing her lips over Undyne's.

"Living," Undyne answered without hesitation.

"Show me how?" Alices asked, her voice wavering a little.

Undyne grinned at her, her eye going wide. "Yeah? Really?"

"Yes," Alices agreed, grinning back.

"Just so we're clear," Undyne said, her voice so soft that Alices shivered again. "I'm suggesting sex."

Alices blushed but also rolled her eyes, which made Undyne smile again. "Yes, Undyne!" she sighed. "I know that!"

"So, then, you know that once we do it, that means we're together, right?"

Alices blinked at her, looking shy again. "Uh," she murmured. "I-I mean... I-I understand if not. Things are r-really messed up right now, and we-we both... really need this..."

She said that quite sincerely, closing her eyes for a moment. "S-so I won't... hold it against you i-if this is j-just a one-time thing."

"Alice," Undyne tried, but Alices cut her off.

"We're adults," she continued, her hands now tangled and held in front of her chest, her head lowered. "I'm n-not that m-much of a loser, to n-not be open to th-this kind of comfort--,"

"Shut." Undyne reached up and covered her mouth gently; Alices looked up at her and went quiet.

"That's nice," Undyne said. "But that's not what I want. I want to..." She swallowed, suddenly feeling shy. "Uh. Alice, I... I love you, remember?"

"Yes," she said, her voice muffled by Undyne's hand (she let it drop after that). "And... I love you," she admitted. "Th-though that was obvious, heh."

"Uh, yeah..." Undyne cleared her throat. "Obvious. Right. But what I mean by that is, well, blame my being surrounded by dogs, but I prefer a mate for life, y'know?"

Alices suddenly couldn't breathe. She stared at Undyne, realisation slowly going through her.

"I... me?" she squeaked out.

"Alice," Undyne smiled, leaning close to her again. "It's always been you."

"Undyne..." Alices whispered, her hands suddenly going up and grabbing onto her shoulders. "Kiss me?"

Undyne kissed her - and this time, they didn't stop.