Frisk gave a startled gasp when she felt Sans touch her, not having heard his whisper. She looked at him, eyes red and shining with unshed tears. Her surprise only came from not expecting Sans to wake up. Normally, if she wanted his attention while he was asleep she'd have to work for it. Jostling his shoulder a bit normally did the trick.
Now, she just felt guilty for waking him up. After what had happened, she was so sure that he wouldn't want to deal with her. Yet, as he pulled her into a hug, she realized how wrong she was. Before, her heart would have fluttered with heavy, confusing emotion at him holding her. Now, she wanted to stay buried in his arms forever, where the images of her nightmares couldn't get her.
She didn't speak, only hugged him back as tightly as she could. He felt so sturdy, like nothing in the Underground could or would ever break him. Of course, Frisk knew better. She tensed in his arms, and pressed her face to his shoulder. She looked up only to see their hands joined together, fitting like they were made for each other.
That was it. That was the symbol of the best ending she had ever gotten. Sans and her, their friendship strong despite the hardships they continued to face. Papyrus was alive, as was everyone else. She had stopped trying to get back to the surface years ago, never to know what truly awaited them all beyond the barrier. But what she had now, what she could have had in every timeline, was all she needed.
A sob caught in Frisk's throat as she looked away. "Sans, I..." She paused, trying to force her words out. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She wanted to apologize for what had happened only hours ago, yet could only focus on what had happened in the other timelines.
It made her sick to her stomach. Sometimes Toriel didn't show up in time, and Flowey successfully convinced her to kill. Sometimes an outside entity named Chara would take her over, and kill for the fun of it. During those resets, she never fought as hard against Chara as she could have. Sometimes, however, it was all Frisk. She would get curious. Curious of what would happen, curious of how strong Sans really was.
Whatever the reason for her genocide path, it was almost always the same ending. She'd face Sans and die over and over, until she'd get lucky and land a single blow. She'd laugh at his fallen form, or cry, or do nothing but stare. Either way, she got past him.
One time, when given the chance to spare him, she'd taken it...Then plunged the knife into her own body. They had been going in circles for so long. Death, death, death. She just wanted it to stop, and whatever Sans could do to her wouldn't cut it anymore. She was sure that had been the last reset, but they were all blended together in her mind, so it could have been any timeline.
As she thought of this, Frisk clung to Sans like he was her only lifeline. He had had her blood on his hands so many times, yet he was the only one she could truly trust with her broken soul. She hid her face against his hoodie like she had done when she was a child in the same situation.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Her soft pleas were muffled by the fabric of his jacket and her tears, but that didn't stop her from saying them. She apologized again and again, finding that the word just wasn't strong enough.
"I'd take it all back if I could."
Now, she just felt guilty for waking him up. After what had happened, she was so sure that he wouldn't want to deal with her. Yet, as he pulled her into a hug, she realized how wrong she was. Before, her heart would have fluttered with heavy, confusing emotion at him holding her. Now, she wanted to stay buried in his arms forever, where the images of her nightmares couldn't get her.
She didn't speak, only hugged him back as tightly as she could. He felt so sturdy, like nothing in the Underground could or would ever break him. Of course, Frisk knew better. She tensed in his arms, and pressed her face to his shoulder. She looked up only to see their hands joined together, fitting like they were made for each other.
That was it. That was the symbol of the best ending she had ever gotten. Sans and her, their friendship strong despite the hardships they continued to face. Papyrus was alive, as was everyone else. She had stopped trying to get back to the surface years ago, never to know what truly awaited them all beyond the barrier. But what she had now, what she could have had in every timeline, was all she needed.
A sob caught in Frisk's throat as she looked away. "Sans, I..." She paused, trying to force her words out. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She wanted to apologize for what had happened only hours ago, yet could only focus on what had happened in the other timelines.
It made her sick to her stomach. Sometimes Toriel didn't show up in time, and Flowey successfully convinced her to kill. Sometimes an outside entity named Chara would take her over, and kill for the fun of it. During those resets, she never fought as hard against Chara as she could have. Sometimes, however, it was all Frisk. She would get curious. Curious of what would happen, curious of how strong Sans really was.
Whatever the reason for her genocide path, it was almost always the same ending. She'd face Sans and die over and over, until she'd get lucky and land a single blow. She'd laugh at his fallen form, or cry, or do nothing but stare. Either way, she got past him.
One time, when given the chance to spare him, she'd taken it...Then plunged the knife into her own body. They had been going in circles for so long. Death, death, death. She just wanted it to stop, and whatever Sans could do to her wouldn't cut it anymore. She was sure that had been the last reset, but they were all blended together in her mind, so it could have been any timeline.
As she thought of this, Frisk clung to Sans like he was her only lifeline. He had had her blood on his hands so many times, yet he was the only one she could truly trust with her broken soul. She hid her face against his hoodie like she had done when she was a child in the same situation.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Her soft pleas were muffled by the fabric of his jacket and her tears, but that didn't stop her from saying them. She apologized again and again, finding that the word just wasn't strong enough.
"I'd take it all back if I could."