"heyya, kiddo, how's the surface? pap is around here somewhere if you want-"

"Sans..." Sans became rigid in his seat, the phone pressed to the side of his skull. Their voice had been nothing but a dry, whisper.

"sup?" He tried his best to not sound shaken. "you okay?"

"No..."

"uh..." Well they weren't crying, but they sounded so... distant.

Though with how they'd walked through the Underground, Sans wanted to say they were shy and soft spoken in general, but... with how they'd walked through the Underground...

"well, don't give up there, kiddo, i mean, we aren't down here!" He tried to sound light-hearted. They'd called for a reason and he assumed it was for a small 'pick-me-up', though that was also weird. The kid had went through their journey avoiding everyone, just wanting to get out and leave it all behind. But even as he thought that, Sans knew that there had been something more to it. He just hadn't taken it upon himself to figure it out.

There was silence on the other side of the phone.

"Just give up, I did..."

"Sans?"

"kid?"

"Did I do the right thing?" They pleaded, but as they continued their tone lowered again. Sans couldn't help but picture them leaned up against a wall, curled in on themself. "Asgore's still dead even if I didn't kill him..." That was new to Sans... but it also wasn't. "The Souls are gone. You're all trapped."

"we're making due." Sans encouraged.

"You shouldn't have to." Sans felt a distinct chill as their anger seeped through the phone. "It isn't fair."

"...heh." Sans let out after a moment, trying to get a hold of the conversation. "glad to know you care."

And he was glad to know it. If they really were what he thought they were. Knew they were. Holding the timelines between their small fingers.

"I..." The sadness had returned. "Sans..." They wanted to say something, he could tell. Maybe they really wanted him to answer their question.

"look, kid... i don't know what the right thing to do was, but it's behind us now." He heard them sniffling. Sans had to sigh. "kid, what's wrong? don't leave me in the dark here." There was a strangled laugh but it came with the sound of them crying even harder.

"That's just it." They whispered. "I wanted to show you the sun again. And stay there!" Sans was blanching, however that was possible. "I wanted you to be able to use that telescope for something other than a joke!"

"k-kid.."

"I wanted... I..." They seemed on the verge of sobbing but keeping it just under control. They swallowed, their voice was tight. "I wanted your smile to be real..."

"kid, i... have we been to the surface?" A small sob escaped on the other side of the line.

On the other side of The Barrier...

And he had known that. Somewhere in his Soul, he had known that they all had been there. Together. Then what had happened? They had Reset?! Why-

"It doesn't matter." They sobbed. Uh, Sans begged to differ!

"it matters a lot, actually!" There was only muffled tears. "kid!"

He was angry, but not as much as he thought he should be. He didn't know the kid that well, at least in this timeline, but he knew they weren't bad. There was something wrong.

"It. Doesn't. Matter!" The anger had returned. It gave strength to their voice but it sounded a lot like frustration this time around which was a lot less scary than the true hatred that had leaked out of them earlier. "It doesn't..." They whispered, sounding broken. Sans- "I called because..." They continued before Sans had come up with something to say. He was struggling because he related too well with that statement. He was too perplexed that, they of all people should feel that way when they had all the power in this equation. And yet-... And yet... it somehow felt familiar. It somehow made too much sense. "I called to say... I'm sorry."

"kid?" There was a tone of caution to Sans' own voice. He could tell from their own tone that they weren't apologizing for something they had already done. He didn't know what they were planning, but he was feeling... scared.

"I wanted to say 'I'm sorry' while somebody'd still listen."

They sounded scared too.

"kid! wait!" He was afraid they'd hang up, but the line was still there. Just... The world wasn't.

Sans' voice caught as the world around him spun. It was hard to think.

"kid, wait!" He repeated quickly. "don't do anything st-"

Stupid.

Stupid!

So stupid!

He should have acted sooner.

If he had!

If he had...

Sans' hand rose out of his pocket to rest against the red scarf around his next.

But what was he expected to do against an anomaly that could rewrite the very fabric of time... and destroy it?

His fingers coiled around the scarf.

And.. He guessed, Sans had also believed in them, too. Something did tell him he'd been here before. With everybody gone. But the feeling was different. This time there was a sense of betrayal. He'd been here before. But never against them.

Did they just get bored? He always tried his hardest to make the anomaly happy. As much as he was up to it at least (he wasn't always up for much). But in the end it didn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

But as he watched Undyne fall twice. Mettaton. The others evacuate...

It did matter this time.

Sans felt the uneasiness clawing within him as he stood behind a pillar in Judgment Hall... Waiting.

They wouldn't stop. If they got past here, there wouldn't be another Reset, would there? The amount of power they were gathering.. Going out of their way to find those who were hiding.. The face that had been entirely blank when he had met them was now twisted into a smile he'd rather not describe.

They stood there at the end of the hall... The smile was now not the most unsettling thing on their face. Their eyes didn't have a fire in them like he'd expect from someone with enough DETERMINATION to change and destroy everything.

"heya, so.. you've been busy, huh?" They stared through him but the hold on their knife tightened. They didn't reply. That was fine by Sans. "so, i've got a question for ya." He began. "do you think even the worse person can change...? that everyone can be a good person, if they try?" Their dead eyes drifted to the floor by his feet but they were still smiling. Were they even listening to him? Sans laughed darkly. The answer was obvious, wasn't it? "all right. well, here's a better question." His own smile was widening. "do you really wanna have a bad time?"

Their gaze and stance rose higher. If not for the look in their eyes, Sans would have called it excitement.

"cause if you take another step forward... you are REALLY not gonna like what happens next." Their smile twitched as they took that step. "welp." Sans shrugged. "sorry old lady, this is why i don't make promises."

Sans sighed...

"it's a beautiful day outside, bird are singing, flowers are blooming... on days like these, kids like you..." His eye blazed to life and his hand shot forward as his blasters formed. "should be burning in hell!"

They didn't even cry out in surprise when they were blasted in the face, running right into it.

The light fizzled out and their form lay smoldering on the ground.

"heh..." Sans let out as his smile twisted into a cringe. This was impossible. But if they could get tired of the creatures in the Underground, then hopefully he could get them to tire of this constant stream of failure. His fingers cracked as he stuffed his fists into his pockets as the world began to spin away from him. His brow furrowed as he prepared himself, but he knew it was futile. He wouldn't even remem-

"guess i'm pretty good at my job, huh?"

Their eyes had a tiny spark in them as they rushed forward.

"hey, what comes after trice, anyway?"

"quice? frice?"

"that's the expression of someone whose died 7 times in a row. nope. wait. that's definitely nine, sorry. or was it-"

"hey! congrats! the big one-oh! let's invite all your friends over for a big shinding. we can have pie, and hot dogs, and..." Sans was actually surprised at the light in their eyes that flickered... sadly? "hmmm... wait. something's not right." There was another flicker, of alarm perhaps. "you don't have any friends." They light dimmed and they rushed forward. He moved to greet them in the face with his blasters.

"well i guess we never really WERE friends, huh? heh. don't tell that to the other sans-es, okay?"

They jumped right into his opening attack... Sans froze in terror as their small body slumped to the ground. They... They were playing with him, weren't they?

"let's just get to the point."

He wasn't sure how many times they had done this now. He knew it was double digits still but it was getting ridiculous, he knew. And he could tell why too. Their movements were sluggish... For all that determination.. they didn't seen very determined.

"here we go."

The world was spinning backwards.

"our reports showed a massive anomaly in the timespace continuum. timelines jumping left and right, stopping and starting..." He attacked. They dodged. "until, suddenly, everything ends." Sans let out a low chuckle, knowing they'd heard this before and that it didn't matter. "that's your fault isn't it?" They slumped to the ground and he dragged them across to slam them into the wall.

"you can't understand how this feels." He breathed. The uneasiness was stirring in his rib cage. It felt awkward to talk about it. It wasn't something he talked about. Any of this. Just... "knowing one day, without any warning... it's all going to be reset." They were broken in their movements, barely avoiding his attacks. "look. i gave up trying to go back a long time ago."

More close misses. They couldn't keep dodging forever. Well... technically they could, he guessed, but it didn't mean they'd want to. He clung to that. To get them to give up.

"and getting to the surface doesn't really appeal anymore, either." He attacked. "cause even if we do... we'll just end up right back here, without any memory of it, right?" Their eyes met his, and it was unsettling how hurt they looked at his words. There were tears in their eyes.

That wasn't new, though, Sans realized. Felt.

So he attacked again, and-

"to be blunt... it makes it kind of hard to give it my all."

They weren't giving it their all either... The smile they had worn before had become a strained grimace several timelines ago. He didn't actually remember when, of course. He just knew it wasn't always like that. He was getting under their skin, he had to cling to that.

"or is that just a poor excuse for being lazy...? hell if i know." They took their turn and he took his. "all i know it... seeing what comes next... i can't afford not to care anymore."

They stopped.

"uhh..." There was a moment where he waited for them to act, but as it dragged on he wondered if he should just go into his friendship spiel. He knew they'd heard it before, but it was better than just standing there together awkwardly. "you really don't want to keep swinging that thing around, do you?"

There was a small noise from them and Sans shifted, uncertain. The noise grew and he realized it was a laugh. Their head fell back as their laughter echoed off of the walls. He wanted to kill them. To make it stop. It was- They were sobbing...

Their smile was wide again but it was clearly pained. Their hands curled around the hilt of the blade and they lifted it, pressing their hands to their forehead as their eyes squeezed shut.

"I never wanted this..." Their voice struck Sans more efficiently than the knife. He hadn't heard them utter a word this entire timeline, Loads and all, he felt. He hadn't really cared if they could after awhile. But now... it was hoarse and so.. young. For the first time the fact that they really were a kid.. "I just..."

One of their hands fell from the blade and their arm wrapped around their waist as they struggled to breathe. Now that they were talking, were crying, they didn't seem able to stop. If he were to attack out of turn they'd be dead where they stood. But their voice had caught him off guard, and now that the initial surprise was gone, he was too angry.

"you have a funny way of goin' about things then." Sans said through clenched teeth. They let out a louder sob. They bit down hard as they bent over.

"You..." They breathed in, trying to get it together enough to keep talking and make it coherent. "... keep telling me to quit, that you're getting tired, but... don't you understand?" Sans found himself leaning away, uncomfortable at how shrill and pained their voice was. "This IS me quitting! I can't..." They shook their head violently. Sans didn't understand, but he knew he didn't want to. "Can't you see why it has to be done?!" They shouted, lowering the knife and opening their eyes, tears streaming down their face as they looked up. "The surface..." There was a small broken laugh. "You all deserve it! But you're stuck here! Miserable! The humans..." Their head fell again. "It's not fair! It's not! So why should they have it when you can't?! Why can't I make you all happy?! It's not fair! Can't save Asriel! Can't save ANYONE! SO WHY NOT JUST END IT?! WHY NOT, COMEDIAN, WHY?!"

They had fallen to their knees in exhaustion, the knife clattering onto the ground, useless as they shook and pressed their hands over their eyes while they continued to sob. And Sans could tell this wasn't a trick. His brain, all logic and common sense, told him it was, but he could also feel that it wasn't.

But that's how they had got here hadn't it? Him listening to those feelings instead of just pounding the kid into the ground the moment he had seen them come out of the Ruins covered in dust. Listening to those feelings even as they continued to trudge along, not destroying them like he knew he should of, before it had gotten to this.

"i don't care about what the humans have." He growled. Their breathing shuttered. His eyes narrowed, his left still blazing in expectation of their next move. "i don't need the surface, i just need... papyrus..." He breathed, his sadness and grief hit him more than the anger, but he wouldn't let his guard down. If it was their aim to get him crying and an easy hit they had something to learn. He'd cried. And he was done. The anger was growing inside him again as he recovered.

But to his surprise... If the sound of their child's voice had cut through Sans, the name he had spoken had weighed them down like their Soul was Blue. They had lowered themself almost entirely to the floor.

"I just..."

They lifted their head with difficulty, their teary gaze met his in what looked like desperation. They were unflinching at the blue fire in his that promised to obliterate them with one false move. Their eyes narrowed. "You still weren't happy... Not really. And..." There was a huffed, hurt laugh. "It was my fault... like you said. Mine." Their hand was pressed against their eyes again. "I get it now. I get the treadmill joke... I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry."

Sorry? Sorry?!

"then reset."

"We'll just be on the treadmill again." They laugh-sobbed. "This..." They shook their head. "What's the point of going on when... You said you couldn't care because you knew it would just Reset, but what about me?" They asked and Sans... still didn't understand. "I..." They were too far gone to make any real connected sentences at this point. "I just... Want. To. Quit." They hyperventilated. "Just give up! I did!"

Sans felt a prickle of familiarity to those words sobbed into their hand, as if they were repeating something and not exactly telling him to, he already had anyways so- Oh. That was something he had said before.

"c'mere bud..." Sans said opening his arms. They got their head up but their face was twisted painfully. He could see it in their eyes. Their want.

"You'll just... kill. me. again." Somehow the sobs that interlaced with that statement seemed to hold more meaning than what was apparent. They'd been dying. There was something else there that they were crying about. Something that him killing them implied.

"i promise, i won't." They looked up again from their sobs and he could see their hope in their half-lidded, golden brown eyes. They hesitated but then sprung forward in a run, as if they had taken longer they'd change their mind.

They plowed into him, their arms inescapable around him. They were tense with fear, waiting for the blow.

It didn't come.

They buried themself deeper into his hoodie.

"I... I'm sorry." They whispered, their breath just a shutter. Sans was rigid but after a moment... he placed his hand on their head. They flinched, but then relaxed into it as nothing violent happened. Sans scowled. Just accepting his embrace and touch like it was natural? Just expecting him to let them get by so easily? After what they did?!

"I just..." They cried, but then their voice dropped back into a hushed whisper... "I don't want to do this anymore."

Something rageful snapped in Sans. His fingers curled into their hair. Their eyes opened in panic as their Soul went Blue and they were being twisted through the air. He grabbed their arm with all of his strength and they yelped as they were dunked down onto a pile of bone.

Their eyes met his in distress, begging, as if this was truly all unexpected. Sans' fury was blazing inside his chest as much as his eye was.

"then. re. set." Sans seethed. There was an intense pain in their eyes, there was betrayal? He'd broken one promise today, what was another? It'd always been the plan. Their eyes squeezed shut as they tried to squirm in discomfort while their HP trickled bellow ten. Their hand hadn't let go of his and they tightened their grip in one last act of desperation. One final plea- Like they didn't want to ever let go-

"You'll just... kill. me. again."

Their readiness to accept his touch-

"you can't understand how this feels."

"Just give up! I did!"

Sans' smile fell...

Their inability to get past him, the way they shambled about- He'd...

"I don't want to do this anymore."

When they had come out of the Ruins, covered in dust, he had been so afraid. So afraid of them. But in the end, what if that part of him that had held back from crushing them... Had he really been afraid of them? Or... for them?

Sans realized he had made a mistake. It suddenly made sense. He-

Sans realized he couldn't afford not to care anymore.

But it was too late. He was going to forget again.

The fire in Sans' eye flickered out as their Soul shattered and their head fell. Their grip disappear but Sans caught their slipping hand, keeping it resting in his.

There was an unusual, sickening feeling as the world around him began to spin backward, and he realized...

They'd just crossed over into triple digits.

The laughter that echoed throughout Judgment Hall chilled Sans down to the bone. He was rigid, his teeth gritted together as he found himself cowering, a hard, sick feeling where his stomach would be.

Something had gone wrong. Something had gone seriously wrong. He'd made a mistake but he couldn't remember what.

The creature that moved towards him was smiling, as he knew they would be, but more unsetting was how alive their eyes were. Their red glint put Sans' mind in a flurry of confusion. He was almost certain their usually half-lidded gaze hadn't had that before.

The creature came to a stop and held the knife out in front of them.

"You REALLY wish you hadn't done that." There was an intense giggle as they sprung forward with renewed energy.

Sans moved into his routine but The Creature flew through it. He had known they were getting up there in attempts but the speed and agility caught him off guard. It was a true shock. No, not the speed and agility, really, he realized as they swung with intense force. The resolve. The determination.

There was no slack to their step. They were swift and precise.

And he couldn't keep up.

He died.

And then he was back.

It wasn't like usual; that sensation of the world falling away around you, swirling back through time and you just barely notice your a bit dizzy and you know something happened but you can't remember what. Just a feeling. Or two. With Sans getting pretty good at figuring out those feelings.

This wasn't like that.

This was like he was being slammed back into place. Being forced into existence where he hadn't a moment ago.

Because he hadn't.

It wasn't dizzying. It was sharp and painful and he was rigid as sweat immediately began to work it's way down his skull.

He'd died.

And now he was back.

His eyes lifted to the figure coming forward. the red eyes wild and the smile triumphant.

That expression they were wearing...

"well i won't grace it with a description."

He was slammed back into place. Again. His head was reeling as his eye sockets widened.

He-

He'd died again. He'd died several times now... He just...

"Poor Comedian," The Creature cooed, fiddling with the knife in it's fingers. "He's taken his last chance and dunked on them." It's smile emphasizes the fake pity. "And now... it's just us! They've done exactly what you've said! Congratulations!" Sans eyed them nervously, guilt somehow rising up inside him though he couldn't, didn't want to, place it. "They've given up entirely. Retreated! Handing over the reigns early!" The Creature rushed forward with a laugh. "Now *I* get to have all the fun!"

He was slammed back into play.

Sans was sweating buckets immediately, his chest was physically sore...

"Congratulations! The big one-oh!" They chimed excitedly. Sans found his gaze trailing around the golden room, not sure of what to do. They'd killed him. They'd killed him ten times. He was being played with again.. He let his rage drown out any chance that he could cry. "We'll invite all your friends over for your funeral this time! We can have Mom make some pie in your memory! Tell some bad skeleton puns you would have liked." They blinked. "Oh. Sorry." Their smile twisted. "I forgot! You don't have any friends left. We killed them all." Their laughter was wild and unsettled. "Guess we can all have one, big, funeral together! Won't that be nice?!"

"you really are sick, freak." They laughed again.

"You don't even get the half of it!" They taunted as they began to adjust their footing. "Let's just end this..."

They charged him.

It was over.

But despite their words, he was back again. They must not have been bored enough. Except, now that he could see them, it didn't seem to have been planned this way.

They looked MAD. But it couldn't have been from anything he'd done, though that would have been great.

The red eyes were on fire and their smile was now a rage-filled snarl.

"You can stop it now!" They seethed.

Sans had the sudden realization he'd died several more times than he was 'supposed' to.

"Are we doing this or not?!" They demand. Sans hesitated, they could only be talking to him but he couldn't help like feeling that they weren't.

"heh." Sans tried, hoping to sound confident though his chest felt like it was tearing apart. "That's all up to you." His eye blazed to life and he readied his attack. The Creature growled in rage as they gripped the knife and rushed-

They'd died.

Sans knew it but he didn't understand how. They had been killing him for double digits now. He couldn't have surprised them.

And this time something was off.

They weren't there.

The other side of the hall was empty. Where had they run off? This was new. He could feel it. And it continued to be new as the Underground darkened and the day was spent. Where the hell was that thing?! Sans was riveting in anger. They were sick! Sick! Playing with him. Always playing with him. If they were going to be this way... they should just end it or Reset! What was the point of this? What did they want?!

Sans felt like he should know.

But he didn't care at this point what they wanted. Just as long as they RESET.

It was dark when they reappeared at the other end of the corridor. He could hear them walking slowly, almost meekly. In the shadows he could make out their cowering figure.

"S-Sans?" They called out. They seemed half hopeful he would be there and yet terrified by the very idea as well.

They froze as his single eye burned up in the darkness, and in the light of the blasters' growing attacks he caught the reflection off of their wide eyes. It was almost pretty when the blasters went off, killing The Creature as they screamed in agony.

They were trembling as they stood at the other end of Judgment Hall. The knife was gone and their fingers were coiled together loosely in front of their chest as they stared ahead, towards him. He eyed them curiously. This was new, too.

"Do you... Do you think even the worse person can change? T-That everyone can be a good person, i-if they just try?" They asked, their voice was weak and shook despite the fact that they were clearly trying to sound resolved. Their eyes were half-lidded and a soft, chocolate brown. Sans shifted in place as he stared them down. They were using his own shtick against him and he didn't appreciate it. "H-Here's a b-better question." There were tears in their eyes. "Are those around them willing to help them?" The scarf around Sans' neck choked him with anger.

"well we'll never know," He spat as he summoned his blasters, "if you never reset."

"S-Sans!" They pleaded, reaching a hand out to him.

Their Soul shattered.

They hadn't even tried to dodge...

They stood there cast over in darkness, the knife limp at their side but clearly there. There was something different. They moved through the routine with ease. The few times Sans caught their eye, he could see their gaze was determined but also their own. Somehow, he had expected the red eyes of a demon. It would have been appropriate.

They breezed past his attacks and something inside Sans knew that this was it. This was the end for real this time.

He'd messed up somewhere along the way. Several somewheres. But when your memory is blank each time and you're just left with a bundle of conflicting emotions, getting it right was pretty difficult. Especially since he didn't know what they wanted.

But he should...

He shrugged the feeling off as they passed up his Mercy gig, which was expected. They practically danced through his attacks but he also dodged theirs. He could tell, that while they were putting their all into their dodging, they seemed to be holding back in their attacks.

Well, they probably knew when he slipped up so anything before was just for show, wasn't it?

They didn't have to give it their all the entire time... Unlike him. That was their advantage.

Sans was sweating and so tired. Physically and emotionally.

"all right. that's it. it's time for my special attack. are you ready? here goes nothing." They lowered the knife as they looked down and away from him as he panted. He let out a small chuckle before continuing. They didn't seem to be hearing what he had to say until finally...

"but now you've reached the end, there is nothing left for you now, so, uh, in my personal opinion... the most 'determined' thing you can do here? is to, uh, completely give up, and.." He had to yawn. He was just so tired... but he could see their grimace even if their eyes were hidden behind their bangs. Why were they even here? Just... "do literally anything else." He begged.

They stood together in silence as Sans' eyes began to drift closed.

This felt familiar. Too familiar. If he fell asleep... No, him falling asleep wouldn't be his downfall. They'd... He breathed out and he couldn't keep his eyes o...

Panic!

Sans' eyes opened wide as he side-stepped their attack.

But the relief he thought he should feel didn't come.

"heh. didja really think you would be abl- ooph!"

The force of their entire body collided with him. Sans staggered back, barely keeping himself balanced as they grabbed onto to him with what was probably everything they had. His left eye flickered to attack, the magic pulsing through him in his fear, but...

The flame died as he looked down at the top of their head and he froze solid in place, his breath catching. Their face was buried into his chest. He could tell they weren't breathing at first, holding onto him as tightly as they could in what felt like desperation.

Sans grew more tense as, but in the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something. Risking a glance over, Sans saw the knife laying more than a fair distance away. His eyes widened... Their first "attack", he realized, had been them throwing the knife.

Wha-

He should be dead.

They should be dead.

Somebody should be dead!

He was too confused.

This was new.

Sans glared down at them again, both of them tense and still. They finally had to take a breath, and suddenly they were shaking against him. They didn't dare speak. All they did was simply hold onto him, a plea instead rising up with their silence.

Sans didn't understand.

But something was again nagging at him that he should. And that... he somehow couldn't afford not to care anymore.

But he didn't understand.

"what is it that you want, kid?" He demanded. They broke into loud sobs, not even trying to hold back.

This was sick. They were just playing him, weren't they? Again? Why keep going? They'd killed him, they had gotten past this. Why had they kept coming back?

"what is so important to you?" He needed to know. He wanted to understand all this! But... he was also afraid to, if he was honest. Because what if there wasn't a point? What if there was? Sans forced his hans out of his pockets and out of their hold. They whimpered as they retightened their arms around his ribcage.

"Please, don't..." They begged, barely audible as they breathed. "Please..."

Sans bit down the anger. They had no right to ask that, but Sans... He slowly pushed past his extreme discomfort and wrapped his arms around them. One supported the back of their head and the other wrapped around their back. It was mostly to keep them where he could handle them when needed... A few sobs broke through his hoodie as he touched them and they were incredibly tense. Waiting. Waiting for him to kill them. Like he wanted to.

"if you regret everything why won't you just reset?" Sans demanded again. He couldn't hide the anger in his voice and didn't even try. They flinched, curling deeper into his hoodie as they shivered. "kid..." His anger faltered. Something about that movement.. Why? What were they playing at? What- "what is so important that you need me to under... stand?"

Sans blinked in realization as they let out another few sobs in response. They wanted him to understand. To understand, he had to be open to listen. With the way they had breezed through his attacks, passing up on his Mercy- They hadn't deserved it. They didn't deserve this. And they knew it. But... Sans found his arms wrapping around them tightly, it felt more natural and genuine, somehow. There was a few minutes of him just holding them as they cried, but slowly, they seemed to relax in his arms even as he remained tense for the most part. Their head twisted out of his hoodie and they rested their cheek against his chest. Their eyes opened but their eyes seemed unfocused.

"W-What did..." Their voice was hoarse and weak from crying and disuse. "Why did the demon murder the friendly skeletons?" Sans gritted his teeth, he didn't like where this was going at all. "B-Because they were bonely." They shuttered as they almost started to cry again.

"that doesn't seem very funny, kid." Sans said as evenly as possible.

"Because that's not the joke..." They tried to continue. "The joke is that they thought it would help." Sans' expression wavered, they were breaking in his arms. "I just don't want to do this anymore..."

They close their eyes and rested their full weight against him. Waiting... Sans wanted to tell them to Reset, but somehow he knew that wasn't the answer they were looking for or they'd done it already.

"i don't get it, kid." San admitted.

"You keep telling me to quit." They said. "To give up... but..." Their eyelids squeezed shut painfully. "This was me giving up."

Sans stared down at them, the lights in his eyes glowing with more intensity as it clicked.

"i meant the resets, kid!" Sans was surprised to feel the tears in the back of his eyes and there was a strange sound laced in his voice. He was finally beginning to understand and he regretted it dearly.

"I can't." They whimpered. "I can't... There is no right answer. I can't save... save.." They buried their face into his chest again and they were tense as they expected him to get angry- And he admittedly was, but it felt different than before. He somehow suddenly knew that he couldn't hate them as much as they hated themself.

"this ain't the right answer, kid." He said and they seemed to cave in on themself some more. That wasn't the right thing to say either, was it? "you know it isn't!"

"But... I can't find anything else." They told him. "I can't... This is the only way know I can stop it.. The only way I know I can actually die!"

They yelped as he pressed them closer, he could feel their panic, their certainty that they were about to die. He only squeezed them tighter, his head resting against the side of theirs as they stared towards the ceiling. He felt them freeze in surprise, but then when it finally got to them that he wasn't actually obliterating them in place they broke out into another set of loud sobs.

"kid, just reset, it'll be okay. please..."

"You'll still hate me!" Sans reopened his eyes. "It doesn't matter if I go back, you'll still hate me!" They cried. "I'm sorry... I'm.." They shook their head lightly. "I can't do this alone! And you can never forgive me! Even if you forget! I can... I can never fix this. I'M SORRY! I just..." Their voice fell to a pitiful whisper. "I just want to stay dead... I don't want to do this anymore."

This is what they've wanted him to understand. This was why they hadn't Reset. Resetting wouldn't fix everything... Not now that they knew he knew.

"Why can't I just end it all? I'm already... I'm already here... There... there really is nothing left for me now. I've ruined everything!"

It felt pretty crappy to have them using his own words against him to justify them destroying the world. And he felt even more ashamed that he didn't have an answer. At least one that he was sure they'd want to hea-

"I love you." Sans' eyes were widening again. "I love all of you!" Their voice shuttered but they would never take it back. "I thought... I thought I hated humanity so much and I didn't even realize it wasn't all me!" Sans frowned but they were still talking so he couldn't ask what they meant. "But... in the end... I can't!"

They shuttered again and shook their head shortly.

"But I can't go back... You'll just hate me. You do hate me." They shifted their head downward and though they couldn't realize it, the top of their head touched the base of the scarf on his neck. Their voice had grown hollow. "You'll never forgive me... I can't... I can't even ask it."

"you're right." The kid slumped even more, their arms falling slack, their tears were dry now and they seemed to be growing numb. Something inside Sans hurt. "but kid, what i said earlier, about what i thought the anomaly needed... was that really all that bad? was it really not enough?"

"You weren't happy."

Sans breathed out in what could have been a failed attempt at a chuckle. He wasn't even sure they noticed it. He shifted his weight. He was still so tired. He gave up and slid down into a sitting position. They fell with him, basically having been supported by him for a while anyways. They rested, not exactly in his lap, though it would have been more comfortable, physically, for both of them if they had been. They looked miserable and broken.

"But that was my fault... It's all my fault."

Sans wanted to agree again, but he bite his metaphorical tongue. He also felt like he shouldn't ask them what they were going to do about it, either. He felt like that was the problem they were trying to solve.

"you want me to be happy, kid?" He asked instead. They just lowered their head against his chest even more. "kid, all i need is papyrus. and..." The Resets stopping would be helpful, too, but he sort of needed one at the moment. "and maybe one day that can include you."

He could feel the change in them, they were once again tense and holding their breath. And Sans... He was surprised himself. He had said that manipulatively, but now that the words had actually been spoken, he thought... just maybe... once upon a time he'd wanted that. It surprised him... He had called out to them as a friend before, but maybe that hadn't all been manipulation either. He'd... actually wanted it. And it had just made his anger at this situation hotter.

"kid, how about you promise me something?"

They perked up, their head lifting and their wider than usual eyes met his as they waited. He could see it. Their need for this. They actually, truly wanted to make this right. Sans hesitated.

"just... don't abuse my trust again, okay? and i'll work on the forgive and forget." He said, making another promise he really hoped he wouldn't regret. But at least this was conditional. At least he wouldn't remember making it. And therefore it wouldn't hurt to break it. "i... i could use a little help on the forget part." He said, trying to give them a real smile. Their lips parted in shock.

God how had this happened? How was he here on the ground with the kid he was supposed to be pounding into it? That he still... hated. A lot actually. But... He found that he didn't want to. Hadn't once upon a time.

"and just... when you're ready. remember that we don't need everything to be happy. as long as... as long as we don't give up?" Tears were glistening in their eyes again. "ooph-"

Sans slumped back a bit as they pushed into him in a renewed, tight hug.

He should be dead.

They should be dead.

Somebody should be...

Sans wrapped his arms back around them and held them close.

He shouldn't be on the verge of crying...

"I... I promise!" They said. "One day... I'll stop the Resets." He succeeded in letting out a breathy chuckle this time and they looked up to see the tears forming in his own eyesockets. "B-but... it might be awhile." They admitted, and there was real terror in their gold-brimming eyes. "They're really angry."

"w-who?"

They were already clinging to him again, their eyes squeezing shut. The world began to spin away. Sans' eyes opened wide and hope rattled in his ribcage.

"pap..." He breathed.

"I'm sorry..." Their voice was distant and he couldn't feel them anymore. The word was-

"heyya, kiddo, how's the surface? pap and undyne were ar-"

"Sans..." Sans paused, his magic racing through him in fear. Their voice was soft and almost a whisper on the other end of the phone.

"sup?" He said. "you... you okay?"

"I... I think so." They said. Sans could hear them moving. At least their head. "Sans...?"

"yeah, kiddo?" They hesitated again.

"Would you... Could you really be happy? If... If t-the Resets stopped? And you were still in the Underground? If... If I had a way to keep Asgore from dying?" Sans was frozen and it wasn't because of the snow surrounding him.

"kid?" He shouldn't be surprised that they knew he knew about the Resets. In fact it made sense. He kind of already knew that, just like he knew... other things. But he hadn't been prepared for them to just spring it on him without warning. But... somehow he felt like they'd done that before too. "uh... i mean... as long as we moved forward, i... i guess? i mean it would be a step up from right now, right? and no resets would be great in my opinion."

There was an intense silence on the other side.

"kid?"

"Would..." They sounded on the verge of tears. They sounded absolutely terrified. "Would it be okay... If I was there?"

Everything seemed to freeze now. The entire world held its breath-

They had traveled through the Underground making a lot of friends as they had went, but there had always been an apprehensiveness around him, Sans had noticed. An apprehensiveness that he was sure hadn't been there the last time they'd come through. Even if it wasn't exactly new itself. Now he realized it was because they had made some sort of decision. Something they weren't sure he'd agree to.

"is there something i should know about us, kid?"

About one of the other things that he just knew. That dark something he was aware they had done and he pretty much could guess what it was. Something unforgivable.

"I... You told me not to tell you again until I was done Resetting." They admitted. He smiled a bit more. "I... I'm sorry." They whispered. And he knew that they were. But the past was in the past. "A-And... Chara says they're sorry too."

Sans scowled. Who? But they didn't seem to want to talk about that either, maybe it was supposed to be for later too.

"well you know what they say: forgive and forget." He meant it to be a joke, that he didn't remember it at all, but they let out a small, choked sob. "...hey, kid." He tried gently. They breathed in deeply and let out an even louder breath.

Sans lifted his other hand to support the bottom of the phone.

"but about that question..." The silence had returned, filled with cold terror. He could feel it from even across The Barrier. "yeah. it'd be more than okay. preferable actually."

"R-Really?!" They breathed in relief. They paused. "E-Even if... you knew I could have set everyone free?"

Welp. This conversation was heavier than he had been prepared for. He had to think about this for probably what was an awkward minute.

"i... i would trust that you'd have your reasons, kiddo." He said finally. They were crying on the other end, but there was also a soft laugh. "if you think that's the right thing to do, then... who am i to judge?"

"I love you." Sans paused, his fingers tight around the phone. Finally, he relaxed and his smile softened.

"we love you too, kiddo." They sniffed and he heard them moving again. Probably standing up.

"One more time." They said. He could picture them, their eyes fierce. Filled with determination. "We promise... I-If my plan works..."

The world around Sans swirled and began to tunnel away at high speeds as time rewound.

"hang in there, kiddo." He didn't expect them to be able to hear him, he was already beginning to forget.

"Thank you, Sans... for listening."

Sans woke up from his dream, staring at the dull ceiling and the sound of the trash tornado somewhere in the dim light.

He knew they had just Reset, whoever they were that had their fingers buried deep in time. But for some reason... Somehow...

He felt more hopeful than he had in a while.

A part of him refused to give up.

And Sans knew...

That was something new.