Guilt wasn't an emotion that the older of the skeleton brothers was allowed to feel anymore. Regrets would hinder the actions fate seemed to demand of him. Yet, as his phalanges touched the door knob to his workshop despite knowing that he shouldn't feel shame for what he had done that didn't seem to stop the sensation of his sins making his bones feel cold. Sans suppressed a shudder as he took a deep breath to steady himself. His grip tightened on the paper bag that contained a few hot dogs from his job in Hotland. He knew he couldn't really delay this. No matter how much he really wanted to do so. Each day he came here just never got any easier for him. It drained him emotionally and psychically each time. Sometimes it felt like giving up would be the better option. It's not like he hasn't done that before. To just not bother with anything. Life was somewhat simpler then.

Closing his eye sockets he couldn't help but still see images of his brothers red scarf laying in the snow. How his brothers dust scattered in the cold breeze. It may have not happened this timeline, however it didn't change the ache that constricted around his soul each time he thought about it. That was all he needed to keep his resolve up with the task at hand. Without another thought he opened the door and stepped inside, locking the door behind him and flicking on the light switch as he did so.

Immediately he heard the muffled whimpers coming from across the room which gave him another pause as he instantly knew which one of the anomalies he'd be dealing with that morning. Sans gazed around the room, stalling for the little bit of time that he could. This place used to be his solace from the world a safe haven from the miserable never changing state of his life and now well it was as much as a prison it had become for him just as much as it was meant for his captive.

The renovations to turn his workshop into a suitable prison for the anomaly didn't take him too long. After all what was really time to someone like him who had the ability to stop its flow with his magic? A useful trick even if it exhausted him. When the anomaly couldn't beat him in the judgement hall and they reset the timeline the decision regarding their new living spaces was made for them. Even if it hurt Sans in the process to give up his workshop to do so.

Sans never wanted this responsibility, but affording not to care just wasn't an option he could longer take anymore. Not after last time. Not after how many monsters had died by the anomalies blade. Not after finding Papyrus scarf. Not after his hand being forced to kill them again and again, so many times that he lost count. This was better than the alternative. Keeping her safe and locked away was better for everyone. With that in mind he made his way over to the other side of the room. Stopping a few feet away from the curled up form of the anomaly.

She didn't look up at him, not yet anyways, but he knew that she knew he was there. Her knees were curled up to her chest as she sat with her back pressed against the wall. The collar and chain that kept her in place was still around her neck as her hands were always handcuffed which gave her very limited movement in her prison.

It was better this way. He reminded himself again. A mantra that always played in his head when he found himself in self-loathing doubt. This way his promise was kept, this way they couldn't hurt anyone like last time and this way he had some control over the resets that plagued his existence. It had to be this way.

Perhaps one day, Sans might actually start to believe the excuses he told himself.

Perhaps one day, he wouldn't hate himself anymore.

That day wouldn't be today.

Not when he stood in front of Frisk's whimpering form.

Sans had been doing this long enough to tell which anomaly he was around without seeing the color of their eyes. When it was Frisk in control she was more timid, more fearful of being around him. She would allow herself to cry around him and if he was honest with himself she was the easier one to deal with. Chara on the other hand was a spiteful brat. Chara would rather curse his name than ever show any amounts of weakness even if it never fooled him of how afraid even Chara was. She'd threaten him, fight him over the smallest of things until he got angry and his left eye would shine blue, but even then she would try to at least seem somewhat brave.

He often found himself being kinder to Frisk than Chara. With Frisk he would at least to attempt to brighten up their miserable existence with a bad joke or try to have a conversation with her. Sometimes when Papyrus was off training he would even teleport Frisk into his room for she could get some much needed exercise on his treadmill. A small kindness that she always showed her appreciation for with timid thanks. When he was around Frisk it gave him slight hope that maybe one day he wouldn't have to keep her locked up the way that he did. The feeling never lasted, not when Chara would resurface and sour any attempts at mercy that he was willing to give.

Again if he was honest with himself, Sans knew he could never really let them go free. Not really. The risk was too high and if they somehow died well she would just reset and then all of this would have been for nothing. No, he had to keep them safe and under his watchful eye. A deep fear worried him though as the time that did pass since all this started was what would happen if she died of old age? Would all those years of his life moving forward be thrown back in time once again? It terrified him that the answer was yes and how pointless all of this really did mean. Here Sans was though, trying to care when all he wanted to do was nothing like he normally did.

What the fuck was he even doing with his life?

What the fuck was the point?

Why should he even bother anymore?

A promise made behind a door so many timelines ago.

A lonely red scarf left in the snow as its owners dust scattered away.

His brothers dust.

Haunting screams as bones pierced the small frame of the kid that he killed over and over again without a shred of mercy.

Blood staining golden tiles and his blue jacket.

Filling his soul with LOVE that no amount of resets could ever get rid of.

That was the point.

That's why he tried.

Sans took a deep breath as he tried to give a friendly grin to the whimpering anomaly in front of him. His voice even sounded strain to him when he did finally speak up. "Heya kid, brought you some breakfast."

She only tried to muffle her sobs was the only response he got out of her. His soul ached at the sound as more guilt threatened to crash over him once again. Sans had to keep it under control. She didn't deserve his guilt after all the things she had done. He couldn't afford to feel regret at keeping her there.

"I'll be uh, frank with ya kiddo, I think you will relish these up over the normal spaghetti I bring ya." Sans grinned when she lifted her head to look up at him at the mention of food that wouldn't be as awful as what she normally got. Not that his little brother didn't try his hardest with cooking, it just wasn't always very edible and selfishly giving his portions to the anomaly instead of being forced to eat it himself made his life a bit easier.

Frisk still seemed unsure as he offered out the paper bag for her to take. Her brown eyes glancing back at him and her meal. He could see that she had been crying for a while as her eyes were puffy. Sans sighed and took a seat in front of her.

"Tell you what, I'll stay and eat some with you if you want?"

They both knew that if she denied to eat then he would magically force her to. A process neither of them really liked that much. He couldn't have her dying by starvation. He couldn't have her die period. So it was easier this way and Sans knew how to manipulate Frisk more so than Chara. The girl was so lonely and he was the only company she ever had. Sans never commented on it, but he often used it to his advantage when it came to Frisk. He really was a manipulative bastard when he needed to be.

"Okay." Frisk let out in an almost inaudible whisper.

Sans only grinned wider as he took the hot dogs out of the bag and handed one to her. Wishing only now that he had brought some condiments with him for he could down some ketchup. Oh well, there was always next time after all. His eye sockets watched her patiently to eat, but her brown eyes kept his gaze and he quickly realized that she wasn't going to until he ate first. Sans could live with that. Frisk was better behaved anyways that he'd allow her this small amount of rebellion. They both ate in silence. Neither really knowing what to say to the other given the circumstances. Not that she really spoke much. She was often too afraid to upset him. Another thing he was fine with even if it brought down guilt he'd have to choke down. It's not like much ever happened in her day for them to ever have a normal conversation. If anything he mostly told her about what he was up to and told her things that he couldn't really tell anyone else. Sans knew she wouldn't ever be able to tell anyone what secrets he would slip out and sometimes he allowed him to be selfish and indulge himself in that fact. It brought him a little piece of mind even if there was still so much he kept to himself.

When she finished one of her hot dogs, he motioned down for her to eat another. That seemed to put her in a bit of a panic he wasn't entirely sure of the reasons why. Her brown eyes went wide and she averted her eyes away from him as if she was contemplating her next words. Sans waited, but all he received for his trouble was her shaking her head. That annoyed him just a bit. He hated it when she started to give him the silent treatment.

"You should really eat some more." Sans tried.

Another shake of her head.

"Come one, they can't be that bad." He pressed again. Compared to what she normally got this should be like a elegant meal for her. Couldn't she just be a little bit grateful for his efforts of making this just a little bit easier for the both of them?

Again she shook her head no and now his temper was rising.

"Just one more kid?"

When she didn't even respond this time he huffed. Trying to keep his mood in check. His magic had a tendency to get out of hand when his mood was sour.

"Why not?" His voice was colder than he meant to sound, but he just wasn't in the mood for any of this and especially not from Frisk.

"My.. my..." Frisk shifted in her spot, hugging her knees closer to her chest in an attempt to hide from him. Which only made him feel like the worse piece of shit in the world.

Sans tried to be patient for her to continue. He really tired, but when she stopped talking all together he just couldn't. Perhaps if he wasn't so damn tired today, he could have been just a little more patient. He stood up abruptly which only made her yelp in surprise and start to cry which only fueled his frustrations more so. He was really trying here despite everything she had done to his life. She was safe even if she wasn't happy. No monsters were going to take her soul. She wasn't going to die again and again by him anymore. She wouldn't be gaining any more LOVE which corrupts the soul. All he wanted was for her to at least eat more. She was so thin as it was and it just made him even more aware of all his failures. It probably wasn't fair to get so angry over a small detail as her denying more food, but at the same time she had been fucking with his life for so long now. Reset after reset. Forcing him to relive the same day over and over again. Forcing him to kill her over and over again. Forcing him to keep her here against her will.

"Spit it out kid!" He growled, her tears just made him feel even worse with their entire situation. He never wanted any of this. Why couldn't the anomaly just have been happy in the first timeline? Why couldn't the anomaly not have forced his hand into all of this? Why couldn't they just get their words out? Why couldn't he have just acted sooner instead of letting everything fall apart the way that it did? Was this really his fault or theirs?

It was so much easier to blame her than facing his own sins crawling on his back every waking moment.

"My stomach hurts." Frisk spoke fast and in a panic at the sight of his left eye sparking blue.

With just three words all his ire that had been building over a long period of time seeped out of him leaving only bitter exhaustion in its wake. He gave her a stiff nod as he didn't trust himself to speak with her just yet. Minutes passed between them and she wasn't even looking at him anymore. What started out as just a nice break from their usual meal had turned into resentment for them both. Sans closed his eye sockets and let out a heavy breath.

"Alright, I'll save some for you latter," It was a simple statement, however it felt even more painful for them both with the meaning behind the words. How again and again they would be stuck in this same spot with each other. "You should get some rest. I need to get to work anyways." He added absentmindedly, no longer in the mood to be around her. However, before he could leave she spoke up again.

"Sans..." Her voice was shy and held a tinge bit of desperation behind it.

Sans didn't even turn around to look back at her, but did cease his movements of leaving to at least hear what she had to say.

"Need somethin' kiddo?"

Another small statement that held so much weight behind his words. They both knew that she wouldn't receive anything in this timeline unless he provided it for her. That Sans held all the power over her life for as long as she was under his care. He could give her everything or deny her everything. Sans could be cruel or kind and as long as the anomaly couldn't escape from him like he planned there was absolutely nothing they could do about it. The feeling of control was intoxicating to him and only Chara ever called him out on it. Frisk still seemed to believe that he was somewhat of a good monster despite the circumstances. Frisk was naive. Whatever good part of him died so many timelines ago that he wasn't even sure it ever existed within him to begin with. Having as much control as he did over the anomaly that used time like her personal plaything was exciting for him. A fact he tried to hide from Frisk as best he could.

"Can you..." Frisk hesitated with her request and he turned to look at her to offer some encouragement. "If it's not too much trouble..." she tried again, stopping shortly to take a deep breath and then asked him, "Could you stay?"

The request was just so absurd given their situation and innocent that he couldn't help but let out a chuckle which caused her to flinch back a little. It always amazed him how desperate she was for his company when he was the reason that she was so isolated for so long to begin with. Perhaps she was going crazy? Though she was crazy enough to almost commit genocide on all monster kind before. The laughter died instantly as he felt a flare of his magic spark at the memory. Brown eyes went wide as tears started to come to the surface.

"You don't have to. I just... I..." she started to babble until he lifted up a boney finger to shush her.

"Heh, tibia honest with ya kid, I really should be getting to work." He said dryly and that just made her let out a pathetic whine that grated on his nerves.

"Please... Sans..." Frisk pleaded with him in a desperate attempt not to be alone.

Sans awkwardly scratched the back of his skull as he contemplated her request. It's not like he really took his multiple other jobs that seriously. He only did them to take care of his brother, but at the same time staying around the anomaly for longer period of times always made his mood dampen. The lights in his eye sockets glanced around the room as he tried to think of a better excuse to leave. Not that he honestly needed one, however when it came to Frisk he always felt his resolve crumble. A part of him wished he was dealing with Chara that morning instead as he would have already been gone by now.

"There really isn't much to do in here together." He commented more to himself. What Frisk said next, however nearly made him blanch on the spot.

"Could you hold me then? Please. Just for a bit.."

Sans had never expected such a request in his life to be made of him. At least not by the anomaly and he had to fight back the urge to short cut away from room as fast as he could. The lights in his eyes sockets went dark as he took on her thin form on the ground. She wasn't looking at him which he was thankful for in that moment. His mind was still reeling from that request and he wasn't so sure if giving her that would be such a good idea for her sake. For her safety. Safety from him. Having the resets stop for a couple years she had started to grow up more. Her body not so much of that of a kid anymore. Often times he found himself late at night having repulsive fantasies regarding the anomaly. Sans knew he was a disgusting monster for even thinking the things he did, but it was so hard to care anymore. It never helped with how vulnerable she always was to his mercy. That he could do whatever he wanted to her and no one would ever find out. No one could ever stop him. As vile as those images were Sans always found a way to prevent himself from acting on them. Now, he found himself much too silent and different scenarios playing through his head. Only when Frisk looked up at him did he stop and give a fake smile.

"I suppose, I could. Just for a bit, kiddo. Then I really need to go. Understand?" His tone was hopefully stern. Sans wasn't entirely sure, right now. Frisk gave him a small smile and that was settled. There was just no escaping it.

Sans sat against the wall next to her and she quickly moved her position to lay her back against his sternum. He could feel the chain attached to her metal collar resting against his shoulder, but he paid it no mind. Much to content to just sit there and bask in the never before hand scenario. Frisk snuggled up against his blue jacket and whispered out a thank you to him, which he simply shrugged at. As his phalanges stroked her short brown hair he couldn't help, but feel more tempted by his darker urges. It's not like she could stop him from taking what he wanted. After all her life was in his hands until she one day died. Shouldn't he be rewarded for all the suffering he has had to endure because of the anomaly? It was just too easy. He could make her do whatever he wanted and then reward her in some way for good behavior. Perhaps get her used to the idea if he did it enough times? Frisk wouldn't even fight back. Sans knew that. She was the meeker one compared to Chara. Thinking of that dirty brother killer turned his thoughts from lewd to more violent as his grip unconsciously tightened against Frisk. Her frame flinched, but Sans payed little attention to it.

His tired eye sockets closed as he tried to control the direction his mind was running wild with. Reminding himself that he was holding Frisk because she asked him to. That she wanted a form of affection from him. Not that she had many options, but still she had wanted him. Sans just couldn't destroy the moment being the awful monster that he was. He just couldn't. She would never forgive him if he fucked up that badly. His thoughts were wrong anyways. Even if she had aged a few years compared to him, she was just a kid. She was his responsibility even if she didn't like the methods that he made that position clear. Her breathing went shallower against his chest and he found himself just listening to her breath. This had to be good enough for him. It just had to be. Anything else and Sans would just make both of their lives even more miserable. As time passed he started to nod off as well. Pretending to be better than what he actually was inside only made him feel more drained and exhausted.

Crimson splatted against his face and his eye sockets didn't even blink. His left eye flamed blue as he just watched her gasp for breath that she wouldn't get back until she reloaded again. Brown eyes looked up at him in panic, but he could see the slight tint of red in them as well. How many times had he killed her now? Sans was sure he was closing in on a hundred, but he stopped counting a long time ago. Each time he decided to get more and more brutal in how he would kill her. Couldn't she understand that he hated having to do this? Couldn't she understand that he wasn't going to give her any leeway of succeeding? All he wanted was for the anomaly to reset. To bring his brother back to him. Or at the very least, just stop coming back all together.

"Heh, you really just don't know when to quit do you?" His tone was cold. All emotion that he would show her for how this was tearing him apart inside had died many timelines ago. "I keep trying to tell you it will only get worse each time you come back here. How much more do I have to do to prove that to you?" His voice took on a bit of desperation against his will. "Just reset kid."

Tears ran down her face as she tried to hold on to life that was slowly fading from her broken body. She lost again. They both knew it. Now she would suffer a slower death this time. It was hard to feel much guilt at the fact that he was torturing a child. Sans felt ashamed at the beginning when he first had to kill her, but now it was just growing frustrating. All of this had been her choice. She could stop this whenever she wanted all she had to do was reset. The anomaly had done so many times already so why were they so damn determined to continue this never ending fight between them? Couldn't they just stop? Did they enjoy this? Maybe he needed to start enjoying it to if that was the case? That thought sickened him and he realized what he was becoming the more and more they played this game. A jagged bone went through her neck a second latter. His last act of mercy she would receive from him. Sans stared at her lifeless body as he waited for them to either reset or come back and continue this. It didn't surprise him in the least when the world around him shifted again and the judgment hall was the same as it had always been. When he saw her approach this time, red eyes shining brightly at him with that smile he had come to hate so much, he knew that he would be here even longer than he originally thought.

"Can't dodge me forever, Comedian." She giggled at him as she raised that knife of hers.

Sans didn't hesitate with killing her on the spot that round.

Heh, I might as well enjoy it then. Not much point not to anymore.

Sans skull smacked into the wall hard and his eye sockets opened instantly.

"Fuck!" He yelled out in surprise only for the same action to be repeated.

His skull felt like it was splitting open and his vision went white. Sans couldn't even remember where he was as the agony overcame him. Everything felt fuzzy as he tried to focus on what the fuck was happening. His left eye blazed to life with blue magic and next thing he knew he heard a gasp of pain above him. His breaths came out in rapid succession as he tried to regain his bearings on the situation. Someone attacked him, but who? The nightmare he just had didn't help matters any as he looked around expecting to be in the same golden colored hallway. Much to his relief he wasn't. It was just his workshop. Wait? Sans looked around immediately for the kid when realization dawned on him and he panicked when he couldn't see them anywhere in the room.

Shit!

Fuck!

Where the fuck is she?

Sans stood up and felt a wave of dizziness hit him as he stumbled back against the wall. His phalanges went to hold his aching skull and he felt like he'd fall into unconsciousness at any moment.

Despite the pain his mind was racing. If she had gotten out. No one would be safe! She could save and all of this would have been for nothing! If she found a way to get to Papyrus.

No.

No!

No!

"Put me the fuck down!" He heard her voice above him.

Normally her language would have sent his temper on the edge, but now he couldn't help the sadistic amusement he felt at her ire tone.

His eye sockets trailed up to the ceiling where his magic was holding in place a royally pissed off Chara. Her bright red eyes narrowed down at him. Sans could easily sense the murderous intent radiating off of her very being and all of it was purely directed at him. She wanted him dead that was obvious. Had been obvious each time she surfaced in that body that she shared with Frisk, however this time. Well, she was in for a bad time after this little stunt.

A huge grin formed on his countenance. Chara shivered even if her steely gaze didn't slip away and that made everything even more hilarious to him that he couldn't help, but let out a dark chuckle at her expense. Sans knew she could read him a lot easier than Frisk ever could. There was no need to pretend when it was just the two of them together. Even if he tried to be a better person, Chara would always remind him that I'm the end he wasn't. Most often than not he would agree with her assessment of him. Papyrus would never have done the things he has done to the anomaly. His little brother was so much better than him all the time. Fuck even Asgore who had killed multiple children didn't have the same level of darkness in his soul that Sans did. Even if he hated himself he couldn't afford to be any different. Again he was reminded of the fact that he had full control over the anomalies life. Often he opted to be kinder towards them, well more specifically Frisk, but Chara never gave him much reason to hold back. An excuse that the darker crueler side of him was desperately taking hold of now. Constructing around his soul which surely had to have been tainted by now with everything he's done already in his life. Sans could blame it partially on his nightmare of timelines past, he could even blame Chara for waking him up by attacking him the way she did. Even if he gave every excuse to reason with himself why he was feeling absolutely giddy at the plans running through his head a part of him knew deep down that it was all him. Sans would also deny that to everyone including himself until he finally believed in the lie.

If Chara wanted to play a game with him then he would happily oblige her.