Frisk didn't fully understand why she had asked Sans to stay with her and hold her. Well, she did. She was lonely and he was the only company she ever had anymore. A part of her wished that she could hate him. It should be easy to as he had kept her prisoner in this room for so long now. Yet, she just couldn't. Not when he would occasionally seem to go out of his way to brighten up her day. His jokes were awful, but she felt more at peace in his company than when she was left alone with her thoughts. With her nightmares of bloody golden tiles and pain that would even stay with her when she awoke. She stopped begging for him to let her go free a long time ago, however that hope never did vanish.

Sans wasn't a bad monster. She knew that. He just didn't trust her.

Maybe one day he will.

That thought hurt that even after all this time. She could see it in his demeanor towards her at times. Where he would be hesitant to get to close to her in fear of something she couldn't understand fully. Sometimes she wanted to ask him why he felt the need to keep her locked up. The only answer she got in the early days was that it was better for everyone involved.

On the rare occasions when she would hear another voice in her head, she'd ask questions to them as well. But again all she was ever told was not to trust him.

As he held her close now and stroked her hair, Frisk felt the same familiar warmth she would often get when he was around. She wasn't naive. There were moments where he terrified her and she knew if she didn't do as she was told then he could lose his temper. Yet, that didn't stop her from wanting to seek comfort from the only one she could. Frisk allowed herself to listen to the soft beating of his soul through his shirt. For a skeleton, he was surprisingly warm and she enjoyed the affection while she could. Frisk allowed herself to feel safe. The rhythm calmed her down like a lullaby that was starting to lure her to sleep.

One day she believed that things would be different.

One day Sans would change how he treated her.

One day things would be better again.

Those thoughts were the only things that kept her staying determined in a situation that had been so grim for a long time now.

Chara awoke with a start. Her red eyes glancing everywhere as she tried to get a grasp on her bearings. The first thing she noticed was a bag in front of her. Her eyes narrowed as she left out a scoff.

The comedian must have visited while she wasn't around.

It was a thought that never felt right with her. Frisk being alone with the skeleton was to dangerous for them both. She hated him. Hated his stupid grin and his hypocrisy when he spoke to her. Chara could never remember what happens when Frisk was in control of their shared body and vice versa. Sometimes she would have flashes of memories that weren't her own when she slept. However, that's as far as it went. Sometimes when either of their determination was particularly down, she would be able to talk with Frisk and again vice versa.

When they had died in the past, she would even be able to catch a glimpse of the other girl in the darkness before they came back like nothing happened. Chara had learned during one conversation unbeknownst to Frisk that she didn't remember their deaths or resetting the world and Chara wanted to keep it that way. It was easier for them both.

Though, that damn skeleton could remember everything.

Speaking of him.

Chara felt her body tensed as she realized exactly where she was. She looked up slowly and there he was, asleep and holding her.

That bastard.

It didn't matter what led up to this happening. She couldn't care one bit. All she knew was that their tormentor was holding her. Had been holding Frisk! Her blood boiled at the thought. What was he planning? What did he do to Frisk while she was asleep? What had happened that she didn't know about?

Carefully to not wake him up she move away from him. Her crimson eyes burning with all the hate she could muster. Not once looking away from his sleeping form. She sat on her knees in silence contemplating her next move. Wishing she had her old knife for he could never touch either of them again. Looking at her still grinning countenance in his sleep, she knew what she could do. Perhaps, it might even crack his skull open and he would scatter into dust and Chara could get both her and Frisk out of this hell hole of their life.

Without a second thought or regards to the consequences she acted.

"Enjoying the view from up there, buddy?" Sans couldn't stop himself from mocking the infuriated anomaly. "I know you like to hang around, but I don't think this is exactly what you had in mind. Though I could be mistaken. Do let me know if I am." He let his grin turn smug at her scowl.

Sans glanced at the chain that was pulling tug from where his magic held her in place against the ceiling, he was sure the collar was choking her a good bit, but the freak didn't pay much attention to it. Her red gaze stayed fixated on the pinpricks of lights in his eye sockets. A stare down to see who would break eye contact first. All he could do was simply smirk at that. His headache was an awful persistence in his skull and he had to stop himself from wincing now and again. The anomaly would take way to much enjoyment from his discomfort if he did and that was just not something he would willing give her.

Chara took a few minutes to speak again, obviously waiting for him to release his hold on her body and when he didn't she let out a frustrated growl.

"Very fucking funny, now put me down." She spat down at him.

"Just livin' up to that nickname you have so kindly given me," Sans let his smirk widen, fully aware that he was going to continue to push her temper. Not that he cared much. "Now, have some manners kid and ask nicely." Sans added as he put his hands into his jacket pocket and waited expectantly for just that.

They both knew that she wouldn't. Chara never asked for things like Frisk did. She was more demanding and Sans highly doubted that the word please was even in her vocabulary. Sometimes it was hard to believe that Chara had been raised for a period of time by Toriel given how rude and ruthless the girl could be. What sounded like an attempted hushed painful whimper escaped from the girl above him and Sans had to stop thinking right then and there before he lost control of his magic. Whenever he thought of his old friend who loved bad jokes as much as he did it always became too painful on his soul to handle. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't risk letting this timeline end just to bring her back to life. So much has happened since then. Too much progress has been made and isn't this what he always wanted? For the resets to stop? As long as he kept the anomaly alive then time would keep moving forward.

Sans may have lost a friend, but at least he had his brother.

At least now he had a few years and new memories that he wouldn't have had if he let the anomaly walk around freely like he did in previous timelines.

Still his soul ached every time he would go to the door of the Ruins and tell his stupid knock knock jokes to himself wishing each time that Toriel could still be there to respond with her likeminded humor that he enjoyed so much.

If only she never asked him to make that promise to her then maybe everything would have turned out so different.

At the same time he doubted it would have made much of a difference.

Nothing really mattered which was a cold fact he had learned so long ago.

A bitter part of him would always blame himself for not just taking a short cut into the Ruins after the last reset happened and capturing the anomaly right when they appeared instead of waiting for her like he normally did in Snowdin forest. He could still see her wide smile as she walked out the door of the Ruins. Her knife held in her hand as dust covered her clothes. Sans had nearly killed her the moment he saw her with the rage that flared up in his soul. Even after all her deaths in the Judgement hall, she still had the audacity to continue down the same path she was previously on. A fact that only cemented in his mind that what he had planned for the anomaly was the only course of action he could ever take. They wouldn't stop their murder spree any other way.

Chara sneered down at him as her gaze narrowed in ire. Sans didn't avert his own hardened gaze and after a few tense moments he let out a frustrated sigh. If she wanted to act like that fine. With a flick of his wrist, his magic that was holding her above him vanished. Chara let out a gasp as she fell and hit the ground hard. She obviously wasn't expecting him to just let her fall like that and when she let out a small whimper, he felt some sick satisfaction for causing her pain. It was another small victory of control he could display against the anomaly.

Chara pushed herself up with her hands and her glare deepened at his looming presence over her.

"You're such a fucking asshole." She seethed through gritted teeth.

Sans could only shrug at that.

"You should have just said please. Might have lessen the blow." His tone was nonchalant.

What he didn't expect was her reaction to his simple statement when she sprang to her feet. The chain rattled on the ground at her quick movement. His eye sockets narrowed as she took a step forward towards him. Her demeanor hostile and would be considered a threat if he wasn't the one in control right now. When she opened her mouth to speak, Sans didn't even hesitate to cut her off before the venomous words she wanted to spat at him could get out.

"Go on. I dare ya." His tone was calm, but he felt his magic flowing through his bones ready for a violent outburst from her.

Ready to put her in her place.

Chara only seemed to hesitate for a split second, contemplating her actions and Sans could feel a small glimmer of excitement at the notion of her pushing him to act on more of his darker urges. He wanted her to do something. He wanted her to give him more of an excuse to hurt her for all the pain she had caused him. It's not like he needed much prompting this morning to do so. She had already attacked him. That was reason enough for him to hurt her just a bit. Chara took in deep breaths as if to steady herself and when she met his gaze again, her crimson eyes seemed to darken with determination and a new found hatred that caught him a little off guard. Which only got worse when she finally did address him.

"I'll only warn you once comedian, leave Frisk alone. Don't get close to her again or the first opportunity I have you'll be dust."

Sans stood silent for a moment as he observed her and allowed the words to sink in. All he did was sit next to Frisk when she asked him to. Sans didn't even touch her. Sure he had fallen asleep holding her close and that no doubt angered Chara to wake up to a scene like that. However, he still didn't do any harm by his actions. He even didn't hurt her for months now. Not counting the times he would cause Chara pain and therefore Frisk. That was just an inevitable outcome when the other misbehaved and they shared a body. Still, he hadn't done anything to warrant that threat. Didn't do anything to invoke the other girl's wrath. Yet, Sans knew the deeper meaning in her statement and it made his bone marrow freeze. Chara always could read him better. He knew that. He knew she must have seen the longing looks he would direct towards Frisk, even if he never acted on his darker intentions. Sans felt his sins from just his thoughts alone crawling on his back. They both knew in time he wouldn't care to hold back anymore. As of right now he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

What the fuck was he thinking?

Of course that would be an awful idea.

Wouldn't it?

Should he even care anymore?

Frisk trusted him.

Chara, however was wiser not to do so.

His eye sockets widened at her and his grin became more strained.

"Don't know what you're talkin' about," He lies through his teeth and then narrowed his eye sockets down at her. "Also a word of advice. You shouldn't make promises you can't keep."

Stars, he felt like such a hypocrite with that statement. Sans didn't keep his promise. He had killed them so many times. I'm so many different ways. He kept them here for years now. Locked away from the world like they were just an object to be discarded, because it was too hard to attempt to reason with someone who could fuck with time whenever they wanted. Toriel would have been so ashamed of him if she was still around to see what type of monster he became. How even with her death he still couldn't find it in him to care about keeping a promise that only caused everyone else so much more misery.

They deserved it.

Even if they did, it didn't make him feel any less guilty.

No.

Sans couldn't afford to feel remorse.

Not anymore.

Chara didn't take his comments to heart. A fact that became obviously aware to him when she shot forward and grabbed the front of his blue jacket and pushed him back into the wall. Sans didn't even put up a fight as she did so and simply looked down into her enraged face. He could have dodged her. He could have done a great many things. Yet, his own self-hatred kept his actions at bay. As well, as the deeper more secret side inside him was curious what she would do. His enthusiasm at the prospect of how far this could go. How far he could push her before her own survival instincts kicked in at what she was foolishly doing. Chara did not have nearly enough LOVE to be much of a threat to him. Even if she did, well she had learned during their time in the Judgement Hall what he was capable of when he decided to care. Sans never hesitated the opportunity to teach Chara a lesson not to cross the line too much over the years they had been imprisoned in his workshop.

Might as well let her dig her own grave, heh.

"Don't play dumb! I know exactly what you are trying to do regarding Frisk and it won't work. Not while I'm around. I'll.. I'll kill you.." she seemed to reconsider that statement when he looked more amused and with a malicious smirk she added cruelly. "I'll kill that brother of yours to if I have to." Chara was too blinded by her rage to reconsider what she was doing. She wasn't even aware as she shook him again roughly how more excited he was becoming. If she did. She would stop in an instant.

"Is that so?" Sans asked amused, but his tone didn't hide the underlying danger of what her last comment just resigned her to. He tilted his skull to the side and Chara froze for a moment. "Enlighten me. What exactly do you think I'm up to? How exactly do you plan on stopping me? Let alone getting anywhere near Paps. Hmm?" His left eye light flashed blue for just a second and crimson eyes widened at the sight.

Her body suppressed a shudder as she tentatively removed her hands from his jacket. Any other day, Sans would have left it at that. He would have simply enjoyed his small victory at getting the human to back off from her aggression. Today though. He wasn't that much in a merciful mode. She had already pushed him too much today. He could forgive most things. Her comments regarding Frisk and himself bothered him enough, but the moment she threatened any harm to his brother. Well. That was something he had to correct immediately. When she tried to take a step back from the raging skeleton that look way to calm his hand shot forward instantly. His grip like a vice on her arm as he dug his phalanges into the fabric of her sweater. Much too fast for even Chara to process her back was slammed into the wall as their positions were switched. His gaze cold.

"L-Let go..." Chara tried to speak out.

Sans let go of her arm and instantly had a grip on her neck. Squeezing just tight enough in a warning to keep her mouth shot. Which luckily for her she obeyed. Her fear finally taking over her own anger from earlier. Sans, however wasn't satisfied just yet. Not when he could still see flashes of his brothers lone scarf flashing in his mind. His grip tightened more so and he felt her hands grabbing around his wrist to try and pull the constricting hand away from her throat. Despite her attempts, he wouldn't budge an inch. Frantic red eyes looked up into his eye sockets and Sans could only grin wider.

"Heh, for all your threats, kid. It seems like you got yourself in a bit of a pickle now, haven't ya?"

It always amazed him how different both Frisk and Chara could be. For even when he was chocking her and she was obviously afraid of facing his wrath, Chara just glared at him as she let go of his wrist and let her arms drop to her side. Her fist clenched as her knuckles turned white. It wasn't an act of surrender. Sans knew that. She was mocking him in her own way. Showing him that she wouldn't break no matter what he did to her. No matter how much he hurt her. Stars that's all he wanted to do in this moment. That and heh, other things when he really thought about it. Again, the two of the anomaly were just so different. Frisk would be begging for his mercy right now if he was doing this to her and that thought excited him more than it should. A part of him wanted to believe he would be gentler to Frisk if she was in this situation. If he acted on the thoughts that were like a whirl wind inside his head right now. Chara on the other hand, he wanted to break her. To destroy that determined look in her eyes in any way he sought fit. She wouldn't bend to him the way he was sure Frisk would and that just made him even sicker with his desires. It didn't help that they shared the same body. Well, it was Frisk's body. He knew that. He could easily get what he wanted from Frisk with Chara in control. She would never even have to find out about the darker sides to him. Frisk could still seek comfort from him and he could release the ever growing urges he felt without her looking at him differently.

Stars he really was fucked up in all the wrong ways.

No.

He couldn't do that.

No matter how much he wanted to.

Sans started to loosen his grip, which only prompted a comment from the anomaly that made him even more irritated.

"Just fucking kill me. We both know you want to." Chara growled out through gritted teeth.

Heh, maybe he was wrong in thinking that Chara knew him as well as he thought.

Then again. Her rage from just sleeping while holding Frisk spoke a different story all together.

She knew what he was like. That was a certainty in his mind.

Sans couldn't help but let out a dark amused chuckle at the comment and shook his head in disbelief.

"Not gonna happen," he said simply as she glowered at him even more so. "Besides, if I did that. I wouldn't be able to tell you two all my best jokes." He grinned wide at her irritated scoff.

Sans only allowed her a few moments to think that she might have come out of this completely unscathed. Yet, he still had a point to prove and he was already riled up enough to do so. Using his free hand he stroked her brown hair gently which only made her completely freeze up at the feigned affectionate touch. Sans didn't remove his hand from her throat, regardless of the gentle caresses he gave her. He never touched her like that before. Never instigated any touch towards her if it wasn't to reprimand her. Which made her confusion even more entertaining.

"What the fuck are you doing comedian?" Her voice was only a whisper as it wavered with uncertainty.

Sans wanted to hurt her oh so badly at this moment. To be rough with her in so many different ways. It would be so easy to just tighten his grip on her hair. Force her down on her knees and show her how true she was in her assessment of him. Stars he craved it so unbearably. Sans was positive Chara would never step out of line again if he did so. She would never threaten his life or his brother's life again if she saw what he was truly capable of. What type of awful monster that he had to keep at bay. Despite all of this, he didn't. Not now. Maybe latter. The threat should be good enough for now. Her expression was priceless as it was.

It was so hard to be better.

Frisk wouldn't even look at him if she could see this side of him.

He didn't want that.

At least he thought that was the case.

Sans leaned in closer to her. His skull in front of her face as his phalanges released her soon to be bruising neck and stroked her collar bone over her sweater. His smirk widening at the shudder of his stock still prisoner. There was nothing that really needed to be said about his implications with his actions. Chara would understand the punishment if she acted out again like this. He was sure of it. He could see it as her gave could no longer bear to look at him and was cast downwards. Her body trembling with each gentle touch he gave her. It was enough for now. The tension was palpable around him as she waited to see what he would do.

"Nah, I ain't ever gonna kill ya. You'll be stuck with me for a long time kid. Both of you will be." With that he pushed himself away from her and took a few steps back. Shoving his hands in his jacket pocket as he grinned at her in a way that held no comfort what so ever. In a way that held a promise for a future neither Chara or Frisk would be too thrilled about.

Chara's head snapped up to look at him, her mouth opening to be speak, but closing it as she thought better of it. Her fingers nervously messing with the bottom fabric of her sweater. A habit he observed that she must have picked up from Frisk. After a few silent moments between them. Chara gave him a warily glare.

"You're sick." She muttered under her breath, but he heard in anyways.

Not like he was going to argue with that. Not like he could she was right. Sans opted to pretend he didn't even hear her. He glanced at the paper bag that held the hot dogs he brought Frisk that morning. It was probably cold by now. Not that he really cared too much about that. They couldn't afford to be picky with what food he decided to give them.

"Well, I should be goin'. I'll ketchup with you two latter." He tilted his skull in the direction of the bag for emphasis "Be a good kid and try to mustard up the appetite to finish those won'tcha ya?"

Chara didn't respond and he didn't feel the need to wait for her to. Sans really didn't feel like bothering with the door of his workshop and with a spark of his magic he took a short cut back into his bedroom.

Sans just let gravity do the work as he plopped down on the edge of his bed and enjoyed the silence for a long moment in the barely lit room. Not wanting to deal with the rest of the day already when he knew he needed to. His mind kept traveling back to the anomaly he kept locked away even when he tried not to think about it. He had been so close on acting on his needs instead of doing what's right and responsible and regardless he felt it so very hard to care. In fact he was more disappointed in himself for not doing anything. Which only made him feel nauseous. They were just a kid to him. A kid who had way too much power over his life and others if given the chance. An anomaly that only turned him apathetic to the world around him. Made him relive the same day over and over again for a long time. They were just a kid and still they had been able to almost kill every monster in the Underground if he didn't stop them. They were just a kid. Even if they had grown up more over the years. A kid who was his prisoner for years. A kid who he murdered over and over again without a shred of mercy. He shouldn't be feeling the way he did. Nothing was alright with that. His soul felt heavy with his sins.

Sans just didn't care.

That was the problem.

He knew that.

Regardless it didn't change a single thing.

Stars what was wrong with him?

A groan escaped him as he still felt the familiar urge that was becoming much harder to ignore as the days went by. He wanted them. There was no way he could even deny that to himself. Every part of him craved for just one moment in time where he could let go and stop pretending that he was better than he was. Fuck he even had a chance with how much Chara was pushing him earlier. The skeleton could have just used the poorly guise that he was taking out his wants on the human as a punishment they deserved. It was horrible reasoning and even he knew that wouldn't fly over to well. The thought wouldn't leave him. Sans was a selfish monster. A vengeful monster. A royally fucked up monster who should be dusted where he stood and despite that he couldn't bring any reason to care. Everything he wanted was in his reach. He wanted to control them fully. To break them for they never would be a problem again. To take his perverse pleasure from them. If it was only Chara he probably would have by now. But.

Frisk.

It always came down to her.

She made him want to try and be better.

To keep control of himself.

When those brown eyes would look at him with so much fondness and MERCY.

Sans was torn.

A part of him wanted her to continue to care for a sick in the head monster like him more than anything he has ever wanted.

Another part.

Well that part wanted to dominate her. Take everything he could dream of by force if need be. After all he's done he doubt she'd ever give herself to him freely.

Perhaps.

Maybe?

He could earn it?

A bitter chuckle escaped him at the thought. The sound echoing off the walls and if his brother was still home he had no doubt he would be heard. Which would only lead to him getting a lecture that he should have been at work already. Another thing to add to the list of stuff he could bring himself to care about.

No.

Sans could never earn everything he wanted from Frisk. If he ever did then he would have no doubt have corrupted her to the point of no return if that was the case. Even then that didn't sound to bad at least for him. He could easily manipulate her for his pleasures, if Chara didn't get in the way. Which if she did, well then he could just have his fun that he stopped himself from doing earlier. Sans sighed as he turned his skull to look out his window at the small light that illuminated his room. He knew he should cut his visits even shorter than usual from now on. That he should keep as much distance as he possibly could from the anomalies under his care. That would be in their best interest. Maybe then he could garner some control over his cardinal desires. His soul pounded frantically in his rib cage as the thought of not being around Frisk made him more depressed. Sans knew he enjoyed her company. How she would laugh at his jokes. How she would listen to him even if she really didn't have much of a choice to. Frisk never complained and he just couldn't imagine forcing himself to stay away from her. Even if it would protect her from him. Plus, the kid was lonely. She had no one but him. A fact that always brought a grin to his face also hurt him as well. It was his fault after all. Her life was a mess because of him. He couldn't take the only company she had away from her as well.

Trapped.

Utterly trapped is how he felt regarding everything.

He couldn't do what is right without hurting her and he couldn't be around her either without risking losing control of himself.

Stars, Sans really couldn't believe what the fuck has happened to his life.

Yet, in the end in his self-loathing he knew he was to blame.

Getting to work for once in his life seemed like the best gift imaginable.