You open your eyes as you hear the door open. You sit up, hugging the canvas around your body as Sans steps in. Your chin trembles as his eyelights fall to you.

"get up."

You obey quickly, scrambling to your feet and marveling slightly about how nice it feels to not have any broken bones in your legs. You hesitantly approach him, wringing your hands. 'Did I do something wrong?'

Sans scoffs, "i take the time outta my day to come visit you and you immediately play the victim card?"

Your eyes widen and you shake your head, 'No. I'm sorry. I'm scared. I'm sorry. Thank you.'

Sans shakes his head and steps forward, grabbing your wrist. "let's go." Is all he says before teleporting the two of you outside.

You gasp a little at the sudden cold, wrapping your arm around your waist and squinting as you look around. It's dark out. There's no one but you and Sans. "...wh...wh-wh-a-at..?"

"where's your nearest SAVE point."

You blink, and then look around. You gesture towards the shop, where you can see a little sparkle of light. Sans drags you along wordlessly. You struggle to keep up, panting a little. He doesn't seem mad. But he seems...something. You wish you knew. It makes you anxious that you don't.

He pushes you forward, "SAVE." He orders.

Nodding, you hold your hands over the little light. You squeeze your eyes shut, feeling an ache in your SOUL. You give a gasp and sink to your knees, holding a hand over your chest as you finally make a SAVE. That...had been exhausting.

"what's wrong with you?" Sans demands as you get back to your feet, legs shaking.

You swallow and turn to him, 'It hurt.'

Sans's eye twitches, "your SOUL?"

You nod.

He shifts his jaw and looks away, putting his hands in his pockets, "...probably just you getting used to...new DETERMINATION." He mutters.

'Why did you bring me back?'

Sans's eyes narrow sharply, "i don't know what you're talking about." He seethes. His very tone is a warning.

You're so scared. But you have to know. 'Please. Sans please. I wanted to stop. You could've had my SOUL.'

Sans grabs your wrist and starts dragging you back to the house, scoffing sharply, "you'd think by now you'd learn when to take a hint."

"I-I-m s-so-or-ry!" You gasp, crying out as you're thrown forward onto the living room floor.

"i told you to stop asking questions." Sans growls, his eye glowing red as he storms towards you, "but you had to be a little brat and push me anyways."

'I'm sorry!' Your hands are a blur of frantic motion as you sign at him, scooting away, 'I'm sorry I just want to know, Sans! I want so badly to quit why didn't you let me?!'

"what makes you think i was finished with you?" Sans snaps, summoning a bone attack into his hand and stalking ever closer, "what makes you think you had permission to die? huh?"

'If you don't want me dead then what do you want?!'

"i don't know!" Sans yells, slamming the attack into the ground, barely missing your throat as you freeze up. "i don't fucking know! happy?!"

You stare up at him, whimpering. What does he mean he doesn't know? How can he not be sure he wants you dead?

Sans seems to be equally frozen for a moment, but it's so brief...you must have imagined it. He gives a low chuckle, dissipating the attack and leaning back casually. "just messin' with ya, kid." He says calmly. "i always know what i'm doing, don't you know that by now?"

You swallow and give a shaky nod, wrapping your arms around your waist. 'Can I please know why I'm not dead then?'

"isn't it obvious?" Sans holds out his arms, grinning, "i don't want you dead."

Your eye twitches.

"and i always get what i want, don't i?"

You shudder and give a nod, lowering your gaze to the floor. 'Yes Sans.'

"atta kiddo." Sans grabs your arm and hauls you to your feet, "welp. back to the closet."

You give a muffled whine at that but follow after him, too exhausted to fight. He tosses you back inside, giving a little wave goodbye before shutting the door behind you, locking it.

You sit back against the wall, feeling more confused than ever. What does he want? When he'd screamed at you that he didn't know, it sounded genuine, but…

Drawing your legs in, you brace your forehead against your knees and give a sob. You're so confused...you just want answers but he's refusing to give them to you.

Why can't you just be dead…

Sans heads out on a long walk through Snowdin, leaving the sobbing human locked in his lab as he storms out. He's confused. And he hates being confused.

Why isn't that stupid human brat dead?

He doesn't know the answer, and it's driving him insane. One way or another he'll get answers.

But if he doesn't, no big deal. He's got a live-in punching bag, now, after all. And there's no rush when he's got a rewind button under his roof. His scowl morphs into a smirk at the thought.

No rush at all.