Happy Flowers Fall Up
Chapter 8
I woke up the next morning with my hand still around hers. It was nice to feel needed for once. I gently shook Alice awake. She looked so peaceful that I almost left her, but I'd hate to leave her alone and then she'd get scared again. It was really early but I figured that was for the best. No one could know that a human was here. I was going to take Alice with me to my sentry station. I began rummaging through my closet for some long pants and another jacket. She took Flowey out of her small jacket pocket and put him into my jacket pocket. Neither of us were too happy about that.
Once Alice had all those clothes on, she looked like a giant marshmallow. She couldn't put her arms down all the way. I laughed at how cute she looked and all she could do was smile shyly and blush. I looked her up and down and thought she still looked human. We wouldn't want someone to pass us and see her. I walked over to her and put Flowey on her shoulder. Then I raised her hoods to shield her face. She was looking anywhere but at me. That made me laugh again as I thought of a really sad joke. "Too hot for ya?"
Flowey groaned. Alice looked down at her feet and smiled in response. I knew I was good with the ladies, but this was going a bit too far. I coughed and led the way out of the house. We walked all the way to my post without any problems from other monsters. Some gave me some mean looks, but no one noticed that I was with a human. I made a spot for Alice right next to me. I knew this was going to be a long day so I decided to catch some Z's. Alice, though, wasn't as great at sleeping anywhere like I was. I felt her shake my arm and I looked down at her. "What is it, Sweetheart?"
Alice stumbled over her words before finally saying, "Could you tell me about those projects that Papyrus mentioned? Just to pass the time." I don't know why I was surprised when she said that. I knew it was coming eventually.
I shook my head and replied, "Why don't you just go to sleep like me? It is too early for questions of that caliber, kid." I put my head back and tried to go back to sleep, but this girl was relentless.
She looked down again, shame-faced, and said, "Because I'm scared, Sans. And I miss not being a fugitive and I need something to take my mind off of all this. Please talk to me."
I sighed as I looked back at her. She had the sweetest, saddest face I had ever seen, but I wasn't going to let that sway me. "Look, Sweetheart. Some things are just not meant to be known. Those projects of mine are a touchy subject. I might tell you later, but not now. I'm sorry it's boring, but you know what Papyrus will do if I'm not here when he comes to check on me. We can take a lunch break in about an hour and then we'll talk. Ok?"
Alice sighed and looked around trying to find something to amuse herself with. She started talking to Flowey. "You've been awfully quiet." I acted like I was asleep, but I really wanted to hear what she had to say about everything. I was mostly interested in what she had to say about me so I waited patiently.
Flowey grumbled back at her, "You haven't been listening to me. It seems like Smiley trash bag over there is more important to you than I am."
She retorted rather hesitantly, "Now don't be like that. You know he saved our lives twice or three times now at the risk of great personal loss. Why do you still not trust him?"
Flowey rolled his eyes and said, "He killed us more times than he has saved us and you know it."
"He obviously did it for a good reason. He really wanted to protect the ones he loved by killing the murderer. He thought that was me. Simple mistake." I smiled. I couldn't help it. I was just so happy that she didn't hate me as much as Flowey did.
Flowey laughed at her before saying, "He killed us and you say it was a simple mistake? I bet you wouldn't be so forgiving if you had a limited number of lives."
What she said next scared me more than all my nightmares combined. "Don't I, though? I can feel these flowers leeching off my strength. I'm not sure how many more deaths I can take. I just might not be able to restart one of these times." Flowey's mocking face turned worried and so did mine.
Lunch was quiet and awkward. I couldn't stop thinking about what Alice had said. I had to find a way to avoid my brother and save her before her last reset. Flowey was glaring at me the whole time. It looked like he was trying to stare into my mind and see what I was thinking. He was also trying to do everything possible to conserve Alice's strength. Alice was just trying to eat without crying or laughing or giving either of us a reason to try to help her. She couldn't stand the silent war between us anymore and blurted out, "Why do you like Toriel so much?"
I spewed the mustard I had been drinking all over the table. I coughed and asked, "Where did that come from?"
She giggled and answered, "You obviously care for her. I just want to know why."
I rubbed the back of my neck. I suddenly became aware of how noisy that simple action was so I stopped. I said, "I guess I like her because she's funny and she's strong. I guess those are some of the reasons why I let you stick around, Sweetheart. But I only like her as a friend, mind you." She giggled some more before going back to eating. After a little more thinking, I got an idea. I said, "I'm going to get you home."
Alice asked, "Really? But what about all those projects you care so much about?"
I grinned and replied, "That's how you're getting home. We are going to take all of them with us when we leave tonight." Alice almost cheered. Her face was such a drastic contrast from the flower's face right next to hers. He was glaring even harder. This plant was going to be the death of me.
