"Wake up Charlie," Grillby poked your shoulder. You awoke abruptly and rubbed your heavy eyes until they opened. You apparently had dozed off while waiting in Grillby's tent. You calmly nodded at Grillby's request and attempted to stand. Instead you immediately fell down but used your arms to catch the fall. Your stomach was burning as you extended and contracted your core stomach muscles.
Everyone paused, they were alerted by your sudden fall. Papyrus and Undyne glared at Sans, thinking this was just his fault. Sans eyed you cautiously.
"Sorry," you waved them away, "I just took a pretty nasty fall during one of those jumps. I just need some rest." Sans jumped down and grabbed you arm. He slowly lifted you back up. You winced, the sting was persistent but at least it was tolerable.
"Charlie," Grillby cautioned, "I need to see your stomach."
"Nah, I'm fine Grillby." You tried to push him away casually.
Sans grabbed your shirt and pulled it up for Grillby to see.
"Hey," you snapped. You tried to pull your shirt back down after Sans exposed your breasts. Sans then shook his head at you.
"Let him do his job," Sans insisted. Undyne and Papyrus hissed after they both glanced at your front.
"What," you spoke with concern now. "Is it really that bad?" You lifted up your own shirt, not caring who saw your breasts, and looked down. Your rib cage was swollen, blue and purple hues were plotted across your breasts and traveled all the way down to your stomach. It was nasty, even Sans fliched a little and he was mostly bones.
"Dammit Charlie," Sans muttered, "why didn't you immediately get yourself checked?" Grillby bent over and examined your body. He carefully lifted a hand and allowed his flame to provide him with more light.
Grillby examined the horrible bruise that covered you from the neck to pelvis. He touched one of the ribs and you flinched.
"We'll need to heal these bruises Charlie. I can't tell if you flinching because of the bruise, or if it's because you have a few broken ribs." He examined your body, "We'll need to get Toriel in here as soon as we can."
"No rush, Asriel needs her more than I do," you corrected.
"She's been done with Asriel for over an hour now, she just never left his side since he finally healed," Grillby replied while standing back up.
"Has he woken up yet," you asked. Grillby shook his head.
"I'm not sure, but it's only a matter of time before he does wake up. You should go see her anyway in the meantime," he suggested. The others nodded in approval and you sighed. You pulled your shirt down and zipped your coat back up.
"Fine, I'll be back in a little bit then."
"We'll be here," Undyne assured. Papyrus tried to grin but he really wasn't in the mood. Sans never looked at you while you left, he was drowning in guilt. He refrained himself from asking you to stay, even though you knew that's what he selfishly wanted.
"I'll see you later," he softly spoke while staring at a wall. That last comment confused you as you left the tent. It almost sounded like a goodbye. You shrugged it off because you were only going to get healed.
As you trudged through the snow, the blinding sunlight bathed the surface in warmth. It's heat had finally pierced the cold as you heard water drip from nearby icicles. You almost regretted wearing a coat today but you kept focusing on the path ahead. As you passed by other monsters, they weren't glaring, they actually were just staring. They didn't even avoid you, they just paused as you passed, carefully eyeing your movements as you made your way closer to Asriel's tent. This change in scenery was both comforting and alarming.
You trudged towards the meeting room where you assumed Asriel was still being tended. Several monsters were crowding outside the tent, they then turned when you approached them. Most of them didn't glare at you but then out of nowhere, one actually kneeled down in front of you. You quickly backed up. Something was off.
"Woah," you held up two hands, "I..uhh...what're you doing?" The others followed suite and in a short amount of time, they all bowed. "Did I miss something?" They paused, unsure of what you meant. One spoke up.
"Lead us into the new age," she said, "Asriel told us of the new plan. If we knew you intended on marrying our king, we may of treated you more fairly before." The others didn't look up as you as they too apologized.
"Uhh, that's fine, I guess." They kept bowing for an awkward amount of time. "Okay….," you nervously laughed. You felt very unsettled as you awkwardly tip-toed around them and headed inside.
The room was much darker, someone had blown all but one candle out. The inside was dimly lit and was idea for anyone who might be resting. You observed the rest of the room.
The pine table was still snapped in half and stained with hues of red and yellow as it laid broken in the middle of the room. You paused and awkwardly waited against the door as you noticed a certain someone back on their feet.
Asriel's back was to you while he stood firmly on two feet. He wasn't wearing a shirt and his pants were ripped to hell. He wasn't alerted when you entered, you then noticed that Toriel was sleeping peacefully on a chair where she waited by Asriel's side. You turned your attention back to the man in the room.
Right below Asriel's shoulder blade was a massive scar that stood apart from the others. A circular scar was more light pink than the surrounding old scar tissue that was from the burn. You instinctively touched the scar next to your neck, the one you received when Todd shot you with that arrow.
Asriel then extended his arms high above his head and tried to make a proper stretch. Asriel's back muscles awkwardly tugged the new skin as he carefully lifted a up loose shirt and then pulled it over his torso. He must of been testing the new skin as he slowly flexed his arms back and forward. You accidently stepped on a piece of paper and the rustling noise altered Asriel.
"Sans, I don't want to talk," he muttered in a low voice. Asriel didn't sound angry, just disappointed.
"I didn't think you would," you answered casually. Asriel froze for a moment, realizing it was you.
"I didn't think you'd want to see me," he hinted while staring off at a random wall.
"I don't hate you Asriel," you comforted. "But I'm pretty confused because I just noticed a couple of monsters bowing down to me. Did you tell everyone that we were already engaged or something?" There was a long pause.
"Yes," he calmly replied. Asriel didn't sound guilty and he wasn't gloating. You were startled by this response, but you decided to push that concern to the back of your mind for now.
"Asriel, there's something I want to ask you," you insisted. Asriel paused, he waited for you to speak. "Do you remember what happened?" His back was still turned as he paused again, he was thinking. His then rubbed his head like he was experiencing a very displeasing migraine.
"I remember Sans pissing me off, but after I turned. But I must of blacked out." He looked at you, worried. "I don't remember anything after that. But I awoke to the sound of my mother crying." Asriel's sorrowful gazed turned to his poor mother. "She told me that Sans had attacked me, but that she wasn't sure what happened before that. We all knew Sans was the one who attacked me but apparently I did a number on him as well." You noticed the worry in his voice. "I haven't even asked Sans what happened. But it doesn't matter anymore." Asriel still had his back turned to you.
"What? Why the hell doesn't it matter," you snapped while moving closer to Asriel. "You both almost lost your lives because you were both reckless. And I apologize ahead of time for saying this, but you know how Sans is and you knew how he felt about me. What did you think was going to happen when you proposed to me," you scolded.
"But did I deserve a spike through the fucking chest," Asriel snapped back while now facing you. "Before I turned, I remembered Sans being an asshole as he taunted me, I begged him to stop. I actually tried to reason with that brute. But he's the one who the forced the ultimatum. He told me that he wouldn't stop unless I hit him once, apparently I did just that."
Asriel took a few seconds to calm his nerves. He then walked over to a small table where his old clothes were folded. Asriel gripped a gold heart necklace that lay next to the clothes. He held it carefully in his hands and admired it's craftsmanship.
"Sans made a bet and if I won, he would stop fighting me over you." Asriel stared directly as you, he smiled. "We were betting to see who'd get to keep you. And I won."
You suddenly remembered their last conversation together. Sans wouldn't stop fighting for you unless Asriel actually hit him, but that fight wasn't fair.
"Be that as it may, I intervened your fight. So I didn't think it counted," you corrected. You actually heard Asriel chuckle slightly.
"A bet is a bet Charlie, Sans may be a dick but he doesn't break promises. Not that often anyway." Asriel noticed the confused look on your face. "What? You didn't think he was serious about the bet? He obviously didn't want to lose you, but he knew what was at stake if he won. He did the only thing he could do, go out with a fight. That why I shook his hand at the meeting, we both knew it was his last chance."
You were still trying to wrap your head around the new situation, this was weird and frustrating.
"I just don't get it, why would you guys almost kill each other for me?"
"It was for selfish reasons," he calmly informed. "We both wanted to be happy, but I also had my people to protect so I couldn't back down." Asriel walked over the chair and sat down, he held the golden heart in his right hand while gazing at it's rough design. You still needed to give Asriel an answer, and you couldn't stall much longer. You kicked some papers around that had fallen on the floor.
"Even if I marry you to save your people, you just can't expect me to leave Sans."
Asriel smiled, he wasn't surprised.
"I wouldn't ask that of you Charlie. Even if I banished him for literally stabbing me in the back, he'd just teleport back here and stalk you," Asriel joked. You smiled at the inappropriate joke, but you were relieved he didn't decide to force Sans away. "Sans is still too important to me to push him aside. But he still has to pay for almost killing me," there was bitterness in Asriel's tone.
You tip-toed around his chair and sat at one of the benches. You looked straight at Asriel and confronted him.
"About that," you mumbled, "that was actually my fault."
"I highly doubt it Charlie," Asriel corrected. "You weren't the one who actually impaled me."
You bit your lip, Asriel didn't know what actually happened after he turned.
"I was there when you turned and I shouted at you shortly after you began changing," you began. "Sans panicked and teleported me to safety because he knew the state you were in. I panicked and in the process, I got Sans hurt." Asriel's eyes glared ahead as you continued, he wasn't pleased. "You stabbed him because of me, and when you ran after him to finish the attack. I...uhh...I tried to stop you."
"What!?" Asriel stood up, furious. "More than one person has warned you of my powers, including myself, and yet you willingly charged at me? How did I not kill you?" Asriel suddenly halted his frustration from going any further, he finally realized why Sans had attacked. He covered his eyes with one hand and groaned while sliding back into the chair. "Dammit Sans," he muttered under his breath. "He never should've taunted me, I didn't even know you were there till it was too late. How did you even follow us?"
"I..uhh, grabbed your shirt right before Sans jumped." Asriel's face grew worried, he gripped the necklace.
"But I didn't see you after we landed. Where did you go?"
"I dunno know, but Sans nearly ripped me a new one when he found me. He knew I almost killed myself by doing that, but don't worry. I don't plan on making that mistake again."
Asriel rubbed his face in an aggressive behavior with the one free hand. He took a few minutes to compose himself and finally calmed down. He managed to grin slightly.
"Thank you for telling me. I'm not sure anyone would approve of me and Sans being around each other at the moment for me to talk to him. But I'm afraid that regardless of what happened," Asriel stood up, "I still won our part of the agreement. That is," he calmly hesitated, "if you'll still have me."
Your nerves jumped a little as he asked you once again, to be his queen. You thought for a moment while staring at his necklace, his voice was calm and collective. You had difficulty approaching him when he talked like this so you just kept the conversation going.
"Asriel, why do you even want to marry me," you made it sound like an innocent question, mostly because it was. "Is this more for a political gain or for your own selfish reasons." You paused after directly stabbing the subject at hand, you realized a little too late how rude that came out.
Asriel wasn't offended by your comment at all, he actually smiled more. Maybe he was pleased that you were actually considering this as an option. He stepped over to your bench and sat down next to you. He sat so close that his leg rubbed against yours. He casually lifted an arm and place it around your shoulder and allowed it to drape down your side. You tired not to blush, this wasn't the time to by shy. You needed to think clearly.
"Does that answer your question," he casually answered. You knew he was smirking as you stared at the ground. You wouldn't look up because you knew he was close enough to your face that if you looked up, you'd accidently kiss him.
"I'm not going to be a good queen you know," you warned. "I'm bitter, I can't spell very good, and I'm rude. Honestly, I'm just a human who makes a lot of mistakes." You wanted to help him, but marriage was the last thing you thought would help end a war between Chara.
"Well, if I learned anything through my experience." He squeezed you closer and held the golden necklace before you. "Being human means you make mistakes. But it also means having the heart to change for the better."
You were once again speechless as you quietly soaked in his words. He lowered the necklace, offering it. Instead of simply grabbing it, you proceed to pull you hair up and held it in the air. Asriel grinned, he untied the necklace and then tied it back around your neck. He smiled as he laid it gently around your neck.
At first the gold necklace was heavy as it pulled your forward slightly, but then it almost lost all of its weight. The necklace now felt light as a feather as the cold metal laid against your chest. It quickly warmed up against your heat and you was just mesmerized by it's magic. Before you could thank him, Asriel stood up and went back over to the small table.
"I almost forgot to ask," Asriel spoke up, "why did you even come here? Was it because you missed me." He smirked.
"Oh right, I actually needed your mom's help. I got a few bruises that need healing. Grillby actually suggested that I come here in the first place."
"So it seems," Asriel casually replied. He kneeled down quietly in front of Toriel and whispered in her ear. Toriel yawned as she gracefully extended her arms and awoke with sluggish eyes. Asriel lovingly rubbed his face against one of her vines. "Will you please heal her while I take care of a few things Mother?" Toriel grinned and smiled, he smiled back. Toriel gestured for you to sit in her chair. You gladly obeyed.
"So you say you got bruises," she joked, not seeing any obvious ones.
"They're under my shirt," you hinted, hoping she'd understand.
"Oh, I see." She turned you to face her and your back was facing Asriel. Then without warning, she lifted up your shirt. You heard another table snap behind you as Asriel broke it in half. He then stumbled over something else and it took a couple of seconds before he finally gain his balance. You couldn't turn around to see without accidently exposing yourself to him.
"Dang it Asriel, could you be any louder," Toriel scolded.
"Mother," Asriel nervously rumbled, "why didn't you at least warn me before doing that?" You couldn't see his face but you could hear the embarrassment roll off of his tongue. Toriel didn't allow you to pull your shirt down. You could only hide your beat red face as Asriel stood a couple of feet behind you.
"Oh hush, she has bruises on her abdomen and chest that I need to heal. If you don't like it, you can leave," Toriel retorted. You got a little choked up while trying not to laugh at her sassiness. She was too casual about lifting your shirt up right next to Aerial. You felt proud of the way she handled the situation. You however didn't hear Asriel leave the room and you nervously began to blush. "Asriel," Toriel hinted in a low and caring voice.
"Yeah, what," he grumbled while shifting some papers around.
"You should probably leave. Charlie's face will keep getting redder until you do."
"Toriel," you growled. Your embarrassment became too much and you tried to lower your head but Toriel forced it back up. Asriel snickered, he was amused knowing he wasn't the only one who was embarrassed by his mother. Asriel eventually took the hint and left the tent, you finally sighed after he exited the room.
"I'm apologize for sleeping in Charlie, I should've headed over to check on you and Sans. I, well, I just couldn't leave Asriel, knowing the state he was in."
"You don't have to apologize Toriel, he's your son."
"I know, but it's still not like me to be choosy."
You quietly held still as her vines slowly shifted across your chest. You winched for the first couple of seconds as she made contact but then exhaled as they produced a numbing warmth. She carefully studied your chest, making sure that no spot was left unattended and then she gradually lowered her vines down to your stomach.
"Now that Asriel's gone, do you mind telling me what happened? Or how you managed to get these bruises across your chest," she calmly investigated.
"I already gave Asriel the details and it's all settled now. But believe it or not, they actually didn't want to attack each other like that. Asriel and Sans both got hit on accident because I tried to intervene their fight," you explained. Toriel paused but then continued healing.
"It's not your fault they're both hot heads. But have you've given Asriel an answer though to his proposal?"
You paused, unsure how to answer even that question. But it was time to decide.
"I will marry him, but I can't let go of Sans," you gripped the necklace as Toriel gently warmed your stomach with her vines. Toriel freed a vine and gently patted you on the back.
"I think Asriel understands, but thank you for putting us first, this wasn't easy for anyone," Toriel comforted. You felt a little more relieved about the situation.
It took a good hour before Toriel said you could move freely again. After the time had passed, you carefully stood up stretched down to touch your toes. Everything felt immensely better and you grinned while flexing your stomach muscles once again.
"Crap, I forgot to ask Asriel when he have to hold the wedding," you blurted out.
"Oh, I was actually told they're holding it tomorrow," Toriel answered. Your eyes widened.
"Geeze, Asriel really doesn't mess around does he?" Toriel smiled and shook her head.
"Not when he's making a decision that also affects his people," Toriel gave insight.
"Well, at least he's a good king."
Toriel nodded in response to your comment. You waved good bye but Toriel didn't wave back, she instead reached up and attached herself around your neck.
"I'm ready to go," she insisted. You gladly smiled and then opened the flap to the front door. You noticed that all the monsters were gone. You made your way back to Grillby's tent.
As you went back inside, everyone was still here except for Sans. You grumbled curses to yourself, he must of knew what was going to happen.
"You just missed him," Papyrus informed. "He took off after hearing the news, though we all kinda knew it was only a matter of time." You were about to protest your position but Papyrus stopped you by holding up a hand. "We're not judging you Charlie, you made a choice that was the for the benefit of everyone here, even if Sans doesn't see it that way. But he'll get over it like he always has."
You sighed into your hands. Toriel hopped down and proceeded to talk to Grillby about a different matter. You began to feel the weight of your decision kicking in and you needed some space. You left the tent.
You headed to some trees located just outside of camp. You quietly walked further until you couldn't hear anything other than the wind and the rustling branches. You leaned against the tree and stared in silence at the sky.
"If we keep meeting like this, people are going to think you have a thing for me," Sans joked while leaning against his own tree. You tilted your head back down and looked at Sans.
His face was hard to decipher but his body language gave it away. His shaking hands and distant eyes told you he was upset, but also trying to hold back. He tried to joke about something but you interrupted his comment by running over and jumping on top of him. You grappled his neck and hung there as your feet dangled, you held him close. He paused for a while and didn't budge, but eventually his shaking stopped. You felt him chuckle as his chest lifted you up and down in short bursts. "I guess that means you like me," he calmly spoke as he wrapped his arms around your but and lifted you up so that you sat on his arms. You leaned over and hugged his neck again.
"I love you, Sans," you whispered into the soft collar of his coat, "please don't ever forget that." You could feel his bones brush across your cheeks. "I don't have to hear you say it, I just need to know you won't hate me for what I've done." Sans laughed as you tried to apologize. You were slightly upset by the matter. "What's so funny," you scolded while pulling back and looking at his amused face.
"I just told Asriel that I wouldn't fight him anymore, I never said anything about not loving you anymore," Sans stated as he grinned wider. Your face lit up and you gasped.
"So you do love me," you snickered back. Sans groaned after realizing what he said and leaned his head back into a tree. His groans of embarrassment was adorable.
"Man he's going to be pissed when he realizes that. Do you think he'll by angry if I acted like nothing happened and just flirted around you," the grin came back as Sans enjoyed the idea.
"Do you really want to fight him again," you scolded him. Sans snorted. "I was actually asking you a question you bonehead. What's so damn funny this time?" Sans finally calmed down after choking up, he then leaned you closer into his embrace. His grew a mischievous smile.
"I let him win."