Undyne caught you right after classes, interrupting a yawn as you exited the lecture hall. "I need to t-talk to y-you!" She exclaimed, grabbing your wrist and dragging you off. "A-are you dating S-Sans?" She demanded as soon as the buildings were behind you, still not easing up on the pace.
"Yes." You replied, dodging a telephone pole the determined monster almost walked you into. "We did go on a date. Why are you asking?"
Undyne let out a very frustrated noise as she walked faster. She stopped abruptly in front of a building you recognized, punching a code into a keypad by the door before dragging you inside the monster embassy. Ignoring the cautious looks and comments of the monsters inside who didn't know you, Undyne dragged you to the elevator.
"Th-there's things you sh-should know before d-dating a monster, b-but…" She stuttered as she pushed a button.
"You aren't allowed to tell me about Souls." You finished for her. The expression of shock she sent to you would have made you laugh if she didn't look so serious. "Some I figured out, and some Chara told me to avoid misconceptions." You explained quickly. "Why are we at the embassy?"
"O-of course Chara." Undyne uttered, irked. "If y-you already know, th-then we are g-going to t-talk about it l-later. We're a-at the embassy b-because y-you're Chara's c-closest l-legal family."
"What? What about Toriel and Asgore?" You questioned. "They were granted custody."
"Indeed, th-they were. B-but your h-human c-courts can't h-honor any decision th-they make." Something in Undyne's expression told you not to ask again.
'_!' You heard Chara yell through your magic as the elevator dinged. 'You're here!'
'You have a lot of legal troubles, kiddo.' You replied silently, taking in all the suits people in the room were wearing. You signed a hello to Chara as they approached you, more for the understanding of the people watching than for Chara themself.
You held up an irritated finger to the first person who tried to burst your eardrums with yelling about their problems, causing them to go silent as Chara signed at you. You still weren't quite quick enough to pick up on all of it, but thankfully your sibling was also magically translating for you, which allowed you to pay attention to the room as well.
At the edge of your hearing, you could pick up someone translating the sign language for the cameras and viewers. You could also hear Toriel arguing with one of the humans as Asgore sent you a quick sign. 'Please help.'
Chara's parents had filed a suit for their child's return from their temporary guardianship under monsters. At least that's the way the suit was worded, despite the fact that Asgore and Toriel had been granted full custody. Still, with their legal guardianship in question, you were Chara's official guardian, since you were magically bonded and all the paperwork had been processed.
You were more a more legally obligated guardian than Chara's own parents were.
Which was why they called you in.
With a basic grasp of the situation, you held your hand out to the teen, who took it easily before turning to the many occupants of the room. "One of you. Just one. Choose." You ordered authoritatively, trying to ignore the camera practically being shoved in your face.
You didn't need to make things worse.
They conferred amongst themselves before a middle-aged lawyer stepped forward. Rather than allowing him to try to explain the situation, you spoke quickly. "So Chara's birth parents are fighting for custody of them with King Asgore and Queen Toriel, correct?" You prompted as you took the head seat at the table with Chara claiming the seat to your immediate right.
"That is correct. With the guardianship in question, the child cannot be allowed to reside with the monarchs." Which would bring Chara well out of the reach of Mt. Ebott if they were going to put them with their parents or in protective custody.
Now you knew why the monarchs had sent for you. Did they realize the implications of what they were asking you to do? You sincerely hoped so, or you were about to royally piss them off.
You swallowed the lump in your throat, terrified as you were about to announce to national television that you were a mage. "Well, there's a simple solution then. Chara will stay with me in the meantime, since I'm also their legal guardian." You stated simply, making sure to word it as a definite outcome rather than a possibility.
"You…?" The lawyer stumbled over his words for a moment before recovering his composure. "I don't believe it is that simple. If the monarchs' custody is called into question, then surely yours will be too."
Your phone was already in your hand, dialing a number you'd hoped to never need to call. Placing it on speaker so the lawyer could easily hear and talk as well if needed, you placed it on the table in front of you. "Turtle Falls Academy, Headmistress Fiora speaking. How may I help you?"
"Headmistress, it's _. I need a copy of the custody paperwork from a few months ago." You said simply. Without the proper greeting, it warned her that you were not the only one on the other side listening.
"Of course." She replied, cautious. She knew as well as you did what could happen if even one word was out of place. "Do you remember the case number?"
You rattled the fifteen-digit number from memory easily, as well as repeating the fax number someone had written and placed in front of you. A strange feeling rose up in you as the headmistress sent it and the machine began to whir.
You hadn't wanted to ever use these sheets of paper.
"Have you received them, Ms. _?" She asked tensely.
"I believe they are printing now. Thank you, headmistress." As you spoke, an intern crossed the distance to the table holding the papers. She set three sheets in front of the lawyer, holding on to the others, which you were sure was an extra copy for their files.
"Excellent. Is there anything else I can help you with?" She asked professionally.
"I don't believe so headmistress. Thank you for your time." She politely ended the call as the lawyers began to read over the papers. Then read them again.
The man read them through a third time, looking for any possible loophole before he sat back. "I stand corrected. As the relationship between a mage and their student constitutes an ancient and binding contract, your right to custody of the child overrides any other claims." And there it was. Ignoring the fact he'd just proclaimed to anyone in the world that may not have known both you and Chara were mages, he continued. "Even blood relations. In fact, now that you've invoked this, your custody even overrides King Asgore and Queen Toriel's. The child will stay with you."
"Since that's settled…" You trailed off confidently, reaching for your paperwork as the cameramen began to close in.
Several people tried to surge forward then, hoping to pester both yourself and Chara with questions, but you were having none of it, slipping between them easily with all the practice of a waitress who worked at a bar, bringing Chara along with you into the elevator.
You hit the button for the top floor, knowing the building would be surrounded for hours.
You back hit the wall of the elevator as the machine whirred into action, sinking to the floor. "I'm sorry Chara." You stated, dropping your head onto your knees as Chara pressed several of the elevator buttons in a certain order. "Toriel and Asgore won't legally be your parents anymore."
'Is that why you never bothered getting a copy of those papers?' They asked. You nodded, flinching a bit when they sank to the ground beside you. 'I can deal with it. It's a much better option than being shipped out of Ebott entirely, maybe not being allowed to come back until I'm eighteen.'
The two of you sat in an almost comfortable silence, ignoring the elevator door as it opened and closed.
Your ringtone broke the silence, but you couldn't bring yourself to answer it. There were several possibilities of who was calling and why, and none of them were anything you wanted to deal with right now.
The twins had definitely watched. Eve had probably seen it livestreamed on the internet, with Damien listening silently behind her. They would be worried. You didn't want to worry any more right now.
Your parents were avid news-watchers, always looking for the newest gossip. The cat was definitely out of the bag in that respect. You didn't want to hear from them either. You'd had more than enough of their bigoted hate speech when it wasn't directed at you.
The only call you would want to answer would be one from Sans, making sure the two of you were okay, but you were certain that there were messages on the device you didn't want to see, so you didn't bother to even reach for it.
But you had promised, you reminded yourself. Sans needed to be able to get a hold of you, which was the only reason you managed to convince yourself to bring the cell out of your pocket to check who all had called. Sans was not among them, so you dropped the object in the middle of the elevator after turning the ringer off. Chara allowed their head to drop onto your shoulder, and the comfortable silence resumed.
Eventually, despite the fact Chara had locked the elevator, the doors opened and a blue glove presented itself to you. You took it and let Sans help you to your feet, Chara right behind.
You were right. It was still several hours before any of you had the slightest chance of not being assaulted by the media if you tried to leave the building. In that time, you didn't see either monarch, assuming they were battling the press.
There really wasn't anyone else for that matter, which almost surprised you. After all, Chara was monsterkind's savior. All of them would want to make sure the child was well after the tense afternoon. The presence of Alphys, Sans, and the Canine Unit gave you your answer though.
The royal guard had cordoned off the top floor, knowing that you and Chara were there well before your boyfriend had come to fetch you from the elevator.
You laid your head down on the desk in front of you, still holding Sans's hand as you drifted off.
Asgore felt his Soul twist when he realized that they had a potential way to keep Chara around despite the suit, and realized what it would mean. Still, he had mentioned the option to Toriel who had immediately sent Undyne after you, since she wasn't a member of the royal guard and could move much more freely.
He almost regretted it when your emotional state weighed down the room.
You were terrified.
Still, you hid it well. You spoke with absolute confidence, making it seem almost ludicrous that anyone in their right mind would question you. It was the authority of someone who knew what she was doing, whether she particularly wanted to or not.
You knew how to handle people. And you did it well.
You easily slipped into Toriel's seat at the table, immediately establishing your dominance over the conversation seemingly without effort. You also placed Chara in his own seat, positioning them as only just under you, yet above the lawyer in stature.
The effect was immediate as the seasoned professional found himself stuttering in the face of your absolute control.
Did you gain this skill from years of being persecuted for your mage status, or from needing an absolute authority that would be obeyed by patients? He'd seen you use this easy manipulation once before, just as seamlessly when you became Chara's teacher officially.
He hadn't thought much of it then, but watching you use it now on national television with so much at stake with nary a single misstep, Asgore found himself wondering.
Then the lawyer had declared your victory, and that pang shot through his Soul again as he affirmed that your custody overwrote anyone else's claims to it, including their own. Toriel had turned to him, shock clear on her features.
He had known. Asgore had known what was coming and hadn't told her for fear of having her argue and potentially losing their child.
You weren't responsible for her ire; he was. And he would take responsibility for it.