"What did you say to him?" Kris demands, glaring at Asriel with a look in their eye that rivals actual hate. Their arms are crossed.
Asriel coughs. He doesn't really need to, he just can't think of anything else to do. Downstairs, Susie is still weeping, and the occasional sob echoes up the walls. It's an unnerving soundtrack to their argument. Come to think of it, it's the first big argument they've had in ages.
"I- he- we-"
Kris turns away. "You made him leave, didn't you?" The words are cold and dripping with misery disguised as venom.
They still burn Asriel like ice.
"No," he half lies. Kris gives him another dirty look over their shoulder. "No," he says again, firmer.
It's not a complete lie, is it? He didn't make Ralsei leave.
"You're lying." The accusation cuts through Asriel like a knife.
They aren't entirely wrong, but they're still not entirely right, either.
"Kris, we talked it over this morning. Him leaving the dark world was irresponsible enough, and he had to be gone before Mom woke up."
The words hang in the air. And then Kris whips around to slam the door in his face, shattering the silence and making him flinch.
Asriel sighs and raises his voice just enough to be heard through the door. "I know you're angry, Kris, but he really couldn't stay here. It wouldn't be fair to insist on Susie coming back without asking him to go back, too."
Something in him tells him to stop using - twisting - Noelle's words from this morning, but it's true, isn't it? Ralsei really had to go back...right?
"I'm sorry, Kris," he adds.
He's not surprised that Kris remains silent.
"I'm going to the hospital with Noelle and Dad," he tries again. He doesn't know what he wants Kris to say, but really, he'd take anything.
Predictably, all he gets is silence. Asriel trudges down the steps with a sigh and a heavy heart.
A heavy creak from the bottom stair alerts Asgore to his son's re-emergence. He only catches a brief glimpse of Asriel's face before he looks down, suddenly very interested in the flooring, and it's all he needs to tell that Kris is still upset with him.
There's a lot of things he wants to ask, but he settles for the safest, most banal question. "Are you ready?"
Asriel shrugs at him. "I guess."
"Erm. Well. That's good. Let your mother know we're leaving, then meet me in the truck. Noelle's already waiting."
"Yeah. Okay."
He should say something to him. Comfort him about his sudden argument with Kris, or chastise him for keeping secrets, or ask him why he's lying about Ralsei. Instead, he watches Asriel drag himself to the living room.
It's times like this Asgore can't help but wonder if his ex-wife is right. Maybe he is just a cowardly buffoon. Maybe-
He shakes his head. Now is not the time to second guess himself. He can do that after the children are taken care of.
He joins Noelle in the car, pleased to find that she hasn't run off like Ralsei.
She alternates between fidgeting with her cellphone in her lap and staring out the passenger window.
"Um, thank you for the ride, ," she mumbles.
He tries for a good natured chuckle, but it comes out more like an uncomfortable wheeze. "You are welcome."
Thankfully Asriel spares them from more conversation by exiting the house and practically throwing himself into the bed of the truck.
"Right," Asgore mutters as he turns the key. For once in his life, he finds he is not looking forward to chatting with Rudy.
Toriel was definitely right.
Kris's mom is holding Susie's hand in both of hers, trying to meet her eyes. Susie keeps her gaze fixed firmly on her own hand. "It's okay," she says, soft and patronizing. "You can tell me."
Right now, it's just the two of them in the living room. Kris is brooding in their room, understandably furious, and Noelle had promised to visit her father in person and explain herself, so Mr. Dreemurr offered to drive her, and of course Asriel jumped at the chance to escape the house…
Toriel just radiates Mothering Energy, and it's like she's gagging on the stench of it.
"You can trust me," Toriel coaxes.
Susie bites back a bitter laugh. How many times has she heard that lie? Coming back had been the biggest mistake she's ever made. She pulls her hand away and sets it in her lap.
"No, I can't." As soon as she can slip away, she's going back, she decides. She should have never let them convince her to come back.
Toriel's voice takes on a sickeningly delicate tone. "Did he ever…?"
She doesn't even have to say who he is.
"No!" Susie barks, jumping back onto her feet as if she's been slapped. "No!" She repeats.
Her stomach churns. "A lot of shit. But never that."
"I...I see."
"Just don't make me go back," she half whispers. Her hands have curled into fists, and she's clutching them so hard her nails are digging into her palms, threatening to break the skin. If she hadn't run out of tears, she'd be crying again.
"We can't just let people think you're still missing," Toriel says, again trying and failing to meet her eyes. "But you are welcome to stay as long as you wish."
"You're lying," she growls out automatically.
Toriel stands and gives her a small, sad smile. "No. You may stay as long as you like. Although, I suppose I should inform the police that you're alright."
Susie leans back, as if to let the couch swallow her whole. God, she's so tired. "What if he doesn't-"
Toriel interrupts her gently but firmly. "Susie. I do not know you very well, but it seems as if you have been let down by the adults in your life, myself included." She frowns, as if scolding herself. "For that I apologize…" she trails off, searching for the words. "But I will protect you from now on. I promise."
That's a nice thought, and Susie wants to believe it and thank her, but instead she crosses her arms and says flatly, "Sure."
Toriel leaves without another word.