He felt his eyelids heavier. It was not a surprise. He never welcomed slumber like rest wasn't so pleasant with him. It was a deal signed long ago.
As his wont, after finishing his tea, he cleaned all the house up, taking away the ash and working on the single stained cup. He liked to think it was a way to distract himself, but actually it was a preparation for welcoming unexpected guests. Not that he wished for them.
After that he headed to the garden, taking care of the golden flowers in anything, gathering all the bugs that were annoying their sedentary life and letting the sun activate the photosynthesis incredible conundrum. If they were conscious he swore they would laugh at his niceness. If they were his sons, they would be risen as spoiled kids, asking for more comforts. What a terrible parent he was.
He eyed the few leftovers of the dust, still around that first flower, its odd six petals crowning the pale disk florets. He wished... He didn't know anymore. Not that it mattered.
He took away the spoiled weed threatening life on the green, mechanical actions moving his body.
When someone killed the blank noise. "Where are YOU, king? Too scared to show up?" the voice said. It was unknown, high-pitched. A child's.
He wished it was a delusion, like always, but that powerful aura was irreplaceable. The end was approaching, the world getting darker. Dread was haunting the lungs each step he heard. It was still exploring the empty building, soon it would be closing in the room.
Silence rested in the air. An impatient grunt filled the void. "Is this hide and seek? Are you kidding me?!" It didn't wait an answer. "Fine! Well, I'll find you eventually!" The source was still upstairs, and it would've had to walk through a long hallway, then the grey hall.
He had enough time to prepare himself. He summoned the red trident, the hand wimpy, his back toward the only access. It's only a kid. Blood was already spotted on the ruined gold.
"I'm not here to waste my time, so you better show up this instant!" It was not too distant.
The grip held stronger. This will be the last.
"Come on! Bring it on!" Louder steps followed. "Are you really that scared of me?"
Not of it. Of himself.
Foot stopped.
He could feel the excited and annoyed source staring at his back, the cape a weak shelter for his unease.
"Yeah, ya really are the heck scared out of me."
He wasn't listening, it didn't matter: that was going to be the last fight, whatever the results, freedom would be found, in both senses. Eyes darkened frowning, chin burying down, the cape followed his fast motion, turning with him. He could feel the brief tremor of the small shape. He pointed his full hand toward the entrance. "If you have any unfinished business, please consider retreating."
"Retreating? Seriously, pal? After chasing you in a stupid children's game? Heck, no! I don't want to hang out with Shyren and losing the bet! And retreat is not in m-"
"A bet? That's what you said?" He snapped the head up, seeing it in the eyes. It was kid, like he could've figured out by the voice, but there was not white sclera, replaced with a sharp yellow, fangs of the same colour edged out of the mouth, the scales of a pale blue.
This chi- this young MONSTER was just antagonizing him.
He realized his misunderstanding, eyes thrust open. His soul was cold like never before, he was shaking. What was he even thinking. What was he daring to do.
He backed into the garden, the sun bathing him, burning his head, exposing his fear.
She was really pleased of the vision. "Eheh, maybe it will be simpler than I though." She gazed inside his soul, triggering a fight.
They both were really tensed, who for dread and who for excitement. His soul turned green. Startled, he tried to move, but it was impossible to him. He was with the witnessing flowers, planted in position.
She was even more amused at the scene. He must've been really pathetic to her. "I think you should try harder than that." She delivered a punch.
He wanted to take it directly in his face, but he dodged. He couldn't let monsterkind go to ruin. He still had some responsibilities.
Her eyes squinted, the lone nostrils lifted, clear annoyance in the features. "Are you serious, old man? If you wanted to look strong this way, then you really are stupid. But at least -she smiled widely- you will be a real challenge!" She handed a... wretched quarterstaff? Did she really want to clobber him with that? He felt a bit offended. "Don't look at me like that! -she detected his scepticism- This is what is going to defeat you. CHAAARGE!" She swung the weapon.
He dodged on his right. He noted she avoided that side, must've been due to her left eye, which was closed all the time.
She let out a frustrated grunt, delivering other blows in retaliation. She was really determined. Her attacks were predictable, though, and she was just missing the target. She gasped for air, hands in her knees, back arched. Sweat was covering the brow, irritating the left eye, which was squinting. Drops fell on the grass, the pressed flowers weren't screaming for pain.
He wasn't that exhausted and felt really bad for the kid. However, before he could've talked to her, she fled, running away from the room. He forgot he could move again until it was too late.
Darkness cursed him once again, but the lack of sleep was being unbearable to his body. He was no more ageing but he felt many centuries older. He didn't know if he reached the mattress or if he let himself go on the floor. Not that he cared at all, not that anyone was going to question him.
But there she was. The whiteness of her fur was blinding him among this blackness. He smiled at seeing her: she was the only one who could've helped him-
That frown said otherwise. He was such a fool to believe such a clear dream.
"Asgore Dreemurr."
Her lips weren't moving an inch, her look was enough. That disappointment was going to kill him soon or later.
"I was already disgusted of you, being capable of killing an innocent child for your folly. I was so foolish wishing to have children with you. If I'd known before, I would've reconsidered my position as mother.
"But then you wanted to rip a poor monster's soul, no less. Ahahah..." The pun-laugh was improper to the moment, her tears stabbing him, like deadly acid rain on the then sterile soil.
"I didn'-"
"A child, a killing which could've been avoidable, pointless. A damage to our own people. -she continued- If you are like this...
"YOU WOULD'VE EVEN KILLED OUR CHILDREN IF IT HAD BEEN FOR THEIR SOULS."
"Noooo!" Dark and light again, sweat covered the fur, the fibres of the carpet stinging his skin. He felt almost like his face was about to melt by the commotion. Stupid he was to even believe it, to even try to question her, an image of his mind.
No, he couldn't afford killing another person. He had to ask help.
He stood up, legs aching at his broken weight.
He rested but he was not rested, it was just pointless pain.