Frisk walked through the pines following the occasional cry of the frustration of a voice they were becoming fond of with a bit of a smile on their face. Soon Frisk made it to a clearing and saw Chara their back turned to Frisk knife in hand. They waited until the knife was out of Chara's hand before shouting, "Hi Chara~"

Frisk's smile grew when Chara jumped grabbing for their blet, Frisk had waited until Chara was out of knives after they weren't dumb and they certainly weren't going surprise someone when they were armed. Chara spun around visibly relaxing when they saw Frisk. "Frisk? Wait did Azz- Asriel tell you about this place?"

"No, not at all."

Chara walked closer glaring at Frisk lowering their voice, "Did you follow me here from New Home."

Frisk let out a small laugh, "No no I was just walking through the woods and heard your lovely voice shouting profanities." Frisk's fingers walked up Chara's jacket, "so I wanted to see just what you were doing that made you use such colorful language." Frisk poked Chara's nose with a giggle.

"Ah," Chara stepped back their face red, "sorry that you know…"

"Chara I don't really care, so I see you have a hobby of throwing knives?" Frisk looked at the dead tree riddled with both knives and holes, it looked a bit spooky and Frisk was glad that it was still daylight. They didn't want Chara to think they were scared of a tree.

"Kinda… between you and me I've wanted to be a part of the royal guard since ever before I meet Asriel, but for a while, I wasn't any good with a weapon," Chara looked at the tree and sighed, "Still not that good. Not royal guard good anyway."

"How did you met him anyway? It's hard to imagine you two not knowing each other, hell it's hard to imagine a time you two weren't the best of friends." this wasn't what Frisk was planning to talk about yet they couldn't help themself. Chara was treated by everyone like they've always been there, the lone human not being seen as an oddity was interesting to Frisk as the books they've read firmly stated that new home was a monster kingdom formed after the monsters of surrounding kingdoms got pushed out by the humans.

"Well I was adopted by the old royal scientist, apparently the human who birthed me left me in the woods to die." Chara laughed then, it sounded odd, a mix of mirth and resentment. "And before he kicked the bucket the only person my age was Asriel so I just spent most of my time with him. Not much to say really."

"Hmmm yeah true," Frisk walked over to the tree and pulled out a knife pretending to be engrossed with the detail work, "So… when did you first realize that you had a crush on him?"

"Maybe when I was 15-" Chara started then stopped turning towards Frisk, "I mean- ah- Why'd you ask such a thing? I don't see him as more than a friend." One of Chara's arms now in front of their face trying to hide how red their face was.

"You're sure? I could cut the tension between you two with well," Frisk tossed the knife in the air catching it easily then holding it up so Chara could see. "A knife."

"I just- look you caught me off guard, you- you are being unfair right now!"

"Am I now? Come on Chara, why don't you want to tell me? What do you think I'd be mad?"

"Yes! You're the one he's going to marry not me! Any feelings that I have… or may not have! Don't matter when it comes to this! I actually like you, Frisk," Chara grabbed Frisk's shoulder, "I would not do something so underhanded as to try and steal your fiance from you…"

Frisk stared into Chara's eyes, "Chara… thank you for saying that but where I come from polyamory is much more common than monogamy, so honestly, if I came to New Home and got told that you were Asriel's partner I wouldn't even blink an eye. I was more thrown by the fact that you weren't together already."

"I…. wait really?"

"Yes, Chara really."

"You're telling me I spent days stressing out for nothing…?"

"Yes, sooo you admit you have a crush on him?"

"Agh, yes I do, I've had one since we were 15 and he ran up to me all muddy holding flowers for me blabbing on and on while being adorable and it has annoyingly stayed strong for years now, happy?"

"Very, now we can work on getting you two together!"

"Wait-"

"Wait? Why?"

"Just because I have feelings doesn't mean Asriel feels the same."

Frisk had to stop themself from groaning out loud, It couldn't be that they were the only one that could see what was happening so clearly. They shoved down their frustrations, Chara was insecure, even if they wouldn't say so, Asriel is also insecure so how? Ah Asriel may have insecurities but he can also be impulsive, they can use that.

"If he feels the same Chara, I bet I can get him to make the first move."

"Really, what makes you so sure?"

"I knew how to make you confess didn' I?"

"Well, you say it's a bet, what's on the line here?"

"How about you have to kiss me if I can get Asriel to kiss you?"

"Ah, why you would want that?" Chara's blush which had started to die down came back with a vengeance.

"You know how I've talked to you about how I think Asriel is hot?"

"Yeah-"

"He's not the only I think is hot." Frisk winked and gave back the knife they had been holding, "So do we have a bet?"

Chara took the knife with a small smile on their face, "Why not, what do I have to lose?"

{}{}{} {} {}{}{}

"Pince Asriel."

Asriel froze and turned around to see Unydine fast approaching. He knew Chara could go on and on about how cool she was but he always was a little scared of her. He would say she didn't look mad but he had a bit of a hard time reading her expression. He stood still as she walked next to him a big toothy grin on her face. Before it faded just a bit after taking a closer look at him. "What's gotten you so shaken?"

"Wedding things," he lied easily, "Is that all you wanted to ask me captain Unydine?"

"Ha no, I was wondering where Chara was, they've been avoiding me and since you're friends with them, I thought you'd know."

He paused, he had a few guesses all places that Chara wouldn't talk to him for at least a month if he'd dare to reveal their hideaways. "Hmmm well Chara is very secretive, they don't tell me everything you know?"

Unydine looked at him for a few minutes before grinning and slapping him on the back almost making him fall over. "When you next see them tell them I need to talk with them."

"Of course I will," he paused for a minute, "They're not in trouble are they?"

"No, not that I was just going to ask them about- oh there they are!"

Sure enough, Chara was walking towards them as well as Frisk, the two of them seemed to be engaged in a nice conversation, Asriel couldn't help but smile when he saw them. Unydine walked over to talk with Chara who gave a look Asriel couldn't read to Frisk who in turn just smiled and gave Chara a brief side hug. Chara walked away with Unydine as Frisk went towards him a bit of a coy smile on their face.

As soon as Chara and Unydine turned the corner Frisk asked, "Asriel if I asked you a question would you be honest with me?"

"Well… yes I don't see why not?" He was slightly taken aback wondering what Frisk could be referring to.

"Good, good, you have feelings for Chara right?" it sounded more like a statement and he was about to deny it when they continued, "Remember that you said you'd be honest Asriel."

"I- well- maybe? Yes…? I'm sorry-"

Frisk placed a finger to his lips, "No, don't apologize, I'm not mad in fact I'm glad this is how it turned out because I don't feel odd about the fact that I too have feelings for Chara. They have a strange charm to them rough around the edges while being a bit soft inside."

He was a bit more relaxed now, trying to seem completely serious as he said, "They'd stab you if they heard you say that."

Frisk laughed at that, "that's part of the charm of course! It would good fun to call them adorable to their face and see how'd they react. "

"I think I did it once, it kind of slipped out but it was interrupted by other things, I didn't get to see their face really."

"How long have you known them? They surely were adorable more than once?"

"Yes but well… I've tried to keep any comment that wasn't platonic to myself?"

"I've called my friends adorable without meaning I want to kiss them."

"Look I just worry that if I say too many things that sound flirty they'd hate me…"

"Agh- I mean are you sure? It may be more likely than you think."

"I don't know-"

Frisk looked almost annoyed before smiling once again so quickly that Asriel wondered if He was seeing things. "Asriel?"

"What is it?"

"Do you want to make a bet?"

"A bet? What kind of bet?"

"One where I bet I can kiss Chara first, a bet that I'm sure to win since your so sure Chara doesn't feel the same way."

"Hey wait-"

"What? you said yourself that you'd never say anything less than platonic, I have no such reservations. I bet I could get them to kiss me before we even get started visiting each town in New Home."

It was tradition if the future king was marrying someone who wasn't from New Home that the soon to be married couple would travel and spend a day talking with the subjects of each town to help with any unease the people may have. "That'll just give you a week though."

"I only need a week dear." Frisk winked at him which normally would have made him flustered but right now he just scoffed.

"It'll take more than a week to get Chara of all people to kiss you."

"How do you know? You haven't even tried."

"I will try! I can kiss Chara before you, mark my words!" he said looking down towards Frisk

Frisk folded their arms a smug smile on their face. "So… it's a bet then?"

"Yes, it is!"

"Good!" Frisk clapped their hands grinning, pulled Asriel down by his shirt collar to place a kiss on his cheek before waving goodbye, "Let's see who wins my dear fiance~."

Asriel stood there watching them go for some time before muttering to himself, "What did I just get Myself into?"