Sans had to watch with soft laughter as the kid stood straight faced once again against Mettaton who sang around them in his blue dress... Despite their mostly blank expression, though, there was a hint of frustration in their eyes. It's not noticeable if you aren't looking for it, it's harder to tell even for Sans, as he watched from the hotel on a television screen. But it is there. Just barely. In the back of those red eyes. Their mind is mostly somewhere else.

Neither person in the performance seems very concerned if Mettaton filing his 'nails' was anything to go by.

They were safe. The Fight wasn't real. At least not yet. Sans assumed that eventually something would go down where they would be in actual danger, but for now he allowed himself a bit of continued amusement about the whole ordeal.

He can't help but be a bit worried about where their train of though is headed, though.. Because that is where their mind is. Still thinking over everything that has happened. Everything Sans has said. Still trying to come to their conclusions.

Sans supposed the fact that they hadn't exploded was encouraging but he's still not certain anything is going to stick...

If Frisk couldn't get inside their head, Sans isn't sure... He doubts his own chances.

But considering their entire chances of getting to the surface kinda hinged on it, Sans couldn't afford not to care. Or at least... couldn't afford to not at least try...

Oh man...

There is a wave of bitterness, too, when he thinks about it for too long. It's not fair that it's up to him. Because sure, yeah, he's getting more understanding about them and why they did what they did last timeline, about trying to get Frisk back, but that doesn't mean the feelings just disappear. It's just easier to put them aside..

"about time ya got here!" Sans called with a big smile when he sees them. "i thought i was going to starve waiting for you. i mean look at me, i'm already withered down to the bone."

They don't respond verbally, only a half hearted shrug.

"welp." Sans began again. "you ready to get going?" A nod. "great. by the way, thanks for treating me."

There is a whirl of darkness and the orange, comforting light of the bar replaced the bright purple neons..

A chorus of voices call out his name-

"Sans!"

"Hey, Sans.."

"Hi, Sans!"

"Sansy!"

"sup, guys?" Sans called back, lifting a hand in greeting. The Human followed after him towards the bar..

"There you are Sans! We were all talking about gathering up a search party for you! Even Grillby was getting nervous."

"oh come on guys." Sans chastened as he slid onto his seat. "can't a man take a break from all his breaks?"

"Not you."

Sans faked a scandalous gasp.

"wow. i see how it is. i'm hurt you don't have at least a bit more faith in me."

The Human was eyeing the seat beside him suspiciously and Sans felt himself torn- It's the most difficult decision of his life. They sit down, an odd expression on their face, but nothing happens... The Human looked up as Grillby came over.

"But seriously Sans, where have you been?"

"workin'." Sans said, and to be fair he's mostly honest. Grillby stood silently, expectantly, but Sans got the feeling even he was not entirely convinced as Sans' fellow bar goers scoffed at his reply to their question.

"Right. And I've got dozens of people calling me for that date." Sans laughed.

"Hello again.." The Human cut in softly as the conversation died down and everyone else went back to their own meals or games. Grillby nodded kindly in greeting. "Can I have an order of fries, please?"

"hey. that sounds pretty good." Sans agreed, leaning more over the counter. "make it a double order, will you grillby?" There was another fiery nod and the man left towards the back. The Human and Sans were mostly alone again... Sans watched them in the corner of his gaze but the red eyes watched after Grillby. Avoiding Sans..

It stayed that way until Grillby returned, orders in hand. Sans lifted himself off of the counter as the platter slid his way.

"thanks, grillbyz."

"Thank you." The Human echoed.

Grillby nodded and then went back to cleaning his glasses. The drink ones. Not the ones on his face...

"ketchup?" Sans asked lightly as he reached for the bottle. The Human looked at it and pointedly not at his face, and after a small moment they nodded. Their fingers played with the lid, making sure it was on secure and Sans' smile widened as they turned it upside down.

It's a less difficult decision.

The cap fell of anyways, splattering onto their food. The scowl was immediate.

"whoops." Sans started innocently. "eg, foreddaboudit." He was sliding his own platter over. "you can have-"

"Stop." Their voice is low and even. Even darker, lower, than when he had put those hot dogs on their head. There is an edge of anger. "I said I didn't want to pretend with you."

Sans sighed.

"This isn't right." They continued before he can get a word in. "I don't get it. I can't- You should be giving me warnings. Telling me I'd be dead where I stand, that I belong burning in hell, and-! You.. You." The anger and frustration were already fading into silence. A single hand rested against their forehead as they leaned an elbow against the counter. They still don't look at him. The look somewhere at the wall ahead of them. A pained expression on their face. "You've never..."

They lowered their eyes towards the counter, the defeat settling in. They don't understand. They cannot understand.

They're not used to it being this easy.

They have run on so much anger and spite..

"... ya know.. papyrus wasn't the first person you changed the routine for." Sans noted. He watched their pained, confused expression begin to slowly fall in realization. Memory. They didn't look at him but Sans could see a flicker in the back of their eyes. "when you came to ask me for help by that bridge after papyrus killed ya.. was that the first time you'd ever spoken to me directly?"

They looked even farther away from him, wanting to hide...

"While I wasn't trying to kill you.." They barely whisper..

"but i knew you were there when we were on the surface."

There was a small pause, the chatter of the bar is too lively in comparison to their silence..

"It just.. worked out that way." They finally mumble. "We hated each other."

"... no." That got those red eyes to glance at him. No, he knows they aren't lying about the two of them not talking but- "i hated you and you think you deserve to be hated." They looked away, their fingers dig into their knees.. but they don't refute it.

... Frisk told him everything...

"did you want to talk to me?"

"No." Their voice is firm. Sans isn't sure he believes them.. After all, they had just talked to him honestly, using Frisk's actions to explain it- He thinks...

"if frisk told me everything.. that was only because you agreed to it, right?"

"I agreed for them. They needed someone."

But also Sans is certain-

"I understand." They said suddenly and Sans raised a brow. "When we were on the surface... A- The flower was there, too." Sans half frowned at the change in subject but decided to give in.. just for a bit. Because he's certain he already knows what he wants. They had wanted to talk to him. But they had always wanted him to keep hating them. They needed to be hated...

But the flower...

"yeah. there's a picture of it in the workshop. to be honest, i'm surprised. and more surprised i would put that down there to begin with. doesn't make sense to me."

"Because you didn't think you'd ever forget again." They mumbled through gritted teeth, but already the anger was seeping out of them as quickly as it had arisen. But Sans.. isn't so sure with their reasoning. After all.. if Sans hadn't at least harbored a little fear of a Reset.. He wouldn't have put pictures down there at all. But... the pictures he had put down there.. All of them were happy. Of him and the kid, Frisk, together, of them smiling. Maybe they were down there to encourage him to talk to the kid.. Hadn't worked! But maybe...

Maybe his fear.. wasn't that they'd intentionally Reset.. but that something would happen to them.

And something had happened to them.

The kid beside him took on of their ketchup smothered fries, not accepting his ketchup-free offering. Probably out of spite. They waited to speak until after they swallowed.

"But.. like I said, I get it. You even got around to accepting Flowey." They took another fry. They were trying to look in control, Sans realized.. Like they weren't completely unraveled and could properly function.

Also that they weren't like... shattering his whole world view again..

Because he is still having a hard, very hard time, accepting that he had really accepted the flower. The killer, manipulative flower.

But considering his feelings towards this kid could be so muddled in the span of a day he decided not to comment.

Besides, whatever he said would just come out angry and they are already having a difficult enough time talking without him getting confrontational.

Though... maybe that was also what they wanted..

"It didn't happen right away." They assured.

Just like everything else.

Accepting was difficult...

The kid lifted their head after a moment, staring at the ceiling, on of the fries dripping onto their plate as they held it.. They looked peculiarly thoughtful..

"One the surface there is this concept.. It's called 'Mutually Assured Destruction'. The idea is that both sides of a conflict have enough power to wipe each other off the face of the planet. So attacking and starting a fight is a pretty bad idea. It.." They laughed grimly. "It changes the idea of 'kill or be killed' into 'kill and be killed'.. It's the perfect example of humanity. Achieve relative world peace by just changing that one little world."

They sighed as they leaned over against the counter again, eating the fry they had been holding.

"But anyways.. on the surface, you and Flowey started off tolerating each other because you had to. Because if one of you started something Frisk would have both your heads. Neither of you would risk that. That was the one thing you had in common. But then, I'm not actually sure what changed to be honest. A conversation, I guess... But suddenly you two seemed to actually be getting along. At least accepted the fact that you were stuck with each other.. And it all started to.. get better."

Another pause, their hands empty for a moment..

"You're stuck with me.." They said. "You're stuck with me and you figure that getting everyone to the surface is a lot better than risking Flowey getting a hold of the timeline. So of course you're going to support me. You'd be an idiot not to. My destruction assures your own."

That's not... wrong. They aren't wrong! That was the whole thunderhuman idea to begin with but at the same time!

"it's not just-"

"It's fine!" They squish the fry they had just tried to pick up and flick it away to the other side of the tray. "It's fine. That's all I wanted from the beginning! You're just finally-"

"kid, stop." They cowards and Sans sighed again... "okay... i'm not going to deny that the flower thing and the reason i originally agreed to help. but it's... we both know... it's more complicated than that. if it wasn't you wouldn't be freaking out so much."

"I'm not-"

"oh no, you definitely are."

They grimaced..

"... come on, kid, you say i got behind accepting the flower.. how is this so different?"

"I'm a lot worse than Flowey." Their hands are now tight fists against their knees as they looked down.

"i'd say you're probably about even." Sans countered. He knows the flower has done his fair share of killing. But... the kid... Sans realizes.. they're shaking...

"... I did something horrible to you.." Sans barely hears them. It's so incredibly soft, a breath... but it freezes him solid. There is a brief flash of nightmare but then he can't remember what it was. Only the feeling. A weight between them. Sans... swallowed.

"well... w-we all make mistakes."

This is not the response they wish to hear. A hand was against their eyes.

"You just don't understand." Sans doesn't think he actually wants to. "You don't-"

"i think i got enough of a jist of it." He cut in. They stop. He can tell they are giving in. Not ready to say it outloud either. But even so..

"You still don't understand. You really can't understand. Because if you knew.. Who I was. I didn't just ruin the surface, I ruined the underground, too. I..."

Sans... really doesn't understand..

"what do you mean?" They look terrified and shook their head, closing their eyes. "what happened to tellin' me everything?"

"I'm not Frisk!" There was a moment of silence, the bar, a few heads turned their way but then quickly pretended that they hadn't. Trying not to pry or at least reveal that they were prying. The kid's shoulder's fell and so did their voice.. "I'm not Frisk..." But they seem to mean it now in more ways than one. "All that healing they brought with them, I didn't... I didn't just take it away. I'm the reason everyone needed healing to begin with. I..."

They just looked so.. defeated. Maybe.. Maybe they really would cave in on themself. Like a black hole, caving in and never stopping.. That was supposed to happen after a huge star burned itself out. A large explosion and then collapse. They'd had so much fire before but now.. With Frisk gone, this kid- Sans paused...

"can i ask you something?" They looked up at him uncertainly, not knowing where this was going.. "what's your name?"

The red eyes widened, their mouth opening in shock. No, horror. But then... they sighed lightly as they looked down. Their food isn't even a quarter eaten-

"I can't even be angry that you asked.." They mumbled. "It's just as well. Of course you would, especially you out of everybody. Everything else has changed, why not this too?"

"Is that really such an odd question?" Sans asked in disbelief. Sure he didn't ask in the beginning, he couldn't be sure it mattered, but just... nobody? They shrugged.

"It was for the best nobody ever asked. They didn't have to introduce themself again and again."

That made.. sense.. he guessed. Sans hated doing everything over and he couldn't even remember. It's just the vague drawn out feeling. Like eternal deja vu. But he's.. never thought about how doing the same thing over and over again when you could remember could affect you. At least.. not this timeline. Cuz the train of thought doesn't seem so unfamiliar.

"and what about you?" Sans pressed again, turning back to the current conversation. They hesitate, but after a moment and even before they speak Sans knows they have already decided not to give an honest answer.

"I am the demon that comes when you call its name.."

"yeah, and what's that?" They were shaking their head. "what? don't trust me with it? afraid i'll actually call it? at the most inopportune times? because i think it's funny?"

"The name itself doesn't matter. It is whatever you chose."

"right. okay then, red."

"Appropriate."

"so is that your whole thing? masking yourself as a vague concept of evil? was that how it was on the surface because you needed me to keep hating you? so you could keep denying frisk's help?"

He's hit the nail on the head because their face was wide, exposed in the shock at what he was saying. But then.. there was a brief snarl that immediately shifts back into some above it all expression as they close their eyes and picked up another fry.

"You don't know what you're talking about." But Sans thinks that he does.. but there is still a whole lot he doesn't actually understand, and if they want a change in conversation-

"so you say you're worse than the flower. what's it's deal anyways?" He's forgotten. You don't bring up the flower. You let them do the talking. They were tense again... It hits Sans. "he's the one you can't face, isn't he? not asgore."

They don't... respond... but they don't deny it either. They can't.. Sans wants so badly to press. Ask what the deal is but instead he decides to shift subjects again..

"can you answer at least one thing?"

"Depends..." The murmured.

"i don't entirely get the whole two people in one body thing."

".. I already told you.. I'm a demon."

"yeah yeah yeah, but for real, what's the deal with that?" They sighed.

"We never figured that out either." They admitted miserably. "I guess it was something about determination, but.. I'm not sure what. I'm just sure that it would have been better if it hadn't happened. They never would have killed anyone if it wasn't for me."

Frisk never would have killed...

Sans sat there, absorbing that sentence..

That's the first time, Sans thinks, that they've ever let Frisk share any of the blame.. It's always been them. This 'demon'. Nobody would have died if it wasn't for them, they said. Frisk never would have killed...

But that one little change... One small acknowledgement.

Sans doesn't think they notice it as they fiddle with another fry but Sans is coming to terms.. Something he should have already..

The worst person changing... was Frisk.

Which Sans had known. He had known that! The Resets. The never ending loop. Having it end.. But... the murders... That was this kid, not Frisk. Not the kid he was mourning. The 'Angel'... But after all, there were always two interpretations to that..

The Human was picking away at their ketchup-covered fries, a soft sigh escaping.. They don't look particularly hungry, it's just something to do as they continue to ignore Sans. The conversation over to them. It was cut and dry.

If it weren't for them... nobody would have died..

But...

"so they never would have committed mass genocide without ya," Sans said suddenly, "but would they have gotten us to the surface either?"

They freeze, stuck with dripping red liquid staining their fingertips before running down to their plate.. They are breathing funnily, maybe a bit panicking, as they put down the fry and their eyes shifted entirely away from him.

"Yes." They confirmed darkly. "And you would have stayed there."

They were sliding off of their bar stool and making their way towards the exit..

Guess it was time to go.

A third of their food remains uneaten but to be honest by not it looked too gross even for Sans to finish off. He called out to Grillby to put it on his tab before sliding off his own stool and trailed behind the kid. When Sans finds them again outside, they're bent down in the snow, seemingly trying to get the sickly stuff off of their fingers. They give up on their fingernails, another sigh, as they wipe their hands on their pants- That's gotta be cold, but after all, Hotlands was just a shortcut away. If that's...

"so what now?"

"... I'm tired.." They admit.

"well... i'm sure papyrus would love a visit."

It's been 24 hours since Sans has seen his brother, he realizes. That's... rare.

But the kid... They shook their head.

"I'll see him later."

They have had too much unexpected support, Papyrus may just be the final charge to set them off.

"okay." Sans conceded. Besides, he's sure Undyne would be there too. That is definitely two too much. But that still begs the question.. "sooo what now?"

"Not much. And there is no point in you trailing along so close. There's not much for you to do either."

Not much, huh?

"dontchya you still got some big show-down with mettaton?"

"Like I said.. not much."

Sans let out a weak laugh but it quickly dies..

"then i guess after that... you've got a straight shot to new home."

There was a tense silence..

"how 'bout we meet in the hall and then work our way from there?" They were incredibly tense. Impossibly tense. Their breathing picked up again. "or we could-"

"No." They cut off. "It's fine. The Hall is fine. Let's meet up there."

"... okay..."

And they were in Hotlands again.

"Thanks." They said shortly, much to Sans' surprise, before they were rushing away from him. A little too quickly.

And Sans felt... helpless.

He's thought he could do anything this timeline. Anything at all. That he'd had power for once.. But in the end.. it was still in their little, ketchup stained hands. Just in a different way than before..

.. They're just too self destructive.

"UUUuuuggh." Undyne cried in frustration. "He was annoying as a rectangle but now he is seriously too MUCH! Kick his metal punk BUTT, BESTIE!"

Sans sat back farther on the couch thankful that Undyne was no longer chewing him out for leaving the kid alone. But either way, Sans supposes, he is still stuck with a shouting fish, even if one way was more preferable to the other. And his brother-

"GO, HUMAN! YOU CAN DO IT! BUT... MAYBE NOT SO MUCH BUTT KICKING, AT LEAST.. NOT TOO MUCH!"

.. They're just too reckless.

Taking hits they could have avoided, changing their 'armor' up mid battle-

Sans also wasn't sure what they were up to until they pulled out their stick, constant companion even more faithful than Sans, from their inventory... He tilted his head curiously.. They stood tall, with something like determination in their gaze as they gripped the stick tightly between their fingers and lifted it high above their head. For a split second Sans felt a sense of sharp panic until their Soul flashes, not on Fight, but on Act-

They threw the stick and Mettaton caught it in his mouth, kicking up his legs before giving a wink. He twirled it up into the air and threw it back towards them. The kid jumped forward, caught it with a twirl of their own and blew a kiss.

The ratings soared..

The drama! The romance! The bloodshed!

All of it that planned sort of recklessness..

And that look in their eyes Sans had seen. The glimmer of something that may have even been real! The verge of it at least.. The kid may have been okay with dying... but with more dignity than a Mettaton battle would give them.

And maybe also because Mettaton wasn't planning on taking their Soul to Asgore. There was that, too.

It's so bizarre watching them, though, it's just like before. The fake smiles even knowing how much they hated it. The acting as if they were a whole different...

... Sans' smile was slowly turning into a tight cringe..

Right.

A whole different person.

It's not like he forgets, it just hits different at different time and watching now on the television screen..

The poses, the flirty faces, the arrogant boasts and flattery. The smile...

How would it look on that same face but make it real?

But even so that thought...

No matter how down Frisk had been, they had said, they would do everything the same.

Frisk had killed everyone...

Pain and anger... How bad it must have been to get it to that point where that felt like the only way out..

This kid could play the part so effectively, play the parts of both demon and innocence so perfectly.. And Frisk...

Frisk killed everyone..

Frisk saved everyone..

This kid...

They weren't that different, were they?

Just two sides of a coin, heads or tails, but in the end still the same.

If they had just been separate..

Sans wonders if he would have tried to help Frisk help them.. Or if things would have turned out just the same and he would still be sitting on this couch watching them play pretend..

After all..

Frisk had still died.

But they blamed themself for that, too..

And so had Sans..

Sans shook his head.

He's been thinking too much. It makes him tired.

Sans stood leaning up against one of the pillars in Judgement Hall, knowing that they should have just a straight shot left getting there. He fiddled with the locket in his pocket... He's still not sure why he had taken it with him in the beginning, understanding why he was hesitant to cave in and just give it to them as time went on, but now there's no taking it back. He's not sure if he regrets it, if he can play it off as a prank and if that is what he wants to do.. He feels sorta shitty about it now.. But... He'll make it up to him. He guesses. Once they get here. He'll accept their bit of anger without consequences. Just this once. Once they get here...

...

...

..

But they don't..