Behind Closed Doors: Chapter 7 - A Firm But Fond Farewell

"Come now, Manny, you must get out of bed some time today." The familiar voice of Toriel barely rouses you from your sleep, and you respond in the gentlemanly way of weakly swatting an arm through the air with a grumble. "...nnnnh . . . !" A small chuckle is given in response, and as she so 'cruelly' pulls the blankets from your body you respond my sitting up swiftly and covering your eyes and nose briefly with your hand. "Jesus.. how long did I sleep that had you worried?" Toriel gives a slightly-stern glare before saying, "Young man, I'll have you know it's eleven o'clock, already!" You give a bratty, teenager-esque sigh and slouch your shoulders before glaring at her with hazy eyes and a quiet, fatigued groan.

Once the both of you eat late breakfast at the table you kind of keep peering a Toriel for brief moments as thoughts come-and-go between chewing. Why would she hide a door from me..? Or, have we just not gotten that far, yet? Maybe I shouldn't just abruptly misjudge someone-

A question pulls you out of this thought-train abruptly. "Do you mind telling me what caused you to get up so late, last night, Manny?" As you look up, the expression Toriel has is of a parent questioning a child coming home late at night. You stop mid-chew with a closed mouth, trying desperately not to show 'that' face. The 'Oh God, Oh Fuck-' face of panic, and respond with the first thing coming to mind. "I was.. getting a drink. Didn't you see the cup in the sink?" You try to play off the question with some relaxed tone, and it seems to work slightly. She seems relieved for the moment, and it puts you off even further. Why did she seem so serious about that.. was it trust? You smirk and play it off further by cracking a small joke. "Ice said it was just a drink, water you worried about, Toriel?" Seemingly out of nowhere she pauses completely ,and her eyes widen with a worse glare. You responded out of instinct, eyes widening in guilty consciece. Then she placed her hands on the table and stood up... as straight as she could.

Oh fuck.

Toriel's chair slides back rapidly before stopping the skidding across the floor. "Young man, do not lie to me. Where else did you go, last night?" Her voice was low, very stern, and cold.. colder than that draft from the door, last night. Caught on the spot, you slide back in your chair across the table, raising your hands half-way. "I-I was just..- When I was heading back to my room, I saw the stairwell and got curious, that's all-" She interrupted very quickly, answering with a slightly more aggressive tone.

"Did you go down there?" You tried to speak, "I was just-" but she interrupted with an slightly louder, perhaps even more furious tone. "Did you go DOWN there?" Instead of more fear, being a young adult, your own frustration slightly rose. You stood up out of your chair and attempted to straighten your own back, regardless if she was taller. "Christ, what's the problem?! Is there a hostage down there or something? All I did was walk up to a door and talk to someone! You never even said I couldn't go there!" The realization that she hadn't even suggested that caught her off guard, yet she continued.

"So if I did not tell you not to enter my room, would you do so anyway?" She questioned in a slightly more condescending tone, only fanning the flames. It didn't help that your stubborn nature caused you to fire back. "Hey, I know I shouldn't exactly be snooping around someone's house during sleeping hours but it fucking happened alrigh-" A quick halo of flame flickered for the briefest moment as she shouted at you. "Do NOT use that language against me, child!" In unnecessary defiance, you slam your foot against the chair and cause it to tumble to your left, hitting the ground. "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? SEND ME TO MY FUCKING ROOM 'MOM'?!" You didn't mean to escalate.. you honestly didn't, but again, it happened.

It seems that comment and tone caught her off guard, so much so that her anger completely faded for the moment. As she paused, she could see your hands and wrists trembling. You weren't angry, not at all.

You were scared.

"I..." She quietly started, taking a step back. "I.. I am so sorry, my child. I didn't-.. I did not mean to let my emotions get the best of me, but.. I am afraid I'm not perfect." After saying that she took the moment to sit down in the chair still behind her, its legs slightly browned from the proximity of flame, and seemed to stare off in shock. You were still cautious even after her anger faded, but when she sat down with that look on her face it was clear that she wasn't kidding. "...This is my fault to begin with, don't apologize.." The tone of quiet surprise was in your voice as you said that, and she looked up with a glance of confusion.

You continue when her eyes meet yours, and you walk around the table towards her as you speak. "If I had thought before I just went down the stairs on a whim none of this would have happened. Besides, I kind of thought last night that maybe I should at least attempt heading back up to the surface? I mean, I still have... ..family.. up there, and they might be worried." Toriel seemed to respond in a way you didn't really understand at first. "Please.. you must stay here, I know it's not much, but once you get used to the size-" She sounds... desperate? As she trailed off, there were more and more excuses as to why you should stay, but the last one caught your ear. "- he, ASGORE, will kill you."

Wait, what? "..and who's.. 'Asgore'?" The question seems to have roused anger in her again, but it seems more tired than before. "Asgore is the king of monster-kind, and he has vowed to kill every human that falls into the Underground.. he wishes to wage war on humans because of what they did, long ago." You seemed very, very confused. "Wait, what did humans do? Did a military force bomb you, or something?"

She shook her head and explained the story of the monsters, why the humans hated, or more correctly, feared monsters for their potential power. It makes sense when she explains it.. you know people are stupid, but individuals can be smart. As she continues on about how mages trapped them underground with a magic barrier you seem in disbelief, but... extremely less so, considering the flower, the ghost, and all the other monsters you've encountered. Once she finishes, you remain silent for a brief moment before placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Look, Toriel. You've been a wonderful friend to me, more than most up there would have been as far as I remember, but I can't stay here forever. My parents.. well, they did the same. They sheltered me from almost everything negative but I finally resisted that and I'm finally able to fend for myself.. I should've been able to at a younger age, but, well, I can't change that." She seems so, so sad, and her expression keeps worsening before she lets loose a long sigh. "I... It is only right of you to feel this way. I am glad you don't think less of me for my actions, and I will let you continue forward." She stands up and wraps her arms tightly around you, and you do the same. It's a very, very warm hug, quite literally and metaphorically. You smile at the notion and let a single chuckle out before letting go.

She holds on to you for about ten more seconds before letting go and gently taking your hand. "Just one condition, please.." She asks, turning her head as she leads you down the stairs. "Uh.. sure? What is it?" "... do not come back." Her request baffles you completely, and causes you to stop in your tracks, making her slow but ultimately stop herself. "Whoa whoa, what? You can't expect me to just 'not' visit you ever again, can you? Uh, no. I'm going to visit you, and we're going to enjoy time together, and you can't do anything about that." You say that in a stern playful voice, hug-squeezing her side and glaring up at her with a squint. She smiles wide but still seems disheartened. "I... do not know, but I need some time to think about my actions. If I do not respond to your calls, please forgive me." Well, that wasn't a.. no.

Once you both reach the door she effortlessly pushes it open, and you squeeze her hand one last time, pulling yourself in for your own long hug. It feels.. painful, in a way, but you need to keep going. Some small, odd part of you is telling you to continue on.. to be *DETERMINED.

Another chapter done! I'm going to shoot for longer chapters, but I'm always afraid I'll write too much and prattle on about unnecessary details. I'd really appreciate more feedback on any subject matter, please don't be shy!

-RampantMemory