"I've driven there a thousand times, mom!"

"No, you've not, my dear. There's also construction on our usual road, Asriel. You'll have to take an earlier left to drive around it."

Aofil sits down in the passenger seat while Asriel readjusts his and the rear view mirror. He wipes away some fluff above his eyebrow and starts the car.

"Be home by dinner," Toriel reminds as she waves the two off in her car. Aofil catches a relieved smile on her as Asriel turns out on the street.

"Indicators, Asriel," Aofil comments.

"Come on. There isn't a car in sight."

"It's to make sure it's in your muscle memory at the test. Trust me on that. You miss it once and you fail."

Asriel opens the sunroof to let some of the sweet evening air in, "Yeah, yeah," but by doing so, he fails to see the warning sign about construction in the middle of the road.

Aofil elbows his side, "Asriel!"

The car comes to screeching halt just barely in front of the sign. Asriel eases the car to the sidewalk, and Aofil sees his stone grip on the steering wheel. His breathing is sharp, Aofil must've startled him, "Close one. You gotta be careful, Asriel. Toriel said that there was construction here as well."

"Just," Asriel calms his breathing, "give me a minute. Did mom see?"

Aofil is a bit taken back by the question, "I'm not sure."

"Just look!" Asriel swirls his head towards Aofil. His ear flop against his panicked face, "Please!"

Aofil tries to calm with a subtle wave of their hand, "Sure, I'm looking," they lean over their seat, "She didn't see," Aofil relays as they look over their shoulder, "Hopefully she didn't hear either."

"Yeah," Aofil starts the engine again, "that would've been bad."

"Why would she follow you? She worried a lot about you?" Aofil decides to pry.

Asriel doesn't answer since he's too busy trying to calm himself. Aofil again checks over their shoulder, but there's still no Toriel rushing towards them.

"Listen, Asriel. Mistakes happen, and yes, this was a scary one, but if you learn from it, then it'll be something positive in the end."

"You have a license?" Asriel asks after some sharp breathing.

"Yes, but I haven't driven in ages. Last time was when I was out with my famil…" Aofil halts their tongue by biting on it, "Make a three point turn and then take the left that Toriel said you would. It's a right now, by the way."

"I know," the car starts again, "I'm not stupid."

Construction is well under way, that's for sure. The main street that Aofil walked on earlier is complete, but the further away from it the less complete the area is. Humans and monsters are working together, using both machine and magic. Explains why they've come so far in so little time. It looks nice, hopefully Aofil can join with them sometime. If they can, is what they have to answer first. The interview is still in progress, even though Aofil landed the job. They've convinced their employer to hire them, now they only have to convince themselves. That's probably gonna be harder.

"So," Aofil begins as the car ventures past the construction. Now Asriel can actually hear what Aofil want to say. What do they want to say though? No idea, really, "um," they wonder, "how have you've been?"

Asriel shrugs his shoulders, and again misses to indicate, "I don't know. Good? I don't really know how to answer, to be honest. I'm alive, I guess."

Aofil nods, "You're alive."

"So you know, I got that going for me."

"Should keep on doing that. I heard it's good for you."

Asriel smacks his lips, "Yup."

"You still filming stuff, by the way?"

Asriel wants to turn his head towards Aofil, but his eyes are glued to the road, "What do you mean by 'still'?"

"Just slipped out," Aofil deflects with a shrug of their own.

"Yeah, I like to film stuff. I'm pretty good with editing as well. Did a skateboard video with Fuku and her friend. It was fun, but there wasn't really much I could do with the angles. She's good, but not great. I think once she gets more comfortable I can get more creative with my shots."

"Sounds fun," Aofil nods, "My brother tried to teach me some tricks, but it didn't really work with me. Other things you like to do?"

"Aofil, what is it you really want to ask me?"

He's got Aofil on that one. Better to just lay the cards on the table, "How is it being alive?"

"It's been normal for a while," Asriel sighs, "Until you asked."

"Sorry."

"It's just, I don't want to talk about what happened. I want to forget about," Asriel's grip hardens on the steering wheel, squeezing the leather, "him."

"Him that you were?"

Asriel nods without opening his mouth. He's too busy biting his tongue so that he doesn't scream.

"But you're you? You're not him?"

"No," Asriel hangs on the word, drags it out. It's bitter, and angry. Like an old infected wound, and Aofil just dumped a handful of salt into it, "I'm not. Him."

"You're Asriel, prince of the monsters."

He nods.

"Living on the surface with the humans. What you set out to do with..."

"Stop!" Asriel growls, "Not their name. It's difficult enough looking at you without having my memories flood back."

"Could say the same to you, Asriel."

"Yeah," Asriel takes one hand off the wheel and leans on it, "I guess you can," he agrees with a heavy heave of his shoulders.

The city gives way to an empty, yet recently paved, road. Just a few cars, and the majority are heading for the city. Aofil decides not to debate Asriel on his choice of hands on the steering wheel. Seems empty enough, and Asriel isn't on the weaker side of creatures. Quite the opposite. Aofil can tell that he's going to take after Asgore.

"Who are you, Aofil?" Asriel decides to ask after a couple of minutes of silent driving, "They all speak of you as if you were a savior. I mean, yes, you did bring me back. And I guess I didn't thank you for it."

"Say nothing of it."

"I'd rather not to, so thanks."

Aofil is suddenly aware of the fur on their arm, "Same here."

"But, what they say about you is just so, Frisk."

Aofil furrows their brow, "You make it sound like a bad thing."

"I know, but..."

"You still have something deep down that still resents me? Is that it?"

"No."

Aofil can tell that Asriel is lying, "Something deep down that resents Frisk?" Aofil tries again.

"No," Asriel shakes his head tiredly, "Yes. I love them with all of my soul. They're my sibling, and more so than..."

The steering wheel has its leather squeezed again.

"But, I also know what they've done before. Frisk did what I did. They..."

Aofil sees Asriel's muzzle retract in anger, but before they can make an attempt to calm, Asriel makes a sharp turn into an empty truck stop. He unbuckles his belt and storms out of the car, leaving the key inside.

The seat belt alarm warns with a soft and repeating pling before Aofil removes the key. They follow Asriel, but keeps their distance as he makes his way down to a nearby lake. He stands on the edge, and picks up a stone.

He bounces it in his hand before lunging it over the water. It reaches way further than Aofil would've imagined. Asriel picks up a bigger one, and again throws it with all his might. It makes a larger splash as it lands, and the drops glitter in the setting sun before rejoining the disturbed water. Asriel sits down with a third stone in his hand. This one he isn't throwing though, this one he's clenching.

The ripples from the latest impact hit the shoreline after some time, and Asriel flicks the last stone into the water. It lands with a plop, and the new ripples collide with the old ones. The old are more powerful though, and wash up against the store, despite the new ones fighting against them.

Asriel looks out over the blue and orange water in front of him, "How old do you think I am, Aofil?"

"About the same age as Frisk?" Aofil answers while still keeping their distance. Asriel needs the space, and Aofil would rather not that their fur reacts to Asriel's anger.

"My body is, that I'm sure of. Not a damn clue how, I'm just sure of it. But me? I don't know. I should be just another teenager. I should be worrying about friends, about being cool. The fact that I'm analyzing this is just proof that I'm not in fact, a teenager. I've seen so many things, I've done so many things. I learned everything there was about the Underground, both good and bad. I don't remember it all, but I remember learning it. So when the subject is brought up in school, I just sigh at it."

Aofil lifts up a hand from their crossed arm, "Out of the blue it just sounds like normal teenage stuff to me."

Asriel nods as he lowers his head, "Yeah..."

"But I know that your sky is clouded, very clouded."

"Damn thunderstorm."

"I'd say hurricane. You've been through much, Asriel."

"Don't remind me."

"You live with people you've killed."

"I just told you.."

"I'm talking to you as an equal on that part, same with Frisk. I'm having trouble looking at them myself."

"Difference being that you two also saved them."

"I saved them with your help," Aofil adds, "And so did Frisk."

"I wasn't thrilled about it afterwards."

"Neither was I," Aofil intercepts with a sigh.

"And I only did it because of Frisk," Asriel runs his hands over his face, "It's just," and then drags the same tired hands over his head, "it's like everyone was disappointed, you know? I came back, and nothing magical happened, you know?"

Aofil furrows their brow, "They weren't happy to see you?"

"Yes, they were. Mom, dad, it was so good to finally feel loved again, and to love in return, but I just feel like they expected more."

"I'm not sure that either Toriel or Asgore could expect more than having their dead son back."

"Yes! But I felt like they felt that it could've been more."

Aofil summons a calming smile, "I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself," but it doesn't help.

"But I'm back! I was the hope of the Underground, and I'm back! I was supposed to be the new chapter, but it started without me. It's like I'm a footnote. Now that I'm here, I haven't done anything close to what you and Frisk have. "

"Do you have to?"

Asriel bursts up on his feet, "I'm the reason everything happened!" and throws his arm out towards the glistening lake, "I'm the reason we monsters have this!" his quick breathing slows down, and his arm drops down to his side, "I'm the reason that the trial happened. The riots. I'm the reason the kids were killed…," Asriel knee's weaken, and he sits down, hard. Aofil wonders if it hurt, but Asriel isn't showing any pain. Not physical, that is, "How am I supposed to make up for so many deaths? Seeing the parents of the kids. Seeing their eyes inspect every piece of me. It was because of me that their child had to die. And I'm just..."

"A normal monster teenager," Aofil interrupts.

Asriel scoffs, "As if. I wish it was," and curls his legs up while putting his arms over them, "Sometimes I wish that the Barrier would've been unbreakable. At least then no one had die for me. I would still have Char...," Asriel moves his eyes towards Aofil. He hangs on them, their hair, their cheeks, their eyes, "You sure do look like them," he says with a worried sigh. Asriel lays his muzzle on his knees, looking over the burning orange water. It reflects in his eyes.

The same as Toriel's.

Aofil sighs as well, "So I've heard."

"Could you do me a favor, Aofil?"

"Sure thing."

"Could you just," Asriel stops to think, like he's debating if it's a good idea or not, "bend your chin down, and smile?"

Aofil instead hardens their gaze, "Asriel," they remind sternly, "I'm not Chara."

Asriel scoffs again, "Was a very different tone when you first tried to convince me."

"Because how otherwise would I have convinced you?"

Asriel's arms tightens around his knees, "And the extractor."

"That was Sans' idea."

Asriel averts his eyes, "He told me it was yours."

Aofil growls, "Of course he would."

"And then you pressed me down against the ground."

"Look, Asriel," Aofil extends a hand towards Asriel, but he swats it away.

"All I've heard from mom and the others have been nothing but praise, but all of my memories of you are you holding me against the cold dirt and then almost strangling me while staring at me like you're about to kill me," Asriel's muzzle wrinkles, but Aofil can't tell if it's from fear or anger, "You roared at me to forget about Chara, and that I had to build a better future for the monsters," Asriel releases his legs and throws a finger against Aofil, "You're the reason I'm like this! You told me to forget about Chara, and then you acted worse than them. How did you think I was supposed to forget about them when you told me something worse was in store for me?"

Aofil doesn't know how to answer.

"And then mom and the others told me about how great you were! My entire being sinks every time I hear something about you."

"I'm sorry, Asriel."

"That's not enough!"

"Then what is enough?"

"I," Asriel quells a sob, "I don't know," but he can't hold his tears back. He again returns his head to his knees, but this time it's bent down. His entire body shakes with every sob.

Aofil again reaches a hand out for Asriel, but they retract it, "You miss Chara?"

Asriel nods faintly.

"And I'm reminding you of them?"

Another weak nod.

"Do you want me to come back?"

No answer.

"I'm sorry," Aofil repeats.

No answer.

"You haven't had anyone to talk about this to, right? Toriel, Asgore?"

"I can't talk to them about Chara, or about how I was. It would flip their world over, and this time we don't have me to bring back to fix it."

"Yeah, it probably would. But, for as much as we remember what happened and what we did during those times, they don't actually matter right now. They never happened."

Asriel averts his eyes, "Easy for you to say," and flexes his fist.

"But not to accept. I've been through one of these resets, and that's way too much for me. The fact that you're living a normal life despite everything that transpired is incredibly strong of you. I know that you've just met me, but I might also be the only one you can talk to. And you might be the only one I can talk to. Frisk doesn't open their mouth for me. Do you know why, by the way?"

Asriel scratches his head, "Haven't really asked."

"To be fair you had no reason to. Would love to know though. They're quite the flirty type, or so I heard they were down in the Underground."

A small smile grows on Asriel, "I remember being so sick about how nice they were to all the monster. Dry heaving with every childish flirt they did. When they flexed with Aaron, sang with Shyren."

"It feels a bit different now that you can feel?"

"Sure does," Asriel's smile fades, "I still hate to think back to those times."

"You smiled though," Aofil reminds, "isn't that a good sign? You're thinking back to it as Asriel, not as Flowey."

"Maybe."

"It'll just feel like a bad dream in a couple of years, Asriel," Aofil puts their hand on Asriel's shoulder again, "Trust me. You have such wonderful people around you. Frisk, your parents, Undyne, the list goes on."

"What about you?"

"Sorry for doing what I did."

Asriel shakes his head, "Not that. What about it feeling like a bad dream to you?"

"I," Aofil takes back their hand, "I don't know. I need some advice."

"You're telling me to forget about Chara, but you're still holding on to your family?"

Aofil nods, defeated, "Yeah..."

"Chara was my best friend."

"I know."

"Could I talk to your parents as well?"

"I guess I didn't show you me and Chara's room like I promised."

"You didn't."

"We'll see," Aofil lifts their head. The lake is bright orange, and the sun is shining directly into their eyes. They stand up, "We should probably get going," Aofil reaches into their pocket and hands the keys to Asriel, "It'll be night soon."

Asriel grabs the keys from Aofil's hand and brushes himself off as he heads up to the truck stop. Aofil follows, and seats themselves into the passenger seat again.

"Indicators," they remind to Asriel as he starts the car. Asriel nods, and indicates when he turns out to the road again.

Mt Ebott is again casting its shadow over Aofil. Again they're back. Their city hasn't changed much in their absent. The same people, just a bit older. More monsters are walking the streets though. Asriel stops at a red light, and out the window Aofil sees two humans and two monsters enjoying the last rays of the day. One human leans into the others, and after some talking they all burst into laughter.

The light turns green, and the laughter is drowned out by the engine noise.

"Take a right next intersection," Aofil instructs.

"But the sign says straight ahead?"

"It's less traffic this way."

It's also a road that doesn't pass Aofil's old house, but Asriel doesn't have to know that. Is Aofil being unfair? Probably, but it's not like they can enter it, Aofil sold it, it's not theirs anymore. They've no idea who owns it though, not that it's important. They got the money, and that was all that mattered.

"We're here."

Aofil stops Asriel as he's about to exit the car, "Give me five minutes alone, please."

Asriel halts with the seat belt wrapped up over his arm, "Oh, sure. Wave me over."

"Thanks. I really mean it."

The gravel path is once again disturbed.

The iron gate squeaks as it's opened.

"It has been awhile, hasn't it?"