"What in the actual fuck did you just do, Sans!"

Sans removes Aofil's cup from the tray as well as his own, "you and i can't finish an entire kettle of tea by ourselves. i don't like wasting, so i thought why not. after all that has happened today i'm sure they'll appreciate a cup just like you."

"You invited the freaking Dreemurrs, Sans!"

"it doesn't hurt you saying their names?"

Sans made the right choice in removing Aofil's cup. They throw their hands up, sending the tray flying across the room, "It's gonna hurt way more actually seeing them, Sans!"

Sans catches the tray with his magic, and moves it back to the table next to him, "you sound a bit upset."

"I'm goddamn livid, Sans!"

"really don't have to end every sentence with my name, aof, i'm right here," Sans taps a finger on his cup, "determination is good though, so keep on being livid."

"What if the memory box doesn't work? And then Chara wakes up to them coming in!" Aofil grabs their head, "Asriel will probably find out almost instantly...If Chara could feel his soul inside mine, then there's no doubt Asriel can feel theirs now that they're in control of Frisk."

Aofil's eyes almost fall out of their skull as they drag their hands down their face, tugging their skin in the process. The sound of a careful sip perks their ears, as Sans takes another careful sample of his tea. His face scrunches up, almost mimicking Aofil's. Even despite the complete lack of flexible skin Sans wrinkles go deep. He places down the teacup, and vanishes. The table vibrates quietly as the gust of Sans' shortcut sweeps its legs.

"let's hope the memory box works then," Sans shouts from the kitchen. Aofil hears a cupboard opening and closing, and less than a second after Sans is back in his chair, followed shortly by another huff of wind, "and if it doesn't, then might as well pull the wool away directly instead of having them figure it out by their own."

He adds four spoons of sugar to his tea before nodding that it is good now.

"put the cards on the table before someone tries to build a house out of them."

Aofil lands hard on their chair, "And then what about me?"

With a small motion of two of his fingers, Sans sends Aofil's cup over to them along with the sugar, "if the box works then you'll have an excellent time to talk everything out with them. pretty sure we can make that isolated from whether the kiddo wakes up or not, and which kiddo it is. if the box doesn't work out for you, well, then you have a real reason to say that you have to stay away. a win win situation, if you ask me."

Sans takes a long drink of his tea. When he's done, he exhales calmly, letting the warmth of it wash over him, "i'll be here, don't worry."

Sure…

"like hell that i'm gonna miss all of this going down."

And there we have it.

"you think we can record it all in the memory box?"

"Sans!" Aofil presses their fingers against their templates, "Words cannot describe how much I want to hit you right now."

"good, then you'll shut up about it."

"I-"

"and keep focus on what's important," Sans interrupts. He takes another sip of tea before motioning with a quick tilt of his head towards the front door, "the front door is there, aof, it has always been there. you haven't glanced at it once, both figuratively, and literally, since you got here. if you want to leave, then leave. go home and live your life without us. it's been great seeing you, despite everything. i wish you luck in your future."

Aofil doesn't stand up instantly, and that speaks more than enough for Sans, "the only reason you'd ever want to subject yourself to any of this is because you want to stay, aof. some small part of you want to stay. you wanna guess which?"

Aofil doesn't.

Sans puts his finger on where it is regardless, "your soul. it's like that physics example you're so fond of using. for every action, there's an opposite and equal reaction. your soul made us all stronger, and in return, you felt stronger as well. the aofil we met," Sans returns his finger to his skull, scratching it lightly, "what would it be? second time? yes, the aofil we met the second time is not the aofil that's sitting here in front of me. ignoring the resets, which we should to begin with, you've come a long way, aof. you are the hope of the surface, and you should be proud of it."

"I'll be proud of it once it stops hurting me to be it, Sans."

"good, then you'll talk it out with the royals, right?"

Aofil's head sinks down into their hand. Heavy as can be, they shake it with great effort.

Why aren't they walking out that door?

Aofil looks over to Frisk's body. Their face is wrinkled, making them look almost as old as Aofil. Well, not with as many wrinkles, that is. How can Frisk stand all of this? Give up their own body just on the off chance that Aofil would stay? Hope must be a synonym to wishful thinking. Borderline crazy, even. Same can be said for Aofil, since they're still not bolting for that door.

What is the reason?

Curiosity? About what happened during that first reset? Chara said that Aofil was at the forefront and-

Aofil's head is shot throughout by a sharp and rapid bolt of pain. They close their eyes and let out a small grunt. Sans moves Aofil's cup closer to them.

Aofil gives it a small sip, and their tongue twists in confusion. Their face does the same, and Sans moves the sugar closer. Aofil adds two spoons before it's fine enough to swallow, and stay down.

Hopefully.

Aofil brow furrows. There's that word again.

Hopefully.

Wild guesses, shots in the dark that would make even the most decorated marksman impressed, going out on limbs like a novelty circus act, and always, always, with nothing but a vague promise that

Hopefully

They will succeed.

Hopefully

They will rescue Asr-

They will rescue that prince.

Hopefully

It will be enough to shake some sense into memories that haunted the monsters.

And hopefully

Aofil will come back…

Aofil glances over to Sans, who smiles with a shrug, before returning to their teacup. They miss the lip on the ceramic with their own, and a couple of drops run down their chin.

Aofil dries it off with their free arm. The brown liquid stains the white fur. Sans is quick to offer a napkin, and Aofil takes one with a quick, "Thanks."

Their arm, their fur. Is it really their fur? Aofil's fur was the reason they had to leave, that they had to hide it, and themselves, from everyone else. Their curse blossoming, it was because of their fur. All their hate, all their anxiety, their misery, it was because they were cursed. Cursed because they stuck their neck out for the monsters. Sticking their neck out for the monsters because…

Because they killed them?

Was it because Aofil felt indebted to the monsters? But if so, why wasn't bringing Asriel back enough to pay that debt back? Was Aofil's fur the interest to that debt?

Was the scene in the basement with Alphys the last payment then? Not to the monsters, but to Aofil themselves. Hard as it is for Aofil to admit, but the monsters never really asked for anything. They praised Aofil, thought about building a statue of them. If anything they felt like they owed Aofil something. So who did Aofil need to pay back to?

Themselves?

"Sans?"

"yes?" he answers without opening an eye.

"Can you turn my soul blue?"

The question is enough for him to slightly open one eye, "yes. follow up, why?"

"I need to test something."

"don't really think you should have any more magic inside of you now that you've interacted with the memory box, especially when we ripped it away like that. for all we know, your soul might be wide open, and me applying my magic could result in a horrible amount of things going wrong. you might even absorb my own magic, who knows? and if you know my magic, then i'll be out of a job."

"...I suppose."

"if i were you, i'd enjoy the quiet. if you want i can put a pillow in front of the kiddo if they're distracting you."

"It's fine."

Sans closes his eye again, and sinks down into his chair. He ends up with his back on the seat, and his head pressed against the backrest. No way that it'd be comfortable for Aofil. Not that Sans would care about that.

He is right about the quiet though. This past week has been loud. So many things have happened. Aofil's barely gotten a moment to catch their breath. Now that they have one, maybe they can finally let things sink in.

Like again, the fact that they haven't left through the door.

Too bad that Sans refused to use his magic on Aofil. For good reasons though, Aofil agrees, maybe not the latter reasons, but the first ones were plenty enough. They need to test how they feel while exposed to magic now though. Test if their curse is real, or just one of their own making. Now that they've talked to Chara, it feels a bit strange putting the blame on them, if just tangentially. Perhaps Aofil was wrong about the monsters seeing them as Chara's twin, Chara's replacement? For as much as Chara was down in the Underground with the monsters, they sounded very human.

So did the monster too, come to think of it.

It won't change what the curse has done though. All the damage is real, too freaking real. It might help Aofil accept it if they stop thinking of it as a curse. Might help them put it all behind them.

But…

All that talk about being a hero, being the hope of the Surface, that's too much, regardless if their curse is real or not.

Is it because the monsters felt indebted to Aofil?

Must be, why else would they even consider making a damn statue out of them! Aofil doesn't want a statue.

Maybe for another reason, but not this reason. Not because of what they did, even though what they did is worthy of it. They've burned that bridge by not involving Aofil in the discussion. Even if Aofil did cross over the bridge to the other side alone and refusing to bring them along, they shouldn't have done that.

Aofil foresees the monsters using the same argument towards them. Shouldn't have left, shouldn't have gone away without talking. Aofil made their bed, and they've been tossing and turning in it ever since.

Maybe it was wrong now, but it felt right then. Maybe they ran away, but what else could they do? It was so tiring, all they did. It hurt, it was too much! It was-

"aof."

"What!"

"exhale," Sans lifts a calm finger. He points it to Aofil's cup, "it's about to break. exhale."

Aofil looks down. Both their hands are clenching the cup. Clenching hard, as hard as they can. Their teeth are gritted too, also almost to the breaking point.

Aofil exhales, feeling every fiber of their being relax. They take a long breath, and exhale again. They drink some tea. The warm liquid spreads out from their core, out to their limbs. To their fingers, to their head, to their cheeks.

Their cheeks…

Aofil touches their right one carefully.

Warm.

Not burning hot, just warm, like the rest of their skin. Just the same. Come to think of it, they can't really remember their cheek stinging ever since that ordeal with Mettaton.

Aofil scoffs.

Guess that explains it then.

"that's not something i thought i'd see in a long while."

Aofil shifts their eyes over to Sans, who peeks one eye open, "What?"

"you smiling."

Aofil coughs up a small chuckle, and shakes their head, "I'm flattered, Sans, but I don't think you and I will work together."

Sans isn't phased, "your loss," he reaches over for his tea, "but in all seriousness, why the smile? did you think of a joke? share please if you did. humor comes from the soul, so your human humor must be better than mine, right? don't actually answer that."

"Nah, it's just," Aofil swirls the liquid around inside their cup, "I did some thinking, that's all."

"i see," with a quick glance over to frisk, sans allows himself another swig of tea as he confirms that they're still fine, "thinking is good. wished you did it before you left us, but hey, better late than never."

"Yeah, sure."

For some reason Aofil's tea tastes a bit sourer now.

They don't get a lot of time to lament it though, as Frisk's body jerks awake with a vicious jolt. Their eyes shoot wide open in a blank stare, and a razor sharp gasp sucks almost all the air out of the room.

With a brow lowered in half worry, half preparedness, Sans nods for Aofil to follow him. Carefully they walk up to Frisk's body. The blank stare doesn't react to the two of them closing in, and Sans' brow furrows even harder. He motions for Aofil to put a hand on Frisk, carefully.

Aofil feels the abnormal breathing underneath the blue and pink striped sweater. Frisk's torso is expanding and contrasting at an alarming pace. It's fast, and unrhytmical.

Is this gonna happen to Aofil as well?

"Frisk? Are you there?" they ask solemnly. They give Frisk's shoulder a careful shake.

Frisk's eyes blink, and their pupils start to move. First up to Aofil, and then to Sans.

As the two lock eyes, another dark aura is summoned. Sans takes a step back, his pupils vanishing in an instant.

"Sans!" Aofil yells, but it has no effect.

Sans shortcuts away.

He returns a moment afterwards with a bucket in his hand. He shoves it underneath Frisk's head, "not on the carpet, kiddo!"

A vicious sounding heave later Frisk rips the bucket out of Sans' hands, and force their head into it. Aofil's face can do nothing but tense up in disgust as Frisk discharges heave after heave into the metal container. It's not long before Sans shortcuts away a second time, returning with as many buckets as he can carry. He dumps them in front of Frisk, catches his breath, and shortcuts away again to fetch more.

Aofil can only guess as to why Sans has so many. Their thoughts are interrupted by Frisk moaning and moving over to a less filled bucket.

Five buckets later, Frisk finally looks up. Their face is pale, drained.

"You alr-"

Another bucket is filled.

Another half later, or roughly half, Aofil's not really keen to make an accurate measurement, Aofil puts their hand on Frisk's back, "You alright, Frisk?" they try again.

Weak nod. A good sign.

"You you again?"

Another weak nod.

"What about Chara?"

Weak-

A seventh bucket is filled.

"I'll get you some water."

Exhausted thumb up.

"I'll fetch the water since you can't smell this," Aofil says to Sans before he can shortcut away, "Pretty sure you'd want to open a window, by the way."

"because of our other guests? as if i could forget, and as you should, aof. the old ones, that is," he tells Aofil's back, "not the old as in year, but as in reset!" he clarifies just as Aofil's about to close the kitchen door behind them.

Once inside the kitchen, Aofil opens the kitchen window as they arrive at the faucet. They fill a nearby pitcher with water they catch a whiff of the smell from the living room. They drink the water they've poured so far as a preemptive measure since despite the two digit number of buckets Sans fetched might not be enough for even Frisk.

Once Aofil returns they find Frisk leaning back in the sofa with their mouth wide open. An exhausted grunt is the only thing exiting their mouth at the moment. They sound like a dying lawnmover.

"you sure you're you?" Sans asks after returning from a shortcut. The lack of buckets in front of Frisk is a bit worrying, but the smell doesn't seem to have set in yet. No way Aofil is cleaning up if Frisk vomits again, so they're not gonna ask Sans to fetch back a few. It's his gamble.

Frisk tiredly moves their eyes over to Aofil. Sans follows them, and after a second or so of them both looking at Aofil, they get the hint. They hand the pitcher over to Sans, "How far away do I need to be?"

"The kitchen?" Aofil asks Frisk directly.

Weak shake.

"Outside the kitchen?"

Weak nod.

"Alright then. Come get me when you two are done talking," Aofil says to Sans. He winks as he puts his hand on Aofil.

A moment later they're out at the backyard.

A moment after Aofil's alone, with a small wind from Sans' solo shortcut brushing against their leg. Aofil looks around for something to sit on. They find a folded sun chair propped up against the wall and flick it open. The plastic net composing the chair has a picture of Mettaton with his arms outstretched stitched in it. Aofil sits carefully down.

You never know with these monsters.

"Hey..."

Aofil looks over to their side.

"How are y-"

Immediately after they clutch their head with a groan, "Dammit!"

Undyne's already sad smile melts quietly, and she pushes herself up from her side of the fence with a pained sigh. Aofil looks over again, but as they also spot Alphys gripping the door frame a bit further away, another wave of hurt floods throughout their skull like a tsunami wave.

They hear some subdued talking before the backdoor is closed on Alphys and Undyne's house. Aofil bends over to better grip their head, but it still takes a full minute for the pain to even start to relax. They're forced to wipe away a fair amount of sweat from their forehead.

"God fucking dammit," they sigh.

Where is Sans? How long are the two of them gonna talk?

Sans doesn't arrive for another couple of minutes, and when he does, his tired exhale competes with the wind his shortcut produces.

"kiddo's asleep."

He keeps staring out over the horizon with his hands in his pockets.

"Good?" Aofil asks, trying to get his attention.

"yup."

Still staring.

"So, what did you two talk about? Is it Frisk that's there?"

"yes, it's frisk. a very tired and exhausted frisk, but still frisk. probably not gonna get proper sleep for a while after this, but that's on them. might be a bit harsh, but at least they've learned not to do it again."

"You think so?"

"no, but i'm gonna tell myself so. i've got plenty that i'm gonna take away from today already, so whatever i can tell myself not to, the better it's gonna be for my shoulders to carry."

The setting sun doesn't seem to bother Sans. He keeps staring almost directly into it.

"Did they hear anything while they were gone?"

"everything, or so they told me."

Aofil nods, "I see."

"does it bother you that they do?"

"I don't know, to be honest," Aofil crosses their arms and sinks down into Mettaton's embroiled embrace, "For now I'm just glad that they're back."

"you're not bummed out that chara is gone?"

"Can't tell right now."

The open window is gently knocked on, and Sans turns his head around. He gestures with two fingers outstretched. Aofil can just barely hear the kitchen door closing.

"Who was that?"

"can't tell."

"Sans..."

"because then your head would hurt. i can tell you what it was that knocked on the window though, a claw."

Aofil's eyes widen, and they lean up towards the window, "They're here? Already?"

"toriel's pretty angry at me for not opening right away. almost knocked the door off its hinges. couldn't let her hear what frisk had to say though, on their request, mind you. i only opened once they began to walk around the house," Sans reaches into his pocket, "told them you were out here sleeping and that i'd try and wake you. they will find you fast asleep though should they poke their head out here."

Aofil's eyes snap towards Sans' pocket.

"i'll distract them for as long as possible, but you gotta have to do it right now, aof."

Sans throws the memory box over to Aofil. It lands on their chest.

"i'll check on you whenever i can, but you have to dive in alone. sorry."

The window hits the wall behind Aofil as the wind from Sans' shortcut pushes it.

Aofil puts their hand on the box, but as they do so, the world around them starts closing in. The bright and orange glow of the sunset becomes brighter. Warmer as well.

Not as warm as yesterday, but still, it's a pretty nice day. Aofil regrets not putting on those over sized sunglasses, as the midday sun blasts against their face and eyes. It's been a while since they actually just sat back and enjoyed the day. They don't know why, but these last few days they've felt like they have more energy somehow. Aofil squints while leaning over the side of their patio chair to fetch the newspaper.

The front page has a huge blurred picture of two large beings entering what seems to be the Town Hall.

Above it is a headline screaming in bold text

"Monsters are real!"

Huh...