Thanks go to Andyfire123, Wingah, 10burgers, Zack Frost, Doctah Sawbones, Tbone8454, NBoss01, cassianaswindell123, Genowar, cagrijan1904, Skele, Jack54311, Allagenda-domsitzers-chan, TheFallenAngel873, Acoolnamme, and sonic245.
To answer your questions TheFallenAngel, Anarchy's powers include his mass amounts of DETERMINATION and his darkness. We just haven't seen the full extent of either yet, not by a long shot. As for other DoubleKids, I don't plan on adding any more than the original four, but there's a slim chance that could change down the line? It's pretty unlikely, though.
Disclaimer: I do not own Undertale.
"Geez Angel." Predator leaned over towards me, her eyes not leaving the stunned crowd before us. From the corner of her mouth she spoke. "I think they thought you were gay."
I shot her a glare from the corner of my eye, and she grinned mischievously in response.
"Wait wait wait wait wait!" Frisk jumped to their feet, racing over from the couch. They waved their hands and shook their head, like they were calling for a timeout. They reached me, folded their hands into a pyramid, and pointed the peak at me. "Cter."
"... Yes?" I cocked a brow, clear confusion on my face. I got that this was surprising, but I never would have expected this kind of uproar...
"You," They nodded to me, as if to confirm that I understood they were talking about me. Then, they pointed their finger pyramid to Predator. "Dated her?"
"... Yeaahh?" I slowly nodded my head, narrowing my eyes at them as I theorized what they were getting at. "You trying to say she's outta my league?"
"Yes!" Frisk threw their hands into the air over their head like it was obvious, and I frowned deeply while rolling my eyes. "I mean it's not that you're unattractive, but compared to her-"
Frisk was cut off when I landed a quick jab on their shoulder, my disgruntled expression growing further. They winced, grabbing their now charlie-horsed arm and rubbing it.
"... Your ex is hot, is my point." Frisk said after a moment, and I smiled mirthlessly.
"Thanks, jackass." I spoke, and Lexi laughed, wrapping one arm around my shoulder and surprising me. When my semi-wide eyes darted over to her, she smiled wide and spoke.
"C'mon, give Angel some credit!" Lexi didn't hesitate to reach up with her free hand, pinching my cheek. I could tell she was trying to embarrass me, and it was working, my cheeks dusting a light pink. "He's a big ol' cutie when you get to know him!"
"O-okay!" I stammered, quickly removing her hand from my cheek and taking one long step out from under her arm. "Anyway-!"
"So why are you here?"
The room's attention was caught by Chara, who unlike the rest of my friends, looked a lot less amused and a lot more suspicious. They crossed their arms over their chest, frown plain on their face. Sharp red eyes focused in on Lexi, who lost some of the excitement and playfulness from her attitude. For just a moment, the two were standing at odds, almost glaring at each other. Tension that had not been there a moment ago flooded the room.
"Same reason as you." Predator spoke with a smile, but her tone was different. It was hard to notice, I might've been one of the only people who picked up on it, but there was an edge to her words that was not there before Chara spoke up. "I wanted to see Angel on his birthday."
Now, I know Chara pretty well. I know the expression they make when they're about to say something nasty, and right now that look was plain on their face. But just as they opened their mouth, and my anxiety peaked, Toriel poked her head in from the kitchen with an ex machina.
"Dinner's done!" She smiled in a motherly way, and suddenly Lexi's energy was back as she turned to look at the goat monster. Toriel widened her smile, tilting her head to the side some. "We have plenty of food, Lexi, if you'd like to stay for awhile."
Suddenly, there was a cold gust of wind, and Predator had raced away from my side. She now stood before a clearly bewildered Toriel, grinning thankfully and grabbing one of her paws in both hands. Rapidly she shook the monster's hand up and down, "That sounds great! Thanks so much!"
I stood there, in the doorway, watching in bewilderment as Lexi filtered with my new perfectly happy family into the kitchen. All noise faded out. I just watched her, laughing and smiling as she spoke with ease to Mettaton and Papyrus. Whatever words were exchanged were drowned out by my invasive thoughts.
She was so easy going. So unaware of the world she could shatter with just a few words.
*What are you gonna do now, little Angel?
Chapter 40: Attempted Homicide Blues
"... I'm really sorry."
I hoped my sweat wasn't visible to everybody else. I stared with shaky eyes into my plate, hearing every mocking word the food uttered up at me. The corn knew my stomach was curled in knot after knot. The stake knew I was too nauseous to take a bite. The mashed potatoes thought it was hilarious how I was so hungry, but moths were eating at my stomach lining.
"So, Lexi," Asgore wore a polite smile, sitting with trained posture and without his elbows on the long table in which we were all seated. He sat diagonally from Predator, who sat to the right of me. To my left was Monster Kid, and to Lexi's right was Asriel. Directly across from Lexi was Toriel, who Frisk sat next to, putting them directly across from me. To their side was Chara. Everyone else was at a different table, purely because there was far too many people here for our one humble dining room table to accommodate. "How long have you and Cter known each other?"
"Hmm... About three years, right?" Lexi arched a brow over at me for confirmation, and I looked up from the food I was hatefully picking at, forcing a casually thoughtful expression while I nodded in agreement. I opted not to speak, as I knew prying my throat open would take too long.
"Yep, three years now!" Predator looked back to Asgore with her big ol', semi-crooked grin slapped on her face.
"Oh? That long huh?" Asgore rose his brows with intrigue, that welcoming smile growing on his face. "You two must have a handful of memories together!"
"Oh, you have no idea." Predator chuckled, leaning one elbow on the table and shaking her head at some presumably silly memories the two of us had together. I couldn't remember the happy times from back then, I was too busy sinking into my collar and trying not to get sick over the terrible times.
"Oh, this is so cute! I had no idea our Angel had a girlfriend before!" Toriel grinned in the giddy way a mother does when the opportunity to embarrass their son in front of a girl presents itself. "I have to know how you two met!"
"Toriel..!" I looked up from under my hair, not fully lifting my head in a poor attempt at hiding my blush. I had one hand on the side of my face, resting my elbow on the table.
"Oh, that little ol' story?" Predator smirked coyly, waving a hand dismissively. She leaned one arm back over the back of her chair, rolling her eyes as if she didn't want to tell this story. "It's nothing big, really. A mutual friend introduced us."
*Mutual friend? Is that what kids are calling gang kingpins these days?
"See, my ol' pal Xander talked him up as this real smart computery guy." Predator leaned onto the back legs of her chair, not batting an eye to all the anxiety and embarrassment I was writhing in. "So, naturally, I thought he would be a total nerd who'd only ever talked to two girls in his life: his mom and his grandma."
*Shockingly accurate assessment despite you never having told her about your childhood.
"And because I think making boys that don't know how to talk to girls squirm is hilarious," It was at this point in the conversation that I slapped both hands over my face to hide its tomato color palette. Everybody must have been too enthralled by Lexi's story however, because nobody took any notice. "I thought I'd go bug him."
"But, you guys know Angel. He's full'a two things: Jokes and confidence." My rapidly rising embarrassment contradicted Lexi perfectly. "Thirty seconds into the conversation and I was laughing and giggling. Turns out he's a total lady killer."
*Certainly an attempted lady killer.
Shoot me now... I clenched my eyes shut tight under my hands, slowly lowering my head to the table. I was afraid to lift my head, afraid to make eye contact with anybody, and I didn't even know why. This shouldn't be embarrassing, I should have been able to laugh this off. This should have been just as funny to me as it was Lexi.
... But I didn't feel happy. I wasn't having fun. I felt ashamed. I felt afraid. This wasn't a happy reunion with an old friend, this was a terrifying encounter that held everything I held dear hostage.
... I felt ashamed. I couldn't look at anyone. I was afraid everyone was looking at me. I was the most afraid to meet Chara's eyes with my own, and I had no idea why. Somehow, it felt like with Predator here some great lie that I didn't even know about had been revealed. Like up until now I'd been hiding something from them, something that they had a right to know.
... But that didn't make sense. Just the fact that I had an ex girlfriend (Well, a girlfriend that I never officially broke up with but was separated from for six months) was nothing to hide and wasn't anything Chara needed to know. And yet, it changed the dynamic of that weird feeling I experienced around them. The thing that felt like being happy, anxious, and excited all at once.
While usually being around them dulled the anxiety and brought out the excitement and the happiness (and being away from them dulled the happiness and brought out the anxiousness and the excitement) now I was sitting five feet from them and nothing felt happy or exciting. All I felt was worry, shame, and disgust with myself. I was afraid they hated me, that they were glaring at the top of my head, and that their gaze was getting more and more harsh the longer that Lexi spoke of our past.
And oh, she went on and on and on. Endless questions and never ending answers. Everyone talked and laughed at my expense without even knowing it, and I just shrunk further and further under the pressure. The only one who never said a word was Chara. I had no idea what they were doing, what they could possibly have been thinking, and I was too mortified to lift my head and try to gauge their expression.
So there I sat, a coward and a fraud, trying to keep up whatever semblance of comfort and relaxed-ness I could while my stomach burned and throbbed with the desire to vomit. Lucky for me, it was already empty, as it had been since I puked this morning. I guess I must have been a better liar than I thought because no one asked if I was okay. Not until dinner ended, and we all dispersed back into the party to let our food settle and prepare for cake.
Near the staircase Chara stood, crossing their arms and watching Lexi from across the living room with eagle eyes. The black haired woman was chatting with Undyne and MK, and from the smiles and the laughs, it looked like the conversation was going very well for her.
"... I don't like her." Chara eventually said aloud, catching Asriel's attention just as he was passing by. He paused and looked back at them, cocking a brow with some confusion. Then, he followed their gaze, which had never left The Predator, and he mouthed a silent "oh" as he understood who they were speaking of.
"Who, Lexi?" Asriel asked as he turned to face them, furrowing his brows some. "Why's that? She seems really nice."
"Nice?" Chara repeated, their incredulous eyes turning to their adoptive brother with a disbelieving point. "She show up out of nowhere, crashes the party, starts acting like she's everybody's friend-!"
"Comes out of her way to wish Cter a happy birthday, is invited in, is polite and friendly." Asriel listed his corrections, counting them on his fingers while giving Chara an doubtful look. "I don't wanna say you're overreacting, buuuut..?"
"I'm not overreacting!" Chara exclaimed, stamping their foot. "She's up to something! I mean, her and Cter supposedly broke up, but now she's back and acts like everything is A-OK between them? What if she's some crazy person?!"
"... Chara are you sure this isn't about something else?" Asriel squinted his eyes in a dubious expression.
"What else could this possibly be about?!" With frustration Chara threw their hands into the air, clearly aggravated that Asriel was so skeptical.
"..." Asriel pondered his thoughts and what words he could say. He opened his mouth to give the main theory that kept popping into his brain, but then hesitated, shutting his mouth and letting his eyes dart to the side. He muttered under his breathe, "No, that'd be ridiculous..."
"What'd be ridiculous?" Chara furrowed their brows some, but Asriel shook his head, waving a hand dismissively.
"It's nothing." Asriel dismissed, shutting his eyes momentarily to clear that ludicrous theory from his head before continuing. "My point is, I think you should try to keep an open mind. I know you're not the most trusting of new humans."
"..." Chara remained quiet, and Asriel left them to think on that, walking back towards the many friendly faces around the house. They crossed their arms as they watched him leave, expression thoughtful. While leaning their shoulder against the wall they once more let their eyes gloss over to the flawlessly sociable Lexi, watching her talk to people she just met like she'd known them her entire life.
Chara actually had known most of these people for at least a lifetime or two, even if hardly any of them recalled it. Not that they wanted those days reminisced, it was hard enough remembering those things themself. But, this didn't have anything to do with the past. At least, not theirs.
Chara shifted their eyes then, silently scanning over the room before them. They could count out most attendants, but the man of the hour was missing. Cter The Hacker had disappeared behind a shut bathroom door it seemed, one that had been shut for what Chara guessed about fifteen minutes.
Their thought drifted again, skimming through what pieces they had of Cter's past life. He hardly mentioned it these days, but back when they were on opposing sides, it had came up several times. The Hacker had always been vague, but from what he'd said and what Chara could remember on the spot, it was less than a happy life.
"... I've destroyed people to get ahead before. You aren't gonna be any different, doesn't matter how many times you come back."
That quote stuck out to them. The two had said a lot during their 714 battles in the Judgement Hall, and in the vicious looping cycle a lot of those words had been lost to memory. But that sentence had always stayed with Chara.
"I have spent a lot of my life being an asshole and here I finally have a shot at being a good person!"
"I cut people down, stabbed them in the back, pushed them away - just to paint a big picture that I wanted."
Again when the two first met at the beginning of this pacifist run. They found a lot of his words that day hard to forget. They'd never told him that though, didn't believe it was their business. They didn't like talking about their own past, after all. And they understood that everyone who fell down the mountain was running from something.
"Did you ever let someone down, Chara? When they needed you the most, did you ever fail someone you cared about?"
... He'd been particularly talkative when the two had traveled Waterfall together. Talkative, yet wistful. Friendly yet distant. That had been the day Chara'd learned the most about him, they thought. It was strange, he thought he was going to die then. They wondered if he talked so much because he wanted them to remember him as he was. They thought about that a lot.
"I don't think I've ever felt happy since that day. I don't think I've felt much of anything at all."
"..." Chara's jaw clenched, their fingers wrapping tightly around their own biceps before they huffed and uncrossed their arms. With certainty in their step and DETERMINATION in their eye they marched towards that shut bathroom door.
Okay, don't hurl... For the love of god don't hurl... I was leaned over the bathroom sink, breathing labored slightly. I hadn't vomited, I hadn't done anything physically draining, and yet my heart was pounding and no gulp of oxygen seemed nearly big enough.
*You don't have to worry about that. Your stomach hasn't held food in three days and you haven't taken a bite of anything in at least twenty four hours.
"... Then why do I still feel like something is coming up..?" I narrowed my weak and dull eyes into the endless dark of the sink's drain. My fingers wrapped their pathetic grip around the edges of the granite surrounding the sink, hands shaky and palms sweaty.
*It's probably just something else from your past. Don't worry about it.
"Ha... Haha..." My lips curled in a smile fit for a death row inmate. Melancholic in all the harshest of ways. "You're a funny guy, Texty... Too bad you went that whole serial killer route, you woulda made at least a B- comedian..."
*Your life is the only comedy I need.
"..." I shut my eyes, inhaling slowly and deeply. I disregarded Texty's statement; it was easy to do. All he ever said was mean spirited, and I didn't have anywhere near the respect for him to listen to a word. "... How long have I been in here?"
*Twenty minutes.
"... I should get back out there." I managed to lift my head, staring into my own reflection with some semblance of my DETERMINATION. It was hard to see, through the doubtful ocean of sorrows. But that too I covered, spending another minute or two trying to bleed some kinda life into my eyes. I eventually found a good mask for my emotions, slapped it on, and turned to the door.
*Good luck. You're going to need it.
I pulled open the door with a fake smile on my face, trying to convince anyone that might see me that I really wanted to be here and was having a great time. Unfortunately, I hadn't exactly been prepared to have someone waiting right there for me.
"Ah!" I jumped back and out of the doorway, reentering the bathroom and throwing my hands up in a defensive motion surprisingly poor for someone who's been in as many fights as I have. On the other side of the now open door Chara furrowed their brows. There was mostly concern in their eyes, but there were also undertones of some kind of drive, and I knew they were here for answers.
"Easy." Chara cocked a brow, lifting their hands to show that they meant no harm. Clearly my surprised mini-scream had caught them off guard, and had this been less serious, I figured they probably would have gotten a kick out of it. "It's just me."
"O-oh, yeah, sorry!" I forced a sheepish smile, reaching up one hand and scratching the back of my head. "Guess I wasn't paying attention, ehehe..."
"It's... Fine?" With growing suspicion Chara tilted their head some, keeping those confused eyes on me. "You uh... You were in here for awhile."
"Huh? O-oh! Yeah, uhh..." I tried not to grimace, but I wasn't sure if I was successful or not. Rapidly I searched for an excuse, some kind of lie. Quickly I found one that was uncomfortable enough to hopefully scare Chara off of the subject. "Well, something I ate at dinner didn't really sit right-"
"You didn't eat anything at dinner."
My eyes darted back to Chara, widening some as I found my verbal foot in a metaphorical bear trap. Their own eyes were squinted some, a small frown on their face. They were certain I was lying now, I'd been caught red handed.
"You picked and pushed at your food while you kept your head down, like you didn't even wanna look at anyone." More worry crept into their expression, lightening it some while they took a short step closer. They tilted their head, like they were trying to get a better look at me. "You've been acting weird ever since Lexi showed up..."
"W-what? Me? Weird?" I tried my best to play things off, but it was hard to lie when I so desperately wanted to tell the truth. Words were a lump in my throat and a knot in my stomach, but still I stumbled and lied. "C'mon Chara, don't worry so much! I'm-"
"Sweating." Chara finished my sentence for me, and this time I know they saw me grimace. I was under the full force of the Char-Bear Stare now, and there was no way to save myself. "You're sweating."
"..." Hopelessly I glanced to the side, my fake smile crumbling while my shoulders sank. Meekly I lied again, though I knew it was pointless. "... I'm fine, Chara. Really..."
"... Angel, if something is going on, you can tell me." Chara reached out then, placing one hand on my shoulder. This made me lift my head some, looking to them from under my eyebrows with my sad little eyes. "I'm your friend. I'm here to help you."
"..." I didn't speak. Couldn't, really. I just stood there, so many words trying to escape my throat at once that they all got jammed in the door frame. Lies, truths, everything in between. But, nothing came out, so I just shut my mouth, letting my empty emeralds drop to the floor.
"... Does this have something to do with Lexi?" Chara asked quietly, leaning in some so that it would be harder for any possible eavesdroppers to hear them. "You've been off ever since she got here."
They hesitated then, their own eyes turning to the side. Still though they proved stronger than I, reaching up and scratching the back of their head as they forced their words out. "You aren't usually like this... I'm, really worried..."
I was surprised when I heard that. I lifted my head again, widening my eyes some up at them. I hadn't expected to hear that, and it was some parts nice and some parts ouch-inducing. I was glad Chara was worried about me - it brought back the happy and excited factors of that screwy mixed bag I'd been feeling, even if it was only for a moment - but at the same time, I felt bad for worrying them.
Finally I managed to open my mouth, words pushing their way through the uncertainty. "... Chara, I-"
"Yooo! Angel!" In an instant Lexi had appeared, wrapping one arm around Chara and leaning over their shoulder. I could tell Chara didn't like that, but they withheld their irritation, at least for the moment. "What's up?"
"Y'all havin' a bathroom bash?" Those eyes darted between Chara and I, friendly smile never leaving Predator's face. "A potty party? Latrine luau?"
Chara narrowed their eyes with growing rage, but still their lips snapped upwards into a smile that was anything but convincing. "Actually, we were just-"
"So Angel!" Lexi let go of Chara, cutting them off mid sentence in a clear - and possibly deliberate - display of how little their words mattered to her. She stepped forward, standing between the two of us. "I've got good news!"
"What is it, Lex..?" I tried my best to sound and look interested and excited, but I don't think I was very convincing. Lexi must not have noticed though, because she kept that same high energy she'd had all night.
"Well, I was talking to Toriel about the long trip back home, and she had a great idea!" Lexi beamed with enthusiasm, but I felt a few more boulders drop into my stomach. I was catching on to what she was getting at, and I didn't like it. "She offered me the spare bedroom for the night!"
"Oh, really? Toriel did that?" I forced a smile, even though my teeth were grinding with frustrations pointed towards the motherly goat. As much as I wanted to be angry with her though, I couldn't fault her for being friendly. She didn't have any idea of the trouble she was causing me. "That's... So nice of her!"
"Yeah I know!" Lexi grinned wide, standing up straight and putting her hands on her hips. "We're gonna get to stay up all night catchin' up! It's gonna be awesome!"
"Haha..!" I forced a smile, even though I felt like the tinniest, most pathetic man in the world. I couldn't help but shoot a look past Lexi to Chara, who was clenching their jaw, glaring into the back of The Predator's head. I wasn't sure if it was the interruption of our conversation, the blatant disregard for what Chara was saying a moment ago, or just Lexi herself, but something had clearly pissed them off. "Y-yeah, it'll be great..!"
"Yeahh... Y'know, I was thinking about that too." Chara caught Lexi's attention this time, getting her to turn her head back to look at them. They had a smile that was friendly on the surface, but anyone who looked a little deeper would see the barbs that were attached, to both their words and their smile. "It's a long walk back up the mountain, and I don't wanna make anyone drive me home. I think I'll just camp out in the living room over night."
"Well, that's..." Lexi shook her head slowly, her excited grin slowly morphing into that same malice hiding smile. "That's great!"
I looked between the two, eyebrows risen with some surprise and confusion. Even though they were both smiling, it was like I could see the lightning shooting from both of their eyes. Red and blue sparks that struck one another in the middle, struggling endlessly against each other.
I... Feel like I'm missing something..? I thought to myself, eyes narrowing with growing confusion as they glossed between the two.
*I'll explain it when you're older.
I shot a scowl Texty's way, before swallowing my nerves, shaking my head, and taking a step forward. I reached out, boldly slapping a hand upon each of their shoulder's as my own fake smile appeared on my face. A triangle of liars we were in that moment, all pretending to be content with this moment when not one of us was. Still, my sudden entry to the triangle caught both Chara and Lexi off guard. This gave me the chance to stop their glarings and change the subject.
"Hey, this is great!" I shut my eyes tight and grinned as wide as I could, hoping desperately that I could convince the two of them of my joy. "Now, who's feeling like cake?"
"Sounds great!" Both Chara and Lexi spoke at once with just as (too) much enthusiasm as me, before shooting each other a brief out-of-the-corner-of-the-eye glare.
From there, the night continued about as good as it could have with so much tension right beneath the surface. I blew out the candles on my cake and wished for today to end, but that didn't help much. I managed to scrape my slice of cake into the trash when no one was looking, and my stomach both hated and loved me for it.
Time passed, and one by one people started heading home. They had their talks and their laughs and all the catching up that could be done. Sans was even nice enough to teleport Asriel back home, which made me question why I'd even driven up there to retrieve the two earlier in the day, but I digress. I hardly remember much of it, my mind was preoccupied. All I know is time crawled and time raced and then eventually people were heading to bed. It was somewhere in there that things got turned on their heads.
Chara was getting set up on the couches downstairs, and Lexi and I were up the staircase and at the end of the hallway. Everyone else had returned to their rooms. I pushed open the door to the guest bedroom, stepping aside and holding it open to let her step inside.
With that same excitement and wonder in her eyes she looked over the pretty plain room. A twin bed with a bedside table, bookshelves lining one wall, a single window at the back wall of the room. I knew she was just trying to keep up her positivity, it often made those around her equally positive and giddy. She was contagious in that way, though her energy hardly infected me. Maybe that's why she'd been attracted to me back then.
But, that wasn't my concern now. I took a deep breath, shut my eyes, and gathered my will. Then, I slowly shut the door behind the two of us, cutting us off from the rest of the world. The sound of the door shutting caught her attention, and she looked over her shoulder at me with some surprise.
"Whoa there cowboy." A playful smirk tugged at her lips as she turned to face me. "I mean, you did technically get me dinner first, but-"
"Lexi." My words shut her down, made that joking demeanor fade for a more confused one. Hand still on the door nob, I opened my eyes. I didn't turn my head, but I looked to her from my left eye's corner. "What are ya doin' here?"
"... Jig's up, huh?" That fake giddiness completely disappeared from The Predator's face, and she sighed, smiling in a way that was a little sad. "It really is good to see you again, Angel."
"..." I watched her for another moment or two, not dropping my guard. Maybe it was my sleep and food deprived brain, but I felt certain that she was here for revenge. That she knew of my betrayal, and she was here to destroy everything I had worked for. Would she fight? Was she powerful? Or was she planning something more cruel? Would she tear this all down from the inside? With all these thoughts in my head I must have forgotten to respond, because Lexi's smile got a little more sad, and she spoke once more.
"... Look, I get it." She said, and I quietly furrowed my brows with some confusion. "To everyone here, you're a hero. You've got an image, and... I was around when you weren't doing such... Heroic things."
I remained quiet, but my expression softened some as she spoke. My paranoia dulled, but I still didn't talk. I watched as she went on.
"That's why I tried to keep it casual down there. I'm sorry if that made you feel like I was lying to you." Lexi was focused now, speaking clearly with a somber hint to her words. "I just... Wanted to hang out with you again. Before things got serious."
"Serious..?" I repeated, slowly removing my hand from the door knob and turning to face her. The room was alight in a dull blue glimmer, the full moon looming through the window.
"..." Lexi hesitated, shutting her eyes. She took a deep breath, and I found it strange that her exhale left a small puff of icy mist. Then, she lifted her head, and those aquamarine gems landed right back on me. The gravity of that gaze combined with the words she spoke floored me, forced me to step back and lean my spine against the door behind me. "It's Anthony."
"..." I stared at her, hoping that the sweat on my brow and the terror in my eyes was masked in the dark. I knew my gulp was audible, but I figured Predator of all people would know that was reasonable. I had to swallow what felt like vomit climbing the back of my throat, and then I finally spoke. "... What about him?"
"Look, I don't know how much you've been paying attention to the multiverse, but Anarchy has been going completely apeshit." Predator widened her eyes some, and their cyan glow illuminated her face in the dim moonlight.
*..?
Once again I swallowed hard, but I managed to lean my head forward. The room had pressurized, the air had grown thin. Suddenly every dark shadow in every dark corner twitched just outside our lines of vision. Hairs rose on my neck, it felt as though something was looking over my shoulder despite the fact that my back was against the door. "... Apeshit how?"
"Like full fledged unstoppable god of destruction carving a death path across the multiverse towards you." When I saw Predator lift her finger and point it my way, my knees buckled. I hoped that she didn't see my chest convulse as my stomach tried to shove bile up my esophagus.
*...
"M-me?" I repeated, like I didn't understand. But of course I understood. Anarchy seemed invincible before we got here, of course he was powerful now. Of course I was his target. All of his most miserable moments were my fault, I was sure. And he must have been sure of that as well.
"Things have changed a lot in the past six months." Lexi lowered her head some, looking to me from under her eyebrows. There was a serious frown carved into her face now, like nothing I've ever seen. "I run a gang of space pirate mercenaries, Xander is building an army of dipshit followers, and Anthony has been ripping and tearing through timelines like nobody's business."
"Lex, you're throwin' a lotta information at me at once." I managed a very nervous smile despite the onsetting panic attack. Not only was everyone alive, but they'd all been amassing so much power while I was... While I was just...
*Sitting with a thumb up your ass.
"I know, I know!" Lexi shook her head, like internally she was scolding herself for being stupid. Then, suddenly, she reached out, gripping my sunken shoulders and staring right into my cowardly eyes. "Look, I'll get straight to the point. I need your help, Angel."
"My help?!" I repeated like the parrot I'd been this entire conversation. "You're the one with the group of space pirates or whatever, what could you possibly need my help for?!"
"Anthony!" Predator forced his name into my ears, and it made me shutter. Her grip tightened on me, and I could see the desperation in the ice blue spheres staring back at me. "He's going down a dark path, Angel! And you n' me are the only friends he's ever had, we have to help him!"
"I was friends with Anthony. Anarchy can go fuck himself." My eyes narrowed with their own chill, and I reached up with one hand, lightly gripping one of Predator's on my shoulder. "He's not going down a dark path, Lexi. He's at the end of it. Are you really trying to tell me you want to help him?"
"He's still in there, Angel." Lexi's voice was a low growl now, a chill creeping into the hands that held me there. "I've seen it!"
"... We both saw that basement." I spoke after a pause, lowering my voice and narrowing my emerald eyes. The shadows were really writhing now, slithering like piles of filthy black maggots in every corner of the room. "Anthony died down there, and whatever climbed back out is just wearing his face."
"That's not true!" Predator cried furiously, yanking back the hand that I wasn't holding. She flattened her palm and prepared an open handed slap to knock some kind of sense into me, but I wasn't having it. By the wrist her swing was caught, stopping her strike dead.
For a moment, things were quiet. We stood there, glaring into each others eyes and holding each other in place. The gravity of the world around us held us there, kept us silent for a few long seconds. But, finally, Lexi lowered her head, staring at our feet and speaking in a whisper.
"... I owe him my life, Angel." Her eyes narrowed painfully at the floor, both of her hands clenching into tight, frustrated fists. "That day, the one where we were all separated..."
"... When things went sideways, when the gang turned on us, he..." The Predator's eyes clenched shut tightly, but her fists slowly relaxed. I knew this was hard for her to say, so I hung on to every word. "... He made an opening, and told me to run."
"..." My expression softened some, genuine surprise changing my face to show something more thoughtful. Her words shocked me. I wouldn't have believed it from anyone else, but I knew Lexi wasn't a liar. I never thought it possible, that The Anarchist had a selfless bone in his body. I could barely voice my confusion, "... Anarchy did that..?"
"Anthony did that." Lexi corrected as she lifted her head to look at me once more. In the moonlight, the single tear making its way down her cheek glimmered some, before disappearing off her chin.
With the breath taken from my lungs and the metaphorical rug pulled out from under me, I slowly let go of Lexi's hands. She lowered her arms, but she didn't step back. In fact, she stepped forward, hesitantly resting her head on my chest for comfort. This stunned me, made pain seep into my eyes while my jaw clenched pensively. I was frozen there, hurtful memories of all my lies and deceit ringing in my mind.
"... Angel... Am I a bad person..?"
"I was a coward, Angel... Please..." She begged quietly, raising her arms and slowly wrapping them around me. I knew how much this had to hurt for her, begging anyone for help. I knew that this burden must have hurt her, too. Lexi was prideful, she'd grown up in a world where vulnerability meant weakness, and weakness meant death. For her to have believed she'd been a coward for this long... It must have been eating her alive. "You're the only one who can help me with this, please..."
"... You're the only person I can trust..."
My eyes snapped open wide when those words drove a spear through my chest. Agony throttled me, punched me in the gut, slapped me across the back of the head. Quickly a conclusion was reached in my head from those words alone.
... She doesn't know.
"... Alright, Lex." I finally spoke, lifting my arms skeptically and embracing her. I hoped that felt nice for her, because every bit of it felt wrong to me. It was my fault, everything was my fault. She thought she could trust me when it was me who put a knife in her back. Still I lied through my teeth. Still I pledged myself to something I didn't wholeheartedly believe in, just to reassure her. "... I'll help you save Anthony."
"Really..?" She lifted her head to look up at me, and I put on the bravest smile a coward like me could muster. That made her expression lighten some, in spite of the tear stains on her cheeks. With a slight crackle in her voice, she spoke. "I knew the water works would getcha, heh..."
I laughed a little, my smile made just a little more genuine. As disgusted as I was by myself and my former actions, there was something that felt... Nice about being close to her again. I'd been so terrified of my secrets being revealed that I hadn't really taken the time to realize I was glad Lexi was alive, I was glad I had gotten to see her again.
"... But, if I'm gonna do this, it needs to stay a secret, okay?" I asked carefully, a pleading look in my eye as I stared down at her. "Here, I'm... I'm Cter The Angel."
Shamefully, my eyes darted to the side. "I can't let them know about my time as Angel The Hacker..."
Predator smiled a little sadly, but she nodded like she understood. "I'll leave early in the morning tomorrow. You can slip away and meet me outside of town when you get the chance, okay?"
"Gotcha." I nodded convincingly, unwrapping one arm from around her and reaching back to grab the knob of the door behind me. "You can brief me more once I'm, uhh... On your, space, pirate ship..?"
"That's what it is, yup!" Predator grinned wide, letting go of me and taking a step back. She wiped away those tear stains, and smiled like they were never there. I always thought it was amazing, the way she always bounced right back.
"Alright, well, I better get some sleep." The corner of my mouth curved up a little from her smile, turning the knob of the door and slowly pushing it open. "I'll see ya tomorrow, Lex."
I stepped into the hallway and away from Lexi, reaching back for the knob to pull the door shut behind me. But, my hand was caught in hers, and I arched a brow over my shoulder at her, some part confused and some part surprised.
"Hey, uhm, Angel... Thanks. Really." Lexi awkwardly scratched the back of her head, eyes darting to the side. It was dark, but I thought I could see a shade of pink appearing on her cheeks. "I, I know this is a big risk for you. You've got a good thing going here, and I... I really respect that you were able to turn things around for yourself like this."
"Oh! Uhm, wow... Thanks, Lexi." I smiled lightly from her words, suddenly not all that bothered by having her hand in mine. "That... Really means a lot."
"No problem." She smiled a little when she looked back at me, but then she hesitated. Her eyes scanned the wall at her side once more, before she spoke again. "... But, I kinda... Miss having you around."
My eyebrows rose with a little surprise at that, and as I caught on to what she meant, my heart sunk with guilt.
"Ahem." Lexi cleared her throat, smiling sheepishly back up at me. "My point is, I've seen what you can do, before and after the fall. My team could really use you as a permanent addition."
"And... Who knows?" That red shade upon Lexi's cheeks grew a little darker, and she gave a little shrug to match the little smile she wore. "Maybe we could pick up where we left off?"
My eyes widened some, and despite the color in her face, my own had went pale. She really didn't know. I'd plotted her murder, ruined her life, but... She trusted me. Six months and she still wanted to...
*She cared about you and you stabbed her in the back. We knew this part already.
"You don't have to make any decisions right now, okay?" With understanding she smiled, before taking a step forward. She leaned in, planting an innocent peck on my cheek before taking a step back through the doorway. "Just, something worth considering, I think."
The door shut between us, and the moment she couldn't see me, my stomach gurgled mercilessly. My eyes snapped open wide, and I lurched forward, wrapping my arms around myself in attempt to hold my abdomen together. My head snapped to the side as bile raced up my esophagus, and eyes choked bloodshot spotted the staircase leading downstairs.
Swiftly I raced for the same bathroom I always spilled my guts in, nyooming down the stairs as though a fire had been lit under my ass. Through the living room, past the kitchen, and right into the toilet bowl. I dropped to my knees before porcelain release and finally let my jaws unlock.
Disgusting green bile blasted up from my throat, spewing past my jaws and out from both my nostrils. Loudly I hurled, stomach violently convulsing just under my skin. Boiling hot stomach acid was launched into the previously clean waters, staining them a gross yellow-green shade. I was blasted with the smell and taste of my own sewage, and that just made me puke up even more.
For another few seconds this went on, until finally my stomach stopped its tightening, and I gasped for air. Of course, all I inhaled was the putrid odor of the hot garbage I'd just spilt in the toilet, and that scorched my lungs something fierce. I didn't have the strength to free myself from this stink yet, so instead I laid my head pathetically on the toilet seat, gasping and whimpering like the filthy gutter dog I was.
Finally, enough strength bled back through my nutrient deprived body that I managed to push myself away from the toilet. Vision blurry in my delirium I fumbled for the flush, but eventually found it, filling the now noiseless void with the hiss of the water for a second or two while I stumbled to my feet.
I managed to drag my less than responsive limbs to the sink, which I lurched over. A quiet squeak resounded as I turned the nozzle and let a stream of cool relief fall from the spout. I huddled there, elbows resting on the counter while I splashed water over my face, washing away the gross streams that still trickled from my burning nose and down my chin and the sweat that beaded down my forehead with all its icy chill.
Okay Angel... Keep it together... I thought to myself while keeping my eyes shut, hand fumbling over the counter for the mouth wash I'd placed down here for this very occasion. I found it, right where I'd left it, and dragged it over to me. A few more moments went by before I finally lifted my head, now wish washing a mouthful of Listerine between my teeth. You can make it through this...
My emerald orbs lifted, and I stared myself in the eye for a few long, painful seconds. I could see every bit of self loathing on my face, every spec of disgust and hate, all aimed right back at me. But then, I noticed something else. In the shadow of the door frame scarlet spheres peered at me, and for just a moment, I thought I saw that little albino boy staring at me, like he did every time I spilled my guts in the dark.
"Angel..?"
... But those eyes were too high up.
As Chara stepped into view, and I spotted the utterly mortified expression they wore, my jaw slacked, sending mouthwash spilling down my chin and into the sink below. I'd screwed the pooch, shit the bed. In my panic I had completely forgotten Chara was staying in the living room. I had to have bolted right by them, and they had to have heard - and possibly seen - every second of me puking my guts out.
*Better think fast.
"U-uh..!" I managed to stammer, panic clear on my face while I watched the worry on theirs grow.
*Brilliant.
"Cter, what's going on?" Chara questioned, taking a step closer. I took a step back though, not even trying to mask just how afraid I looked. The jig was up. There was nothing I could say that could convince them, I knew that. They were going to find out, everyone was going to find out! "Why aren't you saying anything..?"
"I-I'm fine." I spoke quickly, trying to step by them. They moved in my way though, blocking my escape. I lowered my head, tried to escape through the other side, but they reached out and put an arm in my path. Hair shadowing my eyes, I tried desperately to push by them. That seemed to be what made Chara decide they'd had enough however, because they grabbed me by my shoulders, yanking me back in front of them.
"Cter!" They spoke forcefully, shaking me once to help me get myself together. I knew they could see it in my eyes. The terror, the desperation, the guilt. I wanted to tell them everything. It was hard to lie any longer, especially to them. But I was afraid. More so than I'd ever been. They were afraid too, I could see it in their own eyes. Worried for me, as all my layers and walls bent and melted down under the pressure that was crashing down on top of them. "You're freaking me out! Just tell me what's going on! Please!"
"I can't tell you..!" I spoke with panicked quickness, shaking my head from side to side. My vision was blurring, and I could feel the heat of tears beginning to over flow down my cheeks. "Please don't make me tell you..!"
"... Angel..." Chara's expression softened, eyes narrowing some as they watched me. Their expression was grave, I could see just how much seeing me like this upset them. That made me hurt worse. I wanted to be stronger, I didn't want them or anyone else to have to see me like this. "... I can't help you if I don't know what's going on..."
... But I couldn't hold it in any longer. The truth and all the guilt it brought was a parasite, eating me alive from the inside. So, desperately, I stepped forward. I lowered my head, resting it against their chest for any kind of support. In barely a whisper, I spoke through my tears. "... I'm scared, Chara..."
"Why are you scared..?" Their voice was quiet as they slowly wrapped their arms around me. Caring and comforting and... Understanding.
"..." I slowly lifted my arms, returning their hug. I wasn't sure how tightly I was clinging to them, but I did know that anyone who would try to pry me off would have to break both of my arms first. "I-I... I can't tell you..."
"Why can't you?" Chara asked in a tone that was not upset nor demanding, resting one hand on the back of my head. It was as though they knew my mind was splitting apart, and they were holding it together.
"..." My eyes clenched shut tight, forcing more streams of tears down the bridge of my nose. My teeth ground in an attempt to keep the words from overflowing, but it was impossible. Slowly my fingers curled into tight fists on the back of their shirt. "Because if I do you'll hate me..."
"Angel, think about who you're talking to, okay..?" Chara asked of me, empathy shining through. "You know me. You know everything we've been through together. You know there's nothing you could tell me that would make me hate you."
"..." Slowly, I opened my eyes. My jaw relaxed, and my hands unwrapped from the back of their shirt. I knew they were right, but I didn't know how to feel about it. I'd never told anyone what I'd done, outside of an... Imaginary version of my deceased (or so I thought at the time) best friend? It was hard to imagine the words actually leaving my mouth. Still, though, I spoke. "I've... I've done so many horrible things, Chara... It could take forever to list it all..."
They smiled a little at that, smoothing the hair on the back of my head gently with the palm of their hand. In a hushed tone they responded, "I've got time."
It felt good to hear that. That someone was willing to listen, hear me out no matter how long it took. So, I took a deep breath and gathered my strength before speaking again. "... You promise you won't hate me..?"
"I promise." The corner of their mouth curved up a little further from that, clearly relieved to see me opening up some. They didn't hesitate in answering my question, like they knew the answer long before I asked.
"... And you won't tell anyone..?" I lifted my head just a little to look up at them, and they nodded.
"Not if you don't want me to." Chara assured once more without any hesitation.
"..." I lowered my head, getting myself together before slowly letting go of them. I took a step back, looked back up to them, and wiped the tear stains from my cheeks. Weakly I managed to smile, afraid and relieved all at once. "... C'mon. I don't this is the right setting for a talk like this."
Quietly, Chara and I made our way through the house and to the kitchen, at the end of which there was a sliding glass door that lead into the backyard. The yard was fenced in with brown planks, its edges lined by a multitude of different colored flowers. Near its center was a swinging bench, perfectly illuminated like everything else under the cloudless night sky.
It was a warm September night, possibly one of the last warm nights of the year. We sat on that bench, looked up at the endless sky. And suddenly, the both of us were so small. All of our might and all of our weakness felt like something little, nothing to fret over. That made talking easier, I think. Reminded me that life was bigger than my problems.
I told them... Everything. From my earliest memories with my less than capable parents to the moment I shot The Killer in the head. At first I thought I would withhold information, just explain everything that happened in the gang and with Lexi. But the moment I opened the floodgates, words overflowed, and the gates could not be shut again. Anything I could remember I explained.
My early childhood friendship with Anny, and all the horrors he had tried to hide just beneath the surface. Chara had shuddered when I described the beating that I witnessed his mother give him through the window, and put a hand on my back to comfort me when I expressed my regrets on abandoning him with that she-beast.
My time with Granny, and her untimely demise right before my eyes. They had smiled and laughed when I told them how me and the lovable old bat met, and grimaced and winced when I described how The Killer had broken my bones, shattered my body.
Quietly they listened while I explained my years as The Hacker. Their expression was hard to read while I told them about the tension between Anarchy and I, described the monster he had become in our time apart. I told them how I felt about Lexi in those days, how I liked having her around, but I thought she needed more than I was able to give.
... Then, I... Told Chara about the people I killed. All the time I spent, plotting the murders of the ones who trusted me more than anything. The night before, when I spoke to Lexi and even Anarchy. How Anarchy had been on to me, but unable to prove anything. How long Lexi and I had spoken, how much I'd learned about her that night.
... And how I still went through with everything the next day.
Finally, I explained my last encounter with The Killer. Everything we said to each other, how much I loved watching him crumble. The fact that no matter what he said, who he predicted me to become, I still felt nothing but certainty in splattering his brains on the grass.
"... 'Your fate will be sealed', he told me." I recalled, head tilted back and arms resting over the back of the bench. "'You'll be just like me'. Those words never left me."
"... And what did you say..?" Chara slowly tilted their head to the side as they watched me, wearing an expression that said they were listening to every word.
"... 'I don't give a damn. You killed my Granny.'" While I quoted myself, I tilted my head back down, lifting my left hand and making a finger gun with it. I pointed to the grass at our feet, and then recoiled the finger gun back up, like I'd fired it. "Bang."
"... Whoa. Dark." Chara's eyes went semi-wide, and they looked ahead. I rested my arm back over the back of the swing while they processed the picture I painted.
"Watched the brain chunks splatter out the back of his head." I blinked coldly, a deep frown engraved in my face. I always felt strangely distant when I thought about those days. It reminded me of how numb I had been, always made me feel a strange ghost of my old emotions - or lack there of. "... Never even blinked."
"You or him?" Chara turned their head to look back at me with a curious arch of their brow.
"Yes." I answered simply, my eyes narrowing only a little. I felt a tinge of bitterness when I remembered his face. Those unfeeling eyes forever open as he head slumped over, red streaming down from his forehead and over the rest of his face.
"..." Chara watched me quietly for another few long seconds, before they finally spoke again. "Then what did you do?"
It was at this point that I groaned, tilting my head forward and shaking it. "I fell down a hole and landed in Mount Ebbot, a whole reality away."
"W-wait, what?!" Chara recoiled, clearly jarred by my words as their ruby orbs snapped open wide. "After all that you just... Got the rug pulled out from under you and fell into another world?!"
"Anticlimactic, right?" I smirked bitterly over at them, finally turning my lightless emeralds on them. Only for a moment though, before my smirk faded, and I turned my head back to the stars. "Guess that's just how life works sometimes, though. Sometimes forces beyond your control turn the wheel. It's your job to navigate the unexpected detour, though."
"... I guess you have a point there." Chara relaxed some, before they too turned their head to the lightening sky. Their eyes darted over to me, "I suppose I know the rest of the story from there, don't I?"
"Pretty much everything." I spoke, before something dawned on me, and my eyes narrowed a little painfully. "... Everything up until a few days ago, that is."
"Hm?" Chara furrowed their brows, turning their head over to look at me. I had lowered my own head, hands on the knees of my jeans. "What happened a few days ago?"
"... Character told me they were alive. All three of them." My fingers curled into fists against my jeans, and the anxieties that were more pressing began washing over me. Up until now we'd been discussing the past, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was the future. "And that they've... 'Had their eyes on me'."
"... As we saw today," I glanced over my shoulder and back towards the house, recollecting all the horrible events that transpired within it today. "That wasn't a lie."
"... Angel." Chara caught my attention, and I turned my head back to look at them. Their expression had grown less concerned and understanding and more serious. They too understood the possible gravity of Lexi's arrival. "Why did she come here, really?"
"..." My eyes lowered painfully, before I turned my head, looking out to the beautiful land ahead. Perfectly cared for flowers, a clean and wide open sky. It was a wonderful place, the world I had surrounded myself with. But, with what I knew now, it didn't seem like a happy life anymore. It felt like a blanket I was cowering under. "... It's Anarchy."
"Anarchy..?" Chara lowered their voice, as if even though they'd just learned it, they already understood that it was a forbidden name. To the name's credit, I once more felt the desire to look over my shoulder. Again I thought I could see movement in the dark, just outside my line of vision. "What about him?"
"According to Lexi, he sacrificed himself to save her when... Well, when my trap sprung." Shamefully my eyes darted to the side, frown cracking deeper into my face. "She thinks there's still some Anthony in there."
"... She thinks we can save him..."
"... And what do you think?" Chara asked thoughtfully, turning their knees to face mine as we both sat on the bench.
"... It's hard to say." I brought my hands together in my lap, gently pushing my heels into the dirt below us. This slowly rocked out seat back, before it calmly swung forward. "For a long time I thought Anarchy was dead. For even longer than that I thought Anthony was dead. But..."
"... But you have to try." Chara's words made me lift my head and look over to them, and I was a little surprised to see a small smile on their face. This reassured me, however, and I returned their kindness with my own smile.
"... Yeah. I think I have to." I said with a nod that was only a little hesitant, knowing Chara's words were true. "If Anarchy is out there hurting people, I'm responsible for it too."
"I had plenty of chances to save him back then, and I didn't." I lifted my head, looking up to the sky. It was getting lighter now, the stars were starting to disappear into a light shade of blue. The night had really flown by, I thought. I guess giving your entire life story does take some time. "If there's still a chance I can help him, then... I have to take it. No matter the risk."
Chara's smile faltered some by the end of that sentence, and they suddenly squinted with suspicion. "And what kind of risks are we talking here?"
"Well... Anarchy was basically a walking Slipknot song before we ended up here. But with a red soul on his chest?" I turned my head some, arching a brow over at Chara. "Well, I haven't seen anything or been given any examples, but Lexi described him as a 'full fledged unstoppable god of destruction carving a death path across the multiverse towards me'."
"..." Chara rose their eyebrows with surprise, blinked a few times like I'd really stunned them. But then, their lips curled up some, and they shook their head, laughing and reaching up. Exasperatedly they ran a hand down their face.
"Wow, Cter. I don't know what to say." they looked back to me, shrugging like they were baffled. "You really can't catch a break, can you?"
Despite the direness of my situation and the truth in their words, something about their exasperated snickering was contagious. Soon enough I was laughing and shrugging too, because it was nice to hear someone else just as overwhelmed by my problems as I was. Suddenly, I didn't feel all that alone. "Apparently not!"
"Well, look." Chara took on a more serious tone while our laughter died down, though their slight smile remained. "It doesn't matter how strong this guy is, together we can beat him!"
My eyes widened some at those words. I watched them clench one fist and raise it, a confident smirk shaping their face into some expression that was... Hard not to stare at? Something about it caught me off guard, made that foreign emotion spike higher than it ever had before. I had told them every nasty secret I had, and yet they could still smile at me like that. They were never disgusted, never questioned my morality for a second. In fact, they'd supported me, remained on my side through my entire story.
Gradually though, Chara's expression changed. They rose an eyebrow, a certain measure of genuine confusion gracing their face. It was a second or two before they spoke that I realized I hadn't inhaled in about thirty seconds. "Uhm, Cter? You in there?"
I gasped loudly, lurching forward and planting a hand on my chest as my burning lungs were extinguished. In between gulps for air, I gave them a thumbs up. I kept my head tilted away, trying to hide the embarrassed red that scorched my cheeks. "Y-yeah! All good! S-sorry!"
Chara snickered once they knew I was okay, lifting one hand to their mouth to try and hide their laughing, possibly to keep from embarrassing me further. "Uhm, okay. If you're sure."
After a few very long - at least to me - moments of gathering my composure, I took another deep breath. Shutting my eyes and lowering my head, I resolved myself to keep the tone of this conversation unfortunately serious for at least awhile longer. I still had more to say, was the problem.
"... Hey, Chara. Listen."
"Hm?" Chara looked back over to me, tilting their head some with curiosity. "What is it, Cter?"
"... I, I think you should stay here." I managed to say, not lifting my head so that I wouldn't have to see their undoubtedly hurt expression. "While Lexi and I go to find Anarchy, I mean."
"What?" They asked quietly, recoiling some. Their eyebrows furrowed, like they really didn't understand. "Why would you think that?"
"Lexi and I, we... We know Anthony. And he knows us. There's, a chance, that some part of him still cares about us." I was hesitant, like even I had trouble believing my own words. My eyes glossed over the lawn, avoiding the stunning rubies that watched me carefully. "But... You don't know him. And he doesn't know you. If you're there, then..."
"But you need me there." Chara scooted closer, clearly trying to get me to look at them. They craned their neck some to get a better look at my face, which was pointed towards the dirt. "If things go sideways, and he turns violent, then-
"Then I am going to get out of there as fast as I can." I shut my eyes with my words, exhaling slowly. Chara leaned back, recoiling again from that revelation. Somewhat painfully they narrowed their eyes, hands resting on the bench at their sides. "... Chara, I'll be honest."
"Ever since what happened with The Hacker and then Character, I... I haven't been very sure of myself." I opened my eyes and turned my head upwards, watching more and more blue creep across the sky. "I... Don't know how I'd be in a fight. I don't know if I could pull the trigger if I needed to, especially against someone like Anth-... Anarchy."
"That, just sounds like more reason for me to go with you." Chara shook their head slowly, bewilderment and caution towards my words clear in their every action. "I don't get it, Angel. Why do you want me to stay?"
*You don't want them to get hurt by your mess.
"... Because." I caught Chara's attention, their eyes widening some as they darted down. I had placed my hand atop theirs on the bench space between us, unthinkingly wrapping my fingers around their palm. I noticed the light red shade that appeared on their face as I lifted my head to look at them, but didn't pay it much mind in the moment. "I need you here."
"Lets be honest." I looked ahead, though my hand had yet to leave theirs. "After everything that happened with Character, I'd say it's pretty obvious. You're stronger than me, Chara."
They were clearly taken aback by that, and when I smirked just a little sadly over at them I could see the shade of red on their face had darkened. "That's why you have to stay back."
"I-I'm..." Chara clearly had to gather their thoughts for a moment, blinking their eyes once or twice and shaking their head. "I'm still not following..?"
"With people like you and me around, our timeline is one big target." I let my eyes look off to the rising sun once more. "And after everything that's happened recently, I understand there are a lot of people out there like Error and Character. There are Predators and Gatherers and god knows what else that know our names."
"That's why you have to stay here." I turned my head back to them, giving them a DETERMINED stare. I lifted their hand in mine while I pleaded with them, my own shade of vermilion returning to my cheeks. "Because you're the only one who can keep this place safe while I clean up the mess I made."
It was at this point that the both of us looked to our interlocked hands, distracted from the seriousness of our topic by something incredibly different. While just a second ago I had felt so cool and dramatic, I was instantly embarrassed by my performance when it finally dawned on me that I was, in fact, holding their hand. Their own blush and the possible reason for it finally dawned on me, and all I could do was stammer. "U-uhm..!"
"Hey early birds!"
The sound of Frisk's voice calling from behind us made the two of us jump as though we'd been electrocuted, swiftly letting go of one another and scooting to opposite ends of the bench. In unison we looked over our shoulders with tomato faces and barked back at the human standing in the sliding doorway. "W-what?! We weren't-!"
"Uhh... I was just gonna tell you breakfast is almost done." Frisk rose a brow at the two of us, pointing a thumb over their shoulder and into the kitchen behind them.
"O-oh! Right!" Chara stuttered, wide eyes darting to the side while they smiled possibly the most nervous smile I'd ever seen.
"O-of course!" I added, hoping that the red would disappear from my face before anyone noticed. "We'll be right there!"
Chara stood quickly, taking a very loud and very deep breath in attempts to free their mind from what I figured was the same haze mine was in. They blinked their wide eyes a few times, then they spun on their heel, and marched back towards the door like everything was normal. Or, really, like they were trying to make it look like everything was normal.
I looked over my shoulder and watched them leave, before gulping - even though my mouth felt like it was full of cotton - once they were out of earshot. Still a little pink in the face, I turned forward again, lifting the hand I'd held theirs in and staring into its palm. Suddenly, some of the confusion I'd had towards my feelings over the past few days was lifting, and I was starting to get a grasp of just what emotion I'd been experiencing lately.
... Uh oh.
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