DoubleTale: Rewritten

by XWolf26

What if two humans were in the Underground at once? What if one human was DETERMINED to stop the other? What if they could both SAVE? What happens when an Unstoppable Force meets an Immovable Object? When a certain scientist pulls enough of himself together, he finally finds a way to stop the destruction of his world. (Undertale AU. Rewrite of DT.)

112. Chapter 112: Broken Iris

Thanks go to lmao-imdeadaf, GMLxAwesome, TiredWhiteMayge, Wingah, XelaZagity, stclog000, sauceman95, 10burgers, Zillowzest, ComicCraze Studios (thanks for boosting my numbers, ya AI grifter bot), inhallingspaghetti, JasherTheDarkened, RisukaTheSquirrel, and treesters!

Wow, is it September 22nd already? What? 2025? Elon Musk? Meteor's coming?! Oooohhhh noooooo!

Okay so uhh yeah life's been busy for me, and sometimes it's harder to focus down DoubleTale like I did a year or two ago. But, I love this story, and I will always continue to work on it, even if that work is slow. I admit, it was pretty evil of me to leave you guys where I left ya last time lol. But I'm back now, and I won't hold ya up for long! Gonna try to have the next chapter out by the first week of April!

(Oh yeah and thank you everyone for all your continued support it really means a lot ily)

Disclaimer: I do not own Undertale.

---

Lizzy Noire collapsed into one of the seats in the back of her voidcruiser, shaking and gasping all the while. On her chest, a bright pink soul was fogging with FRIGHTENED energy. Cold sweat dripping down her now pale face, She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Then, her lips managed a shaky upwards curl, and she gave a breathy laugh. "H-heh... Heheheh..."

"Close call - He almost had'ja there." A familiar voice drew Lizzy's attention, and her glowing pink eyes darted up to the driver's seat of her cruiser. The autopilot ship continued to race through the void while that seat spun around, revealing the slimy black sludge that was Nightmare!Sans. Tendrils wiggling over his shoulders, he folded his hands over his belly while he narrowed his one gleaming eye at the Bête Noire shivering in that seat. "Are ya scared?"

"Terrified." Lizzy Noire answered, exhilaration in her shaky voice. Slowly, she uncurled from her frightened ball. Her fingers wiggled and her eyes rolled back when she felt that chill vibrating up and down her spine. Her eyes spun back down, landing on Nightmare again while she grinned wider, tearing some of her plastic face in the process. "I really thought he was going to kill me! If he hadn't seen this face and froze up like that..! Ohhh that was perfect!"

"You got lucky, Noire." Nightmare chuckled. His tendrils slapped against the ceiling, they pushed back and forth to make Nightmare's seat spin a little bit one way and then back the other way. "If you hadn't overheard them, or if your stalling had spared you a few seconds less..."

"Even his eyes have power beyond my wildest imagination..." Lizzy exhaled shakily. That smile was still plain on her cracked lips while she looked down at her new hands. These fingers were on the thinner side, this body was hilariously unassuming. Lizzy might have thought it cute that Anarchy had once kept such a tiny woman as his pet, if it wasn't so pathetic. Her eyes darted back up to Nightmare, and her soul-hungry tongue licked across her sharp teeth. "But with the Seer out of the way, we won't have to worry about that happening ever again."

"Ohh, so you did manage to get to her? Thought for sure that desperate move was goin' tits up." Nightmare shrugged his shoulders, shutting his eye momentarily. He chuckled to himself while he went on, "Maybe there really is a god lookin' out for you."

Lizzy Noire didn't answer with words, instead smiling sweetly. She stood, gave a curtsy like she really was a priestess with god's favor, and then lifted her head and sneered up at Nightmare. "We might have to lay low for awhile, but all of our plans are going perfectly. Those fools won't know what to do now; We have all the time in the world to set up our next move."

"The long game, eh? A second favorite to blazing guns and total chaos." Nightmare shrugged his shoulders, before peaking his eye back open and grinning wickedly. "We shoulda teamed up a long time ago. After years of trying to deal with DoubleKids, you have no idea how nice it is to work with somebody else from the last age."

"I think our partnership came at exactly the right time, actually." Lizzy disagreed, standing back to her full height. She sauntered past Nightmare's seat with a gentle smile on her stolen face, he spun around to watch her stand before the front window of the voidcraft. She folded her hands over her lap as she stared out into the twisting numbers and colors that they were flying through; a multiverse at peace. It was so totally repulsive to her that it made her stomach churn and her skin crawl, it made her sweet smile slowly creak down into a bitter scowl.

The purpose of the spell that created her, the very essence of a Bête Noire's being was the prevention of peace and the inciting of chaos, violence, pain, and misery. And Lizzy might not have had the power to plunge the world into The Darkness that her bastardized soul craved...

... But my lord does.

Chapter 112: Broken Iris

Or: The Old King's Playbook

---

"Sorry, I hope I'm not intruding." Cliff's voice was surreal in Xander's ears, he continued to blink and stare between the pink flower being offered to him and the man offering it. The larger of the two men smiled sheepishly, it was a silly expression on such an imposing man. "You just looked lonely. I thought a flower might help."

". . ." Xander was silent. His eyes glossed slowly back to that pink flower, he stared for a long moment at its bright petals. Then, slowly... His lips curled up just a little. His smile wasn't quite perfect these days, he was more than rusty, but Cliff still looked relieved to see it. Xander's shaky fingers reached out, and he took gentle hold of that flower. He was careful not to touch Cliff's skin, perhaps he was afraid that he'd wake up if he did. "... T-that's, that's... Very sweet, thank you..."

"I always bring a few extra, just in case someone else is here." Clifford confessed. He took a careful seat on the stone beside Xander, it wasn't always easy to lower his bulky body down to the ground unless he was falling flat on his face. He leaned back on one big hand, turning his head and smiling sweetly over at the last Fortune. "Pink's a nice color, don't you think?"

"I fear it's growing on me..." Xander muttered quietly, his fingers slowly spinning that pink rose in his grasp. He watched its petals twirl, his eyes narrowed in quiet contemplation.

"That's the spirit!" Cliff's enthusiasm was unusual for a cemetery, but it kept the little smile on Xander's lips. Things were quiet for another long moment or two, before Xander shut his eyes and sighed quietly.

"It's a little late to be dropping flowers off, don't you think?" Xander asked, opening one eye and glancing in Clifford's direction. He didn't meet that orange gaze, he couldn't. So instead he sat there, hiding in the shadow of that monument and glancing carefully at the phantom beside him.

"Maybe, but what can I say? Just had a feeling I should stop by." Cliff shrugged his shoulders flippantly, shutting his eyes briefly. But, then he glanced back over to Xander and smiled. "And, hey, I got to meet a cute boy here, so I think my intuition was spot on."

"Oh please, I'm hardly cute right now." Xander didn't hesitate to wave a dismissive hand. He turned his head, shrunk away from Clifford. His body pulled itself inward, he made himself small and he muttered. "You found me at my most hideous..."

Xander's eyebrows rose when he felt Cliff's hand take his own, his face got a little red. He glanced skeptically back over at the larger man, face shadowed but eyes gleaming purple in the dark. Cliff smiled in a flirty way. "I'd love to see you at your cutest, then."

Xander didn't speak, not at first. He side eyed Clifford for a long moment, before scoffing. Turning his head away to hide the pink shade on his cheeks, he pulled his hand out of the larger man's grasp. "Do you hit on everyone you find ugly crying in a graveyard?"

"No, you're special." Clifford insisted, turning his body more towards Xander. He set his hand on the concrete, near Xander's hand, his smile unwavering.

"Oh? Did your intuition tell you that, too?" A slight smirk on his lips, Xander turned his head back towards Clifford. He lifted his hand, rested it over Cliff's larger hand. The callouses on his knuckles were familiar, their texture made Xander's eyes sting but he blinked and fought back the tears, never letting his playful smirk falter.

"Sure did~" Cliff assured, leaning his head in some. He shrugged, never turning those familiar orange eyes away from Xander while he explained. "Just had a good feeling about you, what can I say?"

"Well, I can say that you're either very BRAVE or very stupid to try to put the moves on someone here of all places." Xander's smirked remained playful while he narrowed incredulous eyes at Clifford. He could only maintain eye contact for a second or two at a time, looking at that face wasn't easy. Xander tilted his head away some, giving it a light shake.

"Aaaand, which way are you leaning?" Cliff glanced to the side while he asked that, his smile turning a little sheepish. His eyes were drawn back to Xander, however, when the last Fortune took ahold of his chin and leaned his face in even closer. A light pink appeared on Clifford's cheeks while Xander asked quietly,

"Why don't you ask me on a date and find out~?" Xander proposed, arching a subtle brow. His violet eyes gleamed in the dark, they reflected in Cliff's orange stare.

"..." Cliff hesitated, Xander watched him swallow. Then, not moving a muscle, he opened his mouth and dared make his offer. "... Saturday, dinner, 8pm..?"

"I'll think about it~" Xander's hand slipped off Cliff's chin. He patted his palm against the larger man's bulky chest, smirking as he suddenly pulled away. Effortlessly standing, the last Fortune straightened out his jacket before shoving his hands in his pockets and looking back down at Cliff. "Wait for me in front of the cemetery, since you think this place is so romantic."

"H-hey, I never said that!" Cliff objected with some embarrassment, making Xander laugh. The final Fortune lifted one hand and waved to him after that, before turning to walk away.

"Yeah, whatever you say." Xander teased as he walked away. He wandered all the way back down the path, out from the shadow of that monument. Only once he was standing in the gateway did he stop. He turned, and he glanced over his shoulder. From beneath the shadow of Xander's sins, Clifford hardly looked to be more than a black stain in the shape of a man. Xander stared into those bright orange eyes, and he forced a smile while he waved.

After that, Xander walked out of sight. The moment he was hidden behind the fence, he opened a portal and jumped through it. His sneakers hit the grass of the lawn outside Future's castle, and his knees followed. Then, his hands. Pale in the face and dripping with cold sweat, Xander Fortune puked The Gatherer's old perfect act out onto the dirt. His stomach, twisted into knots, wretched its contents over the grass in a painful process that left Xander gagging and gasping.

"D-... Disgusting, face stealer..! If you intended to trick me, you should know your acting is severely lacking..!" The cold sweat on Xander's skin was rapidly boiling away now that he'd finished his hurling. Disgust was being burnt by a rapidly rising rage, and before Xander knew it there was blood dripping down his forehead and horns reaching up out of his skull. Scarlet mist rising off of his skin and black smoke seething out between his clenched teeth, Xander's rabid eyes locked on to that pink flower. He'd dropped it in the grass when his legs went out, and he suddenly knew just what to do with it.

"Oh, and one more thing!" Xander's sparking fingers snatched that pink rose and he threw it right down into his puddle of puke. Inhaling deeply, Xander's chest puffed out and the burning light of his royal wrath began shining through the skin in his throat. Shrunken pupils trembling in bright red eyes, The Balor King roared with embers on his tongue. "CLIFFORD HATED PINK!"

Xander lurched forward. His jaws snapped open, and this time he sprayed the flames of his wrath down on the earth. Hellfire breath washed over that pink rose, making it wilt and crumble to nothing instantly. Xander's puke boiled and steamed away, the grass was melted down and the dirt was blown apart. An updraft of fire engulfed The Balor King, turning him into a writhing shadow in the swirling orange. The fires rose high, they roared his wrath... And then, gradually, they died down.

Smoke steaming off his now burnt clothes, Xander stood seething on a deep black scorch mark in the lawn. Hands clenched into trembling fists, blood still steaming off his horns... He clenched his furious eyes shut, and he dragged air in through his teeth. Then, he released black smoke through those same grinding fangs. He repeated this process, inhaled sharply and forced a slow exhale. Then, again. Slow inhale, slow exhale. A third time, he managed to unclench his teeth and it made choking clean air down easier. Those smoldering black horns finally started to sink back into his forehead as he exhaled once again.

Once his horns were hidden, he inhaled again and exhaled nothing but air. His hands, no longer smoking and sparking, unclenched from tight fists. Violet eyes opened, tired pupils stared up into an endless night sky and tried to reckon with the vastness beyond his flesh. His expression was soft, contemplative. His distant eyes weak, agonized. He had to move his fingers, clench and unclench his fingers a few times to make sure he had any grip strength left. Once he found motor function again, The FEAR File appeared in Xander's grasp. It was time to do some reading.

---

"... It's gone now, Anthony... It's okay..." Lexi spoke quietly, many minutes after the crashing had finally stopped. Her and Anthony hadn't moved, she still held him close to her chest and they both still knelt in the center of devastation. Chunks of stone laid all around them, burying dead bodies. Silver dust gleamed as it blew through the air around them, it reflected the moonlight shining from above.

"It's not okay..." Anthony managed to shove those words up his throat, which was strangled by tears. His hands tensed again, his fingers gripped desperately at the back of Lexi's shirt. He refused to lift his head, he couldn't look at what he'd done and he certainly couldn't look in the eyes of someone who had believed in him. "All these people... I did it again..!"

"... It was an accident." Lexi had to swallow before she spoke, those words tasted wrong on her tongue. Still, she had to try to reassure the Ghoul in her arms. "I know you didn't really want this..."

"An accident..?!" Finally, The Anarchist lifted his head some. Face covered by shadows, one of those bright red eyes gleamed power as it glared up at Lexi. He growled shakily, "I didn't trip and break a vase, Lexi..! A hundred more people are dead because of me! I became that monster AGAIN!"

"You're not a monster." Lexi affirmed firmly, though there were tear stains on her cheeks. She moved her hands, put them on Anthony's shadowed face and forced him to lift his head out of The Dark and into the light. Moonlight illuminated his miserable expression, but his scarlet eyes still gleamed in the night. He might've looked scary to some when his face was shadowed, but now that it was in the light she could see the tears streaming down his cheeks. Lexi hesitated, her brows furrowed and she shook her head. "... We got played, Anthony. They lured us here, they set us up for this outcome. This entire place was designed to make you lose control."

"Well what was I supposed to do..?!" Anthony demanded to know, ripping his head out of Lexi's hands and turning his body away from her. He gestured out to the rubble that surrounded them, to the human limbs sticking out from beneath stone shards and the silver sprinkled through the air. In the distance, a shredded banner dripping with Scorpion venom waved just a little, its corner trapped between stone. "I came here expecting kidnappers, and found a cult worshipping me and! And Aliza, they..! T-they..!"

Lexi didn't say anything, she knew no words would undo what had been done. Her hand reached out, she placed it on Anthony's trembling shoulder. This got him to stop and lower his head. Head hanging low, his hands clenched into tight fists. His teeth grit while Lexi spoke softly. "... I know, Anthony. I'm sorry..."

Anthony tried to withhold his indignation, but a moment later the dam broke. Lexi watched him rip his heavy fists up into the air, and when he brought them crashing back down the earth underneath the two of them immediately exploded down into a crater. Red electricity blasted by Lexi's head while the updraft of force blew her long hair back, and Anthony got started on screaming cuss words while he ripped his arms up again. Once again he hammered his fists into the dirt, and once more the earth crushed underneath his wrath.

Lexi listened to The Anarchist scream, she felt the gruesome tremors of every meaningless strike at the world, but she did not turn away from him. Instead, as he raised his shaking fists up again, she hastily hugged him from behind. His arms paused in the air, she heard him sob and could see the tears dripping off his chin. Lexi closed her eyes, and she held onto Anthony tight. Her hands gripped his shirt. She laid her head against his, she pressed herself against his back, she tried her best to hold him together. And eventually, his heavy arms dropped back to his sides, and the snarl vanished from his face in favor of a distant stare and a hopeless frown.

"... I don't know how to be, Lexi." Anthony's voice was quiet, it was weak. He blinked his bright eyes slowly, Lexi's hand rested over the heavy soul on his chest. He took a deep breath, shaking his head in shame and disappointment. "I, I thought there really was some chance that I could be more than this, but... Every day, I'm a little more certain that I was wrong."

"You are more than this, Anthony." As Lexi spoke, her fingers curled some around the two dimensional shape of The Anarchist's unstoppable soul. Her cyan eyes opened slow, her grip on him lightened up some but she still held him firmly. They were both staring up at the same dark sky now, but Lexi could see the stars. "These cultists were wrong. Whatever that is inside Aliza is wrong. Whoever's behind all this, they're wrong. And we're gonna beat them."

Anthony didn't respond, not at first. Gradually, he turned his eyes away from the infinite void above. He looked down to his pale white hands, he turned them over and saw the dirt in his palms. He took a deep breath, and he reminded himself of all the faith those around him had. Angel, Mako, Lexi, Xander... Angel was right about him, he had to be. So, Anthony The Anarchist gradually curled his hands into fists, and Lexi felt DETERMINATION flare in his soul. The flames rose briefly between her fingers and out of her protective grasp.

"... You're right, Lexi. I'm sorry." Anthony's shoulders relaxed, he blinked the last tears out of his eyes and he felt the pit in his stomach gradually close. A moment ago, he'd felt like he was crumbling. Like he was some hollow thing, cracking apart and about to unleash the emptiness trapped inside. He reached up, carefully resting one hand over one of the arms Lexi had wrapped around him. "Thanks. If you hadn't been here, I... I don't know what I would have done."

"Well I'm always gonna be here, knucklehead." Lexi's lips immediately curled up into a smile, the pit in her own stomach closed when she felt her friend relax. She lifted her free hand just to knock her fist gently against the side of Anthony's head, like she was checking to make sure it wasn't hollow. She winked an eye that was still a little red from crying shut, grinning wide. "So ya never have to worry!"

That sentiment got Anthony smiling, just a little bit. A moment later, semi-begrudgingly, he got his feet underneath him. Effortlessly, The Anarchist stood. So quickly in fact, that Lexi had to blink her surprised eyes as she was lifted up with him. With her arms wrapped around him still, she dangled off his back like a cape. Furrowing her brows and smirking just a little, Lexi let go of Anthony and dropped back down to her feet. She put a hand on her hip and tilted her head to the side, "You gonna be alright on your own? You can come back to the ship with me if you want."

"Thanks, but I'm okay." Anthony assured as he turned around to face The Predator, though he did still look pretty tired. He lifted a hand and waved it dismissively, "I should probably get home anyway, I'm sure Mako's worried."

"Oh! Yeah, you're probably right." Lexi's smile turned a little sheepish, before she stepped back away from him. Flicking her hand through the air, she opened a portal beside her. "Just gimme a call if you need anything, alright? I'm here for you."

Anthony nodded and smiled his thanks. Lexi nodded back, waved her goodbyes, and stepped through that portal after Anthony waved his. As she left that horrible world behind, she shut her eyes and took a deep breath. She was tired, exhausted in fact. As boring as bounty hunting had been since the war with The Gatherer ended, she would never have wished for a situation like this...

Lexi opened her eyes, and she was standing in the common area of her ship. Her portal closed behind her, and she blinked her dry eyes a few times while she glanced around the empty living room. Didn't look like anyone was around, but she could smell cookies beyond the doorway at the far side of the room. The Predator cleared her throat, looking at least a little confused by the absence of her crew. She called out, "I'm back! Anybody home..?"

"Oh!" She heard a familiar voice from the other side of that doorway, and a moment later Lexi watched Melanie poke her head out of the kitchen. The KIND soul smiled when she spotted Lexi, before stepping fully out of the doorway. Still wearing oven mitts, Melanie was holding a sheet of freshly baked cookies. "Lexi, you're home just in time! These are fresh out of the oven!"

"Heh..." Lexi's lips curled up some. Tired as she was, she looked beyond relieved to see Melanie, especially with cookies at the ready. Wandering over to a couch in front of a coffee table, The Predator dropped down onto the cushions and slouched back into them. Melanie walked over a moment later, carefully setting the baking sheet on the table and leaving her oven mitts between it and the wood. Lexi spoke while Melanie sat beside her, "Thanks, Mel. After the day I've had... It's nice to come home to cookies."

"I, take it the whole finding Aliza thing didn't go so great..?" Melanie tried to keep up a smile, but she winced when Lexi widened her eyes and tilted her head back. The Predator didn't answer with words, instead just groaning loudly.

"Went about as bad as it coulda gone." Lexi peeled her back out of the couch cushions just so she could lean forward and snag a cookie, shaking her head all the while. "There was a cult, n' a... Pink lady, and... Ugh, how'd things go on this side? Any word on where they escaped to?"

"U-uhh..." Melanie grimaced, glancing to the side. Lexi squinted at her, frown sinking deeper into her face. Melanie smiled shakily, clasping her hands together and shutting her eyes so she could drag her fake smile up further. "S-so! How's the cookie?"

"Chocolate chip, peanut butter..." Lexi muttered under her breath after she took her first bite of the sweet treat, nodding her head slowly. Her sharp cyan eyes darted back from the baking sheet to Melanie then, and she deduced aloud: "These are anxiety cookies. What went wrong?"

"A-anxiety cookies?!" Melanie's smile vanished as she recoiled, her eyes opening wide. She put a defensive hand on her chest and tried to divert attention. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"it means ya only bake these when you're stressed out!" Lexi accused, shaking her half eaten cookie at Melanie. Then, she popped the rest of it in her mouth and demanded an explanation while chewing. "Wha happen?"

"..." Melanie hesitated, she looked away and she squirmed on the couch under Lexi's unyielding glare. Finally, she cracked, and with a sigh and a slouch she explained. "... I guess, an assassin snuck into the Hollow Spire while Alphys was busy displaying potential escape routes. She's stable, but she's not in good shape. The assassin escaped; everyone else is out scanning the city right now. I stayed behind to uh... Bake cookies and deliver bad news."

". . ." Lexi stared at Melanie for several long, tense moments. She blinked a few times, snatched another cookie off the sheet, and then groaned as she slouched into her KIND friend's shoulder. Lexi grumbled sarcastically, "Today just keeps gettin' better."

---

Anthony stood in that crater for a few more minutes after Lexi left. He didn't move, just stood and stared up at the night sky. Seconds turned to minutes without blinking. Comprehending the void, questioning the starlight sprinkled in its mass. When he finally tired of trying to understand, he sunk into his shadow. And when he next emerged, he was standing in his own driveway, staring up at the house he'd built with his bare hands. The royal family's vehicle was gone, he was glad that Frisk had listened to his order and hit the road. But, the tire tracks in the snow just reminded him that he had a date of all things tomorrow.

There was so much ahead of Anthony that it was hard to take even a single step forward. It was dark out now, snow was still falling lightly around him. His snow shovel was still cast aside in a snow bank on the side of the dirt road. There were lights on inside, Anthony's glowing red eyes could see the shape of Mako and Max wandering by the windows every now and again. They were waiting up for him, probably worried... But Anthony couldn't bare to face them, not with new blood on his hands.

In that moment, alone in the cold and dark, Anthony wasn't sure he could go anywhere. He wondered if he should just wander off into the woods again, but he knew Mako would find him there. She had last time, after all. He wondered if talking to Angel would help, but he didn't want to burden his brother with this horrible news. He'd done enough damage to that happy ending. So, Anthony stood there, and for a long time he thought there might be nowhere in this reality to go. No friend to turn to, without having to see them wince and frown and try to hide their disappointment in his actions.

But, this could only go on for so long, before Anthony recalled that there was one person who would never be ashamed of him and would certainly never turn him away. His tired eyes winced, he stared at the shape of Mako standing in the light from where he loomed in The Dark. And then, once again, Anthony The Anarchist sunk into his shadow. Slowly, down into the depths of his Darkness, never blinking and never looking away from the home he no longer felt he deserved. When he emerged from the shadows again, he was standing on the front porch of Frisk The Traitor's Dollhouse.

Anthony stared at that door for another minute or two. He had to take a deep breath, consider his options. Frisk had preyed on his weakness before, but... Last time he stopped by, they made him feel better. And where else could he go? He couldn't bare to look Mako or Angel or Lexi or even Xander in the eye... Anthony shut his eyes, took one more deep breath, and then lifted his fist and knocked on the door.

---

Ring... Ring... Ring... Ri-

"Hello..?" My voice was gravely and quiet when I answered my phone. Had to fumble to find it on my nightstand, ended up knocking over my thankfully empty glass of water down onto the rug in the process. My eyelids were too heavy to open, I was still a half step from really being awake by the time I answered the phone call.

"Angel? Good, you're awake."

That voice got my eyes to open. My tired expression scrunched with confusion, it was pitch black in our bedroom. I quietly cleared my throat, shutting my eyes again. "Xander..? I think ya hit the wrong contact; 'Anthony' should be one down from 'Angel'..."

"I have you listed in my contacts as 'Chara's simp'." Xander's deadpan tone answered, and immediately confusion vanished from my face in favor of minor annoyance. Beside me, I could hear Chara snickering at what they'd overheard. Satisfied with the sound of my exasperated sigh, Xander explained. "I need help with something. You're the only one who can do it."

"Good thing you know two other me's, both of which are not retired..." I responded in a groggy mumble, blinking my eyes slowly up at the ceiling.

"I'm serious, Angel." Xander didn't give my excuse the time of day - time of night? Whatever - and instead opted to continue on in his deadpan voice. "It's important. You know I wouldn't be calling you if it wasn't, certainly not at this hour."

I paused for a moment. What Xander said was true, me n' him didn't typically chat. Might've had something to do with the mutual "Would destroy the world to kill this guy" thing we had goin' on last year. With that in mind I grumbled and dragged my shoulders up off the mattress, I felt Chara shift beside me as I sat up. Slouched forward now, I scratched at my bare chest with my red cracked left hand. "... What's goin' on, Xander?"

"... Something terrible." Xander hesitated to say that, and his words made my emerald eyes narrow. I stared at the back of my hand, I could feel my cracks starting to sting. Beside me, Chara didn't sit up, but they turned their body towards me. They reached over, setting a hand on my knee and waiting for more words. Xander went on, "I can't explain over the phone, and we shouldn't talk for too long. Come to Future's timeline, we need to discuss this in person."

"Future's timeline? Like, right now?" I asked, incredulous. I glanced over to Chara, and they looked similarly perplexed. I shook my head, "Xander, I'm in bed. Me n' my datefriend are trying to sleep. Whatever you want me to help you with, even if I wanted to, I can't exactly help with much of anything after-"

"After what I did, I know!" Xander snapped suddenly, stopping me in my tracks. I winced, but I didn't deny what he said. The cane by my bedside was in fact there because of what Xander unleashed. After one long moment, the final Fortune forced himself to speak again. "Please, Angel. I know I'm asking a lot, and I know you don't trust me, but this is bigger than that. If this could wait until morning I'd let it wait, and if I could do this myself I would have never called you."

"..." I was quiet for a moment, a long moment. I wondered what on earth could be so urgent. I thought about the Aliza situation, but I wasn't sure Xander knew a thing about that. What else could be going wrong? My eyes darted to the side, and I grimaced. For just a moment, I let myself wonder if this was a trap. If Xander had undergone some relapse, and wanted me to hobble my way to his timeline in the dead of night so he could put a lightning bolt through my chest and finally get his revenge. I shook my head, pushed those thoughts away, and made up my mind. "... Alright, Xander. I'll hobble my ass over there."

"Thank you, Angel. I... I really appreciate it."

*Click...

I smiled just a little at the sound of those words. Even if I wasn't Xander's biggest fan, it was nice to know I could still help somebody out in my rickety body. I felt Chara's hand on my back as I set my phone down, they were laying on their side propped up on their elbow. They blinked tired red eyes at me. "What's going on..?"

"Somethin' with Xander. I'm not sure yet." While I answered, I leaned back on my hands and begrudgingly swung my legs over the side of the bed. Winced a little when my feet hit the floor, my heels tingled with numbness while I curled my toes and stretched my ankles. Nerve damage, something to do with all the burning. Got it a lot in my hands, but it was usually in my feet too when I first woke up in the morning. I squeezed and massaged my stiff knee while I shrugged my shoulders. "He sounded pretty shaken up..."

"Are you worried?" Chara forced themself to sit up, grunting tiredly once or twice in the process. Their hand ran up my back, over the scars left in the wake of my wings and onto my shoulder.

"Honestly?" I glanced back at Chara, and they nodded. I smiled sheepishly then, taking my hand off my knee to scratch my cheek. "I'm just glad I can be useful."

Chara squinted their tired eyes at me, sleepy and grumpy. They reached up, grabbed both sides of my face, and gave me a quick peck on the lips. Then, as they flopped back onto the mattress and dragged all of the blanket over their body, they grumbled. "You're always useful, moron..."

"Tank yew, sweetums." I thanked Chara in baby voice, reaching over and aggressively ruffling their hair. They groaned loudly, sinking deeper into the blankets to escape my hand and making me laugh. I spared them from my affection, turning back towards my bedside. My heels had stopped tingling, so I grabbed my cane and forced myself up onto my feet with only a few grunts and groans.

"Are you gonna need any help getting over there..?" Chara peaked out from under the covers, concern clear even through their sleepiness. They watched me wobble my way through getting one leg through my jeans, and then switch over to my good leg to get the other pantleg on. "I can go with you, if you want..."

"Get your rest, Char-Bear." I assured them while I leaned my back against the wall, shifting weight onto my shoulders just so I could use both hands to get my belt through its loops. Once that was done I grabbed my cane again and my T-shirt, tossing the latter over my shoulder. I smirked back at them while I hobbled towards the door. "I'll be home before ya know it."

"Better not... Keep me waiting... Dork..." Chara's voice turned from a mumble to a murmur throughout that sentence, their eyes were already closed by the time they finished speaking and I figure they were asleep by the time I closed our bedroom door behind myself.

Once I was alone in the hall, I let my smile fade. I used ink to stick my cane to the floor and pulled my shirt over my head with minimal difficulty, getting my arms through the holes and pulling the fabric down over my scarred body. As I opened a portal to Future's timeline with one hand and snatched my cane with the other, I once again had to ask myself:

What on earth could be so urgent?

---

"Jeez, what a day... You really can't catch a break lately." Frisk's tone was a little joking, they even managed a tiny smile. But, they couldn't wipe the frown off Anarchy's face. They sat at the edge of the couch, and he laid across it on his side. His head was in their lap, and he stared straight ahead with unblinking, distant eyes. Frisk assured him while they ran their fingers gently through his hair. "You came to the right person, and I'm flattered thatcha thought of me~!"

"... Didn't know if I could face anyone else." Anthony confessed after a moment of hesitation, blinking his eyes slowly. The paint had all been cleaned up during his last visit, it wasn't splattered all over the walls anymore. A red splat was still covering that mirror on the far wall though, Anthony thought he might break the mirror if he tried to clean it so Frisk asked him to leave it. Now, Anthony was staring at that purple painted wall. He'd helped Frisk paint it that color just the other day, they'd finished the one wall. He asked Frisk if they wanted to paint the other walls that color too, and they were unsure, so he smiled and told them they could leave it until they changed their mind. He held onto that moment, hoped it meant he could trust Frisk to not torment him now. Anthony shut his eyes and mumbled, "I knew you wouldn't be disappointed in me..."

"I could never be disappointed in you, Anthony." Frisk hummed those words, their voice was always so pleasant. Their words made Anthony relax a little, he exhaled a sigh and didn't open his eyes. At least, not until the images started to appear in his head again. Aliza's face, vandalized by pink eyes and a wicked smile. Those banners with his father's symbol for Chaos, the rubble, the corpses... When he saw Lexi's face, when he remembered the sound of her gasp and the sight of her tears, his eyes snapped open and he jolted just a little. This made Frisk's brows furrow, they pulled their hand away from his head for fear that they'd done something wrong. "What's wrong?"

"It's, it's nothing. Just..." Slowly, Anthony sat up. Frisk watched him, worried as he turned his back to them and slouched forward. Groaning, The Anarchist laid his head in his hands and let his fingers run through his hair. "... I wish Lexi hadn't had to see all that. I mean, I'm glad she was there, if she hadn't been... But, still. She's the last person I wanted to see me like that..."

Lexi? Frisk pondered, brows furrowing. Slowly, their lips sunk into a frown. They remembered her alright. The Ice Queen that Frisk had almost killed, a woman who saw Anthony as her knight in shining armor. Often times, Frisk wished that they'd just killed her in DoubleScramble when they had the chance. They wished they'd been able to fight her instead of Angel the day Gatherer's timeline was destroyed, she was easy pickings. But, the harder they thought about it, the more worried Frisk was that Anthony might not look at them the same way if they had killed Lexi. They'd never admit it out loud, but Frisk could see that girl was important to their Anthony, and that did not sit right with them. Still... Anthony could have stayed with Lexi, and instead he was here with them. That made Frisk smile again, and they wrapped their arms around The Anarchist, hugging him from behind.

"It's okay, Anthony. Even if Lexi doesn't understand, I do." Frisk shut their eyes and hummed, resting their head on Anthony's shoulder. They peaked one eye open in a reverse wink, reaching up and booping The Anarchist on the nose. "You were only doing what you had to do, there's no shame in it~! Besides, that's what all those guys were praying for anyway, wasn't it? You gave them what they wanted."

"I'm... I'm really not sure that makes it better, Frisk. Even if it's true." Anthony turned his head away from them, shaking it slowly. he lifted his hand, like he was trying to grasp for some kind of reason, before his hand dropped limp on his lap. "Those people were victims of a lie. The only reason they were even there was because they were afraid. They didn't know what they were asking for..."

"That doesn't matter, Anthony. You're bigger than them, you have a right to do with their lives as you see fit." Frisk said those words like they were just stating a simple fact. Sky's blue, grass is green, Anthony's allowed to do whatever he wants. This notion made Anarchy's jaw tighten, his eyes clenching shut tight. Frisk shrugged their shoulders while they held onto him, "And they upset you, so they deserved to die."

"Frisk..!" Anarchy hissed through clenched teeth, making The Traitor's eyebrows raise some. He didn't lash out though, and he didn't push them off. They felt him tense up in their arms... And then he took a deep breath, and his body relaxed again. Shaking his head, he pleaded with Frisk. "Just... Don't start with that right now. Please."

"... Alright, Anthony." Frisk hesitated, but inevitably relented. They squeezed him tighter, turning their head and resting their cheek against his back. They could hear his powerful heart, ever beating beneath his powerful flesh. "We don't have to talk about that right now if you don't want to."

"Thank you..." Anthony breathed a sigh of relief, slumping back into Frisk some. Things were quiet for a few moments, The Bastard Son was able to feel something close to peace of mind for four or five seconds.

"Soo... There's, another me? And they also think you're cute?" Frisk's words brought the future crashing right at Anarchy's feet, and his scarlet eyes opened just to stare annoyed across the room.

"God I hope not..." Anthony reached up, shutting his eyes and rubbing the lids with his index finger and thumb. "Otherwise, this date tomorrow is gonna be a nightmare..."

"Date?!" That got Frisk's attention. The peaked out from behind The Anarchist, furrowing their brows. Visibly concerned The Traitor went on, "You're going on a date with that PILF version of me?"

"That's what they called it. They're gonna try to talk me into getting involved in politics." Anarchy's hand dropped down to the couch, and he shrugged in a dejected way. After a moment though, he glanced over to Frisk and cocked a brow. "... PILF?"

"Parent I'd Like'ta-" Frisk started innocently, only for Anthony to instantly plant his hand over their face and stop their sentence in its tracks.

"Right, yeah, shoulda guessed." Anthony said irritably. He rolled his eyes as he heard Frisk's muffled giggling through his palm, before pulling his hand off their face. They smiled at him and set their chin back down on his shoulder, and he shook his head and looked awkwardly away. "I just wanted them to leave me alone. They were... Persistent."

"A version of me? Nooo, couldn't be!" Frisk teased, reaching up and pinching one of Anthony's cheeks. He groaned as they pulled on that cheek, revealing more of his sharp toothed grimace. Frisk went on while they teased, "They saw the big screens, right? I'll bet'cha they saw you smooch me and thought "Wow that'd be nice!""

"Oh is that what you'd think if you saw me kiss you?" Anthony rose his eyebrows at Frisk after they released his cheek, frowning his disbelief.

"I try to censor myself for you and you respond by sassing me." Frisk rose their own eyebrows and frowned back at Anthony, tilting their head forward in the same way he did. The tips of their noses touched, and after a moment of mimicking him The Traitor cracked a little smile. "So, you're really gonna take a different me on a date? Can't help but feel like you're trying to make me jealous."

"It's to discuss 'business', or whatever. They're just gonna be trying to convince me to help them." Anthony pulled his nose away from Frisk's. He turned his head away from them, let it roll onto his opposite shoulder and stared despondently off into the living room. "They agreed to buzz off if I still say no, so I just have to get through tomorrow and then they'll be out of my hair."

"And you're sure you'll be able to turn 'em down? They might be willing to do a lot to convince you, if they really are like me." After saying that, Frisk pushed their cheek right against Anthony's, squishing their face against his. They looked up at the ceiling and grinned to themself while they put on this fake damsel voice. "Oh, please, Mister Anarchist~! I'll do anything to get your help~!"

"Frisk." Anthony grumbled their name as a warning, his bottom lip sinking down to reveal some of his fangs. His cheeks had turned a little pink and his grimace had sunken deeper into his face by the time Frisk pulled their cheek off of his.

"I'm just saying! They saw you like Frisks," Frisk started, and Anthony immediately groaned an interruption.

"I do not like Frisks." The Anarchist objected, rolling his eyes and rolling his head with them. "You make it sound like I got some kinda fuckin' fetish!"

"They saw you like Frisks and they're desperate to get your help." Frisk went on, totally ignoring Anthony's objection, much to his displeasure. They widened their eyes and shrugged their shoulders as though they were pitching a totally innocent theory. "There's a nonzero chance they offer to suck your dick, that's all I'm saying."

"THAT'S all you're saying?" Anthony's head whipped around so he could give Frisk a disbelieving and annoyed look, but the corner of his mouth had lifted just a little and they could see it.

"That's all I'm saying!" Starting to smile too, Frisk held their hands up like Anthony was pointing a gun at them.

"Frisk I'm startin' to worry you want me to pipe this other you." Anthony finally fired back his own harebrained theory, a little smirk a new addition to his face. Frisk gasped and recoiled, clutching their pearls and pretending they could never conceive of such a lewd accusation.

"No, I'm just trying to make sure you're prepared for any potential advances!" Frisk shook their head and refuted, but the amused smile on their face was telling. When Anthony didn't say anything else and his knowing stare didn't relent, they finally folded. Shrugging innocently they admitted, "... I've been trying to figure out if I'd be down for a threeway or not."

"Fuckin' A!" Anthony immediately leaned forward, pulling away from Frisk and slapping his hands over his face. He hid a bright red blush and he pushed away images of what that might look like, shaking his head in his hands all the while. After a moment or two of this, Frisk skeptically leaned forward to glance around his broad shoulders and at his covered face.

"... Ya want the final verdict?" They asked pensively, wincing some.

"No!" Anthony exploded, throwing his hands away from his face and yanking his head back to shout his word at the ceiling. This made Frisk burst into laughter. They flopped back into the couch, holding their stomach and kicking their feet in the air while they cackled at the fruits of their harassment. Anthony kept his head turned away from them, and his face was still a little pink, but the sound of their laughter did put a little smile on his face.

This went on for a little while, Frisk laughing and Anthony hiding his amusement. He even laughed with them a little here and there, always shaking his head while he did so to show his disapproval. Eventually things quieted down, and no one spoke for a long moment. Then, Anthony sighed, and shoved his body up off the couch. "Alright, as fun as being accused'a being a Frisk perv is, I should head home."

"Aw c'mon, don't be such a sourpuss!" Frisk stood up after Anthony. He turned his head to look at them, and they put their hands on their hips, smirking up at him. "Look, you're not moping around anymore, are ya?"

That made Anthony's eyebrows raise with surprise. Frisk was right, he wasn't moping anymore. In the embarrassment and amusement that came with dealing with Frisk's antics, he'd totally forgotten about how dead inside he felt earlier. For a few minutes, he couldn't even smell the blood on his hands. And it sucked remembering it again, but it didn't suck quite as hard as it did before he visited. The world hadn't ended, it turned out. He was still able to smile and laugh. He could see that Frisk was proud of their handiwork, they must've recognized the realization on Anthony's face. Did they really say all that dumb stuff just to distract him? Anthony was almost a little embarrassed that it worked.

"... Thanks, Frisk. Really." Anthony smiled for real then, Frisk was taken aback just a little but they tried not to show it. Anthony shrugged his shoulders while he confessed, "Everything is still shit, but it feels just a little less shit after talkin' to you."

Frisk folded their hands over their lap, and they smiled big. For just a moment, Anthony had trouble believing that someone as pretty as them had ever done anything wrong. They looked innocent for just a second, he didn't feel dirty being around them. That gave Anthony hope as he waved and walked to the door. Maybe Frisk could make it out of here.

---

"What fresh hell awaits my stupid ass..?" I muttered under my breath as I walked up the stone path to the front door of Future's castle, each step in rhythm with my cane. My free hand was buried in my pocket, the night was just a little chilly compared to back home. Seasons weren't quite as opposite here as they were between me n' Anny's timeline - with me living in Summer and him living in Winter - but they were still a month or two off here in Future's timeline.

I made it up to the door and paused for a sec. Typically I would knock, but I had to imagine everyone who lived here was asleep. Everyone apart from Xander, and god only knew what state that poor fuck was in. Still, I took a deep breath, pried my hand from my pocket, and lifted my fist up to knock on the door.

My eyes widened however when that door swung open before my knuckles could strike it. On the other side I spotted Xander, he looked a lot more awake than I did. His forehead was still tinted a little orange from what I figured was the same blood that I could see crusted in his eyebrows, the sight of it put a small frown on my face. I didn't have to ask, I already knew how the blood got there. If the blood on his forehead didn't make it obvious, the burn marks on his clothes did. If Xander knew I was aware of this he didn't care, he just forced an imperfect smile.

"Ah, good, you're here." He said, before that polite smile faded and he hastily looked left and right. This really got me looking at him like he was crazy, but again he ignored my expression. Instead, he hastily waved me inside, stepping back into the castle. "Come in, quick. Before someone sees."

I found myself glancing down to the corner of my vision. Sometimes, when something extra stupid happened, I would still find myself checking to see if Texty had any commentary. But there was no textbox and no dry commentary, hadn't been in over a year now. So I shrugged to myself and stepped inside, shutting the door behind myself.

"What's this about, Xander?" I asked a little quietly, concerned I might wake someone. The living room was dark, I had to squint and blink while I wandered through it and after Xander's outline in the dark. "I'm not even a politician yet and I'm already sneaking out in the middle of the night to rendezvous with a twink in secret. This ain't a great look for me."

Xander didn't answer, just kept tip toeing down the hall. I frowned as I hobbled after him; that joke rocked and I wasted it on him. At the far end of the hall I could see an open door shedding lamplight out into the hall, I recognized it as my old bedroom. It wasn't a bedroom anymore though, it'd been repurposed into a study after me n' Chara moved out. Felt strange, being alone with Xander. Last time we were alone together we were trying to kill each other. Walking dark hallways with him didn't help, it just made me think about Fortune Manor.

Finally, I stepped into Xander's study. He turned around to face me, and he nodded back towards the door. I rolled my eyes, but did reach back, grab the knob, and quietly shut the door. Once that was done, I gestured incredulously to Xander and the room we were in. The blinds of the window at the opposite end of the room were drawn closed, the lamp on the desk illuminated loose sheets of paper with hasty words scribbled on them. Notes? They were all surrounding this folder... My tired eyes settled back on Xander. "Alright, Xander, I'm here. Now can you please explain to me why I'm here?"

"Here." Xander pivoted and snatched that folder off the table. It was thick with papers, some edges stuck out of its fold. He pushed that folder out towards me, I stared at it totally bewildered. My eyes darted up to Xander in hope of finding an answer on his face, but his bloodshot eyes just stared at me expectantly while he went on. "Take this. In the morning, call a meeting with Lexi, Eden, and Anthony. Give them this folder. Tell them Future gave it to you to give to them, make it convincing."

". . . What?" My jaw hung ajar, my brow remained cocked and I was starting to shake my head slowly. What the fuck was he talking about? I got dragged out here at 3 AM to deliver papers?!

"Take the file, deliver the file, don't tell them I gave you the file!" Xander gave simplified instructions while he shook those papers at me. He had this look on his face like I was the one being irrational, and it did little to soothe my growing aggravation. "What part aren't you getting?!"

"What part am I-? Xander what the fuck is going on?!" I snapped, sticking my cane to the floor briefly so that I could hold up both hands in a baffled gesture. "You call me at 3 in the morning, say that you need help so urgently that I have to hop across the multiverse, I get here and you look like you've gone off the deep end, and it's all to DELIVER PAPERWORK AND LIE ABOUT IT?!"

"Listen Angel, I don't have time to explain but-" Xander started, lifting his hands defensively. There was soot under his fingernails.

"Stop saying that! You'd better find time if you want my help!" I snatched that file out of Xander's hand while I made my demands, shaking the papers at him threateningly. I started making more demands, but my eyes glossed to the front of the folder while I shook it at him. "What's going on? Why were your horns out? Where did you get this..! This... What even is this?"

Slowly, my focused shifted from Xander. My expression hardened as I brought that file in and got a closer look at its cover. My eyes read over that one word, "FEAR"... Across from me, Xander took a deep breath. When I next looked up at him he was pacing and sticking a cigarette between his lips, there was a dozen cigarette butts floating in a half empty coffee cup on his desk and it was starting to stink up the room. Still, he snapped his fingers and lit up another cancer stick inside before he looked back to me with those intense purple eyes. "... I know who took Aliza. I know this is a lot bigger than we thought, but I don't know how deep it all goes. Yet."

I was quiet for a long moment, neither of us moved. I could feel the hairs on my neck standing up the longer I stared into the eyes of the Final Fortune. I swallowed slowly, and my eyes narrowed. When I next spoke, my voice was quiet. I was finally concerned someone might hear us. "... What's in this file, Xander?"

"If you want answers, give it a read. This will all make a lot more sense if you do." Gradually, Xander leaned back against the wall behind him. He leaned there, taking his cigarette between his fingers. He pulled it out from between his lips, and without ever breaking his stare he exhaled gray smoke through his teeth. Then, he shook his head and brought that cigarette back to his lips. "But you're retired, Angel. This multiverse isn't your responsibility anymore. All I need you to do is deliver that file, and keep to yourself that I'm the one who gave it to you."

"... I don't lie these days. Especially not to my friends." I lowered the Fear File to my side, but I didn't drop it. I watched Xander skeptically, and I still didn't get what was going on. I could feel the tension now, though. If what he was saying was true, and this situation was really as bad as he was making it seem...

"You're the only person who can do this, Angel." Xander's eyes narrowed, the lamplight and the dim glow of his cigarette sent shadows twisting across his grave expression. He crossed his arms, propping up one elbow on the opposite arm's wrist and keeping one hand over the bottom of his face, holding that cigarette between two fingers. "You're disconnected from the multiverse. Most people believe you're dead. All of our friends trust you, a lot more than they trust me."

There was a pause, those words hung in the air for a moment. Xander's eyes glossed across the room, a bitter smile crossed his lips and he took another drag. "... Funny how things change."

My KIND eyes winced some, but I wasn't sure if I pitied Xander or not. I got what he meant; not too long ago, he was the most trusted face to an empire worth of people and I was the one hiding away. Now the multiverse recognized me as a hero and Xander had to keep his head down in public. He glanced back over to me, leaning forward and reaching out with his cigarette. He tapped its edge on the side of his coffee cup, let the ash build up fall down into the cold coffee and then leaned back against the wall. "I need you to do this for me, Angel. The world can't know that I know about this file."

"Why?" I asked again, exasperation and concern more present in my voice. I once more lifted the Fear File, and my expression softened up some while I pleaded with Xander. "I want to help you, Xander, but I can't help if I don't know what's going on."

"... They could be anyone, Angel. You're the only person I am certain they have no connection to, on account of your absence and the widespread belief of your death." Xander didn't blink once while he said that. Head lowered, shadows dripping down his face, those violet eyes shined through all the exhaustion and anxiety with a powerful desire to PERSEVERE. "And they want me. If I'm going to get closer and uncover more about what's going on, I need them to believe that I've been tricked. That can't happen if they find out that I've read this file."

"But who are they?" I widened my eyes some, still not understanding. Xander was usually so straight forward, clear and concise. Now I was being drip fed information, and every drop made me more uneasy. Xander Fortune had stared down Ghouls and gods before, so why did he look so shaken up now?

"All the information you might want is in that file. Read it, and you'll know exactly what we're dealing with." Xander's eyes glossed to the file in my hand, he nodded towards it. He took one last drag, and he looked back at me as he flicked his cigarette butt through the air. It landed right in that coffee cup, and he exhaled smog through his teeth again. "But you're retired, Angel. You don't have to get involved in this business. All I need you to do is deliver that file, and then you're free to get back to your life."

... There was another long pause. I looked back to the Fear File, it was heavy in my hands. I could feel forbidden knowledge wriggling under its cover, I could feel the cracks in my arms starting to sting. Again I glanced down to the corner of my vision, but there was no message for me there. Genesis was long gone. I had to make this choice on my own.

"... I'm sorry, Angel. Really. If there was anyone else I could trust with this..." Xander reached up, placing a hand over his face. He shut those eyes momentarily, rubbed their lids with his index finger and thumb. He sighed loudly, before letting his hand drop out of the way and looking at me again. He hesitated, before speaking honestly. "... I don't like having to ask you for help. But I need you to do this for me. There's more riding on it than either of us know."

"..." I was quiet for a long time. I stared at the File in my hand, hardly liked how heavy it felt. Never thought I'd have the privilege of lifting something this heavy again after what I gave just a year ago. A year already? My eyes drifted up from the FEAR File, up my left arm and along the cracks in my flesh. Felt like just yesterday I was... Ah, it didn't matter. Am I helpin' Xander or not? I looked up at him; Christ, he's a mess. I know what he's saying is true, he would've never asked me for help if there was any other option and if the stakes weren't high. And, if I really had the opportunity to help good prevail in my current state...

"... Alright, Xander. I'll take the file. I'll call the meeting in the morning, and I'll make the delivery." The FEAR File vanished into my inventory, and I watched a fraction of relief appear on Xander's face. I preferred it over that dreary, pleading look. Still, I glanced to the side. Leaned more weight onto my cane, hesitated... "I don't know what you're planning, but... If you're gonna be sneakin' around, be careful. If good people get suspicious of you... Trust is, slow. Fragile."

"..." Xander paused for a second, his eyes narrowed at me just a little and I thought I might've annoyed him. He leaned back against the wall and just looked at me for a second or two. A year ago, he hated me enough to sacrifice the multiverse to kill me. Now, apparently, I was the key to some hidden salvation. "... Tell me about it."

I nodded at him, and then I turned back towards the door. Tension was high when we were alone together, air was always heavy. Honestly, I couldn't wait to get outta that room. Away from Xander and that elephant standing between us. But, as I reached for the door, he took a deep breath and spoke up. "Thanks, Angel. And, about trust... I'm trying."

I was smiling when I glanced back at Xander, I dunno if he liked seeing me smile or not but I did it anyway. I grabbed the doorknob, and I told the truth. "I believe in ya."

Xander tried to smile back at me, but I wasn't that convinced. Did he think I was lying? I watched him pull out that pack of cigarettes again, he was looking to that nasty habit for support that he could trust. But, as he brought a cigarette up to his mouth, his hand came to a sudden and abrupt stop. His brows furrowed, and he looked down at his hand. It was trapped in place, glowing with my KIND light. I was weaker now, but it was easier to care about him and that green aura trapping his hand was proof. When he looked back to me and saw that smile still on my face, Xander Fortune had an easier time smiling back.

I stepped out into the hallway, the light of my KINDNESS vanished and Xander's hand was free by the time I shut the door between us. I hobbled back down the hallway, towards the living room and the kitchen connecting at it's opposite end. But, just as I was passing the bathroom, I was startled by the kitchen light switching on. I hastily ducked into the empty bathroom, and with the clench of my fists ink started to pour down out of my T-shirt sleeves. It crept over my arms, gradually covering them and obscuring their green and red glow so as to not give my position away.

After a moment of listening, I deduced that I hadn't been spotted. Skeptically, I glanced out around the corner, and my brows furrowed with some confusion. I could see Future's shadow in the kitchen, it poured out into the square of light that draped across the living room from the kitchen's entrance. Looked like he had the fridge open, and was holding some drink up to his mouth. At first, I was concerned it was a beer, but then I heard plastic crunch. Was he chugging a water bottle?

After the gulping ceased, I watched his shadow wander over to the garbage can and pitch that now empty water bottle. Then, Future walked out of the kitchen. He was facing my direction, but I doubted he could see me peaking out with how dark the hallway was. I cocked a brow at the sight of him; he was shirtless, had a white towel thrown over his shoulders and his hair was matted with sweat. His chest still lifted quicker than normal - was he working out just now? This early in the morning? I would've figured he dropped the training routine after me n' Chara moved out, but his defined muscles told a different story. Fuckin' A peepaw, you gettin' serious about the search for a queen'a the monsters or what?

"Alright, back to it..." I heard him mutter after glancing back into the kitchen, potentially checking the stove's clock. He reached back into the kitchen, flipped off a light switch and plunged the living room back into darkness. I had to squint, but I could still see his outline walk back down the hall and towards the rest of the castle. Either towards his room, or... The Barrier Chamber?

I listened to Future's footsteps get further and further away, until they vanished completely. Once they were gone, I waited a few more moments... And then that ink seeped into the cracks on my arms and disappeared. Hesitantly, I wandered back out into the living room. I was careful about using my cane, didn't wanna make much noise. It wasn't too bad, using it less than normal. I opened and shut the front door as quiet as I could, and as soon as I was outside I stepped through a portal that lead me right back into my home.

I was standing in front of my room door now, I knew Chara was in there asleep and the thought of getting back into bed with them put a slight smile on my face. But, as I reached for the knob... I hesitated. Glancing back down at my scarred hand, my thoughts drifted back to the FEAR File hidden away in my inventory. Whoever took Aliza, "this goes deeper than we thought", "they could be anyone"...

"All the information you might want is in that file, Angel. Read it, and you'll know exactly what we're dealing with."

... The FEAR File appeared in the hand I'd been using to reach for our room door. It was late, I shouldn't wake Chara up. And, I should probably keep awake until morning to call in that meeting. Gradually, I turned back towards the living room with the FEAR File in my free hand and started limping towards the chair there and the lamp beside it. Just a quick bit of reading, something to put my mind at ease. I glanced at the empty bottom corner of my eyesight and tried to imagine what Texty might say. "*Ha, yeah, put you at ease, sure." No, too direct. "*Nothing wrong with a bedtime story." No, too supportive. "*I'm on the edge of my seat." I smirked a little to myself. Yeah, that was the type'a sarcastic bullshit he'd say. Rest in peace Texty, you prick.

---

"Anthony!" Mako jumped up off the couch when Anthony walked in through the front door. It was late, she was in her pajamas. Anthony shut the door behind him; he was happy to have someone who cared enough to wait up for him but didn't feel all that great about keeping Mako waiting. She watched him with those big ol' eyes while he wandered into the living room, her hopeful expression dissolved into one of worry when she saw the frown on Anthony's face. She waited for him to plop down onto the couch perpendicular to her own before speaking up. "You were gone for awhile, and I didn't know where you went... I was worried."

"Sorry. I was in a bad mood, and then... Some stuff came up and put me into a worse mood." Anthony leaned forward. He rested his elbows on his knees and folded his hands together. His eyes scanned over the familiar scars along his fingers and knuckles. "... I couldn't be home for a bit. I didn't wanna scare you."

"Anthony..." Mako's eyes winced, she tilted her head and looked upon The Ivory Ghoul with teardrop shaped pupils. She pursed her lips - or lack thereof - and hesitated, before finally speaking. "... I'm sorry, about earlier. I don't want to stress you out or put pressure on you, I just... You know how important helping Monsterkind is to me. The royal family showing up right at our door, it's a big opportunity and I don't want it to-"

"Stop." Anthony lifted his hand but didn't lift his head. Mako didn't like being commanded to be quiet, especially not when she had something she felt was important to say. But, she trusted Anthony enough to stop speaking and give him a chance. Her teeth pressed together, and when things were quiet again, Anthony's arm dropped back down onto his lap and he slumped back into the couch. He glanced over at Mako with tired eyes, "I talked to the ambassador outside, before they left. I've got a meeting with them tomorrow."

"A meeting?" Mako repeated, sitting up some and furrowing her brow bones. Her pupils turned to an exclamation point and a question mark.

"I'll... Hear them out, if it's for you. What's important to you is important to me too." Anthony looked away, his eyes glossed over to the muted television. Ebott City news, apparently there were some anti-monster humans protesting on the main highway leading into the city. Anthony shut his eyes and took a deep breath. "I can't promise you anything, but... I'm going to try my hardest to go into things with an open mind."

Mako stared at Anthony in silence for a moment, mouth a little open but no words making their way out. Then, her teeth pressed together again, and she smiled with some relief. Her gentle voice was comforting. "Thank you, Anthony. It... Really means a lot to hear you say that."

Anthony glanced back at Mako, and he managed a weak smile and a nod. Then, he looked back to the TV. Stayed sunk into the couch, didn't move and didn't make a sound... This put the frown back on Mako's face, and she tilted her head some. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make things about me. Are you okay..?"

"... Better now, than I was. But... Still, no." Anthony shut his eyes and shook his head after he gave his honest answer. His lips parted, the words caught in his throat for a few long moments... "I, killed again today, Mako. At least a hundred more, dead. I'm sorry."

Things were quiet again. The soundless void was suffocating, but Anthony didn't need to breath. Mako was looking him up and down, her eyes drifted to his hands and his hair and his clothes. There wasn't a drop of blood on him, she knew that was unusual. Typically when The Anarchist killed, it was messy. And, a hundred? He kept count? She felt a knot twisting under her rib cage, it made her jaw tighten and her hands grip the knees of her pajama pants tight. Her eye sockets were wide, pupils trembling within. Her jaw moved, and it took a moment for words to follow. "W-... But... What, happened..?"

"... Aliza's dead. And there's some, pink thing wearing her skin." Anthony's hands gripped one another tightly, he slouched forward again. He could feel Mako's horrified gaze on his skin, it reminded him of Errorphim's burning lights. He swallowed, shook his head slowly, and continued. "We, thought we'd found where she was. CORE!Alphys was able to see her for a second, I guess. Lexi showed up and told me, we went there, and..."

And he slaughtered them. Mako connected the dots in her head, though it made her sockets wince. Her thoughts drifted back to earlier this afternoon, the argument he'd had with the ambassador. Anthony looked so angry... The way he'd lifted his hand, ready to snap his fingers. "I can make all eight billion of your problems vanish right now. I've done it before." Was it really that easy for him? Snap his fingers, flick his wrist, and fill entire graveyards? There wasn't a drop of blood on him, he didn't have a hair out of place, there wasn't any dirt on his clothes or a single tear in the fabric... Could someone this dangerous be an activist, and not an atom bomb..?

"... They were worshipping me, Mako. Praying to Anthony The Killer. Putting my symbol on flags, singin' a fuckin' song..." Anthony lowered his head, he put one hand over his face and rubbed his temples with his thumb and middle finger. He could feel his blood starting to heat up, he knew if he talked about the details much longer something in him would want to lash out and break something again. So, he took a deep breath, exhaled, and then gave Mako the simplified version. "... They, lured us there, and they showed me something horrible. And I was stupid enough to give them the reaction they wanted."

Things were quiet after that, Anthony could still feel the silent void strangling him and he could still feel Mako's stare burning him. The shame in him grew, chewed on his organs and tried to burst out of his chest. He didn't look at Mako, knew he couldn't bear it to see disappointment in her eyes. But, she didn't speak, and he couldn't bear the quiet, so Anthony had to dig up some words he would have preferred to keep to himself.

"I'm sorry. I, wanted to believe..." Anthony paused. He shut his eyes, and had to grab his face again to remind himself who he was. "I want to believe that I want this. That this life out here is the real me, that who I am with you is who I really am. But..."

Anthony had to stop again, he felt his throat tightening. He felt the weight of his soul, forever dragging him down. Forever keeping him chained to the ground. He leaned forward, ran both hands up through his hair and then curled his arms over his head like he was trying to hold his skull together. Whispering the next words felt like passing a kidney stone. "... I'm so fucking scared of who I am when you aren't there..."

Things were still quiet. For a few very long seconds, Anthony felt so small. With his eyes closed and his arms over his head, he could have swore he was in the basement. But, then he felt Mako's arms wrap around him. She stood in front of him, and carefully slipped her arms under his. She took careful hold of his head and all the horrible thoughts that raged inside, and she hugged it to her chest. Near immediately, Anthony felt the void in his soul weaken. That never ending black hole pull lightened up, and he was able to relax in Mako's arms. He exhaled shakily, and allowed his heavy head to rest in Mako's hands.

"... Anthony, I need you here." Finally, Mako spoke. Her voice was gentle, Anthony felt her digits running carefully through his hair and smoothing it down the back of his head. "I love your friends, and I know you're important, and I know you feel like you have a lot of responsibilities to the great big huge world outside of this one. But you can't help out there when you're like this. You need more time, you have to heal before you can be their hero."

"... I know..." Anthony admitted quietly. His scarlet eyes opened just a little, he stared off at the wall as Mako held the side of his head to her chest. He could hear it, the magic vibration of her HOPEFUL soul beneath her sternum. The crackle of her ember.

"... I, think you should step back from this Aliza thing. If this, cult, really is trying to get reactions out of you, then the smartest thing you can do is remove yourself from the equation." It took effort for Mako to get those words out, Anthony figured she must've known he wouldn't like hearing them. And, he didn't, but he also couldn't think up a counter argument. "I know that you're the strongest, and I know that makes you feel like you're responsible for everyone's safety now. But your friends can handle this. And..."

... And I'm the only real threat. Anthony's eyes winced some, his frown cracked a little deeper into his face. With his head turned, he could see the glass of the window. And with Darkness outside, he could see the reflection of his bright red eyes in that glass. Beyond that, nothing but black. Mako's hands took careful hold of his face, she pulled his head back away from her chest and turned his eyes up towards her loving smile.

"This can still be somewhere quiet for you." Mako assured, her smile never faltering. Anthony was relieved to still see love in her eyes, he knew he would not have been half as forgiving. He reached up, settled one of his scarred up, big knuckled hands over one of the small, pure skeleton hands holding his face. "So, just... Try to focus on this little world, okay? With me. Can you do that, Anthony..?"

"I..." Anthony eyes drifted down, he took another deep breath. Could he do that? It felt like it'd been forever since he saw something smaller than the entire multiverse. Anthony shut his eyes, and he once more remembered this past evening. On his word, one hundred people dropped dead. With his eyes closed, he could see it. The infinite void, the cold and dark world that he was made to create... And that he could only avoid, by playing farmer. Anthony opened his eyes, and he managed a weak smile.

"I... I'll try, Mako. I'll try as hard as I can."

---

I could hear birds chirping outside, sunlight was starting to pour down into the Ruins. Finally, mercifully, I set the FEAR File back on the coffee table in front of me. It was face down now, I'd read it front to back. And now, I sat in my peaceful home in my happy timeline a year into my retirement completely and totally uneasy. I shut my swollen, sleep deprived eyes and smeared my hand up my face and through my hair. Then, after my hand dropped back into my lap, my eyes glossed over to my phone sitting on the table beside the FEAR File.

I pushed a button on the side of my phone and the screen lit up. I was confronted by my lockscreen, a picture I'd taken of Chara just as they turned their head and saw me pointing the camera at them. The stupid, surprised-about-to-turn-angry look on their face had made me howl with laughter at the time, and you'd better believe they were mad as hell when I made that picture my lock screen. As fun as that was to think about, I sighed, shook my head, and swiped my thumb to unlock the phone. I scrolled once or twice, clicked a few times... And then held the phone up to my ear.

*Ring...

*Ring...

*Ri-

"Hey, how's the sky looking?" Xander's familiar voice answered, making my eyes squint. A strange question to answer the phone with, but I knew what it meant. It'd been years, but that was old FC4 code we'd use when talking on potentially insecure lines. Knowing what I knew now, I kinda wished me n' Xander had used it for our earlier phone call.

"Cloudy as ever." I answered without hesitation, eyes glossing over to the sunlight trickling in through the window from the clear sky above. "Was just callin' to see if you're free this weekend."

"No actually - I've got a date." Xander stated with a joking smugness that I knew was totally fake.

"Oh, that right?" I asked like I was interested and impressed, but my facial expression reflected a deathly seriousness. It was Thursday morning now, Saturday was just two days away. My eyes glossed out the window; I knew it was irrational, but I suddenly felt worried that someone might be peering in through the glass. I continued in my friendly tone, "Well, hey, you should stop by tomorrow. You haven't been on a date in awhile, I could give ya some pointers."

"Oh, so you're the date expert all of a sudden?" Xander gave a laugh, it sounded pretty convincing. I was impressed. "I think I know what I'm doing."

"I'm tellin' ya, your awkward ass is screwed without my help." I teased, eyes glossing over to the FEAR File on the table. My eyes narrowed, a frown sunk deeper into my face and my free hand gripped the arm of the chair I was sat in even tighter. "C'mon, it's no trouble. Just pop in for a few minutes, you won't regret it."

"Alright, alright. Since you're gonna twist my arm. I'll pop in tomorrow on my break."

A slight smirk crossed my lips; me n' him still had it. Who woulda thought we'd be putting these old tricks to use in this new world. I relaxed into my chair, tilted my head back and stared up at the ceiling. "Sounds good, I'll see ya then."

"See you then."

*Click...

I took a deep breath as my hand dropped away from the side of my head. Reaching up, I rubbed my tired eyes with my index finger and thumb. Staying up all night wasn't half as easy as it used to be, but the reading material sitting on the table in front of me made it a bit easier. I allowed myself a moment to shut my eyes; I had to stay up another hour before I could make the phone call to Eden and Lexi. After reading the file, I knew I had to go with Xander's lie. Future gave me the thing, that's what I'd say if they asked me where I got it. Called me over early in the morning and asked me to deliver it. Hopefully nobody'd ask any questions.

The Bête Noire. Originated from "Glitchtale" timelines. Usually confined and destroyed within their own glitched and broken timelines, one managed to slip out into the multiverse about fifteen years ago. CORE!Frisk had the problem dealt with by another strange anomaly; details on him were blacked out in the file, but I had a theory or two. The details were vague between blacked out sentences, but the writing made the assumption that this FEAR "soul" problem was handled permanently. The "Bête Noire" spell was wiped from the multiverse and all of the beasts resulting from that horrific spell were executed by that mystery man. Glitchtale timelines were quarantined, that section of the multiverse was walled off and left to die out...

So how is this happening, then? I asked myself, sitting up some. I leaned forward, grabbed that file, and remained leaned over it. Elbows resting on my knees, I squinted my disgusted KIND eyes at the emblem of FEAR on the file's front. I'd read the stupid thing front to back and back to front, had to. It was too confusing to understand after just one run through, took a few rereads to really have a grip on what we were dealing with. Ancient, forbidden magic. Soul eating abominations made as an affront to peace. Necromancy, mind reading, face stealing, body snatching...

"Could have swore I told you not to keep me waiting." Chara's voice accompanied by their hands setting suddenly on my shoulders made me jolt, and I heard their sleepy voice snerk at my reaction. For just a split second, paranoia sparked in my sleep deprived brain. A whole night of reading about a soul sucking trickster demon that likes to wear the faces of your loved ones will do that, I reckon. But, Chara didn't spend any more time in the multiverse than I did, and outside of Anny they might've been the toughest person around. So, I reasoned in a split second that there was no way in hell that someone would be able to pull that switcheroo. Anyway, they wrapped their arms around my shoulders and rested their cheek against my own, closing their tired eyes while they grumbled. "When I woke up and you still weren't next to me, I got worried. Thought I was gonna have to go to Future's timeline and kick Xander's ass."

"Heh... Sorry, Char-Bear. Didn't mean to make you worry." I smiled a little, letting my head lean on Chara's. I shut my eyes with them for a moment... Before peaking my eyes open and glancing up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Y'know, you and Xander have never had a one v one before. I'm pretty sure with your speed you would hard counter his glass cannon bullshit."

"I hard counter everybody, I'm the toughest in the multiverse..." Chara mumbled sleepily, leaning their body more into my back and the back of my chair. I snerked, glancing over to them from the corner of my eye.

"Your ass is not clutching the Anthony one v one." I reminded Chara just to see if I could annoy them, but they didn't groan or grumble.

"I dunno, me and him fought on Mount Ebott before you showed up and I'm pretty sure I won that fight." Chara stated casually, and I immediately burst into laughter.

"Oh is that how you remember that fight going?" I asked through my snickering, cocking a brow over at Chara while they stared thoughtfully at the ceiling.

"Yeah I don't really remember any of the details on account of him hitting me in the head one hundred times but I'm pretty sure I no diffed Anarchy." Chara stated with a nod, as though they were certain in their hypothesis. This made me turn my head away from them, leaning my forehead into my palm while I laughed at their stupid joke. This put a smile on Chara's face, and they watched me laugh for a few pleasant seconds. Then, their eyes drifted down to the table, where I had once more set the FEAR File. They cocked a brow down at it, tilting their head and blinking their sleepy eyes. "What's that?"

"Oh! Uh, that?" I blinked my wide eyes, my laughter coming to a pretty immediate stop. I forced a smile and waved a dismissive hand, "It's uh, the thing Xander gave me."

"Okay? But what is it?" Chara's puzzled expression persevered. Their brows drew closer together, they squinted at me suspiciously. I felt like a bug wriggling in their palm, it was funny.

"Well, it's..." I winced, pursed my lips, and tried real hard to come up with something convincing. My eyes scanned the ceiling for a few long moments, and Chara's expression went from puzzled to incredulous and impatient. Finally I sighed and let my hand drop back down onto my lap. Turning my head back towards them, I shrugged and shook my head in defeat. "... Why am I trying to lie to you? I can't and it wouldn't even work if I could."

"Yeah I know - it's all part of my ingenious plan to manipulated your puny brain into loving me too much to lie to me." Chara poked their index finger against my brow while they explained their villainous plan, and I smirked while I rolled my eyes at them. They hopped effortlessly over the back of the chair and landed sitting beside me on its big cushion with their legs laying over my lap. With one arm around my shoulders, they used the other to snatch the FEAR File off the table and bring it in for closer examination. "Now what's going on with the scary homework?"

I hesitated, looked to the side while I set my hand on their back to assure that they stayed close. I sighed again, and when I looked back to Chara I looked more tired than they'd seen me in awhile. "... It's, details on who's fuckin' with Anny. And it really doesn't look good, Char-Bear."

Chara grimaced some, they clearly didn't like seeing such a dreary look on my face or hearing such a worried tone in my voice. They leaned against me while they carelessly popped open the FEAR File. Their eyes scanned over a few sentences before they shook their head. Must've wanted me to give 'em the CliffsNotes, so I went on. "It's, a lot, but... There's this old, forgotten spell. Judging by that file, CORE Frisk went through a lotta trouble to make sure it stayed old and forgotten."

"And I take it this File is here because that didn't work out?" Chara cocked a brow at me, and I nodded.

"The "Bête Noire". Translates to "Black Beast"." I made air quotes with my free hand, and Chara nodded along slowly. "It's necromancy - that is, it involves reviving the dead and changing them into the aforementioned "Black Beast". The Bête Noire is sentient and has a wide range of powers that center around sewing dissention; mind reading, shapeshifting, hallucinations... The creature's prime directive is to perpetuate hate and violence, they exist as an affront to peace."

"Peace. Like what the multiverse has now, I take it?" Chara frowned as they connected the dots, and I nodded solemnly.

"Exactly. The only known Bête Noire is from this section of glitched and generally broken timelines called "Glitchtale". Most've 'em all live and die in their own timeline. They usually end up poisoning themselves with this substance there, they call it "HATE"." I glanced to the side and shook my head, rolling my KIND cracked wrist in a "move along" motion to help the thoughts flow better. "There's not much detail on HATE in there, but from what I can gather it makes someone stronger but also degenerates them over time. Reminds me of when Monsters get too much DETERMINATION."

"Soo, they're usually so reckless that they end up dead in their own timelines." Chara concluded, and I nodded my head. They arched a brow and asked, "Was one smarter than usual, or did somebody figure out how to cast the spell again?"

"Currently? I'm not sure." I answered, shaking my head some. I went on, "The Bête Noire spell is horribly unnatural; it defies the cycle of life and death and literally inverts the way magic is supposed to work. The recoil from breaking the rules like that is guaranteed to destroy the caster's soul, thereby killing them. That's why there's only ever been one "Betty" at a time in any given timeline, the only person who knows how to cast the spell dies."

"Mmn..." Chara mumbled thoughtfully, glancing back down at the FEAR File and pursing their lips. A moment later they glanced back over to me, repeating a word back to me curiously. "Currently?"

"About fifteen years ago, there was a Betty a bit smarter than her counterparts. Somehow, she breached out into the multiverse. I guess she caused CORE Frisk so much trouble that they saw to firewalling in the entire Glitchtale sector of the multiverse." I explained, and Chara's expression softened up some. I wasn't sure if they necessarily missed CORE Frisk, but I was sure they felt some sadness on how their life had been ended. After all, Errorphim had used their soul - and six others - to make it happen. I shook my head and continued, "That's the only record of a Betty in the multiverse, but she's supposed to be dead. This high tier attack dog Frisk had killed them. Details on him are blacked out, but it sounds like he had our old job before we had it."

Chara took a moment to think. They stared at that file, once again their eyes scanned the words on those pages. After a brief silence, they glanced back over to me. "... And, Xander gave you this?"

"He's totally certain that a Bête Noire is connected to what happened with Aliza. Apparently, he's got a meeting with it or something that works with it. He didn't give me any details beyond saying "they want" him, as well as saying that this all goes a lot deeper than we thought..." I glanced to the side, squinting thoughtfully as I mulled over my late night meeting with Xander. I held my chin with my free hand, tugged at my bottom lip with my thumb. "He didn't wanna give me any more details than he had to; kept talking about how I'm retired..."

"Which you are." Chara reminded me, and I frowned as I glanced back over to them. They were giving me a knowing look, and after a moment I exhaled and relented. They were right, the multiverse wasn't my responsibility anymore. I gave it my wings, I didn't have to give it anything else. "If he didn't want to involve you, why'd he call you at 3am and why'd he give you the file?"

"... The Bête Noire can read minds. It happens via prolonged eye contact, which it typically achieves by getting its victim to stare with some haunting hallucination. If this thing really does want Xander, and wants to believe it has him tricked, then it can't know that he's seen this file. That means he can't be the one to deliver this thing to Eden and the rest of the group, because that just makes a dozen more people who's mind can be probed to blow his cover." I looked back over to Chara, letting my hand drop back down onto one of their legs, which still laid over mine. "That's why he called me. I'm retired, and most people think I'm dead. Nobody's gonna get the chance to read my mind and learn Xander's secret so long as I stay sittin' at home. And, people trust me more than Xander. Chances are, nobody's gonna ask any questions when I deliver this thing at the meeting I'm about to call."

"Okay... But, what is this "Bête" thing?" Chara asked after another moment of pondering. Perplexed, they shrugged and explained their confusion. "I get that it's like, some ancient abominable magic or whatever, but what does that mean? What does this thing do, what's it capable of?"

"From what I can gather, it exists as this mockery to natural life. A reanimated corpse that uses inverted magic, and it's entire makeup is unstable. If it's not in this, long hibernation state that it can enter, then it has to intermittently eat souls to survive. That's it's most straight forward threat; it typically uses a sort of spike to rip someone's soul right out of their chest." My eyes glossed down to the file in Chara's hands. I leaned my head on them while I scanned the words on the page. "It absorbs a soul and slowly drains the power out of it to sustain its body and power its inverted magic. The more power it uses, the faster the soul drains away. So, it tries to eat as many as it can whenever it can."

"You mean this thing holds multiple souls at once?" Chara pulled back some, concern becoming more plain on their face. I knew what they were getting at, so I hastily waved a dismissive hand.

"Yeah, but they don't get the same boost that mortals get. I don't know if it's its inverted magic or its unnatural body, but it can't merge with souls the way monsters do or mix them the way humans do." I shook my head, reaching out and flipping through a few of the pages in that file. After a second, I got to one with a diagram of a pink heart, and a dark blue one half crumbled underneath it. "All a Bête Noire can do with a soul is drain it's power. That's another reason it's unnatural; it doesn't interact with souls the way any other living thing does."

"Alright... And there's just the one, isn't there?" Chara asked only after taking a moment to sigh with relief. I knew more about the dangers here than they did, but I too was glad these things couldn't become Seven Souled Gods what with how good they were at stealing souls. "One guy was able to dumpster this thing last time, and all the strongest people in the multiverse are on our team now. What about this is so dangerous that Xander has to go undercover and you have to get involved?"

"Well, if this thing were just trying to kill us, I'd agree with you. But it's not targeting us. It's targeting Anthony." Shadows slipped down my face as I looked at Chara from underneath my eyebrows, they shifted anxiously. Of course they did, they were the only living person who'd actually fought Anthony The Killer. They had front row seats on the other side of Errorphim's skull, I reckoned they probably knew how dangerous he was better than anybody else. "My guess? It saw Anthony The Killer. It's smart enough to know that it can't get through us, but he can. That's why it took Aliza, that's why it's trying to undermine him from a distance. All it has to do is get the worst parts of Anny in charge for good, and it's goal of preventing peace will be forever achieved. Furthermore... I don't think there's just one this time."

That last bit got Chara to pause. Their brows furrowed, and they glanced down at my hand on their thigh. Their fingers laid over mine, I could see them chewing on that idea from the way their expression shifted. The dots were connecting; one dangerous trickster was easy enough to handle, but an unknown amount of face stealing undead creatures scampering around in a coordinated effort to overthrow all peace in the multiverse was a different story. We weren't dealing with Batman's Clayface, we were dealing with John Carpenter's The Thing. Finally Chara's scarlet eyes met mine, now squinted and on edge. "But it's a trade every time, right? The caster has to die to make a Bête Noire."

"The caster's soul has to shatter." I corrected, frown clear on my face as I shook my head. "Lethal to you or me, but not every person capable of magic has a soul."

Flowey came to mind first, I could tell by the way Chara winced. I didn't like that theory either, had to have enough fights with family over the last four years. But Flowey wasn't the only soulless dickhead the multiverse had to offer, far from it. I took a deep breath and started to offer more information, "There could also be a work around, there's not enough information here to be su-"

"So what do you intend to do?" Chara cut me off, the sudden intensity in their tone made my eyebrows raise and my head lean back. Their eyes squinted suspiciously, I could see a frown on their lips and I wasn't a fan of it. "If you just have to give this file to our friends, why'd you even read it?"

"Chara..." I knew what they were getting at, I could feel their fingers tracing over the cracks in the back of my hand. I had to swallow, and I shook my head. "I'm just, trying to stay informed on what's happening. And with how crazy Xander seemed, I had to know what has him so shaken up."

"So you're just delivering the file?" Chara squinted at me, they tilted their head and kept an eye on me. "Handing it off to our not retired friends and then you aren't involved anymore?"

"... I, also invited Xander to come over tomorrow." I grimaced. Had to look away from Chara, felt some guilt wriggle in my stomach. "If he's gonna be meeting A Bête Noire directly, it'll be able to read his mind if he looks it in the eye too long. I don't know if he has any precautions prepared, but I got this idea for this contact lens thing-"

"Fuck, Angel, you're inviting him to our home?!" Chara asked, incredulous. They looked real irritated for a second, but hastily shut their eyes and took a deep breath. They steadied themself, and when their eyes next opened they were more gentle. "Look, I know it's hard not being involved, and I know you want to help, but-"

"I don't just want to help, Chara. If I can help, then I have to." I stated more forcefully, even though I knew it wasn't what Chara wanted to hear. I lifted my hand up out of their grasp, held it between our gazes and showed them the cracks in my skin. They glowed green with KINDNESS. "... It's, who I am."

Chara was quiet for a long moment. Their eyes scanned those green cracks, they followed the channels that split my flesh and perpetually bled my KINDNESS. Once more, they reached up and took my hand in their own. Their fingers covered my green stigmata, and they took a deep breath before they spoke. "... I know. And, I love that about you. I just... I don't ever want to be afraid to lose you again. I don't ever want this life of ours to be at risk again."

"C'mon, Char-Bear. I'm not in any shape to be out on the fie-" I cracked a smile and started trying to reassure them, but they cut me off.

"It took back to back divine intervention for us to get here, Angel." Chara shut their eyes, they turned their face a little ways away from me. They reached over with their other hand, my eyes widened some as they set it on my face. I was in awe of them, in awe of their beauty. In awe of their love. Their scarlet eyes opened once more, and they stared into my eyes as they spoke. "Promise me you won't take that for granted. Promise me you'll stay with me. And if they ever do need us out in the danger again, promise me you'll never go in without me."

Now, I wasn't as dumb as I looked. It was beyond irresponsible to go off and make a promise half cocked. Last promise I made cost me my good arm, one of my knees, and all six of my wings. But, it was worth it. That much was obvious, feeling Chara here with me now. How could I take this for granted? And how could I do anything but stay with them? And if we ever were needed again, the two of us worked best as a team, didn't we? So, I set my own hand on their face. I smiled big, bigger that I ever could before I knew them. I saw relief in their shining eyes when I didn't hesitate to answer,

"I promise, Char-Bear."

---

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