Fictober 2024

Duality (Complex Joy)

Universe: Underswap

MC: Chara

Genre: Fluff (with hints of angst)

Warnings:
-OOC
-Barely edited
-Mention(s) of past death
-Mention(s) of past genocide
-Mention(s) of past violence

A/N:

This one got a bit delayed because I was a tad busy yesterday- hope you enjoy!
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"Are we happy?"

Frisk has their head tilted in front of them, the question ringing in Chara's ears as they stare at their family in front of them.

Hm.

It took them a while to truly think of them like this. After all, most monsters, especially the ones in front of them, did their very best to kill them. The rest... they really didn't care. Chara can count the number of monsters who tried to help them upon their first meeting on a single hand.

Don't get them wrong, it's not like they think monsters are inherently bad. In fact, they heavily doubt they would have tried to kill them if they didn't feel the need to. Chara can't blame them for that. They know they would've been a hell of a lot more ruthless if they were put in the same situation.

Humans are usually like that. They don't need reasons to hurt, so when you give them one... it's not hard to take it. Chara knows not everyone is like that, but it's hard to believe sometimes with the side of humanity they've encountered so far.

Chara doesn't really care for humankind. They don't care for monsterkind, either.

They stare at Sans and Alphys sparing nearby, a cool glass of lemonade beside them that Asgore brought them earlier. Papyrus is sitting inside taking a nap, Asgore humming cheerily in the kitchen as he makes chocolate muffins. Undyne was called in for a work emergency and had left half an hour earlier, apologetic beyond belief.

Yes, Chara doesn't really care for either kind. Chara doesn't have the capacity for that in their SOUL like Frisk has.

But... they're willing to move worlds for the very few individuals they care about.

It's what pushed them through so many timelines, so many attempts, trying to shape the best world for their loved ones after the reset after a genocide timeline, tired of it all, they just collapsed into Asgore's embrace and questioned their choices. They stayed in the ruins for a while after that, recovering mentally, before their determination urged them forward.

They tried mercy, even when they died to Alphys again and again and again.

Her fight is always a bitch and a half to deal with, even with all her experience. But... it's fun, Chara has to admit. The thrill and the adrenaline that comes from it is exhilarating. Chara admittedly may have stretched out the fight for the very same reason, and them being a battle junkie may have been what drove some of their genocide attempts.

Yeah, they feel a bit of guilt over Papyrus's eyebags from the nightmares he gets from those timelines. It's easy to ignore them when they bring up the frustration of the numerous deaths they experienced at his hands.

Despite being mostly one-sided on some parts, their history with their family is...  complicated. Indeed, it took them a while, but they adore them.

They grin. Well, even if they knew, they can't very well complain about Chara killing them considering how they tried to kill Chara in literally every timeline.

(Asgore's is more accidental, and they're sure he'd be devastated if he learns of those timelines, so Chara is going to take those timelines to their graves.

Chara may have a favourite.)

"Yeah. I think so."
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Next chap: Swapfell, Asgore