Ace in a Hole (Undertale x Hazbin Hotel)

Chapter 21

Sans and Papyrus talked.

They spoke about a lot of things. About the almost foggy weather, about how Alastor had defended Sans. Circling, like hyenas around prey, until Papyrus finally broached the subject of Toriel.

It wasn't just Toriel, though. They both knew that. If it were just Toriel, Sans would have likely tossed her to the curb ages ago. He was a bit of a doormat when it came to his friends, but Sans did have a line he disallowed people from crossing. Naturally the line was obscured to no end, but it did exist, despite Alastor's disagreements with such a notion.

Toriel stepped over that line today. Well, he more so supposed she tumbled over that line, unintentionally diving into the sand after a poorly aimed decision. The only message Papyrus and the others had gotten was a quick note, 'trespassers, come back asap,' neglecting the usage of a knife or a hiccupping laugh that reminded Sans of too much, all at once. Toriel's roaring insult hadn't been born from a wicked witch's laugh who greedily wanted to cause harm; it had come from a friend who couldn't shut her damn mouth when she needed to.

Sans had come to do the same, in his own way. Where Toriel spat words, Sans bought slime. It was a mutual understanding of self-destruction. One they needed to quell in one another as friends. They were supposed to pick away at one another's, but Sans hadn't done a lot of that lately, and Toriel was suspiciously too good at it.

She ruined him with his chisel, and Sans ruined her by letting her rust. They weren't the best for one another when they became too... themselves.

Papyrus hunted for injuries, despite Sans' assurances of otherwise. He rolled up Sans' sleeves with baited permission and ran his thumb along the tender, scarred bones, holding his brother close. Sans let him, basking in the warmth of tender attention.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have invited her," Papyrus choked. "I didn't think she'd be so—so ignorant to ignore Lilac even when they were jet skiing close together; she could have..."

"It wasn't your fault. We all allowed her to come. It wasn't a matter of if she came or not; none of us really... objected. Minus Undyne." Sans said.

Undyne vocalized her opinions, much like Toriel. Honestly, in another world, Sans could see her being their kid. Undyne had that stubbornness like Toriel, but the nit and grit of rulership like Asgore. But unlike the two, who hid their cards up their sleeves due to judgement of others or themselves (stars, Asgore, he needed to stop hating himself), Undyne laid them all out with bellowing confidence. She'd make a good ruler if it ever came to that.

Not to mention, her nose for trouble. It seemed to miss Alastor, but the entire police force did. It couldn't; Alastor was actively killing people, so he couldn't fault Undyne for that. Undyne had sniffed out Toriel's behavior miles away, sending a concerned message to Sans that Sans had ignored. Surely, he had reasoned, Toriel wouldn't lash out. Surely.

Lilac, being all but capsized, according to Papyrus' quiet testimony, spoke otherwise.

"Whatever you want to do," Papyrus said, "I'll support you."

And wasn't that some power?

Toriel would return to nothing but a house and Frisk if Sans did decide to drop her. The rest of the group would fold like cards if Sans wasn't the sticky glue that held her with the others. They'd block her and move on, and that'd be that.

He wondered if that was good motivation or not. Sans wasn't sure of a lot of things anymore. He was just that kind of twisted up at the moment.

Really, Sans should have known his judgement was scrambled the moment kidnapping looked somewhat appealing.