What is Family for? [UNDERTALE] (COMPLETE)

[11] Birds of a Feather

WARNINGS FOR THIS CHAPTER:

- illness

- hospital mention

- death mention

- heckin ghosts

- an author that kind of ships semi romantic / moirail charisk and is heavily in denial

enjoy this chapter frends

-- x -- x -- x --

When Toriel enters the room the next morning, she notes that Chara and Frisk look awfully alike.

The thought comes and goes through Toriel's head in an instant, and she wants to hit herself for even acknowledging it.

But, they really do, in an awful way - with their face flushed red and muttering to themselves, sick and miserable and not deserving any of this pain. It's happening again. Is it her? Is she doing something wrong? Has she failed again as a mother?

Her hand brushes a bit of Frisk's bangs back, and now her hand is almost soaked with sweat. She's  expecting them to turn in the middle of their delirious state, grab her hand, and smile, speaking some gibberish they thought of in their final moments...

"Aren't you happy?"
"You're going to be free."

They don't, thankfully - besides, that was someone else - and continue muttering, hands occasionally reaching out, fingers trying to weakly grasp at whatever only exists in their mind.

"M...om? Mom?" Their eyes are cracked open a bit. Their voice is dry, cracked - unused for so many years. "They... they can't..." Tears well up in their eyes. "Help them."

She's up in an instant, smoothing Frisk's hair, and gently kissing their forehead. "I'm right here. You'll be fine soon." She hopes, dearly.

"You can't fix this. It's... I can't... I can't talk. They're so tired." They hic, chest shaking and hands reaching out wildly now, tugging at Toriel's ears and dress. "I'm sorry." 

Toriel finds herself crying before she knows it, and finds herself pulling her child into her arms. "This isn't your fault. You'd never cause this pain intentionally."

Their eyes widen, and they cry harder, gasping for breath inbetween their shaking sobs.

They look more like them than ever.

-- x -- x -- x -- x -- x --

The hospital room is empty, save for the patient inside.
They raise their hands anyway, their weak fingers arranging words.

Their heavy eyes are still directed at the edge of their hospital bed. Though there's no crinkles in the sheets or any other physical being in sight, but someone is there. They're laying in the exact position as Frisk, but they're twitchier - they always were. Their feet swing and tap the bed - and Frisk can almost feel it. They're real to them - they're real, and they can feel their pulses of energy and the expression on their face.  

They have a slightly bored expression, but they feel happy - and vaguely worried. 

"Maybe. I don't know if you're going to die or not." Chara sighs. 

Frisk is shocked a little more awake - they're not used to sharing a mind with Chara again, to be able to have them read their thoughts so simply.

"Hey, really. Don't go dying on me. I didn't waste my time reloading for nothing now, right?"

"I hope not." Frisk replies, eyes fluttering shut. They feel better, just having their eyes closed - they need the rest badly. But they're scared if they get any better, Chara will disappear again. Their influence is strongest when Frisk is most determined or closest to death. It's why they showed up again, right?

They don't feel determined.
They feel scared.
Which leaves one option.

"Am I going to die?" Frisk think-asks, breathing getting faster.

"You already asked that, silly. The answer: Maybe." They laugh. Frisk doesn't. 

"Alright, sorry. Not in good taste. My sense of humor is morbid, you know this."

Frisk feels a spike of anxiety, but only vaguely. They think they're starting to lose consciousness, but they're not sure.

"Hey, Frisk. Wake up. Frisk?" Chara tries to wake them up, and spikes of energy pulse in and out of Frisk's body - but they ultimately just feel more exhausted than before.

"I can't - if you're not determined, I can't help - Wake up, okay? Think of your family and friends. Imagine their faces when they see you walk out of this hospital good as new. Imagining it..."

"I'm not going to get better." Frisk mutters.

"You will. You're strong."

"I'm not strong. I'm just tired."

"Frisk. Someone's coming. Wake up."

They don't wake up - in fact, Chara find themselves in control of Frisk's body instead. Their presence is entirely gone. 

Chara almost forgot what it felt like to be scared.

They're sitting, shaking, waiting for Frisk to wake up - 
Instead, the door clicks open.

And as "Frisk" lays in the white bed, the pale room standing contrast against their bright red face and messy amber locks, muttering - delirious from a fever, no doubt...

Toriel notes that Chara and Frisk look awfully alike.

-- x -- x -- x

A/N:

This was super rushed and not rough drafted at all but H E Y.
I doubt you all expect much of me anymore, s o . . .

so if ur confused just say "hey Literally what just happened" an d i'll explain.

:^) enjoy u weebs