Cage Of Bones

Chapter 17: Partners

Author's Note- Well THAT escalated quickly...

Trigger warning(s)- Uncensored language, possession, recounting of past trauma, blood, use of knives, street violence, threats made against another character, and violence against another character. Please tread lightly

(Updated Edits On 12/28/22)

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Grillbz didn't know what he'd expect when Sans finally began to tell the truth. He thought that everything he could ever hope to know would be recognized. That a weight would be lifted. That his soul could finally rest easily.

Instead he felt...sad.

As Sans' story filled the air, Grillbz instantly realized how different his view on the situation was to Frisk. Frisk always thought Sans to be a fellow player; someone there fighting alongside them and helping them feel less alone. In contrast, Sans thought himself to be a mere pawn. Tales of different Resets and encounters with Chara were looked back on with disdain...and Pacifist runs cut short with sadness.

It was as if Sans was a whole new person as he spoke of what he saw. As if he were a veteran from a great war. The blood on his hands was left forgotten as his voice grew emotionless. Tears began to dry the longer he spoke, the weight of the world laying heavy on his soul. Grillbz could almost feel the pain that bit at his friend each day as if it were his own.

Frisk made it clear that it was bad, but it was clear that they didn't know the HALF of it.

"...that demon's been haunting me for a few months now, and that night I stayed at your house...they made it clear that their host was me. I let my guard down and now I could become their puppet at any moment. I was supposed to keep you all safe and instead I made myself into a liability. I...I failed..." Sans muttered, looking down in dismay.

"Is THAT why you were down here?" Grillbz asked.

Sans nodded.

"I...was trying to think of a new solution. Since my original plan won't work now but just...everything. Chara...the Resets...the timelines...me being the host...that damn machine. I don't know, but thinking about all that...something in me just...snapped. I just didn't know what else to do! I mean, in the end it's not gonna matter anyway. If Frisk decided to Reset this would all start over from the beginning as if nothing happened. Chara would be back in the Underground and everyone would forget. This conversation we're having...lost to time...as if it never happened." he replied.

Grillbz looked on with a broken look.

"Sans..."

Sans sighed.

"I honestly don't know why I thought I could do this. I have no power, no plan, no real strength. All that's been keeping me going this long was luck. I should be DEAD right now. For a number of reasons. But I'm still here, and I still don't understand why. I didn't ask to be saved! I didn't ask to remember what happens! I didn't ask to be apart of all this! The worst part is even if I DO go ahead and forget...if the Resets happen...the memories will be replaced with new ones, and this cycle will start all over again! There's no escape! I'll always be the one in the timeline! The one who remembers. And I'm tired of it. So so tired of it. I'm tired of feeling like this all the time. It shouldn't be my responsibility, so why is it? Why is this my responsibility?! WHY DID I HAVE TO LET IT GET THIS FAR?!"

Sans breathed in sharply when his voice was raised, eyes widening at the scared look on Grillbz's face. He breathed out as he calmed down.

"I just...with everything that being involved in this bullshit has done to me...I just can't understand why I should care. Why I still DO care..."