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When Undyne invited Sans to the Throne Room, he was not expecting the welcome he was given when he walked through the door. She immediately went to hold his hand, then fell to her knees, head bowed.
Sans is... confused to say the least. Undyne never shows any weakness if she can help it, not even to the closest of friends. 'but... Undyne's been through a lotta crap lately, in some ways more than any of us,' he thought, 'so what could it hurt to let her have the extra comfort..?' Though he's uncomfortable, he still finds himself unwilling to pull away just yet. Sans, and especially his brother, had both been so worried about her after Alphys... He shook his head of that particular train of thought. It wouldn't do to think of all that had been lost while in the present, Undyne was finally, finally letting someone in to help; and, Sans admitted with relief, willing to talk to him again.
As she knelt there in front of him, she began to shake and her armor rattled a little like a soda can. Increasingly concerned, Sans knelt down and put a hand on her shoulder, ready to ask what is wrong. Tears were streaming down her face, from both her good and bad eye, and her bangs were beginning to stick to her face. Despite himself, Sans reached out and tucked some of the hair behind on of her ear fins. Finally, she looked up and met his eye-lights. There's guilt there, seeping in with the sorrow, and for just a moment, it's as if he's watching his friend begging and pleading for forgiveness.
Concern heightened, he squeezes her shoulder (though he knows it won't be felt through the thick armor), wishing he could speak past the lump in his magic so he can tell her that he forgives her. There must have been something in his expression, because she winces and pulls away slightly. It's so subtle a thing, that if he hadn't been right there in front of her, he might have missed it but... It’s the guilt in her eyes that makes him pause.
His first thought is what he could do to help his friend... but it’s his second, quieter thought is that whispers she hasn't done it yet… Then an even quieter, smaller voice nestled in the back of his skull, the one that is pure, raw, animal instinct, sparks through his magic, and screams at him "danger! danger! danger!"
He ignores both voices, doesn't pull away. Instead, laying his right hand gently on top of her hand, the one still holding his left tightly, he asks, "what's th' matter Undyne? tail-k to me." She snort-laughs once then struggles to glare at him, as if she was trying not to let anything out. There's the Undyne he knows. His smile loosens up some.
Sans pats her hand, still trying to reassure her. He tells her what he and Papyrus have been doing to help fix things, and emphasizes that it will be alright... he doesn't promise this out loud, but he certainly has done so to himself in his own mind.
or maybe he didn't do that
he can't remember anymore
An emotion crosses her face, too fast even for him to interpret-
And suddenly he's being pinned by spears. The constructs had once been a bright and beautiful electric-blue... but they are tainted now the color of blood like the late king’s trident; and he is finding that he can't move much except to wiggle.
Undyne is still holding his hand. Reaching out, she holds his face, and looks him directly in the eyes.
"Sans... I have always admired you and your brother.” she admits quietly. His eyes widen at her sudden openness. Everything she's done and said has him reeling. “The two of you have been...... the best friends I could have asked for... ever. So, uh… hehe, thanks for that and stuff…” Eye closing, she chuckles awkwardly, apparently run out of heartfelt words to say. Then her expression grows pained again and more tears flow down her cheeks.
“... If there was any other way… ANY other way I could see... I’d have taken it. Please believe me." She looks up at him again, golden eye wide and pleading.
"Please believe me." Genuinely scared now, Sans struggled against the spears' hold. Nothing happens; he is stuck fast. His eye begins flashing .
"wh- Undyne, i-- you know that my bro and i will do whatever we can to help-- just--" his words are failing him, for the first time in forever, his mind is blanking on how he can talk his eay out of this. A sudden thought occurs to him and he stills.
"buddy... pal... did - did alphys tell you something? about me? before she..." She glances away, expression darkening with grief and remorse, confirming his theory.
Quietly, trying not to stammer, "wh-whatever she told you, just tell me what you want to know-- tell me and i can- " She cuts him off by leaning her forehead against his, eye closed again.
"....... I never..... I never wanted this to happen… NONE of it," she murmurs breathlessly, as if hoping for some miracle to appear, to change the horror that had been slowly developing around them, creeping in at the edges of of their reality. The cynical, more petty side of Sans wants to yell, to tell her that they all use that excuse, always trying to justify whatever poor decision was being planned. None of this he says out loud though; despite everything, he doesn't really want to hurt his friend.
All his thoughts stops when Undyne reaches out with her other hand, grabs his chin, and closes the distance between the two of them. For all her demeanor was sharp grins and rough attitude, her kiss was… gentle. Kind. It throws him for a loop and all he can do is accept the love that she is projecting through their combined magic.
She pulls away slowly, expression heartbreakingly sad. Then, with some difficulty, she smoothes it over so it is a blank mask of a face and Sans’ soul plummets. She steps away and raises a hand high above her head.
"... Goodbye."
In the end... Undyne doesn't have the courage to look back.