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"let's just get to the point." Sans watches you from across the hall, contempt visible in his gaze. After a long moment of silence, he speaks again. "i know you know about the resets. i know you remember all those timelines. the ones where we were friends. the ones where we were family. hell, i remember the ones where we were... more."
He sighs, shrugging. "i don't know why i'm even bothering to mention it. it's not like you care, anyway."
You grit your teeth, fighting back the wave of sadness threatening to overflow. You didn't come this far by giving in, after all. Sans eyes you coolly, waiting for your reaction. Stepping forward, you hold his glare.
Sans laughs bitterly. "ready? here we go."
You take a deep, centering breath and lunge.
Remember what you've learned, you tell yourself. He's fast, but you are too. Now, if I recall correctly, he's going to-
You feel Sans' position shift and force yourself to focus, altering your attack. The moment passes too quick to fully process, but you catch Sans' eyes widening in surprise as he dodges.
"huh. that was closer than i'd expected. you know, i think i'll forget the script for now. i'm sure you've heard this a million times before."
You come to a stop, inches away from where he had been standing. There's a bit of fabric from his hoodie caught on the tip of your knife. Impossibly close. Sans glances down at the tear and raises an eyebrow-bone.
"i hate to insist, but i'm too interested in what's going on inside that violent head of yours. What are you thinking?" Sans asks, studying you. He seems ready to counter anything you say.
A memory flashes in your mind. The one that started it all, in a way.
"...W-why? I... never hurt you... or anyone else!" Your voice is pleading, ragged with sobs.
Your arms curl around your midsection, a magical bone embedded in your stomach. Blood seeps out of the wound, staining your shirt and Sans' blue hoodie. He watches you, eyes suddenly filled with tears. His cold, unfeeling expression has changed to one of indescribable grief and regret.
"i... damnit, kid. i'm so sorry. I know you didn't. not this time, anyway," he apologizes, cradling your broken body to his chest.
You stare at him with pained confusion. "...W-what? What do... you mean... 'this time'?"
Sans shakes his head, tears spilling out of his eyes and mixing with your blood. You start to panic even more, shaking with fear and agony. His eyes are so, so hurt.
What did I do?
As you wonder, a sudden vision appears in your mind. You see flashes of... other timelines? They fly by, too quick to fully understand, memories from long ago.
You eating spaghetti with Sans and Papyrus.
Sans walking with you through Snowdin Forest.
Vising Grillby's with Sans.
The memories come quicker and quicker, transitioning from scenes of friendship to...
You killing Toriel.
You killing Papyrus.
You killing Undyne.
You killing Mettaton.
Alphys killing herself.
You killing Sans. Over and over. Thousands upon thousands of forgotten timelines.
A choked sob escapes you as you curl in on yourself, overcome with physical and emotional pain. Tears slide down your cheeks as you shake so hard Sans starts to panic.
"hey, kid. what's going on?" he asks, worried. "please, you're scaring me."
You look up at him, withering with regret. "...I am so, so... so sorry. I... I didn't know... I didn't remember until now."
You stare at Sans with deep hurt writhing in your soul. "You killed me," you accuse. "That timeline, even though I hadn't hurt anyone. You killed me anyway. We were friends. We were family. We were lovers. You killed me anyway."
Sans stares at you in shock, seemingly remembering the timeline you're describing. A flicker of regret passes over him before disappearing.
"i... i was tired of watching everyone i loved die, kid. can you blame me?" he says, and the sadness is seeping into his voice, cracking his indifferent exterior.
You shake your head angrily, finally allowing all your pent-up emotions break free. "I had no choice! All those genocides before that one. I never chose that. They..." You point at the ceiling vaguely. "...They made me. I don't know how. They just... did." You scrub at the tears welling up in your eyes with your free hand. "If you were so tired of watching everyone you love die, then... why? Why did you kill me? I thought you loved me, too."
A single tear makes it way down Sans' cheek. He stares at you, helpless, pleading. "i did. of course i did. i still do, kid. please, let's talk about this."
You clench your hand around the knife handle. "Sans, you always talk like everything can be saved. It's too late for that now."
Sans frowns, frustrated. "oh, that's easy for you to say. someone who's had everything they've ever wanted! just because you can control the saves and loads and resets!"
A bitter, malicious laugh slips out of you. "I'm starting to think you want to get yourself killed."
Sans stares at you in shock. He glances at the knife in your hand, then back at you. "do it, then. i won't stop you... not this time."
You blink, startled. "I... What?"
He smiles sadly. "it's only fair. we've both done horrible things, but... i still love ya, kid."
That's when the barrier inside you breaks. Sad, fearful tears pour down your cheeks, and the knife falls from your grasp to the floor. You collapse to the ground, kicking the knife away, trembling from the force of your sobs. In seconds, Sans is by your side, teleporting to you. He pulls you in for a tight embrace.
"I... I love you too, Sans. I'm so sorry," you gasp.
He presses a soft kiss to your temple. "to get this thing to reset, i gotta let you kill me and move on."
You shake your head forcefully. "No, Sans, I won't do that again," you insist adamantly.
A bittersweet smile spreads across Sans' face. He kisses a tear off your face and hands you your knife.
"please, kid. the next timeline will be better. i won't forget this one, i promise."
You take the knife with shaking hands, apologies already falling from your lips. He waves them off, holding you tightly.
Sans looks into your eyes as you position your weapon over his soul. He opens his mouth to speak, and the words are so familiar that you almost start crying again.
"if we're really friends... if we're really soulmates..."
"you will come back."