Chapter Text
Chara was born just a day before you turned fifteen. Looking back on it, you absolutely believe them to be an early birthday present. Not that their mother would agree with you. She was sixteen at the time, and you could still recall the utter hatred in her eyes when she revealed the pregnancy. The heart pendant, the gift you’d gotten them on your one year ‘dating celebration’ had been discarded. Chara wore it now. Now they were your best friend.
You’re twenty-one now, and the fear that had swallowed you up has vanished. At the time though, you had no idea how to be a father. Your examples hadn’t been exactly inspiring.
Your father – he was always father to you, never dad – had discovered the situation during the third-trimester. Too late to try and pay for an abortion, according to him. So instead, he paid for their silence and the child. They were happy to take that money. She was ecstatic to never see you again.
Your father took over Chara’s life instantly. You let him. He provided everything they could possibly need. Food, clothing, advice, all of it you watched. You didn’t intervene. After all, it was better for them to have this.
He insisted Chara call him ‘Dad.’ The urge to shout rose the second he did so, but the moment Chara’s eyes met yours, you lost your nerves. They were so innocent, so curious. Everything you could have wished for in a child. You couldn’t tear that away from them. So instead of the cursing and shouting filling your head, all that came out of your mouth was, “Hey bucko! I’m your big brother.”
“Big bro!” They sputtered happily, rosy cheeks brightening as they squealed in delight. You heart clenched, but you kept a strained smile on your face. Your father nodded approvingly.
High school was madness afterwards. No one was allowed over to the house anymore. It hadn’t been a common occurrence in the first place, but appearances were to be kept up and a newborn crawling around the house would only raise questions.
You had the grades to get away, barely. You could have. Instead, you began taking classes part-time so you could work. Your father was seething when he found out. He’d planned for you to go to a ‘moderately prestigious university.’ You argued Chara’s education would cost a lot, and that saving money for them was the better long-term plan. Your father seemed shocked for a moment, before he calmly responded, “Why, that’s actually practical. I suppose believing you’d ever amount to something was too much to imagine anyway.”
Chara would be happy. That was all you wanted.
You worked for a lot of things during the next few years. Your number one goal, however, was that Chara would never suffer. So anytime ‘Big Bro’ caught wind of Chara misbehaving, ‘Big Bro’ would suddenly do something stupid. You bought a ratty old Civic – green pea soup colored, your father’s most absolute, without a shadow of a doubt, hated color – the first time. You got a massive tattoo down your right arm. You dated anyone and everyone who would piss off your father the most.
It worked. The worst Chara would get was a light scolding before kindly being asked to go to bed for a nap. You didn’t care what happened to you. And afterward, you’d always go to Chara and shower them with some hugs and snuggles until they fell asleep. They deserved every bit of kindness in the world.
Your perfect plan had shattered, one stormy night. Work had let out earlier than usual and you’d arrived home before dark. Nobody was there to greet you at the door. A sick feeling rose in your stomach as you quickly shut the door and walked down the hallway.
“What on earth gave you the idea that any of this would be okay? Hmm?” A sharp, cold voice filled the air, and the greeting you’d begun to utter died on your lips. “Answer me, you little brat!” You stumbled into the kitchen to see your father gripping Chara by the collar, their legs dangling in the air. He was glaring at them. You knew they’d been shaken. Roughly.. You’d prayed they’d never be faced with that.
Chara was about to cry. You could not let them cry in front of your father. Anything, you needed to do something. But you couldn’t think. It was all for naught. All of it, every sacrifice had been in vain. They’d never be safe again.
“Good, you’re here. You discipline them.” Your father’s voice cut through your panicked mind. He dropped Chara, muttering under his breath as he left the room. You heard his bedroom door slam shut, and then the slight tinkling of glass.
Chara stared up at you, lips quivering from the floor. “B-bro.” Their voice cracked. One hand gripped their heart charm. The only red marks on them were their rosy red cheeks.
You dove down at them, all your fear finally taking hold. “What did he say about crying?” You growled.
A steady whine escaped their mouth as they stared in horror at you. You clamped a hand over it.
“You cannot go against him, Chara. Never! What he says, goes. Understand?” They needed to. Nothing else would happen if they just did as told. You – you could do something else, spit in his face. Chara wouldn’t have to hurt. “Understand?” You shouted. They were definitely crying now as your fingers tightened on their shoulders.
Chara had always done what they wanted. You needed them to never do it again. You were only saving them from themselves. They couldn’t become like you.
That…the hell was that? Déjà vu? Even now, the images faded from your mind.
Chara still lay on the floor, staring up at you. “B-big bro?” They said again, tears trailing down their face. There was so much fear in their eyes. They were looking to you for something, anything…
What kindness would it be to leave them to that bastard?
You dashed over, holding them tight. Chara whined into your chest, fingers clutching at your coat. How could you have thought this would work? You knew, you knew your father would catch them eventually for some ‘mistake.’ The moment you’d bought the car, turned eighteen, you should have driven away. But you’d thought having a stable figure in their life would be better for Chara. You’d imagined the bastard actually loving this child of yours. It’d have been better than barely making ends meet.
Now though? You knew better.
“I-I’m sorry,” Chara muffled cry came out, their voice wavering. “I-I musta done something bad, and-”
“Never say that,” you told them, voice just above a growl. “He’s wrong. That monster has always been wrong. You deserve so much more.”
You heard the tinkle of glass again. This was it. He’d be too drunk to leave the room now. You needed to leave now, before your anger and nerves left you.
“Go grab your sweater and put on your shoes, ‘kay bucko? Fast now,” you told them, ruffling their hair.
Releasing you, Chara looked up. They were still sniffling. “W-where are we going? Won’t we get in trouble?”
“Don’t you worry your head over ‘trouble’, ‘kay squirt?” If you had your way, they’d only face trouble with you. But where to go? Where could you hide that your father didn’t know about? You said the first thing that came to mind. “Mt. Ebott.”
You awaken to the echoes of what might be laughter ringing in your ears. Your eyes slowly blink open, revealing shafts of light filtering down from above. Something purple is around you. What happened? You’d both slept in the car overnight, glad to find no bruises on Chara, and then in the morning you’d hiked up the mountain. Chara had been running ahead, but you’d slipped trying to catch up and –
“Chara!” You gasp, jerking upright. You’re surrounded by purple flowers, but there’s no sign of your child anywhere. You cringe in pain as your head throbs, but you need to move. Twisting around, you scramble to your feet, and there, a short distance away, you catch sight of that familiar green and yellow sweater. Chara has their back to you, hunched over a patch of bare grass outside the bed of flowers. There’s some kind of red glow on the other side of them.
You’re already moving toward them as the light fades, and as you approach you realize Chara is talking to someone. They’re tall – heck, taller than you – and… Geez, is that… Fur? He – it’s gotta be a he, you decide – has long, floppy ears, large horns, and a mane of golden fur. He’s…kind goat-like, you guess. As you approach them, the creature looks up to you, eyes widening.
“Well, golly!” he says, his voice low and warm. “Young one, you didn’t say there was someone else with you.”
Chara turns to you with a wide grin on their face, cheeks rosier than ever. You hadn’t seen them smile since before last night. “That’s my Big Bro,” they say. They sound so proud of you.
You know you could tell them now. Your father can’t stop you anymore. This goat man couldn’t stop you. But it doesn’t feel right. They’d be horrified you’d lied for their entire life. And they’d panic, something you were trying not to do right now. Plus, where the heck were you? So instead of saying anything, you smiled at them and step closer to Chara.
“Well then,” the goat-man says, smiling down at you. “I am Asgore, caretaker of these Ruins. Do not worry, I will take care of both of you.”
Asgore was kind enough to give his cell phone number before leaving to go shopping. Your own phone had connected to some sort of network down here in the Underground. You couldn’t reach anyone on the surface, though perhaps that was a good thing. No angry messages from unwanted assholes, after all, but you could reach Asgore. Chara had snatched you phone immediately after you realized that.
They were also incredible antsy, refusing to wait for Asgore’s return. Admittedly, you didn’t exactly feel comfortable waiting around this place either. Every rustle of a flower put you on edge, though Chara didn’t notice. They had run off in a flash, solving puzzles and sniffing flowers, giggling all the while. Occasionally you’d stop to question a monster about their whereabouts, and suddenly they’d be right there when you turned around.
You tried asking some of them about the place – ‘Are we going to be eaten?’ ‘Who cares for all these flowers?’ ‘Am I dreaming?’ – but many of them were simply amused by you. Monsters. How did monsters even exist? None of them could give a great answer.
By the time your question session is over with a very shy flying monster, you’ve lost sight of Chara. You quickly move on, ignoring the panic rising in your throat.
You have only yourself to blame for this, you know that, right?
“Less blaming, more helping please!” Chara says. A scoff rings in their head, but otherwise the voice remains silent.
Perhaps hopping on cracked floors wasn’t the smartest idea, but in their defense, it had solved puzzles before. Of course, the other holes hadn’t contained monsters.
A giant frog – A Froggit, geez – hops in front of them, its soft ribbits echoing in the hole. It seems to be waiting for them to do something. Well yeah, that’s how it works! Gosh, don’t you know how to fight? You’ve been doing it this entire time!
“No! I don’t! What do we do?” Chara says. It’s true, to them. Monsters are different from humans. No human can summon ‘Temmie Flakes’, after all.
Stab it! You have a knife, don’t you?
They glance down at the item in their hand. The blade is worn from years of use. Bro had given it to them on their birthday last year, saying it was great for gardening. They’d never really had the time to, but Chara had held onto it. Bro’s gifts were always helpful.
“No! I don’t want to hurt anyone.” They mutter, distinctly ignoring how the Froggit’s head is tilting at them in confusion.
Flirt!
‘… That isn’t weird. What do we do that isn’t weird.’ The distinct impression of someone sticking their tongue out appears in their mind. Chara sighs, clutching their pendant. “What would bro do?”
He’d always managed to get out of trouble with just a few words. Like that one time, when they’d driven to the planetarium. He didn’t have enough money for the parking garage...
“Sir, I’m sorry, but the price of parking is non-negotiable.”
“But ma’am! On such a hot day as this, there should be deals for spaces.”
“Sir, it is forty degrees out.”
“Oh, sorry. But you’re heating up my whole world right now.”
“Sir, please.”
They shake their head, sighing. “... That isn’t weird. What would bro do that isn’t weird.” A soft meowing from the froggit catches their attention. Looking at it in surprise, they could swear its cheeks are darkening. It’s embarrassed?
“Oh, you’re so cute.” They say, grinning down at the monster.
Its cheeks darken further, a small smile rising to its face. Averting its eyes, it quickly hops away, leaving Chara once more alone in the hole.
Told you.
Yes, all alone.
You catch up to Chara as they’re describing your car to a large carrot-like creature with a face. You can see the same red glow in front of them. Chara cheerily explains that something about the monsters draws it out of them, a glowing red heart that they say is their Soul.
You’re horrified, but rather than suffer from an existential crisis, you attempt to keep Chara away from the monsters. They easily wiggle out of your grasp and laugh at you as if you’re the child. The monsters do seem happier after Chara talks to them though, and Chara perks up too. You chuckle, letting the matter drop.
As you walk by yet another room filled to the brim with colorful flowers, Chara pulls your phone out of their pocket. Chara is giggling happily at your overblown sigh as it rings.
“Hello, Asgore speaking,” he says, as if he doesn’t know who has called. That number has been dialed at least five times at this point.
“It’s me, Chara!” they say, laughing. Asgore gives a warm chuckle in reply before Chara continues speaking. “Just wanted to let you know me and Bro are still okay…Dad.”
You feel like the floor just dropped out from under you. It shouldn’t hurt like that. Chara had never called you ‘father’, had no way of knowing. But that this stranger would be…? It hurts.
“What? Did you just call me…’Dad?’” Asgore asks, his voice quiet. “Golly! Would you be sad? If I said no?”
Chara freezes for a moment, pale hand twitching slightly. “Yes,” they mumble. Satisfaction rises in your chest. You feel disgusted seconds after.
“Well, we can’t have that! Call me whatever makes you happiest.”
Whatever makes you happiest. You wonder if the truth would make them happy…
No, it would be kinder to let them live this lie.