{Handplates chapter references: Hey what's going on in here, Let's call it a draw}

{A/N: This idea for the scene/chapter is pretty much what convinced me to write this Fanfiction so I am particularly excited about showing it to all of you.  I hope I am doing it justice}

--

You were standing behind the two skeleton brothers, watching them intently.

They had their hands placed on a console, 2-P's bigger hand covering 1-S's as they continued to hole Gaster with questions.
He was standing in front of a PC, typing and mumbling to himself.

"Alright, the darkness is clearing, I'm getting close. It's almost decipherable..."

"WHAT IS?"

"If I can keep it at this specific frequency, then it can be translated into proper images..."

"what frequency?"

Your eyes trailed across the room as you suddenly watched a small green crack appear in the middle of the air.

"Uh...", you blurted out and tried to gain the brothers' attention by trying to touch their shoulders.

"Guys, please...there-"
The crack grew bigger and something black started to seep through it, almost like a tendril.

"Don't distract me. Just stay focused on the dais."

"Guys!", you exclaimed again and 1-S's eyes flickered finally to you as he felt your touch more intensely.
He followed your gaze, immediately shocked at the sight: "what is that!?"

The black tar continued to pour down onto the floor, slowly taking on shape as it shifted with bubbling and spluttering noises.

Several bones stuck out of the creature's body and soon it manifested a giant skull that resembled a distorted version of Gaster's blaster, which seemed to cry even more of that black liquid.
The bones of the creature were shifting, forming also a big claw beneath the giant mass of sludge.

"ᴴᵐᵐ...ᵀʷᵒ ᵐᵒʳˢᵉˡˢ."

The creature opened its mouth, flashing its big teeth and suddenly it started to conjure a giant mass of magic, the surge of the energy ringing loudly through the room.

You and the skeleton brothers immediately recognized the attack, and you attempted to throw yourself in the way while 2-P went to shield 1-S from any kind of damage.

The sound of the magic being released was heard but the impact never came.

Eventually 2-P and 1-S glanced up, seeing Gaster standing right in front of them and almost next to you.
He had summoned a wall of bones that was both surrounding him and the two smaller skeletons in a protective way.

Gaster's eyes were narrowed, his gaze fully trained on the creature in front of him: "Stay behind me."

The creature lifted its head in peaked interest, mustering the much smaller skeleton with an intense gaze:

"ᴴⁿ, ⁱᶠ ⁱᵗ ⁱˢⁿ'ᵗ ᴰʳ. ᵂ.ᴰ. ᴳᵃˢᵗᵉʳ. ᴴᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘ ˡᵒᵒᵏ! ᵀʰᵉˢᵉ ˡⁱᵗᵗˡᵉ ᵒⁿᵉˢ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ᵇᵉ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᶜʰⁱˡᵈʳᵉⁿ."

"I have no children."

As always, you could not understand anything about the conversation, but you felt a shiver run down your spine as the creature's gaze seemed to shift to you for a moment.

Can it see you..? Impossible, you were only connected to the brothers through their souls.

"ᴴⁿⁿ, ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵛᵉʳʸ ᵖʳᵒᵗᵉᶜᵗⁱᵛᵉ ᵒᶠ ˢᵗʳᵃⁿᵍᵉʳˢ ᵗʰᵉⁿ."

Gaster turned his head a little to 1-S: "1-S go to the terminal and shut down the program."

"but..."

Gaster noticed his hesitation, forming a protective path of bones with a mere flick of his fingers to keep him shielded from any attacks while he would head to the terminal.

1-S was surprised by Gaster's consideration for a moment but pushed these feelings away for the time being, nodding: "okay, okay."

"ᴴᵐᵐ, ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵇᵉ ˡⁱⁿᵉᵃʳ ᵃᵗ ᵗʰⁱˢ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ...ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳᵉˢᵗⁱⁿᵍ. ᴰⁱᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ⁱⁿᵗᵉⁿᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵇʳⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵉ ʰᵉʳᵉ ⁿᵒʷ? ᴬ ˢʰᵃᵐᵉ ʷᵉ'ᵛᵉ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵈⁱˢᶜᵘˢˢᵉᵈ ⁱᵗ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ."

1-S sprinted to the terminal, standing in front of the monitor dumbfounded. Yes, he saw Gaster mess around with it and everything, but he never actually used it himself. He was more than lost.

The black tarry mass started to shift again, expanding further as it seemed to release a content but also strangled sounding hum:
"ᴴⁿ, ᵗʰⁱˢ ᵖˡᵃⁿᵉ ⁱˢ ⁿⁱᶜᵉˡʸ ᵖʰʸˢⁱᶜᵃˡ...ⁱᵗ ᵐᵃᵏᵉˢ ᵒⁿᵉ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗʳᵉᵗᶜʰ ᵃ ˡⁱᵗᵗˡᵉ. ᶜᵃᵘˢᵃˡⁱᵗʸ ʰᵃˢ ⁱᵗˢ ᵗʰʳᵉᵃᵈˢ ᵃʳᵒᵘⁿᵈ ʸᵒᵘ, ᵇᵘᵗ ⁿᵒʷ ᴵ ʷᵒⁿᵈᵉʳ, ᵈᵒᵉˢ ⁱᵗ ᵒᶠᶠᵉʳ ʸᵒᵘʳ ˢᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵃᵐᵉ ᵖʳᵒᵗᵉᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ?"

The creature's gaze landed back on 2-P and both Gaster and you attempted to shield him: "He's not my son."

"ᴴᵉ ʰᵃˢ ᵃ ᵖⁱᵉᶜᵉ ᵒᶠ ʸᵒᵘʳ ˢᵒᵘˡ, ᵃˢ ᵈᵒᵉˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ. ᴵˢⁿ'ᵗ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ˢᵉᵐᵃⁿᵗⁱᶜˢ ᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᵖᵒⁱⁿᵗ? ᴮᵘᵗ...ⁱᵗ'ˢ ˢᵗʳᵃⁿᵍᵉ. ᵀʰᵉʳᵉ ⁱˢ ᵃˡˢᵒ ˢᵒᵐᵉᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵉˡˢᵉ...ˢᵒᵐᵉᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵖᵒʷᵉʳᶠᵘˡ."

"WHAT DO YOU WANT? WHY DID YOU ATTACK US?"

"ᴵ ʷᵃˢ ᶜᵘʳⁱᵒᵘˢ ᵃˢ ᴵ'ᵐ ᶜᵘʳⁱᵒᵘˢ ⁿᵒʷ. ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ʰᵒʷ ᵉᵃˢʸ ⁱᵗ ʷⁱˡˡ ᵇᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵏⁱˡˡ ʸᵒᵘ."

The creature leaned closer; you swore you could almost feel its breath on your skin as it seemed to stare you down.

Was it looking at them or at you? You really couldn't tell for sure.

2-P continued to speak up, slightly peaking over Gaster's shoulder as he continued to hide behind him: "WHY?? WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO YOU!"

"ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ᵇᵉ ˢᵘʳᵖʳⁱˢᵉᵈ ʰᵒʷ ᵒᶠᵗᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᵈᵒᵉˢⁿ'ᵗ ᵐᵃᵗᵗᵉʳ."

"THAT'S NOT FAIR!"

"ʸᵉˢ, ᵗʰᵃᵗ'ˢ ᶜᵒʳʳᵉᶜᵗ.", the creature responded with a low growl watching intently as 2-P seemed to move more out of his cover when he got more riled up.

You tried to hold him back but as always; you had no physical impact on him.

To your surprise, Gaster moved, using his arm to gently tug 2-P behind him again. Gaster straightened up his posture, trying to be the wall that separates the small skeleton and this monster.

2-P stared at Gaster with big eyes, watching how he trembled under the creature's gaze but continued to stand his ground.

For a moment, 2-P thought to himself that he wanted to be like that. Be so strong and cool like the skeleton that was right in front of him.

Is that the same monster who has been so bad to him and his brother before?
Did something change?
Does Gaster care about them?

2-P was simply awestruck by Gaster's presence and actions, his heart swelling. Gaster was so scared, he could see it, but he was so strong.

A hero, almost. A hero in a white lab coat. The way it sometimes swayed behind him when Gaster moved made it almost look like a cape.

It ignited another surge of bravery in 2-P's chest, and he decided he would stand his ground as well.

Not for himself, but to protect Gaster as well...and be strong for him as he was: "YOU...YOU LEAVE US ALONE!! WE'RE NOT SCARED OF YOU!!"

The creature perked up, snarling slightly. Its voice held a hint of amusement: "ᴵˢ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ˢᵒ? ᵂʰᵃᵗ ᵃ ˡⁱᵗᵗˡᵉ ʰᵉʳᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵃᵛᵉ, ᴳᵃˢᵗᵉʳ. ᴴᵉ ˡᵒᵒᵏˢ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ʸᵒᵘ, ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ. ᴮᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿᵃˡⁱᵗʸ, ʰᵒʷᵉᵛᵉʳ..."

The creature shifted its head to you again.

It stared right through you, these lifeless voids seemed to reflect your deepest fears. Your breath hitched in your throat at that proximity as you finally seemed to get your confirmation: It can see me...

"...ᴵ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ ⁱᵗ ⁱˢ ᵖᵉʳʰᵃᵖˢ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ˢᵒᵐᵉᵒⁿᵉ ᵉˡˢᵉ..."

Gaster's gaze wavered for a moment as the focus of the creature seemed to shift to...something else.

Suddenly, a smaller skull grew out of the black gooey main body, getting uncomfortably close to Gaster's face and staring down at 2-P: "ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵛᵉʳʸ ᵇʳᵃᵛᵉ, ˡⁱᵗᵗˡᵉ ᵒⁿᵉ, ᵇᵘᵗ ᵛᵉʳʸ ᶠᵒᵒˡⁱˢʰ. ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵖᵒᵒʳ ˢᵗᵒᶜᵏ."

The surge of magic was audible as Gaster had manifested his blaster, hitting the creature directly.

It was getting dangerously close and he would not risk being the one to receive the first blow if he wasn't attentive.

And...what this nightmarish being said to 2-P...it made Gaster angry.

This was his-
2-P and 1-S were the result of the mixing of your soul and giving a part of himself.

They are everything that they were...he saw it in 2-P everyday.
This bravery, this selflessness and the willingness to step up for others..

He wouldn't let this, this thing, insult you.
No, never.

And he won't let it insult 2-P or 1-S either. Gaster would have been okay if he was insulted but when it was about you or the other two, it was crossing a line.

The creature screeched, slithering and squirming on the floor, its long tendrils swaying around frantically.

"ʸᵒᵘ ʰⁱᵗ ʰᵃʳᵈ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᵗʰⁱˢ ᶠᵃʳ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ."

The tar mass started to reshape again, the skull's jaw opens wide and the claw reaching out for the two skeletons:

"ᴮᵘᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ʰᵃʳᵈ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ."

Meanwhile, 1-S was sweating, his eyes scanning the different buttons frantically.

The different noises and popups weren't exactly helping in this matter either: "um... uuuh... one of these buttons has to be it...umm.."

He was trying hard to focus, since his brother's life may be dependent on it. Another explosion tore through the room and 1-S flinched, hearing how the fighting continued on the other side of the panel.

"uh...s-t-o-p?", he typed, looking for the buttons one by one. Nothing.

"d-o-n-t..." No response.

"q-u-i-t..." 1-S's fingers trembled as he continued pushing buttons, slowly growing desperate.

"ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᶜᵉʳᵗᵃⁱⁿˡʸ ᵐᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰⁱˢ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳᵉˢᵗⁱⁿᵍ. ʸᵒᵘ ˢʰᵒᵘˡᵈ ᵇᵉ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉᵈ.", growled the creature.

2-P was frozen in shock, staring at it and Gaster went to grab his wrist, pulling him towards him.

"Don't just stand there, dodge it-"

A grunt escaped Gaster as he was hit by the tar mass. Immediately being swept off his feet and dragged to the nearest wall where he was pinned against.

"ᴬⁿᵈ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵈᵒⁱⁿᵍ ૧ᵘⁱᵗᵉ ʷᵉˡˡ. ᶜᵒⁿˢⁱᵈᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘʳ ˡⁱᵐⁱᵗᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿˢ."

The strange black liquid continued to claw its way up his body, slowly drowning him.

Gaster attempted to summon a bone, lifting his arm to prevent it from disappearing. A black tendril slowly swirled around the arm.

Snap

Gaster cried out in pain, jolting slightly as the creature snapped his arm in half with ease. The bone that Gaster had summoned dissolved, the attack was nullified.

"ᵂʰᵒᵒᵖˢ. ᴵ ᶠᵒʳᵍᵒᵗ ʰᵒʷ ᶠʳᵃᵍⁱˡᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵗʰⁱˢ. ᴾʰʸˢⁱᶜᵃˡ ᵇᵒᵈⁱᵉˢ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵇᵉ ˢᵒ ⁱⁿᶜᵒⁿᵛᵉⁿⁱᵉⁿᵗ."

A strong white beam tore through the creature, successfully making it drop its hold on Gaster. He fell onto his knees, holding his broken arm and wheezing. He was trembling from the pain.

2-P quickly rushed up to him, his own blaster trailing after him: "ARE YOU OKAY?"

"I-", there was no time for 2-P to say anything more as Gaster pushed him down with his good arm, getting back on his feet quickly.
The attack that was intended for 2-P hit him instead, sending him flying across the room and hitting the wall hard with a loud bang.

The bones that protected 1-S started to quiver and dissolve, indicating that 1-S had to hurry up with whatever he was doing.

You hurried to 1-S and he looked at you with a panicked expression: "Okay, this looks so much different compared to the older models that I worked with but the principles should be the same."

You started pointing at different things on the monitor "wait, you know how this works?"

You point at the monitor again with more urgency and 1-S eyes trailed back to the screen: "yeah, you're right, less talking. sorry."

You started guiding 1-S through the process and showed him the keys and everything one by one, your eyes occasionally flickering to Gaster and 2-P to check if they were safe.
"Come on, come on..."

"NO!", exclaimed 2-P as Gaster fell to the ground. The creature's skull moved dangerously close to Gaster, seeming like it was intending to pick him up or harm him.

"L-LEAVE US ALONE!", 2-P raised his hand, his voice trembling slightly from the fear.

"I-I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU!"

"ᶜʰⁱˡᵈ, ᴵ ᵃᵐ ᵈᵉᵃᵗʰˡᵉˢˢ. ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵒᵘˡᵈ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵏⁱˡˡ ᵐᵉ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ⁱᶠ ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗᵒ."

Gaster grunted as he weakly tried to push himself off the floor, his eyes trained on 2-P.
Once again, he saw you.

He saw the moment flash right through his mind. The War. The fire. The humans. And then you.
How you threw yourself into danger to protect him.

And how you got hurt by it in the process.

Not...

A new surge of strength coursed through Gaster's body as he got onto his feet.

The creature snarled, cornering 2-P: "ʸᵒᵘ, ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ʰᵃⁿᵈ..."

Not again...

Gaster pushed himself in front of 2-P, his steps were sluggish, his broken arm hanging down the side of his body as he lifted his other hand once again, to summon a couple of bones as a protective wall.

2-P couldn't help but glow for Gaster, a mix of orange and purple emitting from his eye sockets.

Gaster huffed and panted lightly. All of his magic felt depleted, he could feel every bone of his body and how much it hurt.

The creature looked at Gaster in surprise: "ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵘᵖ? ᶜˡᵉᵛᵉʳ, ᵘˢⁱⁿᵍ ᵈᵉˢᵗⁱⁿʸ ᵃˢ ᵃ ˢʰⁱᵉˡᵈ. ᵁⁿˡᵉˢˢ, ⁱᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʸᵉᵗ... ᴵᵗ'ˢ ᵃ ˢⁱⁿᶜᵉʳᵉ ᵍᵉˢᵗᵘʳᵉ? ᴬᵈᵒʳᵃᵇˡᵉ."

The creature swirled and slithered in front of them: "ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃ ˡᵒᵗ ᵒᶠ ˡᵒᵛᵉ ᶠᵒʳ "ˢᵗʳᵃⁿᵍᵉʳˢ", ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ. ᴬⁿᵈ ᶠᵒʳ ˢᵒᵐᵉᵒⁿᵉ ᵉˡˢᵉ ᵃˢ ʷᵉˡˡ, ⁱᵗ ˢᵉᵉᵐˢ... ᵀᵉˡˡ ᵐᵉ, ʷʰᵃᵗ ʷᵃˢ ʰᵉʳ ⁿᵃᵐᵉ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ...?"

Gaster felt as if his heart dropped as this thing suddenly mentioned you.

How did it know about you?
How was this possible?
His brain tried to come up with any kind of possible explanation, but he found none.
The pain in his body was suddenly overshadowed by the pain in his chest and he dared to ask the question.

"How-"

"ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷʰᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ ˡᵒᵒᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᶠᵒʳ. ᵁⁿᶠᵒʳᵗᵘⁿᵃᵗᵉˡʸ, ʸᵒᵘ ᵃʳᵉ ˢᵒ ᵇˡⁱⁿᵈᵉᵈ ᵇʸ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵒʷⁿ ˢᵉˡᶠⁱˢʰ ᵃᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿˢ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿ'ᵗ ˢᵉᵉ ʷʰᵃᵗ ⁱˢ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ ⁱⁿ ᶠʳᵒⁿᵗ ᵒᶠ ʸᵒᵘ."

1-S meanwhile scanned the keyboard, looking at the button that you were pointing at: "f1...okay."
His trembling and nervousness had slightly decreased since you gave him good enough instructions.

1-S was, without doubt, smart enough to handle this himself but with your help he did get the job done quicker.

The creature lifted its head, staring at 1-S and you: "ᴬʰ ᵗʰᵉ ʳⁱᶠᵗ ⁱˢ ᶜˡᵒˢⁱⁿᵍ... ᵀʰᵉ ˡⁱᵗᵗˡᵉ ᵒⁿᵉ ᵒᵛᵉʳ ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ'ˢ ᵃˡᵐᵒˢᵗ ᶠⁱᵍᵘʳᵉᵈ ⁱᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ. ᴮᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ, ʰᵉ ʰᵃᵈ ᵃ ᵍʳᵉᵃᵗ ᵗᵉᵃᶜʰᵉʳ."

The nightmarish being looked back down at Gaster: "ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ᴵ'ᵛᵉ ᵃˡʷᵃʸˢ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ᵃ ᶜʳʸᵖᵗⁱᶜ ʷᵃʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ... ᴵ ᵍᵘᵉˢˢ ⁿᵒʷ'ˢ ᵐʸ ᶜʰᵃⁿᶜᵉ."

"ᴰʳ. ᴳᵃˢᵗᵉʳ, ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ˢᵘᶜʰ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳᵉˢᵗ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘᵗᵘʳᵉ, ᵇᵘᵗ ⁱᵗ ʰᵃˢ ᵛᵉʳʸ ˡⁱᵗᵗˡᵉ ⁱⁿᵗᵉʳᵉˢᵗ ⁱⁿ ʸᵒᵘ. ᴱᵛᵉʳʸᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵛᵉ ʷᵒʳᵏᵉᵈ ᵒⁿ, ᵉᵛᵉʳʸᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵛᵉ ᶜʳᵉᵃᵗᵉᵈ...ⁿᵒⁿᵉ ᵒᶠ ⁱᵗ ⁿᵉᵉᵈˢ ʸᵒᵘ. ᴬⁿᵈ ⁿᵒⁿᵉ ᵒᶠ ⁱᵗ ʷⁱˡˡ ʳᵉᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᵍᵒⁿᵉ. ˢᵒ, ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ᵃˢᵏ ʸᵒᵘʳˢᵉˡᶠ...ʷᵃˢ ⁱᵗ ʷᵒʳᵗʰ ⁱᵗ?"

"ᴬⁿᵈ...ˢᵗᵒᵖ ˡᵒᵒᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᶠᵒʳ ʰᵉʳ."

"S̵̙͕̀̃ḣ̖̻͛̓ẹ̿͋̒̕ w̦̺̐̐͟ā̤̓̍͘s̠҉͍͊ͅ ṇ̤͛̒̍ẹ̿͋̒̕v͒̄ͭ̏̇ẹ̿͋̒̕r̴̨̦͕̝ ḿ̬̏ͤͅẹ̿͋̒̕ā̤̓̍͘ṇ̤͛̒̍t̲̂̓ͩ̑ t̲̂̓ͩ̑o̯̱̊͊͢ ẹ̿͋̒̕x̛̘̠̹͋ỉ͔͖̜͌s̠t̲̂̓ͩ̑ ỉ͔͖̜͌ṇ̤͛̒̍ t̲̂̓ͩ̑ḣ̖̻͛̓ẹ̿͋̒̕ f̵͖̜̉ͅỉ͔͖̜͌r̴̨̦͕̝s̠t̲̂̓ͩ̑ p̞̈͑̚͞l̙͖̑̾ͣā̤̓̍͘c͕͗ͤ̕̕ẹ̿͋̒̕..."

The rift that the creature came out of progressively grew smaller, the creature being absorbed into it: "ᴮᵉ ˢᵉᵉⁱⁿᵍ ʸᵒᵘ. ˢᵒᵒⁿ."

The room was empty. Quiet. Peaceful. But there was a storm raging in Gaster's head. He tried so hard to make sense of it all but...

What did this thing mean?
Should he really take anything it said seriously?
But then again, it knew about you...

2-P gazed up at Gaster, making sure he is standing steadily before turning to 1-S who rushed up to him for a hug. They both held each other for a moment before looking back at Gaster.

"ARE YOU OKAY?"

"who WAS that?"

Gaster just sighed and took a few weak steps forward, picking up his glasses: "I have no idea. I didn't think there was enough energy for something to get through...but from where exactly...? Or...when..?"

He looked down at his glasses, the lenses shattered entirely.

"...YOU SAVED US."

"both of us."

Gaster was silent for a moment before looking up at the two of them. His face dropped for a moment. There was something. A silhouette, a strangely shaped figure that seemed to glow faintly in [s/c] color behind them. He focused his eyes on it, his vision already blurred enough as it was, but he swore there was someone standing right behind the two brothers.

Your breath hitched as Gaster seemed to stare directly at you and tears sprung to your eyes. You could have easily passed this as him just randomly staring somewhere but you knew he was looking at you. You could feel it. A small smile came to your lips: "So you can see me after all. It just takes a little...heart."

Gaster blinked a few times, rubbing his eyes. As he looked back to where he thought this silhouette was, the spot was empty. He had a strange feeling in his chest, he knew there was something but...he didn't dare to think more of it. Gaster averted his eyes to finally talk to the brothers. How the hell was he supposed to explain his motivations to saving them?

"I... I've..." He sighed, trying to stable his voice as he held his broken arm and shifted uncomfortably onto his other foot: "...put too much work into this project to lose you both now."

"what do you think it meant? about you being gone and-"

Gaster started to walk; he could feel the pain in his bones flare up again as he started to move but he was just so exhausted:
"That's enough for today. You two are going back to your cell. Come on."

--
[A/N: Also made a little doodle of our guy while writing today]