Chapter Text
Kris hadn’t forgotten their mission, their promise. They just didn’t have the speed nor strength to stop Susie in time.
At least Ralsei was intelligent enough to keep his distance, ready to cast support spells at a moment’s notice, but seeing Tenna cut down right in front of her had sent Susie into a frenzy. She swung her axe again and again at the Knight, roaring demands for an explanation, only for the Knight to silently and effortlessly parry and dodge everything that was thrown at it.
Kris tried frantically gesturing at the Knight to throw the fight, whenever the Knight threw a token attack their way—the SOUL dodging impressively for Kris each time—but Susie had clearly garnered the Knight’s interest. The more she pushed against the Knight, the more it responded to her challenge with ever-increasing enthusiasm. Still, even the Knight seemed caught off-guard when Susie’s axe managed to chip a shard off its crystalline sword.
Susie grinned wolfishly, showing all her teeth, in between heavy breaths. “Got ya, punk.”
Kris knew it was coming, but they were still shocked when the Knight decided it’d played around enough and knocked Susie out with one clean, heavy blow. Ralsei’s panicked cry was the backdrop to which Kris’ stomach—already knotted up from anticipation and fear—fell into the abyss. They wanted to throw up. They wanted to run. They wanted to scream. They wanted to slice the Knight in two. Their hands shook around the hilt of their sword.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go—nobody was supposed to get hurt, especially not—
Ralsei ran to Susie’s side, only for the Knight to similarly reduce him to a pile of fluff, his white fur almost indistinguishable from the snow beneath him. Salt in the wound. The fury that shot through Kris made them dizzy, but instead—with a little encouragement from the SOUL—they raised their trembling sword, only to falter as the Knight turned to face them.
At least Kris didn’t have to act the part; the sheer aura of darkness the Knight emanated was enough to paralyze them, leaving the SOUL to buzz with agitation in their chest. Kris couldn’t take their eyes off the Knight’s huge sword as it was raised, watching for the moment they would be struck down as punishment for their uselessness.
I didn’t forget, Kris pleaded, loudly, in their head. Promise, I promise—
They flinched when the Knight lowered its sword, but mercifully, the Knight only rested the blunt edge on their shoulder. It pushed, a silent command, and Kris allowed themself to be slowly forced down to one knee on the frozen earth. Their sword slipped from their grasp and clattered to the ground. It was humiliating, but even so, Kris couldn’t help but feel relief. They hadn’t screwed this up beyond all recognition. Not yet.
Satisfied with Kris’ submission, the Knight moved away to deal with Toriel. Kris gritted their teeth and willed themself not to interfere. This was necessary. All for the promise. That was the deal they’d made. They’d only have to endure her absence for a little—
But Susie—brilliant, brave, stupid Susie—had other ideas. Of course. Kris should’ve known, from the comments she’d made, the story she’d told of when Toriel had given her hope in a dark place. Susie would never let anyone harm a hair on Toriel’s head. The sight of her latching onto the Knight’s ankle, refusing to give up for even a second, was both exhilarating and frightening to witness.
Stop, Kris thought desperately. Susie, please, it’s not worth it; the Knight will—
Everything after that was a blur of excitement. Undyne, the Knight, Susie, the light world, the shelter. At least Susie had the rationale to retreat for now, angered as she was at her failure to intervene. Kris only wished they shared her same bright, burning passion; the rebellious spirit that drove her to fight tooth and claw against whatever unlucky hand destiny dealt her.
In the end, even though Kris should’ve been relieved things had worked out in their favor—if not entirely to plan—they felt like they’d failed, instead. They were caught in limbo. Waiting, toes on the edge, for the inevitable moment when the Knight’s sword would drop and cut off their head.
Kris’ head was already spinning from the day’s events: the Holiday mansion, the fountains in the church, and the titan, now, of all times. The moment they returned home to see Toriel dancing drunkenly with that skeleton from the grocery store, something inside them snapped.
I wish the Knight had taken you instead, Kris thought furiously at Toriel.
They didn’t verbalize it, at least. A small mercy. They only gritted their teeth and hung their head, refusing to meet Susie’s expressions of confusion and worry. How could they? When they thought such things? When they were helping to bring about the tragic ending Ralsei and Susie wanted to prevent? The secret video game in the TV world had been right on the money about Kris’ true nature.
That was why, later, in their bedroom, Kris couldn’t find the courage within them to follow Susie into the night, even as she lingered outside of the Dreemurr house. Kris could only press their hand against the glass of their window and yearn to be by her side. To be free, of the SOUL and the Knight and everything else. But they couldn’t. Because they were evil. A monster of monsters, who’d made a deal with the devil. They didn’t deserve Susie’s friendship, much less her kindness.
“Don’t forget, Kris,” the voice from their phone pleaded, fuzzy and weak, as if speaking through a bad connection. “You promised.”
Kris rested their forehead against the cold glass. I know, they thought, sullen. They wouldn’t forget. They couldn’t forget.
No matter how much they wanted to.