Chara kept her head down as she walked, seeming to not want to look at any monster in Waterfall. Papyrus noticed this immediately and tried calling out to her. "CHARA?" She didn't answer or turn to look at him but her face contorted into that of a scowl. "CHARA?" He tried again, resting a gloved hand on her shoulder. This only caused her to freeze for a moment before turning to him harshly. Her red eyes were glowing as she snarled at him, her hair seeming to float as red magic twirled around her.

"Leave me alone! Don't touch me!" Her voice was deeper than normal and Papyrus' eyes widened as surprise took hold of him. Chara stayed like that for a moment as she growled inhumane growls, her breathing ragged to accompany it. She looked as if she were a wild animal, having just finished her kill.

"Chara..." Papyrus whispered and her face softened. Her eyes lost the dangerous glow and the magic dissapated, the only sign of her emotional turmoil left behind being that of pants from her breathing she was still trying to control. "I'm sorry..." They stayed quiet for a moment before she turned ahead. "Let's go,"

"NO, YOU NEED TO REST," He grabbed at the back of her shirt to keep her from leaving him behind and she only gave him a side glance in return. She noticed he wasn't scared of her glare but actually looked her in the eye as she gave him the distasteful look.

"I'm fine," She said but didn't have a choice as Papyrus forced her head against him and shushed her.

"Stop fighting... You try so hard... It's okay to take a break..." Papyrus said, almost making Chara's eyes fill with tears at his words. She knew he was probably just saying lies but it was comforting.

"Asriel.." She said. This reminded her of when Asriel always comforted her and somehow always knew what she needed.

"We'll find him..." Papyrus said as he made her lay down on a sloppily made bench. He assumed it was made by one of the remaining monsters in the underground or maybe added there by Asgore. Either way, he let her lay there and she looked at him in confusion, despite how heavy her eyelids looked to him.

"Are you going to rest?"

"SKELETONS DON'T NEED SLEEP," He smiled brightly at her, his loud voice back again. She nodded as she let herself go to sleep.

---------------

Sans and Frisk were watching a movie, cuddling for what felt like years as he played with her hair. Sans suddenly heard his phone ring and reached for it on the bedside table as he looked at the I.D. "Heya, Papyrus,"

"Hello, brother," Papyrus whispered and Sans automatically assumed the worst.

"What's happening, bro?" Sans asked, concern dripping from his voice. Frisk was now listening in on the conversation, curious about the updates with Papyrus and Chara.

"Nothing to worry about. Do you know... Do you know if humans can break?" Papyrus asked Sans suddenly.

"Why do you ask?" Sans was curious now. Was something wrong with Chara? Did she get hurt? Sans couldn't help but worry about her. She was a brat and his worst nightmare, yes, but she was also something important to Frisk and, as much as he'd like to argue, she hasn't killed anyone yet. Which means she doesn't deserve to get hurt yet.

"Well... Chara had a problem just now. It started when we were walking through the spot where Frisk spared me and confessed their undying love. Of course, I'm very glad she settled for second best but that's not the point. The point is that Chara started freaking out. They couldn't stand being there anymore and I had to run them out of there," Sans stayed quiet for a moment. Chara... Sans closed his eyes. He really felt for her in that moment. I guess... She's guilty... "That's not all. After we were away, they kept quiet but as soon as I talked to them or touched them, she snapped at me. She apologized after but..."

"It sounds to me that she is trying her damndest not to kill you," Sans couldn't help but have respect for the evil princess. She really didn't want to hurt Papyrus. What he didn't know was that Chara felt it was harder and harder to not kill something! She was trying way too hard, which caused her to become exhausted much quicker.

"I hope they don't hurt themselves too badly..."

"I hope so too.."

"Goodbye, Sans. Chara is taking a nap now. I know they needed one,"

"Goodbye, Paps," Sans said as he hung up the phone.

-----------------

Papyrus put the phone in the backpack after he was done with the call and looked at Chara. She looked like her brain was on overdrive even as she was sleeping. It made Papyrus feel a bit sad knowing she didn't even get a break then. Papyrus busied himself with thinking new plans and waving at passing monsters before he heard a familiar voice call for him. "Psst," He looked over to see Flowey. "Don't wake them up,"

"Okay..?" Papyrus kept an eye on him as Chara slept. What does he want?

"Can you ask them something when they wake? Ask them why they wants to find me so bad... I'm nothing anymore. They can't save me,"

"That's not true. They ware saved without a soul. You can be too," Papyrus whispered, having half a mind to pull out the gardening equipment Chara had stowed away in the backpack.

"... I'll keep you to that," With that, he was gone, leaving Papyrus to think about what just happened.