pretend this is an undertale journal (Inverted Fate AU drabble thing)

[darkened]

He raised his pitchfork, pointing the tines at his chest. His hands trembled. Tears trickled down his cheeks. However, just as he prepared to land the finishing blow, the human rushed forward, tugging on his cloak.

"You dummy!" The words words squeaked out of them. Their little hands balled up, and they tried to meet his eyes even as he looked away. "I just met you! I don't wanna say goodbye just yet..."

"But... if you do not take my soul, then you will have to take the queen's... and I cannot allow that."

The human huffed, pouting and folding their arms. Flowey said there was another way, but if that backfired, "Then I'll stay here in the Underground."

Asgore shook his head, clutching his trident even tighter than before. "No, young one. You mustn't resign yourself to this miserable-- "

"I wasn't done talking." They paused for a moment. "And what about all the other monsters?"

For a moment, silence filled the hallway, so the human continued. "It didn't matter where I went. Every monster I bumped into kept talking about how much they love you. They really like all the flowers you've planted, and they said you're always there with a great big smile, telling them stories and patting them on the heads... You're like their DAD, or maybe a cool uncle, but..."

They were going on a bit of a tangent, weren't they? "Without you, who's gonna watch out for everybody? And what about all the gardens?"

"Ah... well, I have been teaching some of the other--"

"But who's gonna keep teaching them? Or having those tea parties everyone talks about?" Though they tried to keep a steady voice, it was futile. Like Asgore, they started shaking. Sniffling, even. "Please... don't... don't make me take your soul."

Despite himself, Asgore finally met the child's gaze. His trident clanked to the floor, and he fell to his knees. "No... you're right. It was wrong of me to ask this of you." Deep, husky laughter bellowed from within. "Ha... I always was a coward. Rash. It was my impulsiveness that cost the life of a child like yourself, all for the sake of vengeance. By offering my soul, I thought I could atone... But what would it accomplish beyond bringing more pain to those around me?"

He pulled the child into a tight embrace, sighing softly. "Go on, human. I will be all right. For both our sakes, you must stay determined, and perhaps if you join forces with the queen, you will be able to change the fates of humans and monsters alike."