Chapter Text
“Unbelievable. The same reservation year after year, and of course this time they can’t book us separate rooms.”
“Yes dear, but-”
“And this time, when I specifically ask for two queen beds, of course we get one king instead.”
“I’m sure the staff are doing the best they can, Tori-”
“Don’t ‘Tori’ me, Dreemurr. I know this is a scheme of yours.” Her eyes were daggers as she spoke. “‘How inconvenient! Oh well, it seems we may as well share a bed again’. Is that it? You’re pathetic.”
In truth the hotel was full. Woefully understaffed, it stood as the sole ‘Monster Friendly’ hotel in the area. Ancient software barely kept the place running, it being responsible for their room mishap. It was all to code, but it was a miracle anyone stayed. However, when you’re size Human XXXXL, and buy shampoo by the gallon, they tend to fare better than more conventional human hotels.
Asgore stood deflated next to the bed, twiddling his fingers as Toriel fumed and paced in the front of the complimentary television. She was already pointed from having to share the room with him, but now with the errant layout she was especially ornery. Thoughts of how to defuse the situation swirled in his head but he knew the second he opened his mouth it would get worse. He knew he would never be trusted to reserve their next stay at the very least.
“Tori, how about I go to the front desk and request extra sheets and pillows,” he said at last, “I will simply sleep on the floor until we can get a new room sorted for you. I’m sure one will open up in the morning.” The aghast look of the lobbyman when Toriel came up to the front desk popped into his head. He knew they would be eager to indulge her request in a new room as soon as possible. “You will just have to endure my snoring for a single night.” He said, trying a smile.
“Those are the least of my worries,” she snorted. “Well? Shoo, go on. Take your time coming back.”
Stung, he toddled down the hallway as she watched him off. She sighed, directing her addled mind towards the luggage. ‘For just a night,’ she thought, unrolling and folding clothes, ‘you wish you were so lucky, Asgore.’ Soon she had both her and his toiletries in their respective spots, and their dry cleaning hanging in the closest. Unfortunately, she still had his routine down even after all those years being away from him. He still packed everything the same way, they rolled and wrinkled identically. Blowing air out of her nose, she set the empty baggage aside.
When Asgore returned with the new bedding, Toriel was in the bathroom. He was in the midst of sorting out a sleeping space on the ground near the obligatory couch and chair when she opened the door. Her old night gown caught his eye, the same one she wore however long ago it was the last time he had seen it. His shoulders relaxed, and a smile washed over his face.
“Don’t act like you haven’t seen me in this before.” She snapped. Her reading glasses were balanced on her nose and her book was under her arm. “Now hurry up and finish with the commotion, I plan on reading.”
He was trying his best but the thin cotton didn’t add much cushion to the cheap carpeting, and the sheets weren’t quite the “King Sized” as advertised. At first Toriel was annoyed at the noise, curling her nose that she even had to deal with it. Soon, however, her heart softened even for him. She took a deep breath and closed her book for a moment.
“Asgore…” she said in a way that instantly stopped him from what he was doing, “Don’t worry about sleeping on the floor. You can have the other side of the bed.”
His jaw hit the floor as he stared in disbelief, sheets in both of his hands. “A-Are you sure?”
“Hurry,” she said, gritting her teeth a bit. “Before I change my mind. Get into something proper to sleep in, and don’t act like I’ll tolerate you sleeping in the same bed with me naked.”
“O-Of course, honey!” He almost couldn’t believe it. “Whatever you say.”
As quick as he could he slipped into the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, checked his beard, and put on his usual pajamas. When he returned to the room he noticed Toriel as far on her side of the bed as she could physically be. There was a folded blanket from the extras he had grabbed down the center of the bed. Going by the frown hanging on her snout, that was the border.
Gingerly, he got into his side of the bed, doing his best not to disturb her or her reading. He tried to make himself as small as possible, but a man of his stature never wins that battle. He was already an inch away from breaking the border protocol, and he could only imagine what type of magic she would summon if an errant bodypart crossed it in his sleep.
Despite the love of his life distancing herself from him in every way possible, he still felt happy sharing a bed with her. He relaxed and sank into the covers, an old sense of normalcy filling him for the first time in forever.
“Would you like to watch a movie?” He ventured, offering the remote, “The reservation came with-”
“Asgore.” She sighed. “I’m reading.”
“O-Oh. Yes, right. My apologies.” She didn’t even bother looking at him when she spoke. His eyes sank down to his lap, once again twiddling his thumbs. He darted his eyes to her face and her book. It was an edition of “Lots and Lots of Snail Facts!”, one which he didn't recognize the cover. He opened his mouth to comment, but before he could she turned her gaze and stared him down. With a nervous chuckle he watched as she returned to reading.
It was uncomfortable to say the least. She was so unhappy. It pained him every second to see that scowl on her face, knowing exactly why that was her response to being around him. She wasn’t reading to enjoy her usual snail digest, it was to ignore the elephant in the room. To ignore the fact she was stuck in that room. He wished he could shrink.
Finally sleep won and he let out a yawn. The long day of travel had caught up to him now that he was lying down, despite the endless thoughts swirling in his mind. He reached over to his bedside lamp and turned it off with a gentle click. He pulled the covers over himself, and turned away from her with a small “Goodnight, honey,” to which he got no response.
~~~
For a night at a hotel with a failing reputation, in an unhappy bed of his failing marriage, Asgore received the best sleep he’s had in ages. His eyes opened as the first rays of dawn bounced through the window and against the dingy, off-white walls. It was pale and clear, and the air was fresh. But it also smelled of something wonderful. The smell of fresh lavender, buttery crust, a dash of cinnamon and butterscotch. His heart ached at the smell, his eyes grew misty.
He had the best dream, of simply laying down with Toriel as he had on countless many mornings in the past. Watching pale early light bounce about the room together. Enjoying the calm moments of the day before the hectic life monarchy had to offer had to take over. He had had that dream many, many times, especially on the loneliest of nights. Last night must have counted as one of those.
However, this time there was something different. There was warmth beyond the blankets, and something was keeping him from moving his arm. His eyes blinked open properly and that’s when he noticed. Her head was resting on his chest with an arm wrapped over him, gently snoring away. He dared not even breathe. Panic set in at first, not sure how he got himself into this situation, and how much trouble he was going to be in when she eventually woke up. Should he try to move her now? Or would that make matters worse?
Then he discovered that she was draped over her own border line, having done this all in her sleep. While the panic settled, he now had no idea what to do. Every fiber of his being begged him to pull her in closer, hug her tight, smell her fur. Do every single thing he’s dreamed of doing with her this close. He knew he couldn’t. Risking waking her would ruin this fleeting moment he had no idea what to do with.
The clock ticked tortuously away. He sat there, a prisoner, with the love of his life that doesn't love him any more in his arms. She was smiling and snoring like she used to when they were together, but he knew the moment she was awake it would be gone just like the dreams he’s suffered time and time again. It took every ounce of effort for him to not cry, but he couldn’t let this moment go too soon. He took a deep breath. A small smile was mustered on his lips. He enjoyed it while he could, before falling back into a light sleep again.
The dream came on stronger this time. And he could feel the tears streaming out of his closed eyes.
Ever so gently he squeezed where his hand laid on her side. She murmured in her sleep and snuggled deeper into his chest.
~~~
Toriel awoke in an absolute haze of snail facts. In all of her reading done to get the prior night over with, she had fallen asleep face first into her book. The last thing she remembered was trying to reach the end of the last page but the last thing in her mind was the number on the page. She groaned, especially groggy and with a massive crick in her neck. She must have slept wrong, but she couldn’t tell that it was familiar. At least the pillows at this hotel were especially soft.
With a heavy head she sat up and rubbed her eyes. She had drooled in her sleep, leaving her own snail trail on the pillow. She blinked. The pink pillow she had drooled over was in reality Asgore’s pajamas, she knew it the second she recognized his trademark shade of rose. She shot up, eyes wide as she conjured a ball of flame. Then she saw it.
He hadn’t moved an inch, aside from rolling onto his back. He was always a sound sleeper, but that meant she was on his side of the bed. Left sitting for a minute, she could only think. He was still asleep, and she hoped he had been completely unaware of what had happened. Why had she done it? She didn’t know. She definitely didn’t trust herself in the same bed with him any time soon. Now she wasn’t even sure about being in the same room.
Does this mean anything? Why the hell did she allow him into her bed? What if he had been aware? Her head was spinning. She hated everything about this. She crumpled back onto her side of the bed and managed to somehow fall asleep.
~~~
“Toriel?” She was asked. “Please wake up.”
She grumbled, head still hurting from thought. “What is it?”
“We got you another room.” Her eyes settled on a keycard in Asgore’s hand. “It’s two floors above on the opposite end of the hall. There are separate elevators on that end, so you won’t have to risk sharing one with me the entire stay.”
She could see the cracks in his smile through that painfully rehearsed line. The feigned, pained cheeriness struck her but she would never admit it.
“Well, thank you, Asgore,” she said as he gently placed the card in her hands. “That’s very kind of you. Was that the only option available?”
“Oh, no. A lot of rooms opened up while you were asleep, must have been a one night event,” he chuckled, then his voice softened, “but I found the room furthest from this one that was available and I told them that would be the perfect one for you.” She still had her hand outreached with the card resting in her palm. Gently, he guided her hands towards her chest and ushered her to the door of the room. As she reached the threshold he drew a bathrobe over her gown. She froze at the contact but said nothing afterward and continued as if nothing had happened.
“I already took the liberty of moving all of your luggage to your new room while you were asleep,” he added, now that she was standing out in the hall. “I hope that makes up for having to share the bed with me again. I can’t imagine that was easy for you to do.”
His chuckles at the end of his phrases never match his eyes.
She opened and closed her mouth.
They stood awkwardly. He wanted her so badly to just leave, but also would never want to see her go. She so badly wanted to know what this all meant.
“Thank you, Asgore.” She said finally.
A glimmer of his smile appeared, but his eyes were still sad.
“Anything for you, honey.”