Save Point (Sans x Reader)

Chapter Twenty-Five, Part One

Double update tonight to make up for yesterday's missed one!

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"Settle down, everyone!"

The crowd grows rowdy with the sudden reveal of information, and the noise only increments when Faust is called out from the audience. His steps are meek and careful as he makes his way to the front podium, exchanging seats with Sans. You can't shake off the ache dwelling in your chest when you see him. He's teary eyed and his legs can be seen shaking from where you're standing.

"Is your (mother/father)'s statement true?"

You stare at his direction as you wait for him to answer the judge. He stops looking at the floor to face him, uncertainty crossing his eyes.

"Yes. . . Your Honor." You hold back a smile when hearing him say those last two words, happy he remembered that courtesy despite the state he found himself in. "I ran away because I was angry. Jessie wouldn't let me see (mom/dad) anymore and. . ." Faust grows visibly frustrated at his sudden loss for words, and faces back down as he clenches his palms into fists.

"Take your time, child."

Faust nods softly and breathes in, managing a small smile before it fades away back into a crooked line. His eyebrows furrow as he tries to gather courage for the interrogation.

"They said that (Y/N) was always busy, and that they didn't have time for me anymore, but. . . But I heard them talking on the phone with (Y/N). Jessie didn't tell them where I was and hung up when they kept asking about me."

"Is there anything else that made you consider running away?"

He gives a slow, reluctant nod, looking at Jessie's side for a second before continuing. "The next day, Jessie came home and started. . . fighting with (Y/N) on the phone again. They said it wasn't (mom/dad) even though I saw the name on the screen. Th- There was a fight after I ran away, too. . . Jessie came to pick me up, b- but then. . ."

Faust hesitates again when taking another look at Jessie's side. A frown stretches his mouth as he grits his teeth and furiously wipes away the single tear going down his cheek. He covers his face with his hands and hides away from the audience by letting his knees hit the floor, the height of the podium covering him away from your sight.

"Very well -- You are dismissed for the moment being, Faust. Please return when you feel better," the judge speaks up, casting his eyes at the social worker and bailiff waiting nearby. "For now, please follow the brown-haired lady standing next to the guard."

It takes a few seconds of you staring at the podium for Faust to stand up and appear to your eyes. He refuses to make eye contact with the judge, though he still nods and mutters a quick thank you before leaving. With a smile, the woman mentioned escorts him out of the courtroom and shuts the door as soon as he's out.

You wait for the judge to continue, unsure what to expect. Faust was close to telling him about last Thursday, yet it was clear by the way he looked at Jessie that he was still conflicted by that day. At first, you worried he feared going back to living with them, but the second look he had sent had been one of need and concern for his other parent. You didn't know which of the two looks to lean on more, or which one was worse for the situation you were in.

"(Y/N)?"

The way your name is called out by the judge makes you realize you'd closed off touch with your surroundings. Looking up, you make eye contact and apologize for not hearing him the first time, and prepare yourself for what's next.