WARNING: This chapter contains discussions and portrayal of issues such as anxiety, depression, self-hatred, post-traumatic stress disorder, and poor self-image. If you feel like any of these topics could be potentially upsetting for you, please proceed with caution or skip the chapter if you think it necessary. ♡ If you like this chapter, be sure to leave a heart or comment so I know you want to see more! Hit the flag for background music :D Previous chapter: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/563184930/ ♡ The lights are dimmed, and 4 sequential slow dances have been played by Shyren’s band. I don’t know what this song is called. Alphys and Undyne and Mary and Yui have all taken to the dance floor, Sans passed out and Papyrus took him home, and Toriel left early, so now I’m completely alone. Mettaton said he would be back by now, but I haven’t seen him anywhere. Maybe it’s for the best, honestly. I can barely even build up the courage to talk to him tonight, much less ask him for anything. But right now, I just wish I had a friend with me. I feel so helpless right now, surrounded by swarms of not-completely-sober strangers. Should I have even come…? The night is almost over... I was supposed to be able to have fun on my own. WHY couldn’t I have fun? Why was I too stuck in my worries to be able to enjoy myself? I need space. I need to get away from these people. I wander blindly through the crowds, accidentally bumping into a few people on the way. I don’t even know where I’m going. Wherever I can be by myself and calm myself down is fine. I can tell all my emotions are about to boil over, and there’s no way I’m letting anyone see that. I find myself stumbling out onto an empty balcony, disguised from the ballroom by a curtain that obscures most of it from view. I can still hear the band playing inside. They’ve started performing “Line Without a Hook '' by Ricky Montgomery, one of my favorite songs. The music only makes me want to cry more. It’s a little warm out, with a cool breeze that lifts my delicately styled hair and cools my hot cheeks. But it only takes a moment for me to finally break down, gripping onto the railing at the edge of a balcony, clamping a hand over my mouth to muffle my sobs. Tears pour down my cheeks, dropping from the balcony like rain. I can’t believe this. I couldn’t even have fun at a stupid party. I couldn’t do anything for my friends, or for myself. Why did I even come? Why am I here? Why do my friends hang out with me when all I can do is offer an awkward word every once in a while? Why does Mettaton care about me at all when all I’ve done is take from him? I hate being this way. I want this to stop. I NEED this to stop. God, why am I like this. I hate being anxious. I hate being scared. I hate being needy. I hate being useless. I hate myse- “Darling?” Oh, for God’s sake. Frantically, I wipe my face with the back of my wrist, desperate to cover up the fact that I’ve been crying. I hear his footsteps approaching behind me. “Eliza, what are you doing all the way out here? It took me forever to find you…” Oh God. He was looking for me. Before I can stop it, a soft sob escapes my mouth, and I cover it again, my shoulders shaking. I can’t look at him. There’s no way I can look at him. “Eliza? Are you crying?” The footsteps get faster, until he’s right beside me, trying to peek at my face from behind my hands. He gently takes my wrists, moving them away so he can see me, and the shock and heartbreak that cross his face when he sees my expression cause me to start weeping all over again. “Oh, darling…” he whispers, pulling me against him into a hug. I bury my face in his shoulder, letting out a series of painful, shaky sobs until it feels like I’ve run out of tears. He lightly moves one hand across my back, holding me tight with the other. After what seems like ages, I finally manage to lift my head. “Oh God, your- your tux…” I whimper when I see the stains left by my mascara and tears. He lets out a startled laugh. “That’s what you’re worried about? Oh, Eliza, if I’d known you were feeling like this, I would have come to find you far sooner… Did something happen? Is it your social anxiety again?” I shake my head. “No, no, no, I just… I…”
^^^ READ INSTRUCTIONS SECTION FIRST ^^^ I feel the tears welling up again as I finally look him in the eyes, blurting out, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry for everything! I’m sorry you’ve wasted so much time and money and energy on me, and I-I’m sorry I’m not of any use to you, and that I’m constantly needing your help, and I’m sorry that I’m crying, and I’m sorry I’m like this-” “Darling, stop,” he says surprisingly firmly. I snap my mouth shut obediently, my lip quivering. Mettaton stares at me more intensely than ever. “You are NOT a waste. I know you can’t help feeling that way, and if I could make all your anxieties disappear, I would do it in a heartbeat. But there’s no way I’m going to let you believe that you’re a burden on me, or that you’re too dependent or ‘needy.’ I CHOOSE to spoil you. I choose to do it because I care about you, and I want you to be happy. And I choose to help you when you need it, because- well, because that’s what friends do.” He cups my face with both hands, wiping away some of my tears. “Furthermore, you are absolutely NOT useless, Elizabeth Rutherford. You are the kindest, gentlest, smartest, most helpful, most caring, most empathetic, most incredible person I know. You are loved and needed by so many people, and I don’t ever want you to doubt that.” I’m stunned and silent. I don’t even know how to process everything that he’s just said to me. Finally, I break eye contact with him and murmur… “I wish I didn’t make you worry like this, or that I didn’t b-break down over stupid things… I wish I wasn’t like this. I-” Mettaton interrupts me by tucking some hair behind my ear, his gaze soft. “You wish you weren’t like what? For the record, I think that who you are is just… amazing.” That gets me to shut up for good. He continues. “Darling, I know it’s hard for you, and I’ll do absolutely everything I can to help you build up your confidence and fight your anxiety. But if you ever- EVER- want or need ANYTHING from me, I don’t ever want you to hesitate to ask. I dote on you because I want to, and I want to be there for you if you need me. If you ever want someone to lean on or be there, I’m readily available. Just say the word.” I stare at him in awe, dumbfounded. After an unbearably long silence, I manage to whisper, “...Okay.” Smiling faintly, Mettaton straightens up, his arms still wrapped around me. “Okay?” “Okay.” “Good.” He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry I snapped at you like that… I was just worried it would be the only way to get through to you.” “I understand. At the very least it worked.” I chuckle weakly, rubbing my eye. “Oh God, look at me… I’m a freaking mess.” He looks me up and down with an air of satisfaction. “A fabulous mess, darling. An inspiration for my next fashion show, even.” This gets me to laugh a little more. “Thanks. You always know how to cheer me up, Mettaton.” The way he looks me in the eyes fills my stomach with butterflies. It's like all my worries, my insecurities, everything, the whole world, just… falls away. Before I have a chance to think it through, I suddenly blurt out, “I wanted- to ask-- uh--” He tilts his head. “Do you need something?” I’m a blushing mess again. “I-- uhh--- crap----- hnnnnn….” I take some deep breaths to calm myself down, counting in my head. Mettaton smiles patiently. “Don’t be afraid to ask me for anything, my dear. I’m always happy to provide.” I hesitate. “...Anything?” He nods. “Anything.” After a brief silence, I break away from his touch and walk a few feet apart, burying my face in my hands as I work up my nerve. I can do this. I can do this. I can… “How about…” Bracing myself, I turn to face him, holding out my hand. “A dance?” ♡ YOU ASKED, AND NOW HERE IT IS, THE SHIP IS SAILING MY FRIENDS, NEXT CHAPTER IS WILD AS CRAP, BUCKLE UP AND FIX YOUR HATS I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING ANYMORE HANG IN THERE Music: "Line Without a Hook" by Ricky Montgomery (my favorite song) (piano cover) Art and writing by me! All Undertale content and characters belong to Toby Fox. Here we are boys, nearing the climax, it's been a wild ride and I couldn't have asked for better company :') NEXT CHAPTER: ♡ #undertale #fanfiction #fanfic #elizaton #eliza #mettaton #writing #art #music #oc #ocxcanon
