Chapter Text
“Asriel, may I feel your ears?”
Chara stood in the doorway of the bedroom they shared with their brother, fidgeting nervously. Although it didn’t sound at all like something he would do, they couldn’t help but worry that he would laugh at them.
Asriel looked up from his book, a quizzical expression on his face. “Why do you want to feel my ears?”
Chara walked into the room and sat down on Asriel’s bed. “I cannot ask Toriel or Asgore if I may feel theirs. You are the only one I can trust for this.”
Asriel was silent for a moment, and when he responded, his voice was quiet. “That wasn’t really what I meant, but okay. You can feel my ears. Just don’t pull on them.”
"Thank you." Chara reached up and gently took hold of Asriel’s right ear. They rubbed their thumb over the fur on the outside of the ear, then rubbed the smooth skin on the inside.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, brother."
"You've lived with us for two years. Mom and Dad formally announced your adoption a while ago. Why do you still call my parents Toriel and Asgore when they're your parents now, too?"
Chara stopped rubbing Asriel's ear and sighed softly. "I do consider Toriel and Asgore to be my parents. However, the words 'mother' and 'father' hold many unpleasant memories for me. I do not wish to associate them with such negativity."
"Why not call them 'mom' and 'dad', instead?"
Chara thought about that for a moment. "That is…a good idea. Thank you, Asriel."
Asriel nodded, pulling his ear out of Chara's grip as he did so. "No problem."
Chara stood up. "I am going to go and ask…ask Mom if she has any knitting supplies left. I would like to make a sweater."
"Oh, okay. Have fun, Chara!"
"Thank you." Having said that, Chara turned around and walked out of the room.
***
"Greetings." Toriel looked up at Chara from her chair and smiled.
"Greetings to you as well, my child." Chara sat down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table and turned to face Toriel. It didn't say anything for a while, electing instead to just stare at the monster as she continued to knit. After about five minutes of this, Chara spoke, its voice barely above a whisper.
"May I call you 'mom'?" Toriel set down her knitting needles and looked up at Chara again, surprised.
"Of course you may. You are my child, after all."
Chara nodded. “Do you think it would be alright if I called Asgore 'dad'?"
"He has been hoping you would call him that for a while. I am sure it would be more than alright."
"I see." Toriel smiled at her child and went back to her knitting. After another moment of silence, Chara spoke again.
"Mom, would you mind lending me your knitting needles when you are done with them? I would like to knit a sweater for Dad."
Toriel chuckled. “Are you truly asking, or are you just testing out calling us ‘mom’ and ‘dad’?”
“I am truly asking.”
“I see. Well, I do not mind. However, I thought you did not know how to knit."
"That is correct. I was hoping you could help me." Another pause. "Would that be alright?"
"Yes it would. I would love to knit with you."
"Thank you very much." Toriel sat down on the floor and patted the space next to her. Chara did not move.
“Would you like to sit with me on the floor, Chara?” Chara nodded, got out of its chair, and sat down next to Toriel. Toriel picked up the knitting equipment and began to teach Chara how to knit.