The Garden, Chapter 1: It Could be Worse

Asgore and Toriel try to work out their relationship. Pt. 1: Asgore takes a walk
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	It was a warm summer morning, the sun barely peeking into the sky. Asgore was taking an early walk, enjoying the time before the sun got too intense. He rarely, if ever, got up before the sun, but this morning his eyes flickered wide awake, the clock ticking only 5:27 in the morning. It was no use for him to try to fall asleep again, so he rose from his bed, stretching in salutation to the new day. He made some tea and enjoyed a small piece of toast, the crumbs specked in his beard. He freshened up, combing his flowing mane and trimming his pesky whiskers. He brushed his teeth, making sure his fangs were presentable. He spit out the toothpaste in his mouth, barely twenty minutes have passed.

	He double checked himself in the mirror. His hair was in its place, his beard wasn’t too crazy. Horns weren’t crooked, teeth white and breath fresh. He nodded at his reflection, he was ready to face the day. Now to choose what to face. He didn’t have many duties, having not found a job and Frisk taking most of the brunt of the job as a diplomat.

	He supposed his tea stock was rather low, and his garden bare. Maybe a visit to the store would be a good idea. No, it was too early, nothing would be open. Maybe Undyne would be up. She always had the “Rise early and go to bed late” attitude about her, and she had the energy for it. He chuckled. Poor Alphys had to deal with that now.

	He made up his mind and now he walked. His pace was slow, but his wide step made him go faster than the average early bird. He stuck out like a sore thumb on the Surface. It was barely a week since the barriers destruction, but humans and monsters were somewhat integrated. There were some problems, a small amount of prejudice against the more… odd looking monsters, but Frisk was a god send. They knew exactly what to do to keep both sides happy, and Asgore was grateful. Though, things weren’t perfectly settled.

	As Asgore continued his walk, humans had the same idea. Joggers, Dog-walkers, early risers, all reaping the small amount of time before the sun grew unbearable. He greeted them all with a toothy grin, but all he received were slightly terrified looks and a large girth around him. He didn’t let it get to him, or at least tried not too. He was a seven foot goat monster, with exposed fangs, large horns and a claws. No matter how he dressed, whether he be in his usual flannel button up and cargos or in a suit, he would still be intimidating to the average human. Even the dogs were frightened, not even daring to bark at the weird thing crossing their path. They cowered behind their masters and whimpered, but he kept his head high.

	He sighed, he didn’t mind. It could be worse.

	At least everyone is free.

~~~

	He loved taking walks. He loved greeting people. There was nothing that he loved more than to make people laugh, to make them smile. To do nice things for them and make their day just that much better. Walks helped him do that. Back in the underground he’d walk to all reaches of his kingdom, doing his best to greet every monster that he could. He knew about everyone’s names, what they did, what they like, who they liked. He loved to listen to their stories, especially over tea. He knew everybody, and everybody knew him. Mostly.

	He did his best to get the thoughts of scared humans out of his head. He thought of small things, like what he was going to do. Tea with Undyne sounded like a grand idea, maybe Alphys would be there. He knew that his former Royal Scientist and Guard had finally gotten together, and was tremendously happy for the two. Anyway, tea with the two, or at least one, sounded like a great respite. Hopefully she remembered his favorite brand.

	Ok, so after catching up with his near daughter, what next? Depending on how long that took, he could stop by the tea shop that he recently found out about. He’s only been there once, but once he stepped into the door, he fell in love. The walls were lined with teas, boxes, bags, leaves, small trees to start your own garden. He was in heaven. And the smell, good lord, the smell, it was intoxicating. One breath and you were almost immediately relaxes, the gentle aromas of all the teas mixed together into a perfect storm.

	There were also little sample cups, and kettles with tea to sample. Jasmine, White, Black, more than he could remember. Oh, he loved the little cups. Each one was about the size of his thumb, ornate and delicate. The porcelain feeling perfectly smooth against his fingers, the heat trapped just enough not to burn his hand. Just the thought of it made him smile, his mood brightening.

	Next, the garden. He chose a small house, two bedroom, two baths. Nothing too fancy, but the yard was large enough, which was all he really needed. Now what to do to his barren flower beds. Everybody loves cosmos, so plenty of those. Morning glories were also a pretty sight, tulips and pansies. Some small rose bushes, maybe a bench in the middle. The thoughts bloomed into his mind, the beautiful garden of his dreams so close to coming to life. He hoped that the local nursery was well stocked. Maybe he could fit a tea tree in there somewhere, maybe the back.

	He hummed in thought, there was something missing. What was it? Daffodil? No, that’s too white. Snapdragons? Maybe, depends if there’s room. Foxtails? Very authentic, but what if someone were to eat it and… Oh! Lavender! He had completely forgotten about lavender! Oh, how he loved it. The gentle, sweet smell it had, the simple yet beautiful look of the flower itself. The buzzing bees that it attracted were also nice. Plus, they were Toriel’s favorite.

	Oh.

	They were Toriel’s favorite.

	He stopped. Toriel. The name haunted him, the name that he loved but didn’t love him back. The word sweet on his ears, but he dared not think of it. Toriel. He had tried to keep the thought of his ex-wife from his mind, filling his day with small tasks to keep him busy and away from thinking about… her, but it was an uphill battle. It was bound to happen eventually.

	He missed her so much. His mind was battered and broken by loss. The night she disappeared was the day that he lost a piece of himself, the part that never fully healed. He put on a confident face and preached war, but behind closed doors, his true self was exposed, a sad, lonely man that wanted nothing more than to see his wife again. Hear her sweet voice, her light laugh, her sighs as they fell asleep, the small snores she let out as she slept. The smell of her faint perfume, it was sweet, yet not too sweet. The taste of her pie, one that he could never, ever recreate. Anything that he could think of to remind him of the days of their loving marriage. He missed it so, so much. He missed her so, so much.

	He looked around, breaking away from his thoughts. A small park, sitting on a small hill. A bench was nearby, an elderly couple occupying the seat. The lady was leaning against her husband, her body rising and falling with her breath. She looked so happy, so relaxed, so calm. The man draped a loving arm around his wife, planting a small kiss on her cheek. It was a sweet and simple movement, but it carried so much. Asgore’s heart swelled. He loved the sight, but hated it. Why could he not be like that with Toriel? Why did things have to be this way?

	He stiffened, his own thoughts scaring him. He cast them aside, thrusting them from his head. A tear rolled down his face, splashing against the pavement under his feet. He didn’t care what happened to him. As long as his people were happy. As long as she was happy.

	If she didn’t want him in her life, he was ok with that. Whatever she wanted, he would be happy to provide.

	He was fine with it.

	It could be worse.