The knight in shining armor soulmate cliche wasn't really what Sans expected, but either way he was really thankful.

Asgore was wearing shining armor, sure, but it didn't really affect what he had ended up saving Sans from.

Sans wasn't really sure how to act around this guy. Sans wasn't exactly against the idea of romance for other people, as long as you were happy. But not for him!

His parents never did set the best example, really. Constantly bickering wouldn't have been too bad, but what was worse was what kept him awake at night. The image of the blood and dust, evidence that the patient scientist Gaster always presented himself as had a snapping point.

It wasn't a good sight to watch as a child, really. Seeing all that dust, seeing a soulmate turn on the other and bring down an attack harder than he had intended. That's why he always was scared, he didn't want to be like his Mother. He didn't want to be a dust pile on the floor, having been warped by his soulmate.

But maybe Sans was overreacting.

Because Asgore was not what he had expected.

Sans wasn't in love with him, that was for sure. They just met. That's where his parents had went wrong, they had declared their love too early. That's what Sans hated about the soulmate obsession, people took it too far too quickly. He hated that he didn't have a choice, that everyone expected him to go prance up to his soulmate and get married that week.

Sans would never do that, even if he found the King funny. If Sans was going to fall in love, it would be on his own terms. Not that of society's, of breeding habits. No. It was his soul and his body, if he didn't want to be with his zing, then he should have a right not to. Sans wanted that choice.

But Asgore was not what he expected. He wasn't controlling like his Father, and he wasn't stubborn like his Mother. No, he was like Sans. An absolute wreck.

The guy was a nervous mess around Sans, constantly going back on his words. He wanted to impress Sans, that was obvious, but he was so nervous about doing it that he ended up rewording the same sentence three times.

His parents were never like that towards one another, they never tried to impress the other. If anything, they tried to avoid each other, sick of their constant arguing.

Sans had anticipated the King of monsters making Sans his Queen, forcing the skeleton to date him without any other choice in the matter. Instead, he had nervously asked Sans what his favorite flower was, then stuttered as he meant color, then nervously ran into a wall.

It was pretty difficult to stay stubborn and distant like he had planned when he was constantly giggling at all of the screw ups the King made. The King of monsters, who was nervously unsure of how far away Sans wanted him to stand.

He was respecting Sans, though. Keeping his distance, not insisting Sans do anything. It made Sans feel bad, having acted that way when Asgore was doing nothing but being nice to him.

And seriously, the King was letting Sans live in a castle. A castle. It was pretty nice, just a bit too big. And confusing.

"Here, Asgore, I uh... I wanna apologize," Sans said to him, "I've always been a bit wonky about the idea of a soulmate."

"I know," Asgore said lightly, pawing the cup of tea in his hands. "Papyrus told me, and I understand."

"I don't want to start dating someone without even knowing them," Sans said, "I know we're supposed to be soulmates, which means we're supposed to love each other, but I don't want to be forced to love someone I don't know. I don't love you, this is the first time we've really talked."

"I know."

"So how about this."

Sans stuck out his hand, holding it out for the other.

"We'll become friends first, then we can start dating if we both feel up to it?" Sans asked.

"That sounds wonderful."

Asgore accepted his offering, gently giving Sans a soft, yet firm handshake.

"I'm Asgore, nice to meet you," Asgore said.

"Sans, nice to meet ya," Sans said.

This agreement might work out.

And it did.