"I don't have an out," he says, the rush of fear and anticipation enough to sharpen his senses again. "If I let you do this... I'll be gone. I kinda promised myself I'd try to stay alive."

It hurts more than he can say, having Papyrus essentially telling him that he'd be better off dead. That they both would be. He has to believe this is all something his brother will regret later, if he ever gets the chance.

He doesn't want to strike first anymore. Let him keep that one off his conscious. Or maybe he just lost his nerve.

"You take me out... there's nowhere to go, either. You're gonna have to live with it, bro."