Her answer gives him some relief, though he doesn't remove his paw just yet. Some childish fear rises up in him, that if he lets go she'll turn to dust all over again. It wasn't the first time she's died in front of him, but it was the first time that he could feel the sheer, overwhelming anguish from it.

He hated Flowey now more than he ever did.

Still, having Toriel feel bad right after coming back from death was something he didn't want. He's not sure if there's anything she should do - they honestly didn't stand a chance against humans armed with weapons and a willingness to kill them all. And it wasn't her fault that he's made the mistakes that he has, those were things he had no one to blame but himself.

He swallows his own feelings, his throat rumbling in response to the hand on his back. And then he tries something he thinks will make her feel a little better.

"Knock knock."