#I guess Tiny Grillby is an Anxiety-ridden kitten

[peacekeeperangel]

Flamethrower Chapter 6

OH MY LORD THIS CHAPTER

Sorry it took so long guys I had to do a complete re-write TWICE and I’m still not totally happy with it. Eventually I just decided to put it out because otherwise I’ll be writing this one chapter until Doomsday. God willing I’ll be a little faster now that the Beast has been slain.

Summary: Not much is known about Sans the Skeleton. He owns a bar in Snowdin. He has a younger brother Named Papyrus. And recently something’s been raiding his trash for food. Reversing the Roles of the Baby Blaster AU originally created by @spacegate

Part 6 of 17(?)

Notice: this Piece is mostly self-edited and may contain typos, grammar errors and run on sentences. if you spot a mistake, please report kindly

Undyne didn’t stay for long after Gaster had left. It had only been thanks to her father’s mercy that she had been allowed to stay and assist. But that was only for one day, which was quickly coming to an end.

The bar was closed. Sans didn’t bother leaving any sort of note or explanation as to why on the front door. Snowdin was a tiny town, secrets were difficult to keep, especially when it involved the town barkeep. Sans hoped at the very least he could keep the local gossip mongers at bay long enough to get this new charge comfortable.

This was a more difficult task than Sans had originally expected. While he fully realized that Grillby was skittish, what he didn’t expect was how sensitive the elemental was. Sans could turn suddenly or knock over a bottle and the Elemental would freeze solid, or bolt for anyplace to hide, usually tripping over his own feet in the process. Sans couldn’t help to be impressed that his hyper-energetic high-volume brother had managed to keep the anxious child calm long enough for Sans and Caedmon to collect them both.

Unsurprised, but impressed. After all his baby brother was the greatest after all.

“Are y’really sure you wanna help Grillby?” Sans asked, “Y’might be a little more comfortable sitting with Papyrus for a little bit.” They were currently making Sans’ old room more habitable for Grillby, which mostly consisted of clearing out all the trash that was scattered throughout the room. Most of Sans’ clothes were in the wash, or simply draped around the house, much to Papyrus’ dismay.

“M’okay....” Grillby replied, his gravelly voice whisper-soft as usual as he fiddled with this oversized shirt and shorts. Not as bad as the adult sized t-shirt he had been running around in but Papyrus’ Hand-me-downs were a vast improvement until Sans could go shopping for proper clothes.  “...Want to be useful.” He added cautiously.

After a few scares and startles, Grillby had settled on top of the mattress that made up the bed, watching as Sans would putter about the room and stuff whatever random object that fell into his field of vision into a plastic garbage bag.  Not exactly ‘useful’ but the young elemental seemed to be a lot calmer in Sans’ presence, so he really had no reason to complain.

What Sans really wanted most was for Grillby to answer some of his questions. Like how he was able to change shape, or why he had been in the forest alone for weeks?

Most importantly, what had Gaster said to him when Undyne had left them both alone?

“Hey, Grillby?”

The boy looked up at him with solid white eyes. “Yes sir?”

It was Sans’ turn to flinch. “Please don’t call me ‘sir’ kiddo. Makes me feel old.” He stared at the child for a few moments, “...How about we go make some dinner eh?” the skeleton just didn’t have the heart to disturb the child.

Before Grillby could even form a reply, a sound resembling more of a cannon shot than someone knocking, resulted in the entire room flooded with a wave of heat that felt like he was back in Hotland and light that left him seeing spots.

Sans quickly discovered the cause when the spots cleared. Curled up in a corner, looking less like a walking talking campfire flame and more like an oversized sparkler was Grillby in his cat form. Solid White eyes wide open and unseeing.

“Grillby?” Sans knelt down, “Kid...? Are you-” he cut himself off before he could finish his stupid question. It was clear to anyone with any lick of sense that Grillby was about as far from ‘alright’ as a monster could get. Sans knew the kid was jumpy in regards to sudden noises, but this was unlike any previous reactions before.

It also didn’t help that the monster who had knocked so forcefully hadn’t stopped knocking since the first strike. While none were as powerful as that first hit, it was still loud enough to be heard clearly from the second floor, with each strike a spark flew off of the tiny elemental.

“Hold that thought Grillbz,” Sans grinned brightly to the prone fire cat, disguising his annoyance. “I’m going to go answer the door.”  

Sans held back from teleporting, opting instead for a brisk power walk down to the front door, letting his temper simmer at just the right level he used when he wanted to scare the ever-loving crap out of rowdy customers. “Hey y’mind cooling it with the drum solo, we’re kind of prefer smooth jazz to rock n’ roll-”

“Open the door y’cheeky whippersnapper!” an aged voice bellowed from behind the front door. “It’s too cold for jokes!”

Sans blinked, pausing briefly before he opened the door for a large, ancient turtle monster wearing a pith helmet and furry-looking overcoat. “Gerson?!”

“Wahahahaha! Hello sonny, about time you got that door!” the turtle crowed, stroking a scraggly looking goatee with one hand while carrying a massive grocery bag, nearly the size of Sans himself in the crook of his arm, “Snowdin is just as cold as I remember it to be.”

“Uh... Wha...?” was all that Sans was able to get out before Gerson shoved the bag into his arms and half-stomped half-limped into the house, kicking snow from his boots.

“A little fishy told me a little about the mischief she and Papyrus got into this weekend,” Gerson proclaimed cheerfully,  “including something involving a fire elemental with, and I quote “Super Cool Hero Powers”?”

Sans sighed, enveloping the grocery bag in an aura of blue magic. “It’s a lot more complicated than that Gerson.” he admitted, levitating the bag beside him. “The kid... It’s a really long story.”

“I wouldn’t have walked into this Ice Box willingly for a short story short stuff.” Gerson smirked dryly, “Now, mind satisfying this old man’s curiosity? What’s this about a kid with powers?”

Sans sighed, shoving the bag back into Gerson’s hands. “Mind waiting a bit before I start spilling my guts mister Captain of the Guard?”

“Retired.” Gerson snorted, taking the bag before it tipped over, “Is there a problem?” he asked, a note of concern in his voice as he watched the skeleton climb the stairs.  

“Hopefully not anymore since you stopped trying to beat the front door down.” Sans replied, gratified when the old turtle winced sheepishly, “But I’d like not to overwhelm him right at the moment.”

“Ah, gotcha.”

Grillby was still hunched up in the same corner Sans had left him when he had gone downstairs, but the cat’s flames were more settled- Less firecracker and more candlelight sort of fire.

“Hey Grillbz,” Heat came off of the elemental in strong waves, Sans tried to approach but was only rewarded with a sharp spike in the temperature.  “Turns out all that banging was this old obnoxious jerk I know.” he squatted down as close as he could to the little elemental without burning himself, gratified with the cat blinked slowly, as if to acknowledge his existence. “I’m going to go downstairs and talk with him a bit. Wanna come?”  to his utter surprise the little cat nodded slowly.

“Are you going to stay the way you are now?” Grillby nodded again a little quicker than before, but made no move to stand. “Do you want me to go down ahead?” Grillby nodded a third time.

“Okay, cool...” an idea came to him. “Do you wanna talk to the guy?” the kitten shook his head, confirming Sans’ suspicion. “That’s fine, you can have something to eat while we’re in there, then he won’t bother you.” he pointed to his mouth, “People won’t bother you with your mouth full amirite?”

Grillby’s feline face was full of confusion as he nodded uncertainly. “Trust me it’s an old trick I used to pull when... well nevermind.” Sans scratched the back of his bony head. “Anyway I’ll go on ahead, come down as soon as you’re ready okay? No pressure.” He stood up, and quietly exited the room, pausing on his journey to check on Papyrus.

No change, The younger skeleton was still sleeping soundly, wrapped up in almost every blanket in the house. The doctor assuring Sans that Papyrus just had a bad cold- attributed mostly to his wet clothes when the rescue party had found their cave. Papyrus would be his normal bouncy self in a short while.  

Satisfied that everything was as well it could be, Sans returned to the kitchen, “Okay, Grillby just needs a little extra time, but he’ll be down...?” He stopped dead in his tracks just inside the kitchen door.

“Gerson...What the heck?”

In the brief amount of time it had taken Sans to check on the boys, Gerson had unpacked a surprising amount of goods from his grocery bag, and was in the middle of cooking... something. Sans wasn’t quite sure what but at that moment the old turtle was in the middle of reducing a large onion into an equally large pile of onion bits.

“Figured you might be hungry.” Gerson replied simply, tossing the diced onion into a frying pan, “And that you might want a break after, what... a day of running around?”

“Two, actually.” Sans replied settling into the small breakfast space set aside in the corner of the kitchen. “Plus, the doctor’s visit... and filing the report with the Canine unit... Visiting Caedmon at the Guardhouse...Gaster....” Sans found himself wondering when he last ate. It was one of those habits he had that drove Papyrus batty.

“Oof. My regards on that last one.” Gerson winced sympathetically, grasping a packet of mushrooms he opened them and began the work of cleaning and preparing them for the pan. “Now, how about telling me that long story?”

So he did. Sans told the old turtle about the mystery that Papyrus had solved through blind stubbornness and many nights of hot dogs. About Sans going out night-after night after closing the restaurant to search for the mysterious fire child behind Papyrus’ back only to find Papyrus going out to do the exact same thing and succeeding where Sans had failed to the cost of the younger brother’s health.

“An exciting few days t’be sure.” Gerson said stirring a pot of something heavenly fragrant. “So. Whatcha going to do with the little spark?”

Sans cocked a non-existent eyebrow. “Do?” he intoned, “I don’t quite follow your lead on this Mon Capitanne. What do you expect me to do beyond keep the kid safe and fed right?”

Gerson chuckled darkly. “Don’t piss on my leg and tell me we’re in Waterfall. I remember your case against Gaster.” Sans froze, his eye lights going out. “The child prodigy of the Royal Scientist running up to my Second in Command’s front door, Little brother in hand and shouting that both their lives were in mortal danger?”

Sans didn’t reply leaving only the sound of Gerson’s spoon scraping the bottom of the pot to fill the room.

“I told you the whole story then....” Sans finally broke the silence.

“That you did. I don’t need to dredge up the whole ugly court battle with that old Ghoul of a Royal Scientist, but here you are... and here’s a boy who can somehow do the same things you claimed Gaster was attempting to do with yourself and-”

“Just Papyrus!” Sans barked sharply, his hands shaking as he balled them into bony fists. “Glass Canons Aren’t Useful On The Battlefield....” the words rang hollowly as Gerson stumped beside him and laid a careful hand over his shoulders.

“You’re here Sans.” Gerson’s grizzled voice was firm, supportive and yet gentle. In a way it reminded Sans of the Redwood trees that surrounded Snowdin. “Your safe and So is Papyrus. You got away.”

Sans quietly nodded, resting a hand on the hand of the old turtle.

“Um...”

The pair looked up to see the fire elemental clinging nervously to the doorway looking ready to flee at any given second. “I-Is th...um...”

“Oh hey kid,” Sans stood up quickly, “Don’t worry about this guy, he’s the old jerk I was telling you about upstairs.” he said jovially jerking a thumb in Gerson’s direction. “Hey Gerson meet the new Housemate Grillby.”

“Howdy Grillby.” Gerson said with a dip of his pith helmet. The elemental started blankly back at the old turtle and said nothing clinging to the doorway like his life depended on it.

“Hey, uh Gerson how about giving Grillby a taste of your food?” Sans grinned nervously at the old turtle, who quickly got the message and stepped back towards the stove. “You’ll love this kid I learned everything about food from this guy.”

“And yet you still eat Typhus pods like they’re going out of fashion.” Gerson snorted back as he gathered up three plates from their resting place in the kitchen’s drying rack. “I hope you’re giving him something else.”

“Mr. Papyrus gave me sinaminbunzz...” Grillby said, his whisper voice sinking into a mumble as he looked away.

Gerson laughed, a quieter version of his normal booming belly-laugh. “Wahahaha, is that so? Do you like Papyrus?” He asked the question of Grillby but continued staring at the pot as he juggled the plates with a deftness that defied his age as he poured out a rice-like noodle with a creamy sauce.

“....He’s very strong.” Grillby replied simply, staring at the plates with an intensity Sans only saw from the Canine Unit when they came to the restaurant. “They’re both very strong.”

“Is that why you agreed to stay with Sans? Because he’s strong?” Grillby responded to Gerson’s question with a nod, trying very hard not to look the turtle in the face.

Sans wasn’t sure why Grillby was trying so hard not to look at Gerson, when Sans was able to maintain eye contact with the young elemental almost right from the start.

If it bothered the old turtle, he gave no sign as he stepped up to the table and set two plates of mushroom risotto down “Well dig in, youngsters. Here’s to brighter tomorrows.”

Grillby stared at his plate then looked over at the mushroom risotto next to Sans.  “Ummm...?”  

Sans cocked a non-existent eyebrow “What’s wrong kid?” he asked, “Something on your mind?”

Grillby jolted in surprise.... then proceeded to cram the dish into his mouth by the handful, the mild scent of burning cream and mushroom wafting through the air as he completely disregarded the temperature of the dish.

“Uh, Grillby there are things known as spoons yanno...?” he said picking up his own spoon as an example. Grillby’s only response was to pick up the spoon and continue shovelling in food just as fast as he swallowed it down.

“People don’t bother you with your mouth full,” Stupid. the little voice in the back of Sans’ brain reminded him. He resisted the urge to facepalm as he set the utensil down. “Slow down will you kid? There’s plenty of seconds.”

This statement actually caused the manic shovelling to stop as Grillby looked to Sans in wide-eyed surprise. “Murrr?” he asked his cheeks bulging with Mushroom pasta.

“Yeah, in fact-” Sans’ plate glowed with an aura of blue light as it hovered over to Grillby’s plate and dumped a healthy portion of its contents onto it. “I’m not as hungry as I thought I was. You can have some of mine.”

“Sans? Mind if we chat in the living room for a bit?” Gerson spoke up gently, having moved to the door in the brief time Sans had conversed with the little elemental.

“Sure thing.” Sans set his plate down close enough that Grillby could reach for it, but far enough to not make it look like he was essentially giving the befuddled elemental his whole dinner. “You know where to find me if you need me Grillby.” Sans assured him before stepping out.

“Here.” Gerson pressed the box into his hands before Sans had a chance to form a question. “They’ll be useful, just in case.”

Sans carefully opened the box to reveal a dozen or so metal rectangles, each the size of a domino each with a golden yellow gemstone set into the center of it.

“What the heck are these?” Sans asked, holding up one rectangle, rewarded with the image of a blazing fire shining from inside the stone depending on how the light caught it.

“Magic Suppressors.” Gerson replied gruffly, “Fire Magic Suppressors.”

Sans nearly dropped the box. “Gerson what the hell?!” he hissed, hoping that his long term house guest hadn’t heard the old turtle’s statement.

“Don’t let the bogey stories from the Big War scare you Sans, they’re not as bad as all that.” Gerson assured, his leathery face unchanging. “Any monster could overpower one of these with one good shot, but these should keep ambient fire magic down.”

“And how is an already squirrelly kid going to feel when he finds out I’ve got a box of these damn things?!” Sans retorted sharply. “He barely trusts me as it is!”

“Probably relieved, if I’m a betting Monster.” Gerson replied peering briefly over Sans’ shoulder towards the kitchen. “Most people forget, but short of Boss Monsters, Elementals are one of the most dangerous monsters in the Underground.”

“This isn’t a very funny joke Gerson,” Sans said, “I mean yeah the kid’s got an itchy trigger finger when he’s scared but-”

“Sans I saw his LVL.” Gerson interrupted. “I checked it when I gave you both food.”

Sans froze. He had always meant to check the boy’s level of violence but a part of him didn’t want to know. “How high?”

“Not as high as my own, or any Veteran’s but... far too high for a child to wield.” Gerson said, “Elementals are very disciplined but their power tends to go off-kilter when emotionally...” the old turtle paused to search for the words, “... emotionally distressed.” He finally settled.

“I’ve seen Elementals whip up storms or flood whole villages just from grief or anger. If I’m right, Grillby’s got enough power to burn all of Snowdin and half of Waterfall to ash,” Gerson said firmly,  “N’just by going by his behaviour in the kitchen and what you told me, I think he may already know that.”

“You think he’s still scared of me?” Sans asked.

“I think the poor boy’s scared to death of himself.” Gerson insisted.

Sans thought about that. “So what should I do? Tell the kid to stop feeling so much?” He asked sarcastically.

Gerson groaned, “Dammit Sans I said no such thing! All the suppressors are for is to protect you, Papyrus and any other monster in case Grillby looses his grip on his self control.” he said tersely

“You think it’s bound to happen?”

“I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already,to be perfectly honest..” Gerson sighed sadly, “It’s probably only a matter of time.”