#maybe a bit of Alphys x Sans in here???

[unknownzapy]

Author’s Note: I do not support nor condone the actions mentioned in this piece of writing and should stay purely in fiction. This prompt is for entertainment use only. If I missed any triggering topic, please tell me.

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Triggers with Red Bold are especially detailed in these Head-Canons. Viewer discretion is advised.

Trigger/Content Warnings:

Murder

Suicide

Gaslighting

Mental Abuse

Mass Extinction

7 Stages of Grief

Mental Breakdowns

Gatekeeping Trauma

Symptoms of Amnesia

Symptoms of Paranoia

Symptoms of Depression

Declining Mental Health

Implied use of Dark Humor

Declining Physical Health

Symptoms of Stockholm Syndrome

Symptoms of Derealization Disorder

Prompt: Sans The Skeleton (Undertale) with a Gender Neutral Reader who is the Player that did the Genocide Route. This could go either Romantic or Platonic.

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Sans, as a whole, finds you disgusting and revolting in all ways possible. As much as he doesn’t remember every single detail about whatever route you chose and restarted all over again, specifically Genocide in this case, all he knows is that he’s going off on what he can remember. This includes hunches and “bad feelings” when he’s close, or in the same area, with you.

The second time you open up a new game file after a RESET, Sans immediately can’t keep his eyes away from you and keep his distance. The air around you feels familiar, yet so ominous; whenever you come near, he instinctively backs away from you. He’s fairly apprehensive about you, but at the same time willing to talk to you if you hadn’t killed anyone…yet. If you did, he’ll probably tell you that it was out of self defense and make a snarky comment or joke towards you and not the monster.

Anyways, Sans catches on fairly quickly about your behavior. You want to harm/kill monsters, but you just can’t. You want to achieve a True Reset out of guilt, out of curiosity, out of boredom, whatever it is that fills you with, well, DETERMINATION. Whatever it is, The Skeleton has this weird feeling that, once you set free Monsterkind, you’ll destroy their hopes and dreams at their most vulnerable. Including his.

Majority of the time, he knows he can’t do a damn thing about you RESETing over and over again for whatever reason, but at the same time, a piece of him says that you’ll give him and everyone else a real, genuine happy ending. However, and let’s all be real here, Sans is already getting delusional about it.

The very moment you actually do a Genocide route for a second time though, Sans strangely puts his absolute all into the fight when you eventually come to Judgment Hall. He was skeptical about you at first, but took his chance at being patient. Weirdly enough, his attacks were more rough, more wild, less accurate, less within the code…that’s when it clicked. Sans slowly, but surely deviates from his usual laid back and lazy self to a shunned, hard working monster who wants answers. He jumps from blueprints and experiments to theories, lack of severe sleep, and living off of caffeinated coffee.

He doesn’t know why of all sudden he cares so much about you slaughtering everyone, despite claiming he “didn’t care anymore about what happens next.” Call it survival instinct or fight or flight, Sans is going with it to save himself from you, or whatever “allies” you have, but he tries not to dwell on that too much.

Throughout his search of trying to figure you out, his friends grow increasingly worried for him, especially. However, as much as they are worried, Sans brushes it off as “nothing to worry about” and cracks puns about his situation to loosen everyone up.

“I used to be able to pull all-nighters but now I can barely pull all-dayers.”

“People in sleeping bags are the soft tacos of the bear world.”

“I sleep with a knife under my pillow. You never know when someone is going to break in and give you a cake.”

Along with his sanity, Sans’ puns become increasingly deteriorating to questionable to outright concerning. Sure, he does care about the other monsters’ well-being as well, but he’ll give them tough love every once in a while, followed by a wink and a “self aware” hint, letting them do whatever they want with that information.

“I know I’ve been working harder than I usually would, but I wanted to make a change for once and take my little bros advice. Plus, Paps wouldn’t stop complaining ‘bout my sock pile. Anyways, don’tcha have a dinner date to go to?”

With decreased sleep now slapped onto him, Sans is quite dismissive about his attitude to the point where people either get annoyed or leave him alone, both knowing that Sans is better than this. All it takes is time, and as patient as he is, sometimes he wishes that you would RESET and make them forget about his changing behaviors. But you don’t. Knowing you, you want to see the end results about him as much as he does about you. But at the same time, his patience becomes thinner and thinner the more his fellow monsters beg and plead for him to know what’s wrong and offer to help him whatever’s bothering him.

…But he can’t. Sans knows he can’t reveal the truth. Even if he did, no one would believe him except a certain flower. Speaking of which, Sans did try speaking with other boss monsters about his particular predicament. Toriel was overwhelmed with grief and shock, Undyne was pissed more than ever and took her anger out on him verbally and physically, Asgore was more understanding because he knew how many times you’ve died before but still couldn’t comprehend you as a whole different person entirely, Papyrus is out of the question since Sans knows he couldn’t handle the same burden that he bears (plus he couldn’t see Pap dying again, even if it is fruitless anyway), and Mettaton is…well, Mettaton would most likely glorify the situation in hopes of having a better life in the underground and degrade you, the Player’s (and Frisk’s), existence.

Then there’s Alphys. I feel like both of these characters are in the same situation, whereas Sans’ story is hundred times worse than Alphys’. Alphys is to True Lab as much as Sans is to The Player, which makes them click instantly, even if the given circumstances aren’t entirely ideal. Sans being Sans, Alphys unlocked a new sense of humor for coping with hiding with the True Lab (and yes, she shared her secret after reluctantly hearing about Sans’ story since they share an interest in science. I feel like they’ll have a mutual understanding and friendship for each other afterwards).

The two go back and force with the darkest of jokes, morbid of puns, the list goes on. Though, it could only last for so long before something happens. That “something” being the suicide of Alphys. Sans would become shocked, albeit knowing it would happen eventually, deep down inside. Alphys did take it better than the others, although in an extremely toxic form.

Maybe it was his fault that Alphys died, only going towards her for personal comfort instead of genuine thought. At first, Sans was shocked at her suicide, surprisingly the only person to know about her death, excluding you. He wanted to take proper vengeance for her, but considering everything, it would be in vain but to continue living for her sake, chipping his mentality away more and more as he did so. After that very moment, the monster began to deny the very existence of you. Then His peers. Then His friends. His brother, too. Even himself.

Sans abruptly stops his little investigation about you and throws it all away, finding it all useless, considering you’ll just RESET all over again which will take him back to square one. He bottles all these intense emotions under wraps until he absolutely shatters, breaking down into heated tears of both hatred and anger and deep depression with him flinching at the slightest of movement from anyone around him. All happiness and dedication of surviving is now dissolved into guilt, rage, and paranoia.

Sans doesn’t have any reason to be alive anymore. Not if you’re still here, anyway. Even if you do “leave” after everything, after being “curious” enough, the after effects you made and mental scars you leave on him is immeasurable. He gaslights himself that he didn’t go through that kind of trauma, he gaslights himself that you never existed, he even gaslights himself that he’s perfectly “normal” and everything around him is “real as he can understand.”

Sans, after departure, still clings to you like a parasite, sadly. You’re the only thing that can control this timeline of his. He needs you. Your laws and actions are basically law to him now, even if it is worst case scenario. You’re more real than anything else to him.

He tries to fill this void in him, which is completely linked to instinct and survival. By doing so, he oftentimes takes from or harm others, unintentionally speaking, due to his utter lack of self control that comes with his desperation to feel “whole” again.

There are things that we need in life, and then things that we simply want. And with you, there’s no real line to that, which is why his lack of self control for living is so dangerous. If he feels like he needs something more than someone else wants something, then there’s a good chance he’s not going to back down. What it really is, rather than just a need to survive, it’s a need to live and experience the things around him, unironically speaking.

As fucked up as it is, Sans is devoid of his former self, a husk of twisted humor and unhinged mentality who would do anything to survive, even if it costs him to live off of the most dangerous creatures around him. All it takes is time to ease his way towards appreciating you a little more, right?

[battlemaiden13]

ola

Hello, Miss! It’s me again 😁. I’m back to my routine, and after reading other fics, including some of yours, I decided to drop by here again. I read some fics out there and, frankly, I was saddened and disappointed with some that are totally incomprehensible. At first, I thought the difficulty in understanding was due to my lack of comprehension skills, but I soon realized that some authors really don’t know how to write, or maybe they have peculiar ideas (not to say horrible). I swear I’m not picky and I read everything and more, but there are some fics that are true ruins.

In some cases, the author has a good idea but doesn’t know how to develop it (when that happens, I just ignore it and move on), or they simply don’t finish the work. I’m really looking for good works and I’m happy when I find them. I congratulate other writers, some of whom aim to finish their stories, and others that, even if unfinished, are very good. But, unfortunately, few fics are really good.

Due to my desire to read more Undertale fics with MC x Sans (AU), I managed to find your other works and saw how good you are at writing and how far you can go if you keep dedicating yourself. I read all your other fics and I was impressed, because they are good, nice, fluid, with good ideas, characters with striking personalities, and they have rhythm and good transitions, which makes it easy to understand both the ideas and the writing. They warmed my heart.

I think if I had to rank them among my top favorites, it would be like this:

Falling

The MAGE Project

Rules to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse

When Life Gives You Nothing (I didn’t read them in this order)

Talking about the first one, Falling is simply perfect: the personalities of the characters are good, the story is engaging and fluid, leaving nothing behind, and it is satisfying to read. From what little I could see, the world was well developed, and I liked it a lot. I would have liked to see more. I liked the concept so much that I went looking for other similar fics and found two good ones as well: Look What Happened to My Good Intentions and Wavering Integrity. New remix.

Now, about The MAGE Project: I loved the concept; the beginning was great and the writing was excellent, always maintaining the pace. I loved Edge, but it’s a shame that Red was a bit bland. Overall, I liked it, but I think there’s a lot of potential to be explored. In fact, I would love to see this work developed until the end, whether by someone else or by yourself.

About Rules to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse: I really liked it, I found it cute at the beginning, and the skeleton brothers are fanatics, in a good way. The rhythm and flow were spot on, and their personalities were also well done. I liked it a lot. It’s a pity that the Alphys thing didn’t interest me much, but it might have been just me not paying attention. I was surprised to see that you wrote a hot scene, I wasn’t expecting that. I didn’t know you wrote that kind of scene, but it was good to read and it matched the fic. I liked it and after reading it, I went looking for another appearance, and I found Dead Serious, which is in development and is very good as well.

Now, about When Life Gives You Nothing: I found the fic a bit rough (but I can’t say much since there are few chapters). I really liked it; the beginning is cliché, but with potential. It would be interesting to see Rus in action if it weren’t in House Next Door kkkkk. I went looking for similar fics, but I didn’t find any.

Overall, you’re a great writer with great potential, and I loved your works. Now, some questions: do you plan to finish any of these works? If so, will it be after you finish House Next Door? Or will you leave them orphaned? The first two really captured my curiosity and excited me a lot. If you decide to continue, I will definitely read them, and with your experience now, I believe the stories would be even better. I would really like to know more about them.

Now, please recommend good works for me to read that are as inspiring as others? (Preferably RS romance

) Here are some works I found after reading this writer’s perfections. Please read the tags if you’re interested.

Tied Between Bones https://archiveofourown.org/works/31480823/chapters/77871650 (Similar to House Next Door, very interesting, but there’s still a lot to develop. I had a good laugh and it’s a nice read, fluid, although with some rough transitions, but quite fluid).

Similar to Falling:

Look What Happened to My Good Intentions https://archiveofourown.org/works/26851141/chapters/68641644 (I cracked up laughing with this one, simply great).

Wavering Integrity. New remix. https://archiveofourown.org/works/31346432/chapters/77511623?view_adult=true (I liked this one, it’s interesting. I’d like to see how far the character’s revolution goes, and I’d really like to see Sans’ development to see if he ‘improves’. Beware for those who don’t like +18; generally, sex scenes don’t bother me, in this one, I even laughed).

Similar to Rules to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse:

Dead Serious https://archiveofourown.org/works/57775663/chapters/147722032?view_adult=true (This one really interested me, and I liked it. I wasn’t looking for HorrorTale, but SwapFell. But I loved it. I read up to chapter 14 and was glad to see it updated to chapter 24, which made me happy. After writing this, I’ll be going there to read it. But from the chapters I’ve read, this writer knows how to write well and with great fluidity. For now, it’s very good and interests me. I recommend it, and I hope the next chapters are good too).

Random:

The Skeleton Games https://archiveofourown.org/works/8700787?view_adult=true&view_full_work=true (I’m not very far, I must be on chapter 28/34 or something like that, or less. From the first chapter until now, I’m cracking up laughing, it’s really good, but I’m a little discouraged to continue reading because the protagonist is a vampire, and I’m not very interested in the subject. But, if you want to laugh, it’s quite funny).

(I looked for something similar to The MAGE Project, but I didn’t find anything).

(Note: in general, these works are not being posted frequently, except for Dead Serious, which has been updated recently. But surely, if some of them post something, I would love to read it).

Thanks for your attention. I apologize for the long message. Feel free to ignore it if you want. I’ll go read your last two released chapters rsrs. Again, sorry for the long message. Thanks, everyone!

13 : Hello 🙂

I agree that sometimes Fics can sometimes be a hit or miss. Authors can have great ideas and not execute them well or write in a style you might not enjoy (I’m sure I fall into both of these on multiple occasions) but the beauty is we can choose what we read. I’ve read some fics where I had to give it a few goes before I really started to enjoy them. 

Thank you so much for your kind words on my writing. I can definitely see my own improvement especially with House Next Door. I’m positive multiple people have tried to read it, got annoyed, bored, or even irritated at those first few chapters and put it down so I am thankful to everyone who stuck it out with me. 

I’m glad you like Falling so much. I have a lot of fun writing it as it is more angsty. I understand it’s not everyone's thing because it is a SlaveTale fic which, understandable, can be a bit iffy in content. I have another Slavetale fic idea in mind that I would love to work on in the future. I also agree with you that the characters in Falling feel more developed than some of my other stories. 

The MAGE Project is actually the one I think is my weakest so I’m happy people enjoy it. I agree that Red is a bit pulled back here, this was due to him trying not to cause any issues for monsters but it does sort of get him to fade into the background a bit. 

Rules to survive is one I had a lot of fun planning and writing. That spicy chapter is one of the first i’ve written but I want to do more. There are two more planned in this fic alone. One with just Syrup and one with both the brothers which I know won’t be some people's cup of tea but both will be entirely skippable just like the first chapter with Berry. 

When life gives you nothing is my experimental fic. It’s meant to be darker and cliche, I was going for an old horror movie vibe with it. I chose to do this one to explore Syrup’s yandere side more and give him the spotlight without the noise of everyone else. I understand it’s not everyone's thing as it is darker. 

I plan to finish all of these works and have plans to start new ones! All current fic’s I’m writing have an ending with the expedition of House Next door which I will be writing until I die. When Life Gives you nothing is going to have approx 30 chapters, MAGE is going to have around 40, Rules to survive the Zombie apocalypse will wrap up around 30 chapters and Falling has a planned run of 40 chapters. None of these stories are going to be orphaned. I’m actually planning on finishing Rules this year during November for National writers month and hopefully getting close to finishing Falling too. 

Thanks for your recs. I’ll have to check them out. Here’s some of mine:

If you like Falling or the Mafia in House next door Try:  Roses are Red, Gunpowder is Grey It’s a newer story but I am loving every second of it

For a nice zombie Underfell romance I suggest Brace for it the story inspired Rules as did the movie Zombieland. 

Bones picked clean is a fun harem where you run into Horrortale first which is a nice little twist and it’s written well. 

Making a Monster is a fantastic Harem and kicked started my own obsession with Money. Thanks @absurdmageart 

Don’t apologise for the long message. I loved it. Thanks for your nice words and recommendations I’ll definitely have to read them 😀

[eeby-beeby-saiki-k-fan-blog]

hey guys wanna see me try and brute force a saiki k undertale au

just a "which character would fit which role and why" type post,

spoilers for undertale

also be prepared for a really long post if/when you press keep reading, I might've had a bit too much to say about this

Kusuo could fit Frisk pretty nicely, there's this general vibe that Frisk's just being dragged through the story by the other characters. When they interact the narrator says something along the lines of "you tell [character] this" and that might be a pretty good interpretation of telepathy.

Akechi would be Chara, there's a popular theory that Chara is the narrator, Akechi played the part of narrator during the Urashima Taro play so there's that. They both speak pretty formally, Akechi also just straight up looks like Chara. That bug eyed stare and smile he usually has along with his hair cut makes him really remind me of them. Chara's very left up to interpretation so pretty much anyone could be Chara honestly.

Kusuke fits Flowey the best for sure, the whole "everything is a game" type mentality and everything. He could be warp instead of a flower, then maybe for the god of hyper death form he could be Mr K or something.

Teruhashi would either be Toriel or Mettaton. The whole having a massive fanbase thing could really easily make her Mettaton, her arrogant attitude is also pretty similar to Mettaton's. (btw this is not me hating on Teruhashi, that whole "girls are not allowed to like how they look or like attention" narrative people have is toxic) (just feel obligated to say that) I say Toriel because I'm really just not sure who else would be Toriel? Her savior complex could make it work.

I think Kuboyasu is gonna be Sans, has that general chill unless provoked type vibe you know?

Kaido would be Papyrus. This one's the most clear. Papyrus isn't delusional the same way Kaido is, but if Papyrus talked about dark reunion instead of joining the royal guard you'd have nearly the same character. Nendo as Sans would be pretty similar to how they interact in the anime, half a braincell between the two of them (it's Kaido's) Kaido and Kuboyasu being put together also just works, "sworn friends" and such.

Hairo would be Undyne, flaming passion and such.

Nendo would fit Monster Kid pretty well I think

I'd say the best fit for alphys would be Suzumiya Hii, since she acts the closest to alphys (BY THE WAY. I'm ignoring a lot of the relationships in Undertale. Alphys x Undyne is one of those, I mean Hairo x Suzumiya is a little weird.)

Yumehara is gonna be mettaton, this might seem a little out of left field but I'll explain my reasoning. A lot of this is just Mettaton's old diaries and his old house remind me of Yumehara, it's got that vibe y'know.

Mera would be Muffet, Muffet Mera. There was one post a while back that showed if you killed Muffet she dropped 0 gold. Also Mera definitely eats and hangs out with spiders just saying

Figuring out who Asgore would be is by far the hardest. I'm gonna say Matsuzaki, just the best idea I have. (btw this is one of those "ignore the relationships the role entails" things)

You know,,, I'm not sure how the monster/human dynamic would be translated here. One idea is psychics won the war against humans so like the humans are underground and the psychics fall into the mountain. This would make it so Aiura and Toritsuka could be the souls in this au (yeah only two souls). Considering that idea messes up the roles a bit though because of Kusuo Kusuke and Akechi, Kusuo and Kusuke are fine but Akechi isn't psychic I'm pretty sure.

An alternate idea for this dynamic: psychics underground humans on the surface. You could say that Kusuo was on the surface at first because he was "acting" as human. There's also that one theory that every Saiki k character is psychic, considering that makes this au a lot easier lmao

It's basically take your pick based on if you like the "everyone's psychic" theory or not

So the roles here are:

Frisk - Kusuo

Chara - Akechi

Asriel/Flowey - Kusuke

Toriel - Teruhashi

sans - Kuboyasu

PAPYRUS - Kaido

Jerry - Takahashi

Monster Kid - Nendo

Undyne - Hairo

Alphys - Suzumiya

Mettaton - Yumehara

Muffet - Mera

Asgore - Matsuzaki

I do have some alternate ideas though,

Kuboyasu as Undyne, Hairo as Asgore, Nendo as Sans, Kusuke and Makoto as Alphys and Mettaton respectively, I've had my fill for writing today though so that's it

anyways this au really doesn't work lmao

[oddsacky]

Ok ok I need to talk about an au

I was thinking of an Undertale x Payday au that I call Underpaid and it's basically like something causes the Payday universe to collide into the Undertale universe. Everything gets messed up and now the Payday characters are in the Undertale universe. (I'm putting the rest of this after the break cuz it's long)

When the player first starts. The characters act like themselves but are like "what the actual fuck is happening where the hell am I what am I wearing?" Throughout the game the characters start to act like the character they are replacing ie. if Dallas were to replace Sans, Dallas would randomly act more like Sans for a bit before getting confused and going back to normal. It's like the game is confused and is trying to correct the new characters so they act like the old ones.

The "backstory" would be basically the same except the cops replace the humans and the Payday gang replaces the monsters. On the surface, the gang thought the government was corrupt and tried to be modern day Robin Hoods while the cops saw them as thieves. They fight and the gang is locked underground without anything. Their weapons and tools are confiscated.

As for who is who, here's what I have so far. I'll edit this post in the future if I make any changes.

Frisk: a basic cop like maybe a security gaurd or one of the blue cops you see on like normal difficulty.

Chara: not sure yet. I played around with the idea of it being the Dentist but that makes no sense at all since he was never close to being a good person ever. Then maybe Bob McKendrick cuz the gang wanted him to become mayor but I don't really know. For now, no one is Chara yet.

Toriel: Right now I like the idea of Chains being Toriel, though I have no clue who would be Asgore if Chains were to be Toriel. I really want Chains to be Toriel tho

Napstablook: I don't really have anyone in mind. Once I thought Hoxton should be Napstablook then I thought Wolf should be Napstablook then I gave them different roles and now I don't know who Blooky should be.

Sans: Dallas because he has a brother. Also he is kinda memed by his fandom.

Papyrus: Houston because he has a brother.

Undyne: Hoxton. He's got that fighting spirit like Undyne. Also it fits with who I replace Alphys with. They gay for each.

Alphys: Wolf. The both make machines and Wolf can be shy and quiet at times.

Mettaton: Sentry turret. The sentry is sentient I make the rules. I know in Undertale it's implied Mettaton is a ghost fused with a robot body but I want it like this.

Asgore: I have no clue who I'd pair with Chains tbh. Maybe Chains's girlfriend from the John Wick trailer but like she only appears for a couple seconds and nothing is really known about her.

Asriel & Flowey: I like the idea of Bain being Asriel but now that I think of it, it doesn't make the most sense (not that this au makes any sense at all) I really want Bain to be Asriel though so he is Asriel. As for Flowey, I can't think of anything that could represent Bain. My friend suggested her "oc" (more like Bain's alter ego or the alien part of him Bain is an alien it is canon please believe me) which I do like the sound of. If I can't think of anything better I might go with him. His name is Beo. I also thought of like a blue flower but Beo is more interesting.

Grillby: Gage. He ends up working at a bar which he isn't too pleased about but makes due cuz he can't really do anything about it.

Mad Dummy: I don't really know maybe someone stuck in a Bulldozer suit. Maybe Rust. He's grumpy and insignificant.

Muffet: Totally Vlad. Was gonna be Gage because he sells stuff but Vlad totally fits Muffet's role. He's crazy and he has a bakery.

Annoying Dog: Seal because my au and I love seals

If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. This is such an incomplete au and I would love to hear what others think.

Ok like one person is gonna understand this au but I thought I'd put it out there because why not

[circus4apsycho8]

HI KLOAT MOM, THIS IS TEM FROM THE HC,,. I WOULD LIKE TO POLITELY REQUEST GRILLBY OR MTT RESORT DATE WITH SANS X TEMMIE (as in, me temmie. not actual ut temmie) IF YOU CAN, THANK YOU ILY PLATONICALLY U COOL <33333

Hey chobleb! SO GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU! Of course you can <333 Ilyt!! You're cool as well :DDDD

I decided to write this in second person so it can be applicable to everyone. Plus I feel like I’m bad at other POVs haha. This is your pretty generic uwu-sans-asks-you-out-on-date-in-the-underground oneshot but I still hope you enjoy!

Pairing: Sans x Reader

Warnings: mild cussing maybe i dont really remember

…

It’s not even time to leave and today is already a disaster.

Clothes are strewn about your room, Undyne is trying to calm you down, Alphys is going through your wardrobe and you’re in the midst of a breakdown.

“I can’t do this,” you say, clutching your chest. “I-I-“

“You can, nerd!” she says. “Just take a deep breath. It’s just Sans, and you’re only going out for lunch. That’s all.”

You exhale shakily, butterflies swirling in your tummy. “I’m so nervous, though…”

“That’s just b-because you’re overthinking th-things,” Alphys chimes in as she pulls something out from your closet.

“Exactly. Once you get there, you’ll realize how chill it’ll be,” Undyne says, patting you on the back a few times. “Looks like Alph found an outfit for you. Go try it on.”

You sigh, standing from the side of your bed. Alphys smiles softly as she hands you a dress. It’s an older one – one that Mettaton had designed for you a while back. It was too fancy for most occasions, but not for a date at the MTT Resort. You take it and enter your bathroom before changing into it.

Huh. It…actually looks kind of decent. Well, you expect it would – after all, it was tailored to fit your specific figure. The colors compliment your skin and bring out the color of your eyes. It’s flattering, but not too showy.

You step out of the bathroom, and are met by quiet gasps from your friends.

Undyne says your name softly. “That. That is the one.”

“It’s p-p-perfect! You look so pretty!”

“Thanks,” you mutter, too embarrassed to say anything else.

“Now, wear these shoes…and bam! You look great!” Undyne declares. Alphys nods in approval before she comes up behind you and pushes you out the door of your room.

“N-Now go wait downstairs! Sans will be here any s-second now!”

You roll your eyes as Undyne ushers you down near the front door. You’re too nervous to sit, so you walk around while fidgeting. Mind racing, you notice just how fast your heart is beating.

It’s then you hear a knock emanating from your front door. You suck in a deep breath before gathering you shattered nerves and opening the door.

There stands Sans, one hand hidden behind his back. He’s dressed in a light blue button-up and dark dress pants.

“hey,” he greets, a faint blue staining his zygomatic arches. He smiles, using his free hand to rub the back of his cervical vertebrae. “wow…you look so pretty…”

Your eyes widen as the blush returns at full force. “Oh…thank you. You look handsome,” you compliment, offering him a small smile.

He chuckles in response. “thanks. oh…these are for you.” He pulls his hidden arm out from his back, revealing a bouquet of flowers that must have come from Asgore’s garden.

You gasp in delight. “Sans! You didn’t have to…” You take the bouquet, staring at it in fascination. Such lovely flowers! “Thank you! I’ll go put them in a vase quickly.”

You quickly go to set the bouquet somewhere safe before you hurry back to the doorway. Sans offers a hand to you as you shut the door.

“may i?”

A giggle escapes you as you take his hand. “You may.”

“good, ‘cause i know a shortcut.”

“Yes, your teleportation. We know this.”

He winks. “let’s go. don't wanna be late to our reservation.”

With that, you feel the world fading beneath your feet as he whisks you through the void. Your head begins to spin as you feel the world rematerializing once more.

“Whew,” you say, your head spinning. Sans slips an arm around your waist to keep you upright.

“you okay?” he asks.

You take a moment to gather your bearings, not yet noticing his arm. “Yeah, I’m good now.”

“good,” he says softly, releasing his grip on you. You smile, noticing that the butterflies in your stomach have settled. Undyne was right – it’s just Sans, and you’re comfy with him.

Sans gently loops his phalanges through your fingers, and you don’t pull away.

…

Dinner was – well, it was fantastic. It was a teeny bit awkward at first, but soon enough the two of you were laughing and just overall having a nice time. The food was good, and Sans insisted on paying much to your dismay.

“hey, there’s one more spot i wanna take you to,” Sans says, tugging you out of the restaurant. You giggle, following him.

“Where are we going?”

“it’s a surprise. close your eyes?”

You obey, closing your eyes as he teleports the two of you through the void once more.

“keep your eyes closed. i'll guide you to the spot.”

“Okay. I trust you!”

With that, Sans loops his arm around your waist and guides you through the area. You try to figure out where you are by using your other senses. Judging by the sound of rushing water, and lack of a freezing cold temperature, you can assume you’re in Waterfall. But where is Sans taking you?

“k, you can open them now.”

You open your eyes, and gasp. Sans has taken you to a dark cavern filled with echo flowers, a small stream, and gems embedded in the walls and ceiling. The only illumination here is provided by the echo flowers.

“I don’t think I’ve been here before,” you note, smiling. You turn to Sans, studying how his bones are cast in the soft blue light of the flowers.

“it’s a secret hideout my bro and i have. i don’t think anyone else comes here.”

“That’s crazy,” you note, lifting the skirt of your dress a bit so you can kneel in front of an echo flower. You smile as Sans settles next to you.

“These flowers are so cool,” you note, gently touching one of the flower’s petals. It softly echoes back what you just said. “I wonder how they work? I mean, I understand it’s, well, magic, but still. It’s so incredible…”

You trail off, studying the flower for a moment later before you glance at Sans once more. He’s gazing at you with soft eyelights.

“you’re so beautiful,” he mumbles, tone soft as raises his right hand to cup your cheek.

Your blush returns tenfold as you melt into his touch. You press his hand against your skin and smile.

“Thank you,” you reply, holding his gaze and scooting closer to him and wrapping your arms around his neck. “You know, you look so cute all dressed up.”

He chuckles lightly, brushing your cheek with his other hand. “thanks.”

Now, you’re so close that your nose is lightly pressed against his nasal bone. You still haven’t dropped your stare, and soon enough, Sans leans forward, pressing his teeth against your lips.

[smells-like-mettaton]

Papyrus 6 for the sensory prompts

Rating: G Word Count: 1163 Prompt: Walking through the woods Read on AO3: here

---

Papyrus stalked through the woods behind his cardboardhydrate station. The tightly-packed trees were their own kind of puzzle, forcing him to duck low-hanging branches and carefully step over gnarled roots hidden in the snow.

Still, even a maze like this could benefit from some more intentional puzzles. The kind only a master puzzler could craft! After all, if humans truly were as sneaky as Undyne said, they would hardly take the main path. That’s why Papyrus had to think outside the cardboard box!

He pulled his MTT-brand chainsaw from his inventory and revved it loudly. Ahhhh. Nothing like the smell of gasoline in the morning.

The trees themselves were off-limits, but it was easy enough to buzz down their lower limbs. Papyrus worked up a sweat while sawing and stacking them near the base of one particularly thick tree.

See, his cardboardhydrate station, while while great for a joke, was only a decoy. His real station was expertly assembled in the heights of this pine, where only a monster with the power to levitate could reach it.

He balanced the wood in his arms and hovered up, up, up to the top of the tree, where his home away from home greeted him.

The structure was crafted mostly from wood he’d harvested himself, though a few sections of the ceiling were fortified with bone attacks. The large, open windows let in the freezing breeze, but that was an occupational hazard of being a sentry. The chill kept him alert, while the open space allowed him to see across all of Snowdin Forest.

Including Sans resting against the giant door at the end of the woods, only moving to rap his knuckles against the stone. Papyrus couldn’t chide him, since technically Sans couldn’t miss a human passing through if they opened the door and knocked him over. And since chiding him would require explaining how Papyrus had seen him in the first place.

No one knew about his secret station, not even Sans. (Probably. His brother was so secretive, it was hard to know what secrets he was secret-ing. Not to be confused with secreting, which Sans also did.)

Anyway! Sans had never snuck into the secret station to leave socks on the floor. That was good enough proof for Papyrus.

Papyrus dropped the bounty of branches on his desk. Now the real fun could begin!

He summoned several blue attacks, setting them to hover over the desk in a rectangular fashion, and then created a base of solid bones. The raw branches rolled along the base bones like a conveyor belt, and the blue attacks shaved off the bark until they were flat like planks.

“Darling, I can show you where my love hides, it’s a heartbeat, on a hard drive~!” he belted Mettaton’s newest hit as he manually sanded the wood. He could be as loud as he wanted up here—his voice wouldn’t carry to the ground below.

“Perfect!” He beamed, brushing the sawdust off his gloves.

He’d need to sweep later, but for now, it was time to assemble the pressure-sensing part of the pressure plates. With a few springs, a little bit of magic, some wires Undyne had found in the dump…

…

...Papyrus jumped when his phone alarm went off. Had it really been three hours already?

“Well, time does fly when you’re having fun!”

He grinned proudly at his stack of color-changing pressure plates. When he tapped one, its pattern cycled from a blue X to a red O. Definitely worth the three hours of testing and fiddling with the rusty components.

Hmm, maybe if he built an electrolysis device to remove the rust first next time… no, that would take even longer. If only he had electricity magic like the great Doctor Alphys! Maybe somewhere on her UnderTube channel she…

No, he was getting distracted again!! Electrolysis and other time-saving measures could wait. He had all the ingredients for today’s puzzle, and he still needed to install it before his shift ended.

“Farewell, Castle Papyrus!” He saluted his station with hand, the other arm balancing the pressure plates against his hip. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see them flashing with the contact. Were they still too sensitive? Should he calibrate them again first…?

He was hesitating! Undyne would never hesitate!!

He leapt from the treetop station, using blue magic to slow himself before he hit the ground. The snow gave a satisfying crunch beneath his boots.

“Alright, time to—”

He froze. Standing on the newly-cleared path in front of him was Doggo. A half-burned dog treat dangled from his fingers.

“Papyrus? Where did you come from… and where did you go?” Doggo squinted, his dark eyes darting back and forth.

“Nowhere!” Papyrus waved. He could have stood still and silent, but that would be rude to his future guard-brother. “You didn’t see anything!”

It was a hopeful statement, more than an order or a question.

Doggo raised his treat to his lips and let out a puff of smoke. “You know me. If it’s not moving, I don’t see it.”

“And I respect that about you!” Papyrus jogged over and slung an arm around his shoulders. That way even if Doggo couldn’t see him, he would still know he was there. “You wouldn’t tell anything you didn’t not-see to my brother, would you?”

Doggo’s eyebrows scrunched.

“Didn’t… not… uh, no? I think? I don’t really talk to Sans, anyway. He’s always appearing places without moving!”

“I know! I can hardly get him to move at all!”

Sans had probably fallen asleep in front of that door without his cool and energetic brother to keep him vigilant. Maybe Papyrus would forego puzzle-building tomorrow to keep him company. It was about time for them to recalibrate their already completed puzzles, anyway.

“And, uh, you won’t tell the other guards about…” Doggo waved his dog treat. Ash dropped to the ground and fizzled in the snow.

“Of course I won’t tell them you found my super secret human-diverting trail!” Papyrus grinned, making sure to vibrate his skull just enough for Doggo to see.

“Uh. Sure. ...That’s what this is?”

“It will be! I still have to install the puzzles.” Papyrus waved his stack of pressure plates. “You can have the honor of helping, if you would like! As long as you keep any ashes away from my delicate craftsmanship—wait, could fire improve this trap? No one would expect fire in Snowdin! If the human has to dodge flames while stepping on the correct plates, they’ll be confounded for sure! Nyeh heh heh!!”

Doggo bit off the end of his burning treat thoughtfully.

“If I help with your puzzle, will you take me for a walk after?”

“I don’t see why not! Walking is great for your bones!”

Papyrus let go of Doggo, dashing to scope out the best area for the puzzle.

Doggo jogged behind.

“Bones? Can I have a bone??”

“Don’t push your luck!!”

[jamestrmtx]

Fairytale Complex - [Undertale | Sans x Reader]

[Gender Neutral, Frisk's Parent Reader | Slow Burn]

Chapter Twenty Two | Another Medium (Part 2 of 4)

[First] | [Previous] | [Next]

"Hurry, ren. We're gonna be late!"

You smile down at Frisk and watch as they tug at the edge of your shirt to try pulling you along with them.

The door's left open, and even though those meant to pick you up for the event aren't here yet, they still urge you to go outside and wait.

"It's only seven, honey." Your thoughts drift back to your video call and Sans's most recent text message, letting you know half an hour later that he'd be here soon. "We've got a few minutes left." You grab their hand and put a stop to their energy, facing their eyes. "Are you that excited about starting school?"

They nod and grin wide. "Even more, if you're gonna be working there, too!"

Your smile falls as you remember the folder Sans had given you. It had been thrown into the farthest corner of your bookshelf that same day, and you'd been too reluctant to look at it any more ever since. You didn't want to take their kindness and help for granted, just as much as you didn't want to forget about your reasons for learning more about monsters. Your godmother was right in terms of you needing to understand them more, so you've established it upon yourself to bring that up during your first, official date night with the skeleton. Understanding the changes being made to the Underground could aid you with the slim chance of finding a way to either halt or delay it from becoming a big tourist attraction, and you could finally be more clear and upfront about your feelings related to the dream -- even if all of that was easier said than done. Not only had you crossed far too many boundaries with him already, but you were still keeping your dubious relationship with him, all while continuing to be wary of him and everyone else for their past. The subtle but no less irate light to his gaze when having your aunt bring up the the Judgement Hall had been more than sufficient for you to try something -- or at least, assist him and every other monster with that process.

In short, hypocrisy's absorbing you bit by bit, and today's your very first attempt at trying to break free from that. Whether you succeed or not doesn't matter. Giving it a shot, on the contrary, does. Even the slightest amount of closure achieved with your research could help in setting your thoughts straight, and -- perhaps -- to finally stop yourself from comparing monsterkind with Jerry.

To put it this way: you couldn't allow yourself one thing if you were allowing the other to continue happening.

After all, why were you willing to engage in a relationship with someone like Sans, when you were still far from forgiving and much less forgetting Jerry over abandoning Frisk for so many years?

Why were you willing to befriend someone like Alphys, who'd been close to ending up in jail due to the failed experiments made on those of her own kind?

Why were you willing to book a night at Mettaton's hotel, knowing he'd once set Frisk into danger greater than any other monster you knew had -- Undyne being a close second?

Even someone like Papyrus brought harm to them once!

"Ren," Frisk calls out, tugging your hand. "You look angry. Are... Are you okay?"

You nod and let out a breath, composing yourself. "I'm fine, honey."

"Are you still thinking about avenging me?"

Your eyes shoot wide open at that, and you can't avoid suspecting they might have the capability of reading your mind.

Regardless of their word choice, you were -- in a sense -- wanting to avenge them from anyone who'd once caused them harm, be it Jerry, the monsters, or the loud and nosy neighbour from next door wondering why Frisk enjoyed playing with action figures just as much as they did playing with princesses.

"Ren!"

Hearing their whine of concern, you snap out of it and look down to see they've let go of your hand, both their arms now outstretched and in wait for your embrace.

"Do you want a hug?"

Your smile returns at that, albeit a bit more melancholic compared to the first time. You get down to their height and pull them in for a hug, sighing when you have them safe in your hold; it feels right to have them close and in your care, no matter how much your mind insists otherwise. The question you brought up back at the Judgement Hall still feels like the most subconscious part of your mind had possessed you, insisting you turn back to how you used to be after Frisk's fall.

"You don't need to protect me that much!" they say, letting go. "I... I know all the monsters well, so I'd tell you if any one of them's bugging me. You don't need to hate them for my sake, and you don't have to compare them to dad, either." Without a doubt, if humans still had the capability of using magic and spells, you would label them a mind reader. "You should get to know them on your own first, and not just based on who they are to me. Because if that's really all up to me, then the only one I don't really like much is..."

At that, they stop; they bring a finger to their chin and tap it twice, delving deep in their thoughts along the way.

"Huh..." Frisk taps their chin again and their gaze turns furrowed, scrunching up the more they think about it. "I mean, I don't really know if I dislike any of them... I just know I wanna have friends!"

You're compelled -- if not, urged -- to argue against that, though your heart stops you from spilling any of those thoughts out. Still, your mind attempts to push through it. Personal feelings couldn't cloud your judgement, if that meant it could bring harm to your child.

"Even if they-"

Hearing the engine rumbling as Papyrus parks close by the sidewalk is a blessing in and of itself; the aforementioned date night with his brother can't get here any sooner. You need to sort your thoughts out once and for all. Almost half a year of waltzing with the seemingly never-ending issue of Frisk's journey and the bonds they made through it was far too much. If you were slowly making friends with those same people too, then you needed to stop this at once. No matter how much you wanted to avoid said confrontation, that had to be done -- for both CPS and reasons beyond.

"You're right." You huff, bring a hand to your forehead, and go lower to massage the brim of your nose. Not a moment after, you fix your glasses, look back to their side, and form a smile. "Thank you, dear."

• • •

You close your eyes just before the monster presses a damp cotton ball to your wound.

Isopropyl makes it sting immediately, yet you're too busy with your thoughts to care about it that much.

"You okay?" Sans asks, meeting your eyes when you open them. "You've been quiet since we got 'ere."

"I'm okay, but..." You think back to how you greeted him with a wave, right as you did with his brother. While the monster before you didn't seem to mind it, you can't avoid the thought of how you used to be with Jerry. It was easier to be more affectionate back then, and it was easier still greeting him with a kiss -- be it a simple one on the cheek or a quick one on the lips. Now, you can't so much as imagine the prospect of doing that with your new partner without overthinking or feeling stressed about it. "I was wondering if we... if we should maybe keep our relationship private -- f- for now?"

He finishes wrapping the bandages and fixes them tight before replying with, "That's fine with me. Did you watch the video?"

"No, I'm..." You grow short of breath at the thought of how many people have likely seen it by now -- how many times it's been shared, and how many more discussions and heated arguments have revolved around it. "I'm too scared to."

You can't bring yourself to look at him any longer, so his expression falls unknown as he suggests watching it together, a question you answer to with a quiet and mumbled 'sure'.

Sans proceeds with a nod and stores all the items used back into the first aid kit before taking out his phone, settling down in bed, and holding your hand with his free one. "Really sure?" he asks, squeezing it once. You reply with an even quieter 'yes' and watch in silence as he clicks on the link sent by what you assume is several people, based on how Undyne, Brenda, and even the man from the train station -- now his friend and your co-worker -- have messaged him the same information, all three left unread. The one he chooses is farther back and dated with yesterday, this one sent by Jerry.

It plays in an instant and the first thing to appear is Asgore's garden, while murmurs are what compose the audio as the one filming shows himself around a field of trampled flowers, these now a mess of broken pots, thrashed earth, and missing rocks. A few others make him company and engage in small talk, though it ends quickly when one of them shouts for everyone to 'get over here quick'. The group does as told, leading for the cameraman to rush along with them out of the garden and into the Judgement Hall. The audio grows quiet as he ventures further, steps and voices now discreet as he films a fuzzy image of two people sitting at one of the benches laid around, with the exception that one sits on top and has their arms wrapped firm and tight around the other. Multiple people urge the cameraman to approach the scene more, making him show you and Sans kissing, albeit of a blurry quality with how much he has to zoom in so as to not be caught. Even the noise is recorded with how silent everything else is, this one mostly composed of hitched breaths and clothing shuffling against each other as you hug him closer. Thankfully, no kissing noises are recorded, something you assume is due to him having a shapeable skull rather than lips, along with how slow and careful your actions are.

The video ends when the kiss does, and it leaves you in the same silence created right before clicking on it.

Regardless, Sans opens up the page it was posted on to reveal more information about the creator.

'Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this stuff? This is the future that awaits us, if we continue to act as if we can live peacefully with these people. Opposing these changes is necessary, if we wish to keep our normalcy. Casual make outs with a being so far from human shouldn't be the norm of our world', reads the caption.

Below, some of the replies read from ones saying the poster isn't the only one who shares those thoughts, to ones who've taken the time to write an entire paragraph about the situation.

'🤢🤮'

'Absolutely not.'

'No, you're not. This is outright hideous.'

'Click here to see my 👄 HOT 🔥 noods 🍝: www.uhohspaghettios.xd'

'Wow, this is just like 1984.'

'Next thing you know, we'll be the ones living in the Underground.'

'I need eye bleach ASAP!!! 😱'

'Yeah, no. Hard pass on whatever the hell I just watched. Why did you even film this?'

'That skeleman is nothing but a closeted cradle-robber. Anyone who's met (Y/N) knows how naïve and childish they are, and them dating someone like that screams bad news. Forget that he's a monster, people! What's more important here's how he's got a liking for them despite that gap -- both mentally AND physically. He should be ashamed for bringing their reputation even further down with this video. At this point, I have trouble believing they'll ever recover from all this.'

'...Ok, but...... Am I the only one who finds this kinda.................. Hot? 👀💦'

'Of course, even a monster would try to have his way with someone like them. Look at how they're dressed!'

'To be fair, you have to have a very high IQ to understand how wrong this stuff is. The degeneracy infesting the Surface nowadays is extremely subtle, and without a solid knowledge of social sciences, most of the immorality will go over a typical person's head. There's also the skeleton's nihilistic outlook, which is deftly woven into his characterisation -- his personal philosophy draws heavily from George Orwell literature, for instance. People like us understand this stuff; we have the intellectual capacity to truly appreciate the depths of these social rejects, to realise that they're not just ridiculous -- they say something deep about LIFE and SOCIETY. As a consequence, people who see nothing wrong with this truly ARE idiots -- of course they wouldn't appreciate, for instance, the humour in the skeleton's existential catchphrase "Genocide is wrong", which itself is a cryptic reference to Er*n Yeag*r from Att*ck on Tit*n. I'm smirking right now, just imagining one of those addlepated simpletons scratching their heads in confusion as our fight against this backwards evolution unfolds itself on their phone screens. What fools... How I pity anyone who disagrees with you and tries to defend this behaviour. 😂'

At the bottom of it all, a neglected comment reads:

'Not only are you and your companions trespassing in an unsafe location, but your recording shows clear evidence you were damaging former King Asgore Dreemurr's property. You have also chosen to film these people without their knowledge despite them being in a private area, and uploaded the footage to a massive social media platform, as well. This is punishable by law, and I will not hesitate to stand for these people, if they decide to file a lawsuit against you.'

What stands out the most goes beyond the commenter's name, as his profile picture is what captures your attention first, regardless of how well-dressed he appears in the image and how small it is without clicking on it. Sans seems to share the same thought as you, as he clicks on the man's account without thinking twice. It takes some time to load, but when it does, your mouth gapes and you find yourself at a complete loss for words.

'Gerardo "Jerry" Gonzalez Gutierrez del Valle. Family practice lawyer since 20XX. Co-founder of the first Alcohol and Smoking Helpline for monsters. Former quarterback for Ebott U's Football League,' his bio reads.

You're overcome by what feels like an hour of silence before you can process what you've read. The age-old experience of reviewing material from your textbook at three thirty in the morning arrives when you try to read through his profile a second time, then a third. Even his pictures are difficult to process, these a variety of him posing with his co-workers at the newly-opened helpline building, screenshots of his progress with quitting alcohol and his strike of days and months sober, images of him in different suits, and -- last but not least -- a couple of Throwback Thursdays from his glory days, featuring both high school and college memories. It's hard to decide which feeling out of multiple is stronger than the rest, as jealousy combines with the slightest thing you expect out of this discovery: being reminded of the good ol' days. Guilt arrives next when growing aware of your current relationship with the one sitting next to you, even if it's only the thought of how happy you used to be with the man in those pictures before everything went haywire.

"You're... You're seeing this too, right?"

You hear him chuckle and see him agree with a nod, though you can't exactly fall back down to Earth again; were this a dream, you would accept it as such.

"Yeah." The monster looks you over once before adding, "And am I imagining it, or did I catch you smilin' at 'im just now?" He winks.

"So you're telling me you're really not surprised by this, at all?"

"...Touché."

You stand up and give your back to him, irked by his assumption despite him being nothing close to serious about it. "But, please don't think I still like him." Your hands turn into fists at the thought of going back with someone like him, no matter his current intentions. "I still haven't forgiven him, and I still..." Bile rises to your throat as your stomach churns wildly. "I still hate him." Then, you take a pause to gather strength. "And maybe that's a strong word, b- but... It's hard for me to forget that's the same man who once accused me for every little thing that wasn't 'normal' with Frisk, from them running away the first time, to them refusing to call him dad -- even when I never prevented them from visiting him, and e- even when he stopped visiting them first." Your chest shakes as you huff. "I... I still dislike him, and I really hate that I remembered good things about him just now."

Your mouth refuses to shut up and makes you continue on with, "So if I still can't forgive him, how can I make a decision for CPS with so many of you and in so short of a time? I still can't decide what to do, no... no matter how much I've learnt about everyone else." Your throat turns dry, and you find it difficult to swallow. "Hell, it was only yesterday I finally gave into one of my doubts. I thought it twice before asking if you wanted to kiss, but it'd been in my mind for a long while before that."

"You're sayin' the kiss was you decidin' to trust me?"

"Yes."

He scoots closer to your side and furrows his gaze.

"Even after that dream, and even though I started it?"

"Y... Yes." You do the same as him and smile. "I trust you, and... And I know the dream's likely just me overthinking this. One thing's spilling the truth when you're drunk, and one thing's getting... too caught up in your fears -- to the point where you have these warped dreams about someone else, no matter how much they mean to you."

His irises soften in their light, and a hint of culpability seems to fall on him. "Then I'm sorry for bringin' your ex into this." You sit back down with him and hold his hand again. "It wasn't right."

"It's okay."

"Doesn't look that way."

Before you know it, you're held by your lower back, pulled close, and brought down in bed.

He stays on top, gaze focused on yours rather than on your lips or anywhere else suggesting something more.

"Have you found that help yet? Counseling, I mean." His gaze remains the same despite having changed topics so abruptly. "How're ya doin', puddin'?"

"Bubbles and Brenda suggested two recently, but I... I still haven't gotten around to calling either one of them."

"Want me to make you company while you try that now? We've got time."

"...Kiss me first, please?"

He lowers more and presses his teeth to your neck.

"Gladly."

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[fandomfriend]

OoF crack au idea

Ok, so for people in the undertale fandom, fanfiction is typically really focused on the skeletons (+ gaster sometimes). I mean, I think the fact that we made so many fandom-wide aus is incredible, but it can feel a bit one note on occasion. 

That’s why I highly recommend “Ocean on Fire”, by @theninjamouse on AO3. This fic is an amazing Grillby x reader. The reader is named, technically, but it’s just that she is going by her last name “Shore”. This earned the ship the name Shorby. Without getting into spoilers, the fic is incredibly good, and I’ve enjoyed it since the first chapter.

Now, since I don’t know how much of this may count as spoilers, and because I ramble, I’ll put the rest under a read-more.

So, not too long ago I sent Mouse an ask basically talking about how I was looking at papercraft models for Pokemon and decided Flareon and Vaporeon reminded me too much of Shorby. Aside from the obvious thing of fire elemental and fire pokemon, Shore also has huge water connections. First, she surfs, even working at the surf shop and giving some of the Undertale crew lessons. Also, (spoilers) she is a mage who can manipulate water, likely due to distant aquatic monster heritage. So between the water links, and the fact that the Vaporeon papercraft came with a surfboard, I really like the connection, and began thinking of au possibilities. NinjaMouse approved of a Pokemon au, so I’m here to tell my thoughts.

To start with, the au would probably be Shoregrillster, a.k.a. a ship between Shore, Grillby, and Gaster. (For context, in the fic Grillby and Gaster were together before Gaster disappeared.) I was thinking this because a) I like the dynamic between the three, and b) I needed a reason for Pokemon and OoF to intersect. If anyone could make that happen, it would be the mad scientist. If people think Sans could grab au versions of himself, Gaster could do something similar here.

So, I have a handful of Ideas for how this could go down, split into two categories. Option 1: Shore and/or Grillby temporarily become their respective pokemon. Option 2: Gaster somehow makes/ summons pokemon into our world. Both options have potential for hijinks.

In Option 1: It would probably go down similarly to the side fic “A Scientist, a Bartender, and a Fool”, where Gaster turned Shore into an otter. In the fic, the set up was that Gaster tried to make Shores magic stronger, and accidentally pushed her monster heritage to the surface, making her into a form better suited to that. So in this au, it would likely be something similar. My thought is that Gaster would see something kinda like the Pokemon franchise and try to see if anything from there is recreatable. (Maybe start with some of the moves pokemon could do before trying to apply science to the actual pokemon?) Either way, he ends up turning his partners into eeveelutions, probably because when his machine tried to find magic to use for pokemon recreation, It latched onto the two closest matches to pokemon types. 

Of course, the plot for this one would probably go similarly to the side fic, just with the added bonus of Grillby being changed too. Also, some extra fun from Grillby and Shore having new biology. For example, Grillby would now have completely internal flames, so theoretically he could go into water. Shore would just get to enjoy basically being an otter, but bigger and with fins and gills. Also, some fun from trio trying to keep people from finding out why Shore and Grillby aren’t at work.

Now, Option 2: This one has all sorts of fun possibility! This one would probably be the result of Gaster getting interested in either artificially making monsters or meeting alternate universes. Maybe while talking with Sans or Alphys, one of them made a comment that set him off on a tangent. Either way, Gaster probably wasn’t specifically aiming for pokemon, he just miscalculated and accidentally made/ summoned pokemon. 

This is where the fun comes in, as the three of them need to work out how to care for these weird little “monsters” without people learning how they got there. It helps that most of the world wouldn’t know that the pokemon aren’t monsters unless they got into an encounter or someone kept records of all monsters. 

I really like this idea because it opens the door for Gaster to also get his own pokemon. In option 1, he still needed to be able to reverse the change. But in this one, he can also get his own thematically appropriate pocket monster. 

I don’t have any big plot ideas, but I have been thinking of various disconnected scenes that would be fun.

- Shore and Grillby in the kitchen, panicking over how to feed their new pets

- (suggested by Mouse) Vaporeon and Shore surfing together, because yes

- Grillby working at the bar, then realizing Flareon followed him and having to keep his large fire dog out of sight of patrons, with ensuing hijinks

- Gaster getting worn out trying to fix his mistake, with the other two caring for their disaster scientist.

- Having to explain what happened to maybe 2 or 3 other people, either because they need help, or because someone found out on accident.

I did some thinking on what pokemon would best fit Gaster, and I had several ideas that would all be pretty fun. I’m honestly not sure which one I like best.

The simplest idea would be to give Gaster his own eeveelution. I would personally pick Espeon. Mainly because Psychic type seems like a good fit, and Umbreon’s associations with poison and the moon didn’t seem quite right to me. On the other hand, Espeon is considered incredibly loyal, which I liked.

My other ideas each lean more into the whole mysterious and voidy vibe.

Missingno. feels like a stretch, but I like the idea of him getting a pokemon that shouldn’t exist and feels like it would come from the void around the pokemon universe.

Another one is Giratina. I like this because Giratina’s story parallels Gasters most common fanon backstory quite well. Although, between its size and personality, it probably wouldn’t be great for story telling. The pokedex entries mention it being violent a lot.

Finally, an Unown or two would be cool. They remind me of wingdings, and are associated with language (kinda reminded me of fonts). They are weird and cryptic, and it would be funny seeing someone get jumpscared by the large floating letter with an eye. XD

In any case, this post is way too long, so I will continue with any new ideas, art, pictures, or writing in another post before my computer overheats.

[thesansiestserif]

sleepy cuddles - swap sans x reader

You backed against the door, pushing it open, hands filled with bags and clothes. From behind you, the sound of bickering and crashing as the rest of the group - Papyrus, Chara, Undyne and Alphys - tried to get everything out of the van. Thank stars you had put your stuff where you could grab it easily. Now you had first pick of the rooms. After looking around and somehow managing to avoid dropping everything, you picked the room overlooking the lake. It was nice being away from home, snd the room was cozy, even showcasing the best feature of all: a bunk bed. After your stuff had been set down, you looked out on the calm water. It was peaceful for a second before you heard the stomping of feet up the stairs, and someone crashing through the door. You turned to see your blue-tiful beautiful baby boy standing at the door.

“YOU GOT A BUNK BED? COOL!”

He quickly climbed to the top and flopped on it, eyes closed.

“...WAIT, WERE YOU GOING TO HAVE THE TOP ONE?”

You shrugged and said you didn’t mind and turned to head out and back down the stairs to help everyone with their bags. But before you could leave, Blue quickly yeeted himself darted off the bed to stop you.

“YOU SHOULD HAVE THE TOP ONE! YOU GOT HERE FIRST!" "I really don't mind, you can have it," you replied, smiling at his chivalry. "BUT THAT'S NOT FAIR! BESIDES, I THINK YOU DESERVE IT!" "Blue. Thank you, but seriously, I know you want it. So have it! I don't mind at all. Now, I'm gonna go help everyone else before Alphys comes up here and drags me down herself." Ignoring his protests, you ducked past and headed back down the stairs. Just in time, too. Chara was carrying way too many bags for their small size. You rushed over to grab a couple of them before everything went everywhere. They smiled gratefully at you, and headed upstairs to find a room. You set the bags on a nearby table and headed out to the car. Turns out you weren't needed, as Alphys was not only carrying every bag, but bench pressing them, just because she can. Both Papyrus and Undyne stood nearby, looking impressed. "100!" She stated and stood up, carrying all of the bags with one arm. Her girlfriend clapped happily and followed her inside, Papyrus trailing afterwards. You dug around in the car for a bit, pulling out any loose items that had been lost in the back, then headed back inside to help get everyone settled in. After several fights for certain rooms, an arm-wrestling match and plenty of chaos, everyone had a bed to sleep in and a place to put their stuff. You and Blue had the room with the bunk bed - which he was still asking you about - Alphys and Undyne had a room with a double bed that you definitely had not set them up with, Chara in the smaller room and Papyrus on the pullout couch. The rest of the day was pretty normal; a movie followed by takeaways from the local pizza place. But it was later in the evening when everything started to go down. Once the movie had been wrapped up, goodnight hugs - and kisses in Undynes and Alphys cases - were given out and everyone started to head to their rooms. You headed up the stairs, Blue hot on your tail, and flopped onto the bottom bunk bed, ready to fall asleep. "SO, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE BEDS?" He asked, clearly set on making it fair. "Have the top one, I don't mind." "THAT'S NOT FAIR, YOU WANTED IT AND YOU GOT HERE FIRST!" "We can just switch tomorrow." You suggested, hoping that would please him. "WHY DON'T YOU HAVE IT TONIGHT? THAT SEEMS MORE FAIR!" "Nope!" You said, snuggling under the covers. "I'm already alseep. Good night!" "WELL, THEN I'LL SIT HERE UNTIL YOU WAKE UP SO WE CAN TALK." He said firmly and sitting on the edge of the bed where you pillow was. You faked some snoring, waiting for him to give up and go to the top bunk, but soon you found yourself falling asleep for real.

You rolled over, half asleep, and nestled into something warm next to you. Birds were singing outside, and sunlight hit your face, begging you to get up. Yawning, you shifted under the sheets and opened your eyes, blinking a couple times in the light. Turns out the warm thing you had been cuddling was Blue, who was still asleep with an arm around you. You figured he must have fallen asleep waiting on the bed and nestled under your blankets for warmth. He was adorable, and was wearing a small smile even as he slept peacefully. Well, you didn't want to wake him up, did you? So you stayed next to him, enjoying how close you were and listening to the sound of the lake and the birds. After a while, he opened his eye sockets and immediately flushed when he saw you, and practically jumped out of bed, turning a light shade of blue. "HUMAN, I'M VERY SORRY, I MUST HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP AND-" "Hey, no, it's fine!" You cut him off, putting your hand on his shoulder to calm him. "It was nice, thank you." "OH." There was a moment of pause as you both stood, half asleep, looking at the other. "WOULD YOU..." He trailed off, a sheepish look on his face. "WOULD YOU MAYBE WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN TONIGHT?" "Yes please."

[mortimer-writes-sometimes]

A Warm Feeling

Chapter One: Let Me Walk You Home

Summary: Here's the start to a Sans x Grillby fic you didn't know you needed.

Warnings so far: Nightmares

Chapter Two

Read this on Archive of Our Own or Wattpad!

Sans was… anxious. It had been three days since the last complete reset, and the kid still hadn’t left the Ruins. This happened sometimes, of course. Sometimes Frisk liked to take their time. They liked to spend a few days relaxing and living with Toriel before rushing out into the cold sometimes. Those runs were usually Pacifist runs, and they were good ones. Frisk would hang out in Snowdin for awhile, visit Undyne more than once, and watch anime with Alphys before finally moving on to face Asgore. Once Frisk even stayed around in Hotland long enough for Mettaton to be repaired and recharged, wanting to do another (less deadly) game show with him. Yeah, those were the runs Sans preferred over all.

However, the last run… hadn’t been like that.

On Frisk’s last run, they came out of the Ruins shuffling along, covered in dust. Sans was surprised for the first time in a long time. They’d spent a whole week in the Ruins, and that usually meant that they wanted to do a Pacifist run and spend time with everyone. Surely Frisk didn’t think they could get away with spending time with the others and still pick Genocide? Frisk laughed at the whoopie cushion, but… it didn’t feel right.

Frisk played along in Snowdin. They didn’t kill anyone, did all of Papyrus’s puzzles, and took their time in town. Still, Sans couldn’t let his guard down. Just when he thought that maybe this was another messed-up neutral run… Frisk fought Papyrus. Papyrus died… and so many others did as well.

Frisk took their time, playing with them, luring them into a false sense of security before striking. There was no time to try to evacuate everyone. Sans was lucky he’d gone to watch the fight, because he managed to get ahead of Frisk and stop by all the local hot spots, screaming at everyone to get out. People left everything, rushing to get to sneak out behind Frisk and start evacuating towards Waterfall. Of course, Sans knew it was pointless.

Frisk came to Grillby’s first, blocking the exit. Even fighting multiple people at a time, they showed no mercy, and the room began to fill with dust. Sans watched, feeling helpless as Frisk advanced towards the bar, smiling as they locked eyes with Grillby. Sans could have sworn the kid mumbled, “I’ve always wanted the chance to fight you.”

Sans couldn’t move. He screamed at Grillby to run, but the bartender didn’t acknowledge him, preparing his magic. Frisk dodged the fire easily, and Sans watched as they raised their stupid toy knife and--

“SANS.”

Sans woke up with a gasp, tears streaming down his face. He had to look around and orient himself for a moment. He was at Grillby’s, sitting at the bar. There was no dust, and most of the lights were off, casting the room in a dim, comfortable glow. The brightest source of light in the room was the fiery bartender in front of him, completely unharmed and wearing a look of heavy concern. Grillby had his hands on Sans’s shoulders, the comforting warmth seeping through the skeleton’s hoodie. He sighed in relief when Sans finally focused on him, tilting his head. “Just breathe, Sans. Are you alright? That was… quite a nightmare.”

Sans wiped at his tears, huffing out a hollow chuckle. “Yeah, I’m alright. Nightmares happen, you know?”

Grillby let go of Sans, and Sans immediately missed the warmth. The bartender adjusted his glasses and fixed Sans with a look that seemed to pierce right through the skeleton’s facade. “You woke up screaming, Sans,” Grillby pointed out, firm but not unkind. “It’s alright if you don’t want to talk about it, but don’t try to tell me that was just an ordinary nightmare.”

“Alright,” the skeleton conceded, “You got me. It was… a little intense, but I don’t really feel like talking about it. I already barely remember it anyway.” He woke up screaming more often than not these days, especially since Frisk had started to try new things again. Even the little comfort Sans could take in Frisk taking their time in the Ruins was now stripped away. Although, come to think of it, this had been the first time he’d woken up screaming at Grillby’s before. Taking another look around, he finally realized that he and Grillby were completely alone. Was the bar closed?

Catching Grillby’s expression, the bartender answered Sans’s silent question. “Yes, I’m closed for the evening. You’ve just been… well, more exhausted than usual. Your brother hadn’t come barging in looking for you yet, so I decided to just let you rest for a little while.”

Sans rubbed the back of his neck. Had he really been that obvious lately? “Thanks for that, Grillbz. I’ll go ahead and get out of your hair so you don’t have to burn the midnight oil for too long.”

Grillby rolled his eyes at the skeleton. “Let’s see,” he mused, “I think that’s twenty-eight now? No, twenty-nine.”

Sans laughed at that. “Lemme guess, keeping count of how many times I’ve made that joke? If I get to a hundred, do I win a prize?” His smile became a bit more genuine at Grillby’s eye-roll. “Come on, you know you love me.”

“And it’s infuriating,” Grillby responded. “And… it’s also exactly the reason I’m walking you home tonight.”

“Huh?” Sans sat up a bit straighter. “Grillbz, you don’t have to do that… It’s late, and my house is like, just down the road.”

“So it’s no trouble to walk a little ways and make sure you get home safely.” Grillby grabbed his coat from under the bar, shrugging it on. “I’m not taking no for an answer,” he continued. His tone softened as he looked at Sans again. “You look… well, for as long as you slept today, you still look so tired. If you won’t let me walk you home for your sake, do it for mine. You’ve trailed off in the middle of eating sometimes. I would feel horrible if I came to open up tomorrow morning and found you asleep out in the snow.”

Well, there wasn’t really any arguing with that. “Alright,” Sans conceded, “You win, but just so you know, if Paps gets on to me about making you stay late, I’m holding you accountable.”

“I’ll take it off your tab,” the bartender joked. He came around the bar and pulled out his keys, unlocking the door and holding it open for Sans. He turned off the last of the lights, locked up, and then started walking in the direction of Sans’s house.

The silence was… comfortable, as the two walked side-by-side. Sans had to admit, it was nice to have Grillby’s light illuminating the snow, compared to stumbling through it in the dark. He glanced up at the bartender again, thinking.

Grillby caught him staring and smiled a bit. “What is it? Is there something on my glasses?”

Sans blushed and looked away, chuckling. “No, sorry. I was just… thinking. You’re too kind to me, you know that? I guess I could say that you’ve got a warm personality.”

Grillby rolled his eyes. “You know that isn’t always true. You should see me when I get… ‘fired’ up.”

Sans tried and failed to choke back a laugh. “Oh my god, did you just make a fire pun? You didn’t. I’m still asleep.”

“I take it back. I should have let you pass out in the snow,” Grillby grumbled. Even as he fussed, however, there was amusement hiding in his voice. “Anyway… You’re welcome, I suppose. That’s just what friends do.”

“...yeah,” Sans mumbled, caught a little off guard. “Still, thanks.” He considered Grillby a friend, for sure, but it had always been sort of an unspoken thing. To hear Grillby admit, out loud, that they were more than just friendly acquaintances felt like stepping over some kind of line, but… in a good way. Like they pushed past some kind of barrier. Yeah, they were friends. Good friends, even.

When they arrived at Sans’s house, sure enough, Papyrus swung open the door. “SANS!” he cried, “I was about to come out and look for you myself! Of course, the one evening I come home late from training, and you aren’t even home! And look, you made Grillby stay up with you!”

Sans chuckled and looked up at Grillby. “Again- this lecture’s on you.”

Wanna keep up with the story? Read this fic on Archive of Our Own or Wattpad and subscribe to get notified when a new chapter goes up!

Chapter Two is out now!

[skelanonymous]

Body Swap

The first part was done as part of kinktober, but I couldn’t let the idea go. There’s probably a bit more sex than a standard story as a result. 

Pairings scenes in order: Kedgeup, Edgepuff(Fontcest), Kustard (Fellcest), Fellcest, Kustard

Warnings: It was written during kinktober, half the scenes are a little kinky.

Words: 16k

Sans came to flat on his back. His vision was hazy, but he could vaguely make out the shape of Alphys above him. She had a pretty serious look on her face, pointing at him very sternly, and gesturing over to something he couldn’t see.

“E-Edge! I didn’t c-call you here to cause a fight! You could have broken something! You got Sans caught up in this too! Look at him!” She pointed a claw over across the room and Sans turned his head to look.

His eyelights went out.

“Alphys...why is my body over there?” She did a double take, but Sans’s brain had already gone into a panic. His voice hadn’t sounded like his. He whipped himself up to sit and looked at his clothes. Black armor, with a red tattered scarf sweeping around his neck. His gloved hands went to clutch his face, but he even seeing them brought on panic.

“ALPHYS! EXPLAIN THIS INSTANT!” Edge had gotten up and walking menacingly over to her, but his lack of height and Sans’s usual attire dampened it heavily. Sans’s deep voice almost cracked under Edge’s use of it.

“Stop yelling. You’re making me sound as dumb as you.” It was kinda disturbing to watch his own head whip around to glare at him.

“YOU!” His body’s hands gripped at the scarf around his neck. “GET OUT OF THERE! THAT IS MY BODY AND NO ONE BUT I CAN USE IT!”

“Yeah, because I’m super enjoying this right now. Let go of me.” Sans flicked Edge back with a bit of blue magic. At least he still had that. He tipped his head back to glare at Alphys, who was admirably attempting to vanish into the wall. “So...Alphys...w a n t  t o  e x p l a i n ?”

Edge paced back and forth in front of her, much softer without his heeled boots. Slippers didn’t give him much presence. 

“I...I don’t...know?” She hid behind her hands. “I need time to replicate it! Edge broke the machine and I can’t even pretend to fix this until I fix that.” 

“AND HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?!” 

“Let me inspect the damage…” And she vanished leaving them alone.

“YOU COMPLETE PIECE OF SHIT. YOU ARE AN IMBECILE AND-”

“I’M the imbecile? Who fucking lashed out like a little fucking kid and broke the machine that did this to us, because I’m pretty damn sure it wasn’t me asshole.” Sans put a hand on these unusually long legs and stood to his new full height. Damn he looked small. “Red’s gunna lose his mind.”

“PAPYRUS! GOD DAMMIT. WE HAD RESERVATIONS!” Edge shuffled around, fiddling with the hoodie around him.

“Because that matters right now. Who’s going to be a Royal Guard in Underfell tomorrow?” Sans sighed, exasperated and mind working overtime. It’s not like Edge could show up in his body. He’d be dust in minutes, and Edge was useless in the lab even though Sans could do his work in this body.

“YOU OBVIOUSLY. WE’RE NOT TELLING ANYONE ABOUT THIS.” 

“Red will when I show up in your body. And then try to convince him it’s not a prank.” Sans pinched his nasal ridge, and Edge instantly stopped pacing.

“Unless I show up in your body.”

“What?” He turned to stare at Edge, his eyes distant and unfocused.

“I could be you. And go home to Red.” Edge had purposely lowered his voice, and it did sound much more like Sans. 

“And why would you do that?” Edge’s face went blue.

“Do you not want to go home to Papyrus?” Sans didn’t answer, but did let his mind wander.

He could sweep in as Edge, take his brother out to dinner, have a good evening. They’d go back home and be comfy on the couch, cuddled up under a blanket in their home, and maybe Paps would turn his face up to look at him. All leaned against him, face bright orange and wanting...

“WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?”

-------------------------

In the end, Alphys gave them a week. A few days to fix the machine, and another few to match the previous conditions. Edge and Sans agreed to return in a week, told Alphys to keep this quiet, and walked out. After an hour or so, they met at Waterfall, in the quiet bench area.

“THIS PLAN IS PRETTY SHITTY.” 

“You just need to put in more effort. I’m dying in this despicable hoodie, but I’m making it work.” Edge attempted to casually slouch, making a more lax face. The casual grin looked so off it was giving Sans anxiety. 

“WELL, THEN ALL I NEED TO DO IS TALK ABOUT HOW GRAND AND TERRIBLE I AM. LET ME KEEP YELLING.” Sans was grateful this body was used to this. His voice would’ve been gone instantly. He glared at Edge, standing up straight and marvelling at the lack of pain. “THIS RUSE IS MISSING SOMETHING.”

“And what would that be, edgelord?” Edge winked. He chuckled and put on a pretty convincing contented grin.

“ARE YOU THIS INSUFFERABLE IN BED TOO?” Sans smirked at the flash of indignation.

“I don’t think that’s your business.”

“I’M SURE PAPYRUS WILL NOTICE IF I’M NOT AS ATTENTIVE AS USUAL. RED WILL NOTICE IF YOU TRY TOO FUCKING HARD.”

“...you could have a point. Maybe.” Edge looked unimpressed. “So how do you think we should share techniques?” He shrugged stiffly. “It’s not like it matters. One oddly active or lazy night shouldn’t be too off.”

“I DON’T MAKE A LOT OF NOISE.” Sans reached over, and quickly pulled Edge to him. His hand went directly into his own shirt. He grabbed his lowest rib, dragged the unusually long fingers two bones up, and scratched hard along the length of it.

“AHHHH!” Edge went bright blue. “THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR?!”

“IF YOU BREAK CHARACTER THIS EASILY, THIS WON’T WORK.” Sans went for another spot, stroking under the sternum. “I DON’T SCREAM LIKE THAT. I DON’T MAKE MUCH NOISE AT ALL.”

Edge fought against the urge to moan, biting down and growling. “I just needed a little warning.” He spun around and cupped Sans crotch. “You’ll struggle with Paps then. He likes vocals.” Edge pulled the pants down a way. He hooked some fingers into his pelvis.

“AHH. YOU’RE JUST NOT THAT EXCITING BASTARD.” And Sans watched him drop to his knees. 

“Think of Paps then.” Sans felt Edge’s breath against his bare pelvis. “He makes the best sounds when I eat out his sweet pussy.” Sans eyelights blipped out the same time Edge pressed a tongue flat against his pelvis.

“FUUUUUUCK.” 

“Language.” Sans glared down at his crotch, but Edge winked and licked up his forming magic.

“YOU’RE PRETTY GOOD AAAAAAAT THIS.” He trailed a hand over Edge’s (his own?) cheek. “I THINK I UNDERSTAND. BUT RED’S GOT A DIFFERENT THING HE WANTS TO HEAR.” Sans pulled Edge up, and into his lap on the nearby bench. He positioned Edge to straddle him and ground up with a purpose.

“Do you…top or bottom?” Edge held in the sound before continuing. “Paps and m-me switch it up sometimes, but I lead mostly.”

“WE’RE LAZY. IT’S WHATEVER EACH TIME, BUT SHUT UP AND PAY ATTENTION.” Sans gripped Edge’s hips and really rubbed their bones together. Edge hazed out a second, but tried to focus on the words coming out of his old mouth. “YOU’RE SO BEAUTIFUL LIKE THIS.” Sans leaned in to lap at the collarbone he could reach through the shirt.

“Narcissist.” Sans ignored him.

“YOU’RE SO GOOD TO ME. SO GOOD FOR ME.” The words were spoken against his throat. Edge wanted to scoff, but he held it in with everything else. “I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU.” 

“He wants overly fluffy nonsense?” The lack of warmth startled him. The intensity of Sans’s glare almost knocked him over.

“YOU BETTER TREAT HIM LIKE HE’S AS GREAT AS ME, LAZY BASTARD. IT’S NOT THAT FUCKING HARD.” A hand gripped the back of his head to guide his eyes. “NOW, LET ME PULL DOWN YOUR FUCKING PANTS AND GET THIS OVER WITH.”

“Who said you’re fucking me, asshole?” Edge also didn’t stop him from pulling his pants down enough so they could fuck almost fully clothed on this bench. Thank god for neither being prone to summoning an ecto body. Fingers roughly crooked inside him.

“THIS PUSSY YOU SUMMONED.” Sans moved him a little cautiously, he didn’t want to make it wholly unenjoyable, but Edge was the last person he’d have chosen to do this with and he wasn’t feeling particularly giving. After some minimal fingering, he lined them up and dropped him.

“MMm!” Edge struggled but wiggled his hips until the ache dulled down. Sans may be smirking at him, but two could play this game. 

“How’s your endurance?” Edge started a positively delicious pace, very quickly moving on the cock impaling him. He breathed through the pleasure, keeping him behind where Sans was, hopefully. The grip on his hips suggested success.

“F-FINE. YOURS COULD USE SOME WORK THOUGH.”

“Wha-” A hand slid between his fold, stroking his clit in time with the thrusts. Edge devolved to soft breathy moans. He looked up at his own face and the look he shared with Sans got to be too much.

“FUCK!” They both peaked within 15 seconds of each other, riding it out until they slowed down to lay against each other and the bench, exhausted and filthy.

“I think...we can handle it.”

“AGREED.”

It took them another five minutes to part, another three to tidy up and check on the plan specifics, and one extra to take one glance back before walking off in opposite directions of their homes. To their unsuspecting brothers’ waiting arms.

----------------------------------

Sans strode confidently through Hotlands towards the city. Being in Edge’s body granted him access to Papyrus, but it meant trying to emulate the taller skeleton, and Sans had a hard time doing so. Confidence didn’t come to him naturally. More accurately, his brain was choosy about when to give it to him. The luxury of choice was gone; he had to fake it for his life and continued ability to look his brother in the eye. 

The boots had taken precious time to master, and Sans still had to walk in a particular manner to keep himself from stumbling. 

Edge had told him about the reservations at the restaurant, explaining it was a semi-regular date night (not a proposal, and Edge had glared and said he’d sooner propose in Sans’s body than give that up) so to act casual. He’d briskly walked in, slightly late, considering the circumstances, but his face lit up seeing Paps.

“Do you have a reservation sir?” Sans caught his casual answer at the last second.

“ACTUALLY, I’M WITH THAT HANDSOME SKELETON OVER THERE, THANK YOU.” Papyrus waved him over, face orange and adorable. Here we go.

“HELLO EDGE! YOU’RE LATE AND I WAS WORRIED. DID SOMETHING HAPPEN AT WORK?” Papyrus tilted his head. Time to test his impressions.

“UNFORTUNATELY. I HAD A...DISAGREEMENT WITH YOUR BROTHER, AND IT RESULTED IN A BROKEN MACHINE. I MOVED SOME HEAVY PIECES FOR ALPHYS AS IT WAS MY FAULT.” Sans reached out and held Papyrus’s hand. “I APOLOGIZE. I SHOULD HAVE INFORMED YOU.” Sans’s brain winced, hoping that adding more words and dropping contractions would work well enough. The only reason he had any clue at all was from knowing Papyrus.

Sans’s advantage over Edge was that he knew his brother very well by now. After the timeline convergence, Papyrus had taken him aside to talk to him. He was worried by Sans’s low energy and depressive tendencies he saw in many other skeletons, and felt that not addressing them directly was contributing. He didn’t know what the older brothers had seen, but it clearly affected him and he shouldn’t have to shoulder this alone.

It had shocked Sans, revealing that as much as he watched his brother, his brother watched right back. And when they talked, really talked, Sans had seen him in a much more accurate light, Papyrus expressing something similar.

They were far more open now, though Sans wouldn’t deny that this unconventional opportunity did tempt him into keeping one more big secret. 

“I WISH YOU WOULDN’T FIGHT WITH HIM SO MUCH. HE DOES MEAN WELL.” He clasped Sans’s gloved hand back. “I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU HAVE SO MANY ARGUMENTS. HE USUALLY DOESN’T ENGAGE IN THAT KIND OF THING.” Sans held in a laugh. Edge reminded him of Papyrus, if he had been a brat his whole childhood instead of the coolest little brother ever. He didn’t understand how Red tolerated it, encouraged it, but he respected his boyfriend’s choices. 

He mentally winced. He really hoped Red didn’t catch on.

“MAYBE I JUST HIT A PARTICULAR NERVE.” That was an understatement. He drove those thoughts away, he had a goal to accomplish. He smiled warmly at his brother, hoping Edge treated him at least this well. “BUT ENOUGH ABOUT MY DAY. PLEASE, TELL ME ABOUT YOURS.”

-----------------

Edge shuffled through the front door of Sans’s house. Red’s shoes were by the door, but otherwise he was still fully dressed on the couch. He slipped off the slippers, and had to think out his approach before he reached Red. He settled on flopping next to him, falling half a foot sideways to lean on his brother. Then he looked up with a wink.

“Hey.” That sounded very Sans-like, like his brother but more judgey. Red put an arm around him.

“Hey yourself cutie. Get into a fight with my bro again?” Red leaned into him too. It was a cosy couch cuddle puddle. Edge tried to keep himself loose and focus on the comfort.

“Yeah. Tried not to. Know you don’t really like it, but something about him just gets under my skin.” Edge smiled at Red’s laugh. He rarely was this open with him. 

Red had been the tough front of the two up until Edge got old enough to defend himself. Red always held him at arm’s length, not able to really act unguarded around ‘Boss’ for what felt like centuries. It didn’t help that Edge berated him for his non-murdering tendencies and his withdrawn demeanor. The few memories he had of Red laughing this easily near him were heavily split: a few blurry edged ones from childhood and a few in public gatherings after the convergence.

“I appreciate the effort but I know he’s got some rough edges.” Edge laughed, he could do this forever. The weight of this moment almost crushed him. At ease and happy with his brother, cuddled on the couch, it was something his soul desperately craved. It had been a long time since he felt lacking in any way, missing out on an entire half of his brother through stubbornness alone. 

Red sensed Edge’s sudden seriousness, turning his head to stare at Sans’s face after the laughter petered out. 

“Hey, you okay? I know weirdness is my deal, but I got you if you need it.” Well now he’d gone and fucked it up. He had no idea how to even proceed here. It’s not like their instructions to each other were this specific. Fuck it, he’d respond how HE felt, using Sans’s voice.

“Just realized how much I love you.” Red’s face went scarlet. He started shaking.

“I l-love you t-too…” Edge gently pulled Red forward, clanking their mouths together. Red clutched desperately at Edge’s hoodie. He didn’t deepen the kiss at all, sensing that Red was using this to hide, and when he pulled back, he got the full view.

Red’s face was still bright, eyes watering and clearly overwhelmed. His breathing was a mess, hunching his shoulders to make the hood trim cover more of his face. His hands shook hard along Edge’s (Sans’s) back. His brain traced back to his conversation with Sans earlier. He placed a hand on Red’s cheekbones, swiping away a tear that had managed to fall, guiding him gently to look him in the eyes. He prayed the sweet smile didn’t look wrong on this face.

“You’re so beautiful.” Red hiccuped and sniffled.

“Shut up…” He climbed into Edge’s lap, legs both off to one side, seated there and hiding his face in Sans’s hoodie. He wrapped his arms around his older brother.

“If you say so sweetheart.” Edge tilted his head forward, resting at the top of Red’s head. He rested against his shivering brother and felt his eyes start to droop. Maybe Sans’s body was accustomed to it; his soul pulsed happily at the idea of a nap. Edge hadn’t napped in years, but holding Red so close at true peace, he thought that perhaps, just for once, that Sans had it figured out and drifted off.

-------------

Sans and Papyrus had made it home after a very successful date. They had fun, Sans had kept character without straight lying, and holding his brother’s hand as they walked home made him feel happy and light. Papyrus’s happy humming suggested the feeling was mutual.

Their home ritual was neat and organized. They lined up their boots by the door, washing up and changing into pajamas in synchronized harmony. Sans did mess up one drawer pull, but their crazy ordered home was easy to follow.

“EDGE, I DID WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING.” Papyrus had been settled on the bed, after a brief hour of TV, and it seemed they were winding down to bed.

“WHAT TROUBLES YOU PAPYRUS? I AM HERE FOR YOU.” Sans tilted his head. He had to fight down his worried face. Edge wasn’t much for worry.

“IT’S NOT SO MUCH TROUBLE AS IT IS A REQUEST.” Papyrus turned to face him, kneeling on the bed. “I KNOW WE’VE DISCUSSED THIS A FEW TIMES NOW, BUT I ALSO KNOW YOU’VE PROMISED TO THINK ON IT AND I WANT TO REVISIT IT.”

Well, that could be a problem. Leave it to Edge to give him this conversation, even if on accident. 

“I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT MANY THINGS, SO I NEED A LITTLE NARROWING DOWN.” Sans turned to face Papyrus as well, but did reach out and hold his hands. “I WANT TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.”

“IT’S THE SAME CONVERSATION WE KEEP HAVING. I DON’T WANT YOU TO THINK I’M BEGGING, IT TRULY IS ONLY SOMETHING I WANT IF YOU WANT IT AS WELL, BUT I DO WANT TO DO SO, AND TO PRETEND I DON’T WANT THIS FEELS AKIN TO LYING.” Papyrus tightened their hands, knocking them together nervously. Sans ran his thumbs over the worried hands. He had no idea what conversation Edge was having, but he knew Edge hadn’t objected to marrying his brother, so anything else couldn’t be that big of a leap.

“I WANT TO MAKE YOU HAPPY. I AM HESITANT, BUT I AM WILLING TO DO THIS FOR YOU. YOU WILL HAVE TO LEAD ME THROUGH THIS THOUGH.”

Papyrus lit up with a wide bright smile. He didn’t know what he agreed to, but it seemed to have made his brother very happy.

“REALLY?! THANK YOU!” Papyrus leaned in for a brief kiss and stood directly off the bed. “WAIT HERE, I WILL RETURN WITH THE SUPPLIES!” He walked with a bounce in his steps straight out the bedroom door.

Supplies?

Papyrus walked back in with a long stretch of silken rope. He was bright orange, but obviously excited at the prospect of tying Edge up. Sans tried to hide his relaxation, Edge would be nervous right now to try something Papyrus had been talking him into for a while now, but Sans knew he’d be able to handle a little bondage. Hell, he’d even get to be lazy. 

“WILL YOU BE JUST RESTRAINING MY ARMS?” Sans sat up ramrod straight, a little awkward in his forced nervousness. Papyrus pulled it taut.

“I WILL DECIDE THAT.” He averted his eyes, blushing, but turned back to stare at Sans’s (Edge’s) face, suddenly stern. “REMOVE YOUR CLOTHES...PLEASE.”

This was so precious. He dutifully undressed, refolding the clothes to almost the crisp lines he had found them in and set them on the dresser by the wall. He returned to the bedside to await further instruction. Papyrus pointed to the bed.

“LAY BACK ON THE BED. DO NOT RESIST ME.” Sans laid back, letting Papyrus take his arms and tie each one to the corner bed post. He tested the give when Papyrus had finished knotting them up. A quick little tug didn’t have them come loose, and he had enough wiggle room to keep from being uncomfortable. He had done some research. 

“I HAVE DONE AS YOU ASKED. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?” Sans stared over at him, Papyrus himself getting undressed much the same way Sans had done earlier. 

Papyrus had long smooth bones the entire way up, a cute gangly frame that was cute before, but very attractive right now, doused in the light from the bedside lamp. His soul pulsed in fondness, his bones turning red thinking about what Papyrus had planned. 

“WAIT PATIENTLY.”

He used his long fingers to start working himself up while Sans could only watch. He watched him open his mouth in pleasure. Sans felt his own hips buck along with his brother’s, gently tugging the bonds, but refraining from breaking them to keep playing along.

“IF YOU CAN’T BEHAVE, I’LL MAKE YOU WATCH THE WHOLE TIME.” Papyrus tried to look stern, but did it so shyly that it looked funny, but Sans held his tongue. 

“I’M SORRY. I WILL...ATTEMPT TO KEEP STILL.” Papyrus looked satisfied. He’d have more confidence the next time he tried this, more able to deal with Edge’s inevitable complaints. He felt a finger trail along his sternum.

“NOW, JUST ENJOY.”

Papyrus spent a long time feeling up and down each of his bones, a slow build of feeling, an ebb and flow of magic that didn’t truly gather. It wasn’t enough to draw out whines, but his breathing did get much harsher. Imitating Edge didn’t come as naturally as he hoped.

Papyrus left him in this state of foreplay for much longer than he thought, he didn’t know his brother to be this patient. He had been slowly working open his own ecto while playing. His patience was starting to wane, in time with the rhythm of Papyrus’s fingers squelching inside himself, with his soft moans.

He must’ve heard his thoughts, because he did start to focus his attention. Sans’s magic summoned instantly, jumping out after the lengthy teasing.

“YOU’VE BEEN QUITE GOOD. I THINK I WILL REWARD YOU.”

Sans licked his lips, watching Papyrus’s dripping ecto hover over his hips. The touch of him against his cock felt like a holy experience.

“OOOOOOOOH…” He forced the sound a little, not wanting to be silent like he’d be in his own body. He didn’t have to fake the groans from Papyrus starting to settle on the tip, allowing a little bit of slide.

“THANK YOU FOR THIS EDGE. I AM AT MY LIMIT, SO LET’S END THIS TOGETHER.” 

“OH MY STARS, PAPYRUS!” Sans barely kept from slamming upwards. His arms ached from the angle, but he’d reached his limit and dug in his elbow for a little more anchorage. He’d been patient long e-fucking-nough.

“EDGE! NYEEEEH!” Papyrus matched his pace, bouncing down right when Sans thrusted up. Everything got hot, body sliding into the downward spiral of pleasure, racing to a finish after hours of foreplay. 

They finished breathlessly. Papyrus panted, openmouthed and tongue out, through the aftermath, wet and messy on top of Sans, still tied to the bedposts.

Oh yeah, his arms were feeling the strain now.

“Could...could you untie me?” Sans felt out of it, hoping that Edge didn’t yell constantly because he definitely gave the game away then. So much for berating Edge for his lack of focus.

“OH! SORRY EDGE. ONE MOMENT.” Papyrus made his way up to his wrists, pulled a string, and they fell loose. Sans let his arm collapse. His shoulders would feel that tomorrow. For now, he settled on holding Papyrus close, their warm bones comfortable against each other.

“ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” Papyrus laid against him. “I KNOW THIS WAS TOOK A LOT OF TRUST FROM YOU, BUT YOU WERE MUCH QUIETER THAN USUAL.” Sans tried to hide his nervousness, but they were too close to hide it completely.

“I WAS UNSURE OF HOW TO FEEL FOR A TIME.” Sans sighed. He hated lying to Papyrus, especially after the evening they’d had. “I...STILL PREFER BEING IN CONTROL OF MY BODY, BUT I DID ENJOY TONIGHT. I’M GLAD YOU HAD A GREAT TIME.” He held them close together, but after a short while, Papyrus pulled him up off the bed.

Apparently, Edge and Papyrus always showered and slept in pajamas every night. Felt unnecessary, though getting under the covers with P made it all feel worth the effort.

“GOODNIGHT EDGE. I LOVE YOU.” His heart melted when he held his hand as he fell asleep.

“I LOVE YOU TOO. GOODNIGHT PAPYRUS.” Yeah, definitely worth it.

---------

Edge woke up to a loud commercial on the TV. His arms and legs ached and he found he couldn’t really move them. When he looked down, it came back.

Red had fallen asleep cuddled against him. He frowned in his sleep, but kissing his head repeatedly relaxed him. It also started waking him up. He kept it up anyway. Edge had precious little time with this opportunity.

He didn’t expect the hand that swooped up and pulled his face down into Red’s.

Red kissed him softly, lapping at Edge’s (Sans’s) teeth. Edge let him in without hesitation. He’d usually try to dominate this kind of kiss, but the mood was wrong. Everything was soft, exploratory. It lit his soul up in all the right ways, just sensually stroking the tongue in his mouth with his own, and when Red had his fill, doing the same to Red. 

“Evenin’.” Red whispered up to him when they parted. It felt like hours.

“My nap was contagious.” Edge kept softly clanking Red’s face, over and over, like they couldn’t be completely parted. Red slid his hands under Sans’s hoodie, and casually ran his hands over his body over the shirt.

“Sleeping with you is the best. Offer I couldn’t refuse.” Red yawned, still coming to.

“Could say the same about sleeping with you.” Edge smiled at his brother’s soft chuckle, breath hitching when Edge turned Red’s body to sit facing him on his lap. The kissing still hadn’t stopped, Edge’s mind lost in the mood. The living room was darker, shadows creeping in all the corners besides the soft light of the TV and the kitchen.

“I-I need you Sansy.” Red clung to him like a lifeline, pulling back to see ‘Sansy’s’ answer.

“Then ya got me.” Edge tilted Red’s head up and to the side so he could get at his neck. He nipped and sucked up and down what he could get at around the t-shirt. Then he slid his hands down Red’s arms, one in each sleeve, taking his brother’s infamous hoodie with it. By the time it fell off, Edge held both of his brother’s hands in his own. Red shivered and whined in his grasp. He pulled back to look at his handy work.

Red’s eyelights were blown wide, big red pupils making him look so much younger than he was. He looked fragile enough to be broken by a single word.

“Gorgeous.”

Red surged down to kiss him again. This kiss was more aggressive, Red wanted to be led to what he needed. Had his brother always been this sensitive? He’d always thought Red was weak, in mind if not in magic, but not like this. Calling him gorgeous did this, and calling him beautiful had made him cry. Did he rarely receive compliments? When was the last time Edge complimented him, outside of Sans’s body? He couldn’t recall.

“I love you, I love you so much.” Edge just wanted to keep talking, to see what put Red into those happy loving hysterics. He shed his (Sans’s) hoodie and removed Red’s shirt. He flexed his hips upwards, Red scrunching his eyes shut and grinding back. “Can I get a ride to bed?” Edge worked off his shirt, tossing it when the scenery changed. The unkempt bed didn’t even phase him.

“Too lazy to take us yourself?” Red kissed him fondly.

“Just like the feeling of your magic on me.” He’d barely remembered to keep his voice at Sans volume. He closed his eyes and focused on the task at hand. Red would be very upset if Edge slipped up. He explored Red’s entire rib cage under the guise of cherishing every inch of him (though he was appreciating him more and more by the second), but more particularly to get the spots that’d drive him wild that Sans would know by heart.

“Sansy...I still need it.” Red ground his hips down, and the conjured ecto under their clothes grinded up against each other. “Stop bein’ a tease.” He hid his shyness under bluster, but Edge didn’t give in.

“Maybe I just wanna admire you.” He traced one hand over old scars, the other to the inner spinal column. Red arched under the touch.

“Sto-op. You don’t gotta make up things to get me to f-fuck ya. Laying it on too thick pal.” Red blushed and turned away, pulling at his and Edge’s pants. The shorts tugged the boxers with them. His dick barely grazed Red’s pelvis before he felt his body move on its own.

Edge flipped them over. He lined them up and casually slid up and down his slick folds.

“Liar, you want it thicker.” Edge leaned down, tracing the scars he memorized and put his face right by Red’s neck. “All these scars, so many things that have tried to kill you…” Up and down, up and down. His hot breath tingled up Red’s spine. “You’ve lived through it all. You’re so strong love. Nothing compares.” 

Red cried and hiccupped, keening when Edge finally slid inside.

“Saaaans.” Red whined into the thrusts, Edge peppered his face in kisses.

His mind was so far away. He loved Papyrus with his whole soul, but this intensity gave him pause. Did he love them both this way? Was he just caught up in the moment? Possibly both. How much he wanted this earlier today seemed confusing now. He must’ve been carrying this around a long time.

“Red, tell me that you love me.” Red fisted the sheets, staring into Edge’s eyes, completely overwhelmed.

“I love you.” He pumped in and out, forcing Red to follow him up towards the peak.

“Again.”

 “I love you.”

 “Again.”

 “I love you!”

“Red.”

And he snapped to attention, orgasm building like a wave, seconds away from crashing over him. He stared into ‘Sans’s’ eyes and could see how badly he needed to hear this, for the words to reach him. Edge held on solely through force of will, waiting, waiting for Red to make him feel complete. 

Red put his trembling hands on his (Sans’s) face. He peered into his very soul.

“I love you.” 

The tidal wave crashed over both of them. Red moaned loudly, breath leaving him. Edge struggled to stay upright. He had to stomp on the urge to scream. The tide didn’t roll back until both were on the verge of collapse.

Red sported bright red tear tracks down his face. He felt emotional spent, along with physically. Edge (Sans) had collapsed on his side, shaking worse than Red had early on, clinging to Red as he himself had done to Edge not long ago. Red pulled him close and cradled his head against his ribs.

“You know you always have me, right?” Edge’s hands held fast onto his back ribs.

“Yeah. I just...needed to hear it.” A memory of the two of them huddled in the trash of Waterfall, scrounging for anything to get them through the week, when they were attacked. Red had fought them off, snarling after them while Edge cried in the background, a big gash on his face that had hurt so much.

“You’re gunna be okay, bro. I got you.” He had healed him, magic smoothing over the bone. He wiped up the blood afterwards. Edge had run right into his arms.

“THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU!” Red hugged him back, Edge still short enough to be fully encompassed in his arms.

“No, I love you.” Red kissed his little forehead. Edge insisted on sleeping near him that night.

“Let’s get some sleep.” Red pulled the sheets up over them, holding Edge while he just nodded against his bones. This was confusing, overwhelming. He didn’t have the ability to deal with this and be Sans. He got more comfortable, making sure Red could also easily drift off, and closed his eyes. Red held him close until he completely drifted away.

--------

Red woke up when he felt Sans shift awake. He instinctively tightened his hold, but relaxed when he heard the small groan of complaint at being smushed. He released Sans.

“Sorry.” Red mumbled. He flipped over onto his back. “You’re comfy.”

“IT’S…” Sans coughed, roughly and violently. “It’s alright. I’d rather be home with you too.” He took a deep breath, his chest rattling oddly. “Unfortunately, I doubt Alphys would be wild about it.” Sans pushed off the bed, shuffling towards the bathroom. Red closed his eyes. The footsteps stopped and came back.

Sans kissed him chastely on the cheek. 

Red opened his eyes. Sans’s grin was pretty dopey, although...his eyes were more open than usual.  

“And good morning.” Red could feel the blush creeping up his bones, smiling at his retreating form. The temptation to join him in the shower was high. But no, he wanted a little time alone to really think on the events of the evening.

Sans had been really really lovey yesterday. Not that he didn’t dole out compliments usually, but he’d been obsessed with making Red feel special and loved. His soul warmed up at the memory, but his mind could find cracks in the hearth. The best word would be...possessed? If so, this demon resembled Sans heavily, hitting all the right notes and beats, but something forced in the fluidity. Red was a naturally suspicious person, and last night, especially the end of it, hit every paranoia button he had.

Sans walked back in, heading to the dresser. 

And opened the wrong drawer, multiple times.

Sans tried to play it off as being tired, and Red pretended to accept it. What the fuck was going on? Red hoped he was as good at convincing lies as he remembered (even if he felt guilty doing it to Sans), and decided to make a mental list of the things that didn’t work.

By the time Sans was leaving for work (HE WAS WALKING?!), Red’s list had gotten entirely too long to be a coincidence. So, with a significant amount of guilt, he slid into his sneakers and followed him.

Sans’s walk surprised lots of people. People waved and said hello, all ‘oh hey Sans! Been a minute!’ also not used to this. So he didn’t teleport to the walk usually then. The path was pretty direct, no silly detours, purposeful trips, just walking like he had no fucking other way to travel. And THEN, right before he made it to work, he walked purposely away towards a Hotlands alley, walking right in like it wasn’t a weird thing to do. Red took a shortcut to the top of the buildings surrounding the alley to keep up and almost fell off the fucking roof when he saw Sans meeting up with his brother.

Seriously, what the fuck?!

“I’m surprised you were able to successfully put my armor on this morning.” Sans sized up Edge, crossing his arms. “I hope you made up a decent enough excuse for Papyrus about being late.”

“YEAH. WASN’T TOO BAD, TOOK A SHORTCUT TO MAKE UP MOST OF THE TIME.” Edge’s arms hung weirdly at his side. Since...since when could his brother shortcut?

“HOW?! You can do that in MY body?!” Sans stomped his slipper down on the ground. “I tried to do that and it didn’t work!”

“It’s about knowing the way it works. Understanding the way space, time, and magical potency affect movement and I kept that when I...Wait.” Edge suddenly looked straight at Sans. “You walked here.” Listening to Edge drop his voice to something less loud, Red started to put together some pieces here.

“WHAT WAS MY ALTERNATIVE?! FLY?!” Sans never screeched like that. His...brother...did… His brother whose hands awkwardly hung as if they were usually sitting in…

Hoodie Pockets.

“Fuck.” Edge’s body looked up at him, spying him instantly from the alleyway. Sans would know exactly where to fucking look. “Red.” Sans’s body spun to look where Sans was looking. Sans was in his brother’s body. His brother was in Sans’s body. And of course Edge didn’t know what drawer Sans kept his clothes in, how to shortcut, or slouch in a way that didn’t look painful.

I love you. Red eyes shrank to pinpricks, frozen looking at the two in the alley. His brother had fucked him last night, and Sans LET him.

“Red, are you-”

“Don’t you FUCKING touch me!” Red slapped the red gloved hand away from him. And before he could be spoken to again, he zipped away, thrown at the foot of the school, right in view of Papyrus. He couldn’t breathe and everything felt too restricting. He looked up at Papyrus, desperately reaching to grab his hand.

“RED, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” He reached for Red’s hand back, and when he reached it, Red felt the whirl of magic behind him. Of course Sans would follow. Red wouldn’t let him. 

“RED COME BA-” They were gone.

Papyrus pulled his hand away.

“RED, WHY WERE YOU RUNNING FROM EDGE AND WHERE ARE WE?” He sounded confused and Red envied this moment before he knew. Red glanced around.

His brain had shortcut him to the dusty remains of the machine at Sans’s place. Sans would never think to look here, and it sat at the edge of his shortcut range normally. Two people were a magical strain, but desperation did some incredible things. He put the disturbing thoughts as far out of his mind as he could to get through this conversation first.

“Papyrus, did my brother do anything...odd in the last 24 hours?” Sans had often said that Papyrus and the younger brothers were more observant than they let on, but he knew Edge’s patience was short on a good day. The tall skeleton crossed his arms,  thinking hard.

“...NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT...THERE WERE SOME ODDITIES. WHY? DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?”

“Yeah.” How to start, he wondered. “I followed Sans to work today, because he didn’t shortcut himself like usual after a morning of acting really weird.” He paced back and forth, anxiety building. “Then he met up with Boss in an alley, but it was all wrong. He belittled Boss about how to put on his armor, and Boss talked about the shortcut he took to sneak around.”

“WHAT?”

“I think they switched bodies...yesterday, at that work incident thing that made them run late.” Red took a deep breath. “So now that I say that, do you think you were with my brother yesterday, or Sans trying really hard to be him? Because I’m 100% fucking sure it was my brother this morning, and I was with him all night.” Red swallowed hard at that. Not the time.

“I MEAN, I…”Papyrus did look worried. He paced quickly and tapped his foot whenever he stood still. “THAT WOULD EXPLAIN ALMOST EVERY WEIRD THING THAT HAPPENED, YES.” He didn’t look happy about it though. “WHICH MEANS I SAW SANS YESTERDAY ON MY DATE THROUGH NOW, INCLUDING...INCLUDING LAST NIGHT…” There was the look. Red knew it. Papyrus played with his gloves, wringing his hands together.

“Did...you also have sex with your ‘boyfriend?’” Red pulled his hood up over his head. “Because I’m freaking out.”

“I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD THAT EDGE WAS SO VERY WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING WHERE HE GAVE UP CONTROL. SANS...WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS?” Papyrus glanced over Red’s retraction into his hoodie like he wanted to be eaten up by the carpet. 

“I don’t know P. All I know is that I had a really private moment with who I thought was my boyfriend, and now my brother just has that. And Sans fucking let him do it. If one of them said no, they couldn’t get away with it. Both of them agreed to not tell us.” Red pulled the hood tighter and tighter over his face to shrink further. “Sorry about pulling you from work. I just needed you to know before they tried to hide it from you.” 

Papyrus sat on the floor, leaning against the lab counter. He still didn’t look nearly as wrecked as Red though.

“I DON’T REALLY KNOW HOW TO FEEL.” He finally settled on the words. “ON ONE HAND, I AM UPSET THAT SANS AND EDGE KEPT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM ME. I TRUSTED THEM, AND THEY KEPT THIS A SECRET, ESPECIALLY AFTER I’VE SPOKEN TO BOTH OF THEM DIRECTLY ABOUT SECRET-KEEPING.” Papyrus rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “BUT I AM SURPRISINGLY NOT UPSET AT THE OUTCOME.”

“...what?” Red turned to face him. Papyrus turned orange.

“I KNOW HOW THAT SOUNDS. I HAD SEX WITH SANS, UNDER A RUSE, AND THEY BOTH LIED TO ME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.” He met Red’s gaze head-on. “BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I HAD A VERY ENJOYABLE NIGHT WITH HIM.” He hesitantly shrugged. “AND A PART OF ME WISHES TO DO SO AGAIN, BUT WITHOUT LIES.”

“You’re serious.” Red slowly uncovered his bright red face to openly stare slack-jawed at Papyrus. “You’d willingly fuck Sans again? Is that what I’m hearing?” Papyrus averted his gaze.

“I DON’T APPROVE OF THE CRUDENESS, BUT I SUPPOSE IT IS.” He looked at Red. “DO YOU NOT WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER NIGHT WITH EDGE?”

Red jumped up and flung his arms out.

“No! I’m fucking pissed. I don’t even want to have sex with fucking Sans right now, definitely not Edge!” Red stomped around the small room, kicking up dust and debris from the unused room. “They fucking conspired to do this, and they weren’t gunna tell us about it, and Sans had to have given him fucking POINTERS on the best way to fuck me, and...and…” Red dissolved into tears. Papyrus went to touch his shoulder, and Red almost flinched away. He still didn’t ever believe he was truly safe.

“AND?”

“I trusted him.” Red sobbed sadly. “I-I thought it was Sans and I let him in.” He felt empty, ashamed. “If he had asked for anything, right then, I would have given it up. I was so in love and it was a lie.” He wiped off his face. “Those bastards weren’t thinking about anyone but themselves.”

“I’M...SORRY. I DIDN’T REALIZE IT HAD BEEN SO SERIOUS.” Papyrus sighed. “THOUGH KNOWING EDGE BEHAVED THAT WAY HAS MADE ME MORE UPSET WITH HIM.” He stood, and offered Red a hand. Red took it, drooping so hard it looked like he hadn’t gotten up. “SO WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE?”

“I think we should talk to both of them. The fact Sans didn’t try and pull anything that sketchy says a lot.” Red shoved his hands in his pockets. “Doesn’t change the fact that I’m pissed. But it’s leaning sixty-forty towards Edge.” Papyrus hesitantly laid a hand on Red’s head.

“AGREED. BUT THAT DOES REQUIRE BEING HOME, ACTUALLY HOME.” He glanced around the dusty room attached to his old one. “CAN YOU RETURN US TO YOUR HOUSE? I FEEL SANS WOULD TAKE THEM THERE.”

“Alright.” Red closed his eyes, pooling all the excess magic he could find, and sent them home.

---------------------

“I have no idea where they are. I checked every spot we’ve come up with, and nothing.” Sans sat on his couch, much less comfy in the lanky frame. Nothing about the outfit was nice to wear.

“RED CAN BE VERY CRAFTY WHEN PUSHED.” Edge had his head in his hands. He’d gotten them caught, though part of it wasn’t his fault, but he really should’ve noticed a tail. “THEY WON’T RETURN UNTIL HE WANTS TO BE BACK.”

“I’m gunna be sentenced to the couch for life.” Sans sighed. “I really shouldn’t have let you tempt me into this.”

“So it was Edge’s idea then.” Red announced their presence loudly. “That makes sense.” He glared right at Sans’s body, Edge shrinking under the look. Red was furious. He hadn’t said this name to his face ever.

“I did agree to it though.” Sans stood up, not hiding behind the different face. He moved to sit on the floor in front of Red, mostly to put them back at eye to eye. He didn’t want to come off intimidating right now. “Shoulda stuck to my senses.”

“MY BIGGER CONCERN IS THE WHY RATHER THAN WHO. WHY WOULD YOU HIDE THE SWITCH?” Papyrus looked around Sans on the floor to Edge, still on the couch. Seeing him in Sans’s body brought back memories of conversations about secrets being kept long ago. But once again, Sans answered.

“It just seemed...fun. I had a unique opportunity to see more of you, and I took it. It’s not like I was looking to replace what I had.” He looked at Red. “Can’t blame you for being pissed, but know I wasn’t trying to find greener pastures.” He looked appropriately guilty, but Red hadn’t even reacted. He didn’t care about Sans’s answer.

“Did you sleep with Edge?” Red growled out. Papyrus whipped his head over for that one, and then confusingly looked between the two. Sans looked shocked but then shameful.

“Yes.” Edge looked like he wanted to complain, but Sans wasn’t interested in lessening the ire with half-truths. “We knew where we wanted this to go. We gave each other tips, verbally and physically.”

Edge’s face scrunched up at the phrasing; it’s like Sans wanted this to come off terrible from the start. Papyrus was sending over strange glances, Edge kept himself away from them. He probably should’ve been more attentive. He felt a hand roughly grab under his chin, forcing him to look at Red’s furious face.

“Did he tell you to sweet talk me Papyrus?” Edge’s soul plummeted, suddenly much more personal than his convergence name. “Tell me how fucking gorgeous I was and I’d just be putty in your fucking hands?” Sans was watching, but contributed nothing. “But you know, ya just had to take it and run away with the idea, huh? Compliment the scars, call me a survivor, say I’m strong. Did you just enjoy working me up or did ya like the idea of me fallin for you so goddamn completely that you couldn’t fucking stop yourself?” Edge didn’t even know where to start, but Red still wasn’t done. He felt pressure along his jaw where the hand gripped him. “And don’t you dare fucking lie to me Papyrus!”

Edge couldn’t tear his eyes away from Red’s. He was pinned to the spot, scrambling to find the right words. His boyfriend was a few feet away, and he didn’t want to leave him, he wanted to return to the before, before he could feel this thing living in his chest that he didn’t realize had been dying there for a long time.

“I-” Edge couldn’t stop the words. “I THOUGHT I WANTED FUN, BUT I...I DON’T KNOW ANYMORE.” Tears welled in his eyes. He hadn’t cried in front of anyone in years, his brother the only one to see him this way until now. “I LOVE PAPYRUS! I WANT TO SPEND MY LIFE WITH HIM.” He grabbed at his chest. “BUT THE IDEA OF LIVING WITHOUT YOU HURTS. NOT KNOWING YOU HURTS. EVERYTHING I DID, EVERYTHING I SAID, I DID NOT LIE. ALL I DID WAS WEAR ANOTHER’S FACE.” Red’s panic was setting in, but Edge couldn’t let him not know how he felt. He put his hand over the one holding his face. “I LOVE YOU SANS.” 

“...why?” It came out as a whisper, shocked and horrified to hear the words from Edge’s mouth. So much of the night before rushed back to slap Red in the face. His soul ran hot, he pulled his hand free. He backed up until he hit the living room wall. Edge went to follow, but Sans laid a hand on his shoulder.

“SANS-”

“Get out.” Red covered his face with his arm, pointing at the door with his other one. “Take Papyrus and leave my fucking house.” 

And the discussion ended, Edge dejectedly following Papyrus out the door, leaving Red and Sans alone.

“I don’t want to even start with you.” Red glared up at Sans, moving to the couch, energy knocked out of him. Sans sat by him, knowing the mood he was going to fall into.

“Then don’t. Use me for what you want.” His voice was scratchy, Edge’s voice not able to hit his deep tone, but he tried to make it less like the person Red was desperate to ignore. Red leaned heavily against him.

“Easy for you to say. You’re wearing his face.” Red sighed harshly. “He...he was never nice to me, not once he got big enough to defend himself. He’d call me weak most mornings, I’d get a daily berating during resets, and he constantly reminded me that I was nothing compared to him.” Sans hummed an acknowledgement, but didn’t want to interrupt. “When he was you, it was constant compliments. He kissed and touched every part of me, I was so relaxed and unguarded. I woulda…” Red let his head hang low.

“Woulda what?” Sans kept himself out of it. He was here for Red right now.

“Sans, I almost offered him my soul.” Red teared up. “If he hadn’t had a little breakdown at the end, I woulda offered it to him, thinking he was you.” He buried his face in the fabric between the black armor. “I’m sorry.”

Sans rubbed Red’s shoulder while he hiccupped and cried. Leave it to Red to be the one who got most hurt by this and then feel bad about something that theoretically could’ve happened that would hurt Sans. It would’ve been devastating to find out that Red had offered that to Edge in place of him (Sans had been steadily earning his trust for years now, which he threw away when he decided to trust Edge of all fucking people), but Sans wouldn’t have the right to be upset at Red about it. And if he had offered, and Edge didn’t take it out of respect for Sans, it still would’ve been awful because Red wouldn’t get over being rejected on that level by someone he loved that deeply.

“You don’t have anything to be sorry about. This whole mess is my fault. If I had said no, it wouldn’t have happened.” Red sniffled.

“Why did you do it Sansy?” Ouch, the nickname hurt.

“I’m hoping this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and I wanted to do something with it. Just being selfish.” He yanked the gloves off before pulling Red close. “It feels stupid to even say.”

“Was I not good enough?”

“God, love, no.” He rubbed his back through the hoodie. “You’ve always been more than enough. None of this was about not wanting you Red. I wanted a fun night with Paps and then to come back.” Sans sighed, hoping the tight hug would say it better than he could. “I thought Edge wanted something similar. I didn’t think he’d do something like that to you. I didn’t think he’d hurt you like this.”

Red mumbled something against his armor, but Sans couldn’t hear it.

“I can’t hear you Red.”

“Tell me about your time with P.” Red poked his face out enough to speak.

“Red, you do-”

“Please.” Red hadn’t pushed him away, so he had already forgiven Sans for far too much. He supposed the request wasn’t a high price to pay.

“It was fun. Went on a romantic dinner, went home, and he tied me up. Guess he’d been asking Edge for a while now, but he didn’t want to give up control. I don’t have that problem. Let him do whatever, he roleplayed a little; it was cute.” Sans leaned his head back, height making him hit the wall. Red clutched the side of the plate armor.

“Papyrus said he’d do it again. Even knowing who you are.” Sans stiffened on that one. He hadn’t expected that. “I know the thing with Edge was a means to an end. I’m still mad about it but I get it. But the minute Papyrus said he’d be down to do this again, I’ve got this bad feeling that it’s gunna become a regular thing and I’m gunna be the black fucking rain cloud dragging everyone down.” Red frowned, averting his eyes away from the couch, not wanting to be in Sans’s lap to say this, but needing the comfort.

“Red, it’s not gunna become a regular thing.” Sans shook his head, but Red didn’t look at him.

“It will. The other two will agree to it. And I don’t want to, so I’ll look like the asshole. Just watch.” Red climbed out his lap, and then stared Sans down (up?). “I wanna be left alone until you walk back in here with your face. Go stay with them. They’ll ask, just wait.”

“Red…”Sans reached for him, but Red didn’t budge. 

“The fact I’m even letting you come back in your own body is pretty damn forgiving considering you cheated on me twice.” Red growled, and then turned around. “Well, twice for now. Whatever you do with those two idiots in that body is not my goddamn problem.” Then he shortcut away to the bedroom.

Sans hunched his shoulders, but just accepted fate, disappearing without another word.

---------

The walk home was tense, quiet. Papyrus honestly didn’t know where to start, and he didn’t want to air their “dirty laundry” in public, especially with Edge wearing Sans’s face.

His mind circled back to all that time ago, to that long uncomfortable chat with Sans about secret keeping. But he found that wasn’t what his mind wanted to actually focus on. Edge being in Sans’s body just brought back those memories, but the real issue was Edge, his behavior, his actions, their relationship. 

They had not gotten along as spectacularly at first. Edge had a tendency to be crude, sometimes cruel, in his actions, and while Papyrus touted he was great, he stopped doing so as much when he was faced with it constantly from the others after the convergence, though Edge remained unfazed long afterwards. He and Papyrus had been put on many of the same patrols, guard posts, and while he didn’t appreciate lectures on language and naivety, he did appreciate perfect magic control. 

After a few spars, Edge had invited him to a friendly outing.

One outing had turned to several, and they found a lot in common under the differences. They both were also adept at being upfront. It hadn’t taken long for either of them to admit their feelings for each other.

Papyrus thought they had been doing quite well, following along their plans of obtaining a home, a weekly date plan. At least, until he had admitted how much he loved Red in front of him.

They made it through the front door, but Edge was not the type to run. He turned to face Papyrus the minute they were alone.

“I’M SORRY.” Hearing the loud voice from his brother’s face was startling, but at least he was sure that this hadn’t been some elaborate prank. “I WAS IN THE SAME BOAT AS SANS, THOUGH I WAS THE ONE TO SUGGEST IT. I WANTED A NIGHT, PERHAPS THE WEEK I WAS TO BE STUCK AS SANS, WITH RED AND THEN TO COME HOME. IT WASN’T MEANT TO BE THIS.” Edge wiped at his face, remembering the tears from before. “I STILL WANT TO BE WITH YOU, BUT I WANT RED TO BE PART OF MY FUTURE TOO. I’M SO-!” Edge stomped his foot down.

“I...SURPRISINGLY UNDERSTAND.” Edge wrung his hands, anxious and confused.

“PAPYRUS, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BE UPSET WITH ME OVER THIS.” Edge stood tall, or he would, if he were in his body. “THIS ISN’T SOME NONSENSE FROM MY WORLD THAT I ASKED YOU TO UNDERSTAND. THIS IS A PROBLEM OF MY SINGULAR CREATION.”

Part of their early arguments had been over Edge’s LV and EXP, but Papyrus had agreed to not bring it up anymore after a long emotional night of reliving Edge’s past. 

“I KNOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE NOT THE SAME, BUT I WILL REPEAT TO YOU WHAT I SAID TO RED. I DO NOT MIND THE OUTCOME, BUT THE LIES AND SECRETS ARE BOTH AGAINST DIRECT CONVERSATIONS I’VE HAD WITH BOTH OF YOU.” Papyrus crossed his arms, stern and accusatory. “I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONVERSATION WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT, BUT I DO NOT STAND BY DISHONESTY.”

Edge looked down to the floor. The carpet patterns were very interesting today it seemed.

“YOU ARE RIGHT. I WOULD DO THIS DIFFERENTLY IF I HAD THE CHOICE AGAIN.” Edge hugged himself, looking up at his boyfriend. “I DO NOT EXPECT INSTANT FORGIVENESS, BUT IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN OVERCOME?” If he could work to earn his trust back, he would do so. He loved Papyrus, his spirit, his strength, and his kindness, but he knew that he hadn’t behaved in a manner deserving of such a great datemate.

Papyrus stooped down to hug him.

“OF COURSE WE CAN. THOUGH THIS WILL NOT BE EASY, ESPECIALLY FOR RED. HE AND I DID NOT AGREE ON SUCH EASY FORGIVENESS. I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO FIND SANS AT OUR DOOR WITHIN THE HOUR.” Edge hugged him back as hard as he could.

“I DO NOT DESERVE IT, BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE COMFORT.” Papyrus patted him on the head, backing up to smile.

“I AM HAPPY TO HUG YOU ANYTIME.” 

Edge took a steadying breath. That was one conversation out of the way, one relationship mended. The others still needed work though.

As if summoned by their reconciliation and Papyrus’s forewarning, Sans appeared in their living room. His hard face looked correct on Sans for once. He didn’t speak before dropping down onto the sofa, head in his hands while Edge and Papyrus waited patiently. Out of all of them, Sans probably had the worst conversation to have, as Red wouldn’t talk to Edge right now.

“Red told me to stay here. Didn’t want to see me.” Sans sighed, unhappy but unsurprised. “He’s pissed.”

“I...GATHERED.” Papyrus sat beside Sans, figuring he’d be the best at diffusing the situation. “HE MENTIONED AS MUCH BEFORE WE ARRIVED AT YOUR HOME.”

“He said you weren’t upset at finding out I was in E’s body.” Sans looked up at his brother. He didn’t know how many people he could handle hating him right now.

“I AM UPSET YOU LIED AND KEPT IT A SECRET. I AM NOT UPSET AT THE REST.” Papyrus laid a hand on his back. “WE’VE DISCUSSED IT BEFORE, AND WHILE I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT NOT ALLOWING SECRETS WASN’T A SUGGESTION, I CAN SAVE THAT CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER TIME.” He pulled his brother into a hug. “FOR NOW, TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.”

Sans couldn’t hold his body up anymore. Papyrus held him while he sat there, miserable. Edge wanted to walk away and hide from this, especially in this body, from Sans, but it wouldn’t be fair to him.

“He doesn’t want to see me or E. He’s convinced that we’re gunna start some type of love triangle or square or something.” He turned to look at Edge. “And you wanna explain the shit you pulled with him? Red thinks you were fucking with him since you were such an ass pre-convergence, and you changed your tune pretty quick. I know I said to compliment him and treat him well, but if you blame me for your bullshit-”

“IT WAS MY FAULT. ONLY MY FAULT.” Edge didn’t flinch away from the glare. “MY BROTHER STOPPED BEING CLOSE TO ME SHORTLY AFTER I GOT OUT OF STRIPES, AND WHEN I WAS YOU, I REALIZED HOW MUCH I WANTED THAT BACK.” He approached Sans, ready to accept whatever punishment he deemed appropriate. “HE IS THE BROTHER I REMEMBER WITH YOU. THE ONE I LOVED WHEN I WAS SMALL.” He bowed his head before Sans. “I DIDN’T KNOW HOW MUCH I MISSED HIM UNTIL HE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. AND IN YOUR BODY, I FELT LIKE I COULD JUST FULLY ENJOY IT.”

“Well I hope you enjoyed it enough to last a lifetime, because he doesn’t want to see this face again.” Sans gestured to his stolen countenance. “Then again, I’m not sure he’ll take me back with my face either.” He sighed, sounding defeated.

“HE IS ANGRY, BUT NOT UNREASONABLE. I DO NOT KNOW IF HE’LL FORGIVE EDGE, BUT HE LOVES YOU. I DOUBT YOU’LL BE TURNED AWAY FOR TOO LONG.” Papyrus held him in the half hug gently. He cocked his head to the side. “THOUGH I AM CURIOUS. HE BELIEVES THIS WILL BE A REGULAR OCCURANCE?” Sans closed his eyes, relaxing as much as the stiff armor and stress would let him.

“He’s under the impression that since we didn’t mind being with each other, you and E being a thing, and with him and I being a thing, that we’d make it a regular deal. Though that falls apart if he and E aren’t a thing, so it doesn’t matter.” He looked up at his bro. “I love you, but I need him. I wanted…” He hunched his back. “I wanted to share my soul with him.” He sat up, leaning out of the comfort to curl in on himself. “I fucked up.”

“I...KNOW IT DOESN’T MEAN MUCH, AND I DO NOT EXPECT YOU TO FORGIVE ME FOR IT, BUT I AM SORRY.”

Sans laughed humorlessly.

“Me too.”

Papyrus was the only one not forlornly staring at the floor. He stood briskly, placing his hands on his hips, calling for both of their attention with a heavy step.

“THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! RED WILL NEVER FORGIVE EITHER OF YOU WITH THAT ATTITUDE.” He pointed at Sans. “IF YOU WORK TO WIN HIM BACK, HE WILL BE YOURS SANS. YOU JUST NEED TO TRY. IS HE NOT WORTH THE EFFORT?” Sans’s eye sockets glowed bright with yearning.

“He’s worth a lot more than I got. But I’ll work at it until I can look him in the eye again.” Papyrus turned to point at Edge.

“YOU SAID YOU LOVED HIM, AS MUCH AS I LOVE SANS AT LEAST. DO YOU NOT WISH TO CHASE THAT DOWN, TO MAKE HIM, IF NOT RETURN YOUR LOVE, THEN ACCEPT IT?” He got down on his knees to hold Edge’s small hands in his own. “I DO NOT KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE WITHOUT MY SANS; I KNOW YOU MISS YOURS. BUT HE MUST BE CONVINCED YOUR FEELINGS ARE SINCERE. CAN THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE EDGE RISE TO THE OCCASION?”

Edge shook in Papyrus’s grasp. He had risen so high, accomplished so much, with a mountain of his own blood, sweat, and tears to get to where he was. He’d stood on his own two boots and ran forward to create his own path. But now, the memories of the past were coming back to haunt him. Before he could stand alone. Red had cared for him selflessly, defending his tiny soul from scavengers without complaint. And now that he sought them out, he couldn’t recall Red ever throwing that in his face while he’d screamed Red down for all his mistakes. 

He’d been selfish, and his soul trembled thinking of the monumental task ahead. If he failed…

But he had never failed! He was the great and terrible Papyrus! Even if he went by Edge now, HE himself had remained unchanged. He stared up into his love’s face, bold and determined.

“I’M GOING TO WIN HIM BACK, NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!” He gently clanked Papyrus’s face. “THANK YOU LOVE. I HAD ALMOST FORGOTTEN MYSELF.” He hugged him tight.

“NOW LET’S FIX THIS!”

---------

“T-there! Back to n-normal!” Edge could feel the heavy press of his armor on his chest. Sans woke up in his hoodie and coulda cried with how much he had missed it. They looked over at each other.

“I APOLOGIZE FOR EVERYTHING SANS.” Edge needed to say this with his own face. This mess was his idea and the failure of it was his own fault. This experience had humbled him to many things, and this apology was a warm up of sorts. The bigger one was to come later tonight. “THANK YOU ALPHYS.”

“You’re welcome. Please d-don’t cause anymore trouble in my lab.” She shook her head and walked back to the other side of the lab. Sans scratched his skull.

“I mean, takes two to tango. Besides, I’m not the one you really need to see.” Sans straightened out his back, familiar popping instead of Edge’s smooth unfurl. “Not gunna give you tips though. Saw how that worked out last time.”

“THAT IS LIKELY BEST.”

“Good luck. We’re cheering for ya.” Sans winked at him.

They exchanged a few more words, but Sans waved him off to wait with Papyrus. Witnesses would complicate this.

He walked into the door, and Red was sprawled on the couch, shoes by the door, exactly as he had been when Edge had come in as Sans forever ago. Red growled from his spot, not looking at him.

“I told you to leave me alone until you were in your own fucking body Sans.” 

“I WASN’T PRESENT FOR THAT, BUT I SUPPOSE I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS ANYWAY.” Edge sighed, Red flinching and already turning red with anger.

“I don’t wanna see you, no matter which fucking body you’re in Papyrus.” Red snarled, throwing a remote that Edge easily caught, ready to snap his fingers and vanish.

“SANS, PLEASE.” Edge crossed his arms. “REGARDLESS OF THE RESULT, THIS CONVERSATION HAS TO HAPPEN. LET US HAVE IT AND NOT HAVE IT HANG OVER US.” His body un-tensed when Red lowered his hand, shaking his head.

“Fine. Let’s have this stupid conversation.” Red pulled his hoodie up tighter around him. His eyes were already glowing, anger flaring up his magic. “So, go ahead. Try to fucking talk your way through this. I’m fucking listening.”

Edge didn’t know how to begin. How could he even begin to describe the complex emotions he had? Maybe he could start with the obvious?

“I LOVE YOU SA-”

“No you fucking DON’T.” Edge felt blue magic drop him to his knees. Red was in his face an instant later. “Don’t start with the fake ass sweet talk. I’m not gunna be fooled into sleeping with you aga-”

“FUCK YOU! IT ISN’T FUCKING FAKE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!” Edge grabbed the front of Red’s hoodie like he’d done a million times before. “DO YOU THINK THIS IS EASY FOR ME? THAT I DIDN’T HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS FUCKING OVERWHELMING FEELING THAT I DIDN’T ASK FOR?!” Edge hoisted him up, toes barely dragging the floor. “IT WASN’T A FUCKING CHOICE!”

“CONGRATU-FUCKIN-LATIONS PAPYRUS! How do you think I fucking feel?!” Red clawed at Edge’s arm, glaring at him with so much vitriol. “You called me a useless, lazy, no better than dust piece of shit for YEARS! Then you fucking show up wearing SANS’S face, and suddenly it’s ‘you’re so strong love, nothing compares,’ fucking me like you haven’t been embarassed by me being ALIVE since you were taller than me!” He scratched harder, starting to dig in. Edge held even though his arm shook. “Now you want me to believe you love me when it conveniently makes you look less like an asshole?!”

“WHERE WAS THIS?!” Edge shook him until he rattled. “WHERE WAS THIS FUCKING ENERGY WHEN WE WERE LIVING IN OUR HOME?!”

“The fuck do you mean?!” Red kicked Edge, toes bouncing off Edge’s front plate.

“GOD DAMMIT SANS! I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO DIE!” Red just looked confused, sneering disbelief, not understanding his point. “YOU WOULDN’T WAKE UP. YOU WOULDN’T EAT. YOU ACTIVELY SLEPT OUT IN THE OPEN. IT WAS LIKE THE SECOND I COULD DEFEND MYSELF, YOU MADE YOUR LIFE MY PROBLEM ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE!” Edge felt a claw draw blood, he tossed Red back a few feet, stumbling on the carpet before falling on his ass.

“I was never your fucking problem to keep alive! You only needed to defend yourself! You’re the one who made my life YOUR problem!” Red coughed hard, growling Edge’s way.

“WHAT DID YOU WANT ME TO DO SANS?! JUST LET MY BROTHER FUCKING DIE?!”

“YES!” Red shouted, tears only gathering in the corners of his eyes. He wouldn’t let them fall. “You shoulda just let me die! You were fine on your own!” Edge felt something in his chest explode. 

“What?” Edge tried to look at Red, but his gaze kept sliding away, unable to really contemplate what that meant. “You wanted to die?” He sounded lost.

“Wasn’t that obvious?!” Red scrunched up his nose. Edge’s gaze was still very, very distant.

“But...why?” Edge’s chest felt heavier than fifty armor plates. “I-” He cut off, unsure of how to continue.

“I killed our dad.” Red’s body drooped hard. “He was gunna kill you, so I killed him and ran. I was terrified; I was just a kid, and most kids died, much less kids looking after kids. But I had killed G, so I had enough LV to scare off other scavengers.” Red couldn’t look at Edge. “But it felt so bad. It felt wrong, LV didn’t sit right with me, and I could feel that sin crawling on my back all the time. I still feel it now.” Red had never looked more tired, Edge’s eyes watered, building up to tears. He didn’t fight Red grabbing him by the scarf. “But I couldn’t fucking quit on you! I wanted to die every damn second, but you were defenseless and I had to tough it out for you! So of course I checked the fuck out when you could fight on your own without help! You’re the great and terrible Papyrus, and I was a damn nobody.” Red let go of the scarf, holding Edge’s skull, wide tear filled eyes and all, with both hands. Edge still had no words.

“If you’d let me die, you would’ve been unstoppable.” Red sighed, rubbing off the tear tracks with his thumbs. Edge’s mouth was hanging slightly open. “You woulda been a hotshot Royal Guardsman with no weaknesses, and all it would cost you was a worthless sinner who wouldn’t kill in a world of kill or be killed, just waiting to be killed and holding you back.” Red laughed mirthlessly. “I couldn’t even do that right. Refused to kill but killed Gaster without hesitation.” 

Edge could barely see, overwhelmed, like he had never seen his brother clearly before. The shock was wearing down with Red running his thumbs over his cheekbones.

“WHY...DID HE WISH TO KILL ME?” 

“You weren’t a child prodigy. I could help him in the lab super young. You were a normal babybones. He didn’t want to deal with you. Was gunna dust you and try again.” Red let his face go. “Go ahead. I can hear you thinking from here.”

“WHAT I SAW WAS SOMEONE WHO ABANDONED ME THE SECOND I COULD CARRY BOTH OF US. I HATED IT, HATED YOU, FOR WANTING ME TO DO EVERYTHING INSTEAD OF HELPING ME. AND YOU MADE IT SO DAMN DIFFICULT BY NOT DOING ANYTHING TO KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE.” Edge laid his arms on Red’s shoulders, red scratches lining the bones. “I NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHY.”

“Who says shit like that to a kid? I raised you, I’m not gunna say that and fuck you up, thinking it’s your fault I’m screwed up in the head, like I regretted keeping you.” Red looked at his socks. Edge’s soul shook with anxiety.

“YOU DON’T?” Red snapped his gaze up to Edge’s face.

“The fuck? I’ve loved you since day one Papyrus. I’m pissed at you, but it’s not something you can lose.” Red said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Edge pulled him into the tightest hug he could, burying his face in the fluffy trim. Red’s arms hovered hesitantly, before laying them onto Edge’s back, hugging him back with a full body sigh. “You’re the one who had no reason to love me.”

“I THOUGHT YOU HATED ME. HATED THE FACT THAT I TOOK YOUR CHILDHOOD AWAY.” Edge cried into his shoulder. His bones rattled loudly, breath scraping in and out, half out of breath and half full of heartache. “I WAS SO ANGRY. I ADORED YOU SO MUCH BEFORE I GOT STRONGER, THEN YOU TURNED INTO SOMEONE WHO HATED ME.” So far, it’d all been the past, but Edge couldn’t stop the flood of words. “WHEN I CAME HERE AS SANS, AND WE LAUGHED ON THE COUCH, ALL I COULD REMEMBER IS THAT YOU HADN’T LAUGHED WITH ME IN DECADES.”

“I distanced myself as hard as I could. I didn’t want you to miss me when I died.” Red stroked the back of his skull. “I thought I had finally made you fucking despise me, and then of fucking course the convergence happened, and I had to live with that choice.” Part of Red still didn’t want to let any of this go, but he had always been soft on his bro.

“I THOUGHT YOU HAD SUCCEEDED AS WELL, BUT I THINK I HAD JUST GIVEN UP ON YOU LOVING ME. AND WHEN I COULD SPEAK AS SANS, SOMEONE YOU CHERISHED, I WAS SO JEALOUS. YOU LOVED HIM, BUT NOT ME.” Edge shuffled his legs around, Red suddenly seated in his lap.

Red leaned against his brother’s long chest, then grabbed Edge’s chin. He directed his view down to him.

“I love both of you. It’s not a competition.” Edge’s eyes went wide.

“SANS, PLEASE, TELL ME YOU LOVE ME.” Here he was, on the edge again, absolutely needing Red to do this. Red felt his soul skip a beat, he knew exactly what would happen when he said those words, and all that was left was to say them or not. He stared directly into Edge’s eyes.

“I love you Papyrus.” 

Red closed his eyes before it happened. Edge pulled straight out of his grip and swooped down to kiss him.

Red groaned when Edge shifted him in his lap to get a real good angle to sneak his tongue in. His hands snuck up around Edge’s neck, locking him in until Red was good and ready to let him go.

When they parted, they were both blushing.

“I LOVE YOU SANS. I CANNOT UNDO THE PAST, BUT I MEAN IT NOW.” Edge ran his hands over each rib through Red’s jacket. “I’D TELL YOU WHAT I’M THINKING, BUT IT MIGHT UPSET YOU.”

“Say it anyway. We’re starting a no secret policy like those other two dumbasses.” Red hummed into the contact. The tension he’d been carrying all week was just starting to loosen.

“YOU’RE QUITE HANDSOME.” Red jolted up, pressing his face directly into Edge’s shoulder. Edge stroked the back of Red’s skull happily. 

“Ya’re on thin ice asshole…” He mumbled into Edge’s armor, then mumbled again. “‘Sides, you’ve been the handsome one our whole lives.” A shiver shot up Edge’s spine. His soul hummed with the praise, pulling Red’s legs to straddle his lap, and going in for another kiss while Red was still wearing his cute blush. He moaned softly and Edge ate up every sound.

“CAN I TOUCH YOU SANS?” His hands hovered over the hoodie zipper, but he wouldn’t betray Red’s trust a second time. Two chances were rare from him.

“I dunno. Can you?” Red’s eyes were half lidded, lazy smirk tilted up at his brother’s face. Edge dropped his head on his brother’s shoulder.

“YOU’RE INSUFFERABLE. MAY I TOUCH YOU?”

“I...I don’t know.” Red laid his hands on Edge’s skull. They were shaking. “I’m feeling a little self conscious after last time.” 

Edge gently traced over where he knew the scars were, completely clothed.

“YOU GOT MOST OF THESE DEFENDING ME.” He hugged him closer, slid completely up into his lap, pressed together. “YOU’RE THE ONLY REASON I MADE IT THIS FAR. THERE IS NOTHING I COULD SEE THAT WOULD MAKE ME THINK LESS OF YOU.”

“It’d help if you weren’t still trying to be so over the top with this lovey stuff…” Red leaned into the hug, slotting them as close together as he could manage. He pressed his face into the armor, breathing in the familiar scent of his brother. “I don’t need to be buttered up so much for a good time.”

“YOU CLEARLY ENJOY IT THOUGH.” Edge toyed with the tip of Red’s tailbone through his shorts. Red huffed into Edge’s chest, wiggling in his lap. “I ENJOY IT AS WELL.”

“Papyrusssss.” Red’s fingers stroked along Edge’s neck vertebrae. He pulled himself up enough to breathe right onto the sensitive bones. 

“LET ME MAKE YOU SCREAM SANS…”

Edge slotted their pelvises together just right. Red whined into it.

“Fine. You can touch.” Edge captured his mouth in a kiss almost immediately. His hands pushed the hoodie off, and went for the shirt just as quickly. He broke the kiss to remove the thing before diving right back in. Red whimpered right into his mouth while his hands pulled which ribs were more sensitive than others from memory.

Red clawed at the armor, hands shakily undoing the belts holding it in place. Red had never forgotten how to put it on and remove it. He’d seen it done a million times. Edge removed the shirts underneath without needing to be asked.

Red pushed their chests together, scarred bones rubbing up against one another. Edge dipped a hand into Red’s pants to hold his pelvis and forcibly grind up against him.

“AAAAAH!” Red cried out. The harsher ministrations fit so much better. Edge wouldn’t be as gentle or lazy as Sans. His honesty was crude and cutting, and he didn’t do soft very well, but the meaning behind the acts were clear; Edge loved him, in his own way, and needed Red to know.

“SUCH WONDERFUL SOUNDS, I THINK I CAN GET YOU LOUDER THOUGH.” 

“I’m gunna make ya work for it.” Red slid out of his pants when prompted, keeping to low gravelly moans and pleased hums. Edge kept trying new bumps, different techniques on the spots Red really responded to. Red didn’t increase in sound, purposely teasing him.

Then he gave up and bit down with his sharp teeth on Red’s collarbone.

“FUCK!” Red dug scratches into Edge’s back. Edge went to pull back and apologize, but once he let go, Red tilted his head the other way. “You bite your fucking boyfriend like that, you vampire?” Edge grinned ferociously.

“HE’S NOT INTO THAT, UNLIKE YOU, YOU MASOCHIST.” Edge bit down on the opposite shoulder. Red cried out, his ecto summoning without a thought.

“If you know I’m a masochist, what’re ya waiting for?” Red pushed down Edge’s pants, undoing the belt with a single hand, taking hold of Edge’s cock and freeing it from his loose pants. With skilled ease, he slid all the way down in one motion, whining at the bite of pain from going so fast. Edge forgot how to breathe. Red bounced, panting at the stretch and the soft pounding at the back of his pussy.

Edge gripped his hips to stop him. He adjusted their angle, did one slow slide inside of Red to make sure he’d bottom out each time, then proceeded to smash him down. Red gasped the first time. His moans increased in volume when Edge refused to let up.

“I WANT YOU TO FEEL THIS WHEN HE RETURNS HOME TO YOU.” Edge growled at Red’s bright face, overwhelmed and enraptured by him. “I WILL NOT LET YOU FORGET THIS, FORGET ME. I LOVE YOU, AND WHILE I AM DEIGNING TO SHARE WITH SANS, IF HE CAN HAVE BOTH OF YOU, I WILL AS WELL.” He could feel Red’s building orgasm in the clench of his fingers on his rib cage, the tears gathering in the corners of his eyes, the pitch of his whines.

“I love you too.” Red cried, pain completely melted away. Edge clanked their foreheads together.

“Then come for me.” Edge came kissing Red.

They came down together, passionate kissing devolving into soft clanks until they collapsed against each other. Red hid his blushing face.

“I have no idea how this is gunna work.” Red shivered without his warm hoodie. “You and Sans agreeing to share, considering how much you argue, is really fucking weird.” Edge reached a long arm over to grab the hoodie and wrap it around his brother.

“WE BOTH CARE ABOUT YOU AND PAPYRUS. I CONSIDER IT MORE OF A TRADE, AS I GET SOME TIME WITH YOU IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS TIME WITH PAPYRUS. I AM NOT AGAINST FAIR TRADES.” Red stood on shaky legs, looking around for his clothes. He tossed back any of Edge’s he found on the hunt.

“And what about you and Sans?” Red stood up straight, wincing when he put a hand on his lower back. Edge tilted his head.

“WHAT ABOUT HIM AND I?” Red raised a brow.

“I mean, you did have sex with him. I just want to know what that arrangement looks like going forward. This kinda complex shit only works when we’re all transparent.” Edge stood to his full height. He adjusted his clothes and then grabbed his chin.

“I ADMIT, I HADN’T CONSIDERED THAT. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST, AS YOU WERE LEFT OUT OF PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS?” Edge thought on the idea of him and Sans doing anything again. The first time had been for a direct purpose, but there was an allure to having a liaison with a partner who he was constantly at odds with.

“I’m not really that interested in him, but I guess if you wanna have Sans, then if P and I decide to do anything, ya can’t complain.” Red shrugged. “Not that I expect that it’ll happen a lot. It’s not like I’m giving up Sans as my partner. You aren’t exchangeable. I’m pretty sure you still want to marry P.”

“OF COURSE. I LOVE HIM. OUR DATE NIGHTS ARE SOME OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE. MAKING A HOME WITH HIM IS STILL MY PRIORITY.” Edge kneeled and took one of Red’s hands. “YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I KNOW THAT YOU CARE FOR ME. SANS IS JUST A MORE DIRECT MATCH.” He looked towards the bedroom knowingly. “I DO PREFER NOT TO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO A TRASH TORNADO NOW THAT I HAVE THE OPTION.”

“Come on Boss, it makes cleaning a breeze.” Red smirked, Edge squawking in indignation. He bopped him on the skull, but Red finally felt his body fully relax. Everything felt right again. With a smile, he led Edge to the front door.

“Go on, send home my idiot when you see P. You know where to find me.” Red leaned on the door frame as Edge stepped out. He stooped down to kiss Red on the forehead fondly.

“I WILL SEE YOU SOON SANS.” And off he went.

------------

“How was the sleepover?” Red looked back over his shoulder when he heard Sans come in. He’d been trying his hand at cooking lately, as having all their meals at Grillby’s was getting a little old. He heard the rustle of a bag and then a sheet behind him. Then something dropped over his head.

“Pretty good. You clearly got the movie taste AND looks in the family though.” He felt a kiss on the cheek.

The item dropped on him fluttered into view. A “Kiss The Cook” apron.

“Thanks Sansy.” He turned to face Sans, stirring the stew with one hand, pulling Sans into a better kiss. 

“Mmmmm. Knew you’d like it.” Sans sat down at their kitchen table, patiently waiting for Red to finish cooking. “Your bro asked for help picking out an engagement ring for Papyrus. He’ll probably be out of touch for a bit.” He leaned back against the chair. “He offered to help me find one for you, but I turned it down.”

“Why’s that?” Red set down two plates of food. He settled into his chair, getting ready to take a bite.

“We both know we don’t wanna plan a whole shindig.” Red chuckled at that, blowing on a bite before chowing down. Pretty good this time, maybe sear the meat a little less, and almost too lost in his musing to hear Sans whisper to his plate. “That’ll never happen.”

Red couldn’t get the food down at that. It’d been months since the body swap thing, and while it took a bit to really get used to it, they were all better off for it. At least, that’s what he thought. Apparently Sans didn’t think so.

After a very awkward dinner, and a quiet clean up, Sans hugged him from behind while he put up the dishes.

“I’m feeling pretty beat. Think I’m gunna turn in a little early.” He felt so quiet, so distant. Red hugged over the arms.

“Wait up for me? Gunna shower, been stewing in sweat all day.” It barely pulled a chuckle. He did feel a slow nod against his back, then empty air. Red chest crushed under the weight of his heart. He quickly cleaned himself off, walking into their bedroom in his boxers and a t-shirt. Sans smiled, but it was tight and tired, not even reaching out to pull him closer for them to sleep. Red trembled and turned away when they turned off the light.

Sans would never marry him. He’d never be marriage material. He tried to keep his sniffles quiet, not wanting to disturb Sans while he slept. Who knows if he’d even stay boyfriend material if he was annoying on top of everything else?

“Red?” Sans had the light on in an instant. He turned Red over to look at his face, full of concern, pulling him into a hug without a thought. Sans was too nice to him. “What’s wrong, love?” Red leaned his head against him, miserable. “I shoulda noticed. I’m sorry, whatever you need, I’m here.”

Red clutched at his back, face buried in Sans’s shoulder while he hiccupped. He was such a crybaby. So easy to upset, no one would want such a sensitive spouse, always causing problems just by existing.

He would’ve kept wallowing if he didn’t feel tears falling on his skull as well.

When he pulled back, he stared at Sans’s unusual tears, confused.

“W-why are you crying?” Red winced at the stutter, caught between wanting to hunch in on himself and hold Sans. Sans kissed him gently.

“Because I love you and I’m still so bad at helping you, knowing what you need, being there when you need it. I’m such a damn failure.” He rested a hand on Red’s cheek. “You’ve been quiet since dinner, and I got too caught up in how I was feeling to be there for you, just being selfish as usual. I hate seeing you cry. What happened?” Red placed a hand over Sans’s, staring into his eyes. They had all agreed to no secrets, so he just quietly confessed.

“I heard you at dinner, that we’d never get married. I know I’m not that great of a boyfriend, but it hurts to hear it.” Sans’s eyes just got wider and wider as Red spoke. “I’m trying so hard to not be worthless. I love you so much Sansy, I don’t want you to leave.”

“Red, no.” Sans kissed his entire face, finishing by resting his forehead against Red’s.

“But you said-”

“I meant me. You’d never marry me.” Sans tired eyes wouldn’t meet his. “I caused that whole mess, and you were the one who got screwed by it, all for my selfishness. When you told me that you almost offered your soul to E in my body?” Sans laughed, humorless and tearful. ”I knew it was over. I fucked that up. I had you, and I threw it away, and I’ll never get that back. That trust is gone, and there’s no one to blame but myself.” Sans closed his eyes. “Everything fell into place but this, and I don’t think it was worth the trade.”

Sans certainly didn’t expect the soft kiss. For all their similarities, they sure could be blind.

“Sansy, I love you. I didn’t stop, even when I was mad at you. Don’t you love me?”

“Of course I do.” 

“Then what’s not falling into place? We got each other and all the time in the world.” Red held Sans’s face, gently rubbing his cheeks. “Is this because of the soul thing? Do you think I don’t trust you?”

“Yeah...I just felt before, we were building up to that, to sharing each other that way, and now, it feels like none of that matters anymore.” Sans sighed. “I guess I coulda just been too focused on it. I wasn’t appreciating what I had again…” He sagged in Red’s hands, leaning forward until he rested his head on Red’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

Sans could feel Red’s body tense under him. He really was the worst sometimes, causing his boyfriend this much stress over his own inadequacies. He felt one of Red’s arms drop off his back, feeling the deep breaths in his chest, and then a hand by his own.

“It stressed me out and I was building up to it because I was nervous. I’ve never let anyone see it after we ran away from home. But after everything else, it just took a back seat. If I had known how important you felt that was, I wouldn’t have let it slip through the cracks.” Red leaned his head onto Sans’s. “If this is as meaningful as marriage where you’re from, then I’m sorry for making ya think I didn’t want that with you.”

He felt a weight transfer from Red’s hand to his own. Sans adjusted his head to see.

Red’s soul, floating above his palm. His eyes teared up again. He sat back up slowly, trying to not jostle the little thing, pulling it up closer to his face. It magically hovered a few inches above his hands, but he could reach out and touch it if he wanted.

“Wow.” It gently twirled in front of his face.

“It’s nothing special.” Sans didn’t glance away to respond to Red. He chastely kissed it, so very happy. “Aaaaah. That feels...nice.” Sans nuzzled against it like he would his boyfriend, happily humming into the warm soul. Red purred into the contact, laying back onto the headboard. He stretched out, bones warming up from the breath from Sans’s nose. “This is like getting the best massage of my life. I love you.” Sans smiled at him.

“Love you too. Wonder if you’ll like this more.” He took a long, languid lick right between the dip of the soul. 

“Oh fuck.” His body arched off the bed.

“You taste like sugar. Always knew you were a sweetheart.” Red laughed, but it was short, breathless, while Sans traced the edges of his soul. Red tore off his shirt to cool down, but the sensation was deep into his marrow.

“You sure-” Red groaned. “-got me fired up.” His bones were starting to glow crimson. The magic in his body pulsed awake, craving Sans, wanting to share this feeling with him. 

Sans was too focused on the tasty soul in his mouth, enjoying Red’s sounds, not noticing the scrambling hands at his boxers until Red had pushed them down.

“Hey, relax. This is about you.” But Red had pushed him backwards. He fell softly onto the bed, Red removing the pants with extreme prejudice.

“This is about us.” Red’s talented hands stroked and teased. His warmed hands made quick work of summoning Sans’s cock. Sans felt Red’s tongue on him in seconds, eyes hazy from all the soul teasing.

“Fuck Red, babe, I-” Sans sucked on the pointed end of Red’s soul, his boyfriend moaning around his cock. “-was gunna give you mine too.” 

Red paused his work to look at Sans face. 

“Your soul?” Sans nodded. With a little concentration, he summoned it to the front of his body. Red hesitantly reached for it. Sans kissed Red’s soul, trying to impart how much he wanted to share this with him with the simple touch. He plucked it from its summoning place with a look of reverence.

Sans soul pounded in his love’s warm fingers. Holding Red’s soul, the connection between them opened like a path, familiar but strange, like a trail only taken at night suddenly visible in the day. 

Red kissed the soul softly, Sans doing the same, and the emotional feedback magnified. 

“I love you so much.” It had come out of Red’s mouth, but they felt the echo of those words across their entire bodies. He laid forward, Sans’s ecto barely under his chin, licking at the soul while desire took over all his senses. His own soul was getting a similar treatment.

Once he’d gotten his fill of the flavor, however, he took the warm heart and moved it out of sight. Sans only knew because of the sudden mouth on him instead.

“My soul too gross for you?” He was kidding, Red could feel that, but he did sense the little spike of curiosity. He didn’t answer, keeping up his slow work on Sans’s cock with his mouth and single hand. His own ecto pussy had summoned ages ago, wet and dripping, and Red did flick his gaze upwards for that first little attempt. “Holy shit what are you doing ahhhhhhhhhh.”

Red continued working Sans’s hot soul up against himself, it sinking a little further each time. Sans tended to Red’s soul between dazed choked gasps.

“What’re you-hnnnnngh-doing to me?” Sans’s licked stripes got sloppy, feeling confined and hot, incredibly turned on. “I can see your mouth, so where’s this feeling-god DAMN!” Red finally managed to work the soul into himself enough for it to sink, his body swallowing it down his tight wet pussy. The first squeeze around it drew gasps from both of them.

“Being-mmmmmmm, ah!- double teamed by one person is new.” Red writhed, working to get Sans’s cock as far down his throat as the soul was up in his body. He used the free hand to rub over his sensitive nub, almost overwhelmed instantly from the soul feedback. He switched to fingering himself around the soul instead.

“Reeeeeeeed!” Sans’s attention became razor focused. He sucked and dragged his teeth across every piece of Red’s soul, singlemindedly trying to escape the inferno blazing through his body by igniting an even hotter one in Red, if it was even possible. His bones were glowing too, and where they touched steamed up the air, magic heavy and charged like a battery. His mind, Red’s mind, there wasn’t a difference anymore as they built up hotter and hotter bodies. Sans wasn’t sure he could even withstand the feeling of Red clenching down around him twice at the same time.

“Sansy. I’m so full of you Sansy.” Red kept up fast hand strokes when he came up for words. His tongue could scarcely keep away. “Hheeeeeeeelp me come AHHHHH!” Red took Sans’s cock to the base in one head bob, pushing the soul even deeper into himself with his fingers at the same time.

Sans could barely move, but he did have an idea. He pulled the entire soul in his mouth. His tongue wrapped around it, wet and warm, and swallowed.

“FUUUUUCK!”

Sans came right down Red’s throat at the same time Red spasmed around his soul.

It took so long for the aftershocks to leave Sans coherent. He could barely sit up, but he forced himself to tend to Red, who still hadn’t come down. His soul was still inside of him, and Red kept whimpering with his legs spread open. He put Red’s soul back first; he had pulled it out of his skull trying to stop the sensations.

“I-I-I think I go-ot t-too excit-ed.” Red curled his chin down, trying to push the soul out, but not making much progress.

“First idea after getting my soul is to put it in your pussy. Pervert.” Sans chuckled, hiding just how sensitive his body still felt. He gently slid his fingers into him. Red threw his head back, bucking up against them. “You gotta try to relax, or I won’t be able to reach it.”

“E-easy f-f-for you to say.” Red struggled to keep his hips still. Sans’s fingers could barely touch the bottom; he’d have to fit more of his hand inside. Red was still soaked from the stimulation, so the fingers did start to slide in.

“I’m gunna have to get deeper in there.”

“F-fucking fist me why don’t ya.” Red whined at Sans trying to work his hand up there.

“I almost have to.” When the widest part of his hand sank in, he finally got a grip on it. Holding onto it while pulling it out did make his hand too wide to pull back out easily. It was gunna hurt if he just yanked. With a hold on his own soul, the sensations on his end were dulled enough to focus, so he started stretching him from the inside, gently pulling and pushing while Red bit down to keep from getting too into it.

“S-sorry.” Sans heard it just before Red canted his hips with reckless abandon. 

Well, this was about him.

Sans worked his hand harder, taking advantage of Red’s enthusiasm to work him wider. His overwarm bones complained, but he was so close. Deeper, almost out, faster, tightening around his arm, and when his hand was almost free, he used his free fingers to get Red off in time with him pulling free.

Sans fell back, soul finally free, already desummoning like Red’s ecto, and they collapsed against each other, their touch finally absent of feedback.

After centuries, Red spoke.

“Are we married now?” And Sans laughed hard enough to catch Red in it too, two silly boneheads rattling in the night.

“I think so.” Sans closed his eyes, and sought out his hand. Red settled in next to him, covering them in a mostly clean blanket, then clasped it right back.

“I love you husband.” The night covered them, only the glow of their eyelights left after the lamps were off. The air was light and happy, and Sans could finally breathe easy again after all this time.

“I love you too. Til death do us part.” His grin was sleepy and crooked, Red’s was fond and tired. And with everything right again, sleep finally took them.

-----

Holy shit, it’s posted. Have fun with that.

[lifextale]

waterfall time (part one)

Ghost walked along the lazy paths of Waterfall, it was one of the only calm places in all of  the underground. He sighed to himself, glad to finally be out of the way of everyone. The people were great, he couldn't lie. But they were all very intense. Ghost stared at one of the blue rivers, it was very beautiful. There was so little blue in the underground. Sad really, Ghost loved the color. I feel like there was a time when everything was just less… red. I can’t seem to remember it though. He turned around quickly at a noise, assuming it was Papy. but no one was there. “Hello?” Ghost called, upset at how scared he sounded. In his world you couldn’t be scared, it was a sign of weakness; weakness means death. “H-hi LifeX.” A stuttering voice called through the echoing rocks. Alphys. “Oh, hey Alph.” Ghost responded, calming down quickly. “You need something?” “N-no.. N-not really, I just saw that you were out here t-too.” He could see her yellow scales moving through the blue rock until she was fully in view. “Well ok then.” Ghost said, kind of dismissively as he didn’t really want to be bothered right now. The thought of her being somewhere around him without him noticing was already putting him on edge. “H-have you noticed s-something different about Dr. Gaster? H-he’s been staying late at the core almost every night now…” She asked, her voice trembling a bit more than normal,  she must be worried. Ghost glanced around the walls, checking for the cameras that had been strategically placed in the rocks to keep a lookout for humans or at least that’s why they say they put them out here. “Yeah I noticed alright, you wouldn’t believe how much coffee I have to get for him! But yeah.. I have noticed something different about him.” That’s it. That's the problem. Well at least i feel like good ol’ Gaster has something to do with what's so messed up about the past. Maybe? I'm not sure anymore… “Do you know anything about it?” Alphys asked, her gaze sharp and quizzical. Ghost felt a jolt in his nonexistent stomach. “Why do you think..?” “You’re the only monster I know that’s truly close to him, LifeX. I think if anyone would know it would be you.” Alphys’ eyes narrowed even more, causing Ghost to feel even more nervous, though he didn’t know why. “What about Paps?” He asked, trying to avoid the question somehow. “O-or Sans?” “LifeX. I know you are avoiding the question. Papyrus and Dr. Gaster can barely even get along at times, I would be very confused if he told Papyrus anything about his personal life.” Alphys paused, noticing Ghost’s shift. “I don’t mean that in any way to suggest that Papyrus isn’t trying, I know he is and I commend him for doing so but Dr. Gaster just doesn’t seem to be able to be friendly with him.” Ghost snorted, he knew Alphys was right, even if she avoided telling him why she didn’t ask Sans “You got me there, but to be honest I really don’t know what's going on with him. It’s been worrying me too Alph, i just wish i could help him but he doesn’t tell me anything... “ Alphys dropped her quizzical look but didn’t seem to fully let go of the question Why is she so convinced I know something? “Fine. But if you find out anything please tell me,” She said, turning away to leave “If you need me to, I can keep a secret X.” Alphys said, more quietly this time as if that in itself was a secret. Ghost sighed, turning to look back at the blue water “I know Alphys… I know...”

♡ ♡ ♡

   5:26, an ungodly time in the morning. If Ghost had any say in things he’d be sleeping for at least three more hours. But he didn’t; this was the time Gaster told him to get up to make sure they got enough done today. What does he count as enough? Seriously, who has enough brain power this early in the morning to do anything more than make a cup of coffee? Ghost rolled out of bed and forced himself to get off the somehow comfortable floor. He had gotten up four minutes before 5:30 on purpose, otherwise it would have been more of a rude awakening, as he had learned a few days before. Ghost could already hear the loud clicking of Gaster’s steel toed shoes as he climbed the stairs furiously. 5:29. A minute early Ghost thought, a bit too tired to be amused by Gaster’s constant need to be at least a minute early. Which reminded Ghost of something, he hadn’t seen his older brother  in a long while… yes it was true; Kreon had moved out years ago, planning to start a business as a musician near the castle and MTT’s resort, but he hadn’t even gotten a phone call in months. I really hope he’s doing ok, can’t imagine his job is helping at all with the stress factor of his life. A swift knock interrupted Ghost’s train of thought “Good morning, Good morning, time to leave in… six minutes!” Gaster’s voice called through the door. A few seconds passed as Ghost made his way to the door, still not really awake enough to make himself known. Ghost opened the door as Gaster started to knock again, startling him “You’re awake already?” he asked with surprise obvious on his face “Wellitsmorningisitnot?” Ghost mumbled in response, walking past and towards the stairs. Gaster stood outside the door for several seconds, thoroughly confused but eventually made his way to the stairs. “I have this feeling X, that today is going to be the day, I don’t know what’s going to happen but I know it will be great!” Gaster said, making his way quickly down the stairs. “You think so?” Ghost asked, too tired to actually be curious. “I know so. I can feel change in the air, and that can only mean one thing!” “what” “A new discovery of course! I think that today is  the day we find something significant about the true nature of the core! And just how we can manipulate it to make an opening, perhaps through time and space to break the barrier!” Now that had piqued Ghost’s interests, he loved trying to work out how the universe worked, even with how difficult it was to understand. That's why he liked it of course, it was a real challenge compared to the other things he studied for fun. “Now you have me interested, so what are we going to do first?” Ghost asked, cringing again at how excited he sounded. “First… Well that's the hard part. First we’ll have to get our DT. samples from Alphys. From what I can tell our good friend DT. might be the only thing that can truly cause a break in the barrier.” Gaster sighed. Dt. or determination, though quite useful, came with quite the cost. You had to harvest it directly from a human soul. Not the most humane thing in the world Ghost thought “Gotta do what it takes I guess.” “Yes, for the good of monster kind.” But Gaster didn’t seem convinced, and Ghost had the sudden feeling that there was something going on in his head; that there was something Gaster wasn’t telling him. “Oh- have you heard from Kreon lately?” Ghost asked, the two of them having reached the kitchen. “Kreon? Who is Kreon?” Gaster asked, looking at Ghost with concern deep in his eye sockets. “Kreon? You know, my older brother?” a cold feeling of dread started to rise in his ribcage. “Life, you don’t have a brother,and you never did. Are you sure you are well?” Gaster asked, pulling out a chair for himself at the table. “Y-yeah, I’m fine. Not sure…” Ghost took a seat for himself, settling to look at the table top. Why didn’t Gaster remember Kreon? Ghost was sure that he had an older brother. How could he forget? Kreon meant so much to him, but valued himself so little. Kreon had tried to kill himself several times, Ghost had tried to convince him so many times of his worth... but he never wanted to listen. Luckily, over time Kreon managed to find purpose to his life, many of the monsters of the underground loved his music, and he managed to work with Napstablook (Blooky was not the reason it was difficult, it was his over the top cousin Mettaton who was the real problem) and they made a few songs together. With his new found passion for music he had moved out to pursue his career elsewhere. Could Ghost really have just made him up? Especially when he had meant so much to him? “X, are you sure you are alright?” Gaster interrupted his thoughts, making him realize he had been staring at one part of the table for several minutes. “Wut? Yeah I’m fine. Just got lost in thought.” Ghost said, getting up to get some kind of breakfast (breakfast was his least favorite meal of the day. Mostly because there was normally nothing good in their fridge.) After glancing at the inside of the fridge for about 10 seconds he resorted to just skip it this time. He made himself and Gaster a mug of coffee each, making sure that he put no sugar in Gaster’s and as much sugar as he could in his. It’s really too bad that we ran out of ketchup. Ghost slammed the two mugs down on the table, perhaps with more force than he had planned. Gaster gave him a weird look and started on his coffee. Ghost took a sip of his and turned to the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. “Sans! What are you doing up so early?” “you.” Sans mumbled. He looked up sleepily, narrowing his eyes. Sans’ eyes widened suddenly, realizing what he had said. “I meant you woke me up.” Gaster made a sound that sounded a bit like a laugh into his coffee cup. “Shudup” he mumbled, trudging sleepily towards the refrigerator. “Hey uh,, there’s no ketchup in there.” “oh.. Well then waiter, how about a coffee for me” “You could get it yourself.” LifeX muttered getting up to grab a cup of coffee for Sans. a few seconds later He came back with the warm mug, setting it lightly on the table- Sans seemed to have fallen asleep again. “Thank you.” He said, looking up at lifeX. Ghost smiled, “Not a problem.” Gaster cleared his throat. “Oh right.” lifeX sat down and drank his coffee in one gulp. “We heading straight to the core or to the lab?” “Straight to the Core.” Gaster confirmed, this was odd. Weren’t they going to stop by the lab to get the DT first? Nervousness bubbled in his nonexistent throat. Gaster got up and headed to the door, Lifex following quietly behind him. Memories of experiments and horrors that he was told were nightmares tried to claw at his mind.

[kittysukagasterfics]

INCORRECT RP QUOTES ROUND 4

Inversion: Change is inedible.

Memoryhead: … Don't you mean inevitable?

Inversion, silently spitting out coins into his hands: No I do not.

–

Junior: I think I'm having a mid life crisis.

Zora: … You're eight.

Junior: I COULD DIE AT SIXTEEN.

–

Hero: I dunno when the middle of my life is, so I'm having a crisis that's still going.

–

Gaster: Hey, what time is it?

Sam: * You don't know...Pass the saxophone, you'll find out.

Sam: *plays the saxophone loudly and horribly off key*

Flowey from the other room: WHO THE %$@- IS PLAYING THE SAXOPHONE AT TWO IN THE MORNING?!

Sam: * You tell Gaster that it's 2 A.M.

–

X: Okay, okay, stop asking me if I'm straight or bi or gay or whatever.

X: I identify as a threat.

–

Endis, watching the news: some idiot tried to fight a squid today.

Memoryhead, dumping acetone all over his ink stained coat: Well, maybe the squid was being a jerk.

–

Creator: You often use humor to deflect your trauma.

Zora: Thank you.

Creator: That's not a good thing.

Zora: What I'm hearing is you think I'm funny.

–

Sam: * Sorry you're late! Zora got banned from the chicken shack so you had to go out of town to get some...

Zora: Hey, they shouldn't have said "all you can eat" if they didn't mean it.

Flowey: YOU ATE A CHAIR YOU IDIOT!!!

Zora: Your point?

–

Sam: * How do you deal with your enemies?

Memoryhead: Kill them.

Sam: * That's… a bit extreme. You were hoping for a more passive solution.

Memoryhead:

Memoryhead: Kill them only a little...?

–

Sam, approaching New Home: * … They really threw everything out of the way and came all this way, just for you? How did they even get here so fast?

Zora, brushing her own blood off her hands: Several traffic violations.

RGB, fixing his slightly dusty hat: Three counts of resisting arrest.

Button, holding a small rifle: About 13 cans of energy drinks.

Inversion, slightly dizzy: Also, that's not our car.

–

Hope: Alright, what are some good responses to being stabbed with a knife?

RGB: Rude.

Inversion: … That's fair.

Sam: * Not again...

Creator: Are you gonna want this back or can I keep it?

Sans: it sword of looks like you have a problem with me.

Alphys: I-I know it's th-the umm... the thought that- that uh counts, but, d-does this gift come with a... ummm... a-a receipt…?

Knockout: Oh no, I'm allergic.

Zora, who somehow got legitimately stabbed: Oh sweet, it comes with a free pocket!

Hope: . . .

Papyrus: *walks into the room* UMM, OW...? ARE YOU GUYS OK-

Hope, hugging him immediately: Thank you… for the normal answer...

Papyrus: ?????

–

Inversion: Have you seen Sam, Memoryhead, and Amber recently?

Gaster: They're playing hide and seek.

Inversion: Where?

Zora, wandering past: I don't think you get how this game works...

–

Sam: * Date someone who will take them outside at 3 A.M to go look at the stars!

Zora: If ANYONE drags me outside at three o clock in the &%@$#(+ morning to go look at the &%@+ sky I will remove them from my life indefinitely.

–

Gaster, struggling to keep upright in one inch square heels: Y-yeah, I don't think heels are for me...

Lucky, pointing at him whilst flawlessly walking past in six inch sparkly golden stiletto heels: W E A K .

–

Sam: * Violence isn't the answer.

Zora: … You're right.

Sam: *sighs in relief*

Zora: Violence is the question.

Sam: * What-

Zora, bolting towards Silas: And the answer is yes, he's dead meat.

Sam, rushing after her: * NO!!!

–

Glitch: Hewwo.

Assok: Hihiiiiii!!

Starscream: Greetings, organics.

Sam: * Three kinds of people.

Gaster, balled up on the floor: I want pudding.

Zora: Four, actually.

Snatcher, kicking in the door: WHAT'S UP FOOLS?!

Memoryhead: … Five.

Zora: And then there's us so technically six kinds of people.

–

Sam: * Croissants: dropped.

Hero: Road: works ahead.

Memoryhead: Barbeque sauce: on my tits.

Zora: Shavacado: fre.

Sans: miss keisha: %@(%-#+ dead.

Gaster, extremely grumpy: I didn't understand a single word of that and I hate every single one of you.

Wingding, mostly invisible: … Heard: you were talking -$@+ about me -wHEEEEEZE-

–

Sam: * In your defence, you were left unsupervised.

Gaster: Wasn't Negative with you?

Negative: In my defence, I was also left unsupervised.

–

Memoryhead: On a scale from "&#(@ Daniel" to "Fre sha vaca do," how are you feeling?

Sam: * In between "it's an avocado, thanks" and "how did you take down Captain America," but as a solid answer you'd probably say "I don't need a degree to be a clothing hanger." You ask Zora about her answer.

Zora: Eh, probably "road work ahead."

Gaster, about ready to curl up and uncontrollably sob for 3 hours: I understand many languages and this is none of them.

–

Hero: Is stabbing someone immoral?

Flowey: Not if they consent to it.

Zora: Depends on who it is you're stabbing.

Sam: * YES?!?!?!

–

Sam: * You impulsively bought a snake, what do you name him?

Gaster: YOU DID WUAT-

Glitch: William Snakespear.

–

These are stupidly fun to do fhjdgdjdg

~~~~~~

Sam may not be able to play the saxophone but they can play a cowbell given the chance. And Sam buying or keeping any animal they come across is extremely accurate.

[juniperleafdelivery]

* here’s something i thought of, featuring the Undertale crew!

* minus Frisk, Flowey, MK, and Temmie

* basically, im listing what they want/look for in a partner, using the seven SOUL traits to summarize

Sans - Patience

He likes taking a relationship slowly, without rushing

There’s also another reason

He still has major trust issues and can hold a grudge for a very long time

Being the judge of the Underground led to Sans being able to mask his emotions very well

His personality does change subtly around friends but other than that, it’s hard to tell if he likes you romantically or not

Stick around long enough and maybe something will change ;)

Mistreating Papyrus is an instant dealbreaker, however!

Papyrus - Perseverance

Papyrus crushes very easily and isn’t the best at interpreting emotions

Like Sans, it’s probably going to take some time for him to realize that he loves you

Papyrus also prefers someone who can match his energy and passion

And go on chaotic adventures with him

You have no idea how many times he’s almost been arrested

Please keep him out of trouble-

Despite his chaotic nature, Papyrus cares a lot about his brother. Mistreating Sans is a major dealbreaker.

Gaster - Paitence

The void was not a friendly place

Dark, empty, and silent, Gaster grew to reflect that

When you first meet Gaster, he’ll definitely come off as cold and unwelcoming

I know I’m going to say this a lot, but patience really is important

While he’s not as closed off as his Fell counter part, it’s still going to take a while for Gaster to actually trust you

If you prove yourself to be patient and intelligent, then who knows what will happen~

Undyne - Justice

Going through Waterfall with only a tutu is one thing, but facing the head of the Royal Guard herself?

She’ll never admit it, but Undyne secretly admires your courage, even if you’re a bit reckless at times

Speaking of recklessness, what were you thinking stopping to help Monster Kid she could have killed you in one blow and-

Yea, Undyne will never stop nagging you about that but she appreciates your strong morals

Adding to the list of things she’ll never tell you

Alphys - Bravery

Alphys x Undyne haha

Alphys prefers someone who’s basically her exact opposite: brave, outspoken, and unafraid of telling the truth

But at the same time, she wants to step out of her comfort zone

A little bit of gentle yet persistent encouragement is key

Also when Alphys has a crush she tends to be both secretive and creepy about it

Napstablook - Kindness

Napstablook is very insecure about themself and doesn’t think anyone would really love them

Showing them kindness and genuine interest in their hobbies (music and snails) is the best way to start breaking down their walls

Oh, and you have to treat Mettaton well

No exceptions

Mettaton - Bravery/Kindness

Sweet and spicy is the best way to describe it

Being Mettaton’s partner automatically means your his co-star

On stage, he loves performing with those with passion and flare; lots of dramatic tension ;3

If trying to kill Frisk repeatedly wasn’t obvious

Off stage, he just wants to unwind and cuddle with someone

If you don’t treat Blooky well, that’s an instant dealbreaker

Asgore - Kindness/Paitence

Former King of the Underground, Asgore gave up that role when he reached the Surface

Now, he spends his days tending to his garden and would be overjoyed if you also enjoyed gardening

Asgore is honestly terrified of losing someone again so it will take a while to actually reach any romantic relationship with him

Like most of my characters Stick around long enough, it just takes time

Toriel - Kindness

Being in a relationship with Toriel means she will constantly be nagging and mother-henning you

Ok that isn’t new but still

She tries to hide it, but Toriel secretly longs for affection and someone who would care for her

Someone to love again...

Showing genuine kindness unprompted and caring for others is the best way to her heart :)

Muffet - Determination

It takes a lot to earn Muffet's trust, you need to be willing to try again and again

She values those who are ambitious and refuse to give up

Staying determined is useful when it comes to running a business too

And if you are Muffet's partner, there's a good chance you'll be helping her run her cafe

Also, I hope you're not scared of spiders-

[keelywolfe]

FIC: Some Sense of Normalcy ch.4 (baon)

Summary: It’s Edge’s first day back to work at the Embassy, but his job isn’t the only thing on his mind.

Tags:  Spicyhoney, Kustard, Established Relationships, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Mentions of Past Injury

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

~~*~~

Part of the ‘by any other name’ series.

Read Chapter 4 on AO3

or

Read it here!

~~*~~

At almost exactly ten minutes on the dot there came a knock on Alphys’s office door and if Stretch didn’t already love Edge, he would at least have thrown a dollar store valentine his way for the rescue from Alphys’s monologue on how the Kissy Cutie fandom really didn’t understand the true motives of the main characters and the pureness of their love, and how was she supposed to read about that and not comment, she couldn’t, right, and did he think she did the right thing?

That sharp, precise knock interrupted her and before Alphys could say a word, Stretch was already calling out, “come on in, babe, you’re the next contestant on—”

He trailed off as the door opened and Edge came inside. Or, more accurately, he scooted inside. Not like the scooters the kids used to zoom around on the streets of New New Home, oh, no. He’d said it was getting his mobility scooter today and it was so much better than Stretch could have ever hoped.

First, it was red, metallic candy-apple red, and whether Edge ordered it to match his car or the doc had a sense of humor did not matter. There was padded sort of seat for Edge to put his knee and there were handlebars and a hand brake and best of all, a little wire basket for Edge to put any of his work stuff. Holy shit but Stretch would pay good money up front for a photograph of Edge dignifiedly tooling through the hallways in his business suit with his bright red scooter, a cup of coffee secured in his basket along with a collection of folders, maybe even a scone wrapped up in a paper napkin.

Stretch wondered if Edge would kill him if he put a bike horn on it or just maim him. Probably banishment, max, and it might be worth a night or two on the sofa just to see the look on his face, way better than the cool, stoic look he wore now, tempered with a hint of worry.

Seriously, he didn’t want to make his baby self-conscious, but it was a scooter and if Stretch kept resisting the urge to make a pun, it might result in actual bodily harm.

He propped his chin on his hand and gave Edge the best cheeky grin he could manage, considering his lack of cheeks, “nice new wheels, babe, that how you roll? lemme scoot aside and you can have my seat.”

The scathing glare Edge shot is way might’ve knocked the points off his new HP growth, but hey, least Edge wasn’t worried anymore.

Edge ignored the stifled snort from Alphys, who was diligently trying to keep a straight face, points to her for staying out of the line of fire. Stretch was pretty sure that by definition, scooters weren’t listed anywhere in the Esquire guide for a business-like appearance, so it was pretty impressive how Edge managed to scoot on up to the chair, all but radiating poise. Hell, Asgore needed to take some tips from his honey about majesty, seriously, those Hawaiian shirts of his were an embarrassment for all of Monster-kind.

Edge settled into the seat, shrugging Stretch off when he tried to lean against his back, his spine ramrod straight as he asked, coolly, “What can I do for you, Alphys?”

Oof, looked like Edge wasn’t in the mood for jokes if Stretch wasn’t rating a greeting. That Edge wasn’t asking what he was doing here in the first place was a fair sign that he was either hacked off or respecting privacy until he could corner him alone. Maybe both.

“Th-thank you for coming down,” Alphys said. She looked uncomfortable enough to make Stretch regret yanking Edge’s chain. Didn’t stop her from forcing out, “I w-w-would have sent an email, but Asgore p-prefers we don’t keep an electronic t-t-trail for these studies.” The way she flicked a glance at Stretch when she said Asgore’s name meant his unsubtle dislike of the King was getting around the rumor mill. “You b-both know we’re working on studying M-monster souls.”

“yeah?” Stretch said warily. That wasn’t news, souls had been studied since Monsters evolved enough sentience to poke at ‘em with a stick.

“We’re c-currently studying the r-resonance of souls and how it d-differs between different Monster s-s-species.” She spread her hands, tittering nervously, “Obviously, it’s more c-complex than that. B-b-both of you have clearance to read the r-results if you’re interested, but you’d have to do it in the lab, the d-d-data isn’t cleared for general release.”

Yeah, there was some reading material that wasn’t about to end up in Stretch’s mental librarby, no thank you. Edge was tapping his gloved fingers against his knee in that way he did when he was getting impatient. It was his first day back, he probably had shit to get done, so maybe it was time to push Al to cut to the chase, “so, what, you want to get some measurements from skeletons, is that it?”

“N-not exactly,” Alphys leaned forward across her desk, her eyes gleaming behind her glasses, “I already have r-readings from Sans and Papyrus. What I’m investigating is if th-there is any difference in resonance of s-souls from the other Universes. Blue let me scan his s-soul already and—er—” She cleared her throat uncomfortably, “Red has already d-d-d-“ Alphys struggled and finally spat out, “declined.”

Yeah, Stretch bet he had. Now there was a conversation Stretch would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall to see. Kudos to Al for having the cojones to even ask Red.

Alphys didn’t linger on whatever mental scars that chat left her with and went on, “That l-leaves you and Stretch—”

“No,” Edge said immediately. The word was sharp enough to cut and it might if Edge kept flinging it around.

Alphys only nodded, accepting, “O-of course.”

“hey, wait a second!" Stretch straightened up, offended, “i get my own vote here, we left the word obey out of the vows, thanks.”

Edge only glanced at him briefly, “Of course I wouldn’t presume to speak for Stretch, only myself. I…” Edge hesitated, his fingers starting to dig in where his hand rested on his pant leg. “You must be aware that I have LV.”

“I am,” Alphys agreed, softly, nothing but kindness in her broad face, “but it w-won’t affect the scan.”

Edge nodded stiffly, “I’m sure. But my answer is still no, I’m afraid.”

“I understand,” Alphys said. Her gaze flicked to Stretch, hopefully, “W-would you be w-willing, Stretch?”

Well, hell. Hadn’t thought that through very well, had he, too busy getting pissy about making his own choices. It wasn’t showing his soul that was the problem; fuck, Alphys was literally just plugged into it and it wasn’t like most of the medical community hadn’t taken a solid look at his soul already. The only way it’d get more exposure is if he’d sent a pic in to be the centerfold in some skin magazine. Yeah, he was okay with the soul part, it was the scan he wasn’t so sure about and the look on Edge’s face said pretty clearly that he wasn’t okay with either or.

But Alphys was trying to help him out, he owed her one, and if it was only a scan…maybe better to hedge his bets. “how invasive is it?”

“It’s only a s-scan,” Alphys said reassuringly. “You’ll n-need to s-s-summon your s-soul and leave it exposed f-for a couple of minutes, no more th-than that and no samples.”

Edge was all but radiating no, no, no, and that was enough for him to hesitate. His baby’s comfort was important, sure, but Stretch could appreciate the necessity of scientific progress. If scanning his soul could help someone, then he could suck it up this once. Sure. He could. “can you do it now or do you need me to stop by later?”

“Now is fine.” Alphys looked relieved, already hopping out of her chair. “The m-machine is in the other r-room, follow me.”

It was so damned hard not to bristle at the phrase ‘the machine’.

Stretch followed her out of the office, his sneakers dragging on the floor and his gaze firmly fixed on her tail. He didn’t look back at Edge scooting along behind him. They didn’t go far and the anxiety that was starting to itch at the inside of his rib cage eased a little when he saw the inside of the room.

There was a nicely padded table in the middle of the room with a couple long, flexible wands attached to it. No gleaming stainless steel, no restraints, and nothing at all like the portal machine or…huh, he didn’t quite remember what else. Didn’t matter, this looked less threatening than an x-ray machine from any doc’s office.

Alphys patted the table. “Lay d-down right here. I’ll be in the other r-room configuring the machine. S-summon your soul, I’ll get a s-s-scan, and its done. T-take your time.”

She waddled off and left Stretch there, looking at that table, at the little wands with their lenses focused right in the middle. He took a breath, let it out, then flopped down, living up to his namesake as he stretched out. The table was a little short, his feet hung off the end, uncomfortable but bearable. It was okay, it was all good. Stretch could do this, no sweat, summon his soul and let her scan it, then he was getting the fuck out of here and out into the sunlight.

“Let me summon your soul,” Edge said suddenly, startling him so badly he nearly yelped. Fuck, he’d almost forgotten Edge was even here. Stretch opened his sockets and looked up at his husband looming over him. Crimson eye lights met his own and there was no mistaking his concern. It helped, knowing he wasn’t alone here, that Edge was with him. Edge wouldn’t let anyone do a damn thing that Stretch didn’t want them to, he’d tear the whole lab down with his bare hands if someone hurt Stretch and he believed that with every bit of his trembling soul.

Then the words actually registered.

“um, okay.” Stretch gave Edge a narrow, suspicious look, “but no touchie, you. if you start touching, it gets all excited and i am not riding the bus with soul jizz on my shirt.”

The corner of Edge’s mouth quirked upward. Of course he’d think that was funny, the pervert. He ran a gloved finger gently down the side of Stretch’s skull, tracing the line of his jawbone. “At least the Humans won’t know what it is.”

“yeah?” Stretch snorted, “and any monsters will think i’m headed home from the orgy scene of a less than tasteful porno. my gossip tank is full up right now, thanks, no touch, got it?”

“No touching,” Edge agreed, softly, so it was pretty stupid that Stretch felt bereft as he pulled his hands away.

Stretch closed his sockets, focusing on his breathing. A long moment of nothing and then came a gentle, insistent pull, painlessly urging his soul to emerge. The touch was achingly familiar and Stretch relaxed into it and let go, felt the cool air on his soul as it manifested for the second time that day. A quick peek showed Edge was going with the ol’ sibling standby of ‘I’m not touching you’, and he wasn’t, but it sure was a close thing. Both his bare hands were cradled around it, a protective bony barrier as a replacement for his own rib cage, the silver glow of his soul reflecting off the ivory bones, seeping through Edge’s fingers to fill the room.

Alphys’s voice came from a speaker overhead, “Edge, you’ll have to step back so I can scan it.”

Even without Edge touching his soul directly, Stretch could feel his reluctance as he slowly stepped back. Souls were like radar dishes for magic and Stretch was already overly sensitive on a good day, even without his soul lurking outside his body all bare-ass naked. Checks irritated him when others barely seemed to feel them, Intent came rolling in like he was accidently tuning in to bad AM radio station and right now, he was picking up something from Edge past his unwillingness to let go.

The faintest glint of green, healing magic, hm, in-ter-esting, someone had used healing magic on Edge and recently, very recently, and Stretch almost asked what the fuck was up with that, except maybe lying here with his soul hanging out wasn’t the best time for a chat. Particularly when he’d snuck down here to visit Alphys on the sly to begin with.

Yeah, okay, if he got to keep his secrets then Edge could have this one. For now.

Edge had hardly let go when Alphys’s voice came overhead again. “Done.”

Stretch hastily let his soul fade back in, scrambling to his feet as Alphys came back in from the other room.

“T-thank you, Stretch,” she said happily, “Edge, if you ch-change your mind, let me know?”

“Of course,” Edge said crisply, in a tone that meant ‘not fucking likely.’

“yep, he will,” Stretch blurted, already backing his way towards the door. He didn’t mean to be rude, but he’d had just about enough of the labs today and he needed to get out, right now, before he vomited on the nice, clean floors. “thanks for everything, al, see ya!”

He didn’t wait to see if Edge follow him, didn’t wait for Alphys to ask to see him again or for any other favors or even to bring up anime. He headed right to the elevators, ignoring anyone else that he passed in a white coat. He slapped the up button so hard his hand ached, silently commanding it to hurry the fuck up and open because that nausea was sitting right at the back of his throat, thick and sickly-sweet.

“Easy,” Murmured next to him, “Try to slow your breathing.”

Stretch only stared blindly at the closed door and didn’t say anything because if he did, that morning’s partially incorporated coffee was going to make a return appearance. The elevator dinged and Stretch all but crammed through the opening doors, stumbling to the back to press his overheated face against the cool metal. He heard the door close behind him, felt as elevator lurched and started up.

Even without looking, Stretch knew Edge was standing next to him, watching him with concern and trying to resist the urge to touch. Respecting boundaries, that was his baby, always trying so hard.

“it’s okay, you can go hands on,” Stretch mumbled. Immediately, a soothingly cool hand settled on the back of his neck, a strong thumb rubbing gently along his cervical vertebra.

“Are you all right?” Edge asked, gently blunt.

“getting there.” Stretch took a deep breath and stood up straight, leaning into the comfort of Edge’s touch. “we still on for lunch?”

“I was thinking more along the lines of you coming to my office and lying down for a bit.”

Stretch nodded, weakly, “that works, too.”

Another ding warned that they were at their floor and Stretch turned towards the door as it opened. There was nothing out there but offices, people in business suits at their desks and making copies and typing away at their computers. No labs, no experiments, only paperwork and administration.

Knowing that made it easier to step out this time, walking towards Edge’s office with the skeleton himself scooting along next to him. Stretch stuck his hands in his pockets, moseying along, his lingering agitation slowly easing. At least the scooter kept Edge to a pace a little less than his normal power walk; maybe that was a high HP thing, Papyrus always chugged along at top speed and Blue might have shorter legs, but he always kept pace with those two.

Huh. Thinking of HP…

“so.” Stretch kept his gaze on the floor, watching the way the untied laces of his sneakers trailed along the carpet. “you gonna ask what i was doing down there.”

“I am not,” Edge said calmly. Seriously, it was really impressive how dignified he could make riding along on a kneeling scooter look. “If it is something important concerning your health or someone else’s, I’m sure that as my husband, you would tell me and not go down to the labs alone while trying to keep secrets from me out of a misguided attempt to protect me or shield me from any issues that as your spouse should be mine to help you deal with—”

“yeah, yeah, edgelord, i get it, quit shoveling the guilt, i’m already knee-deep.” Stretch took a deep breath and let the words come, “i went to see al because i wanted her to scan my hp. we kinda got off track with it after, you know, everything, and lately i’ve been feeling tired. not…not bad tired, not too bad…i’m doing a shitty job explaining it.”

“You’re doing fine.” Yeah, like he couldn’t see the way Edge’s jaw was working, the slight twitch in his cracked socket. Even the pace he was scooting at changed, stiffened, his highly polished shoe scraping against the rug.

“let me just cut to the spoiler alert,” Stretch said. He ignored the quiver in his voice as he spit it out, “my hp is going up. like, permanently.”

Edge stopped completely, right in the middle of the hall. Two interns who were walking close behind almost ran right into them, and whatever bitching they were about to toss out was swallowed down when they got a good look at who they almost ran over. Edge didn’t even watch them scurry on down the hall. His eye lights stayed right on Stretch, sockets hooded and his expression unreadable.

Hurriedly, Stretch went on, “it’s not huge, only, when it got to 5, looks like it decided, what the hell, let’s keep going up, it’s 5 and change now, not super impressive but—urk!’

Of all the reactions Stretch was expecting, having Edge pick him up right in the middle of the damn hallway to hold him tightly was nowhere on the list, but here they were, him lifted completely off his feet while strong arms crushed him into Edge’s embrace.

People were probably staring and Stretch didn't give two goodie goodie shoes because holy shit, this was actually happening. Barring the time Edge carried Stretch through the Embassy in a sheet in a misguided attempt at protecting his non-existent dignity, the most Stretch usually got in the way of PDA was hand holding and the occasional peck of a kiss.

“edge!” Stretch gasped out, mostly laughing with a pinch of scolding, “put me down, you’re gonna hurt yourself!”

He might as well have saved what little breath he had since that didn’t happen. Instead, Edge spun them around like this was some beach movie and they'd just done the long run across the sand to embrace in front of the sunset. Stretch could only hold on dizzily, laughing and trying to squirm loose without actually getting there.

It was a relief and a disappointment when Edge finally set him on his feet, and that was only to cup his face in both hands as Edge rose up on his toes to scatter kisses over his face. By the time he drew back, Stretch’s whole face felt a little damp and the only thing dimming his giddiness was the sight of faint tears rimming Edge’s eye sockets.

"hey." Stretch ran a thumb along the rim of the socket, gathering dampness, "it's good news. you don't cry for that."

A rare smile lit Edge’s face, lit him, and Stretch wanted to capture that image in his own mind, whisk it away someplace safe to bring out whenever his inner sadness loomed threateningly.

"You do if it’s about the person you love," Edge told him, hushed, and leaned up to press a soft, lingering kiss to Stretch’s mouth. Right about that moment, from somewhere nearby came the muffled sound of an ‘aww’ and Edge immediately jerked back, all signs of that smile vanishing.

Ah, well, good thing Stretch had an excellent memory, right?

“Let’s discuss this in my office,” Edge murmured as he dusted off his jacket and straightened his tie before he started up the scoot again.

Luckily, it wasn’t too far away. Stretch managed to give Janice a wave even as Edge herded him into his office. The door was barely closed when Edge had both hands on him again, shoving him back against the door and kissing him with deep, fervent delight. It was a huge disappointment, particularly in his pants, when Edge drew away, holding Stretch back when he would have dived in again.

His smile was fainter, softer, and that was okay because it was still there as Edge asked, “Was she able to tell you anything else? It’s certainly good news, but why now?”

“dunno,” Stretch shrugged and when Edge didn’t let him go for another kiss, he sighed and added, “she did mention something about monster souls responding well to being happy.” If kisses weren’t gonna pan out, Stretch could at least give Edge a poke in the ribs, right where he wasn’t supposed to be ticklish. “looks like you’re holding up your end of the bargain in the whole happily ever after thing.”

Instead of being amused, Edge’s expression fell a little, his smile fading and that was exactly the opposite of what Stretch was hoping for, “babe?”

Edge ducked his head, his voice dropping in something like a hoarse confession, “Lately, I haven't felt like I'm making you very happy, Rus.”

Okay, yeah, no, not going there. Stretch shook off Edge’s hands and instead of shoving in for a kiss, he took a quick shortcut and stepped out behind him, wrapping Edge up in the little spoon of a tight hug. "nope, none of that. babe, even when things are rough on our personal roller coaster, you always make me happy. always. you are my happy ending, you get me?”

Gloved hands settled on his wrists, holding on gently as Edge leaned back into his arms, “I’d rather be your happy beginning, love.”

“endings, beginnings, whatever part of the story we’re at, you make me happy,” Stretch told him fiercely. He buried his face into the crux of Edge’s shoulder where the collar of his shirt met his cervical vertebrae, breathing in the familiar mixture of laundry detergent and spice. “every chapter of our lives, every misplaced comma and run-on sentence, every—”

“You’re losing the metaphor,” Edge said dryly. He turned in Stretch’s arms, his mouth warm and meltingly gentle, and this, yes, this. This was his happiness and Stretch planned to hold on as tight as he could, with fingers and toes.

“you wanna see my soul?” Stretch murmured against Edge’s mouth, just to see the hot, eager flare of crimson eye lights. It was already manifesting in his rib cage as Edge walked him backwards to the sofa, silver slickness beading on the surface and if he had to lose his shirt for a hasty cleanup after, welp, that was a sacrifice Stretch was more than willing to make.

-fin

[jamestrmtx]

Fairytale Complex - [Undertale | Sans x Reader]

[Gender Neutral, Frisk's Parent Reader | Slow Burn]

Chapter Four | Nyeh Heh Heh! (Part 2 of 2)

[First] | [Previous] | [Next]

There's a time and place for everything, but not now.

You remind yourself of that and quite bluntly suck it up. 

All weaknesses are forced back down and corked shut, establishing a path for you to finish what you started. You went all the way out of the city just to meet up with Papyrus, and you were here to bring some sort of closure as to how you could approach him after concluding with your first meeting. Still, that's no excuse for you to be rude or break any of your hospitality rules, so you smile at the skeleton and thank him for the letter, it's contents you assume’s money judging by how thick and heavy the envelope is.

"This means a lot, but… Are you sure it's okay for me to accept this?"

"Of course it is! Alphys would be glad to fix your phone and even upgrade it for you!"

Now that makes more sense.

But that still doesn't explain why it's that thick and heavy. Whatever contents there are inside it remain a mystery as you wonder how that's possible and why it's even necessary to carry in an envelope what you assume is simply Alphys's contact information. Nonetheless, you store it away with the rest of your belongings and continue on walking until you make it out of the mall.

"I apologize for not, well… doing what we were meant to do today, but thank you for understanding," you say, keeping up with his pace.

"Of course. Communication is key, (miss/mister)!" He smiles back at you and slows down to a full halt when you both make it to the bus stop. "We can discuss all these matters later on, but wouldn't it be better for you to get a check up with your doctor first?" He almost seems to realize something’s off with his question and adds, "Not that your appearance is unpleasant, but that you simply do not look as healthy as the pictures Frisk showed me of you! You look... rather fatigued, if I’m to be honest."

"I'll…" You trail off when you notice you're beginning to compare both Papyrus and his brother's actions with Jerry's.

Jerry didn't notice how different you looked back at your meeting with Sans; rather, he only noticed you were with someone new, and nothing else.

He didn't demonstrate the same level of insight as Sans did.

And he didn't show as much concern as Papyrus did, either.

Jerry didn't-

"I'll keep that in mind." You shove all that aside and step inside the bus, Papyrus following after you. It's jam packed, so you're led to hold onto the nearest hand railing before it takes off.

While you wait for an opening to continue talking with him, more thoughts return to your mind, these about last week and how Jerry wouldn’t stop texting you information about the monsters no matter how much you ignored it all. The only messages you’d opened were the ones about who Sans was, and -- considering in what state that left both you and your phone screen in -- you’ve now established it upon yourself to not look at any other message Jerry's sent. If he wanted to warn you and Frisk about anything else, then he had to gather the wits to apologize for ditching his child for so long and actually reveal some sort of positive change in him.

Hell. When was the last time you saw him -- last December, maybe?

You let all those frustrations out through a huff and loosen your grip on the railing when you notice you've become too carried away with your thoughts. There's no reason for you to be thinking about him anymore. You were over Jerry’s bull crap a long, long time ago, and having him text you again after almost a whole year of complete and utter silence from his part couldn't possibly be enough for you to begin thinking about him again.

"I forgot to mention there's another thing from Sans inside that envelope," Papyrus says, serving as a necessary distraction from your overthinking mind. "He thinks it's useful for what you will be dealing with soon, now that you've made it your goal to learn more about Frisk's monster friends." The doors hiss as the first stop arrives. People begin to stand up and exit, leaving a few seats empty for both you and your companion, as well as those who were also left to stand and hold on. “How was your meeting with him, by the way?” 

“It was fine,” you reply, assessing his question and the change of tone that goes along with it. His once amiable tone changes for curiosity, almost as if he’d no prior knowledge of how your meeting with his brother went despite having proven the contrary back at the food court. It's sudden but subtle, though as much as you try to understand what it's caused by, you come out short of possibilities. “And he was nice. I wanted to pay for at least my part of the lunch we had, but he covered for it… And now you did the same today, too.” You chuckle at that thought and look up at the monster with a smile. “You’re both just as hospitable, I’d say.”

He sighs, a sound marked by relief. His face shows that same emotion based on how his gaze loosens up and how contentment returns to his expression, once clouded by that earlier one caught with his change in tone, still unknown to you. “It is not my intent to persuade you into anything, but… I was hoping you would both get along better. At first, it was for how worried I was that he would not adjust well to the Surface, but it looks like you could both benefit off getting along with each other!”

It becomes clearer now as to what his intentions are.

He was worried as any caring sibling would be for the other sibling’s well-being. It made sense despite how outgoing both skeletons appeared to be. The elder one looked to be the type to keep to himself more based on the sole, first impression you had of him. He knew when and where to joke around, he knew how to strike up a conversation, and he was thoughtful to a noticeable extent, but all that still didn’t cover up how he approached certain topics with you, even if he was still barely acquainted to you. Even if he was honest and even if he’d been earnest enough to confess his faults to you right on your first meeting, there remained something about him that told he was still keeping certain feelings to himself, such as that of a different weakness found beyond his mistakes. Papyrus showed that quality plenty both in subtle and blatant ways, such as when he admitted when he felt that he’d failed his friendship with Frisk and how he cried when talking with you earlier ago. Sans, on the other hand, didn’t quite reveal having any emotional bond in him when talking about how he’d failed his promise and Frisk in the process. Not that it meant that he didn’t feel any repentance over his actions, but that he simply seemed to take his job as a judge for the Underground into his real-life relationships -- using that mindset even outside the Judgment Hall. 

But, of course, you hardly knew him, so that could just be you overthinking the weight and significance of the situation and misinterpreting what could be a hint of introversion in the monster when compared with his younger brother.

Over-analysis aside, you consider yet another perspective regarding what Papyrus meant when he said he hoped for you and Sans to get along.

Was it really possible he meant that as simply friendship?

Or was he throwing subtle remarks about a possible set up?

“Do you…” A mild sense of guilt overcomes you at the mere consideration of that possibility, though it doesn’t stop your stressed mind from doing what it wants. “As friends, you mean?”

Notwithstanding his seemingly innocent character, Papyrus’s gaze widens and he looks away for a split second, cheekbones burning red. “Yes,” he replies, followed by, “I apologize if that made you think a different way. I just want him to have new friends and open up some more! Though now that you mention it, he..." He trails off and frowns. "He is a bit different from most of our friends. He is almost the same age as Undyne and Alphys, and yet he still hasn’t dated anyone to this day! That, and he always rejects the advances he gets from a few people he knows from Grillby’s bar.”

“Maybe he’s aromantic or something similar?” you suggest, quirking a brow and smiling at the sight of Papyrus's flustered state. “That’s normal, if so. It could just mean he’s not interested in a romantic relationship and stuff like that.”

“But I’m still worried about him -- He’s just like this for making new friends, too! And he’s been acting strange since the Barrier broke.”

Your smile grows the further Papyrus talks, and it’s almost a challenge for you not to burst out a laugh; not in a mocking sort of sense, but for the sheer worry he expresses both through his words and body language. It’s almost as if your personalities have switched, making it now his turn to show his own set of stresses, but in a far more composed way compared to your previously anxious state. He sighs and places a hand over his forehead, expressing his troubled thoughts yet again through the rub of his temples. “If anything, I hope it’s that… And that he’s not keeping stuff to himself!” He looks at you with a small smile and adds, “Could you…” He hesitates, though he recovers with a breath in and a harrumph. “Could you ask him about that one day? I do not know much about these topics myself, but… In the meantime, I was hoping if…”

He trails off for a second time.

At that chance, you intervene, saying, “Sure.” You let out a laugh, a simple sound that seems to be sufficient for the skeleton to relax again. “You both paid for lunch, and you’re here with me after I said I needed to talk with you about the whole situation at the Underground, so…” You take a pause as your smile grows. “It’s only fair I try to pay some of that forward, don’t you think? I’m sure I can find a way to ask him without being blunt about it.”

Tears return to Papyrus’s eye sockets as sudden as thunder on a clear, sunny day. At that sight, you offer him a hug, one he accepts just as quickly. His arms squeeze you tight, similar to that of a child hugging their favourite stuffed animal after a fright, and he nearly sobs into your shoulder afterwards, the emergence of that action incrementing his grip on you. “You are too kind, (miss/mister)!” he exclaims, capturing the attention of the few passengers still remaining in the train. “I will make sure the rest of us you have left to meet are just as cooperative with you!”

You release a quiet gasp, in needful search for air when he lets you go, and chuckle when you see his gaze is as hopeful as someone with a lottery ticket. Were you both not sitting and still waiting for your stop, you would imagine he would’ve hugged you for longer or further showed his gratitude through a bow. “It’s alright,” you say, shaking your head. “Maybe I’m a little weak right now, but as soon as I go visit the doctor and get things cleared out, just say the word and I’ll do what I can to help you guys get settled up here.”

Papyrus sniffles into the third tissue you’ve offered him today and trembles after recovering. He then looks at you with a clearer gaze and a fonder smile, both of these enhanced by the late afternoon sunlight beginning to shine through the train’s large windows. “E- Even if you… consider some of us as enemies by the end of it?”

“It would all depend on how it goes, but…” You rub the back of your neck and allow a pensive frown to take over for a moment. “Based on what I know so far, I doubt I won’t be able to help out. Even if some of you hurt Frisk, I... I still have to acknowledge how much you offered and did for them after you learned they weren’t an enemy.”

His hopeful gaze almost drives into a pitfall and a trace of guilt flickers on his visage.

All other surroundings and people present besides the chair you sit on, his presence, and yourself shift to a sudden blur as you can only concentrate on that change, too abrupt for your liking.

“About that…” he speaks up, hesitating. “There’s something I believe neither Frisk nor any of us have told you about, and that is-”a

Your destined stop finally arrives, interrupting whatever closely-hidden confession the skeleton was about to direct at you.

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