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themsource · 1 year ago

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Circus BSP AU

Soooo...had an idea that's been on my mind a while. Decided to share it because I know I haven't updated anything in a bit and I've been so busy with Secret Santas x_x

Anyways it's a long ramble from my ideas folder, not a real written piece, but I'm placing it below a cut ^^ This idea came to me while listening to Panic! At The Disco's cover of The Greatest Show a while back. I don't know if this has been done before but meh, just wanted to post my take on a circus au with the baddies

Rating: M

TWs: Mentions of torture, Kidnapping, Enslavement, Near Drowning

Nightmare and Dream own their own opposing circus rings. Dream recruits willing participants and their shows are always about love and positivity with graceful displays of athletics like ribbon dancing and aerial silk suspension, baton twirling and contortion, even godly fast speed painting with neon glowing soul magic to show an individual's ultimate dream even if they don’t know it themselves and store it in a personalized orb to take home as a memento for personalized viewing whenever you please.

Nothing risky or seemingly life threatening/daredevil stunted.

No, that’s Nightmare’s theme.

In contrast he doesn’t recruit, he steals and binds individuals into contracts that can only be broken at his word or their untimely death should it occur. His ring has all the horrifying and thrilling shows that leave the audience anxious and on their toes, like sword swallowing/knife throwing/nail walking/fire breathing (Killer), Lions and Tigers - many dangerous animal performances (Horror), highwire/cannonball (Dust), and Motorcycle acts like the Wall of death and globe of terror (Cross).

Nets and other safety precautions are ignored, this is the highlight and draw of Nightmare’s circus alongside the ability for one of your “nightmares” to be engraved on a stone tablet using soul magic so you never have to experience them again once the show is over.

Whereas Dream gives away positivity to spread through the worlds, Nightmare collects negativity in a personal vault for his own sustenance (the stone tablets) while still supplementing what he takes with the experiences his circus gives.

This is the point of contention with the brothers. Dream doesn’t like how Nightmare still puts out negativity while also taking it away - it’s a selfish redundancy in his mind and perceived as unbalance, and Nightmare feels the same about how Dream puts out positivity with his circus but doesn’t take any away not only making his job more difficult to keep the flows even but causing him more suffering with how positive a world will be once Dream holds a performance.

The brother’s once owned a circus together but it broke apart with Nightmare’s downfall.

Everyone was eager to see Dream perform but didn’t care for Nightmare’s escape acts and often boo’d and shamed him leaving the worlds they tried to equally balance always too filled with positivity. One day Nightmare almost died attempting to perform a dangerous escape stunt that he’d concocted to try and gain the audience’s approval, and just when it seemed to be working he ran out of magic (having not slept or ate well as he should’ve the night before when he’d been practicing) and nearly drowned.

Dream was able to pull him free and save him but it took the last of their dead mother’s apples which proved too powerful and shattered Nightmare who was left horrified at what he’d become - a true reflection of ‘a demon’ as people called him, and led to him abandoning Dream to go his own way as the too much positivity started causing him pain and to go into frenzied breakdowns that he’d frequently black out through.

Since then Nightmare has not performed an escape act again and now solely plays ringleader. His innate trauma when it comes to performing is what led to him deciding to bring others into his fold to accomplish his goals, though he doesn’t let anyone know that.

He contracted Killer, Dust, Horror, and then Cross in that order. Stealing them away from their own personal hells he found them in when noticing how fearless they were in the face of horrors far worse than what he had devised, and how equally terrifying their own appearances and auras were and would contribute to the overall effect he was going for. To get them to sign, he tortured them in never ending loops of nightmares, uncaring for how it affected them until they agreed.

Killer was forced to experience going numb and filling with emotion on and off again repeatedly, the pain of switching so rapidly sending him into a spiral until he begged to be freed.

Horror was forced to watch his fellow monsters dust and suffer the insanity inducing hunger wracking his frame as if fresh over and over as his brother kept mutating before his eyes.

Dust had to watch his brother dust before his eyes repeatedly at his own hand no matter how much he fought against it, the pain of which was always too much each reset he experienced in his own world but in the nightmare without the time to breathe between each death and no goal of stopping the human in mind Dust cracked.

Cross was sent into isolation, only it was so much worse as he didn’t have the ability to communicate with himself (even trying to think to himself and hold an imaginary conversation didn’t work) and could only experience the slow crawling of time as a sharp cutting sensation across his bones.

At first the gang all understandably despise Nightmare and what he forces them to do but he’s uncaring of it. However slowly the boys begin to find actual enjoyment in their work and bonding together as they come up with new routine ideas which they loathsomely try to share with Nightmare.

Nightmare begins to feel impressed, even enthused though he doesn’t show it at their forwardness and makes recommendations for how to better execute their ideas while approving them. This causes the boys to begin feeling a sense of freedom and control they haven’t felt in years even before being stolen away but they still don’t soften to Nightmare even as Nightmare begins to soften just a bit to them at their willingness.

It isn’t until Nightmare and his trope encounter Dream and his that the boys end up feeling anything at all other than hate to the dark lord.

They witness the exchange between Dream and Nightmare, the hostility Nightmare has when he and Dream argue over who has the right to be in this world first as Dream speaks in passive aggressive words about Nightmare’s awful decision making and unbalanced influence which Nightmare scoffs at before turning the argument petty as he remarks over Dream’s soft and impassioned performances.

The second Dream comments about how his trope is a work of art while Nightmare’s is nothing more than ‘a glorified torture show’ the boy’s hackles raise - offended, not liking how Dream assumes they hate what they do (not anymore at least) which makes his trope’s performances more genuine and better since they’re willing.

The boys witness the face Dream makes of regret at Nightmare’s bitter parting (dream’s words having surprisingly irked him) but don’t say a word. Instead they sneak in that night to watch Dream’s so called ‘better performances’ and are left feeling bored, and commenting on how it’s too bright, too sparkly and how they can do so much better.

‘at least with us the crowd are actually on their feet.’ Killer huffs. ‘yeah, screaming too.’ Horror drawls. ‘I like the ribbons, not gonna lie.’ as Cross tosses back a handful of popcorn and earns amused scoffs from the others. Dust gives a rare smirk. ‘i have an idea.’

Nightmare is in his room, staring down at an old faded paper article that looks as if it might crumble into ash at the faintest breeze while he tries to ignore the pain in his chest from the positivity flooding the air. It’s a headline advertising his old act, the one that led to his transformation, when Killer walks in. Killer notices the article before Nightmare manages to fold it up and slip it into a breast pocket. It twinges something in him as he asks about it and Nightmare feeling a rare moment of openness blandly tells him of what happened.

Killer is surprised and sudden understanding clicks but Nightmare dismisses it with ‘nothing more than childish hopes and pointless memories, what is it you want killer?’

Killer smiles.

It’s the first time Nightmare has seen that expression on Killer’s face and his socket widens. He feels something precariously close to a thrill race his spine as Killer hums, ‘me and the guys were talking…”

Dream and his friends are beginning to perform the big finale when suddenly the lights go off and Killer comes on over the intercom, ‘well as much as i love that hello kitty and fluffy rainbow shit like the next guy, how about we get a real party started?’ and the lights strobe back on in a kaleidoscope of flashing colors as Nightmare’s gang appear round the top of the stage.

Killer flipping a jewel encrusted knife, Dust spinning an iron balancing rod as if it were a small plastic baton, Horror posed tall and looming with his one ear’d white lion and black tiger, and Cross on his sterling silver colored motorcycle revving the engine.

‘UH, DREAM? WHAT IS–” Before Blue can finish the boys are descending and taking the stage. Horror crowds them off with his animals as Cross races around the arena pulling shocked awes from the crowd and Killer blows fire setting the hanging ribbons up into a blaze of glory, Dust using his balancing rod to propel himself into the air and land on the lighting supports much to many surprised shouts of awe and worry.

Dream can’t help but stare silently along with Blue and Ink as the show is stolen from them and negativity begins to seep in from the shocked and concerned onlookers who can’t bring themselves to look away, even clapping as Horror narrowly dodges being attacked by his own lion to allow the beast to burst through one of Ink’s paintings.

Nightmare watches in stunned surprise, amusement, and dare he even think it…

Endearment.

When all is said and done the crowd goes home excited and raving about the unexpected twist and Dream is left fuming as he goes off about how childish and inappropriate that was. Nightmare shrugs him off as he glances over his shoulder at his smug trope and comments about how it was no decision of his own making. Sure he knew, but he didn’t tell Killer no, but Dream doesn’t need to know that.

When they go home Killer and the boys all gain a new bit of respect for their ring leader, and even a bit of fondness at how he let them do as they pleased. It’s a slow crawl from there. Each of them taking the time to get to know Nightmare a little better after also being told by Killer about his past, even asking him to join them for dinner one day where Nightmare finds enjoyment watching and listening to them go back and forth like a bunch of rowdy roommates.

Horror introduces him to the animals, and manages to calm the tiger enough to let Nightmare pet it. ‘her name’s mira.’

‘...You named her?’

‘yep, her and bosco.’

‘Is Bosco the lion?’

Horror looks oddly fond. ‘heh, no, he’s the gator. the lion is kimba, killer named him.’

Dust invites him to help him as he works on repairing and calibrating his canon, handing him tools and reciting blueprints. ‘need better bolts, these are starting to strip.’

‘I never knew you were so…hands on, Dust.’

‘cross’ fault. i saw him babying that bike of his and got tired of having nothing to do.’

‘I see.’

There’s silence, an uncertainty. ‘...i want to repaint it. i don’t like the colors.’

Nightmare considers. ‘...Alright, what colors would you like?’

Dust’s smile reminds him of Killer’s. ‘heh.’

Cross takes him for a ride and shows him just how fast his bike can go. ‘SLOW DOWN YOU HEATHEN! THIS IS NOT A SHOW!’

‘c’mon nightmare! live a little!’

Nightmare shivers at feeling Cross’s hand guide his to his waist, his voice reminiscent of a whisper into his acoustics. ‘i won’t let you fall.’

Nightmare averts his gaze. ‘Falling is not the point!’

Killer…killer brings him outside and sets him on a blanket beneath the only tree for miles as he sharpens his blades, handing nightmare one after the other and telling him what kind they are like a teenager. ‘and this is a messer! it’s german for knife but looks more like a dagger.’

‘Interesting. You’ve taken care of these well.’

Killer smirks. ‘i take care of the things i care about.’

Nightmare raises a brow as he echos. ‘Care about.’

‘i don’t have to feel it to know that i care about it.’ The shrug he gives is indifferent, but the look is another matter entirely, one that brings a foreign heat to Nightmare’s cheeks. It feels like a flirtation, but it can’t be, he knows where he stands with him - with all of them.

‘An even more interesting notion.’ he whispers.

It isn’t until he stumbles upon Horror pining Dust to a wall in a small forgotten hallway with Dust’s legs around Horror’s hips as they kiss that Nightmare realizes there’s a deeper bond between the members of his trope that he never noticed. One that they’re starting to willingly let him see as he spots Cross and Killer not long after training together with Cross pinned to the knife board as Killer sensually traces patterns across his bones with the tip of a finely oiled blade. It’s shocking how they managed to get away with this, hiding the fluctuations in their emotions from his notice.

The understanding spurs something in him that’s…genuine.

On equal footing.

Killer notices his staring and holds eye contact just out of Cross’ line of sight as he kisses the other skeleton. The emotions are there now, raw and unfiltered. Desire, want…teasing.

It’s an invitation.

Nightmare turns away and hides in his room thinking. He doesn’t know what he feels, not yet. But he does find himself wanting to, maybe, get a little closer to them. To know them, just as they’re obviously trying to do with him.

He likes watching Horror train his pets, he enjoys seeing Cross flip over ramps and twirl his bike beneath him mid-leap, he finds amusement in Killer trying to paint the sky with words made of fire, and he can’t resist staring as Dust pretends multiple times as if he’s going to fall only to stand back upright confidently and with poise. He can’t help wondering if this is what friendship is, companionship. He thought he’d known that once with his brother but he’d been wrong. The feelings are too different.

So he…takes the risk.

The dinners continue, the quality time, with him contributing by inviting them to let him read aloud of his books and going out to explore the worlds now before performing, but it all starts to weigh heavy on him and this manifests in him one day suggesting as Killer and Dust put forth a duet idea to suggest they use netting…in case of an accident.

The boys go silent, staring at him.

Nightmare feels judged, and it’s made clear that he is when Killer says rather carelessly, ‘since when do you care about our safety?’ It’s then made clear to Nightmare that no matter how hard he tries, and no matter what they open up to him and he them, that he can’t be more or get closer.

They will always see him as nothing more than their owner, their master.

‘Forget I said anything.’

Nightmare is left torn, does he put everything on the line by offering to release their contracts in the hopes that they’ll stay when it’s far more likely they’ll run if given the chance? Or does he hold on, and get left standing alone to watch as an outsider on the bond between them just as he’s always been to the universe at large.

He tried to run before he could walk. This is the obstacle between them and the first step that he knows has to be taken, the rest of the moments they share are empty so long as the contracts exist. And not only that but the leagues he’ll have to go to make up for what he put them through when he first found them, if they dare to even give him the chance.

There’s a bitter, terrifying, decision to reach.

Nightmare is in unfamiliar waters as he feels the sting of indecisiveness that he hasn’t felt since he was a child.

#undertale au #circus au #UTMV #nightmare's gang #bad sanses #star sanses #sans/sans #Nightmare #Cross #Dream #Murder!Sans #Dust #Horror #Blue #Ink #bsp #bad sans poly #M rambles #my writing

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noffy96 · 7 months ago

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Secret Mer Au~

Another entry for my Secret Mer Au. and we are back with more Kustard boys! As well as Spicyhoney boys. Hope you all enjoy

Worth fighting for.

Word count: 4,400

Chapter 1/2 ( in progress)

Summary

“So what is it?”

He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel once.

“Edge wants to battle you”

He felt Sans stare through him.

“What?”

“Edge wants to- “

“I heard…I meant….why?”

He clicked his tongue a couple of times.

“That might kinda be my fault”

Edge wants to duel Sans, And Red has to explain why that is. As it is kind of his fault. Will Sans accept the duel?

--link here to AO3--

or continue below the read more line

He let his claws tap rhythmically against the car door. The sound grounded him as he leaned further back against it, before unzipping his hoodie once more. That is the problem with being fucking late. Sans was probably halfway down the trail at this point. He could go up and meet him. But they needed to talk. And he would rather not everyone overhear.

So waiting by the car so they could have a private conversation in the car it was. Luckily he warned Sans that this might happen last time. He glanced around. With autumn really setting in its claws, tourism on the island had slowed to a crawl. But the few that still came were side-eying him.

Even the locals were staring at him worriedly. Even if none of them approached him. Grilby might if Sans isn’t showing up. But that wasn’t gonna happen. He crushed his teeth together. He was being stupid. Worrying about nothing, his…boyfriend… had given no indication of not wanting to return.

It has been three months now. And while only seeing Sans for two days a month was hard. He was so glad to do so. Sans date last time ... .it had been simple but very lovely. And surprised he had pulled it off without being able to communicate with anyone.

How he got the food was still a mystery. As he KNEW he hadn’t cooked himself. But it also wasn’t from any of the restaurants or snack bars in the city. Or the island. But he had to have gotten it from somewhere!

Finally, a familiar blue hoodie appeared coming down the hiking trail deeper into the island. Sans's default smile grew wider. And he got a small salute. The restless feeling inside himself settled at the sight and his own sharp grin softened.

But Sans must have noticed how everything about him screamed ‘back off. And his slow pace went to a normal walking pace.

“Hey?... What’s wrong”

He sighed at being read at an eye-glance. Reaching out toward his boyfriend. Who let himself be tugged into a small side hug. He placed a soft lingering kiss against his partner's cheek.

“Missed you too. And…not wrong per se. But not something we can talk about like this. Get in the car so we can talk”

The hands that held him squeezed him gently and firmly. As he stepped back. The white of Sans's eyes scanned his face.

“Okay…sounds serious”

He gave half a nod, as they climbed into the car, and he started to drive them towards home. Sans stayed quiet until they were halfway down the bridge leaving the island.

“So what is it?”

He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel once.

“Edge wants to battle you”

He felt Sans stare through him.

“What?”

“Edge wants to- “

“I heard…I meant….why?”

He clicked his tongue a couple of times.

“That might kinda be my fault”

Sans eyes narrowed, arms crossing in a way that felt guarded.

“Explain”

He gave a nod. Waiting for the officer at the bridge control to let him pass.

“So…I am getting as to why, but giving you the full context here, so bear with me. First off, Edge told Stretch”

Sans eyes widened. A brief happy smile came over his face, before widening with horror and he hurried along before Sans could voice the conclusion he clearly jumped to.

“It went well. Better than that actually”

He saw the small smile on Sans's relieved face before it hardened again. Making a gesture that he could continue speaking.

“Yeah, so…turns out..”

He glanced around unsure of a brief moment

“I am sure he doesn't mind me saying this, but he is like us…in a way”

He saw Sans take in that information for a second.

“Heh, what are the odds of that…in a way? So not a Mer?

Lifting his hand to make a so-so motion.

“Quarter Mer. So no transformation. But able to understand mer talk, and breath underwater for a short spurt. One parent was a Mer apparently.”

He made eye contact with Sans again as they stopped at a traffic light. Who was blinking rapidly.

“Wow…that’s…really rare. I think I know off one other person like that. Though I have never met him. But the neighbouring guardian Axe is good friends with him”

He let out a disbelieving huff

“I thought they were myths, but I suppose merfolk had to come from somewhere. So folk that don’t make the full transformation exist too. But yeah so, he wasn’t like…as surprised as he could have been. And well”

He sighed once more as he moved the car slowly through the downtown traffic.

“They wanna become mates…But you know my brother. Doesn’t wanna half-ass anything ever. So he wants to do the whole thing properly”

Sans let out a snort.

“So? Is he asking for your permission?”

It stayed quiet for a couple of seconds

“Holy shit he is!?”

He shifted a bit awkwardly at the reaction.

“Things must have changed maybe since we left. But when we were living down below. You usually had to get a mating approved. You had to have permission from either the eldest of the family…or the overseer if there was no family left to give that permission. Wich in our case is Me”

His boyfriend nodded along, seeing that he understood.

“It’s a bit of an older practice, but not out of fashion. It’s still practised, but more informal. So what, did you refuse Stretch the right to have a mating bond with your brother?”

He couldn’t help the little grin that sprawled over his face. And Sans saw it too, shifting to look at him, and having his full attention.

“Oh No. Stretch has permission. All green go ahead. It’s Edge that doesn’t”

He had to try not to laugh at the baffled expression his boyfriend made.

“What…why would you be the one making that call?”

The grin slowly fell off his face as he realised his lover didn’t know.

“Stretch…has no living family left”

Sans eyes widened staring out of the window for a few seconds.

“I had no idea…he had talked about visiting his dad a couple of times but…

He gave a sad sigh

“Yeah, he meant visiting his grave. His mom and brother got abducted when Stretch was just a child. That now that we know what he is…I assume means

“Poached”

Sans whispered horrified. And his claws angrily dug into the steering wheel

“Yeah, considering there is also a grave for both of them ....I think they might have found..”

Sans waved his hands as if to cut him off

“Please stop, I don't wanna think about that.”

He gave a nod

“Right…sorry, but yeah anyway. Since he's been living with me and Edge for…about a year now? Well, I am the closest thing as an overseer he can get to. As I believe this city doesn’t belong to your jurisdiction as our last conversation about was any indication. So yeah. I decided to step up, and I think Edge needs to still prove himself. And he got a bit pissy”

Sans snorted.

“Which is why he wants to duel me? Because you wouldn’t give him permission to mate his lover? Why does he need to prove himself anyway? ”

He made another so-so motion.

“There is more to it than that. But essentially yes. As to why I ain't giving him permission. Stretch proved that he loved my brother. He knew we had a big secret even though he was definitely curious. He never asked. Never prodded into our past. And was okay with it always. That is dedication. And while I have no doubt my brother loves Stretch. He hasn’t done anything close to that level of trust to Stretch. To me yes.…but not to his lover.”

He found it difficult to read the expression Sans was giving him, so he continued on so he didn't have to think about it.

“Besides I ain't planning to keep stopping it. But Edge needs to work on it. But I would let them get mated in a year regardless of what my brother does. Since he wanted to do so officially he is a bit mad that I am being so literal with it. Which he then countered with. That since you and I are now in a relationship. That is basically courting and wanting to see if you are even worthy of that much.”

Sans chuckled

“Hence why he wants to fight me, got it. Alright then. I’ll do it “

It felt like he was being slapped in the face. And he aggressively parked the car to the side of the road with a screech of tires. As to not let him ride into someone in his bewildered state.

“Wow. What the fuck Re-”

“You serious!”.

He cut him off by turning to face his partner head-on. Who looked at him with a bewildered expression.

“Y-yeah? What…did you think I wouldn’t?!”

Sans almost sounded a little hurt at the end. And he quickly shook his head.

“No! I just thought you would think this official bullshit is stupid and wouldn’t wanna bother. “

Sans laughed.

“Yeah, it is. Honestly, I don't really care much about those traditions one way or another.”

He stuttered in more bafflement as Sans continued to smile.

“But you are doing this because you love Edge. And honestly, it’s also a really sweet thing to do for Stretch, I am sure he appreciates it. To know there are people looking out for him”

He crossed his arm feeling a light flush rise to his face. Stretch had nearly doubled over in laughter when had made his declaration that Edge needed to earn his permission. It had rocked the wind right out of his little brother's sails.

Maybe Stretch was going along with him because he found it hilarious. But he had also overheard the two of them later that night in the kitchen. His brother asked his lover why he wasn’t bothered by being roadblocked. Stretch had answered with

“I am sure my mom would have loved to fulfil that role if she could have, so that have that part of myself acknowledge means a lot”

He left the room soon after that. It felt like he had overheard more than he should have anyway. Stretch was a good kid. He liked the dude, and there was no one better for his little brother. But the kid needs to be shown the same amount of respect, dedication and/or trust he had shown Edge.

It just felt like the right thing to do.

Sans continued on.

“If I fight Edge, it means you can keep this up. I see no problem with it. Besides.”

Sans's grin got bigger

“You are worth fighting for”

It felt like his heart exploded inside of his chest. A blush eruption over his entire face. So he did the only thing he could think of. He reached over the central console and pulled his lover into a hard kiss.

There was a soft shocked noise of surprise that got quickly swallowed up by their clashing teeth. He growled as the seatbelt tried to pull him back to his own seat so he angrily clawed at the button until it clicked free. Once he was free he climbed closer, hands grabbing onto the sans hoodie to pull him in, while his body weight pushed him back against the car door.

Sans made some struggling noises, but no move to pull away. Hands trapped between their chest but grabbing at his ribs all the same. As he slipped his tongue into his lover's mouth with a loud groan. Sans still tasted of sea salt and fish. But he didn’t care. That wasn’t what was important right now.

Three months ago he had almost lost him. Now Sans was willing to fight for him. Fuck he was so glad he decided to give chase that night. He would have never forgiven himself if he had let Sans slip through his fingers.

He tumbled even more forward, climbing over the central console to keep their makeout going. Pressing Sans further against the door. One hand placed against his head against the slowly steaming up window. As Sans finally got over his surprised stupor.

Wriggling his hands free from between them and clinging to his neck making him unable to pull back even if he wanted to. As Sans took over the battle of their tongues chasing it into his mouth instead. While still holding him in place. As he let his free hand wander and gently grab and caress Sans's clothed sides, hips, waist arms. Whatever he could reach.

Eventually they wretched themselves apart panting harshly. A string of saliva connecting their mouths together for a few brief moments before snapping. Sans chuckled again. But now it was deeper, and he could feel the vibrations of it through his chest.

“I should offer to fight for you more often if it gets you this riled up”

One hand travelled from his neck to his cheek. A thumb stroking gently just underneath his eye just shy of the scar.

“Shut up”

He grumbled and kissed him again. Less aggressive but still just as hard. Letting everything else fall away as they made out. The relatively tiny space filled with their grunts and groans. That only got louder once hands found their way beneath shirts to caress the bones of their spines.

But then a few things happened very quickly. As he tried to climb fully into his partner's lap. His leg hit the gearshift. Knocking them out of park. And the car started rolling. Both tore apart as they noticed. Acting on pure instinct he didn’t remember how he did it but he quickly found himself back in his seat stomping on the break to keep them from rolling. They had barely moved, a few inches at most if even that And the car that had been parked in front of them was gone as well.

But that had been way too close. With a violent tug, he put them back in park. And he glanced at his boyfriend whose face was covered in a blue flush. His own face felt aflame as well. They sat in silence for a few seconds both still in shock

“You okay?”

He mumbled and Sans gave a dazed nod. Finally righting his rumbled-up hoodie. Stroking flat the fold and wrinkles he normally didn’t care about. He tugged his own hoodie back over his shoulder from where it had slid off.

Gosh, that was…Well, it had been really good but also so very very stupid.

“So um..”

He mumbled hands drumming against the steering wheel not sure how to continue. And lost all words together as Sans's gaze met his. Clearly just as embarrassed

WHY WERE THEY ACTING LIKE LOVESTRUCK TEENAGERS? HE WAS CLOSER TO HIS THIRTIES DAMMIT

His phone pinged with the sound of a text notification. And he took the distraction of it gladly. He quickly scanned over it.

“Edge wants to know if you are fine with an experimental Vegan dish tonight. I think they came across some recipes while shopping”

Sans subtly wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

“Yeah, that’s fine. As long as it doesn’t have mushrooms”

He quickly typed a message back and was about to put his phone away. Before asking.

“Can I let him know, you’ll take him up on that duel?”

His boyfriend shrugged.

“Fine by me”

Three seconds after he sent his message the phone started buzzing with Edge's name lighting up the screen. Sans and him shared a look before he accepted the call. While Sans leaned against the window. Then noticed the still quite noticeable handprint from before and quickly wiped the window clean with a Flush

Before he could even say anything. His brother's voice boomed over the small speaker.

“He accepted!”

Sans rolled his eyes as Edge went on a little tirade of his own, as to why he thought Sans wouldn’t have. With his thumb, he pressed the speaker phone function. Gesturing at Sans to answer with a smirk.

“Yes, I did, Edgelord. So wanna talk about how we gonna do this?”

He heard his brother's mouth shut with a click. Clearly not expecting Sans to have been the one answering. Stretch was also howling with laughter in the background. He must have made an interesting face.

But Edge quickly composed himself.

“Yes. Well, there is a cave near the beach. Stretch works. You can get into the ocean from there and we could have our duel there.”

Sans nodded.

“Sounds good to me. When do you wanna do this?”

There was a ruffling noise on the other side.

“You tell me as you are that can only come over rarely “

Sans glanced at him and kept his gaze as he asked.

“I am fine with doing this now. I don't think we had very specific plans for today”

His eyes widened, surprised but nodded. Answering

“We didn't. The sooner we get this over with the better in my opinion anyway”

He could hear the suppressed glee in his brother's voice

“Agreed, we’ll meet you at the beach stall. See you soon”.

The phone cut off with a click and he shook his head. But saw Sans give him a calculating look.

“What is it? Having second thoughts?”

Sans shook his head then slowly said.

“Edge has no idea I am a guardian. Has he?”

His own grin grew.

“I didn't know if it was okay to tell at first. And when you told me I could. I needed to find some time to talk about it. But by then. He pulled this shit. If he wants to battle you, without doing full preparation of looking into his opponent that's his mistake”

Sans laughed. Leaning back into the car seat.

“Oh, this is gonna be fun”

He laughed loudly, agreeing wholeheartedly. He put his seatbelt back on and drove towards the beach. During the drive, Sans and him exchanged some stories about what had happened during the last month.

The possibility of Him and Papyrus maybe meeting someday in the future. As Sans' brother was apparently very eager to do so. Sans for now had a plan on who to ask for help so that him AND Papyrus could leave the reef for a day.

Also, They needed to move the date of their next meeting, so as not to land on the third quarter moon as they’ve been doing. As Sans needed to be somewhere for his guardian duties. So the new date was at the next new moon

This means he’d see him again much sooner, but then there be a longer pause between that. But that was okay for him.

Traffic wasn’t as dense near the sea as it was the off-season, which also meant he could park nearby. And the two of them wandered over to the wooden structure. It was weird seeing the beach bar empty. As it normally was bustling with the activity. The small bar sells drinks and little nick-nacks. Hard to believe this thing started as a small set-out stall.

The door to the kitchen area opened. And Stretch waved at them as he stepped out Edge following close behind. Having seen them coming.

“Hey Guys, let me just lock everything up, and we will be ready to go”

“Take your time dude”

“Right, right, just very excited to see this”

He raised an eyebrow at the tall skeleton

“You are gonna go with them?”

He noticed that He was wearing swimming trunks instead of his normal cargo pants as Stretch beamed at him.

“Well, someone needs to judge the duel. And I think you trust me over some rando. That we just hope to spot”

He gave a curt nod. For the briefest of seconds, he was offended by the assumption that he was not gonna watch his own brother and boyfriend fight. For what is essentially his honour. But as he flinched at the sound of a large crashing wave.

Yeah..he knew why. Sans hands found his own gently holding it. As they all turned to walk towards the cave. His brother was walking ahead of them. And glanced back at them every so often. He hadn’t said anything yet. But he didn’t expect him to.

Edge always did his planning silently, and the way he was eyeing Sans he was planning different strategies based on what he could tell from Sans's body on land. He stopped once they reached the rocky side of the beach and his boyfriend started to hop from stone to stone near the water's edge.

Stomping over ahead to scold him about the dangers of the cold water should he fall in. Sans chuckled beside them.

“They never change”

He let out an amused huff as well.

“Tell me about it. “

He muttered as Sans's shoulder knocked against his own playfully. His shoulders had started hunching up more as the path led them closer to the water. He was grateful that with Sans holding his hand so that there was at least something between him and the ocean.

He wondered if Sans had done that on purpose. But Sans didn’t know the way…so he couldn’t have known which hand to hold to block him…right?

His eyes flicked up to his boyfriends who were staring forward, to see where they were going. Only looking at him when he felt his gaze. He met the stare, Sans eyes flickering back to the playful bickering couple in front of them. Before stopping them for a brief second to lean over the small distance to place a chaste kiss against his teeth.

“Stretch and I came here last year, we needed some specific shells you can find up ahead”

He knew the place he had been with once before as well. He just hadn't realised his boyfriend had as well. His shoulders lost some of the tension of the realisation he wasn’t talking about behind his back.

But couldn’t quite spell away the odd twisting feeling of still being thought about. Sans had remembered and taken some steps to make him more comfortable. He squeezed the hand he was holding, as he walked a bit faster without a word. He expected Sans to laugh or chuckle. But he didn’t just stay silent beside himself until they caught up with the two lanky skeletons in front of the cave.

And after a brief walk through the dark gloomy cave, they reached the hidden pool within. The green light reflected against the rocks. And he shifted nervously as Stretch and Edge started undressing in one corner and he helped shield Sans in the other.

“Are you still sure you wanna do this?”

He hissed softly as Sans got his hoodie and t-shirt off. Sans hands stopped what he was doing, white pinprick eyes looking up at him. Before briefly one blazed a hot blue.

“You’re worth fighting for”

He fought the blush that tried to come up. Looking away as Sans started sliding his pants down.

“Are you gonna be okay staying here.?”

Sans took the towel from his hands that he had taken from the car so he could briefly cover himself before getting in the water.

He gave a nod. The water had lapped at his thick boots a couple of times. It was making his soul beat in his chest madding. His ears ring. And stay as far away as he could. But he was okay. Sans stepped into his space and gave him another kiss. This time a bit longer, and a bit hotter.

“Be back before you know it. “

He said with a wink, handing him back the towel, and quickly turning towards the water. At the other end Edge and Stretch were already waiting. He felt a pang in his chest at seeing his brother's mer from. IT had been ages since he last saw it. Stretch was clinging to his back, and he could see the outline of the green swimming trunks he was wearing. Giving him a thumbs up.

“I'll keep an eye out here”

He muttered gruffly

“You do that brother,”

And he gave a curt nod. And then with the dive of two tails the three of them were gone. As he saw the blurry colourful shapes disappear near a hole at the end of the room He sat down, staring at the water.

Three months ago, he had let himself change for the first time in years. The reminder hadn’t been pleasant. His side had ached with a pain he had long forgotten how bad it was. Now the reminder was constant.

He remembered the water that rushed past him as Sans brought him to the hidden cave on the island. So much like when Edge had to drag his broken body to safety. Now there was just not a barely attached limp clinking to his side. Just the nasty scar of where it once was.

Steering had been a pain, it left him panicky and disoriented. And something in there could come for them again. Take either of them by surprise because of the fight they were about to have. A fight…for him.

And here he was sitting like the coward he still was. He did it once for Sans…He could do it again…Not just for Sans…for his brother too.

His fingers trembled as he undid his shoes. Socks slipped out of his hands as he pulled them off. Having trouble getting out of his hoodie. And all other clothing.

Then he stood there butt naked. Bones are exposed for the world to see. Trembling more from fear than from the cold. Toes grazing the cold water.

He turned back Ready to put this ridiculous idea behind him. Until he saw his own messy pile of items next to Sans’s.

‘You are worth fighting for’

Echoed through his head.

He screwed his eyes shut, turned around and jumped in. He had to catch up. There was an important duel gonna happen. And he wasn’t gonna miss it.

#secret mer au #kustard #spicyhoney #noffy's writing #undertale #underfell #sans/sans #sans/red #edge/stretch #merau #fanfic #undertale sans #underfell sans #underfell papyrus #underswap papyrus

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mystery-fic-anon · 2 years ago

Text

Thunder in the Mountains

Summary: "A thunderstorm is rolling through town and you’re scared of lightening/thunder so I’ll protect you." (prompt sent in by @silverryu25) (note: this is a surface au despite the title.)

Warnings: nothing beyond the obvious angst/fear of storms

Thank you to @nugget4550 for beta reading this!

Read it on ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46953829

Most of the weather on the surface was nice. The snow wasn’t as intense as it had been in Snowdin, the rain made some pretty relaxing sounds, and the summer season was absolutely beautiful. Sans had dreamed of the stars, but he had never anticipated just how wonderful sitting in the sun would be.

There was just one thing that bothered him, even after four years on the surface: storms. Every time the thunder rumbled, it sounded like a cave-in. The strobing flashes of lightning reminded him of all of the fights he’d had with the kid before they had finally worked things out. His best hope to make it through a storm was to close the blackout curtains he’d spent way too much money on, blast music in his headphones, and bury himself in a random book or TV show.

Unfortunately for him, Papyrus was much better at actually checking the forecast. If he wasn’t out on some diplomatic mission, he probably would have reminded him to make sure there weren’t any thunderstorm warnings. Instead, Sans had woken up to the sticky, clingy heat of a late summer day, and just gone on with his life like he normally would.

Now it was late evening, and he was curled up on the couch. He couldn’t bring himself to move to try and close the curtains. All he could do was stare out at the dark sky, and shudder at each rumble of thunder. They had been getting louder for a while, and he was dreading the thought that he might actually see where one of the lightning bolts landed.

Something grabbed his ankle. He jumped, flinching back so hard he nearly rolled over the arm of the couch. He shook his leg back and forth, and looked down.

A familiar red ecto-tail was wrapped around his ankle. He tried to take a deep breath, wincing a bit at the panicked wheezing sound. He stopped moving. He didn’t relax, he just stopped fighting against the touch.

“Hey, what’s up? I thought you went home already.” Sans turned around. Red had slithered up on the other side of the couch, and somehow he hadn’t even noticed. He tried to give him his best smile, but that quickly dropped off his face as another boom of thunder rang out.

He and Red had been seeing each other for a bit, but they hadn’t quite gotten to the point of spending the night at each other’s houses yet. Red had slithered off into the woods some time ago, shortly before the thick, dark clouds had rolled in. Sans wondered why he had come back. Maybe he had forgotten something?

Instead of answering him with signs, Red just took his hand and raised it up. His tongue flicked out of his mouth, the forked tips of it barely brushing against Sans’ bones. It wasn’t like Red really needed to smell him to see that he was stressed, but he didn’t object. He knew this was just instinct, and he wasn’t going to be a dick to his datemate no matter how bad he was feeling.

Sans gasped as another flash of light lit up the room. He turned around again, just in time to hear the loudest thundercrack of the night. He jerked back away from the window, his skull smacking into Red’s chest.

Both of them hissed in pain. He folded over and held his head, rubbing the spot where he’d slammed into Red’s collarbone. Red’s ecto-tail only filled in from the waist down, so it had been a hard bone-on-bone collision.

“Sorry,” Sans mumbled, sitting up. He turned around and put his hand on top of Red’s. “You okay?”

Red nodded. Then, before he could ask any follow-up questions, Red’s arms wrapped around him. He stared as Red picked him up and cradled him close to his chest, his cheekbones flushing a bit with magic.

Red got off of the couch. Sans had seen him move before, but it was still impressive how quickly he could slither, especially on the smooth wood floors. The thunder rang out again, and he soothingly rubbed Sans’ back with one hand as he went upstairs.

In one minute, they were in Sans’ bedroom. Red dropped him on the bed, then went over to the window. He closed the curtains and turned on the desk lamp, filling the room with soft yellow light.

Sans’ fingers felt stiff, but he still grabbed a couple of pillows and placed them against the head of the bed. His makeshift nest probably didn’t compare to Red’s, but he kept a few extra blankets and pillows to make sure they were both comfortable. They both enjoyed a good stay-home date. The memories of Red cuddling with him in bed while watching shitty movies helped him calm down a bit, and he finally felt like he could breathe properly.

Red tapped his shoulder. When he turned around, he slipped a pair of headphones on him. He handed Sans the phone they were attached to, already open to his playlists.

He clicked on the thunderstorm one, and scooted over. Red climbed into bed with him, curling his tail around Sans from his waist all the way down his legs. Rock music blared in the headphones, finally drowning out the thunder.

Red wiggled his fingers in front of Sans’ face, and he glanced up. “Safe now. You’re okay.” Red signed, giving him a small smile. “I’ll protect you. I love you.”

“Thank you.” He let his eyelights flicker out, and buried his face into the pillow next to Red’s. “Love you too.”

As the two of them laid there together, he felt more relaxed than he ever had during a thunderstorm. The gentle shifting noises of Red’s bones against the sheets as he petted his back filled Sans’ senses, drowning out any potential for faint echoes of thunder to creep in.

Red’s teeth pressed against his forehead, and he grinned. He tilted his head up, and gently clinked their teeth together. Then he nuzzled his face into Red’s neck, making himself even more comfortable. It might not be as soft as the pillows, but it was his favourite napping spot, and once he got into the right position, he couldn’t stay awake any longer.

In spite of the loud music, he found himself drifting off. He held on to Red, clinging to him even as sleep dulled his senses. If Red stayed over, he knew he could rest easy.

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