Chapter Text
Sans is quiet now as the two of you walk. You had passed the bar a long while ago but you both walked silently. You were stuck in your own mind, typically a dangerous thing, even on the surface. Your mind was racing. He remembered the day time rewound. He remembered CHECKing you. Did he remember the bike ride? Did he remember your father yelling at you both for it? How could he remember any of that day other than the CHECK?
While you walked, Sans took the lead, holding your hand tightly as you walked towards the trail leading outside of town. While you stared straight ahead, eyes wide and distracted, he glared at every monster you passed, occasionally squeezing your hand tighter. Sometimes, he’d drag you a little closer as you veered away from him in your thoughts.
He led you up the trail, deeper into the woods as night fell around you two. Sans stopped when you reached a ridge with a bench placed on it. You both sat and looked out over the seemingly endless forest over the edge.
It was quiet for a long moment, the two of you still holding hands as you looked out.
“how ya doin’ sweetheart?”
‘How do ya remember? It, it didn’t happen...not anymore.’
“i…” You look at Sans and he looked like he was going through a mental battle, “i fucked up. i fucked ya up. ‘s my fault ya got sick like ya did.”
You stare at him. He was tense and holding your hand tighter, nervous sweat beading on his skull as his eye lights darted around the horizon.
“it’s called a LOAD...the kid can do it. they used ta do it all the fuckin’ time in the underground. i was the only one who remembered other than that fuckin’ flower. when we got to the surface, they swore they’d only do it if someone got hurt or shit started goin’ bad fer monsters.”
You frown at his explanation. The kid had done it? That tiny little Frisk could manipulate time?
You almost didn’t believe him.
‘How’s it yer fault then?’
“i asked ‘em to LOAD to ‘fore i met ya at the shop.”
The silence dragged on as you looked at the ground, staring down at the dirt you could barely see in the dark.
After a few minutes, Sans looked over at you. You were stock still and he couldn’t pick up anything from you as you looked down.
“sweetheart?”
‘Why’d ya do it?’
Sans winced and looked away from you again. Part of him had been hoping you’d get angry, maybe kick him off this ledge and stomp off so he wouldn’t have to tell you why.
“i... ‘cause i fucked up by CHECKing ya. you were so pissed an’ i didn’t want ya ta hate me. i like ya and i jus’, i wanted a second chance with ya sweetheart. you were the one thing i didn’t want ta fuck up with,” He started breathing heavier, as if he was fighting to keep talking, “then ya got sick an’ it was my fault-”
‘So, ya left me with Pops fer a year?’
You frown over at him. Something in you must have snapped because you almost laughed when he slouched, as if trying to hide in the fluff of his hood. You knew you should be angry with him, and you were, but your soul was exhausted from both Sans and Vanilla already.
“thought it’d be better if i left ya alone. thought i’d only fuck ya up worse…”
You sigh, exhaustion flooding through you entirely. You felt a little numb. You wanted a shower, drinks, and to hang out with the pack. You didn’t want to think anymore.
‘Ya fucked me up but ya fixed me,’ You shrug at him, leaning back on the bench, ‘Don’t think yer off the fucking chopping block yet fer that shit but I ain’t mad at ya, not right now anyways.’
You could feel his eye lights trail over you, but you look over the horizon instead of looking at him.
‘I still got questions and shit I want ta know but I can’t take anymore of this shit tonight,’ You stand up, still holding his hand and tugging on it to get him to stand, ‘Let’s go get wasted.’
Sans stood and you turned to walk back down the trail but stopped when he stood still, his hand clutching yours tighter now.
“that can’t be it, ya can’t just roll over on this,” Sans said quietly, staring at you with a look you were too tired to place.
But for once, you were feeling hope from Sans’ touch. It was a little addicting honestly.
‘I already told ya that ain’t it, but I’m fuckin’ tired of thinkin’ about all this shit. Forget yer damn guilt and ‘ave a good night with me at the bar.’
“why the fuck would ya want me around ya still? after all that shit, why the fuck-?!”
‘You ain’t bad company, fuckface,’ You shrug at him and tug on his hand again, giving him a blank look, ‘Now am I gettin’ wasted by myself or are ya comin’ along?’
Sans stared at you for a minute before moving towards you and holding you tightly to his chest. You don’t mean to, but you let out a sigh of relief, wrapping your arms around him.
This felt so much better than anything you had done with Vanilla. Something about it was pure and sweet. You could recognize the relief rolling off of Sans but you don’t mention it to him.
Feeling the world drop away under you, you close your eyes and push your face in his sweater. Things finally felt like they were going the way they were supposed to again.
--------------
‘SANS!’
You scream into the kitchen as you walk into the back of the bar.
‘It’s starsdamned fries, what the fuck is takin’ so long?!’
“we’re outta fuckin’ potatoes!” Sans yelled back at you in front of the grill, looking just as annoyed with you as you were with him.
You roll your eyes and go to the pantry to find more.
Your father had gotten his heat early this year and was off taking care of it. As such, he left you in charge of the bar. The weekdays were easy but Friday and Saturday were sure to be too much for yourself. So, since you had decided Sans was in your debt for all this shit he told you about a couple weeks ago, you employed him for his help.
Pulling out a large bag of potatoes, he gives you an ‘o’ look.
‘Yer a fuckin’ idiot!’ You shake your head at him, shoving the bag in his arms.
“an’ yer a bitch, what’s yer point?!” He shouted back at you.
‘jus’ get this shit prepped an’ we’ll switch!’
“fine!”
‘Fine!’
You go back to the bar, huffing as you did. The regulars were giving you amused looks and some were snickering under their breath as you went back to making drinks. You were entirely unaware they overheard you and Sans yelling at each other. The monsters whispered to each other excitedly when you weren’t looking.
You served four more tables, your rage slowly growing as Sans seemed to take his sweet time. Finally, after serving the fifth, you couldn’t take it anymore. You went into the kitchen again, practically dripping in anger.
Sans looked up at you, holding some freshly cut potatoes over the fry basket.
You could feel your face going red.
‘What the fuck are ya even doin’ back here fuckface!? Jerkin’ off?!’
“i’m doin’ the fuckin’ fries!”
‘Go man the fuckin’ bar!’
You go over, taking the cut potatoes from him and throwing them in the fryer before grabbing his collar and dragging him out behind the bar.
‘An’ if I catch ya drinking mustard, I’ll charge ya triple for it Skulls!’
You warn the blushing skeleton before going back into the kitchen.
As you settle into a quick routine, frying and grilling, you serve it up yourself to the tables, happy to find that everyone had full drinks at least.
The night went on much smoother than it had with Sans in the kitchen. You rarely manned the kitchen but Sans said he used to work for Grillby as a fry cook back in the underground. Now, you were wondering if he had been fired by your Pops in the first hour with how slow he had been going.
He seemed to be a good bartender at least.
After you served the last plate, you went behind the bar, working on some of the glasses that had piled up in the sink as Sans served up another round of drinks.
By the time the bar was empty, you were both exhausted. You lock the door and flip off the neon lights with a sigh.
You go back to the bar, pulling down some ice whiskey and make a spiked mustard for Sans, who was sitting in his normal spot, head down on the bar. He had his jacket off most of the night and you had no idea where he put it. It was weird seeing him in a black shirt rather than his usual red sweater but you didn’t comment on it as you set the mustard in front of him.
‘Here fuckface.’
You pour yourself a tall glass of the ice whiskey, enjoying the cooling effect of it. You had been sweating in the kitchen for hours.
“come sit with me sweetheart,” Sans said, patting the stool beside him.
You set your glass in front of Sans and hop on the bar, scooting over it rather than walking around and setting yourself on the stool.
“grillbz would kill ya seein’ that,” Sans chuckled.
‘Pops set my ass on fire once fer doin’ it, why do ya think I’m only doin’ it when he ain’t here?’
You both lean on the bar, enjoying the jukebox playing in the corner as you finished your drinks.
‘You can head home if ya want, I got the clean up.”
After finishing your drink, you move to stand up when Sans reached and grabbed your wrist.
“mind if i stick around fer abit? this is only my third mustard of the night after all,” He smirked at you as your eyes narrow at him.
Finally, you sigh.
‘Fuck it, fine. Jus’ don’t fall asleep on my bar.’
Not trusting Sans to not use up all your best spirits, you make six spiked mustards for him and set them on the bar before you went to the kitchen.
You scrubbed everything down, cleaned out the fryers, did all the dishes in the back and took inventory of the pantry, freezer, cooler, and hot fridge. Covered in grease, a little bit of grime, and plenty of sweat, you go back to the bar and start working on the glasses in the sink there.
‘Hey, fuckface,’ You look over at Sans and see he’s gone through nearly all the mustard you had given him, ‘Make me another ice whiskey. ‘M dyin’ here.’
Sans chuckled again, standing and going behind the bar. It was a tight squeeze for the bulky skeleton to move around you. He set his hand on the small of your back as he did.
When he’s beside you, pulling out the ice whiskey, you look over him.
‘How drunk are ya?’
“depends. ya think i’m drunk enough to hafta sleep on yer couch?”
‘No?’
“then i ain’t drunk enough yet!” Sans said, grabbing two glasses and filling them to the brim with the ice whiskey.
You shrug, reaching to take your glass when Sans pulls it back from ya.
“this is the good shit! i ain’t lettin’ ya get soap in it,” Sans said, pressing the glass to your lips.
Rolling your eyes, you take a deep gulp from it as Sans feeds it to you. You let out a happy hum as your skin tightens as if you had just felt a winter’s breeze. Very refreshing after working in that hotter than hell kitchen.
Sans leans on the counter next to you, sipping his own glass eagerly. You work on drying the glasses, leaning closer to Sans as he gives you more of your drink.
When you finished washing all the glasses, you and Sans ended up finishing the bottle of ice whiskey. You washed up the glasses you two had been drinking from, a concentrated look on your drunkenly red face. You hear Sans chuckling at you, sloshed himself, but you ignore him.
When you are done, you stand in front of Sans and reach up, hand going for his collar. You grab it differently than you normally do. Normally, you just loop a couple of fingers in the metal hoop where the leash would go. Instead, you wrap your hand around the leather of the collar and turn, dragging Sans to the back.
‘C’mon, I’m fuckin’ tired Skulls.’
Sans was quiet and if you had looked back, you would have seen his wide eye lights and red blush filling up his skull. You probably would have noticed his eye lights trailing down your body.
You flick off the lights in the bar and head up to the apartment. You pull Sans in and shove him on the couch. He fell onto it willingly, sitting up with his legs spread and looking up at you like a puppy.
You giggle drunkenly and pat his skull before turning away.
He reached out and grabbed your hand.
“where ya goin’ sweetheart?” He slurred.
‘I gotta shower fuckface.’
His brow scrunched up, “sounds like a bad idea, darlin’. yer gonna slip.”
‘Fine, fine, I’ll take a bath!’
You sway a little as Sans pulls you closer. He tugs you just a little too hard and you’re thrown off balance, landing in his lap. One of your hands is on his shoulder and the other on his chest as you try to balance yourself between his legs.
Sans lets out a soft growl unlike anything you heard from him before, wrapping his arms around you and holding you close. Later, you would say that you were too drunk to push him away. But you were only a little dizzy as Sans held you. You enjoyed the comfort of his arms and touch, the surety of safety his arms tightened around you.
‘Ya wanna do it again?’
“do what darlin’?”
You shiver, finding that you really enjoy the pet name. To reward him for thinking of it at a time like this, you nuzzle into his neck, smiling as he shivered.
‘Hold me, just ta hold me?’
Sans chuckled, pressing his forehead to the side of your head, nodding. He wrapped his arms under your legs and around your shoulders, picking you up easily. He walked to your room as you wrap your arms around his neck and nuzzle into his shoulder now.
He let out that strange, soft growl again before he opened your door. Before you knew it, you were on your bed, stripping out of your clothes and laying back in just your underwear. Sans pulled his shirt off and laid next to you, pulling you close and nuzzling into the back of your neck.
Humming, you turn in his arms and press your forehead to his, wrapping your arm around his bare ribs and rubbing the thick bone soothingly. Sans, feeling you intent, all but melted to your touch. His eyes sockets closed and suddenly, he was making a purring sound. You giggled and shut your eyes.
-------
With a groan, you flip around in your bed, reaching for your bedside table. Hearing your hand slam down on it, you shuffle it around, groping for the bottle of painkillers.
‘Dammit, where are my fuckin’-!’
You were a little startled when you felt yourself dragged backwards on the bed, into a warm body.
“what’s yer damn problem sweetheart?” Sans grumbled in your neck.
Relaxing, you shut your eyes, your fingers barely touching the edge of the table now.
‘Gotta headache, need my painkillers.’
Sans huffed, the hot breath moving around your neck and making you shudder. Sans placed one hand on your forehead and you felt the familiar warmth of green magic.
You almost moan in relief as your headache started to leave. You hear Sans chuckle quietly, pressing your body closer to his. Your eyes drift closed as he works his magic. A few minutes later, he takes his hand away, making you groan.
“what? still got a headache?” He grumbled in your neck.
You shake your head.
‘Jus’ like the feel.’
You admit in a drowsy tone, nearly knocking out again from the warmth coming from Sans. The comfort of his arms seem to bleed into your soul, knocking you back into this sleepy, relaxed state that you couldn’t get enough of.
The two of you stayed in your bed, both half naked and curled to each other under your fluffy covers. You dozed together and breathed easily, forgetting the world and responsibilities the two of you held daily.
In a daze, you feel Sans rub his thumb over your stomach back and forth. Feeling his intent to simply comfort you and nothing more, you push yourself back and closer to him. In your sleepy mindset, you could only think about how to trick Sans into your bed again somehow tonight.
You could very easily get used to waking up with the skeleton like this.
Your phone rang, shooting a sudden urge to throw it out the window for disturbing this peaceful moment.
Hearing Sans snicker at your reaction, you grumble curses and use gravity magic to pull your phone into your hand.
Sans whistled as you looked at the caller ID.
“gettin’ better darlin, showin’ off fer me?”
‘Sure fuckface.’
You twist around in his arms, pushing your forehead onto his left clavicle and opening the phone, pressing it to your ear.
‘Your highness, you rang?’
The same line you always gave the queen when she called you. It made her giggle every time. You could feel Sans tighten his arms around you and push his face in your hair, chuckling along with her.
“Yes, my child, I needed to place an order from the bar,” The Queen spoke, using that soft voice she used typically whenever you weren’t training.
She only used it for those she saw as her ‘children’. Honestly, it used to piss you off when she spoke to you like this but upon seeing her angry (quite a few times) you’d much prefer this.
‘Sure, what’cha need.’
Regretting it already, you sit up, making Sans growl, then pur as you lean over to pull the notebook and pen off your nightstand. His arms wrapped tightly around your hips as you lean over, ready to write her order, as he moved and curled around you, resting his head in the crook of your thigh and hip.
“Oh, am, am I interrupting something?”
‘No, why?’
“Well, it sounds like there is someone with you. But you sound like you just woke up. I didn’t know you were being courted!” She sounded so excited.
‘Calm down, your highness!’ You go to correct her quickly, doing your best to remember your ‘proper words’ as your father put it, ‘Ain’t courtin’ nobody, Sans just passed out at my place.’
That was proper words right?
In your head, you could see your father shaking his head at you and muttering about etiquette lessons again.
“Sans? Oh my, how interesting? Is this the first night he’s ‘passed out’ at your place?”
Not picking up the second meaning behind her words, you shrug.
‘Nah, he’s done it before-’
“haha, ember, how ‘bout not spoutin’ off about me sleepin’ in yer bed? sleepin’ is all we’re doin’!” Sans started off quietly then spoke louder to make sure the phone could pick up his voice.
You look down and see him looking nervous.
‘What’s yer problem? It ain’t like we’re fuckin’, we’re jus’ sleepin’?’
Hearing the queen laugh loudly, you look at Sans, then the phone, confused.
Sans shoved his face back in your hip, groaning at you.
“My child, I apologize for jumping to conclusions. I’ll have to talk to you more about this later though,” The queen was always gossiping, you reminded yourself, “Now about that order.”
After writing it down, you say goodbye and hang up, sighing as you check the time.
“ja have ta say all that?” Sans grumbled in your hip.
‘Would ya have felt better if I said we were fuckin’?’
“no!” You smirk as Sans’ voice got higher.
‘Then shut yer trap.’
You set your notebook and phone on the nightstand and try to move away from Sans but he tightens his arms.
“think i’m lettin’ ya go after embarrassin’ me?”
Rolling your eyes, you pat his skull.
‘I gotta go finish cleanin’ up the bar dumbass.’
“ya did it last night,” Sans whined in your hip, making you chuckle.
‘Fine, I owe ya another hour anyways from when I was sick.’
You rub his skull softly, smirking when he started purring and curled tighter around you. After about half an hour, your back was getting sore, sitting like this for so long so you sighed and stopped petting the skeleton.
As you start to move, Sans holds you tighter again.
“ya said an hour,” He growled in your hip.
‘My back fuckin’ hurts, I’m jus’ gonna lay with ya.’
He seems satisfied with that and lets go, holding up the covers with one hand as your move fully under them and curl up to him. He runs a hand through your hair, seeming content to play with it as you stay relaxed in his arms.
-------
As much as you both hated it, but neither admitting it to the other, at the end of the hour you peel away from each other and move to start your days.
You shower up and get dressed before heading down to the bar. You busy yourself with dusting down the bar and setting chairs down on the ground from tables.
Sans comes back when you finish up. You glare over at him and throw the rag in his face.
‘How convenient of ya ta come back when I finish cleanin’!’
“da’w, c’mon darlin’ it was jus’ a happy coincidence,” Red smirked, catching the rag before it hit him in the face.
Just like that, the two of you were back to smirking at each other as if you hadn’t been so intimate this morning.
It was perfect.