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I walk down memory lane
'Cause I love running into you
The snow lay thick on the ground, crunching underneath Sans's slippers. He took in the familiar sound, along with the familiar sight of Snowdin village. It was quieter than he remembered now that everyone had moved to the surface. Well... almost everyone.
One person was missing, one dear to Sans that he would only ever find here.
"Brother!"
"How are you?", "I'm doing great"
And I have you back for a few
Sans grinned at the sight of Papyrus standing next to the welcome sign. "Heya, bro."
"It's been a while. How are you?" Papyrus asked with a smile that was brighter than the sun on the surface.
"I'm doing snow well," Sans returned with a wink.
I just love the idea
When I see ya in my head
"SANS!"
Sans laughed. "Sorry, bro. Couldn't help it."
"Of course you couldn't," Papyrus grumbled with a shake of his head, but his smile quickly returned as he joined Sans on his walk. "Anyway! Tell me more about the surface!"
That's why I walk down memory lane
'Cause it's the only place
That I have you again
"...and Grillbz got a nice new restaurant, too. I've been several times--still his favorite customer." Sans chuckled. "Get this, though. He's gonna add spaghetti to the menu. How's that sound, bro?"
Silence met his words, and Sans turned to see Papyrus had vanished. Something fluttered in the wind in the corner of his eye, and Sans glanced down at his brother's scarf around his neck. His smile fell as it all came back to him, and he rubbed the fabric between his fingers, fighting back tears.
"Y-yeah, you're right, Pap. It could never be as good as yours."
You tell me all your bad jokes
I laugh when the punchlines end
Sans continued walking alone. Soon, he arrived at his old house. It looked the same, still decorated with the Christmas lights and wreath on the door that Papyrus had always loved. But it felt different, missing the one who made it feel like a home to Sans.
Inside, it was mostly empty, the possessions having been taken to Sans's new house. The kitchen, however, had been left untouched. It was clean and tidy, everything in order as Papyrus had left it. As Sans stepped in, memories flooded his mind.
You're wearing your yellow coat
The one you were wearing when
Papyrus stood in front of him again, arms crossed. He wore his chef's hat and "Kiss the ~~chef~~ Great Papyrus!" apron, his favorite cooking attire.
"SANS! GIVE ME BACK THAT SPOON!"
"Sorry, Pap. I have no idea where it ended up. Guess it wasn't very knife of me to borrow it without permission."
"THAT WAS MY BEST ONE! YOU'D BETTER FIND IT, OR YOU'LL BE FORKING OVER THE MONEY TO GET A NEW ONE!"
Sans snorted, and Papyrus quickly realized his mistake.
"OH MY GOD!"
We danced in your old kitchen
I still miss it every day
"Pfffft," Sans snickered, covering his mouth with a hand to stifle it.
"SANS!"
Papyrus swung at him, but Sans ducked, laughing. He dodged again as Papyrus attempted another attack. Soon, they were dancing around each other, Sans cracking endless puns and Papyrus trying and failing to whack him for it.
"C'mon, bro! That one was good!"
"GET OUT!"
I'll always laugh at all your bad jokes
While I keep walking down this road 'cause
The memory brought a smile to Sans's face, only for it to fade, leaving Sans feeling lonely again. His eyes blurred with tears, but he brushed them away. Sans stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned to the door. He gave the kitchen one final glance before heading back outside.
There was a final place he wanted to visit before he returned to the surface, and it didn't take long to reach. Just down the road, beside the path to Waterfall, was a gravestone. Sans dropped to his knees in front of it and ran a careful hand over the name: "Papyrus." He reached into a pocket and pulled out a few flowers--red, blue, and yellow--somehow still in good condition despite being picked a few hours ago.
"I thought you'd like these," Sans said, setting them in front of the grave. "They reminded me of you. Especially... especially the red ones. You always... you always liked red flowers, even if you never got to see them for real."
It's all that I have left of you
No, there's nothing left for us to do
Tears fell to the snow, and a sob escaped him. "I miss you, Papy. I miss you so much," Sans choked out. "Out of everyone they faced... why did you have to be the one they killed?"
Of course, there was no answer. Sans didn't expect one, but the silence still felt like a stab to the gut. Sniffling, he rubbed his eyes and slowly stood up.
"I have to go... l-love you, bro."
Here on Earth, so all our memories
Are my all-time favorite movie
The sun blinded Sans as he emerged. It was too bright, too warm. If this was his new home, shouldn't it feel more like it?
He knew that the others were happy here. Asgore was traveling the world meeting humans, Toriel recently started a job as a teacher, Grillby and Muffet opened new restaurants and bakeries... but Sans? He wanted to travel back before the final human fell--before Papyrus died, when he was still happy.
Unfortunately, that wasn't possible, as much as Sans wanted it to be. All he had now were his memories, and he held onto them more tightly than he did any physical item he owned.
The older that I get, the more
I can't let you go yet
As time passed, Sans held on. He watched his friends become successful in their new homes and jobs and listened as their reminiscing of the Underground turned into gossip about their new life. Sans did his best to join in, but on the occasion that he started a conversation, he always ended up on Papyrus.
Some people told him that he should move on with his life, but he knew he couldn't. As long as his memory lasted, he would cling to what little he had left of his brother.
Every birthday and holiday
Wish you were here to celebrate
Sans's birthday rolled around. Toriel held a party for him, and he appreciated it. He would even say he had fun. But throughout it all, he wished he could see Papyrus's grin again, feel his bear hugs, and taste his spaghetti. Through everything he did, he always felt like something was missing, and Papyrus was always the answer.
So I walk down memory lane
'Cause I love running into you
A whole year passed since that day. Sans again found himself trudging through the snow, the familiar chilly breeze tugging at his hoodie sleeves and making the scarf he still wore fly behind him.
And Papyrus was there, standing at the Snowdin sign, his smile ever-present.
"How are you?", "I'm doing great"
And I have you back for a few
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Sans!"
"You too, Pap," Sans replied with a watery smile.
"Come on! I'm sure you've got a lot to tell me about!"
You know I'd walk for miles
For that smile not to end
For hours, Sans wandered through the town, talking and laughing. He didn't care if it was all a dream. Papyrus was there, standing next to him again with that smile. That was all that mattered.
That's why I walk down memory lane
'Cause it's the only place
That you haven't left yet
Sans ended up by the grave again. Even after all this time, his tears still fell, and they would continue to. Sans would keep coming back as long as he could feel Papyrus here. As long as he could be with his brother for just a little longer.