a/n: you should really go on my archiveofourown account instead of this one if you appreciate my writing so much; not only do i update it quite faster than this one (because editing a doc and replacing the chapter- it's too much work, i'll be honest). also, kudos? veeeery encouraging. but anyway! thank you guys for following this story (despite this story reading "complete", you rebel you) and commenting (aahh i love comments dearly). but yeah, this sequel and the deleted scene after are all y'all get from me with this series. if you want to see if i post any Undertale/Underfell in the future, best bet is to follow me as an author and write me PMs and comments of encouragement and all that good shit.
flattery is everything with my muse jfc.
anyway! same rules as last chapter still applies, frisk is 18+ y/o, and this one-shot is from frisk's POV, okay? okay.
CHAPTER SUMMARY:
Being mute, Frisk pays a lot of attention to hands, especially when they're signing something to Frisk. But, since Frisk is mute and not deaf, that sort of thing rarely happens and Frisk usually is just a part of one-sided Sign Language, one-sided Speech conversations. Which is why, when Sans, with hands with dips and chips like a heartbeat, starts signing out of nowhere, Frisk can't help but feel... normal. And being in Underfell, that's a near impossible feat.
Alternatively titled: "The Numerous Times Sans Tried to Subtly Flirt Until He Gave the Fuck Up"
...
Touching Sans was like touching the heart tracer of a heartbeat monitor, smooth with sharp, skin-cutting dips and chips. I haven't really initiated any touching with Sans, (because I kind of need my hands to talk), but I've felt his hands, and if his hands are anything like the rest of his body, then his whole body is practically a pair of scissors and I'm paper. And yet he is, the least dangerous pers- monster I've met in Underfell (well, second to Flowey), so that whole scissors and paper thing can only emphasize how dangerous the other monsters are and how dangerous they look.
Despite never really initiating touching, we do touch a lot. I don't remember a lot of specific moments that Sans has touched me- though I do know that Sans has some personal space issues- except for one.
I was in Waterfall and had found Sans at another guard post (dude they are understaffed), and I couldn't see much except for the ground I was walking on for the longest time; it was dark from my knees down unless I was by some glowing water, and, for someone who can only talk through sign language, the dark is like a duct tape over your mouth. And yet... despite the fact that Sans could talk to me (I mean, I'm mute. Not deaf), he instead was signing me something.
And, yeah, it meant a lot, even if I had less of an idea of what I was supposed to do now; it was too dark for me to see what his hands were signing, and he definitely was signing something, and if I can't see him sign in the dark then he definitely wouldn't be able to understand me signing him something. Flowey was trying to help, trying to convince him to just speak himself I think, I wasn't really listening. I was too focused on Sans' hands and trying to decode the signs in the dark to pay attention. Because, hey, ASL is somewhere between the fourth and sixth most popular language in the U.S.. Anyone who goes to the effort to have a conversation in sign with me? And not just talk to me? That extra effort automatically becomes my new best friend; I love that kind of shit. It makes me feel… normal. Not being able to talk and having someone "talk" like how I do.
Anyway, I got a bit off track, sorry- happens a lot, actually. Being mute and not a lot of people talking to you because you can't talk back, makes you spend a lot of time in your own head; you kind of have to be your own best friend. Sorry though, I'll try to stay on track, okay? Sorry.
Nonetheless, back to the point. Apparently, I should have been paying more attention, because, then, Sans took one of my hands. Which, normally, would be fine! But since my mind had been drifting, the grab caused me to jump, and then his grip to tighten at my movement. So I, naturally, assumed he had something important to say as he started signing into the palm of my hand. Which, by the way, I greatly appreciated, most people forget that's a possible way to communicate with ASL-using people in the dark (or if they were deaf and blind), including me sometimes. It's rare people know how to decode sign language by "talking" to their palm; I only knew because my parents had me practice how to decode it along with them in case of an emergency. So I could understand Sans, basically, but I was a bit trusty. Like I said, people normally just speak to me and leave me in the dark (If Sans was reading this, he'd be so proud of me, oh m y gawd ) in how to respond back.
«Do you understand me?»
Not sure if he could see me or not, I signed back with my free hand, «Yes.»
Suddenly, Sans' eyes got brighter, literally. His left eye turned a dark red color, the same as bloo- I mean, the shirt he always wears. It was a sharp contrast to the rest of the blue scenery around us, and reminded me of the dark room from this Photography class I had back in my senior year of high school. It's not enough for me to see much besides more shadows, but if it's enough for Sans to read my signs, that's all that matters. I'm not sure if his palm would be able to feel me touching them since they're bone and maybe, maybe not have nerve endings. I doubted he could understand the textures of things, but who knows?
He signed into my palm again, repeating himself, «Human, do you understand me?»
I signed again, wondering if his weird eye function is just him or all monsters and if it's purpose is to be a flashlight or what. I'll admit it looked cool though. «Yes.»
And if it's main purpose is not to be a flashlight for Sans, it was certainly a benefit, «Good.»
«Is something wrong? Why are you signing to me?»
I could see the shadow of a smile on Sans' face, his gold tooth shining almost as bright as his eyes, «Nothing's wrong, human; I'm signing because I want to.»
«Then why are you here?»
Flowey said something, asked something, but I was too focused and in awe of my conversation with Sans' to really register spoken words. I don't see Sans' lips move to answer. «To ask you to go out with me?»
My heart, my "soul" (I somehow doubt they're the same thing) everyone kept trying to take, might as well have had a knife plunged into it. If ASL could stutter and be spoken through embarrassed flustering, I doubt Sans would have understood what I signed back to him.
«Sans, repeat that?»
There's a pause, a significant one, and Flowey doesn't speak nor does Sans' lips' move. «I'm here to ask if you wanted to go with me for my lunch break to Grillby's, human.»
I wonder if he felt my hand relax around his.
«Oh, of course, Sans. I'd love to.»
«Hold onto my hand? We'll have to take a shortcut, don't want to lose you and all that now.»
«Yeah, of course.»
Similar moments after that kept happening. More and more often as I got to know Underfell, as I got to know Sans. They never lasted long, just a minute or less, every time.
«You want to move this dumbass conversation to the bedroom?»
I stiffened, «Sans, repeat that?»
«You want to move this conversation to the bedroom? ...Because this conversation could mattress.»
I laughed, relieved, and Sans laughed too. I laugh a lot around Sans, and as much as I love his sense of humor and laughing at his jokes, I also kind of hate it? Because, see, my laugh isn't pretty though, or at least, I don't think it is. From what I understand, if you want a nice laugh, you have to have a voice, otherwise you get this breathy-wheezy sound like I do, so as much as I love Sans' jokes and laugh at them, I hate laughing. Which, yeah, sucks, but I just feel like it's a really ugly sound, you know? But ...Sans differs with my opinion on that.
«Hey, human, want to hear a knock-knock joke? I've got another one that'll certainly ring your bell.»
«No, I think I'm good; I doubt you want to hear my laugh again, your ears probably need a break; it's such an ugly sound.»
I chuckled but as soon as I glance away from MTTV, I saw pure, homicidal rage on Sans' face, his breathing hard. And I have felt scared of Sans' before, but never to the intensity where I feared of certain death, like I did at that exact moment.
«Who the flying fuck told you that?»
If someone could scream, growl, or put stress on words in ASL, I knew Sans would be right now with soooo many exclamation points. Because, if he could (or if he'd just use his voice), I'd probably be (finally) getting a call back from Toriel who'd be wanting to see what that shouting was all about. So basically, as a result, I quickly regretted everything I'd done ever.
«Nobody.»
«If anybody ever tells you don't have the best damn laugh in all of Home, human, you tell me, okay?»
«Okay.»
«Promise me. Promise me right now.»
I paused, confused over how offended he seemed. «I promise.»
Those kinds of moments remind me of what a good monst- you know what? Fuck it.- what a good person Sans is. He's not perfect, but he tries so hard, especially for Papyrus. And he's a good guy, I'm serious (well, most of the time), even though I know he lies quite a lot to me. I think I put up with the lies (or lack of telling the full truth) because he just... he really understands me, both in our shared sense of humor and in my disability (he is literally the only monster in Underfell thus far who signs back to me, rather than just translate, like Flowey). I've met like two people who do that outside of my immediate family, and they forget to do that half the time, and when they remember? They'd usually sign and talk to me at the same time. But not Sans. Which is just so... Jesus, the guy's just so humble to a fault, y'know? Especially in comparison to literally anybody else, like how he keeps introducing himself as being "only knowing the basics" of ASL, but he is completely fluent, my goodness, I mean, sure, he's a bit slow, but he's fluent even though he doesn't need to be. He says he learned it from an old friend, and I really wish I could meet this "Gaster" guy and thank him for knowing and teaching Sans sign language so well, but, wherever Gaster was or is, Sans seems partial to never letting me know where he was so I could actually thank him. I still wish I could though, it's really made me feel at home here in, well, Home after… after everything.
Yeah,... after… everything... everything that made me leave the human world and… Well, I'd rather not dwell on why I jumped down into Underfell. I guess, at the time I had thought… but halfway through I had realized everything could've been… I don't think I could ever bare to tell Sans or the others what my reason for being here in the first place was. After all, I've always known that any human who went up Mt. Ebott disappeared; I know the stories. I always have.
Anyway, once, Sans told me once that the most badass of monster had the most and worst scars. I've always wondered if emotional ones counted. Well, not really "wondered"-wondered, but, like, I wished emotional ones counted. Because, it… wouldn't have be a bad feeling for Sans to think… I'm a badass. I… I really want Sans to think I'm badass, I want Sans to like me, I really do. Whether or not if he has a lack of nerve endings that don't let him feel, I know his soul can. And it scares me shitless how much I want his soul to feel about me to be so similar as to how my soul- my heart feels about him, and I think it's because I don't fully understand what I'm feeling and if it's good or if he even wants it and it's all just so… so hard and so weird .
But, you know what? I'm going to unlock the barrier. Which is, somehow I think, going less hard and weird than whatever… is going on with, y'know, Sans and me and stuff. Because I'm doing the barrier breaking out of pure selfishness. I'm not going to deny that. I want to go back to my original family; I want to apologize for… attempting ...to leave and try to fix some of the stuff that drove me to… attempting to leave; but I also want Sans, Flowey, Papyrus, Undyne, Alphys, and Toriel with me. I don't want to leave them, the ways how they act just… anchors me somehow. I ended up here by overreacting, and how everyone here overreacts constantly, which just reminds me to think about what I'm doing and find a rational solution so I… I don't overreact like I did last time. And last time I did was how I first got here.
I... I haven't really felt my Depression much here. It doesn't go away, I don't think it ever will. But... it's easier here, it's a lot easier here. I have my reason to get out of bed; I might get scared or anxious, but I never feel completely hopeless or undeserving of fighting for my soul,... for my life; and I feel happy and loved here. Maybe that's because it was so hard to earn it, and I didn't get any pity-love or anything for being mute. I had to work hard at not killing people, getting them to actually like me, and then they all just expect me to be able to handle any cards I was dealt with all on my own, especially with battling other monsters, and just-
I want both worlds. I know it might be the worst idea I've ever had, because monsters are super violent but just…?
I'm selfish.
I'm selfish and I'm terrible and inconsiderate and Flowey thinks I'm being a fucking idiot and I know I am, I always have been, but…
«I just want this to work so much.»
Sans gave me look of shock, but his smile was still wicked, «That so? You positive it will?»
«Yeah. 100%.»
Sans scooted closer to me on the sofa, and I felt both ecstatic and anxiety-ridden over the fact that Flowey wasn't over my shoulder. He wasn't reaching over to be snarky or be a buffer between me and Sans or... I just generally don't like not being around Flowey; he's been there for me since I first fell into the Underfell, and I think this sort of dependency around him is because I trust Flowey's judgement. I trust it after everything we've been through and I trust it much more than I trust myself. He's like my Jiminy Cricket, and I guess I just keep freaking that I'm going to end up on Donkey Island or in the mouth of a whale without him.
«That's a big number, human.»
«That's why I used it.» I tried to square my shoulders, to look more intimidating. Sans could be scary, but I've faced bullies that have actually meant to hurt me, over gender and pronouns, over my disability, over how I look and act, and everything in-between. But Sans, as far as I can tell, entirely and always just been all bark and no bite.
«Then, human,» Sans hands stopped for a couple of seconds, «let's make a bet out of this.»
I froze. Any fanfiction I've ever read has never had anything not Rated R come out of this kind of scenario. «Depends,» I found myself signing despite the uneven beat of my sou- my heart. Sorry, I still keep forgetting I'm not exactly one of these guys. «What's the forfeit?»
«Nothing much.» Sans signed to me, and I gave him an incredulous stare, not trusting those words for a minute (would you?). «Aw, human, don't look at me like that. It's nothing much, really, what kind of guy do you take me for? Some useless "no-body"?»
I don't know what kind of sound comes out of my mouth at the, quite frankly, terrible pun. «You can do better than that, Sans, c'mon.»
«Oh, I'll knock your socks off with one after this little wager, okay, human?»
«Only if you tell me the forfeit.»
Sans doesn't even hesitate, «The loser makes the winner the drink of their choosing.»
I paused, feeling even more suspicious than I had without knowing the forfeit, «...That's it?»
«Yeah.»
«Well, wait, what would you want though? I can't make anything alcoholic like Grillby can.»
«Oh, I just want some tea, human. Little lemon, honey, nothing big.»
I felt my shoulders relax, but I'm disappointed; I wanted the forfeit to be tame, but not this tame.
«You don't want to make it more interesting?»
Sans shrugged, all smiles, his golden tooth shining maliciously, «Nope. I heard from Boss that some source said humans make the best tea.»
«I don't think I can make really good tea, though? I mean, I can make tea, but not the best tea ever.»
«Your best is enough, human, trust me. Now c'mon, is Mettaton going to kill that scared fucker on his show or not? I'll pick whatever you don't; we're wasting time just chatting here.»
«Okay, okay,» I signed, pouting. This was such a lame forfeit… «I think Icecap will be okay, in the end. Mettaton did promise to cut down on the killing after I let him go.»
«Yeah, well, we'll see, human. Icecap's been an asshat» I giggled at the puny half-pun, or whatever I sound like when I'm trying to giggle, «since he came on. I doubt that Robohost is going to even hesitate about throwing his hat in the ring» Another attempt at a giggle, I could tell Sans was trying to keep his own laugh inside as he kept signing, «and offing him.»
It was literally five seconds later.
Five seconds later, Mettaton was strangling Icecap, because instead of following the game show's directions, Icecap kept talking about his hat and reluctantly answering the questions with Mettaton's increasingly impatient prodding. Apparently the last one was his breaking point.
I couldn't even process what had just happened, and so quickly , I could've blinked and had no idea how or why Mettaton was strangling Icecap now of all times, and before I could even stand and ask Sans for a shortcut to stop this, Icecap was released and coughing up a storm.
"Oh would you look at that!" Mettaton made a huge waving gesture with his arms, "It appears our showtime is at an end, darlings! Ooooh, and just when things were getting good too! I guess we'll just have to wait for Icecap-"
"And my hat!" Icecap's interrupted.
Mettaton looked so pained and it made me smile, he was trying so hard to not kill Icecap. So, so hard. I was going to have to get him something for the next time I saw Mettaton as a thank you for not going overtime and killing Icecap. Maybe call in and have someone else translate what I wanted to say? Mettaton always got such mean calls in; a nice one would be different. Maybe it'd expand viewership? Or maybe I could go on his show again. He liked it when I did that. I'd get Flowey and everyone else's opinion later; I'd need some help either way.
Despite being in box form right now I could hear Mettaton's voice straining out through gritted teeth, "And… his goddamn fucking hat. To maybe possible die or not die for another episode!" He then suddenly changed to a cheery tone. "I'll see you in 30 seconds with the news, my lovelies!"
I gave Sans a triumphant look and signed simply, «I won.»
«No way, human,» Sans laughed, and my chest pained for a second that he'd laugh so much at this moment and moments in the future and that I was just… forever going to give nothing but silence. Did my voice even matter? Was I ever going to make a- «You really are make a difference here.»
And that was all it took to get me away from the Bad Thoughts™. The praise made me preen, feel really good about myself all of a sudden. There wasn't any sign that could properly translate my feelings of gratefulness for reasons I couldn't yet explain to Sans without going in too deep. So, instead, I just signed, «You get to make me tea now, right?»
Sans smiled so both rows of his teeth showed, «Actually, any drink you want, human.»
«Tea. Any kind of tea.»
«Spider-?»
«Any kind of tea but Spider Tea.»
He made a drawling "Ugh" sound at the back of his throat, «You're no fun, human,» and Sans got up slowly, lazily, «Mind if I make myself a cup?»
«Not at all.»
«Cool, be back in a couple of minutes. Clap if anything cool happens for once on this stupid ass show.»
«Everything about this show is cool,» I signed, and found myself feeling normal at how Sans walked backwards, just to make sure he could read me in case I kept trying to sign to him. Most people forgot and just walked away, their back to me; those times felt like a kick in the gut more than I'd like to admit, because rarely was it ever intentional. «We don't have robots nearly this advanced on the surface.»
«Must be dull.» Sans signed before slipping into the kitchen.
I looked at the television as Mettaton performed live, talking about gossip and fluff stories and battle-related news alike. I had no idea how much time passed before Sans put my tea on the side table of the sofa we were sitting on.
«You missed the battle-related news.»
«Anything interesting?»
«The Temmies tried to conquer the Hotlands again, but Alphys stopped them, captured a bunch. I wonder what she uses them for; she won't tell me.»
«That's it?»
«That's all you'd be interested in, unless you want to hear about the snail races or Greater Dog's attempt at-»
«You're right, Alphys fucking shit up is all my Temmy can take.» He signed at the same time, cutting me off. He rubbed his stomach as he did so, and I laughed for a second or two, taking and tasting my tea (any tea without spiders in it is good tea) before noticing something.
«Where's your tea? Was there not enough?»
«No, I just decided not to last minute.» Sans signed and put my tea back down. I looked at him, confused, and about to sign him something against him taking it away when he suddenly put his hands in mine, intertwining and stroking the back of them both with his thumbs. The cuts in his bones were still sharp and noticeable to feel, Sans' chipped bone structure mimicking how fast my heart was beating, but the gesture was comforting and painless nonetheless. Realizing a bit late that he needed at least one to talk to me, he shifted his grip in one hand so I could feel him signing in my palm and didn't let me break eye contact as he did so.
«Because I realized you're just my cup of tea, human.»
And that was the first time ever since I met Sans that I didn't laugh at his pun.
...
EDIT: WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME FANFICTION. NET DOESN'T LET GREATER AND LESS THAN SIGNS SHOW UP? THIS STORY IS SO MUCH MORE CONFUSING WITHOUT THEM, FANFICTION. NET, I HAD TO GO AND FIND « AND » AS REPLACEMENTS AND GO THROUGH AND PUT THEM IN EVERY SPOT THE GREATER AND LESS THAN SIGNS WERE. THIS IS WHY I PREFER AO3, FANFICTION. NET. WHAT THE HELL?!
but, anyway, the important question here is WHY WOULD YOU NOT LET ME HAVE GREATER AND LESS THAN SIGNS LIKE WTF WHAT'S THE FUCKING HARM? ANSWER ME FANFICTION. NET