Disclaimer: I don't own Undertale
Note: For the art for this AU go to deviantart, and look under melismatic1946.
Frisk knew she should get going but making Papyrus wait seemed like a sin all on its own as she made her way back to town, trying to find the brother's house. It didn't take long with Papyrus standing outside, and she was pleasantly surprised to see the house she admired was his.
"YOU ACTUALLY CAME! WHICH MEANS YOU WERE SERIOUS!" Papyrus scratched at his chin. "I MUST TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE SPECIAL! COME WITH ME!"
She had no time to reply as Papyrus took off, her shorter legs having a hard time keeping up with his longer ones, especially with how fast he was moving. By the time they stopped, she was trying to catch her breath just from that small distance and saw they were back where they started.
"COME ON! MY HOUSE IS THE BEST PLACE!" Papyrus beamed as he went inside and Frisk followed, she was embarrassed to admit that once she saw the inside, it was more normal than what she pictured. They had a large living room, with a couch in front of a large screen television that had her staring.
She could see the stairs leading up and guessed that it led to maybe a bathroom and the brothers' rooms. Beside her was the kitchen, but what had her confused was the rock on the table against a wall with sprinkles on it.
She couldn't help walking around, asking about each part of the house. Learning that it was Sans' pet rock made her laugh, it was probably the only pet he could get away without much work. Papyrus seemed only annoyed that he always had to be the one to feed it, and she smiled at how much Papyrus tried to look out for Sans.
Her eyes next went to a sock, and she tilted her head at the post it notes on it. She didn't want to pry and looked in the kitchen, her eyes widening at the kitchen sink cabinet that might as well be a closet. She backed away only to trip over the sock and heard Papyrus let out a sound of annoyance.
"I KEEP TELLING HIM TO PICK UP HIS SOCK!"
"It's okay." She said quickly, picking back up the post-its that confirmed Sans laziness, the notes made her laugh even though she tried not to. She tried to fix it back the best she could, going back into the kitchen and hearing Papyrus tell her a few things as she looked around. She was surprised to find out Sans had baked a quiche as he went to open the cabinet under the sink Papyrus mentioned.
"WHAT IS THAT DOG DOING THERE! IT'S FOR MY BONES! NOT YOU!" The dog looked up and took off, with both her and Papyrus trying to catch it. "GET THAT MEDDLING CANINE!"
Frisk tried lunging for it, only for the dog to slip through her fingers.
"CURSES!" Papyrus huffed, his foot stomping as Frisk heard a door open and someone playing a trombone melody that after the dog incident, only made the situation funnier. "SANS! STOP PLAGUING MY LIFE WITH INCIDENTAL MUSIC!" Papyrus huffed again, and Frisk looked up, finding herself wondering more about Sans.
Was he home during the battle? That thought made her frown, thinking how maybe he hadn't been watching over her then. Was it because it was Papyrus. She sighed, not finding much more to look at as her eyes caught a book, and she looked at it.
Quantum physics? She took one look at Papyrus, feeling sure it wasn't his and peeked inside to see a comedy book and then inside that a quantum physics, and then inside that one a comedy as she rolled her eyes. Definitely Sans.
Making her way upstairs, she expected Papyrus to follow but rose a brow at the door away from the stairs. It was as if the fire was coming from under the door and she stepped closer, feeling the flames of magic at her ankles. It felt familiar to the magic she sensed during her battle with Papyrus when she felt weightless.
Did Sans somehow…
She thought of how Papyrus magic had made her movements muddy, and she felt slower. Did Sans magic do the opposite? She let her hand touch the doorknob before moving away and going to the other room that she was sure belonged to Papyrus.
"ARE YOU READY FOR OUR DATE? WE CAN GO IN AND UM...DO DATE STUFF! LIKE PEOPLE DO ON DATES!"
She chuckled at his enthusiasm, nodded her head yes as they both went inside.
One good look around Papyrus room and if she never confirmed it before, she confirmed it to herself that he was indeed the younger brother. He had a race car bed, action figures, and she smiled at the skull and crossbones pirate flag on the wall. In the corner was a computer, and she had to admit it had been a long time since she'd seen one without a flat or touch screen.
She looked around, seeing the box in the corner full of bones and looked at Papyrus questionably.
"IT'S THE ATTACKS I USED ON YOU! I DECIDED TO SAVE THEM, FOR MEMORIES OF TIMES WITH MY NEW FRIEND!"
As much as she loved Papyrus's enthusiasm about it, she stepped farther from the box and glanced at the bookcase full of puzzle strategy and children's books. All of them looked worn from use, and she looked back at Papyrus.
"Do you have a favorite?"
"I HAVE TWO FAVORITES!" Papyrus grinned, and Frisk chuckled as she came closer, and tugged on his scarf gently. "ARE YOUR READY FOR OUR ...UM…" Papyrus cheeks were tinted orange and looked away. "DATE?"
"Mmhm" Frisk couldn't help but think it was adorable as she gave a nod of her head as well.
"THEN, DATING START!" Papyrus did a fist pump, and Frisk covered her mouth as the "date" started. She found it very interesting as Papyrus took out a dating handbook and suddenly there was a tug at her chest, her soul appearing in front of her chest along with Papyrus.
As he read instructions and she learned how to use her magic to see things like stats, it was fun to watch Papyrus. He had even changed clothes, though she didn't know what to make of the outfit. It was a bit hard to answer his questions about the date, and every answer seemed to turn into something else.
After a lot of time, he placed the spaghetti she found under his hat on the bed carefully, fidgeting and not looking at her.
"Is... everything okay Papyrus?" She frowned, wondering if she indeed did do something wrong. She wasn't used to "Soul Dating", or dating at all to be honest. She wasn't anyone important in her town growing up, until…
"Mommy?" Frisk opened the door of her room carefully as she heard the yells and her eyes widened at the sight of her mom laying on the floor. Her father's arms around her before his eyes snapped up to her as she ran closer. "Mommy!"
A hand pushed her back.
"This was going to happen eventually, I could feel her using her magic pass the limit. It's your fault, isn't it" His eyes were on her, and suddenly Frisk felt like prey. Her mother's magic no longer on her like a veil.
"Wasn't it?" He yelled, and Frisk ran, slamming the door close of her room closed, she needed to find the star. Her golden star and reset. She needed time.
"" I know you're the Phoenix!"
She quickly grabbed the star, focusing all her magic as it hovered and she reset.
She wiped at her eyes, feeling the tears fall.
"HUMAN, OH NO DID I MAKE YOU CRY?" Papyrus moved, his arms going around her and Frisk tried to hold it all in. She was used to being alone. Having no one to really depend on beyond her mom, and even then, it was limited. "I'M SORRY HUMAN, I DID TRY TO FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU AND HAVE THE SAME FEELINGS YOU HAVE FOR ME! I PROMISE TO GIVE YOU THE SPACE YOU NEED WHILE ALSO BEING A GOOD FRIEND!"
She sniffed, a soft laugh escaping as she heard Papyrus, and she couldn't help holding on to him a bit tighter until letting go.
"Thank you, that's sweet of you."
"OF COURSE! I'M HERE TO HELP YOU DURING THESE HARD TIMES! SO PLEASE DONT CRY BECAUSE I WON'T KISS YOU! BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN HAVE LIPS! AND I'LL EVEN HELP YOU FIND SOMEONE AS GREAT...well no..." He paused and hummed a moment. "WE WILL FIND YOU SOMEONE SO YOU CAN SETTLE FOR SECOND BEST! He patted Frisk's shoulder, and she smiled a bit more as she wiped her eyes.
"OH!" Papyrus moved and took out a paper, writing down something before giving it to her. "IT'S MY PHONE NUMBER! YOU CAN CALL ME ANYTIME, PLATONICALLY!" Frisk couldn't help but notice that Papyrus wrote how he talked, and that it matched his name very well. She wondered was it a skeleton thing or just a Papyrus thing.
"Thanks again, Papy" The nickname slipped, and she blushed just as Papyrus did, the orange dusting his cheeks as he hugged her once more.
"I HAVE TO GO, BUT CALL ME SOON! YOU CAN LET YOURSELF OUT!" Papyrus grinned before leaving out, and Frisk smiled as she put the number in her phone. She left out Papyrus room soon after, taking another look towards the room that belonged to Sans. Looking away, she made her way downstairs and out the door.
Taking the path from before, she sighed as that same fog started back up and she had to squint as she kept walking. Opening her eyes more once it was gone, she looked down to see a lack of snow before she kept walking, and looked to see a waterfall not too far off.
It was tempting to stop, but she shook her head and kept going seeing more water and blinking as a stand came into view and she saw Sans behind it.
But he was...just...home?
She could remember the magic that was still pouring out his room with the door closed as she left, so how did he. She rubbed her head, maybe she'd never understand.
She could see the monster kid she met before along with someone else, then there was the giant flower. It was a beautiful blue, almost distracting her from the star, going closer she kneeled and let her hand go over it. Feeling the familiar tingle of the save and then eyes on her as she quickly moved her hand.
She looked around, not seeing anyone look at her and wondered was she being paranoid as she got closer to Sans stand. She looked at him a long time, and his brow bone raise.
"what? never seen a guy with two jobs before?" He laughed, and Frisk's eyes narrowed at him, she felt sure he knew exactly why she was staring at him. "look, i'm about to take a break and go to grillby's, since you know two jobs, twice the breaks." He smirked. "wanna come?"
Frisk rubbed at her cheeks and felt sure she was becoming a tomato.
"so?"
"Yes!" She blushed more, hearing his chuckle. "I mean yes." She was didn't mind the idea of trekking through the snow with Sans beside her.
"since you insist" He gave her a chuckle, and she looked away, trying to hide her blush and discreetly watch him as best she could in her peripheral. She looked perplexed as he went in the opposite of where Snowdin lay.
"Where are…"
"trust me, i know a shortcut" His grin was wide as she went over to him, looking at the hand he now held out as she held it. She was disappointed to see a glove and wondered about the feel of his hand and what it may look like. She held on tight as she felt magic surround her, as though pulling her in a place of in-between. She could feel the magic, it felt familiar, reminding her of that weightless moment during her battle with Papyrus.
She felt her nerves, holding tighter to Sans hand and blinked when next there was Grillby's. It probably had only been a few seconds, and she was lucky she was used to magic surrounding her, and she looked at Sans a long time.
It was like teleporting but...not.
Frisk growled at the spoon, squinting at it harder.
"Whatever did that spoon do to you?" Her mother laughed, her hand touching Frisk's arm as Frisk let out a deep sigh.
"On this anime show, this girl could move stuff with her mind. It was cool."
"Frisk you have your own magical abilities…"
"But not this one."
"And you never will psychokinesis is a monster ability. Their magic is pure enough for one to actually achieve it. And even then, I've only known one type of monster to be able to do it. I guess the fact it was that type, it gave humans hope."
"What monster is it?" Frisk looked at her mom curiously.
"It doesn't matter, they're gone now. We have other bones to work with now..."
"you always have that look on your face..." Sans chuckled bringing her out her thoughts. "you always look like there's something on your mind. your brows furrowed, with the squinty eye thing and your mouth goes in a thin line like whatever it is must be real serious." Frisk blushed, she didn't realize she looked like that. "it's cool kid, just means i need to be a bit more humerus, huh?"
Frisk smiled, trying to not think too much and looked around at all the monsters here. She heard Sans give a hello and was surprised to hear all the monsters call back to him.
He has a lot of friends…
She felt envious that so many knew him, yet special as he led her to the bar.
"Sans, weren't you just here a few minutes ago for breakfast?" A monster laughed.
"nah, it's been half an hour at least since then. you're talking about brunch." Sans winked as the place went into a fit of laughter. She looked over at him, picturing him teleporting to and fro, until correcting herself.
High-level psychokinesis or telekinesis, he's bending the dimension around him, like traveling though the dimension itself…. That creepy in-between is the middle…
Like the place where I get a choice...reset or continue...that void...
"you're doing it again." Sans was looking at her, and she looked down nervously, hearing his laugh. "gonna sit down?"
She gave a nod, quickly making her way to the stool and sitting, a loud farting sound started, and she heard the skeleton laughing.
"Sans!" She tried her best not to laugh with him.
"sorry, you really should watch where you sit." He grinned sitting beside her. "whattya want? i recommend the fries and burgers."
She thought about it, she could honestly eat both right now, but the idea of looking like a pig in front of Sans was not one she wanted. She thought longer about it.
"and you're doing it again."
She looked at him with a sheepish smile, "Sorry, a burger?"
"i like the way you think. yo, grillby, double order of burg." He moved a hand and Frisk noticed he was combing his nonexistent hair, the motion made her laugh as she watched the fire man leave the bar and go to the back.
"so…" Sans was looking away from her, and Frisk wondered what was wrong. "what do you think of paps?"
She stared at him, surprised at the question and wondered where it even came from. He still wasn't really looking at her, and she wasn't sure how to answer that. She knew that Sans thought the world of his brother.
"just you know...do you think he's cool or not…" Sans voice was more a mumble than usual, and Frisk wondered what was going on with the skeleton. He looked back at her, penlight eyes catching her own as she looked away with her cheeks heating up.
"He's...pretty cool, I guess."
"heh. of course, he's cool. have you seen his outfit? i mean he wears the thing everyday, and i guess we should be thankful he washes the thing. even though that's just in the shower." Sans laughed, and Frisk couldn't help but think the joke was a mask for something else.
"Sans?"
"welp, here's the grub." He pointed it out as soon as Grillby came back with the burgers and she saw him take out a huge bottle of ketchup. "want some?"
"No, thanks." She looked away, feeling disappointed that she felt she missed something.
"more for me then." He laughed, turning up the bottle to his mouth and Frisk stared as he emptied it with his mouth closed. She wasn't sure what question to ask first or even what to question first when it came to how skeletons worked.
Can he even open his mouth?
"so, uh, cool or not…" Sans looked away again. "paps does try real hard. like he really wants to join the royal guard, even banged on Undyne's door in the middle of the night" Sans laughed." slammed the door, and all paps did was stay there, so she wakes up, and he's still there. she could see how dedicated he was, and decided to give him warrior's training."
"I can't see him as a warrior…" Frisk let the words slip, and Sans looked over at her, his grin faltered.
"it's...a work in progress. look i um…" Sans fidgeted. "i... wanted to ask you something…"
"Hm?"
Everything seemed to stop, the noise died out around them, and Frisk watched a blue blush spread over Sans. Eyes seemed to be on them, and Sans eyes shifted.
"have you heard of a talking flower?" The question was rushed, and Frisk raised a brow, feeling sure that was not what he was going to initially say.
"I have…." She said slowly.
"so, you know all about echo flowers. that's cool, cuz uh paps was talking with him. it keeps talking back. he says it gives him advice and... even predictions. probably someone playing a trick on my bro, ya know?"
Frisk took a bite of her burger feeling sure of several things, one being that Sans was not this much of an idiot and she was certain he knew about Flowey. This was all a deflection, and she knew it.
But why…
She looked around, seeing everyone pretty much staring and it felt like a spotlight on them. She took a glance at Sans.
"just keep an eye out, okay?" Sans mumbled, and finally, it felt like the eyes were off them, and Frisk couldn't help but smile at the way he was trying to tell her to be careful. She glanced over and was sure she saw his mouth open with the burger in his hand, but soon it was back on the plate.
"so, uh…"
"I will." She said quickly, wondering if she was somehow making him nervous until she felt a gloved hand touch hers as he slid out the stool. She looked at him as he walked.
"jeez, i can't believe how long you kept me out. what would my boss think?" He laughed, and she rolled her eyes at him as she started to move. "anyways, you mind getting the bill? i'm kinda broke."
"SANS!" Her voice came out louder than she meant and she put her hands over her mouth, giving him a look. He seemed to keep knowing how to get her.
"relax, i'm just kidding. grillby can put it on my tab." Sans grin widened at her, and she kept her mouth covered, hiding a smile. She watched him start walking towards the door, and she tilted her head.
"i was gonna say something…" He looked at her, a different kind of smile on his face before he looked away. "too bad i forgot, huh?" He gave a shrug before continuing to walk, right out the door and for a moment Frisk forgot how to move.
What could he…
Does he?
Her eyes widened as she finally rushed out the door, but he was gone. Yet she wasn't sad, she knew she'd see him soon. He was keeping an eye socket on her and even had something special to tell her. It filled her with determination.