The sun is beginning to beat down on our little town as Sans walks me to work. I know, in this weather, the café's going to be at it's busiest. Dread prickles a little at my spine as I think about all the people and all the shouting, but it's hard to be worried when the weather's this nice and Sans' fingers are interlocked with mine.

As we arrive at the café, he kisses my head.

'Meet ya for your lunch break?'

'Cool. It's at 2, like usual.'

'Nice.'

As he walks away, I glance across the street and freeze. I see the thug from a few weeks ago leaning against a wall, playing with a lighter. His eyes are locked on mine, a grim expression on his face. Fear seizes my entire body, and my hands begin to shake. He smirks, turns and walks away.

A warm hand grasps my forearm, and I gasp, nearly jumping out of my skin.

'Woah! It's me, Luce.' Lara is looking at me, eyes full of curiosity. 'What's up? The café's about to open.'

'Don't… don't worry about it. You just made me jump.' I mumble, and her hand slips away.

'Alright, whatever you say. Our shift starts in 5.' She walks off cheerily, beginning to wipe down the tabletops. I shake my head, trying to shake off the chill that's still running up and down my arms. Looking up, I see our boss, Kate, leaning against the counter, frowning at me. She turns to head into her office, beckoning for me to follow. Lara and I exchange a glance.

Kate is a harsh, middle-aged woman. She has problematic views on everything, from homeless people to immigrants. She has a bratty little girl who gets everything she wants, except for affection; and a sleazy husband who never looks higher than my chest. Neither Lara or I like her, and she doesn't like us.

I enter her office, a tiny box of a room, whitewashed and filled with Ikea furniture. No character at all. She gestures to the chair opposite her, giving a false smile.

Sitting nervously, I try to run through the list of things I could have done wrong. I wasn't late. My uniform's spotless. My hands are still shaking.

Kate folds her hands on the desk, sitting forward in her chair, and smiles nastily.

'Lucie.'

Shit shit shit shit

'How long have you been with us?'

'A… month or so?' I say, feeling my body react to the adrenaline that is pumping round my system.

Panic is just hormones. It's just simple biology. Calm. Down.

'Right. So for a month or so, you've done a… frankly mediocre job.'

I shut my eyes.

It's true. You're mediocre. Other people could do better. Now you're going to lose your job and you're so so so behind on rent oh my god

'Recently, I've been hearing some things about you. Disturbing things. And now I've seen it for myself.' She takes a breath, examining her nails. She's enjoying herself.

'Fraternizing… with monsters.' She says delicately, voice sugary sweet.

Oh, fuck no.

'It's… well, frankly, it's wrong, Lucie. Bestiality.'

'They're-' my voice is husky and small. I clear my throat, trying to hold in my anger. 'They're not animals.' She laughs cruelly, finally meeting my eyes.

'I'm sure that's what you, with your little… fetish… keep telling yourself. But that's not the image that this company wants to give off.'

'But… what? That's not… fa-'

'Not fair? Oh sweetie. I don't care. I don't want… your kind… around. So I'm going to write down, on this paperwork I have here, that I'm firing you because of company cutbacks. That's what you'll tell all your friends. That's what you'll tell Lara. But you know, just you, that it's because you're a freak.'

I can't speak. My eyes are stinging with tears.

Freak, freak, freak, freak, freak, freak, freak

'That is all. You can work for the rest of the week, legally, but…' She purses her lips in a malicious smile, clacking her nails against the table. I stand, jolting the chair back, hands shaking uncontrollably.

As I open my mouth to say something, she raises her eyebrows at me. It's the final straw. Turning on my heel, I slam through the door and out of the shop, brushing a concerned Lara off. I run down the street, tears streaming.

Gotta get out gotta get out gotta get out gotta go gotta escape

WHAM.

I slam into someone. Of bloody course, it's Sans.

No no no he can't see you like this

'Luce! Why aren't you- Oh, shit.' He takes in my appearance as I look up at him, eyes swollen, face sodden with tears.

'What happened?! Is it happening again?'

'N-n-no,' I sob. 'I just got fired.' He pauses, then laughs, relieved, and envelops me in a warm hug.

'Oh Jesus, I thought it was something bad. I get fired all the time, kid.' I sniffle into his shoulder.

'N-n-no I can't get f-f-fired… I'm so behind on rent… I'll get kicked out and… h-h-have nowhere to go… and… and…'

'Shhh…' He pulls me closer. 'Let's go somewhere private, so you can calm down.'

He turns to walk the few streets to his house, gently tugging me along behind him.

Handing me a cup of golden flower tea, he sits opposite me on the couch.

'Right, Luce. Tell me about this rent deal.' I sniff.

'I'm so behind. I haven't paid it in like, three months because I don't have any money…'

'Okay. We can deal with that.'

'B…but the landlord's given me a final warning. If I don't pay it back in…' I take a second to control my breaths. 'In two weeks, he'll get bailiffs to come and take all my stuff… either way, I'm getting kicked out.' He runs his hand up and down my left arm comfortingly.

'I'm not gonna be able to pay it back… because I don't have… a job anymore.'

'Yeah, what's with that? Why did they fire you?'

'I…' My breaths speed up, tears welling.

'Woah, woah. Take your time.'

'The owner… saw me with you, and… she thinks it's wrong, and that I'm a freak…'

Anger flashes across Sans' face, and his voice is filled with fury.

'What? You know that's a load of crap, right? You're not a freak.'

I nod frantically.

'Yeah, yeah! I… I do. I just… hate her so much, and I can't do anything…'

'If anyone…' Sans seems infuriated by the injustice. 'If anyone tries to say anything is wrong with you, for being a kind person, ever again…' I look at him.

'Sans, your eye.' It's burning blue: seems to activate whenever he's feeling really passionate. He blinks forcefully, seemingly irritated with himself, and it disappears.

'Look, Luce. I can't fix the fact that there are arseholes in this world that want to make life difficult for people like us. But if you think it'll make it better, then I can pay your rent back, and you can move in here when the landlord kicks you out. We can clear out the office, make you a room.' As his words sink in, I stare at him, eyes wide.

'Sans…'

'You don't have to! No pressure, kid. None at all. Just if it will help.'

'That would be… amazing.' I leap at him, flinging my arms round his neck. He laughs.

'Cool. Move in whenever.' I kiss him hard, before leaning my forehead against his.

'Oh, and Sans?'

'Yup?'

'I'm not a kid.'

*AUTHOR'S NOTE*
Feeling like this was kind of rushed, but oh well.
HMM, WITH SANS AND LUCIE LIVING TOGETHER
WHO KNOWS WHAT KIND OF SINS COULD OCCUR
WINK