The In-between
You were quiet, sitting in front of a mirror as you painstakingly painted a new face over your own. Your favorite fall holiday was upon you, and you only had two hours before you and Sans were supposed to meet everybody else.
You waved your hand in front of your face, fanning your makeup dry as you reached for the next color. You had a picture for reference, but you always worried that you were going to get something wrong. The stark white face stared back from the mirror as you unscrewed the jar and picked up your next brush. Grey was painted on in a wide swath on your cheek from the end of your chin up to just under your eye.
"SANS! OIII! I need help!"
The short skeleton wandered in as you were pulling out a large brush and jar, looking vaguely amused, as you drew in another breath to shout for him again.
"What's up, kid?"
You smile and shove the items into his hand and pull your hair up into a clip and turn your back to him.
"Get the back of my neck. You can see better than I can, and then I can finish that. Might need help with my costume too, when I get to it."
The short skeleton laughed when you jumped when the brush hit your neck, then laughed harder when you scolded him for not warning you that he was starting. Liquid makeup was cold, you said, and you didn't like sudden cold.
When it was finished, you thanked him and took back your supplies, telling him to be sure that he was ready to go soon. You wanted to get there a little early to help your friends set up, and make sure that your human friends and monster friends were all having an easy time getting everything started.
Sans watched you quickly paint the front of your neck before drawing thin black lines on the grey areas, then a few dots over a carefully redrawn eyebrow. He stood there for a bit, waiting for you to see he was still there, wondering if you would jump. You usually did when you were busy with something. You had a bit of tunnel vision when you got going on something, and it was him who usually reminded you that you had to eat and sleep.
Finally, you painted your upper lip pink and pulled a wig over your hair, giving yourself shorter dark hair that was carefully shaped instead of your usual longer unkempt arrangement. When you were adjusting it, he smiled when he saw your eyes finally fix on him through the mirror.
"You going to stand there, or get ready, bonehead?"
The skeleton shrugged and smiled, amused when you huffed and stood, pulling off the bathrobe that protected the tight-fitting shirt and pants you wore. At your mock glare, he turned on his heel and walked to the closet. His costume was in there, as were the other parts of yours. He never understood the point of dressing up like this, but it made you happy so...
Soon you were both completely changed and walking to the apartment Undyne shared with Alphys. You would ride with them from there, provided that they were ready, of course.
Sans caught you when you stumbled, unused to the high heels you wore.
"Told you that Mettaton was a bad idea. You are going to break your neck in those."
You smile and get your balance back, hanging onto the bony hand and taking a few careful steps. Maybe the shoes were a bit much, but you knew that the robot would love it.
"Worth it. The look on your brother's face is going to be priceless."
"Paps is gonna blow a-" he tapped the chest-plate you had made, indicating the light in it "fuse when he sees it."
"Aw, boooo. That was bad."
You tugged the scarf he wore, grinning like a fool. You had decided on costumes this year, since Sans had done it last year and you did not want a repeat of skeleton and human. That was unimaginative and boring.
"By the way, you are the shortest version of Papyrus I have ever seen."
"And you are the shortest Mettaton. And clumsiest."
"I was not made for heels."
You both laugh, and are met outside by Alphys and Undyne. The first in a character costume of one of her shows, the second in her old armor. You all were smiling as you get in the car. Suddenly, you turned and looked at Sans, but something was wrong. Your makeup was gone, and you were thin and ragged. Your lips were an ugly purple and thin, your eyes sunken into their sockets...
"This was fun, Sans."
…...
Sans sat up in bed, gasping. He looked around, confused.
"Frisk? Kid?"
You were nowhere. He remembered suddenly that you would never be back, and for the first time in the week since you passed, he let the tears fall. He wished he had the power you once had...
He wished there was some way to bring you back...
Next one will be happy, I promise...
