The rest of the day seems to pass by slowly, but it's not long until you're back in your bed staring at your laptop screen. You're watching some random movie, long forgotten in the back of your head, as you try to recall the events of the day.
Everyone typically stayed quiet, a few words were spoken between the four of you but nothing too dramatic or even casual. It was agonizingly silent and you kept wondering to yourself if you'd said something, or even did anything, wrong.
You'd just apologized to Sans for being an idiot... You didn't really have it in you to do it again. But you'd apologize to him a million times again and again if he'd smile for you.
He was solemn most of the day, keeping to himself. Unusually unlike the small skeleton, that was for certain. Not a pun or a joke was in store for anyone, not even a small tease to Undyne.
Was he worried about you?
Your brain would automatically go to the answer "No!" in any other case, but... The gentle squeezes he gave you throughout the police's questioning, the warm hug he gave you when he transported you home... You couldn't forget it.
Sans was worried about you.
Vivian called the police once she returned back to the bookstore, handing you a vintage top with a nice floral pattern. You put it on slowly, being careful of your wound, as everyone else turned around to give you their privacy. It was cute how Sans's face was blue when you handed him back his fluffy jacket.
The police came in a matter of minutes and were quite surprisingly understanding. They weren't even off put by seeing Sans and Undyne in the store with you. They asked you all quite a few questions, requested to see your bullet wound, and went on their merry way. You were quite pleased to say that they did seem very, very dead set on finding the culprits.
Thinking about your wound, it was awful to think that you couldn't sleep on that side tonight. You were used to it and you silently begged yourself not to turn over whilst sleeping. It'd be a pain to take care of, that was for certain.
The police recommended to take medication when it hurt, to rebandage it at least every two days, and to go to a doctor immediately if it was infected. All reasonable advice.
After they left, and despite how nice they were, you all let out a collective sigh when they finally were gone.
Vivian had to go soon after, but made you promise her that you'd call her and hang out with her again soon. And, hopefully, there wouldn't be anything dramatic this time. (No offense!) You happily agreed to her.
Sans and Undyne wanted you to go home earlier but you were stubborn as a boulder. You had just barely came home from a "personal" vacation and you didn't want to take another one unless necessary. Undyne called you an idiot but Sans didn't comment on it, not a single word.
Despite it all, it was your store, and you stayed the entire day. Being almost four when you finally opened up shop, it wasn't like it'd be a long time working. Some people came in and asked about the events of earlier and, honestly, it was a little fun to talk about it. Undyne warmed up and joked along with you as well.
It was still a bit tense, but you tried to push away the feelings of dread and almost succeeded.
Sans left for work after you opened up but quickly returned once you were about to leave. He didn't say much, just as he had been earlier that day, but transported you back home. You tried to thank the skeleton but the time you had opened up your mouth, Sans had already left.
So maybe this is why you were in this situation.
Completely unsure of what to say or do. You thought of apologizing to Sans, for anything stupid you might've done, but you weren't going to apologize for getting shot. He hadn't noticed that damned gun and... And... And. Well. It could've gone off much worse than a simple graze in your shoulder.
You'd take in all the pain if it meant no one else would've.
All in all, maybe that was your hamartia. Your fatal flaw.
You wish you could take all the burden of the sadness of the world. Of the cruelty that humanity has shown your monster friends. Even the burden that weighs on your father's shoulders... You'd bear it all, if it meant you could see them smile. Even see Vivian smile.
Something in you had changed.
You weren't fixed, that was blatantly obvious, but you weren't broken anymore. You remembered being a shy, sheltered adult cooped up in your small bookstore but now... Now you had friends, a best friend, a skeleton who wanted to kiss you? Oh god, it seemed like too much.
Despite it, you couldn't shake off the smile that started to consume your face.
Yeah, life was shit right now and you were likely not even close to being finished with those adolescents but. Weren't those pompous teenagers just trying to get a raise out of someone?
Maybe they'd leave you alone once they realize you have the police on your side. (Hell yeah!)
You sighed and leaned into your hardwood bed frame slowly, unwilling to bang your head on it for the umpteenth time.
You were oddly joyful, yeah, but you were knowingly exhausted. Were you allowed to go to sleep yet? Eh... Whatever. You hadn't taken off your pants, and the vintage shirt Vivian handed you, yet.
Suddenly, your phone ringed.
You didn't really bother to check the caller.
"Hello?" you said tiredly, trying to conceal a yawn within your arm.
"hey, kiddo," Sans's voice filled your ear, his musky voice sounding unusually awake, "how you feeling?"
You smiled, "I'm okay, a bit banged up but alright."
Sans paused before slowly chuckling, "even when you scare the living hell out of us... still can manage to make a joke, huh?"
"Sans-"
"im impressed though," Sans sighed, "it's what i would do in your situation anyways."
"Look, Sansy," the nickname slipped, "I'm sorry I worried you, and Undyne, and Vivian... I didn't mean to, I swear to god. I just did what I needed to, alright? I saw you guys-"
"and you ran into save us," Sans finished for you, "i respect you for that, _. there's not even a lot of monsters that'd do that."
"i just-" Sans voice broke and you sat up in alarm, "i worry about you, okay? i know you don't want to have a relationship with me and that's okay, and i know that you're an adult like i am and that you can take care of yourself, but fuck."
"you're doing an awful job of it," Sans said softly, "an awful, awful job. i hate to get so boneheaded about it, but i lo-"
"look."
"you potentially saved me and undyne's life today and i will never be able to repay you for that," Sans shakily said, "but we might not be able to save yours if you keep doing shit like that."
"Sans, honey," you felt like crying, "I didn't mean to worry you. I'm okay, I'll be okay, and I promise I'll go to the hospital if anything else happens to it."
Sans heavy breathing stopped you from saying anymore, "i asked you to do something for me if we called the cops, remembered? and you agreed to it."
You nodded even though the skeleton couldn't see it, "I remember. Anything, Sans."
"move in with me."
"What?"
"it doesn't have to be for long, okay? you don't have to pay for rent or anything, papyrus would love to see you everyday especially since he's missed seeing you at his cafe lately, you can bring all of your cute books, and we'll cook you dinner. i hope you like spaghetti."
"Sans, wait, why are you asking this?"
"i want you to be with us, with someone who can protect you, until those kids get captured. you can even see more of frisk and tori and undyne and alphys because we all live kinda close. and it means no more long subway rides because-"
You took a second to breathe, "I don't understand."
"you can see your counselor too, i think the clinic is closer to us anyways here. please, _, just say yes. you've got me all hot and bonely over here," Sans chuckled, "god, that last one didn't make any sense."
You bit your lip, "I-"
"we have a spare bedroom so if you just need a day to yourself, paps and i can leave you alone-"
"Sans!" you sighed dramatically, "Look, I haven't even said anything yet, you dork. I'm just... You guys can't protect me all the time, you know that? Sans, have you even talked to Papyrus about it?"
"i know we can't, but you don't know how many nightmares you'll save me if you just say yes. and papyrus doesn't know yet but that's because he'll get too excited and i wanted you to say yes first. so say yes, _?"
You laughed softly, "I don't know, Sans. I need to know what'll happen if I say no."
"no spaghetti for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
"Oh, damn. I guess I'd better say yes then."
Sans let out a huge sigh of relief, "oh god, thank you. thank you, oh my god. thank you!"
"I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"i, uh," Sans sounded nervous, "can i come see you?"
You blinked.
"Right now?"
"yeah, right now."
"Why? I mean you can, but-"
And as quickly as you said it, the call was hung up and there was a skeleton less than a foot away from your bed.
He looked flushed, his face tinted blue, and his jacket askew. You opened your mouth to ask what's wrong but he quickly embraced your fragile body.
"Sans?" Oh god, he smelt like his cologne.
He squeezed you softly, "you're okay, you're okay. we're okay, right?"
You nodded and moved over slowly to make room for Sans in your tiny bed.
He didn't let go of you but instead clung onto your waist as you pulled him carefully to give you both more room. Sans was to the side of you, face buried on your collarbone, and you put your good arm to hug him back.
"Are you okay, Sans?" You said after a minute, rubbing slow circles on his back.
"no."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"not really."
You smiled softly and giggled.
"I feel like this is more than just a friendship at this point, Sansy."
He made a sound of approval as he clung onto your form tighter.
"We're kind of like friends with benefits, you know? Except without the whole sex thing."
Sans's face went noticeably blue when you said that.
"maybe instead of sex, we can cuddle. sound good?"
You snorted loudly as Sans's finally started to genuinely laugh back with you.
God, you two were so weird.
