Things had gotten very busy. The days cooling down, the plants and trees were changing colors. Corn was getting ready to harvest, some were still struggling to finish up collecting wheat due to all the heavy rain from before. And all the small towns in the area were preparing for Halloween. It wasn't a surprise to you, these towns thrived on the holiday and this season, they took it very seriously. Larger cities weren't exactly safe for little trick-or-treaters, causing parents and families to flock at any and every chance to have a good old fashioned Halloween or even family fun.
And of course they went all out on decorations. Chili-cook offs, hay bail rides, corn mazes, haunted houses. It all attracted tourists which meant more money and another successful year.
But for you, that also meant more work, more money. Keith's family had been struggling with their own harvesting, the ground still too soft for the combine and the tractor to get through. You offered to help, and they gladly appreciated it. Before leaving the house, you've told everyone where you were going.
That's how you ended up with half the household joining.
Going through town just to get to Keiths on the outskirts took too long. Everyone got distracted by the decorations. Undyne shamelessly compared Papyrus to a plastic skeleton hanging on the front of a store's awning. Sans commenting on how it was just hanging around. Papyrus getting excited over jack-o-lanterns was precious, you had to remind yourself to get some pumpkins later on.
Sans seemed to like the scarecrows, thinking they had the best kind of occupation.
"Well actually, they tend to scare people more than the crows."
Undyne barked out laughter, flailing her arms in front of the dummy. "THIS?"
"I mean.. Well. They're kinda creepy? Just hanging out in the middle of nowhere, no signs of life around it. It can be very ominous and scary."
Though the one sitting in the wooden rocking chair wasn't as creepy as the real ones. Fresh straw stuffed into old work clothes with a hat thrown on, just a cheap and easy way to show some Halloween spirit.
She just laughed harder and called you a wienie.
Arriving at Keith's was an adventure all on it's own. His brothers automatically warmed up to Undyne and Papyrus. The combined enthusiasm was blinding. They pumped each other up and sat outside trying to come up with a battle plan. You, Keith's parents and himself, and Sans were tending to the animals and calming talking about what to do. Well, Sans was kind of laying back in a pile of hay with his share of feed piled by his feet. The animals easily maneuvered around him to eat. But you can feel the tension.
Between he and Keith, glances would be exchanged. You knew Keith didn't have a problem with Monsters, and you were positive he didn't fear them. You kept a watchful eye.
It was nearing noon, hopefully the sun would dry and harden the ground soon. But in the meantime, you were showing the ropes on how to prepare the machinery. Scaling the combine's and tractor with attached grain cart with ease. It was important to have everything clean, inside and out to prevent any complications with visibility or something getting hung or clogged. Undyne made it into a contest on who can clean the fastest, though you were sure you beat them, you didn't say anything.
And Sans?
You looked over to the tractor.
He was laid back in the seat, his legs propped up on the railing of the opened door. From this distance, it would seem his eyes were closed and that he was napping. But a little peek from his perspective told you his eyes were on Keith, and from what you could see, Keith was doing the same to him.
You turned your head back to the field. From this high up you could see the trouble spots and catalogued it into your mind and swiftly made your way down.
"So what do ya think?"
Oh, Keith had already made his way to you, phone in hand and offered to you. You analyzed the contents of the screen and handed it back.
"I believe if the temperature and wind stay like this, we can start in an hour or so? Though it depends on how moist the mud is right now."
He nodded in agreement, tucked his phone in his back pocket, and looked back up at you a little tense. Looking over his shoulder, you see a lazy Sans slightly closer. You narrowed your eyes. He still can't be jealous right?
You may need to shield Keith for a bit.
"Anyway, how have you been?"
Momentarily distracted, he looked relieved. "Yea, things been going well. We're fully prepared for the animal expo too. Yah know they're doing the amature contests again."
"Well I don't really have a pet. I don't think I can enter a Monster dog anyway."
"Yah talking about the dripping one or one of the other ones that go crazy over petting?"
"The other, I think it'd also be offensive? They are sentient."
"True."
Looking over his shoulder again, it seemed Sans had tried to sneak closer but got caught by Papyrus who was pointing out the lack of work Sans did on the tractor and showing him the proper way of cleaning it
"Hey (R/N)?"
Turning your attention back to Keith and notice he was watching the brothers as well.
"Is that really your boyfriend?"
"Pretty much, though you can say he's my bone-friend."
You shot him some finger guns and he chuckled.
"I remember.. on TV you said you were soul mates? Does that mean y'all were made for each other?"
You frowned, dropping his southern accent meant serious business. The whole soul mate thing was still pretty new to you, but you did have a basic understanding. Sighing, you clasped your hand together behind yourself and watched Undyne pretend to drive the tractor with Papyrus posing on the roof, his cape flapping in the wind and Sans watching mirthfully.
"No one is made for each other. But, I believe we were destined to meet one way or another. Our SOULs choosing one another to complete each other in a way that I can't describe. He benefits from me as I do from him."
That didn't really make sense. He didn't look convinced either.
"I haven't really told a lot of people, most of the Monster's know due to being able to read SOULs but, whatever is connecting us is so strong that we were able to speak to each other while he was under the mountain."
"H-how long?"
The expression on his face was full of surprise and hurt.
"Oh shit no no no, don't think that! I didn't know about being his soul mate till a little bit before the barrier broke! Before that I thought I had unconsciously created a voice in my head!"
He visibly calmed down until his eyes widened in thought.
"That's why you were gone…"
You grimaced. Only few knew that you had previously admitted yourself for psychiatric help, those being your parents and Sans. You rubbed your arm in embarrassment, you had really thought there was something wrong with you in the past. You had this endless feeling of abandonment and loss that had you thinking you created Sans to keep you company during your exploration of being a responsible adult.
Keith had this new expression on his face that you'd never seen before. Anger. You pat a hand onto his shoulder, but all he did was clench and unclench his fists. "He never told you. He.. he let you admit yourself."
"Well not really…"
"Is that why your working all the time? You were there for a long time! Your still trying to pay off that bill aren't you!"
"No!"
Yes. You were.
"Keith, Keith, look at me. Calm down. Let me talk."
He finally tore his eyes away from Sans, his brows were furrowed and his stance relaxed.
"Okay now stay chill for a moment. He didn't tell me because there wasn't any hope of us ever meeting. He and his brother, his friends, his species was TRAPPED under a mountain because people were scared of them. There was no way for us to actually meet. But trust me, he did try to talk me out of admitting myself. And okay, I lied, I'm still paying off my bills. But they're almost done. Look, so many good things have happened since I was able to meet Sans. I'm.. happy. Legitimately happy. Every day is a new adventure, I'm not stuck into a routine."
Keith rubbed a palm against his face and smiled at you.
"I never had a chance huh?"
You didn't know what to say. You couldn't tell him that, yea he had a chance when no he didn't. Your SOUL just wouldn't allow you to have any romantic feelings with anyone other than Sans. That's why you struggled in relationships for so many years, why so many "friendships" fell, why you couldn't be serious on that first date with Keith. But your thoughts may have left an impression on your face, because Keith nodded, understanding. He looked at the time on his phone and sighed, slipped on some work gloves and looked back up at you. "If he's good for yah, then so be it. But if y'all are in this, he can't hide things from you. This sounds like something you can't simply walk away from like normal relationships."
You cocked your head to the side. "What do you mean hide things from me?"
Keith pulled out a spare pair of gloves and handed them to you. "Just think, how long did it take for him to tell you about being your soul mate? Okay, now think about the explanation of what it means for the both of you. Did he tell you everything you needed to know? Now put that to the side. What do you know about him? Other than him having a brother? His past? What does he know about you?"
It took you a minute, or two. Maybe more than that. You knew he was a total nerd… He lived in Snowdin… He use to work a lot of jobs. But he practically knew everything about you from years of watching you through your eyes before alerting you of his existence. "I.. I don't think that really matters.. Maybe his past wasn't a good one? I don't want to dig into it and bring up bad memories."
"If that's what you want. But he's holding a lot of baggage, it's normally better to let it all out other than letting it build up." He jerked his head into Sans' direction. "Watch him closely when we start up the combines. You can teach him to run the tractor, easiest job, and while we're collectin' watch him drop his guard."
With that said, he jogged up to the tractor, pointing at you and Sans, and motioning Papyrus and Undyne to follow him to his brothers and the other two combines. You reached to tractor and hauled your weight up the outside step, Sans already leaning back in the seat. You showed him how to turn it on and what levers did what, you even had him do a test drive. He asked you what Keith was bugging you about, his grin tense at the edges and you smiled.
"Just monitoring the weather before we actually started."
He relaxed and booped his teeth against your cheek. You eyed him up and down and grinned, "Hey. Maybe next time we can dress you up properly?" You try to send a mental image of Sans in some working gear similar to yours. A breezy button up (you wore a tank top under yours), thick blue jeans, and some boots. Though you could picture him being old fashioned with a straw of wheat hanging from his teeth and a worn sun hat. He must have received the image, if his boisterous laughter was a clue at all, and you laughed with him. Of course it was a silly image but damn, you wanted to see him in different outfits now. Oh the possibilities.
The c.b. radio crackles on, causing Sans to jerk in surprise. His eye blazing blue and an arm slung out straight in front of you. You gasped in surprise by the sudden movement and place your hand on his arm, slowly lowering it and grabbing the c.b. The small sound of static causing him to jump again after pressing the microphone button, you stared at him in confusion. You'd never see him act like this. Without replying, you release the button and reach over to turn down the volume.
"Are you okay?"
Sans blinks a few times, the plumes of magic fading and his eyelights returned to their normal little pinpricks. "yeah." That didn't sound okay. Was he scared of static? "Do you.. Not like that noise?" Sans shook his head, "it kinda hurts my head." A lie. You actually felt that one. The trembling in your SOUL told you something was related to that sound but you couldn't remember what. You didn't want to leave him out here like this, but you needed to be on the combine just in case it gets stuck.
"Are you going to be okay in the tractor? I can disconnect the c.b. And leave you my phone."
His grin softened and he knew, he could feel that you were worried and he nodded. "i'll be fine." The radio crackles again and you answered, everyone was ready to head out and you motioned for Sans to start up the tractor.
The ground was solid and dry, so you kissed Sans on the forehead and ran up to the hanging ladder of Keiths slowly moving machine. Sans honestly had the easiest job, he literally just had to sit there until the grain cart was full, dump it in the silo, and park to get filled up again. Every time the two of you passed, he seemed to be eyeing the shadows between the cart and his seat, his shoulders tense and eye lights tiny. Sometimes his body would move as if speaking to someone, but due to not having to open his mouth to speak you weren't sure.
But the moment you tried to push yourself onto his side, you were blocked. He was denying you access.
On the way home, you made sure to buy plenty of pumpkins with your pay. Keith tried to shove extra money into your hands and you refused. You'd been doing fine without free handouts, but he did get you a discount on the pumpkins by simply calling up the owner and pulling in a favor. Papyrus was animatedly reenacting his experience on his "FIRST HUMAN FIELD JOB", Undyne was gloating about riding on the top of the combine she had ridden on. And it showed, she was caked with dust and dirt. Despite the sharp teeth, she'd look like a normal human with that skin tone. You glanced at Sans, he finally looked at ease.
Frisk was completely excited about the pumpkins, after you revealed the activity everyone would be doing later on. Toriel beamed when you showed her the extra pumpkins you bought for baking a pie, but when her eyes landed on Undyne she demanded everyone wash up before dinner.
You didn't really like spending time in the bedroom anymore, you tended to avoid it until it was bedtime. That globby Monster thing, was just so.. Sassy. He was a huge smart-ass and had refused to give you his name yet. It was like he lacked the ability to feel guilty or remorse for some of the things he pointed out. Literally, he only spoke with his hands now after giving up leaving you messages on sticky notes (he probably snatched them from Papyrus' side).
You had confronted him in the attempt to apologise for calling him creepy, but that snarky asshole apparently holds grudges. You asked him if he'd been speaking to Papyrus' regularly and he signed "Now now, you shouldn't stick your nose into places it doesn't belong." and flicked your nose. While you slept, he'd tuck Sans in, which was sweet, but he'd snatch up your share to tuck him in with, which made you want to punch him in the cracked face.
No seriously, you've never been this aggravated with someone before. You were positive that now you knew of his existence, he was going to get revenge for calling him creepy. Or he enjoyed getting a rise out of you. What was worse was he made it apparent that he could come and go as he pleased, he was a being that lived in between realities. Whatever the hell that meant.
But he did reveal that he was a doctor, and to refer to him as such and you snorted. "Okay Dr. Buttface." You remember the way his face flushed purple in anger for throwing his title around like that, "What? You act like an ass and your face has the biggest plumbers crack I've seen." That was the best jab you'd ever said and you were proud of that moment until he literally shoved you out of the room and locked the door. As long he didn't get dangerously physical with you, you wouldn't with him, though you doubted you could.
After dinner everyone set up to carve pumpkins. Though you refused to let anyone use large sharp pointy objects, especially Undyne, so you passed out carving kits. Each came with the proper tools AND stencil sheets, though no one used them.
Flowey looked absolutely horrified as everyone emptied the insides of their pumpkins, at this point is when Sans decided to join in and fling slimy seeds at him. You had to chastise him a few times, but after hollowing out his pumpkin he stopped for a nap break. Frisk had done a traditional happy jack-o-lantern. Alphys had printed off her own stencil of Mew Mew Kissy Cutie and was coming along nicely. Undynes… You were a bit worried for it. She had punched it a few times and stuck some of her spears in it. She was onto something, but you wouldn't know until the lights went out. Papyrus' was a perfect carving of his face. How did he manage that? Not only did he hollow it out for a candle, but delicately carved thin layers for perfect shadowing. He also added glitter. You hoped it wouldn't set the pumpkin aflame.
Toriel and Asgore helped each other collect the seeds from everyone's mess and scraped the insides of their own with the intentions of making pumpkin spice foods. Tis the season, but of course they probably saw it on the internet. You hoped they wouldn't succumb to the addiction of the seasonal treat. But.. Those soft smiles they gave each other as they spoke calmly. You were happy that things were easing up between them.
Everyone carried their creation outside, you dropped in a few candles and lo and behold. They were proud of the ending results of their hard work, and you were still kind of scared of Undynes. It looked like it was going to punch you, or throw a spear. Or both. The spears gave it a unique glow that grabbed your attention, and once your eyes landed on it you wanted to flinch from a blow that wouldn't come. At least you wouldn't have to worry about kids bashing in the pumpkins.
Before going to bed you had made a habit to hang out with Frisk and on occasion, Chara. Though tonight, it seemed Chara was especially talkative.
"Hey."
"Hmmm?"
You looked up into red eyes.
"I want to cut a pumpkin too."
You thought for a moment. There was that one Sans had cleaned out, but it was too late to get sticky and messy again.
"Tomorrow."
"I want to do it now."
They huffed and crossed their arms, not a very pleasant look on Frisk's face.
"Tomorrow isn't going anywhere, and neither is the pumpkin. Just think of it this way, yours will last a day longer than the others if you wait."
They frowned and mumbled a 'Fine.'. Flowey cackled and Chara sent a glare into his direction, causing him to get louder.
"Anyway, why have you been hanging in here so often? Tired of fighting with the doctor?"
You shot up into a sitting position, the movement causing your spine to pop in a few places and you lurched forward to grab Frisk's shoulders to catch Chara's attention. "You know he's in there? You know he's in there! Can you talk to him?"
"Pff. Of course I can! But why would I want to?"
"Because you love me?"
Chara laughed and pushed your hands off. "Wrong kind of LOVE."
"Come on please? I tried being nice but he's so - UGH!"
"Well duh stupid."
You turned back to Flowey, who's smirk formed into a menacing grin. "That's what skeletons do. They push your buttons." Your eyes narrowed in thought, the statement was sorta true when it came to Sans, but not Papyrus. But technically at the beginning he did when he set out traps for you. So was it a skeleton thing? Chara brought your attention back to them by pinching the thin layer of skin atop your hand.
"I'll talk to him on one condition."
"Okay?"
"You owe me a favor at a later date. You can't back out or anything. Understand?"
You eyebrows quirk up in curiosity. "I get to make a total of three rules. No matter what the favor is." Yea. Three should be enough. Chara seemed to be the type of kid to take advantage of anything given to them for free. Flowey seemed shocked with how compliant you were being and Chara's grin was getting creeper by the second. You shook their hand and bid all three good night (whether Frisk could hear you or not, you didn't know, but you felt the need to tell them good night just in case) and went to your own room.
Papyrus was already asleep, Sans' slippers were thrown on his side so he must be finishing up whatever sciencey thing he was doing. You crawled onto your side and got comfortable.
There was a light scratching coming from the middle of the room. You knew who it was and you weren't going to give him the chance.
Nope.
Something gets flung onto your face and you snatch it off. In your hand laid one of Sans' socks. Man, fuck this glob. If that's how he's gunna play then fine. The scratching stopped and you looked up at the top of the shutter, they were signing and you groaned in irritation.
Who the fuck even says 'Get dunked on' anymore?