A Villainous Company

by Revharem

The mountain range known as Mt Ebbott no longer held monsters Underground. Now among the humans they must find jobs. UnderFell Papyrus and Undertale Sans find themselves employed by the villainous (and horny) group known as Black Hat Inc.

24. Nightmare

Flug woke up feeling suffocated. Blinking open his eyes he made out the brown paper of a paper bag. He must have put it on in the night for some comfort. Yanking it off Flug scrubbed at his face crawling out of bed. Reaching into the closet he frowned when his fingers felt rough lab coats and not soft stollen blue jackets. Looking inside confirmed that he was missing Sans's jacket. Looking around his messy bedroom gave the same conclusion, no jacket. Frowning Flug decided he would have to ask Demencia on if she stole it. It had been about a week without his mate and Flug had become lonely for company.

"Maybe the Lust brothers are free again? Or the Gaster gang?" Pulling out his phone Flug frown at the lack of contacts. None of the numbers were there. "Gah! Demencia is gonna pay." Growling Flug made his way to the girl's room, ready to get his things back. She had been doing so good recently too! Banging on her door Flug tapped his foot growing more and more pissed.

Opening her door, Demencia grumbles scrubbing her face before her jaw dropped in shock. "Flug?!"

Huffing Flug pushed past her looking around her room. "Where is it? I know you took it! Just give it back."

"I didn't take anything."

Flug rounded on her. "Where's my jacket! I know you have it!"

Shrinking into herself, Demencia whimpered "I don't know what you're talking about, Flug… you're scaring me."

Blinking in shock Flug huffed, pushing past her. Maybe he left it in the lab. "Whatever just don't go in my lab." He was halfway there when Black Hat phased through the wall snarling.

"Flug why aren't you working?! I don't let you live to slack off on your job!"

"Jefecito, I'm looking for my jacket. I'll get to work in a bit. I have all of this week's orders done anyway." Flug offered continuing to walk to the lab.

Slamming Flug into a wall Black Hat hissed. "You think you can talk that way to me? I think the pit is calling your name, Flug."

Shivering Flug shook his head. "N-no sir! I'm getting to work right away."

Black Hat released him pleased. "Good. I don't want to see you leave that lab today."

"Y-yes sir." Black Hat was almost like his old self when he was hormonal. Flug was definitely going to talk to Fell about that. Sans wouldn't like Black Hat taking his anger out on him.

As Black Hat phased back through the wall Flug sighed walking to the lab. Opening the door he froze. The lab tables were gone. Everything was gone! It was a mess of tools and projects, but none of Sans's lab changes were there. Frantically looking around he saw only old experiments and projects.

Flug stopped suddenly, slowly turning to a broken glass that made up a device. His face was scared. How was it scared when Sugar Plum had healed him!? His hand slapped at his neck and met no bite mark. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he frantically cried through a bond he couldn't feel anymore. "SANS! SANS PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!" Everything was gone. Everything in his life that Sans had done for him was gone. Sans was gone.

Flug collapsed to the floor sobbing out and beating his fist against the floor in despair. How?! Was it the kid? It couldn't be since Black Hat killed them, but maybe they got one last reset? Flug gave a broken sob. He felt so lost without Sans.

Phasing through the wall Black Hat growled "I thought I told you to work?"

Jolting Flug sniffled latching onto Black Hat's waist. "Is Fell gone too? Oh Stars! Your clutch! Oh Black Hat do you still have your clutch?!" Flug almost frantically tugged at Black Hat's clothing to see if the eggs were still there.

Jolting back surprised, Black Hat shoved Flug away. "What are you blathering about? I don't have a clutch! I haven't had one for years! Who is this Fell? Who are you missing?"

Sobbing out Flug collapsed onto the floor. "No… No no nonono. They are all gone! Sans, Fell, your clutch, the Gaster gang! All of them are gone."

Frozen Black Hat snarled yanking Flug up by his collar. "Where did you hear that name? How do you know Gaster!"

Whimpering Flug pulled at the claw holding him up. "He's my mate's dad! Sans's dad! He is in the Void."

Blinking confused Black Hat looked at Flug. "You, have a mate? You? My scientist that never leaves the lab, has a mate?"

Flug squawked smacking him "Hey! I do! Well did… He's gone. I don't know what happened. It's like he was never here. Like none of them were here. You have a mate too, Fell. You were going to have a clutch with him… Now it's all gone."

"I have a mate? Why would I get a mate?" Black Hat huffed sitting Flug down easily going along with Flug's rambling. He at least had some merit with him knowing about Gaster, but parts just sounded like a confusing dream.

Nodding glad Black Hat didn't just think he was crazy Flug continued. "Y-yeah! You have a mate. You hired Fell when monsters came from the Underground. You hired Fell and Sans. We both hit it off with each skeleton and mated. I-I just don't understand how all of it's gone… You killed the kid that was messing with time in the Underground!"

"How do you know about the Underground? No monsters have been outside of it since they've been trapped down there. I made sure of that." Black Hat narrowed his eye at Flug. "How much do you know about these monsters?"

Blinking Flug's eyes went wide. "W-wait they are still trapped underground?! We have to save them! Black Hat we have to get them out!"

"Why? I trapped them down there for a reason. I'm not about to bust them out. My… That man is down there and I intend to let him rot!"

Huffing Flug stood up pushing against Black Hat chest. "My mate is down there fending for his life! I am not going to abandon him! I don't care if you don't remember your mate or your clutch with him, but I'm going to break that barrier and get back my mate!"

Blinking Black Hat chuckled before backhanding Flug to the floor. "Shut your mouth. You are pathetic in thinking a puny human like you could break the barrier."

Clutching his cheek Flug looked up to Black Hat his eyes filled with tears muttering, "You were nicer when someone actually loved you."

Black Hat stepped back as if slapped himself. Blinking away the shock and feelings, Black Hat growled yanking Flug up by his hair. "Fine I'll help you with your little barrier. After that I'm going to watch you go begging for someone who left you all alone. You will come crawling back to me. You always will, Flug. I own you."

Flug smirked. "Hey, if you're lucky Gaster might still be down there. Then you can knock him around for leaving you."

"He didn't leave me! I left him!" Black Hat snarled tossing Flug away, sending him crashing into a table.

"Okay! But at least you know you have a strong mate just waiting in the Fell sector for you to sweep him off his feet." Flug chuckled standing only to be smacked with a tentacle by a bushing Black Hat.

"I'm not sweeping anyone off their feet. I am merely going down there so you don't end up getting killed, forcing me to find a new scientist. That would be so much paperwork."

Snorting Flug nodded standing up again. "I agree sir. Can we go now? I really want to see Sans. It's hard not being able to feel our bond after being without him for a week. He left to get some work done and then disa… disappeared from my life! Oh stars he's in the Void! No!" Flug started sobbing anew. His poor mate got trapped in the Void. Gasping Flug tugged on his hair. "Trash tornado! If I can get my phone into the trash tornado I should be able to get ahold of him again and figure out a way to get him back. Come on, I need to have this barrier broken like yesterday!" Flug tugged Black Hat, rushing out of the lab.

Shaking his head at Flug's rambling Black Hat phased them in front of the barrier. "Here we are. The all mighty barrier." Staring at it, Flug bit his lip reaching out to touch it only to fall through as Black Hat pushed him. "Hurry up I don't have all day… Well I do, but I would rather be spending it elsewhere."

Flug stumbled through the entrance and, after a brief treck through a cave, looked around in awe when they came upon a throne room. Blinking at the massive garden and huge throne. Flug carefully stepped around each flower.

Black Hat followed, frowning at the flowers not caring to step on them. "Disgusting."

From beyond the throne, seemingly from its shadow a large hunched figure hummed and shifted through the blossoms. His form was indistinct, but the giant horns that curved up from his head certainly looked fearsome enough. Against the side of the throne rested a large trident with a strange crest impressed on the metal.

Black Hat growled, his tentacles forming at the possibility of an enemy. "Be careful Flug."

Nodding Flug crept forward. "Um, hello?"

Turning and assuming his full height, surprised, Asgore blinked owlishly for several seconds before his eyes became sad as he looked at Flug and shook his head. "Poor child. You should have left while you could. I can't afford to let you leave. We need Souls. I am sorry, dear child." The trident disappeared from where it had rested beside the throne, reappearing in the king's paw, now glowing vibrantly with fire flickering at each of its sharp points.

Shaking Flug stumbled back falling to the floor. "W-wait!"

His form rippling, Black Hat growled stepping in front of Flug. "You dare threaten what is mine!"

Tears already stained the white fur around the king's eyes as he started to explain, "You don't understand. We need their So- You…" Instantly Asgore stepped back. "No, it can't be." Instantly his grip on the trident disappeared and he took off, a giant mass of silky fur waddling speedily towards the opposite side of the room, a phone already pulled out and to his ear as he fled.

Flug sighed relaxing as the monster fled. "Thank you boss."

Huffing, Black Hat tugged Flug to his feet. "We are already causing trouble."

Grumbling as his phone rang, the tall scientist much further below ground picked it up. "Hello Asgore. I'm sorry that I couldn't make it for the picnic today, but we are in the middle of a breakthrough here. I can't really stay on the phone."

"The one who put us down here has invaded with a human. Gaster, I don't know what you've been working on, but we need help and now." Asgore sobbed into the receiver, hiding in the room with the Souls, hoping he wouldn't have to fend the dangerous demon off. They had spent almost four hundred years collecting these five Souls.

Gaster hummed. "I have a few more tests to run, then I'll be up. My project just may be enough. Reach out to the other sectors as well, they will need to be alerted." He hung up before rebreaking several of Sans's bones and injecting bits of human Soul into the marrow stream to increase his test subject's magic before forcing them back together and wrapping them. He didn't bother with healing before releasing the restraints and letting Sans fall to the floor. "Get up. You have work to do."

Gulping Flug tugged at the bottom of his shirt. As they walked through the throne room. "Black Hat I'm not so sure about this now… I don't want to fight anyone."

Shaking his head Black Hat huffed. "Weakling. I will be doing all the fighting you just show me to your mate."

Sans barely held back the whimpers as he was forced to stand on legs broken in he didn't know how many places as the human's Soul tried to rip his body apart. His father's heavy hand grabbed his shoulder as his voice coldly told him their destination. "The antechamber Sans. We have another human and an extra guest came with them this time. Let's see if you can beat them both."

Sans didn't bother nodding. It was a waste of the energy he had, so he just teleported them to the Judgement Hall as he dubbed it, wishing only for rest. He kept his eyes down, trying not to see the marrow bleeding out through the bandages around his legs.

Walking to the doorway Flug gasped at the sound of Sans's teleporting. "Sans!" Running into the hallway Flug choked at seeing his mates state. "Sans…."

Groaning Black Hat followed Flug as he ran ahead. "Flug don't run off!" Turning the corner Black Hat froze making eye contact with Gaster. "You."

Giant blasters lined the wall behind Sans and Gaster, as well as the walls along either side of the hall. They all released blasts centered on Flug even as bones struck up and out of the doorway, floor, walls, and pillars to impale Flug in Black Hat's hesitation and attempted to take him out as well.

Gasping, Black Hat reached out to Flug, his tentacles attempting to yank him to safety. His tentacles got cut off before he was able to get Flug into his arms.

Gasping Flug cried out as bones and beams tore him to pieces. His Soul felt like it was shattering. Sans was so close. In a flash Flug was back in the throne room on the floor watching Asgore run away. Blinking, he shook his head. "What just happened?"

"I saved your life." Black Hat scoffed.

Flug sighed relaxing. "Thank you boss."

Huffing Black Hat tugged Flug to his feet. "We are already causing trouble."

Standing Flug tugged at the bottom of his shirt. As they walked through the throne room. "Black Hat I'm not so sure about this now… I don't want to fight anyone." It felt like deja voo saying that.

Shaking his head Black Hat huffed. "Weakling. I will be doing all the fighting, you just show me to your mate."

Seeing a doorway approach Flug ran into the hall. "Sans!" Screeching to a halt Flug stared at Sans and Gaster. "Sans!"

Groaning Black Hat followed Flug as he ran ahead. "Flug don't run off!" Turning the corner Black Hat froze making eye contact with Gaster. "You."

Sans hesitated, hearing his name called and chancing a glance up, knowing he'd regret looking at the ones he had to kill. They'd just be more faces to swim through his memories. When his eyelights made the connection though, his Soul flared as it hadn't in years causing Gaster to hiss and squeeze his collarbone, rebreaking the still brittle bone that had just finally healed again.

"Kill them or I'll get subject two." Gaster hissed, glaring at the doorway, knowing full well who would be next through it.

The threat to his brother won the struggle in his Soul. He wasn't bonded yet anyway. Now he would never be, but at least he knew it was his own fault. He lit his eye light with control magic and all the blasters fired simultaneously as he watched his one and only Soulmate burn and scream.

Sobbing out as his Soul shattered. Flug felt himself sitting on the floor again. "What just happened?"

"I saved your life." Black Hat scoffed.

Flug looked up to Black Hat horrified. "No! No no no! I'm resetting! Fuck!" Yanking at his hair Flug shook his head.

Black Hat frowned, "You are what?"

"Sans keeps killing me. I-I just have to get him to understand. If I can just talk to him!" Sprinting off Flug skidded into the hallway.

Groaning Black Hat followed Flug as he ran ahead. "Flug don't run off!"

Gasping Flug looked to Sans. "Sans please don't kill me! Just listen to me for a second! I'm not here to hurt anyone. You're my mate!"

The sound of the floor being ripped apart sounded as Sans wept soundlessly and raised a hand, a wave of bones through the floor, heading for Flug, the blasters just charging for now. The sequence was different every time. Little things making waves and changes in reactions.

Wincing Flug dove to the side trying to miss the bones. "Please don't do this! I can help you!"

Gaster leaned down to whisper to Sans's skull, causing Sans's eyelights to flicker, and the look of terror and despair to increase tenfold. His father's grasp on his body never lessening. He hesitated, but ultimately threw another wall of bones to try to force his mate-to-be further from the doorway.

Growling could be heard as Black Hat came closer. "Don't you dare lay a hand on my-" his eye met Gaster's. "You!"

Flug jumped, sliding and falling to the ground, a few bones nicking him as he fell. "I can protect you Sans. I promise I can!"

Sans and Gaster disappeared, only to reappear directly to Flug's left, allowing Gaster to grab him roughly by the hair and be teleported again. The place they were now was cold, white, and felt as if the very air was pulling itself apart. Sans was tossed aside as one might toss aside an article of clothing that was no longer of use as Gaster dragged the human who was having such an effect on his subject to a nearby table. "Let's see just what makes that bond be a thing, why don't we. It can be such a pain to circumvent." He seemed to be talking more to himself than Flug.

Conjured hands grabbed Sans, who'd been readying an attack to try and free Flug, and dragged him from the room. Once he was out the door, breaking bones could be heard, followed by screams.

"NO! No leave him alone! You monster you absolute monster!" Flug shrieked fighting in Gaster's grip. Screaming in rage Flug yanked his hand free and punched Gaster in the ribs. "Let him GO!"

Stumbling back and dropping Flug, Gaster gribbed as the now broken section of his chest through his labcoat. "Forgot how stubborn and physically strong humans are. Will have to negate that." Gravity magic instantly gripped Flug, dragging him to a standing table where constructs fought to get his wrists, ankles, and waist secured to the surface as Gaster applied healing magic to himself and watched with malicious interest.

Yanking on the bonds Flug snarled at Gaster. "Do whatever you want to me just let Sans go! Please just let him go. Haven't you done enough to him?" Flug huffed growing tired with the blue magic and bonds holding him down. "I'll send Black Hat away if you let Sans go."

"Let my subject go, now that would be stupid of me. I just lost one subject. If I let him go, Subject 2 will fail. Besides, I've been working on making him a super weapon for centuries. I doubt a simple human like you could ever understand. As he is now, he could almost beat that cursed demon who locked us down here. Who, I might add, you appear to have brought down on us once more. No, I won't let him go, and I won't let you go either. You will grow your bond with him, and then I will break it, repeatedly if possible, until he feels nothing. Emotion is weakness. I thought I had broken him of it. Apparently not." Gaster finally finished his healing and grabbed a syringe and a bottle that glowed bright blue like Sans's magic. "Now, this should hurt, I don't care. Let me know how your senses change please."

Shivering Flug bit his lip. "I've bonded with him before. I'll do it again and again. F-forever if I have to. I won't let you break him. I won't let him turn into you. You broke Black Hat's Soul! You torture your own children!" Spitting at him with a new found confidence Flug sneered. "You belong in the Void!"

"Hmm, well I do thank you for being so cooperative, but please do tell me what you know of the Void. I have several theories, but with the ban the King put out, my subjects are too few to risk sending them there for experimentation." Gaster, tapped the syringe after pulling out all the liquid in the small vile to get rid of any air bubbles. Walking over to Flug, he tapped on his arm, searching for a vein. With Flug so worked up, they were easy enough to find. He quickly injected the serum, watching it illuminate the vein, then the capillaries as it rushed back to the heart to be redistributed. "Be quick please. Any sensory changes? Touch, taste, sight? You will be burnt to a crisp in…" He checked his watch, "thirty seconds. Speak, now."

His body spasmed and his jaw locked up as an unimaginable pain ripped through him. He was surrounded by purple. Purple fog all over the room, not a single corner untouched or uncovered. It was a heavy weight of magic that Flug instantly knew was Gaster's. It pressed and probed seeking for answers Flug refused to give. Then there was a sudden click inside his Soul. A relief and comfort. Sans~ I've missed you so much. Even though his body felt excruciating pain he smiled as tears rolled down his cheeks and he gave involuntary whimpers. They were together.

Gaster raised a brow as the expected expiration date passed and grew further away. The human was lasting longer, and even through the pain and distance, had managed to use the infusion that was killing him to bond with Sans. He had his constructs return his son to the lab so he could monitor both of them. "You may not be forthcoming with information, but he will be, then I will proceed with other tests. We will see just how long you last with our magic running through your veins."

Sans was dragged into the lab and strapped to another table next to Flug, but his head stayed downcast as Gaster set up probes all over his head. You will die. Sorry I didn't kill you when I had the chance. Sans's broken and tired voice struggled through their newly forged bond.

Hiccuping with sobs Flug looked over to Sans gritting out softly. "I don't care if I die. I'm just happy to be with you again. I love you Sans."

A crack rang through the lab as Gaster struck Sans across the skull. "No telepathy. It messes with the sensors and I need to know what he is feeling since he won't tell me."

"Yes sir." Sans slurred as dark red liquid marrow dripped from cracks in his skull. He didn't say anything further though, just letting the information from Flug roll across the screens as it was pulled from his magic.

Whimpering Flug looked at Sans sadly. "I'm sorry I-I got you into this mess…." Reaching out through their bond Flug tried to send soothing magic to him. Sniffling Flug pleaded. "Sans please look at me... I will follow you to Dust and back, not even the Void will hinder me... You are my tether to follow, my love..."

Gaster could be heard grinding his teeth, but Sans finally looked up and met Flug's eyes. Only one of his eyelights was functioning at the moment since the other half of his skull was cracked in a harsh spider webbing pattern from the point of impact near the front of his temporal lobe. "Thanks kid. Too bad you fleshies don't go to Dust. I think I'd like to know you after I'm allowed to get there. I don't know how you remember me, but just please, don't let him know what I may grow to know. You have to know more than I do now. Be strong, my only mate." Yellow flashed around the edges of Sans's blue eye and a blaster popped into existence, it's blast focused on Flug.

Just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared though as Gaster struck him again, this time breaking his pelvis. All Sans could do was shudder in pain as he bit back the screams, but they echoed through the bond, as did his pain. Gaster quickly injected another serum into the open marrow. "No tricks either. I will see this through. That one will cost Subject 2. Don't push it."

"Leave Papyrus out of this he's just a kid!" Flug struggled weakly being hit with pain. Groaning weakly, Flug slumped in his bonds again. I'm sorry I'm too weak to protect you. You were always the strong one out of the two of us. If only I had your magic inside of me again. Flug knew if he was half monster, the fight would be different. That didn't help him now though. Here he was forced to watch Sans get beaten by Gaster and tortured through their bond.

"Papyrus eh? Kept to the old naming conventions then did we?" Gaster chuckled as Sans looked completely betrayed before letting his head drop. "As for having Sans's magic inside of you, well, that is what is killing you."

"I-I'm sorry Sans…" Giving a small sob, unable to keep talking for the pain. You both were happy. I just want you to know that before I die. I hope you were really happy with me, I know I was happy with you. I wish we could have got us a house and moved away. Had kids. I wish I could have grown old with you.

"Knowing Subject 2's name will be very useful later on. Thank you for that. Now, while you are still conscious and cooperative, let's get to the next order of business." Gaster pulled a few levers and pressed two buttons that lit up yellow. Turning around, he pulled up a clipboard and watched, smug and interested.

For the first time since their reunion, Sans seemed to move on his own, howling in fury and pain as their bond was severed. This pain he couldn't shove down. Attacks directly to his Soul were too much. He screamed himself hoarse and then silent and still screamed when no sound came out as he thrashed and pulled against his bonds, breaking open old and new wounds and broke his own bones trying to escape.

Screaming, Flug thrashed in his bonds as their bond was severed. "NO! No no no!" Straining Flug tried to reach Sans even though it hurt and was impossible with the binds. "S-Sans!"

Falling limp after several minutes and silently crying, Sans merely shook his head.

"Hmm, interesting. He reacts very differently. Curiouser and curiouser." Gaster mused before touching a few buttons once more and allowing their bond to renew and reaffirm. While they recovered and Flug burned from the inside, Gaster went over the readings he had gathered from Sans and recorded them in his charts. From a locked safe he pulled a bright red vial and filled a syringe with its contents before returning to Sans. Going around behind the table, he opened a panel in the back and injected the Determination serum into a cup there. Setting the drill depth, he pulled tight some extra bonds to keep Sans pinned to the table and started up the table, injecting the raw human trait directly into his son through the drill points all along the back of Sans's ribs.

Thrashing Flug screamed until he lost his voice. It hurt so much to have their bond messed with. Then the lava that Gaster was putting into Sans. He could feel the anger within it. His Soul cracking and chipping away. It wouldn't be long now…

Sans didn't bother fighting, he knew he'd have to go through that torment again soon. Maybe this searing pain would help dull the next. Maybe it would finally Dust him. Maybe he would pass out and not have to witness his Soulmate's death. He wouldn't be so lucky, but he could wish. He could feel his ribs cracking and chipping away, but they would grow back. They always did.

"That's plenty right there." Gaster mused as his subjects' physical feelings started to transmit and reach one another. He severed the bond.

It was only the bindings that kept Sans pinned to the table, but because of them he found himself arching further back into the bite of the drills as he shrieked, feeling the loss as fresh as the first time. He had thought he had no voice left, apparently he did.

Choking Flug felt his Soul crack loudly. "P-p-please!"

Drawing on the Determination that had been injected into him, Sans forced the pain he felt down as much as he could, which wasn't far, and did the only thing he could think of to end their suffering. The kid would be gone soon. He could feel that when the bond had last been there. Once he was truly gone, Sans knew he wouldn't be long to follow. He wasn't going to give his father that pleasure. "Sorry Paps." He whispered, too quiet to be heard by anyone and Gaster wasn't looking. A bone shot from the floor, impaling the table and piercing his Soul, shattering it and releasing him and the Soulmate he'd finally found. "See you after Dust, my mate." he forced himself to choke out before he sifted to nothing.

"No! You useless pile of bones! I've put too much into you to lose it all!" Gaster realized too late what Sans was going to do and turned just in time to watch his son turn into a pile of Dust.

Choking on a sob Flug saw Black Hat slam open the door before his Soul shattered. Flug felt himself sitting on the floor again. "What just happened?"

"I saved your life." Black Hat scoffed.

"Oh stars, again!" Breathing heavily Flug sat on the floor, too overcome with emotions to move. He just watched his love Dust in front of him and then died himself. It was hard to take in. The idea that Gaster could sever bonds and reconnect them was terrifying.

"Flug?" Black Hat asked when he didn't move, only tearing up.

The grass and flower covered floor flickered for a moment, casting the both of them in a snow covered forest before returning to the throne room, now a single gold star existing beside the large seat. The flowers flickered between being bright, large, yellow blooms to draping, blood-red amaryllis, to just a field of dead grasses left to rot. The yellow flowers dominated the display, but if Flug and Black Hat didn't blink, they could catch the changes happening around them.

Breathing harshly Flug tugged at his hair. "What's happening? Am I going crazy?!"

"I don't know… let's get your mate and leave." Black Hat frowned as their surroundings flickered.

Nodding Flug walked to the hallway, prepared to see Sans and Gaster. This time he was going to try to get Sans away from Gaster. "Gaster! Let him go you asshole!"

Once again the walls were lined with Blasters, already powered up and waiting. There was no hesitation as their jaws dropped and unleashed their powerful beams at Flug's form.

Gaster's laughter rang through the chamber as he watched the destruction he was able to wreck with a simple command. The king wanted a surefire way to defeat the humans in the next war and he was delivering.

Flug felt himself sitting on the floor again. "What just happened?"

"I saved your life." Black Hat scoffed.

"Dammit!" Breathing heavily Flug sat on the floor. How could he stop this? Surging up Flug stomped to the hallway stopping just shy of the doorway. "Gaster! Give him up or I'll send the demon in. Let him go. Fight us like a man, you coward!"

"I'm no man. I am a monster and I will fight like one. You fight like a man. Rush in here and let us see who is the stronger!" Gaster goaded, his smirk easily identifiable in his voice.

"No. If you want to fight then let Sans go. Step away from him! Then I'll fight." Flug peeked around the doorway keeping Black Hat from rushing in getting a growl in return.

Gaster laughed. "You have your weapon, I have mine. What would you want with him anyway? He's good for testing, but absolute shit for much else anymore. I eradicated all that useless jumble in his head to make him the best at what he does. He is a weapon, little more. I won't just hand him over."

"He's my mate! I want him to love and have children with you bastard!"

Gaste snorted. "What part of 'He's a weapon' don't you understand? Weapons don't breed. They don't have families. They certainly don't mate. If you are just going to hide around that corner and waste your time yelling, please say so. I have further work to do. You interrupted some very important experiments with your unannounced visit."

Flug growled stepping out to cut off Gaster's disgusting voice. "Shut up! Sans is his own person not a weapon! You are wrong! He deserves love! He deserves to have a family that cares for him! He deserves to get a mate if he wants one!" Glaring Gaster down with rage Flug opened his arms. "I am here to get my mate, no matter how many times I die, I'm going to get him. I will save Sans."

Sans waited, letting Flug finish his tirade, mostly because he enjoyed hearing someone actually yell at his father, but the dig into his bones reminded him of Gaster's short temper and he fired the blasters with a sigh. Back to the table again he supposed. At least Papyrus was safe, that was all that mattered. He did wonder how the human knew about him and could lay claim to being his mate. He'd never met him. He knew all the timelines and that kid had never come through.

Flug felt himself sitting on the floor again. "What just happened?"

"I saved your life." Black Hat scoffed.

"Dammit! I rushed in again." Breathing heavily Flug sat on the floor. Mumbling to himself Flug thought of a plan. "Yelling doesn't work and getting close just gets me tortured. Fuck. I can't rush in or stay out. Sans's blasters will just cut through Black Hat's tentacles. Can I dodge? I did it once but then he grabbed me. Maybe if I rush in swinging I can land a punch to Gaster before Sans fires? It's a start I guess." Standing Flug walked to the hallway stretching a bit before sprinting into the room only to find himself sitting where he had been moments before, this time with not even a recollection of the attacks hitting.

"FUCKIN Hell!" Yanking on his hair Flug tried to plan something else but kept getting hit with road blocks. Nothing was working! "Black Hat I need you to kill someone. No questions or reactions."

Black Hat tilted his head. "Who?"

"A tall skeleton standing behind a short one down that hallway. It's dangerous." Flug pointed to the hallway.

Nodding Black Hat walked over to the hallway stopping at the doorway and sending a tentacle down the hallway to puncture the taller's Soul.

Simultaneously Sans's blasters go off, easily taking out most of Black Hat's body, not going for entire annihilation as that was never actually required when dealing with humans. They died so easily.

Snarling Black Hat's form rippled the holes closing up and mouths forming in their place. "GaSteR! YoU!" Black Hat rushed forward his mouths snarling and spitting at curses. His tentacles stabbed into blasters and bones breaking them into pieces. "ExPeriMentinG on ChilDren! You DisGraCe!" His voice snarled out a dark grating demonic tone.

Gaster laughed loudly even as he broke down into Dust from the attack on his Soul that shattered it. "Experimenting on your children was very amusing. Thank you for the subjects!"

Not realizing Gaster had turned to Dust behind him, Sans continued firing as he bit back screams himself, feeling the destruction of his blasters as direct attacks on himself.

Screaming Flug rushed into the hallway. "Stop! Black Hat stop! Sans, love, stop firing! You're safe now." Walking forward Flug held out his arms beyond ready to wrap Sans into his hug. "It's okay. I'm your mate, Sans. I came to save you and your brother."

The firing slowly died down as Sans realized his father was no longer crushing his shoulder or catcalling. Carefully looking behind him, he saw the pile of Dust and couldn't comprehend it. His father was dead. "D-dad?" He choked out, voice hoarse. Falling to his knees, hot tears raced down his face as his fractured Soul broke even more before shattering as he screamed his loss at the ceiling, the echo lasting long after his Dust settled in a smaller pile beside Gaster's on the floor of the golden lit room.

Black Hat blinked watching as Sans turned to Dust turning to Flug.

Staring at Sans's Dust his arms still open and mouth ready to say comforting words. He dropped to his knees his Soul shattering. It wasn't worth living in if Sans wasn't with him.

Flug felt himself sitting on the floor again. Tears streaming down his cheeks. "I-I can't do it."

"Don't be a weakling. These monsters are pushovers." Black Hat scoffed.

Sobbing Flug shook his head not moving. "I-I can't watch him die. Not again. I can't save him…" Flug felt his Soul crack.

In front of both of them the area filled with flowers seemed to cloud over before an event from months prior in Flug's memory faded into clarity. Papyrus was pulling Flug away from a table laden with breakfast to explain to him about the resets and the child, Frisk Determ, and what they had put Sans through. How he had watched helplessly as the entire Underground, every sector, had been murdered time and time again and Sans had to watch and remember every time. As the memory cleared, the flickering flowers returned to their apparently normal state.

Crying Flug stood walking to the hallway. "I'm not as strong as you Sans! I can't take this! I just want all this to go back. I want to hold you and love you. Sans PLEASE! I don't want to fight any more."

The blasters fired, lighting up Flug's vision. He could see his body being torn apart, but the sensation never reached him. Across the hall, Sans never moved and Gaster just looked smug behind him. All this remained the same, but the golden hall flickered to a darker version, the pillars fallen and dark vines creeping over the rubble as a stronger Sans's voice echoed over the landscape from everywhere and nowhere. "Stay strong- fuck off you slimy bitch, he's mine! Keep fi-" His voice cut off and once again Flug was in the throne room. It was different though. The throne was sheared in half. In the center of the flower patch was a mound of earth and a lone flower with a nasty feeling pouring off of it.

Blinking Flug put a hand to his Soul. "Sans… I won't stop fighting love!" He felt filled with determination. "Black Hat I need you to try to grab Sans from the tall skeleton in the next hall. I'm going to try to calm him down and explain to him. Keep the tall skeleton away from us but don't kill him."

Black Hat tilted his head but nodded. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."

Walking into the hallway Black Hat snarled seeing Gaster but aimed his tentacles at Sans, shooting out and wrapping around bones and tugging him out of Gaster's hold.

"Sans! I'm your mate, here to save you!" Flug explained holding open his arms for Sans to be caught from Black Hat's tentacles.

As he was grabbed, whisked away, and thrown towards the human, Sans fired endless blasters at the demon even as he summoned a bone from the floor behind Flug, running him through. The body of Flug served as a cushion before he fell limp to the floor and his magic recognized Flug's Soul, just before it shattered, as his mate in truth. The last sound Flug heard before dying once more was Sans's wail.

Flug felt himself sitting on the floor again. Tears streaming down his cheeks as he coughed and dry heaved on the floor, feeling fantom blood filling his lungs. "Oh god I-I can't do it. Nothing works!" If only he could get Sans to believe they were mates, he might be able to convince him. He had a stupid plan. He felt filled with determination. "Black Hat I need you to try to grab Sans from the tall skeleton in the next hall. I'm going to try to calm him down and explain to him. Keep the tall skeleton away from us but don't kill him."

Black Hat tilted his head but nodded. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."

Walking into the hallway Black Hat snarled seeing Gaster but aimed his tentacles at Sans, shooting out and wrapping around bones and tugging him out of Gaster's hold and sending him sliding Flug's direction.

"Sans! I'm your mate, here to save you!" Flug explained tugging at his chest. Closing his eyes he held out his Soul. It glowed a bright purple. Please, please let this work!

Sockets going wide and just barely stopping a bone attack from perforating Flug, Sans choked. "No, please no." He was completely entranced and horrified at the same time. His target this time was his Soulmate? How could he choose between his brother and his Soulmate? It was impossible!

Across the hall Gaster swore loudly, seeing his weapon not attacking, but rather was lowering his guard. A puff of purple mist and he was gone.

Smiling Flug peaked at Sans before tugging him to his chest as his Soul went back inside. "Sans! Oh love I'm so glad you are safe. Now we can grab Papyrus and get out of here."

Sans shook his head, magic beading at his sockets. "You should have never come here kid. He will kill us all now. Before it might have only been me, but now we will all die. Why did you of all people have to show up, much less be a powerless human."

Jolting as if struck by Sans's words Flug frowned. "Sans… I-I would die a thousand times to be with you."

"Well don't. I'm tired of people dying. Myself included." He pushed away from Flug, only to stumble before forcing himself to stand on his own, painful as it was. He was in what looked like a small nightgown, long since turned to rags. This close up it was clear that his arms and legs were broken or shattered in a multitude of places. The few cervical vertebrae that showed were cracked as well. "I have to go back, for my brother's sake. He won't hesitate to kill him to get back at me for this. If I return, he may only hurt him." Even when he finished speaking, he hesitated. He could have teleported away instantly, but he wanted to see how these strangers would react.

Eyes growing wide Flug grabbed one of Sans's arms. "Please, let us help you. At least let me heal you." Flug pushed his magic through his connection in hopes of healing the broken skeleton.

"Humans ain't ever had that ability. Cut your foolin' around, damn idiot." Sans yanked his arm back, reopening several breaks, causing liquid marrow to run down his bones, staining them dark red. "If you want to help, fine. It's your fuckin' funeral." He glared at Flug, waiting for an answer, not bothering with the demon behind him who seemed to take orders from this kid.

"Of course we'll help! Sans, I love you. I'll try my hardest to help you every way I can." Flug looked to Black Hat who rolled his eye, nodding in agreement..

"Once we are in the lab, Gaster will have full control. We will die. Least this way we can die fighting, this time at least." Sans shook his head angrilly, but held out a wrapped, broken hand. "Let's go. Get your weapon and let's go die, since you are so set on it."

Black Hat wrapped tentacles around both of them. "I'm no weapon like you. I am my own owner."

Flug bit his lip kissing Sans gently. "I wanted to do that before we die."

"Dunno why. Won't make a difference. I really don't know what is going on with you kid. Don't care to know too much either. If we live, then you can tell me." With that he teleported them back to Gaster's lab and instantly collapsed as his father's magic grabbed him and dragged him away, screaming.

"You really are a fool Black Hat." Gaster's voice echoed off the walls. You are in my domain now. You can fight all you want, but you let me get close enough once to learn your true weaknesses. This will be your tomb. As for you human, yes, you will serve as quite the interesting specimen." A child's screams cut through the short silence that followed Gaster's taunting.

Snarling Flug stood ready to fight. "Fuck you Gaster!"

Growling Black Hat gnashed his teeth together his tentacles shooting out to destroy anything they touched. "Come and fight me Gaster and we will see who wins this round."

More screams echoed through the corridors as Gaster laughed at Black Hat's attempts and Flug's yelling. He gave them a few minutes of wrecking their general vicinity before his magic ceased Flug, teleporting him to a different part of the facility, dumping him in an observation room. On Black Hat's end, hundreds of hand constructs appeared and Sans, face soaked with liquid magic and many new breaks in his visible bones, as well as fresh stains in his gown, stepped around the corner, a blaster levitating just behind his head.

"I'm sorry." Sans cried quietly before searing the demon, not stopping until his entire body was gone. As his magic erased the demon, Gaster's constructs repeatedly tore through his body, distracting him from healing any one area and slowing any defense he might muster. Around his feet, the unseen fog of magic coalesced and held him in place, keeping him from phasing away.

Once the demon was completely annihilated, Gaster followed from behind the corner, batting the blaster out of his way and bore down on his son. "If you ever disobey me again, Subject 2 will die. You have my guarantee on that. Now, let us go pay that human a visit, why don't we. I would like to see what effects your magic will have on a human, even more interesting, one that is Soulbound to you." Tightly gripping the freshly broken humerus, Gaster dragged Sans along the hallways until they found Flug in his chamber. "You have lost, human. I am always right."

Flug had grabbed a syringe as a weapon and held it in front of him. "Not yet, you haven't. I don't want to hurt either of you, but I will if you force me Gaster. I know your plans. I won't give you anything you want. Nothing! So you might as well kill me now."

"You know my plans, do you? Please do inform me as I am still in the process of creating them myself and you just might save me the time of devising them." He tossed Sans's broken body through a one-way electro-containment field so that he could be in the cell facing Flug's. Both cells had magic suppression fields as well, negating Sans's ability to heal properly, or to summon any offensive or defensive magic.

Looking to Sans, then Gaster, Flug snarled. "You are going to kill him if you keep that up. Then you will have no one. You won't have anyone Gaster. You will be all alone and broken in the end. No one will care or miss you. No one will remember you or your research."

"Oh, plenty will remember me. The whole Underground already sees me as some sort of hero. I'm the reason they are all alive right now after all. As for him, I'll heal him if I need to." Gaster shrugged, unperturbed by the foretelling.

"You are the reason they are all down here!" Flug screamed "You tortured and experimented on your own kids! Broke Black Hat's heart!"

"Small details that nobody will ever need to know. Gave me time to get further ahead of the primitive humans anyway and breed a culture. I now essentially have an entire army ready to take on humanity once the barrier is broken. As for the demon's 'heart', it was his fault for giving it so easily." Gaster was quickly becoming bored.

Growling Flug felt tears roll down his cheeks. "He killed all of them because of you! All of that 'army' is Dust. Black Hat killed most of your family due to you! Do you really not care that you've caused a genocide of your children?!"

"Not in the least. I can always make more. Cloning is very simple, now, are you going to tell me my plans or not? If not, shut up and conserve your energy." Gaster snapped, finally bored and realizing many of his other experiments were due for being checked up on.

Shaking his head with a sob Flug jabbed the syringe into his neck. "Fuck you Gaster!" Going to push the end sending air deep into his veins.

"Hey! Where'd you- Stop now!" Gaster yelled, sockets going wide but unable to affect the area inside the cell with the suppression in effect.

In the containment unit opposite Flug, Sans lifted his head and watched Flug, his eyelights steady. He gave an almost imperceptible nod, saying he agreed that Flug should continue.

The pain was rapid, but so was the death that followed. There was no throne room this time though. Only blackness, and then nothing.

"Flug? Flug! Wake up, come on. Oh, please wake up. You gotta wake up for me." Sans's terrified, but strong voice slowly broke through the oppressing darkness that clung to Flug's mind, dragging him back to wakefulness.

Groaning Flug blinked his heavy eyelids open. "S-Sans…" His voice felt dry and scratchy coming out as a whisper. His body felt sore from being hunched over his lab table. He could feel a steady stream of tears flowing down his cheeks.

"Oh thank the stars." Sans sighed, wrapping himself around Flug, ready to collapse in relief. "I thought I lost you a few times there. Are you okay? Nevermind, don't answer that, I know you aren't. Come on, let's get you a bath and some food. Hot cocoa and sandwiches okay?" Sans was beside himself with worry, trying to figure out the best way to care for his still half-asleep mate.

Shivering Flug hiccuped before sobbing loudly and clinging to Sans desperately. "Don't leave me! Please don't leave me! I'm your mate! I-I love you! I DON'T WANNA DIE!" Flug wailed as he dropped to his knees clutching onto Sans as if his life depended on it.

"Oh Flug, stars no. Flug, I'm not going anywhere. You aren't going to die. I promise. I'll protect you. I am here. I love you. I'm here love, I'm here." Sans let himself be pulled down into the embrace and pet Flug's back and head as much as he could as he was held close. "I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere. You are safe."

Sobbing into Sans's jacket Flug didn't hear anything Sans said merely whimpering more pleas. "Please don't kill me. I'm your mate. Please don't kill me…"

Stiffening, Sans could hardly believe what he was hearing. He killed Flug? He really wished he had gotten home sooner. He had no idea how long his precious mate had been being tortured. Holding him tight, he murmured consolations and assurances, promising safety and comfort.

Sniffling Flug looked up to Sans tearfully. "Did… Did I save you from Gaster? Please tell me he's not here." Flug broke into more sobs clinging to Sans and begging for the scientist to not get them.

"Woah woah woah. Flug, I thought you and dad were on good terms? You liked him and wanted to send him crap? Devices, charts, books, food, Flug, I hate to ask, but what exactly did you see?" Sans tried to hold Flug's face, to see into his eyes, anything to help them reconnect. He felt shut out and wasn't positive it wasn't a bad thing presently.

Sniffling as he looked into Sans's sockets whimpering. "I-I…" hiccuping Flug whimpered. "You were gone. Everything reset… B-black Hat and I we-we went to the Underground…" Flug sobbed. "He had you fight us!" Flug wasn't able to say anything else, his body being overcome with sadness.

"He-oh fuck. Flug, tell me you didn't. What did I look like?" Sans hesitated to ask, but feared he knew the answer.

Sniffling Flug blinked actually looking at Sans. "You… You were really hurt. You were in a gown… Why are you-what happened? Where are we now?"

Sans groaned, dragging a hand down his face. So this wasn't just any nightmare, it was a memory brought to present. He started with the last question. It was the easiest to answer and hopefully the safest and quickest to divert Flug's attention. "We are in the lab, our lab, in Black Hat's mansion. We are home. You apparently fell asleep working and had a nightmare." He smiled tightly, knowing he shouldn't hide the truth, but he wasn't sure Flug could handle it if this was his reaction.

His face scrunched up in confusion and his breathing got heavy "But-but I was there! I-I felt it. It was real, I swear! I-I had my scars and-and I couldn't feel our bond until… Until Gaster gave me-me and-then he-but I and our bond-and he severed it-It wasn't-but I felt it." Flug shook in Sans's hold his eyes darting back and forth seeing the past and mumbling broken sentences.

"Hush, hush, you are okay. I am here, our bond is strong and nobody is going to take that away. You are safe. Nobody is going to hurt either of us. I promise. Everything will be alright." Sans stared at the wall as he tried to calm his trembling, rage burning through him at the injustice done to his mate while he was away.

Pawing at his own chest Flug hiccuped. "Please-please I need to see it. I need to see our bond." He fought to bring his Soul out, it was so much easier back in the hallway.

Putting his own hand over Flug's, Sans quietly spoke, trying to calm him. "Alright, alright. Let me help you. Breathe and feel, see it happening and pull, gently." Together they coaxed out Flug's Soul, then Sans pulled his out so that Flug could see them side by side, both monstrous and pale white, Sans's tinted blue and Flug's purple. "See, our bond remains strong." He traced the air around the tie and aura that surrounded their Souls in their bonded's magic's color.

Hiccuping Flug sighed, finally feeling the strong bond between them. "I thought I lost you forever…"

"Nope. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere." Sans promised.

Letting his Soul go back into his chest Flug slumped. "I… I don't understand what happened. It felt too real to be a nightmare. Was it all just a dream?" Flug asked looking to Sans confused and anxious. However, seeing their bond had calmed him down to where he wasn't panicking and sobbing any more.

Opening his mouth to confirm that and sweep the whole ordeal under the proverbial rug, Sans paused, feeling a tug at his Soul as Flug's begged for the truth. Closing his mouth, he looked away, trying to find the right words so that he didn't scare Flug, but also tell the truth.

The door to the lab burst open showing a seething Black Hat clutching a confused Fell. "What the fuck is going on! Flug explain why I had this obscure dream! Why were we saving Sans from Gaster? Why did I not have Fell or my clutch?!"

Sans looked up, startled and whispered a quiet, "Shit." to himself, and by proximity, Flug.

"You-you remember it too!" Flug asked shocked.

Growling Black Hat glared at Sans as he held Fell bridal style closer to his chest. "Yes, I remember your mate and that bastard killing me as well."

Choking Flug gasped turning to Sans. "Oh god, you killed him last reset?!" He didn't think it was even possible.

"Oh shit, fuck, shit, fuck, fuck, shit. Ah...I can explain? Maybe? I hope?" Sans started fearing for his life after Black Hat accused him of killing him. "I mean, I obviously didn't kill you cause you're still here?" He tried hopefully, not willing to leave Flug, but the kid clearly wasn't going to run, but rather just sit there as an angry demon bore down on them.

Baring his teeth Black Hat snarled. "Yes, and how is that?! How did that happen and I'm still alive and with bond and clutch?! Where is that bastard of a father? I will Dust him where he stands-"

"NO!" Flug shrieked remembering how Sans Dusted after his father was killed.

"DON'T YOU DARE!" Sans snarled, magic spiking and flooding the lab in the same way it had been spread out in his father's lab, the same way his father's had been spread in Flug and Black Hat's nightmare. The second his magic spread and tried to connect to his surroundings, Sans passed out, Black Hat's inherent magic that tied into the building flooding his system.

Flinching at the spread of Sans's magic, Flug whimpered being reminded of Gaster's magic being spread out and the pain that followed. Fear shot through their bond and Flug yanked on his hair hiding into his knees.

Blinking as both scientists reacted to his threat, Black Hat frowned. Looking to his own skeleton, Black Hat sighed. "Love, I don't understand. What should I do now?"

Although not nearly as violently as Flug, Fell had flinched from Sans's magic release as well, as it reminded him of when Spikes would work on him and Red. He had to wonder where Sans had gathered that sort of power, just as he had always wondered where his father had gotten his. To spread their magic and Soul out like that, they became practically untouchable, other than their physical body unless the entire area covered by their magic was hit at once. It wasn't supposed to be possible.

"To be honest sir, I would recommend we all calm down and perhaps sit down and try to talk. I did not have this dream that you and Flug appear to have had, and something tells me Sans knows more than he is letting on. We will have to get him to wake first though. I think your power in the mansion's structure caught him off guard." Fell spoke softly, something he was slowly growing accustomed to for the eggs' sake.

Nodding, Black Hat wrapped his tentacles around Flug and Sans, phasing them into the lounge area and setting them onto a couch opposite of his and Fell's. "Flug calm down and wake your mate."

Sniffling Flug scrubbed his eyes as he was placed on the couch, tugging Sans to his chest. Sans, wake up.

First one, then the other eyelight winked back into existence, each flickering out and back independently of each other before settling as Sans regained control of his magic and mental facilities. Putting a hand to his head, he sat up slowly, groaning. "Fuck, what did I- what happened."

Flug helped him sit up his voice shaking slightly, "Y-your magic went everywhere. It must have hit Black Hat's and you passed out…" It was like his magic. Flug shivered at sliver of the memory of the purple magic going through their bond.

"Yes, you passed out while we still have questions." Black Hat huffed but stayed by Fell's side nuzzling close to his mate.

"Sans, where did you learn magic like that? To control the Soul like that? It shouldn't be possible." Fell, curled against Black Hat, watching the smaller skeleton with something between fear and anger. He knew Sans was the commander of the Underground for a reason, but he'd never really seen why. Now that he'd had a glimpse, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

Looking down at his hands, Sans watched them shake before intertwining them to try to hide it. "I learned that a long time ago, about four centuries, right after the barrier went up." He kept his answers short, trying to keep as much information to himself as he could. Flug and Black Hat had obviously just went through trauma and he knew Fell had gone through hell to get to where he was now. There would be no thanks for the past he carried if he shared it.

Tugging Sans onto his lap Flug turned Sans's skull to look up at him. "What happened? It wasn't just a dream. Please tell me." His Soul hurt, wanting to know what really happened while also just wanting to forget it ever happened.

Looking up at Flug, then over to Black Hat, Sans flinched and kept his gaze down. "It was a dream, a nightmare to be exact. It was also- also partially a memory." The last bit he whispered, not wanting to remember himself, but he couldn't make them suffer with not knowing, especially not his mate, who hurt with the terror of not knowing.

Blinking Black Hat growled. "How?! How was it a memory when neither of us have ever gone to the Underground before the barrier was broken? How could we share a nightmare?!"

Whimpering Flug tugged at Sans's jacket sleeve. "I-I don't understand. A nightmare and a memory?"

Sans nodded to Flug's question as he answered Black Hat cryptically. "You going to the Underground was the dream. Everything either of you did, was all a dream, as best I can understand so far. It sounds like everything else though, everything else is based off of a memory." He was silent, praying they would figure it out, but also hoping against hope they wouldn't and would leave well enough alone, a vain hope.

Fell's neck cracked slightly as he shifted, looking harder at Sans. "Dream and Night?" He looked concerned and confused.

Nodding, Sans confirmed, "Just Night. He meant no harm, but he rarely does. Just how his magic works."

Covering his mouth to hide his pained noise Flug blinked away tears. Oh love, I'm so sorry. He felt sadness and pain seep through their bond though he weakly tried to stop it.

Frowning Black Hat turned to Fell. "Who is Night? Why would he attack us?!"

Fell shook his head. "Nobody is really sure who he is. They're one of the few skeletons in the Underground with pigment, a black skeleton, dark as a night sky. The Dream sector adopted them sometime during the war I think. They were just a baby, probably lost their parents in the fighting like so many others. They never fit in. They'd try to give dreams, allow people a glimpse of their past or future. Unfortunately they always ended up showing them the worst possibilities. They were labeled an outcast and shunned by most of those who raised them. Nearly killed their adopted brother a few times when their own darkness overwhelmed them. Their Soul was unlike any monster Soul I've ever seen. It was like tar, liquid and-" Fell stopped as he thought about it. It couldn't be possible, but he'd only seen Nightmare's Soul once in a battle, and only for an instant, but it had definitely been black. Only one other Soul he'd ever seen was that deep a color.

Black Hat went deathly still not even breathing. He stared at the floor as Fell told him about this monster. It clicked when he described the pigmentation. While most of his children with Gaster carried traits from one or the other, only five carried both. Each were heavily pigmented skeletons. He had a child that survived. Black Hat's form rippled mouths forming giving small pained noises.

"Sans?" Fell asked, unsure.

"Nightmare doesn't know. I didn't until recently." Sans admitted, recognizing that Fell had connected the dots. "Always wondered what was up with those weird tentacles on his back that killed or decayed most everything they touched.

His mouths whined, Black Hat held his stomach and gave a mournful sob. "My baby!"

Glancing up at Black Hat, Sans gave a small half-smile. "Guess I have one half-sibling out there, huh? An' they don't have a clue. They dropped by to check on me, we used to play checkers since I was one of the few monsters in the Underground not afraid of them. My guess is they wanted to help you guys understand me better and let you see one of my early memories through mine and Flug's bond. Wasn't an attack, even if it seemed like it." Sans choked up slightly, curling into himself as he remembered harsh words and the blows he and Nightmare had come to over this whole issue. "They wanted to see Flug beat it and save me, but their dreams don't work like that and I had to get them to leave. They really didn't want to, didn't understand they were hurting you guys."

Sniffling Flug whimpered, "I couldn't save you. I couldn't save you even once."

Continuing to sob as he held his eggs Black Hat whimpered, "My baby. My baby is all alone!" His maternal instincts had kicked in sending his emotions haywire. All he could do is sob and cry for his forgotten child.

Awkwardly patting Black Hat's shoulder, Fell floundered, unsure of how to calm or console his normally stoic or honestly demonic mate. These- these tears were not something he'd ever been taught to handle. Tears were for those who lost and got crushed. Watching Sans, he stiffly tried to copy and help.

Patting Flug's hand consolingly, Sans assured him. "You never stood a chance, but thank you for never giving up. You wouldn't have survived if you had. You kept fighting. I couldn't bear to lose you."

"I couldn't bear to watch you like that. So alone and lost. I need you Sans, so badly. I can't stand to be without you now." Flug yanked Sans into his arms clinging to him.

Chuckling as he was once again pulled tight and close, Sans smiled and returned the embrace. "I just hope I wasn't too much of an ass to you. I wasn't very sociable back then."

Sniffling Black Hat clung to Fell. "I want them. Get me my baby." He demanded whimpering softly. "I need them… please."

Shaking his head, Flug nuzzled into Sans's arms. "Only a bit of an ass. Most of the time you seemed to believe me and were regretful before you killed me or Gaster killed me… Are you actually friends with Black Hat's kid?"

Patting Black Hat's head, Fell grimaced. He was going to have to track down Nightmare now? Nightmare was so hard to track, but if Black Hat wanted them, he would have them. "Yes sir, I'll work on finding them, starting tomorrow. How does that sound?"

"But~ I still killed you. And something says I wasn't exactly gentle about it either." Sans tried to joke, forcing his own memories of watching Papyrus, or any and all of his friends, die hundreds of times, from rising up and knocking him out. Flug needed him and wasn't used to resets. This was going to be hard on him. "As for Night, yeah. Cool kid, just don't try to beat them at checkers. They're a freakin' wiz."

Nodding Black Hat grabbed his tall skeleton standing. "I have my answers and will soon have my skeleton… Thank you Sans." With that he phased through the wall

Blinking Flug shook his head at Black Hat's exit.

"Oh, sir?" Sans raised a hand, missing his chance to get Black Hat's attention once more.

His head poked through the wall "What?!"

"Uh, just wanted to say sorry? You said I killed you? So, uh, sorry about that?" Sans tried to sound sincere, but honestly the idea that he even stood a chance against Black Hat kinda excited him a bit. He couldn't keep a small, hopeful grin off his face.

"You were only able to because of Gaster. I was also asked not to kill you or Gaster by Flug. Apparently the rule still applies outside of the dream too." With that Black Hat's head seeped back into the wall. He had a mate to cling to.

Flug shivered, "It really was horrific to watch your reaction to Gaster's death… I didn't want to try again after that one…"

"How many resets did you go through? I'm not sure how long Nightmare was here for, so there is no way for me to tell how long you were in that state. I've heard that two seconds under their magic can feel like years and that it feels honestly real, to the point the one experiencing it doesn't know reality from dream." Sans rubbed his mate's back, straddling his lap to look at him dead on rather than be held like some child. It really wasn't all that comfortable. "You know what, don't answer that. It is too hard to try to count deaths. I know. How about we go for a bath and try to relax instead, then I'll get us some of that hot cocoa."

Nodding weakly Flug asked, "Can we leave? I-I don't want to think about this right now… C-can we go somewhere else?"

"Mind if we go Underground? I know a nice spot." Sans offered with a grin. "We'll just have to hike through one or two sectors."

Biting his lip Flug asked, "Do we go through the gold hallway? I-I don't think I could right now…"

"The Judgement Halls? We can bypass mine, but we will have to enter the other ones before I can teleport through the sectors. I can take us somewhere else instead. I know a few places that should enchant you."

Nodding Flug leaned his cheek onto Sans's shoulder. "Please… Everything is just too much right now."

"You ready for the teleport? It's gonna get a bit chilly." Sans warned, hoping his plan didn't send Flug into temperature shock.

Nodding Flug tugged at his jacket he stole from Sans. "I-I got your jacket."

Snorting, Sans shook his head. "Won't be needing it soon, just thought I'd warn ya." In a blink they were in a freezing white landscape, winds blowing around them occasionally. There was nothing but white as far as the eye could see, even the sky was white. "Shut your eyes." Sans yelled over the wind gust that cut through their sparse clothing. It was easily in the double digit negatives.

Shivering and his teeth clanking noisily as he huddled into the jacket. His knees shook as Sans's shorts that only went to his thighs let all the cold attack him. "C-cold!"

Laughing loudly, "Warned ya." Sans quickly grabbed his freezing hand and pulled him around the giant ice mound they had teleported next to. In front of them were several large pools. "You can open your eyes now. Strip and jump on in. You'll love it!" He released Flug's hand to start pulling off his own jacket, shivering severely himself already. It was much colder here than in Snowdin, but this was gonna be awesome.

Shaking Flug whimpered slowly with freezing fingers tugging off his clothes. He fought with his shoe laces unable to get his frozen fingers to work. "H-help-p-p."

Already down to his bones and about to dive in, Sans glanced behind him to see the issue and quickly shuffled over. His bones already had a bluish hue to them. "Alright babe." Leaning down, he quickly did away with the laces and chucked off the shoes and socks. "In the water, now." Sans pointed to the dark pool in the ice. "Quickly now," His grin was wide and excited.

Nodding and shivering Flug scurried to the dark pool. Hesitant to jump into the dark hole Flug shivered next to it, his fingers and toes giving a blue hue. "H-h-here? S-s-safe?"

"You can swim, right?" Sans checked quickly, stepping up beside him to look at the univiting water.

"Y-y-yes." Flug shivered his whole body quivering.

"Hmm, good." He pushed Flug off the edge, into the pool. "In ya go." Immediately after, he launched himself off the shelf and out over the water to cannon ball into the bottomless hole.

Shrieking Flug waved his arms desperately as he was pushed into the hole a looming darkness of water rushing up to meet him. Splashing in the water, Flug swam up to the surface gasping only to get splashed by Sans's cannon ball.

Using his magic to make floaties and keep him from sinking forever, Sans laughed as he broke the surface and hot water drained from his skull. "So whatcha think?"

"I think you pushed me!" Huffing Flug dunked Sans under the water.

Flailing and waving his arms uselessly, Sans kept laughing, even under the water until he got the bright idea to tickle Flug into letting him go. His flesh was very exposed at the moment after all.

Shrieking in laughter Flug curled into himself to protect his exposed skin sinking into the water before popping back up gasping. "Unfair!"

Letting his magic raise him back to the surface slowly, Sans spat at stream of sea water back at Flug. "Says the man who can swim." Sans joked, glad to see Flug laughing and smiling again. That had been the whole point.

Giggling Flug poked at the magic floaties. "Yeah, I like your floaties big boy." Laughing Flug looked up through the ice hole. "Where are we anyway? This is so cool."

Smirking, Sans laid back, letting small floaties form around his ankles and under his hips to help. "Welcome to the bottom of the world. We are in Antarctica, some of the best hot springs to be found. If we are lucky, we might even get to see some penguins."

Flug perked up. "You are AMAZING! Your magic is so cool! Oh my, I hope we can see some penguins, I've only ever seen them in zoos."

"Well, we will just have to see. Nature is one thing I can't force." Sans muttered quietly, enjoying the chill and heat simultaneously as he floated just under the surface of the water, keeping his face clear so he could talk.

Flug beamed jumping at Sans hugging and kissing him. "I love you so much!"

Squawking and releasing his magic in a fog again to try to throw a net and keep him from sinking as his floaties dispersed in his surprise, he flailed. "Hey! Babes! Love you too!"

"WHAT THE CRAP!" A female voice echoed across the ice.

Jolting Flug tugged Sans into the water keeping them afloat as they sunk so their noses were just barely over the water to breathe. Who is that?!

I have a rough idea and if I'm right, we are both gonna want our boxers and fast. Mentally, Sans groaned.

How do we get them when they are out there?! Flug asked not wanting to run naked to their clothes.

Twiddling his fingers and accidentally scraping Flug's dick, Sans whispered telepathically, Magic. Instantly they both had the said article of clothing donned and only just in time as a large creature drove up from the water between them, forcing them apart, only to flop into the ice. Pushing itself up, it became clear it was a huge penguin.

"Mommy, mommy. Look, a big birdy thing came out of the water!" A higher pitched voice called out.

Flug squeaked at the penguin separating them. Looking to Sans fearfully as his loud squeaked echoed back Flug slapped his hands to his mouth.

Shuffling was heard nearby before a heavily dressed small figure looked over the edge of the ice pool. It was bundled so heavily that I wasn't clear what or who it might be, but it looked human. "MOMMY! THERE IS A NAKED MAN AND A DEAD MAN OVER HERE!" It suddenly shrieked before trying to push up and away from the pool and nearly falling in. Sans's magic caught her before she hit the water though, keeping her dry.

"You know, It isn't nice to call people dead." He chided easily, the words sounding long rehearsed and often said.

The child screamed and ran.

"That could have gone better." Sans sighed, leaning back against Flug, letting his buoyancy hold him up.

"Who is that?! Why are they out here?" Flug whispered

"Dunno the kid, felt monster though. They are probably here for the same reason we are, bit late for tourists though. This is the cold season." His voice gave away how complexed he was with the situation. "They obviously aren't a snowdrake. They wouldn't have to bundle up like that if they were.

"Clarrisse, what is wrong? What are you yelling about? And what did I tell you about running off ahead?" A concerned maternal voice chided.

"OKAY! WHO THE FUCK IS OUT THERE!" The loud voice from before yelled out.

"'Dyne, language, please." the maternal voice scolded.

"It's a dead man and a naked human mommy! I saw them in the water!"

Flug whined clinging to Sans. "What do we do?!"

"If you see a green spear, dodge it. Oh, and watch out for flightless birds. Where there is one, there are two hundred." Looking up at the edge of the hole, Sans raised his voice to call back. "Your commanding officer for one, you brutish fish!"

The shriek of indignation had Sans bowling over in the water laughing. He completely missed the stream of obscenities that followed. Coming up one more, he just caught his favorite science buddy lecturing her again before she called back to him.

"S-s-sans? Is that you?"

"Sans the skeleton, last I checked." He confirmed as he dodged another penguin from one side and two more from the other. "I'd suggest we get next to a wall." He muttered to Flug.

Squeaking Flug tugged Sans to the side of the wall wincing at the cold. "Oh god more are coming! I don't want to get taken out by penguins. Sans get us out of here!"

"Geez kid, calm down. Just keep your head down and enjoy the show. It's really rare to get a view like this." Sans smiled as he watched first sets of one to three penguins jump from the water to the ice until it became an unending wave of slick bodies arching above them gracefully, only rarely missing to slide back down and go again. "Absolutely beautiful." He sighed, amazed as always by the power of nature.

Taking a deep breath Flug calmed down watching the beautiful sight. It wasn't so terrifying when they were off to the side and getting separated by them. "It really is beautiful. Thank you."

"YO BI-"

"Language Undyne!"

"What is that for mommy?"

Sans's sockets widened as he realized what was about to happen. "Flug, I suggest you duck!" His voice rose until it cracked near the end as he let his magic go and allowed himself to sink, grabbing Flug at the same time to get him to drop enough to avoid the incoming attack.

Gasping Flug sank with Sans clutching Sans's hand in his own to not lose him into the depths. What is going on?! Are they your friends or not?

Yep, this is completely normal. Think I told you once that she could be a bit extreme. A heavy thunk could be heard before a few shards of ice fell into the hot spring. Resurface. You need to breathe. Sans threw up a shield of hardened magic around them so that Flug would be safe. If on his own, he'd just teleport away or dodge. That wasn't the case now, he had a mate to protect. He should have given Flug the band.

Yelling could be heard above before they surfaced, but nothing further entered the water.

Gasping for air Flug turned to Sans his heart pounding him his ears. "Sans please, this is stressing me out. I-I don't know if I should be concerned for my life or not. Should I be?!" His voice broke at the end tears mixing with the water. All the stress from Nightmare's attack coming back and making his body feel like a panic attack was just a hair's width away.

"Undyne, back off now. This is not the time or place. We will spar, but my mate is in no mental state for your games. Alphys, please reign her in or I will." To Flug, Sans assured, We are safe. She won't actually try to kill us, and if she does hurt us, her wife is a wonderful healer. I'm sorry, I didn't think they'd be here.

Nodding Flug scrubbed at his tears. "O-okay sorry…" pipping up Flug asked. "Uh-um can we come out now? I would like to see um Sans's friends?"

An arm reached down from the edge of the hole, grabbing one of Flug's arms and lifting him bodily from the pool without effort. "Not much to you, is there? Sans, is this really your mate?" The huge figure looked like some sort of beefy eskimo.

"Naked man, naked man. Mommy caught the naked man!" The child cheered and clapped.

Standing on the magic floor he had created on his feet, Sans stared nonplussed back at the giant. "There is a lot more there than what you see on the surface, now return him before he freezes. His body isn't made for these conditions."

"Undyne~ It's cold out here and you scared off all the birds." A short and squat eskimo-ish figure complained.

Staring wide eyed at the bulking figure holding him Flug squeaked shivering as the cold hit his wet body freezing almost instantly. "S-s-Sans!"

"Hmph, wimp." Undyne dropped the strange human-looking monster child back into the spring to dethaw and crouched, pulling her mask away from her face to see and speak clearly. "When did you decide taking a child as a mate was a good idea? Not judging much, but seriously, he's not even out of his developmental years." She watched as the skeleton attempted to help Flug regain the surface and his equilibrium in the water before looking back up at her, clearly vexed, which was amusing.

Glaring and supporting a now shivering Flug, Sans growled out, "Leave him be. He's been through hell enough today without your antics. I assume you have a base nearby? Perhaps we can all speak there and I'll return you here after."

The squat one, Alphys, stepped up hurriedly. "That would be a splendid idea. We are located two miles north and west of here, exactly."

"Drop, drop, splash!" The child made splashing noises, kicking up snow and watching it melt as it fell to the spring.

Nodding, Sans teleported them all, using his magic to remove the water from himself and Flug and leave it in the spring while also fitting their clothes and shoes back on them as they arrived so neither were completely naked to the elements. In front of them was a white house sized dome that looked like some sort of greenhouse.

Shivering and blinking in shock at all the magic and his sudden clothing Flug leaned over to kiss Sans's skull. Before giving a small whine and trying to tug away. Pushing against Sans's skull he whimpered in pain. My lips froze to your skull! Sans I'm stuck…

Sans couldn't help laughing lightly before teleporting himself and Flug inside, now that he could see where he was going. "Let yourself warm up, you'll detach soon." Sans's voice was warm and happy. Behind them the people from out on the ice made their way in, knocking off snow and ice before stripping out of their winter gear.

"I'll never get over how fuckin' useful that is." The large eskimo turned out to be a strange looking blue person with reddish fish-like fins on the side of her head and one bright gold eye, the other covered by a dark eyepatch.

The squat one shed their gear, revealing them to be a bright yellow lizard like monster. Once she was divested of her gear, she had to chase down the child and fight to get their gear off as they kept trying to run and play. "Language!" She chided, sounding tired of the constant reminder.

Huffing Flug licked Sans's skull his mouth puffing hot air onto his skull and giving it a sweaty condensation. Popping off Flug stumbled back before plopping onto the floor. Looking around Flug blinked. "Wow. Do you live here?"

Grumbling, Undyne fell into a chair, releasing a heavy sigh. "For now unfortunately. Alph needs samples for her studies. I'm just hoping we can go home soon. The air is too dry and cold here." She complained, picking at a few discolored scales on her shoulder, pulling them loose to flick away. The house was warm enough that she wore a tank top and shorts comfortably inside.

"Oh hush, it isn't all that bad. The properties of the ice that has frozen, thawed, scattered, collected, and refrozen over the years holds data about the earth that can't be collected anywhere else. You have those volcanic pools to swim in and plenty of room to spar and move around out here." Alphys tried to point out the good aspects, finally uncovering a bright yellow child that resembled Undyne in body, but had heavier scales that matched Alphys for color.

"Hush, hush. Ah! Dead person walking!" The child ran into another room, yelling and laughing, finally released from Alphys's clutches.

"She's right you know." Sans agreed, smiling after the kid. They were so precious.

Giggling Flug watched the child run away tugging Sans down into his lap. "So cute. Just think of a babybones running around."

Both Undyne and Alphys looked over at the two of them surprised and skeptical.

"No." He sighed to Flug, still smiling and in good humor, turning to the girls at the same time, "Hear me out before you start accusing."

"He's a kid, this better be good." Undyne warned even as her mate took a step forward, slowly.

"May I? I've never seen a monster that looks so much like a human. Did the vampires make it through all these years?" She asked, obviously very interested, not in his age, but his origin.

Sputtering Flug huffed affronted and insulted. "Sans! I thought you said Grillby would help with this. Gah, I hate being treated like a child. I'm an adult. I was human when we bonded now I'm not. Sans isn't a pedifile, dammit."

"Gee, well put babe. Unfortunately, if they've been down here since we went to the bar, they probably haven't heard yet. Back in town it would have helped, but here there isn't really much gossip." Sans folded his arms, pouting. "I was gonna explain it to them."

Undyne looked confused, but her mate was clearly shaking with excitement, all her scales ruffled and making her look bigger. "Tell me you've been taking samples! This could be revolutionary Sans. A way to combine our races successfully. I must know how it was accomplished."

Checking over her shoulder quickly to make sure the child was still in the other room, Sans shrugged. "Simple Alph, I fucked his humanity right outta him."

Dead silence followed before Undyne began roaring with laughter and Alphys developed a nosebleed that she rushed to take care of.

Flushing scarlet Flug whined. "Sans! Don't-don't say it like that!"

"Ya could say, I made him rad to the bone." Sans punned. Alphys and I go way back. She is a huge yaoi nerd. Trust me, she was already picturing us in positions that we couldn't even imagine.

Undyne cried for mercy, slapping her knee and pounding the table as she struggled to breathe through laughter. Her mate's yellow scales turning red around her face in a deep blush.

Pushing Sans off his lap Flug huffed in embarrassment. "Sans! I don't want to know that." You are so embarrassing!

Landing hard on the hard concrete floor, Sans flinched and rubbed his tailbone through his track shorts. Babe? You do know we are only joking around, right? Sans feared he had messed up again, taking things too far when being himself. He always forgot about Flug's anxiety, instead remembering his strength.

Getting up and crossing the room, Undyne pulled them both to their feet only to sit them in proper chairs. "So, you finally got a mate. I didn't think that was ever gonna happen. What else is new? Last I knew you were still hiding out in the Underground, not bothering to come out of your house."

Finally stemming the flow of her nosebleed, Alphys sat beside her lover and agreed, wanting to hear about what they had been doing. "That is true enough. I couldn't even get you to come out for anime nights. We were starting to worry about you."

Wincing at Sans's hard landing Flug took his hand rubbing it apologetically. Sorry love. I know you are joking around. You know how I get around new people. Smirking Flug shook his head at their questions. "We work together. Now we hardly leave the lab."

Sans nodded, agreeing with Flug's statement. "We work for a villain corporation as scientists and designers. Paps wanted to see the surface and that required money, so I got a job. Just so happened that my mate was to be my coworker. After that, work sorta became a bonezone and we've been busy ever since."

"Ah ship et." Alphys murmured through the cotton in her nostrils.

"I think they do too babe." Undyne smirked.

"Mommy~ The big bad stopper is blinkin' 'gain." The child called loudly from the other room, galvanizing her parents into action. Both were up and running to control panels in an instant.

Blushing at their shipping remarks Flug covered his face. Startled at them jumping up Flug asked. "What's going on?"

"Storm inbound and it's a big one." Undyne explained as she worked buttons and levers, emergency lighting replacing their normal fluorescent bulbs and heavy walls descending over inside and outside openings.

"Ned ta get sens'rs up." Alphys continued, working another station from up on a stepstool.

Sans watched interestedly, wanting to help. "Anything I can do?"

A shriek pierced the air causing both women to cease for a moment. "Get her before she gets locked in the vents again please." Undyne sighed, returning to work as if this were completely normal.

Shrugging, Sans teleported away to find the kid.

Standing, Flug looked around for something to help. Biting his lip, he grabbed some colored pencils and paper, setting it on the coffee table. I have some coloring set up for the kiddo.

Great, let's hope that will be enough for her. Her parents certainly aren't conventional. Ow, this shaft is way too small. Sans grumbled as he chased the magic trail the kid was leaving. It was like she wanted to be followed.

Chuckling Flug sat back down looking at the women. "So… You both know Sans? Sorry! Bad timing, you both are probably super busy right now preparing for this storm. I just feel like I can't help at anything right now. Oh god I'm rambling. I'm just going to shut up now." Flug felt his cheeks grow hot wishing he had a bag. Tugging up the hood to the stolen hoodie Flug sank into the couch.

"Yeah dork. We know 'im. Lazy, slobbish, bad puns, heavy drinking, the whole gambit." Undyne listed off breathlessly without looking away from the screen in front of her. "Babes, which of these do I push to put out the drone? I can't understand any of this sciency crap and it's only hot when I get to watch you do it."

Without turning around and blushing slightly, Alphys quickly explained the commands to be put into the correct lines of the coding in first one, then six other systems as well as instructing her wife to strike two switches on the board in front of her to open the doors for it.

Blinking without any understanding, Undyne simply looked over and stared. "Uhhhh. What?"

Standing Flug walked over easily doing as Alphys instructed and sending out the drone. "Hey, his puns are pretty good most of the time. He doesn't drink heavily and isn't lazy around me. He's smart and funny and charming and very thoughtful and caring…" Blushing at his own list Flug bit his lip to stop talking.

Dancing in place, Alphys squealed quietly, making Undyne smile.

"Yeah, your a dork. I'm amazed you got him to change that much though. That is something else. You shoulda seen him before he met you. Completely different monster." The blue lady informed him, sitting against the console, not bothering with what she was supposed to be doing and letting Flug do it. Apparently he was a smart cookie too.

Nodding Flug smiled, "It was all him. Though I think working in a lab did most of the work against his laziness. His room is still a mess, so I can't say much there. He's sweet though. I wouldn't change him for anyone."

"It wasn't the lab." Alphys assured easily and corrected a character in the drone's code as it bounced against a wall. It fixed it's movement and proceeded away. "I worked with him in a lab and he rarely showed up and when he did, he was usually piss drunk. I'd set him up with my animes and a bucket and just let him go until Papyrus would come and get him. You've done wonders for him. I'm just glad you didn't know him before."

Even Undyne's face fell into shadow at that remark and everything was silent other than the wind striking the walls outside until a cry startled everyone and Sans, with child in tow, fell out of a vent shaft in the middle of the floor. "Caught her?"

Squirming with one ankle wrapped in carpals and metacarpals, the small monster curled over herself and bit into his hand before yelping and pulling away. "Mommy~" her voice bordered on tears.

"I'm harder than I look kid and biting isn't a good habit, don't let Undyne tell you any different." He nodded toward the fish woman, never taking his eyelights off her.

Wincing Flug quickly took the child from Sans and sat her in front of the coloring supplies. "Let's not bite Sans sweetie. You want to color?" Are you okay? She didn't hurt you did she?

Rolling his eyelights, Sans chuckled. No, not even a scratch. I was more worried about her, but she seems fine. Cute kid, just wat-

She had learned forward as if to actually start coloring only to slam back with her entire body, using her head as a club. It smacked off of Flug's and she went down again, holding her own.

Her head… the mental sigh that Sans heaved bled into his real one as he picked up the kid to pass her to Undyne for healing. "She's a lot like you." He told her before checking on his mate.

"How'd she take so much damage!" She spluttered, quickly applying healing magic to her baby before throwing dagger-like glances at Sans and Flug.

"His magic is still unstable and his body has a human's makeup. If his durability didn't do it, his defensive magic might have as he has a human's magic strength as well." Sans shrugged. "We didn't attack her. You were here, you know that."

"So many questions." Alphys muttered beside Flug, but staying focused on her work.

Holding his head Flug whined leaning into Sans. "Kids are so dangerous…"

"You're tellin' me. We haven't even started on your magic training." Sans choked down laughter and tried not to pull an 'I told you so' on his mate. He knew Flug wanted kids, but monster kids were no joke.

"Oi, Clarrisse, come over here." Undyne called from an adjoining room where she had moved while everyone was watching the kid.

"SPAR! SPAR!" The child who had been put down and started to try to bug Alphys took off at a terrifying speed, zipping into the other room only to roll back out after a small explosion went off inside it. "NO FAIR!" She cried, but she was alright standing back up and bracing to run in again.

"Is there somewhere that Flug and I can watch you two safely 'Dyne?" Sans called, figuring the match might be educational for his mate and now pupil, whenever they got around to it.

Eyes wide Flug looked to Sans concerned. "She's going to fight a child?! Isn't that dangerous? What if the kid gets hurt?!"

Shaking his head and smiling, Sans explained. "They are sparring. This allows the kid to use their abilities and learn what they can do and make their magic their own. It also allows them to grow and enhance their abilities. I got to watch as our king trained Undyne in how to use her abilities and at the same time trained Paps in his magic. Eventually her and Papyrus ended up becoming sparring buddies, but Undyne is the more ruthless. For kids though, this is important to their development and it is something that you and I should have started a few weeks ago. I need to find a safe place for us to spar though as your magic is very strong and one wrong move could be disastrous for a community." As he explained, he peaked around the doorframe.

Undyne was waiting for them and pointed them to a set of walled off seats. "If Alphys is teaching her, I usually sit over there, not that there is much danger there. Alphy is better suited to science than magic, but you should be safe enough."

Clarrisse bounced excitedly, waiting for her training to resume, still young enough to not find it a chore to practice daily or multiple times a day. "Again, again!"

Nodding slowly Flug sat in a seat. "So how would my magic form? I know yours makes bones. Um, what does Undyne make?"

Taking a seat, Sans leaned back, watching the fish woman. "Undyne is more combat oriented so her magic reflects that. It tends to take on spears and they allow her to attack from almost every angle. As you mentioned, I can summon bones and I have matured my magic so I can use it beyond attack magic as I was originally trained to. I also have those constructs, and we discussed how I got those."

Clarrisse steadied her stance and glared at her mother, barring her sharp teeth and flaring her fins. Neither monster in the room moved, each watching each other until the younger charged, dodging to the side, feigning to the right just to run off to the left.

Undyne didn't bother reacting, no actual attack having appeared yet. A small explosion made her hiss and hop away, her boot showing a small scorch mark. Distracted and looking for where the explosive might have been attached or dropped, she missed the incoming mini-spears that flew towards her.

Blinking surprised at the show Flug leaned forward to the edge of his seat. "Oh wow! That is so cool! Hey Sans what do you think my magic will make?"

Glancing over at Flug, Sans had an inkling of what form his magic would take, but he didn't want to influence it and so just shrugged. "Who knows. It can vary a lot from monster to monster. For a long time we just focused on attack magics, so maybe you will come up with something new."

At the last moment, Undyne noticed and swept aside her daughter's spear attacks with a lightshow of her own magic, splitting and knocking aside the spears directed at her. "Good, again." Undyne praised, stepping back and dismissing her large and vibrant green spear.

Eyes wide Flug leaned forward trying to get a closer look at the spear only to topple out of his chair. Quickly standing Flug rubbed at the back of his neck a bright pink.

"Careful kiddo. The floor bites." Sans joked, extremely amused by Flug's amazement with the training. "What do you think?"

"It's really cool. I haven't been able to study any monsters magic besides yours and the Lust brothers'. It's so fascinating." Flug said as he sat back down.

The statement made Sans stop as he realized that he and Flug really were sheltered from other monsters in the community. "Sorry about that. I'll see if I can find a way to expand on that if you would like?"

"Oh yes please! Magic is so fascinating I could watch it all day. If we go back to Grillby's I have to study his flames closer." Flug murmured going back to staring at the sparring match.

Hiding his grin in his hoodie, Sans could only watch with something akin to pride as Flug tried to take in everything going on in front of him. He could remember when he was Flug's age and just learning that he had power within himself that he could use for the first time. He'd been so excited to learn and become strong. Now it was Flug's turn. Smile dropping, Sans had to put serious thought into how he could properly train Flug. The kid was too strong to regularly spar with, but too weak to spar with Black Hat, even if Sans trusted him enough to allow such a thing.

Threading their fingers together Flug smiled and leaned over to kiss his skeleton's skull. "I'm glad we came out here. You are so smart and plan amazing trips." Nuzzling into Sans's side he watched in awe at the sparring match. His Soul was practically buzzing inside of him with all the questions he wanted to ask. "I have so many questions."

"Then ask. I can't answer them if you don't share." Remembering when they first met and Flug had asked a question he had found amusing even then, he repeated, "I'm not a mind-reader ya know."

Huffing Flug poked his tongue out. "I really just want to examine everyone's magic. It's so weird and fascinating to me. I'm really still confused and interested on how my magic will work. I also have some personal questions..." Flug frowned. About the nightmare and your past.

"Magic is weird huh? Interesting take on it." Sans tried to see how, but couldn't. He grew up with it always being there. It would be like saying having body was weird. Ask whatever you want to. I will try to answer, but just try to keep an open mind. I wasn't always...as I am. I won't lie to you. If you ask, I promise I will answer truthfully, no matter what it is.

Biting his lip Flug murmured, "Um can we talk alone? I don't want to try to hide what we are feeling while we talk." Flug explained.

Heaving a sigh and praying things would be okay he called out to Undyne. "Yo, we are heading out. Call when you are back in town? If you are out here much longer, I might bring mine and Paps up to visit."

"Smell ya later, short-stack. Don't be a stranger." She easily knocked aside a few more attacks.

Smiling Flug waved, "It was nice meeting you."

"Keep him outta trouble kid. He's a good nut." She leveled a spear at him. "Do wrong by him and you have the whole Underground to answer to."

Chuckling Flug nodded "I'll try to!" Taking Sans's hand he asked mentally. Who is yours? You said mine and Paps, who is that? Sticking out his bottom lip in a pout Flug looked down to Sans. I thought I was yours...

Leaning over to give Flug a skeleton peck, Sans winked. That you are. All mine. His mental voice was rough and dominating in a playful way. Nobody else's.

Grinning Flug latched onto Sans's arm. Where are you taking me now?

"Hmmm." Sans hummed as Clarrisse made gagging noises only for both her mothers to laugh as Alphys now stood in the doorway. How about somewhere discreet, yet connected. If you want to talk, I want you to feel safe. In a moment the two of them were sitting in a dark, wet alley with the smell of fish and mildew washing through the air. It looked like a back alley to a shopping center. The kind of place people didn't go, yet there were many.

Blinking Flug looked around. "Where are we?"

Ignoring the question, Sans countered with another. "Food, sights, or talk?"

"T-talk?" Flug offered hesitantly. He didn't quite know what the right answer was.

Sans slumped. "Shit, was hoping to distract you longer. Let's go. This late they should still be open." Leading Flug around the corner they found themselves on a decently busy street in an obviously orient town, if not a city. Sans looked around for a moment before heading into a cafe and taking a seat. Shortly after sitting, a corgi waddled by and hopped up beside Flug before setting its head on his lap, looking up at him soulfully for pets.

Shaking his head and chuckling Flug patted the dogs head. "I'm not even sure where we are, but let's talk first. Um, I have a few questions about my nightmare or well I guess about your past. If you want to talk about it."

Taking out his phone and slipping on his gloves quickly to tap through some apps, Sans handed the phone over to Flug. "Scan the QR on his shirt for me please?" He wouldn't meet Flug's eyes and his hands noticeably shook, but his voice was steady enough. "I would recommend at least getting a drink. You will only have more questions."

Blinking Flug took the offered phone scanning the QR code on the corgi's shirt. "Um, like this? Uh, what kind of shop are we in? Do they have tea or coffee? I have money if you would go get me something." Flug fidgeted before handing back Sans's phone.

Taking back the phone with a laugh, Sans laughed. "Yeah, they have coffee. It is going to be a lot stronger than you are used to. Their fruity stuff is pretty good though. Also, avoid the tea, it can be spicy." He flipped through the menu on his phone, marking a few items before slipping the phone back to Flug. "Just mark what you want. I'll cover it this time. As for where we are, welcome to Thailand."

Gasping Flug looked at Sans in awe. "You are amazing! I love you so much! This is so cool." Scrolling through the choices he picked a fruity drink as Sans recommended before handing back the phone. "You are spoiling me with all this travel."

"Don't thank me yet. Ask your questions. This late in the day, the only people you will see here are the servers and they won't come out other than to deliver our orders. If we need them we hit up the corgis."

Nodding Flug bit his lip. "Um you know I saw some things from your past that were influenced by Nightmare. I um, I have a few questions about what I saw. I-I just it was horrific and unbearable to see you that way. I don't want to bring up those memories for you. I know it must have been dreadful to live through it, let alone have to remember it."

Picking at his phalanges and absently tracing over the bones, Sans nodded. "I do have a rough past. I don't know what part you saw, there is a lot there. I relive it every day. I don't forget. I won't, can't forget, and I'd never choose to. It made me who I am."

Frowning Flug sighed, his Soul ached for his mate and what was done to him. "It's about your scars… You haven't really told me much on them besides battles and, um, Gaster… Sans your body was covered in them. You could barely stand on your broken bones. I-I saw him using a machine to put that, um, Determination into your back. Is that why your back is covered in tattoos? Did you get those to cover up what he did to you?" Flug scrubbed at his eyes rubbing away his tears from the memories.

Sans sighed as a woman came by and set their drinks down with a smile, saying something in Thai. Sans responded easily, thanking her, before returning to their conversation. "So that's what he showed you. Relatively recent then. Couldn't be more than the past hundred years." he mumbled to himself before properly answering. "I got the tattoos to cover the scars, yeah. You know I like to walk around shirtless. Do it often enough. Well, I got tired of the stares and the pity. All the questions too. Scars are scary, a deformity, especially on someone like me, someone made of next to no matter. Tattoos though, those are interesting, cool, pretty, beautiful even. Day after I got them you shoulda seen the difference. Monsters say they don't judge on appearance, but with the amount of damage I showed, how couldn't they judge. So yeah, the tattoos are just a cover up. If you feel without looking, when my magic isn't active, you can still find all the scars, but that doesn't happen too often." His frown turned up a little as he remembered how most times Flug got to touching his back, it was lit up brilliantly with his magic.

Sniffling Flug pet the corgi next to him "I'm so sorry you had to go through that… I'm glad you changed it into something positive though. They really are beautiful… I'm sorry I don't really like G-gaster anymore. He said you two were getting along better." Flug felt like a disappointment, letting his nightmare control his feelings on Sans's father.

"Eh, honestly I would be surprised if you didn't hold some distaste towards him after that." He laughed, "Remember when we first called them and I tried telling you the shit they done, but you swore they were better? Well, now our roles are reversed. I ain't sayin' they're saints or some shit, and I'll agree with the next piece of shit to climb out the gutter that they are worthless." He paused as he thought for a second, "But he is my father. He's the one who taught me so much. How to use my magic, my love of science, my intensity. He gave me my strength and endurance. Most of my wisdom is from him. I wouldn't be half the monster I am today without him. I'm not saying forgive and I definitely ain't sayin' forget. Maybe just understand?"

Smiling at his mate Flug reached over taking his hands. "You really care about him even after all he's done… I'll try to understand him, I know I've done some awful things in the name of science. I just… It may be a bit before I'll feel comfortable to talk to him again. Could you text him on why? I don't want him to feel like I'm ignoring him. I kinda respect him, as my father in-law. He did make my wonderful mate." Flug blushed. "Also he is kind of intimidating. I don't want to see him mad ever again. It's scary."

"Wait, you got him mad? I didn't even know he had the ability to have a mood." Sans laughed, amazed. "But yeah, I can text him. I'm sure he will understand...well, maybe not, but he will get that you don't want to talk to him for some reason or other that is not scientifically reasonable." Sans laughed.

Poking his tongue out at Sans Flug shook his head. "Yeah, all of the experiences were scary. He was pretty pissed when I wouldn't tell him anything and only talked to you." Sighing Flug sipped his tea. "Did you do anything fun while you were gone? Sorry, I'm just getting kind of depressed talking about the nightmare."

Raising a bone brow, Sans shook his head. "And here I thought you were gonna talk my skull off, but yeah. I did a few things that were amusing, I guess." He left off, letting the sentence hang as he sipped whatever it was he had ordered.

Huffing Flug crossed his arms. "Well tell me, I wanna know. Unless you want me to talk all about what I did while you were gone?"

"How about this, cause I want you to get it off your mind and if you don't it will plague you for years. I will tell you something about what I did and in return, you tell me more about what you saw, did, and went through in that nightmare. Then you can tell me about your week. How does that sound for a shitty compromise?" Sans grinned, somehow his teeth were all different colors before he looked away and then they were all normal again.

Frowning Flug sighed nodding. "I guess. Um love, your teeth went all weird for a second there."

Lifting his drink and spinning it slightly, Sans nodded. "Heavy monster alcohol. Figured I'd need it the way you were talking. It helps dampen my mood swings a little, which is better if we are talking. Don't worry, this can't get me drunk unless you drink it."

"Oh… That's really cool. Well, you first." Flug gave Sans a weak smile not looking forward to remembering the nightmare.

Sighing heavily, Sans tapped the table as he thought about what he could say that was small enough to be important, but not so big that it would lead to him uncovering everything at once so he could keep Flug talking. "Found my mom's Dust. She had this really amazing jar from way back when that she loved. I put it in there and brought it back. I can show you the jar if you want, when we get home. Took the maker like, 2 months to make it if I remember right, according to her. It's older than I am."

Giving him a small sad smile Flug took Sans's hand in his rubbing soothing circles into the bones. "It sounds beautiful. I would love to see it. Maybe you could tell me more about your mom?" Flug asked in a hopeful distraction.

I see what you're doing kiddo. Been there. "Best woman out there. She made wicked stone soup and always managed to find the stones with the good inhabitants. Her voice, man, Flug, I wish you could have heard her sing. I still imagine her when I'm having trouble sleeping. I wish Pap could have heard her. He wouldn't ever have trouble. She was tall too, just like him. Her magic was like Pap's too. Honestly Papyrus takes after her a lot. I got my thick bones from her, and my weird skull, but that's about it. She was so full of energy and always so happy. Her name was Melinda. I think she was nearing her third millenia when she Dusted." Sans's eyes seemed far away as he watched memories far older than Flug.

Tearing up Flug sniffled holding onto Sans's hands. "She sounds amazing. I wish I could have met her. She sounds like a lovely woman." Taking a deep breath Flug sighed. "I guess I need to hold my part of the deal… The first time I saw you, I froze. You kept your eyes down, marrow was bleeding out through the bandages around your legs. I was so shocked at how bad you looked, I didn't see the giant blasters lining along either side of the hall. It felt like seconds before they all released those beams and bones struck out of the doorway, floor, walls, and pillars impaling me… Black Hat tried to grab me with his tentacles, but they got cut off before he was able to get me... My Soul felt like it was shattering. You were so close and yet I couldn't sense you or touch you. In a flash I was back in the throne room on the floor watching a big fluffy monster run away."

"Big, fluffy… oh my stars, if you and Black Hat went down into the Underground, I can't imagine how the king handled that." Sans laughed, imagining Asgore running down the halls. He had such a soft heart, even after all these years. Coming back to the more serious part of the dream, Sans thought. "You couldn't sense me? I'll admit that is strange. With your magic, you should have been able to, at the very least, sense most anybody in your vicinity if you tried."

Shaking his head Flug whined, "I-I didn't have magic or our bond. I woke up in the lab as if you never existed. No magic, no healed skin, no monsters above ground, no one remembered. Black Hat didn't even have his clutch or know about Fell. "

"Dang, a full reset on you, but with memory recall. Now that I really do know about. Extremely disorienting, no matter how many times you do it." Sans empathised, scratching his skull and trying to figure out why exactly this memory out of all of his, why did Nightmare pick this one.

Flug nodded quietly asking. "Do I have to keep going?"

"So, that was your first time seeing me in the dream, right? And you just casually walked into the room. Didn't notice anything strange other than I was a mess?" Sans asked, trying to figure out exactly when in his past Flug had landed. How far gone had he been at that point?

Shaking his head Flug frowned. "I didn't really take the time to understand why this was happening. I just knew you were gone and I needed you back. I didn't really understand what happened the first time and the second time I ran into the golden hallway just like before. This time you looked up at me and I think our Souls connected for a bit, because you looked apologetic as you blasted me. I know Gaster kept threatening to hurt your brother throughout it all. So he must have been a kid or well a babybones. So I kind of understood why you did it. Papyrus means everything to you…" Flug whispered out a sad, "Even more than a Soulmate."

Sans stiffened noticeably. If Papyrus had already been created and Gaster had already started using him as a threat, then that was when Sans had been at his worst. The most volatile and the easiest to manipulate. "It wasn't you or a connection I was apologizing for. I was apologizing to Pap. He didn't want me to fight or to kill. He thought everyone could get along if we tried, even after dad broke his arm for crying." Sans was quiet for a few moments. "I made a few devices, should let us both breathe easy for a few months. Got at least four dozen new ones created and since we only debut about one a month, Boss shouldn't have too much to complain about. Gives us some time. I know you've been missing your bear friend. You should spend more time with him." He dove into a little more of what he had done during their separation, explaining a few of the devices he had created, but not where or how he had created them while not in Black Hat's lab. A lab that was now the most sophisticated lab on the surface other than certain other monster specific labs.

Smiling he listened to Sans rambled about his devices he had created. They were interesting to say the least and he was eager to test them and see the limits of what they could do. "It would be good to have some time off. We can visit our friends." Flug didn't want to continue knowing that the next reset was the worst by far. He wanted to listen to Sans ramble about science and bask in the happy feelings from his mate.

Easily an hour passed as Sans described first one, then another of the devices he had created. What their primary purpose was, extra things they could be used for, how they worked, what inspired them, the tests he had run them through, how he had sometimes hours of footage on their testing phases, endless notes of how different substances reacted. It was some of the most thorough work he had done in years. He didn't go into how many years it had been, but it was clearly a while.

When Sans stopped, regretfully Flug started again. "By the third time I was on the throne room floor I had figured it out. You had told me about Resets and I figured I had gotten trapped in one that kept bringing me back to this spot. I thought if I can just talk to you I would be able to fix this. I sprinted off into the hallway like an idiot. I called out pleas for you not to kill me and that I was your mate."

Flug took a breath sipping his drink before continuing. "This time I think you wanted to give me a chance, because you sent out a wave of bones instead of blasting me. You know I'm not the best with dodging but I tried. Then something happened and-and you were right next to me. Gaster grabbed me and-and we were in a lab. I think you tried to help me, but those hands just dragged you away and-and I could hear you scream as he broke bones. I-I was on a table, I tried to plead and-and bargain, but he wanted to test our bond… He put your magic into me. It felt like acid in my veins. He wanted me to tell him how it felt, but all I remember is feeling the relief and comfort of having you finally connected to me again."

Flug whimpered clinging to his stolen jacket. "You wouldn't talk to me until I repeated that saying. 'I will follow you to Dust and back, not even the Void will hinder me. You are my tether to follow, my love.' You summoned a blaster trying to kill me, but Gaster hit you and threatened Papyrus. I messed up in saying his name. Then-then..." Hiccupping with a small sob Flug clutched the jacket in a white knuckled grip. "Then he severed our bond. It was the worst feeling imaginable. Then the machine put that lava into you. I could feel the anger inside of it. Then he-he severed our bond again. He was playing with our bond. It was agony! You-you killed yourself to stop the suffering..."

Shaking his head and gritting his teeth, barely keeping from growling. He had a good idea of when Flug's dream took place and it was just far enough back to guarantee that his magic would kill him. "Dammit. Two more years and you probably would have been fine. Not the bond part, that was stupid of me, but I was desperate. Dad definitely would do that though. Even now he might. I don't know for sure." Breathing to try to keep his cool, it struck him like a pail of freshly melted snow. Flug had been in the old labs. Been tortured in the old labs. He would know of them now, and so would Black Hat. He had a moment of panic, praying Black Hat wouldn't go down there, snooping around. Sans could get in a lot of trouble if Black Hat knew more than he did already. "Uh, so, right. I created a stronger, more reliable form of energy that we might be able to capitalize on. A form of geothermal energy that should be able to boost our production." Sans tried, shaky, rattled for entirely different reasons than Flug.

It was almost over Flug just had to power through the last few resets. "The next few resets I tried to figure out a way to get you away from Gaster. I tried calling out and talking behind the corner. I tried having Black Hat help, but he killed Gaster and I watched you Dust along after him… I felt useless and that I couldn't save you. I walked into the hallways saying as much. However, you spoke through the nightmare encouraging me to keep going. Thinking, I tried to get Black Hat to grab you, but that didn't work either. I was only able to get you away from Gaster and not kill me, but showing you my Soul… You were an ass this time blaming me for even coming and being a useless human on top of that. We went back to the lab and I was trapped in a room, thankfully he left a syringe in the room and I used that to kill myself after I got a few answers. That was the last reset and I woke up."

"Can you really call me an ass for that? For all I knew, you, my Soulmate, a human with no magical ability and a shit ton of useless physical ability came down into the Underground, basically by themselves, and tried to take on the two most dangerous monsters to ever exist down there. On top of all that, you made sure I connected and I already knew or was pretty sure we were gonna die, cause on top of seeing Souls, there is something else I never told you. I could see it before, but you didn't have such a high number. You do now." Sans stopped and his face grew sad as he dragged a hand down Flug's face to cup his cheek. "I can see how many times a person has died and their singular last second of each death. You didn't just dream those deaths, you died for real, each and every time. I can see that and that is why we needed to talk. It is also why I didn't want to push you." He watched Flug, watched his eyes to see how he took it and how his Soul would react.

Hiccupping Flug broke down into sobs. His Soul pulsed painfully in his chest as if it were trying to escape the knowledge and hide away. He died so many times trying to get to Sans. So many times and it hurt. It hurt so much. His Soul bled magic from his scars of past deaths.

"Thank you for dying for me. I can't tell you how much it means. I never had anybody die for me. I would do the same for you, but let's hope it never comes down to that again, okay?" Sans smiled, trying to coax one out of his mate. "Ya know what. I think I know what will make you smile."

Sniffling Flug scrubbed pathetically at his face. "What?"

Getting up and walking around the table, pulling Flug closer to the edge of his booth, dislodging the small corgi that had fallen asleep there momentarily, Sans smiled, as for once they were the same height before he fixed that. He had researched this so he wouldn't fuck it up. Going down on one knee, Sans pulled a small box of oil-slicked looking metal from his pocket and stared up into Flug's eyes. "Flug, would you do me the honor of binding yourself to me in the most human way possible. Will you marry me?" Pressing a hidden button on the side of the box, it clicked open, showing off the ring he had worked a full week on creating seated in lavender velvet.

There wasn't a single degree of it that wasn't enchanting, eye-catching, breathtaking, mind-absorbing. Hues of blue, clurean, lavender, violet, magenta, black, starlit white, and channels of clear crystal laced the simple band. It was deeper and more complex than any opal humans had yet managed to mine and Sans knew it was so much stronger as well.

Blinking Flug stared at the small box held by his small skeleton. Tears still rolled down his cheeks and he didn't try to stop them this time. The ring was beautiful. Flug couldn't quite believe it. Realising that he hadn't answered for some time now Flug gasped breaking out of his trance. "Oh! Yes! Yes I would love to! It is so beautiful, love. What-what is it made of."

Choking and dropping his head, some part of him honestly scared of being told no, even though this had been Flug's idea, finally snapped and freed him from his bodily lock. "Thank stars." Taking the ring out of its bed, he slid the band onto Flug's hand where it settled snug against Flug's finger. "It's made from a rock in a part of the Underground called Waterfall. One of the most beautiful sectors in my opinion, and many other monsters' too. Just a bit too wet for a long term stay."

Flug tilted his hand around marvelling at the ring. It's so pretty. Mine looks dull compared to it. Flug sighed still looking at the ring happy but slightly worried Sans wouldn't like his ring.

"Y-you made one too?" He sounded hopeful and amazed.

Blushing Flug nodded. "I figured I could work on it while you were gone. The Gaster Gang thinks you would like it… But it's not pretty like this. I have it in the lab."

"Hey Flug? Do you want to go home?" Sans asked, magic beading on the edges of his sockets. He couldn't believe he had someone who cared so much and accepted him, even after all the hell the kid went through for him. Even after everything they had been through, and yet, his wonderful mate still didn't think he was good enough for him. Sans loved this kid so fucking much.

"Yeah, I do. Today's been a bit much. Um, when we get home do you want to see it?" Flug asked nervously fiddling with his ring. He could already tell it was going to become a nervous habit.

"Do- do I want to? Flug, I absolutely do not want to see that ring." He paused for dramatic effect. "I wanna have you put it on me and make me yours." Sans smirked, pulling his favorite and only human down to him for a kiss.

His Soul plummeted at Sans's words before settling as Sans finished. Huffing Flug pushed Sans away and pouted. "You scared me you ass!"

"Do you really think I wouldn't love anything you made?" Sans asked, smiling widely, his eyelights literally sparkling.

"I don't know! Yours is so pretty I'm just nervous if you'll like it." Flug pouted leaning down to give Sans's skull as wet raspberry. "Don't tease me you turd."

"Hmm, well I have had six hundred years to look at pretty rocks. I'd hope I could pick out one. Oh, before I forget. I made something else for you. Not nearly as pretty, but I think you'll like it just as much." Sans added as he remembered and began digging through his pockets.

"Oh? You are going to spoil me with all these gifts." Flug teased blushing.

"This isn't really a gift. It is a promise." He mumbled, still checking inside and outside pockets of his jacket. How many pockets had he put in this thing? "Swore I'd never leave you somewhere you couldn't leave, right? Finally figured out how to make good on that. Now if I can just find it."

Blinking Flug looked at Sans, his Soul bursting with love. His mate remembered how he felt and made him something to fix that worry. Sans was so thoughtful. Smiling his Soul shined with fondness for his mate, "I love you."

"Better, this wasn't simple to create." He finally pulled a hand out of his pocket holding what looked like little more than a leather band with some tie strings. "Give me your wrist."

Holding out his wrist Flug marveled at the thin band. "What is it?"

"What does it look like?" Sans countered cheekily.

"It looks like a leather band, but I know it's more than that." Flug chuckled.

Nodding and tying the strings in a sort of braid, they melded together until the band was all one solid piece without any seams. "Right. This is an extremely advanced machine and you are going to have to be exceptionally careful with it. It can help you, but it can also kill you, like most things we create." Sans explained.

"Um how do I take it off?" Flug started, still looking at where the tie strings seamlessly slipped back into the band.

"You don't. Ever. This is also a guarantee of your safety so long as you are conscious and able to think." Grimacing as he looked at it, he shook his head. "It shouldn't be able to be broken, no matter what, and unfortunately, there is no way I can program it to take you to a guaranteed safe place as every place and time that has ever or ever will exist was or will be dangerous at some point."

Blinking Flug asked confused. "But I thought it could kill me and is dangerous? Can I get it wet? Will it affect my-our experiments or devices? The material isn't dangerous to my shifting, right? What about my magic?"

Smiling, Sans couldn't help but laugh. "And now the questions really start. Okay, okay. Yes, it is dangerous. Yes it can get wet, it is completely life proof. It will cause zero interference with any of our work, and the material is not the dangerous part. Now, magic," he shook a phalange at Flug and climbed back up into his seat. "That is where we get somewhere."

"Okay, so magic is the only thing I need to worry about? But-but don't I have to worry about my magic going out of whack being a kid and all?"

"Yup. I already thought about that and put a safeguard in the programing. Flug, what you have on your wrist is a teleportation device that can cross both time and space and can only be activated by your magic while at manageable levels. If you are having spikes, you will not be able to use it. Now it also measures your emotional levels and if your spikes are due to emotion, it will deduce what is safe for you and that will deduce if you can teleport away. That will allow you to actually travel more widely than even I can. It does not have a distance limiter either, so you theoretically could go to Pluto or further. That being said, it will survive Pluto, you won't. It will not protect you. That is where the danger lies. It will take you where and when you want to go, regardless of if you can survive. Make sure you know where you are going. Don't meet yourself either. That is just a mess. Trust me. Also, it can take you to extra-planar places, avoid those until we do a hell of a lot more research. You will also be able to take others with you, like I can. You will never be trapped again. I promise."

Sans had stared at the table, tapping and blocking the light from refracting off the different stone bits embedded in the marble while he made his explanation, not sure what to expect and fully prepared to lose Flug along the way. It was rather deep and confusing. It had taken him months to figure everything out.

Tearing up Flug stood grabbing Sans into a large hug squeezing him tight. "Oh love you are amazing! I can't believe you did this for me! I just-this is so-it's so cool! Will you show me how to use it later? I really can't wait to try it out. Not now though! I feel a bit frazzled and I don't want to end up somewhere weird until we test it on a few simple places first. Now, home? I really want to give you your ring." Flug smiled down to his lover tucked close to his chest.

"You really think I'm gonna let you have that and not use it?" Sans smirked. Twitching a finger, he tapped into Flug's magic through their bond, the kid's desire to get back to the lab, strong, and activated it, connecting it to the band for a microsecond. Instantly they were in the lab. "Huh, even smoother than my teleports. Now that is disorienting." He chuckled from where he still sat in Flug's arms.

Jolting Flug shivered giving a low whine. "Sans..."

"Congrats. You just completed your first teleport. Now come on! I wanna see this ring! I can't tell you how excited I am!" He wiggled in the hold, looking around the lab for where it may have been set out and he missed it earlier.

Giving Sans a raspberry Flug sat him on his desk. Kissing him, Flug reached into the desk and pulled out the small black box. Giving Sans a last lingering kiss Flug knelt down opening the box and holding out the meteorite ring. "Sans, my love, will you be bound to me by Soul and ring until we Dust?"

Sans was instantly bewitched by the ring. "There is no way you got your hands on this legally, but I don't give a shit. Babe~ yes, yesyesyesyes!" He didn't even wait for Flug to put the jewelry on his hand before he tackled his new husband. YOU ARE FUCKING AMAZING! I love you and you better be prepared to spend eternity with me, cause no way are you getting away from me now. Please Flug, can I do something I've wanted to do for a long time? An old tradition, exceptionally painful, but old and sacred. Please? And would you reciprocate? I want this with you?

Beaming Flug held Sans safely to his chest. Snatching the ring before it rolled away Flug slid it on to Sans's boney finger. "Of course love. I want to send the Gaster Gang a picture afterwards."

"Room, now!" huffed Sans, his eyelights blown huge and his grin wide. His fangs, normally hidden except during sexual play or Marking were very apparent and glowed brightly with magic. The smell of the ocean washed through the lab as if they were on the shore.

Giggling Flug held onto Sans tight as he used the band to teleport them landing on the bed with a small bounce. "Explain a bit more before we do this."

Forcing himself to calm down a little so he could rationally explain, Sans's magic dimmed, but never truly dispersed. "So you know how our Bond connects our two Souls and the magic that makes up the Soul is always active within the Soul as that is what keeps us alive, right?" He forced himself to verify that Flug truly did know and remember everything they had gone over. He wouldn't mess this up. Not this part.

Flug nodded in agreement.

"And you remember that our Marks are physical manifestations of our Bond that can be lit by our magic, allowing them to provide an echo of our Soul in each other?"

Flug nodded again. Where was Sans taking this?

Sans nodded and confirmed one more thing. "You remember how powerful it felt when our Souls connected and synced properly for the first time? And how it felt when your Soul was actually, physically touched?"

Blinking Flug nodded "Yeah it was tingly all over my body like you were touching me everywhere. Are we touching Souls?"

Sans shook his head, magic brightening for a moment before dimming again. "That was a light touch on your Soul then. What I am asking… Wait, one more thing, you remember how much pressure was needed and how much it initially hurts when the Marks are placed?" His eyelights never left Flug's eyes, bright and vibrating, but serious as never before.

Flug took a deep breath nodding, "Yeah, bone is really hard to break and it kinda scares me, but I know if I focus my Mark will heal you. I can do it." Flug spoke with confidence.

"What I'm asking for now, is a lot more painful, seems a lot more delicate, but again is still in the intention. I would like your permission to Mark your Soul, and you mine." Sans bit at his teeth, unsure and completely willing to stop at any point. "We don't have to, I won't force this, ever. Once it is started though, there is no backing out. The Bond can truly never be severed after this. This is a tradition that predates the Underground by millenia. Most monsters don't even know about it anymore. I need your consent more than ever for this though. I know I initially created this whole Bond and our first Mark without consent and I will always feel like shit for that. I won't do that here. I am asking you." Whatever you do, don't agree to this for me. I will respect any decision you make.

Frowning and furrowing his brow Flug bit his lip. "What… What could possibly go wrong? I want to know before we start this. I don't want to end up hurting you. The way I'm understanding, this will be an all or nothing type of thing. We won't be able to stop half way, right?"

Sans nodded. "That's right. If you are uncertain in any capacity about us while placing this Mark," he paused, holding back, afraid to scare Flug away from it, but also knowing he couldn't chance going ahead without telling, he finally released it and told Flug the flip of it. "If you lose your nerve, feel any insecurity, or back out before we finish on each other, we both die." He wanted to look away, to not see the terror, but he held Flug's gaze. This was important and not to be shied away from.

Biting his lip Flug took Sans's hand looking down to their rings. "I don't know. I love you with all my Soul and I know that without any hesitation. It's the act of doing it that concerns me. I know you are stronger than you seem. It's just… I hate hurting you in any way."

Leaning back and dispelling his magic, Sans nodded. "Alright. Then we won't do it. That is fine. Cuddles?" He asked, completely switching from serious and almost dominating to his usual joking self as he curled into himself and slid off Flug's lap to curl into his side, purring lowly. His sockets dipped as he seemed about to fall asleep right then and there.

Sighing Flug nuzzled Sans's skull. "I'm sorry… Maybe one day we can. We do have forever." In the meantime however, Flug wanted a picture. Slipping his phone out of his pocket Flug turned it to selfie mode and held up their hands showcasing the rings smiling and snapping the picture. Sans was tucked into his side looking half asleep while Flug beamed showing off their rings. Flug beamed setting it as his background and sending it to all of his contacts. Including, the Gaster gang, the Lust brothers, Black Hat, Demencia, 5.0.5, Fell, Red, and even Papyrus.

"Don't be. It is really dangerous and I get that. I'm glad you told me no if you weren't ready. I can't lose you, and I am pretty sure the reverse is true for you. Plus the boss would probably be pretty pissed if we Dusted each other." His voice was strong, no sign of the fatigue he showed outwardly, but the previous drive was completely gone. Absently he played with the metal that now rested against his phalange.

Smiling Flug kissed his skull. "Hey, Sans do you want to ask your brother to meet with us tomorrow?"

"Sure. You wanna go down to our place or have me bring him up here?" He asked, curling closer to his mate, wanting to be as close as possible. His Soul was still singing from their close Marking and the excitement of receiving a ring. He now understood why humans traded trinkets. It felt amazing.

Humming in thought Flug ran his fingers down Sans's back tracing tattoos through his shirt. "I'm not sure. I guess we can go to his place." Flug felt a bit of jealousy from Sans calling the Underground house 'Our Place' but he wouldn't let it get to him. No, now was the time for small comforts, he could feel Sans's Soul singing happily next to him.

Feeling Flug's hand tracing over his back, Sans pondered for a moment before asking, "Do-do you want to feel, without the magic distracting everything?"

Nodding Flug slid his hand under Sans's shirt feeling the cracked bone. He had scars not unlike Flug had before Sugar Plum healed him. "You are still beautiful to me."

"Heh." Leaning a way for a moment, Sans pulled his tee-shirt over his head, remembering briefly as it left that he had shredded the bottom of this one down in the lab. He would likely get rid of it later. Rolling over to lay on his sternum, he asked before reaching for Flug's magic. "Mind if I use your magic to make a light so you can really see? If I use mine, the tat's will light."

Shaking his head Flug leaned closer "Go ahead if you want to. Otherwise I can turn on the nightstand lamp." He moved his fingers slowly over the black tattoos feeling the rough bone.

Sans shrugged, his scapula rising and shifting his vertebrae and ribs with the motion. "Lamp works too. Might actually be easier to see the mess with a white light versus our magic."

Nodding Flug flipped the switch. "It's nice to just look at you. I don't get to just enjoy you often. We are normally busy when you don't have a shirt."

Unable to hold back the snort, Sans had to agree. "That is fair enough. I spend enough time examining you, take your time. There is literally years worth of work there."

Frowning Flug leaned down kissing the scars. "Years worth of kisses to heal you."

"Ah, just being here with you heals me babe." He wanted to flip over and give his mate a hug, but he was enjoying the attention that for once, was not filled with pity. It felt nice to have someone look over it and not be horrified and afraid to touch him for fear of his Dusting.

Kissing down the scars Flug looked closely at the details able to pinpoint where the machine stabbed into bone and infused the Determination. "Your tattoos are beautiful, love. I wish I could heal you of all your pain. However, your scars show that you live. Which I am forever grateful."

Sans nodded, proud and glad someone else understood. He didn't view them as trophies of battles won like the Fell sector did, but rather, as a history of his life. "At least they usually don't hurt, so it isn't like I suffer to carry them all." He barely held back a finch though as Flug's fingers passed over one of the deeper scars left by the drilling needles.

Flug instantly kissed the deep scar in apology. "You tell me if they ever hurt you. I would gladly pamper you and kiss every inch of you."

"I'll tell you, but seriously, I usually don't even think about them anymore. I have enough other stuff to think about, what with raising Paps and now you. I don't have time to pity my looks. I've got two healthy kids to raise." He smiled, laughing as he spoke, trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh you!" Flug gave Sans a wet raspberry in retaliation. "So rude to your lover who is trying to worship your boney butt!"

"Oh, worship is it?" Sans pushed Flug's face away, trying to escape the raspberry. "Then go ahead and don't let me stop you. There is plenty there to keep you busy and I won't complain."

Huffing Flug continued praising Sans's bones with kisses and light touches. So much pain and still he was here. Flug was so grateful to have such a strong mate.

Sans relaxed, stiffening occasionally as Flug would pass over a particularly deep scar or one that was recent enough to have memories. Some were just so clearly embedded in his Soul that he couldn't forget what they were from.

Nuzzling his spine Flug sighed relaxing against Sans's back. "You are warm. I might just fall asleep."

"Says the living flesh heater." Sans mumbled into the pillow his face was buried in, enjoying Flug just as much for the same reason.

Flug ran his fingers along bone in mindless shapes. "Hey… I want you to meet someone."

"Hmmm? Who?" His voice was muffled and the fingers that traced were lulling him into something of a half-sleep trance. It felt so good.

"Someone special to me. Maybe after a nap though." Shifting Flug nuzzled into Sans's side.

"Naps sound good." Sans agreed.

Humming Flug tugged Sans to his chest closing his eyes and continued to trace mindless shapes. "Good. Now shh and sleep."

Purring lightly, Sans quickly drifted off to sleep for the first time in a week. How he missed being in his mate's arms.

Flug was quick to follow, grateful to have his mate's Soul so close to his own. It gave him a sense of calm and protection that no blanket or hug could ever live up to. Around an hour later Flug stretched blinking open his eyes to look down to his small skeleton.

Sans lay passed out, barely moving. Dark shadows under his sockets that hadn't been there a week ago marked apparent strain, but not why or how. Just in front of his chest, Flugs phone sat silent with a notification light blinking brightly in the darkness of the room. The lamp, left on, highlighted even more scars, these not hidden by tattoos, that laced over the edges of his ribs and around the inside of his chest. Darker bone marked innumerable breaks on his bare arms as well.

Sighing sadly Flug kissed Sans's scars. His poor darling was hurt all over, far more than Flug had noticed before. Being able to see him now showed scars Flug didn't even know Sans had. He wondered if he could heal those like Sugar Heal him after being pumped full of magic. That was a test for another day. Picking up his phone Flug looked at the messages.

One message was from Blindy, a voice clip, then there were messages from Segoe and Astral as well.

Segoe: I see you boys traded off like planned. So what did he think of your ring? What did you think of his? He made a proper din creating that thing.

Astral: They look good on you. He really is a small thing compared to you, isn't he? I hope he takes care and remembers his promises.

Smiling Flug looked down at his ring happily. Flug scooted away from Sans to sneak off to listen to Blindy's voice clip. He was already thinking of responses to the others.

Blindy: "So the guys tell me you two are curled up together with the rings? You gotta tell me how that went down and like, every detail. I just have to know!" 80's music played in the background of the clip as well.

Flug to Segoe: It's so beautiful! I can't believe he made it for me. Sans loved his as well! I think we both love the idea of having something that we made that symbolises our bond.

Flug to Astral: Yes, Sans is very small, but it just makes him easier to cuddle. I think we are bonded even more than before.

Flug to Blindy: He brought me to a corgi cafe to talk and got down on his knee and asked me. I swear I was so shocked I didn't say anything for a minute. Oh it's so beautiful! After that Sans was as eager to go back to the lab to get the ring I made him. He looked so happy and excited. He is so adorable. I love him so much.

Yawning and stretching, Sans rolled over and promptly found himself stuck between the wall and the bed, a compromising position he had only found himself in once since moving here. This was exactly why he didn't line his bed up with the wall. He could fall out and into a pile of laundry whenever he felt like. "Babe~" He called, not expecting Flug to be there and knowing his voice would be muffled, even if he was. He wasn't awake enough to really think though and was honestly debating just going back to sleep as he was. It wasn't painful or anything.

Peeking back into the room Flug giggled walking over and scooping Sans into his arms. "Oh dear you got yourself stuck again? Are you still sleepy? Oh, the others like our rings."

Cuddling into Flug's chest, the skeleton hummed. "Dad say anything?" He doubted it, but wanted to ask after all he and Gaster had talked.

"Not yet, but probably soon. How are you feeling? Still tired?" Flug asked, nuzzling his skull. "If you feel up to it I can introduce you to someone. If you are still tired we can do it another day."

"Nah, I'm fine." Sans insisted, but didn't leave his warm spot on Flug. "Just trying to calm my magic back down. I got a bit excited before and it had a lasting effect. I have a slight over-abundance at the moment."

"Oh? We can rest a bit more before we leave then." Flug compromised walking to the lab to their mini fridge that 5.0.5 always keeps stocked. Taking out a soda Flug opened it pressing it to his lips before offering it to Sans.

"Doing something might actually be better for me at the moment." Sans mumbled, finally turning away from Flug's chest to accept the drink. He still had dark circles under his eyes, but they seems slightly better. "I should probably start uploading all the files for the new devices to our network too, if we are gonna hang around. I've got a few terabytes of data afterall. I was a little busy."

Laughing Flug nodded. "Do you want to do that now? We can go visit tomorrow if you want. You look stressed and exhausted."

Laughing and shaking his head, Sans waved off his concern. "I'm fine babe. Just haven't slept in a while. I don't think...yeah, no, I didn't sleep at all while I was gone. I'll set the files up to transfer and I'll get them all sorted when we get back. It will take them a few hours after all. I want to meet your friend." He insisted.

Nodding Flug sat down at a table, Sans sitting in his lap. Holding him loosely Flug let Sans do what he wanted to. "I should have introduced you before now, but it just didn't feel like the right time."

"Can't say I'm any better. Look how long it took me to introduce you to Undyne and Alph, and we only met them by accident!" He tapped away on the keyboard, setting a destination for the huge file download before locking the system up. "Alright, all good to go. I'll show you the info when we get back. There is a lot to go over."

Using the band, instantly they were in a small graveyard surrounded by woods. They stood in front of a grave with a bouquet of plastic bright blue hydrangeas stuck in a small tube beside the head stone. The stone was old and had moss growing up the sides of it. It was a dark dull gray, making it hard to read the words carved into it. The name was deeply carved stating, Lenore Slys. The date, however, couldn't be read through the weathering and moss. A quote was under the date reading brokenly, "To… children, if… to choose betwe…. lovin… an… breathing. I….. use my…. breath…. tell you, I… you."

"I picked the quote. It was something she would say." Flug smiled sadly kneeling in front of the headstone. "She was the only woman I would call mother. She cared for me and I believe truly loved me. I took her maiden name when she adopted me. She never married. It wasn't long after she passed that Black Hat took me in." Resting a hand on the stone Flug sighed. "Sorry I've been gone so long. I brought someone to meet you. His name is Sans and he's my husband. We made each other rings, I bet you would have loved them. You always thought I was creative. He treats me good and is very sweet and caring. Sans is a keeper."

"Th-this is the person who raised you?" Sans asked, curiously looking over the stone and the surrounding area.

"Yeah… She's who I would call mom. I bounced back and forth between homes most of my life, but for a while she was my stable home. Now my home is with you." Flug smiled up to Sans patting the spot next to him. "Is there anything you want to say? We can leave soon."

"I think I'd like to meet her someday." Sans said, smiling, before kneeling and placing a hand against the stone. "Thank you for raising such an important part of my life. May your rest after life be long and peaceful."

Smiling Flug kissed Sans's cheek. "I love you." Instantly they were on Flug's bed. Standing he went to his nightstand, digging through the drawer. Pulling out an old picture, it had crease lines from being folded, he passed it to Sans. In the picture stood a beautiful woman in a sundress in front of a fireplace. Next to her stood a scrawny boy that only came to her shoulders. He had messy hair and a bright grin on his face. "This is the only photo I have of us together."

Sans was silent for several moments as he looked at her and the small boy next to her. "Did she die happy?" He finally asked.

Biting his lip Flug looked at this picture. "I would like to think so. I don't think she had any regrets in life. She was a great woman."

"She looks happy in this. When was this taken?" He dragged a phalange over the picture, pausing as he passed over young Flug.

Humming Flug nodded. "It was the date I officially took her last name. We had a big party afterwards."

"So even as a kid, you were a party animal." Sans joked. "Hope you didn't drink as heavy then as you try to when you hit Grillby's."

"Sans, I was only 16! I wasn't allowed to drink. Our parties were more along the lines of what you would do with your brother."

Sans chuckled. "Okay, fair enough. Hey Flug, question for you." He set the picture down. "What do you think she would think of you now? Like, if she met you, as you are, or us. What do you think her reaction would be?"

Flug smiled looking off at nothing as he imagined it. "I think she would be proud. I have a good job and a great mate. I think she would be happy and proud."

"Even though your mate is a monster? A skeleton? Most humans didn't react all that well when the barrier broke. There was a lot of screaming initially and we lost a few." He shook his head, knocking away the mental cobwebs that had fallen over his vision as he remembered the past.

Blinking Flug shrugged. "I don't think she would mind. I mean she was strong on love is love. It didn't matter as long as they treated you right. She might have had questions. Why all the questions? Do you not think she would approve of you? Sans, she would I promise you."

"I'll admit, I still have my hesitations over humanity." He couldn't meet Flug's eyes as he said it, but continued. "They have done wrong by us time and again. The reason I am asking all this, I guess, is since we are going through with some of the human traditions as well, there is one I'd like to go through with, if you'll let me." He looked up, biting his teeth as he waited to see if Flug would be open to going through with anything else that might further their bond.

Nodding and giving him a smile so Sans knew he was open to listen. "Explain it to me love."

"I would like your permission to meet her myself, so that I can ask properly to take you as my mate. She is the most valued person in your life and the one that raised you. Gaining her permission and acceptance is about the best I could get, next to your acceptance, which I still can't believe I managed to get." he explained roughly, shaping air between his hands as if he were playing with a ball.

Flug gained a sad look. "Sans… She's… We were just there."

Raising a bone brow, Sans was silent for a moment, waiting for Flug to catch on, but when he didn't, Sans sighed. "Weren't you listening when I gave you that band earlier? It crosses not only space as a teleportation device, but time too. As in, past, present, and future? I recommend against the third, and don't touch yourself in the past….er, well, you get it, but yeah. You could, ya know, see her again? Let her see you and what you've become? I thought, for someone who is primarily human in mind still, it might help as time passes you by untouched." He shrugged.

Flug's jaw dropped. "I-I can-" Covering his face he hiccupped choking back overwhelmed sobs.

Allowing a smug smirk to come over his face, Sans sat back to watch the emotional show afforded him. This was more like what he had been expecting when he had given the band. He did find it amusing that Flug had been scared of spacial travel but was...overjoyed? By time travel. Either way, he'd wait and help him figure it all out for himself.

Nodding slowly Flug peeked up at Sans "I-I want to go. H-how?"

Slipping off the bed, Sans started with, "Well, do you want to go looking as you are, or clean up? Personally, I want a shower first. I just spent a week in a lab, my shirt is shredded, I need a shower, and I would like to make a good impression." He wandered into the next room as if he hadn't just dropped a huge bombshell on his mate, hiding a smile, but amusement coloring their bond easily as he teased.

Gasping Flug huffed. "You are a turd! Take your shower I'll pick out clothes." He started with Sans's first looking for some nicer clothes. Finally after endless searching he found a nice blue button up and black slacks. Laying them on the bed he went and changed into a navy blue button up and slacks. Fidgeting he waited for Sans to finish his shower.

Finally coming out, Sans left the bathroom in his traditional blue zip up and basketball shorts with another too big plain white tank, pink slippers and socks. "Kay, I'm good now." He announced after getting the last of the moisture he could reach out of his vertebrae.

"Oh no. You change into what I picked out for you." Flug pointed to the button up and slacks. "You can keep your hoodie, but the rest has to go."

Grimacing at the fancy wear, Sans whined. "What are you tryin' ta do to me babe? I ain't a fancy man. I'm a lazy one. If I'm meeting your mom, I want her to know me as me, not as some sham, or are you ashamed of me like this?"

Huffing Flug held up the clothes. "You are dressing up for my mother. If you want to greet your mother dressed in those clothes we can. Not for mine. At least not today."

Throwing up his hands in surrender, Sans stepped forward to accept his fate. "Very well. As you wish, my darling."

Flug kissed his skull. "Thank you. I'll be sure to dress down when I meet your mother."

"My...we would have to go very far back indeed to see my mother Flug. Well, to see her before she became what she did." Sans's eyelights became dim. He hadn't even thought about visiting his own past. There was too much darkness there.

"You said this band didn't have any limits. Oh Fuck!" Flug turned to Sans is eyes shining "Can I go back to see you as a babybones?!"

"Now that is a terrifying thought." Sans muttered as he fought his way into the button up without undoing the buttons. "If I go with you, yes. I don't want you going that far back without me."

"Are you embarrassed?" Flug teased.

Finally getting his head out the top of the shirt, Sans turned a minor glare on his lover. "Course I am. I was weaker than the average human then and had zero control over my magic."

Grinning Flug walked over pinching Sans's cheeks cooing. "You are so adorable love! I can't wait to see you as a babybones."

"It will only be from a distance." He growled, shucking his basketball shorts and struggling into the stiff slacks, completing the outfit. "This look fine enough for you?" He pulled at the stiff, scratchy cuffs and slipped his slippers back on.

Frowning Flug shook his head. "No, it doesn't look right. One second." Unbuttoning the cuffs he rolled them up making sure they were even, ending just shy of his elbow. Looking to the collar of the shirt he unbuttoned the top two flattening it out until it looked natural to have it open. "There. Can you breathe and move alright now my grumpy skelly?"

"I don't gotta breathe, remember? Let's go, and try to aim for a time when you aren't around. Like I said, meeting yourself isn't a good idea." Sans sighed.

"You like to breathe, though." Focusing Flug shot for a time that he should be in school. They were instantly in a room similar to the one at Black Hat's. Planes decorated everything along with posters of superheroes and villains alike.

"A nerd, even as a kid." Sans chuckled. "You should probably find and speak to her first. A skeleton doesn't usually have a good first impression and my people are still forgotten Underground at this time." he suggested as he looked around the room.

"Will you be fine here?" Flug asked moving to the door. It felt surreal being back in his old room.

Sans smirked at him. "I think I can manage sitting in a room Flug."

Nodding Flug opened the door before pausing "Don't look in the shoebox under the bed." Flug said in a serious tone before shutting the door looking at his old house. It still had the old Victorian look and the oak wood smell. Grinning he walked to the staircase banister hopping on it with one hip and sliding down dangerously like he had done countless times before. Walking through the rooms Flug headed to the kitchen already smelling the sweet scent of baking pies. Poking his head around the corner he saw her standing by the oven in one of her blue sundresses, a white frilly apron covering the front. "Mom..."

Sans hesitated only a moment after Flug disappeared before diving under Flug's bed. As if he would leave such an enticement undiscovered! Pulling out the box, and looking around the room as if the walls themselves might have eyes, he slowly peeked inside. Toys for sexual pleasure were the last thing he expected to find and blushing a brilliant sapphire, he quickly shoved it back where he'd found it.

Perking up at hearing her son Lenore stood up with a pie. "Hello, sweetheart you are home early!" turning around she dropped the pie at seeing an older man in her doorway. "Oh um hello? Can I help you?"

Stepping forward Flug bit his lip. "Um, mom it's me, Flug. I'm actually from the future..."

"F-f-future? Sir, this is not a funny joke. I will call the police if you don't leave this instant." Lenore grabbed a flower covered rolling pin as a weapon.

"No, I swear! It's me, Flug. Um, dang it, how can I prove it to you?" Flug asked. Sans she doesn't believe it's me!

What is something only you two would know? What about that phrase you had inscribed on her stone? Sans tried to coach, lounging on the plush bed and inspecting a model.

Nodding Flug looked to her, "You would always say this to the kids you fostered or adopted. 'To my children, if I had to choose between loving you and breathing. I would use my last breath to tell you, I love you.' Mom it's me. I can't explain it to you because it's a complicated device, but I'm from the future."

Blinking she lowered the rolling pin. "Why?"

"I… I can't tell you why besides I wanted you to meet my husband." Flug offered holding up his hand to show off the ring.

"Husband… Husband! My little Flug is married! Oh praise the lord!" She grinned stepping over the pie to hug Flug tight.

Beaming Flug held her back tight hesitant to let her go. "He's a little different. The future is a little different."

"Oh is he one of those little superheroes you hang up on your wall?" She asked ruffling his hair.

"Um not really? He's really…. Unforgettable?" Sans, you want to come to the kitchen?

The scent of the ocean temporarily washed over the kitchen and Sans appeared on the other side of the counter, only the top of his skull showing over the top of the marble. "Why are these things always so dang tall." He grumbled and made his way around, coming up behind the woman. "Yo, I'm Sans, Sans Tempus."

Blinking at the small skeleton Lenore promptly passed out. Only barely being caught by Flug. "Shit."

"That went about as well as I planned." Sans laughed. "Let's get her to a couch to rest."

Nodding Flug slowly brought her to one of the couches to rest on. "Yeah, sorry. I probably should have warned her better. Well, this is my mom."

"Pretty lady for a human. Like the hair." Sans commented, looking her over. "I'll go check on the pies. Don't want them to burn on her."

"Thanks love." Flug smiled running his fingers through her hair. He missed her so much.

Groaning Lenore opened her eyes. "Flug? Am I still dreaming?"

"Heh, no mother. This is real. Um, sorry for Sans scaring you. Yes, he really is a skeleton. No, I didn't Frankenstein him. He's a monster. He's just different. I love him very much."

"Son of a mother fucker!" Sans roared from the kitchen as he dropped a pie that just came out of an oven, coating himself in the piping hot filling. I think I officially hate plums. This shit is HOT!

Gasping Flug jolted to his feet rushing into the kitchen and wetting a rag to get the filling off of Sans's bones. "You just wanted out of these clothes, didn't you? You didn't have to go through fresh pie to do that." Flug teased quickly swiping off the pie filling.

Poking her head through the door Lenore watch the two interact. It was so strange seeing a real skeleton. A walking, talking skeleton.

"I wouldn't waste a pie for that. I'd just botch a teleport and land in a mud puddle or something. Maybe the river if I'm really going for aces." He groaned. "Man, mind if I steal some of your old clothes, this is literally burning my bones. My marrow feels like it is trying to boil."

Cooing Flug kissed Sans's skull. "I'm sorry love. Go on and change. Check the closet I have my soft stuff in there."

In a blink he was gone, leaving Flug with a pile of plum pie and his mother. Back in the room full of models and action figures, he pillaged the dresser and closet, looking for clothes that would fit him.

Using the rag to clean up the mess Flug dumped it in a nearby trash can. "Mom, he won't bite. I promise."

"I know. It's just strange to see one walking around, let alone talking." She rubbed at her arms walking slowly back into the kitchen.

Snickering Flug nodded. "You wouldn't even know how strange he isn't compared to everyone else. The future is a lot crazier than Sans. Sans is probably one of the normal ones."

Teleporting back in, sitting on the edge of the counter now in a set of Flug's old shorts and a space tee, he kicked his now bare feet. His slippers had gotten drenched as well. Those had been his favorite.

"Oh dear, that was one of my favorites." Flug grinned looking at the shirt. "Could you tell little me that it got lost in the wash?" Flug grinned to his mother.

Lenore shook her head. "You always did like stealing jackets and clothes from other people you liked."

Sans stuck his bright blue tongue out at Flug, grinning. "It will really get to travel space and time now."

Snorting Flug kissed Sans's skull. "You are such a punster. Well, I think it's time to introduce again. Mother, this is my husband." Flug stood proudly beside Sans taking his hand and holding it.

Slipping off the counter so he could stand properly, Sans bowed perfectly. "Mrs. Syls, I would like the, possibly late, permission to take your son's hand as my own, to hold as my perfect and complete other half for as long as my Soul may beat. Will you permit this bonding?"

Blinking stunned Lenore looked to her son watching him nod happily. "As long as you treat him right and with respect. As long as you love him and care for him. As long as you shower him in affection and pleasure him completely-"

"Mom!" Flug blushed pink covering his face.

Grinning like a cat that just got the cream, Sans winked, "Without a fault, fair lady."

"Honey, you are louder than you think you are." She chuckled covering her mouth. "If you do all those without fault then I will gladly permit your bonding."

Sans snorted, standing and moving back to lean against the counter. "Thank you. Well, other than the initial swoon, you seem to be taking this pretty much in stride. Got any questions for us? We have until he," he jerked his head towards Flug, "gets home from school. Can't chance a cross in the timelines confusing everything and possibly messing up his future. Would really mess him up if younger him bonded to me or I accidentally bonded to him. He might not live to do this and then we'd have a whole paradox to deal with." He watched Lenore, interested in just what kind of woman she was. This was the person who shaped Flug during his human childhood while Sans was busy raising Papyrus miles away under a mountain.

Lenore smiled nodding. "Can you tell me more about you? How did my boy meet a skeleton like yourself."

"Hmm, well that is a boatload of secrets to spill. I'm gonna have to ask that you keep quiet about it and definitely avoid the being known as Black Hat for the remainder of your life." Sans shrugged. All information came with a price.

Lenore chuckled. "Well, I don't have many people to tell secrets of the future too."

"You'd be surprised how many suddenly appear once you have those secrets. Let's go sit and we can talk. It can be a lot to take in and I don't want to be the one responsible for your sudden demise." His face seemed older for a moment before he smiled again.

Lenore nodded grabbing a tray with a pie, plates, and forks on it as she led them to a small seating area. "Have some pie as we talk."

Nodding Flug served them all pie before taking a seat. "What are we allowed to tell her?"

"Hmm, I'd avoid her death and any details about it. Up to you honestly if you want to share our occupation. Beyond that, you can pretty much tell her anything. Her knowing about my people won't affect anything. If she went there, it would be her own death, so I don't think she is going to abandon you for me or mine." Sans mused and offered.

"Well… We both work together doing science and inventing. Um, I hired Sans and then we kind of got together. Uh, what else should we tell her?"

"Kind of got together?" Sans choked on a laugh. "You jumped me in the middle of a torture session and I started to bond you before I even knew if you accepted. I think that's a bit more than 'kind of' babe." Reigning himself back in, he thought before adding, "Why not tell her about 5.0.5. and your other new friends?"

Flushing brightly Flug whined. Sans! I didn't really want to tell my mom about my sex life! "Yeah, one of my creations is a big blue sentient bear. He isn't able to communicate past noises, but he's able to understand. I also have two friends that are monsters like Sans. They are from the Lust sector so-" Flug blushed harder choking slightly on air.

She seems to already know...by the way, you never mentioned you had an interest in toys~ Sans watched Flug's face while he relaxed.

Sans! I told you not to look! Flug's face burned in shame and embarrassment.

And you expected me not to investigate? His lazy grin grew wider.

Groaning Flug covered his face.

"Everything okay honey?" Lenore asked concerned.

"He is embarrassed I found his box of goodies." Sans replied good naturedly.

"Oh! Were you snooping in his room?" Lenore asked raising a brow in a light tease.

"No, never." Sans feigned innocence. "He left me in there when we got here so that he could find you. He's my husband, so I figured I'd have a look around. No secrets between lovers and all that, ya know."

Giggling she leaned over pinching his cheek lightly. "You are such a precious treat. You are so good for my Flug."

"Mom! I didn't think you two would team up against me!" Flug whined sulking as he ate his pie.

"Awe, Flug, don't worry, I won't bust on either of you kids too much. I'm just having a laugh. Just trying to break the ice. Still not sure how to handle pre-barrier humans." He tried to soothe, still chuckling slightly.

"Kids? Are you much older than Flug?" Lenore asked. She didn't know how skeletons aged.

"You wanna try and remember, or just have me spill the beans?" Sans was having way too much fun with this. The whole age thing still cracked him up.

Biting his lip Flug chuckled. "Um, let me try… Six hundred and um forty… two? "

"Sixty four." Sans corrected.

"So close." Flug grinned snapping his fingers in mock disappointment. "He's a bit of a cradle robber, but only because monsters can live almost forever. Don't think too hard on it mom."

"Oh lord, protect my baby from this ancient skeleton." Lenore prayed closing her eyes and shaking her head.

"But hey, just think, one day your baby will be as old or older than I am. He'll still be a kid to me though." Sans shrugged the prayers off.

"You're turning him into a vampire?!" Lenore asked shocked and almost afraid.

"Mom! No!" Flug laughed folding over himself at the insanity of the remark.

"Nope, they went extinct about four hundred years ago, give or take a decade. I just turned him into a monster. It was all very magical" Sans fluttered his hands, letting little blue sparks fall from his fingers as he said the last word.

"Magic?" Lenore looked as Sans as if he was a fool trying to sell tupperware as fine china.

"It is something that all monsters have. Even you, although humans don't really have any ability to grasp it. It is usually toxic for monster and human magic to mix as well. Your son got lucky I guess, but yeah, I've got magic." He summoned a small blaster just to prove his point and let it wander around the room inspecting things that had caught his eye, but he didn't want to seem like a snoop to check out.

Shrieking she jumped up snatching the blaster out of the air. "Oh My Word! You've created this through magic? It feels real!"

Beaming Flug nudged Sans. "You've impressed her now. I took my excitement after her."

Groaning, Sans dropped his head to his hands. "I see where you get your lack of self-preservation from as well." To Lenore, he called out, "Just don't stick your fingers in its sockets or mouth please. It's really uncomfortable."

Looking over at Sans her fingers just stopping from touching the sockets. Blushing she straightened coughing slightly. "Yes, of course. Do you work like this skull, with magic I mean?"

Giggling Flug shook his head. "No, Sans is a bit more complicated. Since he is controlling the blaster in a sense. Sans, could you show her my Soul? No touching mom, but I would like you to see it."

"Still haven't mastered that yet? We'll work on it more later. I didn't really think about the fact that it would be harder for you since you have all that flesh in the way." He reached across and made a grabbing motion over Flug's chest and pulled until it popped out and appeared to be caged in Sans's hand until he flipped it over and uncurled his phalanges.

"Oh my… Is that a heart?" Lenore walked over looking at it.

"It's my Soul. Without it, I would die. If Sans gripped it hard it would hurt me just like any other organ in my body. It's a part of my whole being." Flug tried to explain, while keeping it simple.

"It's essentially a culmination of his entire self, physical, mental, and magical, all compounded into one small, powerful, intense package." Sans tacked on, thoughtlessly stroking the thrumming powersource with his thumb.

Shivering Flug's eyelids became lidded as a small pleased noise crept from him. "Sans… Ya stroken me..." It felt so nice and warm, but he wouldn't want to get stirred up in front of his mother.

"Oh shit!" Sans released the Soul as if burned, hurrying to put it away. "Sorry hun. Uh…" he glanced between Flug and Lenore and blushed a bit himself as he realized what he had essentially just done. "Sorry?" He offered with a shrug to the mother.

"So they are really sensitive..." Lenore pondered. "Sans, do you also have one? Is it just in your ribs? Does it float? What do you do when you take a shower? Do you get dirty and take showers?"

"Woah kiddo. Hold it a second." Throwing a worried glance at his half stimulated mate, he bit his teeth before sighing and praying he recovered soon and began answering the slew of questions he knew would propagate at some point. "Okay, yes I have a Soul, and yes, it floats inside my ribcage. As for what I do when I get a shower, the same thing as anybody else usually, I try to clean my body and relax. And seriously, do I get dirty? I may be almost seven hundred but I am still a guy. Of course I get dirty."

Bursting into laughter at the last comment Lenore sat back in her chair. "You, Sans are a riot."

The skeleton looked at himself before looking up completely straight-faced. "I thought I was a skeleton, but maybe I was wrong all this time."

Bursting into new found laughter Lenore shook her head. "You tell bad jokes just like Flug does. I'm glad to have you as a son-in-law." Wiping away her tears she smiled. "Come here and give me a hug. I wish to properly bring you into our family." Lenore said while standing an opening her arms for Sans.

Unable to stop the huge smile that took over his face, Sans carefully got up and couldn't stop the hesitance before he allowed himself to step forward and accept the hug. "Thank you Lenore. This means a lot to me." He buried his face in her stomach as he accepted the hug.

Rubbing his skull Lenore smiled down to him whispering over his skull to her son. "He is so adorable. So small like you."

Grinning Flug nodded. "He's perfect. I couldn't ask for better. I'm glad you like him." Flug still felt a slightly heated fuzziness through his body.

"I can hear you, you know." Sans said through the fabric and flesh covering his face, but smiled all the same. Flug had a good parent. Pulling away from her, he couldn't stop tears from gathering in his sockets as he was forced to remember that Flug wanted kids and could have been as caring a father as she was a mother, but for the fact that Sans couldn't give them to him.

"Oh honey, we didn't mean to upset you." Lenore cooed leaning down to swipe at the tears. Tutting Lenore wiped them all away and pressed a motherly kiss to the top of his skull.

He shook his head. "Wasn't you. Just, just something else. You are a really good mom. I think mine woulda liked you." Sand couldn't believe he was turning into a blubbery mess from one simple hug.

Smiling Lenore hugged him a bit tighter. "You are a great k-old skeleton. I'm glad you and Flug found each other. You will bring the children when and if you are able?"

Flug beamed. "Of course mom. When we get them we'll bring them. We'll be time traveling so it could be tomorrow." Laughing Flug smiled standing and joining the hug. "I'm glad we were able to do this. I miss you mom."

All the talk of children was too much for Sans. He teleported to Flug's room, afraid of disrupting too much beyond the house and buried his face in kid-Flug's pillow to bawl. He was a terrible, useless mate. The only sign of him left in the room below was the small blaster, which leaked tears that disappeared before they hit the floor and the powerful smell of the ocean.

Blinking Flug frowned "Oh dear… I believe it is time for us to leave. Mom, I love you, I always will."

"I love you too. Go get your skeleton." Lenore smiled kissing his messy hair.

Beaming he went to the blaster jumping slightly to get it out of the air and into his arms. Petting the skull he murmured soothing words as he walked up the stairs to his old room. His Soul ached from Sans's misery. Love, I'm coming in.

He couldn't stop the flow of tears and emotions, so he didn't even try, just laying on the small bed and crying into an airplane patterned pillow.

Sitting next to his sobbing mate Flug cooed rubbing his spine. "What's wrong? Do you… Do you miss your mom?"

Thankful for the inadvertent out Flug had given him, Sans merely nodded. It wasn't a lie. He did miss his mother. She had been amazing, wonderful, the absolute best, and she was gone, even now, in this current time.

Flug pulled Sans into his arms humming sadly. "We can go see her soon I promise. You want to go home and relax for a bit? Maybe get Papyrus?" Flug offered. He hated seeing Sans this upset and was willing to even get Papyrus to comfort the small skeleton.

Shaking his head and taking a deep breath, Sans tried to talk before having to do so several more times before he successfully could manage a few words. "C-can w-we go d-d-down to d-dad's old la-ab? Y-yau n-need ta kn-now somethin'." He asked since he knew Flug had just gone through a terrible experience with his dad's lab in Nightmare's visions, but he didn't think he could actually tell Flug the information himself without breaking down further.

"Where you showed me the first time we met? That old lab?" Flug asked wanting to be certain before trying to travel.

Sans shook his head. "Da's lab, not mine. I c'n help guide. You nev'r been there."

Nodding Flug wrapped his arms tight around his mate and blaster before letting Sans guide his magic while he used the band. They were instantly there in a lab he hadn't seen.

White wash thin walls separated cells behind clear plexiglass. Many were now cleaned and empty, but Sans knew further down, away from where they were headed, there still remained a lot of carnage to clean up. Taking Flug's hand, he led him through the halls towards the room where he had left the report on screen, not able to close it, not able to fully accept it.

Flug dug his heels into the tiles, shaking his head. "S-sans this is-I-I can't."

"This is my dad's lab." Sans's voice took on the same dead inflection it had held in the nightmare Flug had endured, but he stopped moving when Flug resisted, just staring ahead.

"I know! I was here!" Flug choked.

"W-when? Oh, right. Nightmare. Sorry. We can go. I-I'll get the information some other way." He took a breath before checking to be sure. "Good to teleport? I'll take us home."

Shaking his head Flug closed his eyes and clinging to Sans's arm. "I-I want to know. I just… I'm scared Sans. Can we just go get whatever it is and leave? Do we have to walk through the halls?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll try." He teleported several times, no more than ten feet a teleport until they reached the lab room and he walked them in and to the main console with its many lit screens. "I'm guessing you wanted to read it at home?" He was doing his best to shut down his emotions while he was here so that he could function properly. He didn't want to make this any harder on Flug than it already was.

"If-if I can..." Flug stuttered still keeping his eyes closed.

Glancing at Flug, Sans felt bad for bringing him here. 'I'm gonna step out for just a minute and then I'll be back. I gotta go grab one of my thumb sticks. It's a big file and I didn't bring any with me. Will you be okay? If not, go ahead and 'port back to Black Hat's and I'll see you there."

"I-I… Yeah, I'll meet you back at the mansion..." Flug relented. He couldn't be down here by himself.

Waiting and watching to make sure Flug made the teleport successfully, Sans shook his head and walked to the other console room that he had spent most of his time in and grabbed one of the sticks he had hung around the edge of the desk. They were primarily for decoration, but they each had a whole lot of data storage in case it became necessary. Going back to the other room, he started the data transfer and sat back to wait. It should only take about five minutes for his whole file to download he figured.

Breathing heavily, Flug curled up on his bed, tugging plane blankets around his shoulders in comfort. He was trying to forget all that happened and now it was all rushing back.

The download took longer than Sans expected. Almost half an hour later he finally disengaged the drive and teleported back into the mansion lab, dropping the drive on a table and going to his mate, who he could now feel was in distress. "Flug, oh stars, Flug I am so sorry. I wasn't thinking. I was just wrapped up in my own shit. I am so sorry babe." he cursed himself a fool. All that good today and then he does something like this!

Whimpering he held open his arms. "Please hold me."

In an instant Sans was on the bed and curled around his mate, petting his arms and using his own Soul to try to calm Flug's racing one in the hopes of helping his young lover cope. This was all his fault. Flug had been having such a great day before he had fucked it up, again.

Calming at having Sans's Soul close by, Flug sighed, nuzzling into his ribs and pressing his ear against ribs to hear the pulse of Sans's Soul. "Sorry… I just couldn't. Not today… Did you get the stuff?"

"Yeah, it's out in our lab on a table. You can look it over whenever. It is my entire file. Everything he's done. There is one thing in particular that I think you should know though. When you are ready, I'll show it to you. I just wanted to be here for you, so I left it out there." Sans continued to hold him tight, now using Flug's Soul to keep his own from going nuts as much as he was using his to calm Flug's. It only halfway worked as both were jumpy.

"I don't think I could read that… Watching you go through that in the nightmare was just too much. I don't think I could without my Soul cracking… Can you just tell me?" Flug asked muffled in Sans's ribs. He didn't want to ever read that. It should be destroyed.

"I'm sorry. I can't either. I only just found out. I need to read the rest of it. Apparently there is a lot he didn't tell me. I don't know what else he may have altered in me." Sans admitted, hiding his face.

Nodding Flug clung to Sans. "O-okay. I'll look at it later. Let's just relax and think about something different. Do you want to sleep for a bit? Maybe call your brother?"

"I can check on my bro. He should be up by now." Sans nodded and started digging in his borrowed pockets before finally finding his phone and gloves. After a few taps, he placed the phone on the side of his face and laid back down, letting it lay on top of him while it rang.

"BROTHER? HOW DID YOU KNOW I WAS UP? I JUST STARTED MOVING AN HOUR AGO." Papyrus's loud voice came over the speaker.

"Just a guess bro. Hey, you got a minute to talk before you get busy? I got some news for you and a proposition from Flug."

Wincing at the volume Flug took a deep breath reminding himself on why he was doing this. He had support now. He had friends that would protect and care for him. He had a strong mate that loved him and chose him over Papyrus. He could do this.

Glancing up at Flug and throwing him a small smile of encouragement. "So, Black Hat, my boss, has decided to adopt us both and is giving you a place to stay at the mansion so that I can properly look after you, and he says he's gonna help, but honestly, he has a new clutch, so he's gonna be pretty busy with that soon. Also, I know you and Flug have had a bit of a rough patch, but he's offering a movie night if you'd like? I would appreciate it if you guys could get along cause I'm not gonna give up on either of you."

There was silence on the phone for a minute, then Papyrus was back. "SORRY FOR NOT RESPONDING IMMEDIATELY. MY FRIEND WAS DROPPING OFF SOME SUPPLIES TO GET ME THROUGH THE WEEK. YOU SAID THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE PLACE YOU ARE STAYING AND YOUR BOSS OFFERED TO TAKE CARE OF US? THAT SOUNDS WONDERFUL. AS FOR THAT MOVIE NIGHT, I CAN NOT WAIT! WE WILL HAVE THE BEST MOVIE NIGHT EVER! I MUST GO NOW. THE HOUSE MUST BE PACKED AND CLEANED. I HAVE HELD YOU UP LONG ENOUGH. ENJOY YOUR WORK BROTHER!" With that the call ended abruptly and Sans was rather surprised by how easily his brother had taken everything. He also wondered who was caring for his brother in his absence, but he didn't ponder on it too long.

"That went better than expected… Who's his friend?" Flug asked. He truly didn't know much about Papyrus since they mainly talked about Sans while together. The little they had talked, Papyrus didn't bring up many friends. He boasted like he was very popular, did he have a lot of friends? Flug felt protective of his small number of friends.

"I'm not too sure, but he does have a decent network with some of the friendlier sectors. I'll ask him when I see him next. I'll have to thank them for looking out for him." Yawning, he licked his teeth and began to realize that it really was getting late.

Grinning Flug pulled Sans to his chest. "You're getting sleepy~" My adorable sleepy bones.

"Been a busy day. Gotta talk to Hat in da mornin'." He grumbled.

Nodding Flug nuzzled his skull tugging the covers over them, even though they were still in all of their clothes. "Let's sleep and worry about everything tomorrow. I love you. I'm really glad we were able to visit my mother."

"Nice lady. You're a bit like 'er." Yawning again, he grabbed at Flug's arm that was adjusting the blankets, wanting to be held more and quickly falling asleep in the warm embrace. He had the best human/monster mate. They were perfectly warm and fleshy.

Snickering, Flug cuddled Sans close, humming softly as he caressed his skull. "Good night love." Closing his eyes, Flug followed Sans into a pleasant dreamless sleep.