Chapter 23:
Night', My Knight
Grillby cut me off at three of four drinks, on account that I was giggling at more than just jokes or puns. Sans took it as a sign for us to leave and helped guide me out. The chill helped sober me a little, enough to realize that Sans was holding my arm to keep me a bit steady. His steps were a bit wobbly too but I'm sure he handled the drinks much better than I had.
"We gonna take a shortcut?" I asked, thankful my words weren't slurred.
"Only if you wanna go somewhere we don't wanna go." He retorted with a smile.
Giggles broke free of me again, though no real joke was made. I just felt on top of the world at the moment. I felt bold. I shook Sans's arm off mine and took his hand.
"Then let's take the loooong route." I tugged his arm. "I'll lead."
He blushed cutely and stumbled behind, like playing a drunk game of follow the leader. It would've been hard to stay upright walking across the ice but we slid just fine. Finally we got toward the door to the ruins and we stopped at his sentry station to catch our breaths.
My feet and nose felt numb from the cold but I didn't care. Sans was smiling at me and that kept the rest of me warm. The urge to just kiss him was strong, but I wasn't that far gone. Or was I? He was right across from me, separated only by a small bit of counter. Would it really be that hard to lean over and put my lips on him? I started to lean in but I stopped when he spoke, looking off into the distance.
"Frisk...I swear to you, I wasn't lying about protecting you earlier. You're special, ya know? I don't wanna lose you, or anyone else, ever again."
I changed my mind about the kiss and took his hand again, this time out of empathy.
"Sans, thank you. That means the world to me...but, just remember, I'm not completely defenseless, okay?"
His hand squeezed mine and his eyes burrowed deep into me. For the first few seconds I stared back with gentleness, but that quickly faded when yellow caught my eye again. I turned my head to catch sight but Flowey was gone, along with the moment between Sans and I.
The skeleton sighed and stood, tugging my icy hand. "We better get inside before you freeze to death. Then I'd have too much to explain to your mother and child about the new snow Frisk outside the door."
The door was much easier to open now that Toriel made it so. We slipped in and shut it quietly, hoping that, if anyone was asleep, we wouldn't wake them. It was warmer, for sure, in the home, and smelled just the same as when I left. Cinnamon and butterscotch pie, an inviting scent to say the least.
He took the lead this time while I shuffled behind looking at everything as the memories flooded me. Sans got to the living room and started chuckling, though not at me. It wasn't too hard to see why. Mom had fallen asleep on the arm chair while Papyrus was leaned up against her leg. Arial was fast asleep in her box crib again, wearing a new purple nighty, that somehow the two elders got matching pajamas too. The scene was so cute it was funny to the both of us.
"Well I should probably take him home." Sans whispered, motioning to his brother.
"No way. You couldn't even teleport here. Just take him to one of the beds in my room and mom hers. You can have the other bed and I'll sleep in the chair." I hushed back.
"Like hell you will. I'll take the chair." He smirked and started hovered the two sleeping adults down the hall to the rooms.
"No way!"
We continued to hiss softly at each other until they two were in bed. It was clear that neither of us had an upper hand at the moment, so I had to pull my trump card.
"Unless you want me to move Arial to the same room as Papyrus, which if she wakes up she'll wake him too, then I suggest you give me the chair."
Sans took this information in and sighed defeated. "Fine. Because you are Mama Frisk, you win this time. But next time-"
"No no no. You even slept on the couch in your own home for me! There will be no next time-" I started.
"Let me finish...Next time, if it comes to this, we share the bed and no one gets the couch or chair."
I felt my face get warm. Was he suggesting that next time we sleep together? Though not having sexual meaning behind it, I couldn't help but think towards what it could lead to. Maybe we could even sleep together tonight?
"Frisk?" He waved his hand in front of my face. "Already drifting out to sea?" I shook my head and smiled. "Next time, we share. Night' Sans."
