:):

I think Sans has finally realized that he's bitten off more than he can chew, lol

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House Warming Gift

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"what are we gonna do with her?" Sans repeated the concerns of the fire element aloud, his grin lessening. "that's a good question. i haven't really thought about it."

"Undyne said to report all humans to her." Papyrus informed, though he was now conflicted. He didn't know all the specifics but he did know that she would bring the child to King Asgore. What happened after that? Of the few humans he had heard of going there, he'd never once heard of any returning. Maybe they went home?

Grillby fizzled darkly at the implied suggestion. This small child wouldn't stand a chance against the King. None of them had. But sending one that was this defenseless and weak just seemed particularly cruel. No, that wouldn't do. In her current state, she wouldn't even be able to travel. Right now, this tiny creature needed rest and time to recuperate. Turning to his friend, Grillby sent him a quick flicker.

"what? no." Sans' grin turned flat as he raised his bony hands as if to ward off the very suggestion. "no-no-no. no way. why can't you take her? you're doing a great job so far."

Grillby crackled in irritation as he stared down the short skeleton.

"i know you already have a job." Sans winced. "but why does it have to be me?"

The fire elemental leaned his body weight to one side, giving off an incredulous appearance as he flickered in reply.

"i know i'm the one that found her." Sans argued in futility. "but in this case, finders does not mean keepers."

"Come on, brother!" Papyrus chimed in unhelpfully. "Having a human might be fun!"

"she's not a pet, bro." Sans chided. "besides, in case you somehow forgot, we're skeletons. we don't need to stay warm so our house is cold, and i mean freezing cold. the kid wouldn't last a day."

At this, the bartender fizzled slightly in contemplation. His friend actually had a legitimate point this time. But... perhaps this problem could be easily remedied. Looking down to check on the tiny human in his arms, the bartender carefully wrapped the barrowed blue jacket a little more snuggly around her before walking off.

Giving the other a confused glance, the two skeletons followed after the stoic fire elemental.

"where are you going?" Sans asked, feeling like he already knew. "grillbz?"

"Do You Have Something In Mind?" Papyrus smiled, his long legbones making it easy for him to keep pace with their fiery friend.

...

Being generously allowed entry by the taller skeleton, the fire elemental stepped inside the two story house. His friend had not been joking this time. This house was indeed freezing. Ice was on both sides of the windows and there was frost trailing up the railing to the stairs. He would've asked how they could live like this, but the answer was too obvious. He needed to warm this house up somehow and he was the only qualified monster in town up to this particular task.

Gently, as if he were handling something extremely fragile, Grillby gave the small child back to his friend. The human made a quiet noise of discontent over the loss of heat and started to shiver even more in the shorter skeleton's arms. Coming to understand what that generally meant, the bartender took it upon himself to hurry a little faster.

"what are you going to do?" Sans asked nervously as he turned, trying to shield the human from the steadily growing intensity of the fire elemental's light. This was either going to be a good thing or a complete disaster. It could go either way really. He just hoped their house wouldn't be a blackened pile of rubble by tomorrow.

Flames whipped around his body as Grillby summoned a small portion of his magical power from within. Slowly, he drew it from his body and into his outstretched hand, gradually condensing and shaping it until it was about the size and shape of an undecorated snowman's head. When it was exactly how he wanted it, he dropped the ball of fire from his hand. It sunk lethargically for a moment before floating above everyone's head, finally coming to a stationary position located just a little higher than the upstairs balcony.

"great..." Sans sarcastically remarked as he watched the glowing orb of magical energy. "now we have a nightlight we can't turn off."

"Wowie! Would You Look At That." Papyrus exclaimed in wonderment as he too stared up at the new addition to their house. Little sparks of flame occasionally drifted away from the ball and floated around like bright fireflies before returning once again creating an ambient heat that was slowly permeating the frozen house.

"so, you're sure this is safe, right?" Sans asked warily as he watched a small spark land directly on the frosty railing to the stairs. After a moment, it innocently floated away leaving behind a tiny melted spot. No harm had been done to the wood. Which was weird because fire loved wood, didn't it? Then again, his friend was made of fire and he worked all day in a wooden diner.

Grillby flickered in response as his flames once again dimmed to a safe level. He then held out his hands in request to once again hold the child. He'd stay and keep her warm until the skeleton's house was a temperature he deemed suitable. After that, it was up to them. He had a business to run after all.

...

Half an hour later, the skeleton brothers were finally left in charge of their own house. Despite the glowing gift floating near their ceiling, the place still seemed colder now without the fire elemental's presence. Still, the two story house had never felt more cozy. Too bad the skeletons couldn't feel much of a difference.

"are you sure about this, paps?" Sans asked as he followed his brother up the now defrosted stairs. Papyrus, who was now holding the human, had decided he needed to be a good host. To do this, he had generously proposed the kid sleep in a real bed and had offered up his own.

"Of Course!" Papyrus replied confidently. "My Bed Is The Most Comfortable Place To Sleep In The Entire House."

"what about the couch?" Sans argued.

"Sans!" Papyrus scolded. "You Can't Expect The Human To Sleep On That Lumpy Couch!"

"why not?" Sans asked, slightly put out. "i sleep on it all the time."

"And That Is Precisely Why It Is Lumpy!" Papyrus quipped.

Opening the door marked off with caution tape and other various warnings, the two skeletons entered Papyrus' room. Just like its owner, it was very organized but playful. Walking over to the bed, framed to resemble a red car, Papyrus pulled back the blue covers and lowered the tiny human onto the clean bed sheets.

"Just to be safe, I'm going to go get the human another blanket." Papyrus said as he turned to leave. "Sans, Keep An Eye On Them So They Don't Fall Out Of Bed!"

"that's not possible, but okay." Sans replied tiredly as he wandered over to the child. Looking down at the small form, he couldn't help but smile a little wider. She really did look a lot better. Her skin had even more color to it than when he had originally found her. Probably a good thing, right?

Spying his beloved blue jacket nestled loosely in the grasp of small arms, Sans silently reached for it. After giving it a light tug, he had to abandon his efforts altogether when the child's grip tightened instantly, her brow creasing with displeasure. "s'not funny..." She grumbled, curling her small body around the captive garment.

Sans groaned quietly in defeat, his grin turning passive-aggressive. "you're killin' me, kid." With a sigh, he instead reached for the soft blue covers and pulled them over the tiny human, tucking her in with care.

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Poor Sans, this is only the beginning of his troubles.

...

In the next chapter, Fearia causes a midnight disturbance.

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