:):
Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews!
To answer your question, Equimavera - No, Alphys does not know the full extent of Sans' power or intelligence, but she does acknowledge that he is very smart.
(It is possible, however, that she might have known more than she knows now.)
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This is the very first chapter of the Sanctuary Arc. :)
No Bones About It
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Reaching out slowly, Fearia attempted to grab an island of bubbles as they floated lazily by. The little girl had never had a real bubble bath before, but she felt like she could grow to like them. As long as the water stayed super shallow. When she had first been placed in the tub, she nearly panicked until half the water had been drained. For some reason, the feeling of being surrounded by water, even warm water, had been very stressful. Even more so than usual.
The dirt and grime had been gently scrubbed from her skin and the algae and reeds had been removed from her hair. It had taken quite a while, but Papyrus was patient and very thorough. All the while, the taller skeleton had kept up a steady stream of conversation with the child. The topics were always light and never broached the issue of Waterfall. Whether it was for her sake or his, only he knew.
Giving the little girl's short and now clean dark auburn hair one final rinse, Papyrus smiled. Leaning back, he nodded in satisfaction of a job well done. "There. You're Sparkly Clean Now, Miss Fearia. The Cleanest Human In The Underground."
Fearia smiled and gave her friend an obligatory laugh as the water began to drain. "That's just because I'm the only human in the Underground."
"Be That As It May." The skeleton argued as he rose to stand. Collecting a nearby towel, he smiled pleasantly down at the small child before bending over to wrap her gently in the soft material. "Even If You Are The Only One, You're Still Very Clean."
The child was notably quiet as she was lifted from the bathtub and brought to rest carefully in the crook of a bony arm. She didn't even think to protest as she allowed herself to be carried out of the bathroom like an infant. Fearia just didn't have it in her right now to make a fuss. She was just too tired. Too depressed.
"...Hey, Pappy...?" Looking up, the little girl frowned slightly as she thought about how to ask her question. "Is it wrong that I'm human? I-I mean, is it bad?"
Papyrus cocked his skull in confusion as he looked down at the tiny melancholy human. "Why Would You Ask That?" Where was this coming from? This human child was the furthest from bad as she could get in his opinion. Even so, the answer that should have come so easily seemed to catch in his nonexistent throat.
"Is it?"
"you're not bad, kid." Leaning against the wall in the living room, Sans answered for his brother. "but to some, your very existence might be... a problem. the underground isn't a very welcoming place for humans."
Placing the small child down on the lumpy couch, Papyrus knelt down so that he was once again eye level with her. Reading human expressions wasn't something that he was great at, but he was picking it up as quickly as he could. Right now, with her brow furrowed and a small frown on her lips, he could tell that she looked troubled. He had tried to stay away from the touchy subject. Upsetting the child further wasn't something he wanted to do, but he needed to know. "Fearia... What Happened In Waterfall Today? Was Someone Mean To You?"
Sans held back a grimace as he quietly listened. He was already fairly certain what had happened in a broader sense, though he still didn't know the specifics. It had been Undyne. He couldn't fault the fish woman for what she had done, it was her job after all, but even so, he doubted Papyrus would understand. This information might ruin a friendship. At the very least it would definitely put a damper on it.
Whatever the kid chose to say would affect his brother. Right now, she held the power to break a bond with just her words if she wanted to, though she wasn't aware of it. Releasing a slow improbable breath, Sans reluctantly accepted the fact that there really wasn't anything he could do about it. He wasn't going to stop her from telling the truth.
Looking away from her friend, Fearia stubbornly delayed her answer as she unconsciously lifted a hand to her healed shoulder. This was not something she wanted to talk about right now. Or ever for that matter. "...no" She denied, still evading eye contact. "I... I just got lost."
"But How Did You Get Hurt So Badly?" Papyrus pressed. Getting lost didn't explain all of the bruises he'd seen. It didn't explain the handprint...
"I fell!" Fearia blatantly lied. "...from a bridge. A really high one..." Both skeletons were silent for a moment as they were besieged with that unpleasant mental image. "But it's okay." The little girl said, trying to reassure them. "I landed in water and someone helped me out."
Hearing that, Papyrus' shoulders sagged a little in relief. "Thank Goodness For That Person. Miss Fearia, Try To Be More Careful From Now On. We Could Have Lost You Today. Waterfall Is Too Dangerous For Someone So Small. Please, Don't Wander Off By Yourself Again. You... Really Worried Us."
"I'm... I'm sorry." Fearia apologized once again, ducking her head in shame.
Relaxing a bit, the lazy skeleton looked away, a humorless grin plastered to his skull. Somehow, he'd forgotten what a little liar this kid was. For better or for worse, the childish fib left him feeling grateful. At least for now.
"come on, kid." Pushing himself from the wall, Sans gestured for the child to follow. "let's get you into some fresh clothes."
"Kay." The little girl nodded as she slid from the couch and tagged along after him. Walking up the stairs, a frown crept onto her face as she stared at the back of the lazy skeleton's skull. He was being awfully quiet and standoffish. Remembering how angry he looked when he had come to get her made the child's insides squirm a little. He must be furious at her for getting into so much trouble. Papyrus seemed to have already forgiven her for it, but Sans...? Would he forgive so easily? For Fearia, the thought of losing him as a friend was unbearable.
Stopping in front of the flames, Sans dug out a key and inserted it into the lock. Once the door was opened, a fluffy friend rushed over to greet them. Tail wagging a mile a minute, the small dog nearly bowled the little girl over in an overabundance of joy.
"Poff!" Fearia smiled as she dropped her towel in order to embrace the fluffy monster. "I'm so glad you're okay."
"you're lucky, kid." Sans said as he rummaged around in his drawer of dwindling shirts. "if he hadn't of found me, i'm not sure if i would have known where to look."
Putting her forehead to the small monster's, Fearia whispered out her heartfelt gratitude. Twice today this little ball of fluff had saved her life. She probably wouldn't have made it as far as she had without his company or protection. Words simply couldn't convey how truly grateful she was.
After slipping the kid into a baggy light blue shirt that fell to her knees and hung loosely around her shoulders, Sans decided it was time to ask some questions of his own. He had plenty to choose from, but he'd start with an easy one first. "how'd you really get all those bruises?"
"I already said, I fe-"
"the truth, kid." Sans wasn't about to let this go without getting some actual answers. "what really happened?"
Curling her fingers into soft fur, the little girl looked away from the insistent skeleton for a moment before finally giving in. "I... I didn't really fall... I was thrown." The memory of that event was painful and scary, and admitting it happened just seemed to make it hurt more. "I don't remember very much... after I hit the water. It's all kind of ...blurry."
Sans watched as the child reached up and tenderly held her shoulder. She was probably still feeling phantom pains from where she had been injured. From how messed up her shoulder had been and the location of the handprint, Sans could easily picture how it had happened. And if she was talking about that flimsy bridge he had found her near, than it was nothing short of a miracle she had survived. The fall alone could have killed her, not to mention she could have easily hit a rock.
There's no way the kid's healing star would have been able to fix that kind of damage. It would have been game over.
In an attempt to suppress his growing ire, the exhausted skeleton sat down on his unmade bed, releasing a weary sigh as he did so. He had a feeling something like that had happened, but finding out he was right didn't make him feel any better. The opposite was true actually; he felt worse. If he had only gotten there a few minutes sooner, maybe he could have prevented it. This kid shouldn't have to be burdened with that kind of traumatic experience, but unfortunately, a memory like that would probably be with her for the rest of her life.
Stealing a glance at her friend, Fearia took notice of the distinct look of displeasure he was somehow able to express. She felt her spirits sink a little more. He really looked upset... Of course he would be. She had pretty much ruined the entire day, and from what Undyne had said, she might have actually gotten him into trouble too. Whatever it took, she needed to make it right somehow.
Drawing in a breath, Fearia summoned up some courage before making her way over to the brooding skeleton. Stepping in front of him, she lifted a hand to her chest nervously. She thought she knew better than to actively seek out punishment, but this was different, this was her friend and she needed to take responsibility. Better to just get it over with. Timidly, Fearia forced herself to look the skeleton in the eye lights. "Sans...?"
Sans looked down at the awkward child with slight bemusement. Her demeanor kind of reminded him of a guilty puppy that was trying to apologize for chewing up the couch. As far as he knew, the couch was still intact, if just a little wet at the moment. Other than that, he couldn't think of anything left to apologize for. "sup, squirt?"
"I'm sorry!" Fearia blurted out as she lowered her gaze in shame. "I'm really really really reallyreallyreally sorry! Please don't be mad at me. I know I really messed up, but please don't hate me for it!"
Sans quietly stared at the dramatic child for a moment or two before his grin softened. Seriously? He sighed to himself. Reaching out, he gently ruffled her damp hair in an affectionate manner. "i don't hate you, kid, and i'm not mad. sure, you might have messed up a little bit, but who hasn't screwed up now and then? it's part of life, so stop apologizing. if there's someone to blame for how this day went, it isn't you."
For once, Fearia was speechless as she lifted her amber colored eyes to stare dumbly at the laid back skeleton. He wasn't mad? He really wasn't mad at her? Not at all? She had expected some kind of punishment at the very least. A sharp reprimand, maybe a whop on the head? Something! ...She would have understood. But this... this kindness? Even after she had messed things up so horribly... He had still forgiven her...
She was doing it again. Sans couldn't help himself as he rolled his eye lights a little. The kid was making that ridiculous face. The one she used when she was trying hard not to cry. Grin brightening a bit in humor, the skeleton chuckled as he opened his arms to the child. "get in here, you dork."
Squeezing her eyes shut to stem the flow, Fearia eagerly accepted the invitation. Her heartfelt appreciation came out as an inaudible mumble as she pressed her face into his insulated coat. Regardless, the message was understood loud and clear.
Thank you.
Sans smiled as he gently rubbed the child's back. He didn't really know why, but it felt like the appropriate thing to do. When Papyrus had been smaller, much smaller, he could remember comforting him in a similar manner but never with this exact gesture. Bone on bone didn't glide very well, but a loving pat worked just fine. Skin was weird though, and now he was acutely aware of how easily it could bruise. He'd done a pretty crappy job protecting her so far but he'd be damned if the kid got hurt again on his watch.
...Maybe he was being a bit paranoid. ...But after today, who wouldn't be?
Fearia had no such worries as she delighted in the comforting hug. She had always wondered what it would be like to be part of a family - a real family. Would it feel like this? Would she have this sense of protection and belonging? Would she feel this love? Of course, she knew better. She wasn't really a part of the skeleton's family, but right now, she truly wanted to be. She wished she could stay with them forever, together with Frisk.
Poff watched the two happily, his tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth. The mood seemed much lighter now and that was a good thing! Cocking his fluffy ears, the white dog looked to the door. A knock was heard before the door was opened.
"Dinner's Almost Ready." Papyrus announced as he poked his skull inside his brother's room. "What Have You Two Been-"
*Bark!*
Papyrus released an involuntary screech when he spotted the fluffy intruder. It all made sense now! The white hair he kept finding everywhere, the missing bones from his bone collection, the strange residue he'd found coating his half chewed action figure of Mettaton. This little homewrecker had been here this whole time!
"SANS!" Papyrus snapped as he pointed a gloved finger at the furry refugee. "How Long Have You Been Hiding THIS Inside The House?!"
"uh.."
"No!" Before anyone could even utter the word "Bonetrousle", the tiny human had her arms wrapped around the oblivious ball of fluff as she glared defiantly up at the taller skeleton. "You can't put him out in the snow again. Poff is a good boy! If... If you throw him out, you'll have to throw me out too!"
"well, paps?" Standing, Sans stuffed his hands into his pockets and grinned over at his brother. If there was ever a chance he'd win this dispute, now would be it. The kid had presented a rather compelling ultimatum. "what are you gonna do? it's awfully cold out there."
Papyrus shot his brother a disparaging look before redirecting his attention back to the child. Her amber eyes were filled with determination as she attached herself to the slobbering canine. The skeleton felt his resolve weaken and then crumble. Of course he wouldn't put her outside in the snow. He could never do that. It wasn't even a valid option. Releasing a long unexplainable breath, Papyrus seemed to droop in defeat. "It Can Stay..."
Fearia's expression brightened in joy.
"BUT!" Papyrus continued as he crossed his bony arms haughtily. "You Two Are In Charge Of It! Any Mess It Makes, It's Up To YOU To Clean It Up! Understood?"
"Understood!" Fearia chirped happily.
"Sans...?" Glaring over at his lazybones of a brother, Papyrus waited for his compliance as well.
"sure, sure." Sans replied, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture.
"Sans!"
"Come on, Sans!" The little girl urged as she turned to her lazy friend. Arms wrapped snuggly around a warm furry neck, she gave him an imploring look. "Think of Poff!"
The shorter skeleton looked down at the small dog. His pink tongue was lolling out of his mouth as he panted happily, simply enjoying all of the attention he was getting. Rolling his eye lights, Sans gave an apathetic shrug.
"alright." He agreed easily before shoving his bony hands back into his pockets, resuming his signature air of indifference. "i mean, after today, the mutt's definitely earned his keep around here. no bones about it."
"You hear that, Poff?" Fearia beamed as she released the dog so she could talk to him directly. "You get to stay! Isn't that great?"
Tail wagging a mile a minute, Poff barked excitedly before licking the giggling human's cheek. He was just happy that she was happy.
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Good Poff :)
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In the next chapter, Fearia gets her very first bedtime story!
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Thanks for reading!
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Sheii Bae~
