Chapter XIII

Brothers

The sentence strikes the young boy with full force. In the space of a second, it's like his whole world falls apart. He doesn't know what to think anymore, or even if any of this is real. For the first time since he has run away from Home with Papyrus, he feels like everything that is happening is merely a bad dream. However, deep inside, Sans knows it's not. No, it's worse.

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'Sans?' Papyrus asks worriedly. 'Are you alright?'

'No…'

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His answer isn't louder than a whisper. His voice is weak, and he's restless. His relaxed behavior from the previous minutes has disappeared, only to be replaced by an expression of pure shock. He can't believe it. He just… can't.

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'Your eyes are glowing. For skeletons, glowing eyes often mean they are afraid.'

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That's the least we can say…

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'Nah Paps, I'm… I'm fine.'

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He isn't. They all know he isn't. However, they keep this problem quiet until the next day, until Grillby finally find the courage to broach it once again. They soon decide to explore the possibilities of the fusion between a human's soul and fragments from a monster's one, which are basically unknown…

.

oOo

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'Come on, Sans! Try once again!'

'I'm sorry Paps, I don't think I-'

'Yes, you can!' the little skeleton insists. 'So stop lying around and work on your magic!'

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A sigh is the only answer he gets. Although Papyrus has been training Sans since the morning, there is still no clue of any ability at using magic with the — mostly — human teenager. However, they are interrupted by an excited Grillby coming back from… Somewhere outside the garden shed.

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'I've got good news!' the young fire monster exclaims.

'You have found a way to fix Sans's laziness?'

'Paps!' the teenager protests.

'That's true! You're not even trying to do anything!'

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Well…

He's not wrong, actually.

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Before these two start an argument, Grillby catches their attention, trying to remind them he's still there and that it is not involving laziness in any way.

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'Hum… Guys? That's not really…'

'But Grillby, tell him he is a lazy bone!'

'Papyrus, we're not even sure Sans can use magic,' the older monster says.

'We will never be if he keeps doing nothing.'

'I'm not doing nothing', the teenager puts forward. 'I've tried to use magic, it didn't work. That's it.'

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The fire elemental is definitely starting to get tired of this. In a last attempt to make the two boys listen to him, he interrupts them once again.

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'Sans, please. Stop this.'

'Why me? Paps is the one who-'

'Because you're older!' Grillby retorts, raising his voice. 'You should know better that it's pointless!

''Kay, you don't have to get mad.'

'I'm not mad, I'm just saying that you lack maturity.'

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Fine…

If that's so…

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'Since this is pointless, what's your "good news"?'

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Even though Sans isn't smiling, he's actually curious about it. Papyrus feels the same while sulking in his corner, Grillby knows it. That's why he is happy to finally tell them.

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'I found you a place to stay, and I'm sure you're going to like it. Besides, I also also have one or two things about soul's fusion which could be interesting, but I'll tell you after I show you your new house.'

'Wow, a surprised Sans says. That's pretty cool.''

'Yes. By the way, I told to the neighborhood that you are two brothers who want to stay around here for a while, so we'll have time to train you if you can use magic.'

'Thanks, but won't they notice it's a lie? You know, with soul stuff and everything.'

'I never said I lied to them.'

'Uh… I don't get it.'

'Well', Grillby starts to answer, 'since Papyrus and you share soul's fragments, you…

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He stops for a second, not really knowing how to steer such a thing. Deciding to get straight to the point, he takes a breath and talk.

'You are basically brothers.'