Chapter XVIII
At least, nobody died
Papyrus knew Sans had a big grin on his face, even bigger than the one his mask was showing. And he also knew what his brother was thinking, unfortunately. He knew it, and so he had to try to stop him.
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'Sans, no.'
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No answer. Not yet. Only a single thought.
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Sans, yes.
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And Papyrus should have known better it was useless to even think he could have done something.
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'Wait, you mean it makes no sans, right? Tibia honest, it makes a skele-ton of it! Welps, I don't really know what you're talking 'bout, but…'
'Sans!' Papyrus exclaimed, highly annoyed by the behavior of his brother.
'No, no! It's fine. Actually, those puns are pretty… humerus.'
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To Papyrus's disbelief, he was the only one not enjoying the bad humor of Sans. Of course, it wasn't that he didn't like his puns. Actually, he liked them a lot! He just made too many of them… But it wasn't like he could let his brother know!
The aforesaid brother who was, for that matter, standing still, his posture betraying his surprise.
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'You... like my puns?' he asked like if it was some kind of miracle.
'Well… Yeah?' Jeff slowly answered, sounding worried.
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Worried, he had all the reasons to be. Right after he asked his question, the look of Sans changed. Or he thought his look changed. As a matter of fact, he could barely see what was supposed to be eye sockets under the heavy hood of his parka. However, he could feel it: there was no kindness in there, not anymore. Only coldness.
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'Why are you here?'
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He wasn't asking. No, it was more of a demand than a question. And the tone of his voice gave Jeff chills. But, somehow, he could still see… humanity? Sans was scared. Not for him, but for his brother. Then, Jeff decided to talk. It was all he could do, anyway…
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'I was looking for bandages', he swallowed with difficulty. 'I wanted to find a town so I could buy some, but it's been two weeks… I think I headed the wrong way. '
'The town? Do you have a name?'
'Snow… Uh, snow-something.'
'Snowdin.'
'Yes, Snowdin.'
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Jeff could feel something had been triggered inside Sans, though he couldn't know what. So, he kept talking.
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'I was supposed to get there in a bare week, then come back. But I think I got lost in Waterfall and, well… Here I am!' He ended with a sad smile.
'Wait, you mean that Snowdin's only three-weeks march from here?!'
'I guess so…'
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Not so far from them, Papyrus giggled. They didn't know what was so funny, but the little skeleton was quick to tell the teenagers Sans's face was hilarious. Jeff stayed speechless as he couldn't get how the monster could see such a thing as his brother's face when he wasn't even in front of him.
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'Paps, you know you cannot see my face, right?'
'I do not need it!' the kid answered. 'I already know how you look under your mask, brother!'
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As the two "brothers" were having fun, Jeff came up to his own conclusion while examining the wood carved mask .
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'You're not a skeleton, right Sans?'
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The other boy suddenly froze, turning his back at him. On the contrary, Papyrus came joyfully to the teenager and gave him the answer he waited.
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'Of course not!' He said, almost shouting. 'Sans is a human!'
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At least, nobody died.
Which was a miracle considering the death glare Jeff got from Sans.
Of course, the teenager didn't notice he had taken his mask off at first.
Now that I think of it, I wrote a short OS which takes place after this story and after the game pacifist's (and yes, I put Sans' real name in it because I do what I want) and I should post it one day. However, I need to translate it first. You know, so I can post it all at the same time. It will be in English, of course, but also in French (since I should use this language sometimes... I'm French after all).
See ya!