AN: SOOOO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE LAST UPDATE!

Undertale celebrated its 4th Anniversary! Sans' outfit is in friggin SMASH! There's all kinds of new progress on Deltarune Chapter 2 and there's just SO MUCH going on that it's kinda hard to keep up! Are you guys as excited as I am!?

Alrighty, now that that's out of my system (and I've kinda dated this chapter) I do have to apologize once again for the delay and inconsistency in chapter updates. But I'm sure you guys all know how demanding the real world can be. I promise that even if it isn't as consistent as I want it to be, I WILL be posting more to this story. And I WILL be finishing this story! I hope you can continue to be patient with me as I work to make this as entertaining as possible! Thanks, and I'll see you next chapter! ^_^

Chapter 19

Daydreamer

They spent the rest of the afternoon travelling down the hallways until Corbel eventually got tired and needed to head back. It was on their way back to Corbel's room that his legs gave out on him and he was unable to continue. Of course, Sans had been right there to take over, scooping Corbel up and letting him ride, albeit a little awkwardly, on his back.

The whole way back, Corbel groaned about how embarrassing it was to get a piggyback ride from Sans. Sans reminded Corbel of the time he'd spent riding on Corbel's back in the cave and even used the same comparisons Corbel had.

"At least it's better than being carried bridal style." He jeered.

Corbel just held on, muttering protests into Sans' back.

Eventually, the time came when Corbel was discharged from his room in the lab. Though he still wasn't cleared to return to work and he would still have to check in with his father for physical therapy as he got used to his new body, he wasn't required to be under 24 hour surveillance anymore. So, he was finally able to return home to the dorms. Corbel was grateful not to have to spend every moment in the lab . . . however, being in the dorms all day making up past assignments got a little lonely . . . And boring.

The highlight of his day was when someone would stop by for a chat or to have a meal with him. Sometimes it was his mother with a substantial amount of spaghetti in a tupperware container. Other times it was Undyne, who insisted they get out and walk around, because being cooped up all day was just too depressing.

Sometimes, it was Sans who would come over with games, or drinks, or a meal from the pub in Snowdin or all three. They would spend the evening together and lose track of time until it was very early in the morning and Sans had to drag himself away and trudge home to his apartment. Corbel did invite Sans to stay over if he thought he wouldn't be able to make it home, but most times, Sans insisted he leave Corbel to rest.

There was one time he came back after a show at Kaiju with well-wishes from the other patrons.

"They really seem to miss you there." He commented, "And Kit wanted me to tell you that she hopes to still work on that collaboration with you."

Corbel looked wide-eyed at his plate of leftover spaghetti, ". . . Oh shit, that's right! She probably thinks I totally stood her up! Damn it . . ."

"Stood her up?" Sans smirked around his glass of water, "What? Was it supposed to be a date or something?"

Corbel went quiet at that for a moment, "Well, actually. Yeah. We'd planned to meet up at Kaiju for the performance and a few drinks and then see what happened afterward."

It was Sans' turn to be silenced. "Oh . . ." He said solemnly, setting his glass down.

"'Oh' what? I told you about it, didn't I?"

"Well, yeah, but you didn't mention it was supposed to be a date."

"Well . . ." Corbel hesitated, taking his own hand and, in a newly acquired nervous habit, rubbing small circles into those fingers that were originally his. "I didn't think it mattered. Why would you care if I went on a date with someone? If anything, I thought it would be a good thing. Exploring other options, you know? I mean since you . . . I mean, I thought it was a good opportunity to try . . . and move on."

"Yeah . . ." Sans answered, though there was no real conviction in his voice.

"Unless . . ." Corbel's tone took on a quieter, more cautious air, "You do care."

Sans went tense and remained silent as he stared down at his water.

"Sans . . . Does it matter to you if I'm dating someone . . . ?"

Still Sans stayed quiet. He did avert his eyes somewhere other than where Corbel was.

"No . . ." He finally responded after a few long moments. "You're right. Why would it matter to me? After all, it's not like I have a special claim to your heart or something. You're an adult. Date whoever you want."

"That's not fair, Sans." Corbel muttered.

"What? I'm saying go for it! Don't let me hold you back from being happy."

"But you're saying it with such a bitter undertone that it feels sour just to listen to. Just be honest with me. Does it bother you?"

The silence took over once again and for a long while, neither one of them spoke.

"How long have you felt like this?"

Still there was silence.

"What about Ava . . . ?"

". . ."

"Sans . . . Talk to me, please. You already know how I feel about you. And you know that in all this time, those feelings haven't changed in the slightest . . . I thought that maybe they'd shift- that I would finally be able to see you as something different. But it never happened."

Sans groaned, but didn't answer.

"I just . . . I was trying to accept that you would never feel the same way about me. Are you saying that's changed?"

". . ."

"Sans, please. Just help me understand."

". . ."

Corbel sighed deeply, pulling himself up to stand awkwardly. He grabbed at the crutch leaning on the edge of the couch.

"Alright then." Corbel groaned, "I'm gonna call it a night. Tomorrow is PT day so, it's gonna be an early start. Thanks for stopping by and all, but I'm gonna have to ask you to go so I can get some rest."

Corbel crossed the room, heading toward the door so he could escort Sans out.

"I don't know . . ." Came his quiet response.

Corbel stopped walking.

"I don't have answers to any of those questions. I don't know what I'm feeling or when it started. I don't know about Ava. Hell, I don't even know where I stand with her . . . And I don't know what to tell you. And after everything you and I have been through, the last thing I want is to hurt you again."

Lowering his head and closing his eyes, Corbel steadied himself.

"Sans . . ." He began slowly. He turned back around and made his way back to the couch where Sans sat. He took a seat right next to him. "This is something we should talk through together, don't you think? Maybe we can find those answers together. Like, I dunno, partners?"

Sans gave a scoff, stifling the chuckling response, but still didn't look back to Corbel.

"First, let's figure out where we stand. Again . . . You know how I feel about you. It's nothing new and it's no surprise. So, we need to figure out how you feel. I'm not going to ask you a whole bunch of questions. Just a few. And maybe we can at least narrow things down."

"Is treating this like a hypothesis really the best way to go about this?" Sans inquired with disbelief, "It's a discussion about our- our relationship, not an experiment."

"It helped me." Corbel responded. "This is the same process I put myself through. Okay, first question. And I'll try to keep these in "yes-or-no" format, okay?"

"Okay."

"We've known each other for a while. Do you remember what it was like when we first met?"

Sans thought for a moment, "Yes. Even then, you were always thinking of others first and you did everything you could to help me."

Corbel gave a tiny smile. "And you were just as stubborn. Cracking jokes and playing it cool so you wouldn't let on how bad of a spot you were really in. Now, since that time, we've gotten very close. Have your feelings changed since then?"

". . . Yes."

Corbel's hand involuntarily twitched a little. "Stronger?"

Sans nodded, "More intense."

Corbel swallowed, feeling more nervous about this than before.

"Uh . . . Eh. Well . . . N-now I want- I want you to-to think about Ava . . . . Do-do you love her?"

"Well . . . Yeah." Sans answered with a smile. She's been my . . . Well ever since I was in middle school I . . ." Sans cleared his throat, "She's very special to me."

Corbel had been studying Sans' reactions to his questions. This last question especially. The way he immediately lit up at the sound of her name, the conviction in his voice when he spoke about his feelings for her. Even if the words weren't there, the feeling was and it was that feeling that Corbel was able to pick up on.

It made him dread the next question . . . Suddenly, he didn't want to know the answer.

"Then . . . I-I . . . D- do you . . . Do you . . . love me?"

There was a bit of hesitation, and with every moment of silence, Corbel's nerves wound more and more tightly.

Though he wanted to look away, he still studied Sans' reactions.

He lowered his head and stared at his hands which were fisted tightly over his knees. Despite that . . . He was . . . Smiling.

"Yes . . ."

Corbel actually gasped, his eyes widening. It was a short, quiet breath that perfectly encapsulated every feeling that shot through him at the moment.

"W- wait!" He stammered, finally chancing a look to his right where the other Skeleton sat, still gripping into his jeans, "Y-you . . . Are you . . . You're serious!? You mean that!?"

Sans' smile never faltered. When he answered, his voice was low and quiet. A whisper meant only for the two of them.

"I do mean it . . . And I am serious."

Another thought bolted through Corbel at that moment. He'd answered much too easily, he thought. For something that seemed to be troubling him so thoroughly, why had that answer come so easily?

"But, it's not the same kind of love, is it? After all, there are several different kinds of love and different ways of expressing each type. You may love me . . . But not the same way I love you. You may love me as a colleague or a close friend . . . or even as a brother, but I-"

A hand reached over and took his firmly within its grip. That grip trembled slightly as it found the right way to hold him. Was Sans nervous as well . . . ?

"Stop thinking for a moment." Sans instructed, "You'll drive yourself crazy. My turn for questions. Right now. Right at this moment. What are you feeling?"

Corbel took a moment to think it over, until he remembered that Sans had just told him not to think. He should just answer with the first thing that comes to him.

"It feels like my chest is about to explode." he answered almost voicelessly. His grip tightened around Sans' hand as well, "It's like there's something inside me that just needs to get out. My head is spinning, like I'm about to pass out. Like maybe I had too much to drink . . . Or maybe I'm dreaming."

"Mine too." Sans answered softly, "My chest . . . and my head. If that thing in your chest could get out. If it could speak . . . What would it say?"

Corbel shook his head. "It wouldn't speak. What I'm feeling . . . it-it has no words, it's just . . . like an energy that's trapped and-and it's just . . ."

Corbel stopped for a moment, a strange feeling falling over him. A smile pulled across his face- one that he had no real control over and with that smile, laughter spilled over. It came out before he could even think to reel it back or to contain it. It completely erased all thought from his mind and seemed to take him over completely.

Maybe he'd gone insane. If he were Sans in this moment, he'd think so. But still, there he was, laughing like a lunatic- a feeling he couldn't control.

To his side, Sans nodded slowly. He figured it would have been a toss-up between this and full out screaming. He hadn't expected Corbel to actually let out the trapped energy inside of him, but he was glad he did. Not only would Corbel be able to express that feeling, but it was out in a way that both of them could understand.

As Sans sat, stroking Corbel's fingers within his grip, his own smile spread and a low chuckle escaped. This was Corbel's purest emotion- his most candid reaction and there was just so much of it to see.

His laugh was saturated in joy, triumph, surprise, and some incredulity. He was so happy that he didn't know what to do with himself . . . so he let it out like this. There was still a part of him that was cautious and even that came through as well. Sans couldn't blame him for that. But being able to feel Corbel's elation through his laughter . . . being able to really see Corbel. All of him open and unfiltered like this . . . it filled Sans completely and he let out a long breath.

Maybe, in this life . . . this new life that he was making for himself . . . this really was the best he could ever ask for. Maybe this was all he really needed. Just this. Just him. And for the first time in years, as he listened and watched, he could really say that he felt content.

"Oh my god . . ." Corbel sighed, finally able to catch himself. His smile remained and didn't fade at all as he continued, "I don't know what happened. I just . . . I'm just so . . ."

"Shh." Sans instructed once again, "Don't try to justify it or explain it. That was you. And I'm so glad I got a chance to see it."

Corbel lowered his head again, his face feeling warm in embarrassment.

" . . . Thank you for talking through this with me." Sans continued, "I think it really did help. I was able to come to an answer I don't think I could have on my own."

"A-and what would that be?" Corbel asked nervously.

Sans shifted, keeping Corbel's hand firmly in his own as he turned on the couch to face him directly. He took a steadying breath.

". . . I love you, Corbel." He said with more stability than he thought he even had, "And that love is different than that for a colleague or a friend. There's still a lot that I need to work out . . . and I ask that you be patient with me while I do . . . but I . . . I want to see where this takes us. Despite the answer I gave you before. And I hope you don't think less of me for that. But . . . I-I guess, the short answer is . . . If you still want to . . . Maybe we could . . ."

Corbel leaned in almost instinctively, closing the space between them. He reached out with his free hand and cupped Sans' cheek as he touched his mouth with the other in a deliberate kiss. There was an immediate rush that flooded him and his head began to spin again. The feeling only intensified when Sans pressed back against him, deepening the kiss from his side.

It was also Corbel who pulled away first, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yes." He responded, "Yes! Of course!"

Sans actually seemed dumbfounded by the response, almost as if he hadn't been expecting that reaction.

"I love you, Sans." Corbel explained, "I have since forever and now you're asking me if I want to be in a relationship with you!? Why would I ever turn down something like that!?"

"O-oh! Well, I-I thought that . . . timing, circumstances . . . you know, maybe you weren't ready?"

"'Not ready' he says." Corbel chuckled, "Well, thanks for considering that. But I assure you, there was absolutely no need."

"Heh, I guess not." Sans laughed as well.

From his spot, Corbel kept his eyes glued to their joined hands . . . there was just no way! How the heck . . . ? This couldn't be real, could it? Everything that just happened . . . He'd been hoping for so long that something like this would happen and now that it did . . . Sans just said he loved him . . . And he said it FIRST! And he suggested they date . . . and-and they'd just . . . he just kissed Sans . . . and Sans kissed him back! Without question and without hesitation!

He shook his head, the thoughts inside of him swirling and crashing into each other at the movement. He felt like he really could pass out from this overwhelmingly dizzying turn of events. What the actual Hell was going on!?

"Wait a minute . . . I'm dreaming, aren't I?" He muttered to himself, "That's the only explanation. I have to be dreaming again."

"Why do you say that?"

"I mean, look! Look at where we are! Look at what we're doing . . . There's no way any of this is real! You're saying that everything I've been thinking about and hoping for for years just randomly decided to fall into my lap so conveniently in the span of fifteen minutes!? There's no way! It has to be a trick!"

Sans hummed quietly. Of course he'd think that after everything he'd been through on this front. Again, he couldn't blame him.

Then, how could he convince him?

He lifted their hands and gently kissed the tips of each of Corbel's real fingers.

"This is no trick." He tried to assure the younger Skeleton, "And you're not dreaming . . . Not this time."

He wanted to tell Corbel that he hadn't been dreaming the last time they kissed either . . . But if he really had no memory of that, then Sans wouldn't remind him. As far as Corbel was concerned, this was their first kiss. And it came at a much better time, under much better circumstances. And if he looked back on this moment with joy instead of embarrassment, then, he'd gladly let this be their first.

"Besides, I didn't fall into your lap." He continued, "It was more like . . . your couch?"

That seemed to have done something. Corbel sputtered a laugh as he shook his head.

"I suppose that's true." He admitted. He knew that Sans had specifically chosen his real fingers to prove himself. It was something tangible. Something he could feel and connect to him. Corbel appreciated the gesture as well as what it represented.

"Then . . . This is . . . Real? This is really happening right now . . . ?"

"Now you're starting to catch on." Sans chuckled.

"And I'm not dreaming?"

Sans shook his head.

"I just . . . I can't believe it." Corbel stammered, "Everything is different now."

"How . . . ?"

"How!? How is it not!? After today, you won't just be my friend or my lab partner. You'll be . . . my . . . H- How do I even introduce you!? What do I tell Mom and Dad? Dad especially. What am I supposed to-"

"Corbel." Sans interrupted with a smirk as he held fast to his hand, "Breathe. Nothing between us is different now than it was before. You're still you and I'm still me. We'll still hang out and everything just like always. We don't even have to change what we call 'us' if you don't want to. The only difference is that you don't have to hide or try to hide the way you feel anymore. You can be open . . . And so can I. As far as your parents are concerned, we can wait as long as we want to tell them . . . However, they are both very observant. If we don't tell them, I'm sure they'll figure it out quickly."

Corbel nodded. That was very true and there would be no point in disputing that. A lot of what Sans said sounded like common sense when he explained it. Maybe he'd just been overthinking again.

But still, there was one thing Sans said that really stuck out to him.

". . . 'We' . . . ?"

"Well, of course." Sans answered with a matter-of-fact tone, "You didn't think I was gonna make you tell them alone, did you? That's just bad boyfriending right there."

Again, Corbel could do little more than smile. Words were completely lost to him now and even if he could find words, he wouldn't have been able to express them.

Boyfriend . . . ?

"You're turning red." Sans pointed out, a slight laugh slipping through, "You don't have to be nervous or embarrassed. It's just the two of us, after all."

If possible, Corbel became even more reserved. He kind of curled in on himself and his free hand shot up to cover his blushing face and his wide stupid grin that he just couldn't erase.

"Heh-heh, cute." Sans mused as he shifted. "Well, keep in mind, also, that this isn't anything we have to rush into. We've got all the time we need. So for now, why don't you rest. You've got a PT day tomorrow, right? Maybe I'll see you tomorrow?"

"T- tomorrow?" Corbel questioned, seemingly snapping back to reality, "Wait . . . You're leaving?"

"Well we both should be getting some sleep, right? I can't stay here all night. Not on the first night, you know?"

"Well, why not? You've stayed the night before. A-and if you leave now . . . everything might . . . I might just wake up. I don't want to wake up yet. Not from such a good dream."

Again, Sans released a quiet laugh as he stood. He leaned over Corbel and touched his head with his.

"For the last time. You're not dreaming."

"If you leave now, it may as well have been a dream. I'll wake up and think that I imagined the entire thing . . . I still feel like I'm in the middle of a hallucination."

"You really want me to stay, don't you?"

Corbel stayed quiet, but he did let out a small huff.

"And now you're gonna pout?"

"I'm not pouting."

"Yes you are. And I'm gonna need you to stop that."

There was still the hint of the laugh in Sans' voice as he teased Corbel, but no conviction in his command.

"Well if you're leaving anyway, then there's no point . . . . If I were pouting that is. Which I'm not."

"Which you are. Look, it's a bit early to be doing stuff like this . . . But, what if I conveniently 'forget' something here for you? Will that convince you you're not dreaming? Then, I'll have to come back tomorrow to get it."

Even as he spoke, Sans was already shrugging out of his blue hoodie, which was a bit of a feat since he didn't part from where his forehead touched Corbel's.

Of course it was in that moment that someone decided to open up the door to the dorms and a dazed-looking monster shuffled in. Corbel's roommate.

Instinctively, Corbel gasped at being caught and he would've pulled away, except for the fact that he was caught between Sans and the couch. Sans only tilted his head slightly to look sidelong at the newcomer.

. . . Who actually didn't seem very surprised at all.

"I didn't see anything," He muttered as he turned and continued to shuffle off toward his room. "I'll turn my music on, but keep it down all the same, okay?"

A short scoff left Sans at the moment, something shooting through his mind.

"No promises." He replied.

To which Corbel's eyes shot wide open and an even sharper intake of breath could be heard.

"N-no! It's not. That's- he's not . . ."

But the other monster had already closed the door to his room. Obviously, he really did not care.

Corbel groaned, completely red in the face as he brought both hands up to cover it.

"Wow." Sans commented, his laughter returning, "Who knew you were so easily flustered? Heh, yup. I can already tell what type you'll be."

Corbel lowered his hands from his eyes to glare up at Sans.

"What do you mean 'what type'?" He asked in that same groan.

The moment the question was uttered, a warm light-ish weight fabric was draped over his shoulders. The hood was drawn up over his skull as the other Skeleton continued to laugh.

"Don't worry about it." Sans replied with a smirk, "Hold on to this for me okay, Daydreamer?"

"Daydreamer!? I thought you said I wasn't dreaming."

"You're not." Sans shrugged, finally breaking their connection and tilting up to lightly kiss Corbel's head. "Not right this second, anyway."

If Corbel wasn't pouting before, he definitely was then as Sans pulled on the drawstrings of the hoodie and stood to leave. He gave a quick wink.

"Besides, I thought you wanted me to stop calling you 'kid'. I've been holding back this entire time because of that."

"I think I'll take 'kid' over 'daydreamer'."

"Heh-heh, too bad. I think this one's gonna stick!"

"Sans . . ." Corbel moaned.

"Corbel . . ." Sans mimicked.

A solid pout in place, Corbel glared after Sans as he crossed the room toward the door. Even when he made to stand, Sans raised a hand to stop him.

"I'll be back for my jacket. Take good care of it, got it?"

"S-so . . . I'll see you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow . . . Daydreamer."

Even after Sans closed the door behind him, Corbel was frozen with a million thoughts rushing around his skull. As if trying to confirm the reality of what just happened, Corbel reached up to touch the collar of Sans' jacket. Then his mouth. Then he brushed his thumb across his forehead.

Then . . . He really was . . . This was real! Everything that just happened . . . And if that was all real then . . .

He and Sans really were . . . TOGETHER now!? They were DATING!?

He had a BOYFRIEND!?

That wide stupid grin returned and again, the giddy laughter followed shortly afterward.

Corbel wandered off to his room, clutching the jacket tightly around his shoulders.

The crutch was left on the side of the couch. Forgotten.

As he headed back to his apartment, Sans couldn't wipe the grin off of his face either. He replayed what happened at Corbel's place over and over and every time, he had to laugh.

That felt so amazing! It felt so incredible to be able to let go like that! To be completely open and honest about everything! To just act and not worry about everything for once!

He knew he was taking a huge risk and a huge step. One he could never take back . . . but the more he thought about it . . . the more he didn't want to. The whole thing just felt right! It felt good!

And GOD Corbel was being so cute! His reaction when Sans had so clumsily asked to date! And the way he blushed so profusely at Sans' playful teasing. The way he'd been trying SO hard to get Sans to stay the night.

He supposed Corbel always had been the cute shy one of the two. But now it's been amplified! And what's more, he was acting that way because of his actions. Corbel was acting so unbelievably adorable for him!

He missed this feeling! He missed being part of something like this!

And having a partner as pure and as enthusiastic as Corbel was . . . He was excited! There was no better word for it! He'd never seen Corbel so happy before and it was as if that enthusiasm was pouring into Sans as well. He welcomed it and let it fill him.

Something hitched in his chest as he thought back to Corbel. And now that it was official, he couldn't understand why it had been so difficult to put a name to what he was feeling. He'd made the final conclusion with his help . . . But it was so obvious as to what it was that it was almost embarrassing.

It was definitely love . . . There was no other reason for him to be feeling like this. The skipping in his heart, the warmth in his face, the way he couldn't stop himself from smiling.

"Damn it." He chuckled quietly to himself, "I really am falling, aren't I? Big time."

Well, at least this time it was mutual.

He made to distract himself by shoving his hands in his jacket pockets, only to remember that he'd "forgotten" his jacket back at Corbel's place.

He shook his head with another laugh. He hoped that little bit of proof would be enough to convince Corbel that he actually did mean what he said.

As he continued home, he found that he was looking forward to the next time he'd be able to see him. More than usual. He wanted to see that smile again and he wanted more than anything to hear that unbridled, unfiltered, soul-telling laughter.

Heh, it really did feel like a dream.