AN: We're getting to some of the good stuff! The stuff I've been looking forward to for a while now! I'm really glad to finally be getting this out there! So for those of you who have stuck it out this long, THANKS SO MUCH! I really appreciate every single one of you! Please enjoy!

Chapter 34

Setting the Stage

They mainly kept to the shadows, using buildings as cover. No one could know what they were up to. Normally, they wouldn't even need to hide, but with the express order of the Royal Guard, they had to remain unseen.

The announcement said that the humans were sighted in Waterfall, so that's where they headed.

They didn't even really have a plan for what would happen if they did happen to find the human before the Guard did . . . Or worse, if the Guards found them first and they happened upon the scene. Though Sans seemed determined to help in any way possible, Corbel wasn't so sure. If "any way possible" included Sans running headfirst into a fight between the Royal Guard and a human . . .

Sans always ran hot when it came to other humans . . . Of course he would. It would often lead him into making snap judgements and throwing himself in danger without a second thought. But that didn't give him an excuse to be so reckless!

And as long as Corbel was around, he was gonna make sure Sans at least had a little voice to keep him level-headed during these times.

As they crept on, Sans and Corbel remained relatively silent, keeping their eyes and ears open for any updates or signs of the human.

It wasn't until they heard a general announcement that they finally stopped. Apparently, Waterfall was now clear. The threat had since moved on to Hotland. From that moment, more and more monsters began to make their way out of their homes, all breathing a sigh of cautious relief.

Though it made it easier for Sans and Corbel to move around, the news came with even more apprehension than before. They'd just spent their time searching around Waterfall, when they should have been staking out near the border where their home was. That way, they could've intercepted the humans and hidden them away before they could get lost in the maze that was Hotland.

There was a bit of added pressure now. If the humans were in Hotland, time was running out for them. Security was tighter around that are because of the lab and direct access to the Capital, the most populated areas of the Underground, and the Castle.

Higher congestion of people, higher security, higher chance of getting caught.

The thought came to mind to split up and cover more ground. They had a higher chance of finding the humans if they did, but a much slimmer chance of helping them escape.

For that very reason, Corbel pleaded with Sans not to split up. He refrained from using the term "it's not worth the risk," already anticipating a heated response from Sans.

When time seemed to drag on a bit longer and they were still unable to find the humans, there was little choice except to split up.

Reluctantly, Corbel agreed and with a griping moan, he gave Sans a bit of a glare, a firm hug and a stern. "Be careful out there, got it?"

"Woah . . ." Sans breathed, feeling something grab tightly and pull sharply at his soul. "Are you okay?"

Corbel's embrace only got tighter, "I . . . Don't like this . . ." He admitted, "I don't like this at all. No, I hate this. I'd . . . much rather stay with you. I . . . I need to know you're okay. This whole thing is just so . . . Look, I'm scared, Sans . . . I'm scared that this is too much for us to handle. I'm scared because if you're caught trying to help a human . . . If they find out about you . . . "

"Corbel . . ."

"But . . . I know how important it is that we find the humans. We need to make sure they're safe too. So, maybe we really should split up . . ."

Sans gripped loosely at Corbel's shirt, holding him closer.

"I understand." He answered softly, "I can feel your apprehension. And I know this isn't the best or safest scenario for either of us, and I also know how worried you are and I promise that I'll be as careful as possible."

"With all due respect, Sans . . . Your promises have been wearing kinda thin lately."

"Okay, ouch . . . But still, I get it. And there are only so many times I can apologize and ask you to forgive me. But I'll still do my absolute best, even if you don't trust me anymore."

"I never said I didn't trust you."

"Yeah you did. You were nice about it, but that's basically what you said. Don't worry. I just said I get it, right? And I'm gonna prove you wrong, okay?"

Corbel hummed, "Yeah."

Before they parted, Sans stepped forward again leaning upward to pass a kiss on to Corbel.

"Frequent updates." Corbel muttered as he pulled away, "I want frequent updates from you telling me where you are and what you've seen. Send me texts. Don't risk calling. Only call me if you need immediate assistance. I'll come right away."

"Yes, Dear." Sans smirked as he turned, "You got it."

"S-Sans?"

"Hm?" His brow raised for a moment as he turned back.

"I . . . I love you."

Sans stalled, the smile dimming from his face as he listened to the waver in Corbel's voice. Woah . . . This really was getting to him, wasn't it?

"I love you too, Daydreamer." He answered, trying to be reassuring, "It's gonna be okay, okay?"

Corbel nodded, but didn't answer.

They left in opposite directions. When he began on his way, Sans' smile fell completely.

He had to get this done. Then he could go back to Corbel and make this all up to him. He could do at least that much for him. Corbel at least deserved that much. He'd been nothing but supportive this entire time. He was dedicated and hard working, even though he was worried out of his mind from the start.

When this was over and done and the humans were safely hidden, he was going to spoil Corbel absolutely rotten.

It felt like he'd been stuck going in circles for hours. He and Sans split up quite a while ago and so far there was nothing. No sign of the humans on either side. They must've been experts at stealth if both of them had been able to remain hidden for so long.

The entire time, he had to keep thinking as if he were a human lost in a strange Underground world. Where would he go? What would he be looking for?

It was difficult for him to pull off. All he knew was this world and he had no idea what a human would want.

He decided to ask Sans.

And Sans didn't disappoint. True to his word, he had been sending him updates, telling him which spots he'd already checked and which way he was headed. He'd had to veer off of the path once or twice to avoid being seen by the Royal Guard. The one good thing about them was that their armor almost always gave away their positions and made it easy to go the other direction.

According to him, when he first fell, he'd kept to the shadows, just like they'd been doing all day. However, he'd been set on a path to find the Gaster family and knew he was heading toward Hotland. These humans weren't so lucky to have that direction.

Along the way, he'd been looking for notable markers in case he got lost. He'd been looking for the light of anything that might have led back to the surface. He'd been looking for anything familiar that might have fallen down too. And he'd been looking for food, because in his case, he hadn't eaten in days.

The one place that had all of these things was the dump . . . Which they'd already searched. Plus, hadn't the Guard declared Waterfall cleared?

And besides, the humans didn't know all of that. They must have continued onward, hoping to find more.

He groaned, lifting a hand to his skull. He could feel a headache coming on and though he fought to push through it, his nerves were wearing thin.

Still, he couldn't give up. Sans was counting on him and so were those humans. He had to keep going.

He removed his glasses for a moment, to rub at his face and massage pressure points, trying to settle himself once again so he could press on.

As if he knew, there was a slight vibrating from his phone. Another text message from Sans. He had to adjust the way he held his phone in order to read it without his glasses.

"How are you holding up, Daydreamer? We've been at this all day. You must be getting tired."

Corbel sighed, responding immediately.

"Yeah, but we're not done yet. We have to find the humans. And before you say it. I'm not going home and leaving you out here to do this alone, so you can forget about even bringing it up, got it?"

It took another few moments for him to respond.

"Heh, you know me too well. Alright, I got it. ;)"

Corbel stowed his phone away once again and after another long breath, he continued on his way.

It was after about another hour or so that he heard the clanking of armor.