It was so hard for the boys. They couldn't find anything that might help them free their father in the house and Sans was far too busy trying to make money to go and have a proper look in the labs.
No one wanted to employ a twelve year old with one HP who appeared out of nowhere. To everyone Sans and Papyrus had just sort of showed up and asserted themselves and since no one would employ a weak child, money ran out fast.
Sans went begging, any money he got he spent on Papyrus, Sans made do with eating out of the trash and occasionally Papyrus would sit Sans down and force him to eat regular bought food. Papyrus was very worried about Sans and he didn't want him getting sick from eating dirty food. The whole thing was taking a toll on them both. They were depressed and Sans was worried for Papyrus; he wasn't his normal, happy, bouncy self. It was as if all the joy was sucked right out of him although he still tried to act the same. Sans just wanted to see his little brother truly happy again.
Sans walked to Grillby's late at night, Papyrus was asleep and Sans was hungry. Really hungry. He hadn't eaten in a while, it'd been months since his father had 'died' and Sans was growing more and more depressed. He tried to think of good things, like how Papyrus was going school and doing so well there, or how they hadn't ever gotten a bill for water or power, most likely Asgore's doing.
Sans missed Asgore, he hadn't seen him since he rescued them, he had came once to check in on them but Sans assured him they were fine and Asgore clearly didn't want to push. Unfortunately he had no reason to go to visit the King and Asgore seemed to get the idea that the boys wanted to be left alone. Sans hadn't seen any of his father's Followers either or Grillby, despite the elemental living so close. Sans was avoiding him, it was upsetting to see old friends who had forgotten him and it was hard to act like a stranger to people he used to know, it was hard not to mention something about their lives he shouldn't know and it'd only be harder to be around someone he knew well, like Grillby.
He went to Grillby's but didn't go in. Instead he went around the back to the trash. He knew Grillby threw out food waste in a bag with nothing else in it, so it should be safe to eat, although it would be cold. If he was lucky Grillby would've just taken out the trash and it might still be warm.
He had no such luck but beggars couldn't be choosers, in Sans's case that was literal. He began to dig through for anything he could eat, knowing he had to be quick.
He had barely started when he heard a door open and he froze.
"...Hey! What are you doing?"
Sans jumped, Grillby was taking out the trash and he was caught red handed. He'd been caught digging through people's trash before in New Home, and every time he was yelled at and sometimes threatened, he didn't want to see Grillby like that. He didn't want to see Grillby at all. He turned slowly, keeping his head down at the ground but he could still see the light coming off of the elemental.
"i'm sorry, sir," he had to be polite, he had to seem smaller and weaker than he was, maybe then he could get some sympathy. He couldn't shortcut away either, because he lived in Snowdin so Grillby would just find him. He knew that Grillby probably wouldn't be that mad but he probably wouldn't want him digging through his trash and besides if Sans acted relaxed like he knew Grillby was chill he'd come off as arrogant. He had to think about how a normal orphan would act in front of a stranger who caught them dumpster diving. "i'm just really hungry, and i've got a little brother to feed. i'll leave and not bother you."
Sans turned to walk away, head still down but he felt something warm around his wrist. He flinched and looked at the flaming hand holding his arm. Was Grillby actually mad? Surely Grillby wouldn't hurt him, he was one the kindest people Sans knew or well, used to know.
He turned and looked up at Grillby, the fire elemental looked worried, he opened his mouth but seemed to change his mind and let go of Sans so he could sign.
"you're that skeleton orphan people have been talking about."
Sans nodded, he didn't know what to say, "i am sorry. i know you probably don't want me around. i won't come back." He tried to walk away again.
"... No! Wait!" Grillby called out and when Sans turned Grillby began to sign again. "If you're hungry you don't have to dig through garbage. I can make you something if you want?"
Sans frowned, confused, "i ain't got any money. that's why i'm eating from the trash."
"That's okay. You're just a child, no child should go hungry, that's just not right. I don't mind giving you food for free."
"but... you run a business, right? surely you can't just go out giving away food."
"Feeding two children every now and then is not going to put me out of business."
Sans still hesitated, he didn't know if it was really okay, he didn't want to trouble Grillby.
The elemental sighed, "look, if you really feel bad about accepting charity, how about we just start a tab? You don't even have to worry about paying it back but if you ever do get the money you can."
Sans couldn't really argue with that and he really was starving, he hadn't had a proper meal in ages, especially Grillby's. "alright, thank you so much."
Grillby smiled and held the door open for Sans, gesturing for him to enter, "don't mention it," Grillby signed once they were inside, "I'm Grillby, by the way."
Sans nodded and replied, "comic sans g-... the skeleton. just call me sans." What? That wasn't what he was meant to say... He was going to introduce himself with his surname, he was going to say 'comic sans gaster' but something stopped him. His father was erased, Sans couldn't say his name, first or last. He felt the need to remind himself of his own name and yelled it in his mind; Comic Sans Gaster, his brother was Papyrus Gaster, his father was Doctor Wingdings Gaster, he was a Gaster.
Grillby didn't seem to notice his panic, "nice to meet you, Sans," he signed with a smile and offered his hand.
Now that was the distraction Sans needed. He slipped his hand into his pocket before he took Grillby's offered hand.
PPPPppppfffffffffttttttttt...
Grillby looked shocked and Sans burst out laughing.
"oh my god!" Sans giggled, "i cannot believe that actually worked! i mean i just found this in the trash yesterday, thought it might be funny to prank my bro but man, i think a whoopee cushion in the hand might be my new favourite trick! look at your face!"
Grillby stayed stunned and Sans began to worry he really did piss him off and that the free food deal was gone but just as Sans was about to turn to leave Grillby burst out laughing.
"...Oh wow! That was actually really funny!" Grillby said after he stopped laughing.
"really?"
Grillby nodded and began to sign again, "yeah, really immature but funny. Took me by surprise there."
"heh, thanks. i'm a real hot comedian, my jokes are going to be real flameous one day. i was just burn to be funny so you can't really flame me for it. to stop me from making jokes would be blazephemy, even if it is a bit match, my bro really heats me for it sometimes but he still lavas me."
Grillby was laughing again he seemed to really enjoy the fire puns but he had to put a stop to them, he invited the child in to feed him, not to mess around. "...Sans, please... That's enough."
"aww, you don't want me to fire out some more?"
Grillby laughed again, "... you really are one funny kid... let's get you fed."
After that things really began to get better. Grillby hated seeing children suffer, he'd had a rough childhood and he didn't want to see kids do something as extreme as he did. He began to feed the skelebros regularly and when Papyrus complained about the food being too greasy, Grillby went out and bought non-greasy food specifically for Papyrus. Sans had scolded Papyrus for complaining telling him that free food was free food and he shouldn't be ungrateful but Grillby didn't mind, he knew some people didn't like greasy food and he was more than happy to at least try to give the little kid something he liked.
Grillby didn't know why but he cared for the brothers. They seemed so familiar to him, like they were old friends but that was impossible. He tired to push the thought out of his mind, he was just happy he was able to help the two orphans.
When Sans really began to struggle, Grillby gave him a job. He couldn't serve customers alcohol as he was underage and there were laws against that but Sans could still wash dishes part time, which was also good for Grillby as he didn't need to worry about getting wet and hurting himself. Grillby payed generously and gave him lots of breaks, he still gave him free food as well. The elemental quickly became good friends with Sans.
With his job at Grillby's and the other odd jobs Sans did every now and then he was beginning to live more comfortably and he finally had time to go to the labs.
There was no Royal Scientist, the labs were dark and unused but that didn't stop Sans, he turned on the lights and began to explore. He hoped he'd find something, it'd been a year since the accident and Sans missed his father so much, he didn't even care about getting to the surface anymore, he just wanted his dad so he searched and searched but there was nothing.
The labs were empty. Everything was erased. He kept looking until he found something. Blueprints, for the DT Extractor and for the Time Machine... He could rebuild the machine and use the very thing that tore his father apart to bring him back but that was really dangerous, if he failed then he to would be shattered. He promised Papyrus he wouldn't do anything dangerous but Sans hated that promise, he couldn't keep it. He wasn't going to keep it, he had to try, it was the only way to save him. Sans folded up the blueprints and put them in his pocket. Even if he shattered it'd be okay as long as he got his father back or as long as Papyrus's memory of him was erased... It was all for Papyrus, Sans didn't matter to himself.
Something caught his eye, pulling him out of his self destructive thoughts. It was his father's old badge, (the picture gone and name scratched out,) and the pictures, the ones that had 'Don't Forget' written on them... Sans picked them up and looked at them, the one of Sans and the Followers seemed to be in fairly good condition, he looked so happy in the picture, he missed those times, life was so much easier and happier... But the part with his father's face was burnt off... Sans hated it, he just wanted to see him, he'd do anything to see him again.
"H-hello? Is a-anyone here?"
Sans jumped and hid under a table as he heard Alphys walk through the labs, he had no idea what she was doing here, she shouldn't be here...
"T-that's w-weird... no one's here. W-why are the lights o-on then..."
Sans watched from where he was hiding as she shook her head and began to look around much like Sans's had been. He didn't understand why she was here, she was five years older than him which would make her eighteen right now, surely she had better things to be doing, like studying for university, she shouldn't be sneaking around the labs like a misbehaving kid.
Sans figured he should leave but just before he had to chance to shortcut away Alphys dropped her phone, the devise slipping from her claws as she pulled it out her pocket to answer some text. She let out a surprised yelp and bend down to pick it up and saw Sans under the table and screamed, falling backwards onto her butt.
"oops, sorry," Sans muttered and he crawled out from under the table, she'd seen him now so there was no point in running away. He stood up and brushed off his pants.
Alphys looked him up and down, "wh-who are you? What a-are you doing h-here?"
Sans shrugged, he wasn't going to tell her anything until he knew what she was doing. "i could ask you the same thing."
"I-I just wanted to... to... I'm here because I th-think my Father used to w-work here."
Sans frowned, "ok...? so?"
"H-he lost all his m-memories, c-complete amnesia, he d-doesn't even re-remember me or Mother. I think the was an a-accident. I j-just w-wanted to find o-out what h-happened... What a-about y-you? I-isn't it dangerous f-for a little k-kid to be here?"
"little kid? i'm thirteen!"
"O-oh..."
"yeah, i know i'm short but come on!"
"B-but why a-are you h-here?"
Sans shrugged again, he figured that out of everyone Alphys would be the most helpful. He decided to tell her maybe they could work together again, he just hoped it wouldn't make the paradox worse. "not that much of a different reason from yours."
"Y-your investigating t-the a-accident? D-did someone you k-know w-work here?"
"my dad used to work here to. he... well... i'd say he died in the accident but that wouldn't really be right..."
Alphys frowned and looked around again seemly trying to avoid eye contact, "wh-what do you mean?"
"it's a long story and you might not believe me but i'll try. we used to know each other, you don't remember me, no one does... but alphys, i think i'll need your help."
Sans knowing her name got her attention. They sat down and Sans told Alphys everything, it all seemed so surreal and oddly familiar to Alphys. His story was so bizarre and unbelievable and felt so real it just had to be true.
Wanting her own father to be normal again she agreed to help Sans and the two of them searched the lab and looked at the blueprints Sans had found, they began to research timelines and AUs. It was weird to Alphys to be working with Sans, it all felt so familiar yet she didn't know him but she did... It was a very weird feeling.
They were forced to start from scratch and they had much less resources so it was hard but they managed to rebuild most of the machine, there were parts missing and some things they simply couldn't work out but progress was made however slowly it was. They couldn't work on it all the time, Sans had multiple jobs and Alphys was in university but they slowly made progress over the years...
Alphys soon build Mettaton and became Royal Scientist, now with better access to funds and materials Sans and Alphys began to make more progress. They were still far off off it; there was too much missing information. Sans was slowly beginning to feel like it was pointless, he gave up and began to accept his father was gone for good...
Sans woke up and shot out of bed, panting, he had a blaster summoned next to him. He looked around the room, his room, with all of his trash, he was safe but why did he feel like he wasn't...
He'd had a nightmare, it was horrible, that laugh... Vines wrapping themselves around Papyrus's neck... A loud crack... Pain...
Sans sat back down and rubbed his eyes, that nightmare was the worst, it felt so real. Sans shook his head and with a sigh he got up and began to get dressed, Papyrus would be mad if he was late for sentry duty again after all Papyrus desperately wanted to join the Royal Guard once he was eighteen and was thrilled that his brother worked with them.
Sans didn't like the idea of Papyrus joining the Guard, it was too dangerous but he could hardly stop him, if that was what his cool brother wanted. Besides Sans was a sentry and was researching time travel, not really the safest things to do. He knew his father wouldn't approve of what the brothers were doing, he was so overprotective...
Sans pushed the thought from his mind and looked at his phone for the date and frowned... It was Papyrus's birthday, he was eighteen now. Something about that seemed wrong to Sans, didn't Papyrus turn eighteen ages ago?
No, because if he did then he'd already be part of the Royal Guard or at least in training. Something was wrong... What was his nightmare about again? He couldn't remember. Something was definitely wrong.
He took a shortcut to the lab behind the house with the time machine in it. He went into the furthest drawer and pulled out his notebook, something wasn't right.
His notebook was filled with his own writing but he didn't write any of it... Resets. Someone or something was messing with timelines, there was an anomaly, timelines stopping and starting and restarting. The notebook was filled with details of the resets and warnings of the creature doing them, a golden flower, he had no soul...
Sometimes he was a friend...
Most of the time he killed everyone.
Sans had to stop him. He didn't want Papyrus to die again and he didn't want the same accident that caused his father to shatter to happen again.
He had to find Papyrus, he took a shortcut back inside and into Papyrus's room, he wasn't there. Sans panicked, scared Flowey had already gotten to his brother and killed him but Sans saw no dust. He looked at his notebook that was still in his hands and flipped through it looking for any clues.
"time resets to paps's eighteenth birthday and can last anywhere from a day to around a year depending on the weed's goals. you'll find papyrus waiting outside undyne's house, flowey has never attacked him that early so he should be safe but hey, this is myself i'm talking to so you're probably going to check on him away. good luck future/past me, you'll need it."
Sans put the notebook back before going to Undyne's.
Sans appeared outside of Undyne's and saw his not so little anymore brother standing outside the door, staring at it, waiting.
"hey, bro," Sans said, trying to act natural and not panic.
Papyrus turned and smiled at Sans "OH, HELLO, BROTHER, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU UP EARLY! FOR ONCE!"
"heh, heh, yeah... what're you doing?"
"WAITING FOR UNDYNE TO COME BACK OUT!"
"right, you're going to join the royal guard now you're old enough, huh?"
"OF COURSE! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS WILL BE THE BEST ROYAL GUARD THERE EVER WAS, YOU'LL SEE, BROTHER!"
"course, you're the coolest! how long have you been waiting here? have you knocked?"
Papyrus checked his phone of the time, "I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SIX HOURS AND THIRTY SEVEN MINUTES! AND OF COURSE I KNOCKED BROTHER, WHY WOULDN'T I?"
Sans blinked up at his little brother, "you've been here since midnight?"
"OF COURSE! I WANTED TO JOIN AS SOON AS I TURNED EIGHTEEN! BUT UNDYNE SLAMMED THE DOOR IN MY FACE SO I'M JUST GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SHE COMES BACK OUT!"
"of course she slammed the door in your face, paps, it was midnight. why not just wait at home and go at a more reasonable time?"
"BECAUSE, DEAR BROTHER, I AM NOT NEARLY AS LAZY AS YOU ARE! IF I WANT INTO THE GUARD I MUST SHOW HOW DEDICATED I AM!"
Sans shrugged, "whatever you say bro. as long as you're alright. you are alright, right?"
"OF COURSE I'M ALRIGHT, WHY? IS SOMETHING WRONG?"
"i dunno. you haven't noticed anything weird have you? nothing out of place or wrong or anything?"
Papyrus frowned, "NO... SANS, IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG YOU CAN TALK TO ME, YOU KNOW?"
Sans sighed, he didn't know how many people were aware of the resets, it was probably just him, maybe Alphys if she was still researching timelines but he felt like it was best to keep this to himself. He didn't mind Papyrus helping him with saving their father if it was just looking through files but he didn't want his brother anywhere near anything dangerous, but he wasn't a kid and he wasn't stupid...
"i'm fine bro," Sans lied, he wasn't fine. What was the point in trying to do anything? It was all going to reset again. What was the point in continuing his research? His dad was gone for good.
"ARE YOU? BROTHER, I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU! I DON'T WANT THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO DAD HAPPEN TO YOU!"
"oh come on, that's not going to happen. i know how dangerous it is, i mean we marrowly escaped."
Papyrus didn't look convinced, "SANS, THIS IS SERIOUS!"
"i'm being serious."
Papyrus shook his head, "SANS, I KNOW YOU ARE STILL RESEARCHING IT AND I KNOW ABOUT THE MACHINE AND WELL... SOMETIMES YOU REALLY REMIND ME OF HIM, ESPECIALLY ONCE YOU GET REALLY INTO IT. WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE CLOSE TO A BREAKTHROUGH AND YOU DON'T EAT OR SLEEP FOR A WHILE... PLEASE DON'T DO ANYTHING DANGEROUS, I CANNOT GO THOUGH THAT AGAIN."
Sans stepped forward and hugged his brother, "i know, i'm sorry i make you worry. i don't want you to. happy birthday by the way, your gift's at home."
Papyrus returned the hug, "THANK YOU! I LOVE YOU, SANS. PLEASE BE SAFE TODAY."
"i will," Sans let go, he hesitated, he didn't want to leave he was still worried about the weed but he didn't want to make Papyrus worry more than he already did.
Sans was about to shortcut to his Waterfall station but Papyrus grabbed onto him. "BROTHER, WAIT!"
"what's wrong?"
Papyrus wasn't looking at him but at the ground, he looked guilty for some reason, "I... I'M SORRY, I LIED. SOMETHING IS WEIRD TODAY."
"what is it?"
"I DON'T KNOW... I JUST FEEL LIKE... THIS HAPPENED BEFORE? MANY TIMES. AND JUST AN HOUR AGO THERE WAS THIS TALKING FLOWER, NOT AN ECHO FLOWER, A GOLDEN ONE. HE SAID... HE ASKED... HE WANTED TO KNOW IF I KNEW A 'DOCTOR GASTER.' I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO..."
Sans frowned, how did Papyrus say his name? He was never able to, was it because he was repeating what Flowey had said? How could the weed even say that name? What was Flowey doing... How did he even know that name? Did he know him or had he just heard of him somewhere? Sans didn't like this, whatever Flowey wanted with this information couldn't be good, it was never good according to his notebook.
Sans's eye lights went out. "what did you tell him?"
"I TOLD HIM I'D NEVER HEARD OF HIM IN MY LIFE. THAT WAS GOOD, RIGHT? WE SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT DAD IN CASE WE CAUSE A PARADOX, RIGHT?"
Sans nodded, he doubted just talking about him would cause a paradox like he had thought when he was a kid, he spoke about his father all the time with Alphys and nothing bad became of that but he knew for certain that Flowey should never find out anything about him even if he could be a key to freeing him.
"don't tell him anything if he comes back. keep away from him."
"... ALRIGHT. I... HMM..."
"what is it?"
"WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC ON THE WAY HERE I TOOK THE RIVER PERSON'S BOAT. I THINK... I THINK THEY ALSO SPOKE OF OUR DAD."
"how so?"
"'BEWARE THE MAN WHO SPEAKS IN HANDS.' THAT'S DAD RIGHT? I'VE HEARD PEOPLE REFER TO HIM LIKE THAT BEFORE; THE MAN WHO SPEAKS IN HANDS. HE'S NOT A THREAT THOUGH. RIGHT?"
Sans had heard that before, that exact wording... The human, the justice soul, the one that tried to kill them... But what did that even mean? His father was not a threat. Sans stared into nothing for a moment.
"multiverse, perhaps?" Sans muttered.
Papyrus frowned, he felt uneasy and lost. Sans was going to shut him out again, he knew it and he knew something was happening. "SANS, WHAT'S GOING ON?"
"tibia completely honest with you bro, i have no idea. but i'm going to find out."
Papyrus nodded, he'd just have to be patient, if he pushed Sans would just flee and avoid him and they were stronger together. They needed to be together right now, when things were really not right. "JUST BE CAREFUL. IF THIS GUYS DANGEROUS JUST DON'T GO NEAR HIM!"
"don't worry, i'll be fine."
Before Papyrus could argue back and tell his brother to keep away more firmly the door of Undyne's house flew open, "Oh my god! I cannot believe you are still out here! You punk! You're real serious, huh?"
"OH, UNDYNE! YES, I AM VERY SERIOUS!"
Sans took the distraction and left. He had work to do.