"morning," Sans mumbled sleepily as he passed Bonnie in the hall.
"Good afternoon," she replied with a giggle and a hand over her mouth to hide both it and her smug smile. "Any news from Lord Fiersome?"
"nah, not this time either. he's pretty happy with the status quo so just keep doing what you're doing, i guess." Sans shrugged, unsure what else to say.
"And I will just as soon as I get back home. Actually, I should go finish packing."
"oh right, you gotta head back to ashborough." Sans had forgotten that was coming up so soon. It would be a relief to not have to deal with all five head priests all day every day, but he would miss them. Especially the friendlier ones like Terry and Bonnie.
"And the others are leaving too, first thing in the morning."
"yeah… that makes sense. it's just, i'll miss you guys."
"We'll keep in contact and come back for visits. We'll certainly all be here for the birth, if nothing else."
Sans tried not to wince, judging from Bonnie's expression he hadn't done a very good job of it. "yeah… the birth… that i have to give."
"Sorry to remind you, but you'll have to get used to the idea sooner or later. And with triplets there isn't as much later."
"yeah, but i still pick later."
"Well then, I have packing to get back to so I'll see you later."
Sans chuckled and gave a little wave before heading back down the hallway. The only easy access to the courtyard was unbearably far away, but it's not like he had much choice. Oh he could probably have just stayed in his room, or even gone to the archive, but he wanted a change of scenery and the courtyard was his best option, at least while the weather was still nice. He idly thought about going out into the city proper, to visit the library or a tavern or even the marketplace, if today was even a market day. Stars, he wasn't even sure when those were anymore. No one had strictly forbade him from doing any of those things, but he had a feeling that if he did the others would panic if he didn't tell them before hand and insist on accompanying him if he did. Right now Sans couldn't handle any of that, so to the courtyard he went.
Finally he was through the door and out into the warm sunshine he'd seen from his windows. The courtyard was rather nice, an open area with a cobblestone path leading over to a large gate that could be opened to allow large things in if need be, a chicken coop off to the side with several trees and shrubberies acting as a screen around it, the kitchen gardens right next to the door and continuing to the corner and around it to the next wall, all the way until just under a window Sans was almost sure belonged to Fieri, there more trees and shrubs framed a stone bench.
The bench just happened to be Sans's goal, he ambled over and sat his tailbone down on it. Once he was reasonably comfortable leaning against the wall he pulled a thin novel from his robes, a new one Papyrus had given him with the same conspiratorial wink and smirking whispers he'd brought in a pastry just over two weeks ago but felt like an eon. He opened the novel and started reading.
He had just gotten to the part where the mysterious, powerful stranger declared himself the Monkey King's heretofore unknown long lost brother (and Sans was starting to suspect this was part of a continuing epic) when he heard the door to the courtyard burst open. He looked up, Papyrus was standing in the doorway, looking very handsome in his new priest robes, one hand on the handle, the other tightly gripping the tray with Sans's breakfast on it. His untouched breakfast. Papyrus's eyes narrowed when he spotted Sans. Oh boy.
Papyrus stepped out into the courtyard and carefully shut the door behind him, then marched right over to Sans, his grip on the tray so tight if he had skin Sans was sure it would be beyond white.
"SANS! IS THERE A REASON YOU DIDN'T EAT YOUR BREAKFAST?" He stopped right in front of Sans, glaring down at him.
Sans shrugged, "eh, didn't feel like eating."
"WHY?" Papyrus drug the question out, like he wanted to ask more and was holding back, or maybe like he just didn't know what question he was even really asking.
Sans gave another shrug before slipping a piece of ribbon into the book and tucking it back into his robes. He had a feeling Papyrus wasn't going to just leave him be right then.
"SANS! DO I NEED TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST EATING FOR YOURSELF BUT ALSO FOR THREE OTHER WHOLE PEOPLE?!"
"bro, they're a week old, it's not like they need a whole lot yet."
"BROTHER!"
Sans squirmed in place, it's not like he wasn't hungry at all, he just hadn't felt like eating.
Papyrus's tense shoulders fell, he moved to sit next to Sans and nudged him gently with his elbow. "ARE YOU REALLY NOT HUNGRY? OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON? TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG SO I CAN FIX IT."
"guess i'm not really feeling all that hungry, i could eat." Sans shrugged again. "and i know there's nothing wrong with the food, the stuff they serve here is pretty good. but it just… i don't know… i didn't really want it for some reason." Sans shrugged yet again, at a loss for how else to express it.
"WELL… DID YOU EVEN TRY?"
"eh, not really."
"PLEASE JUST TRY, FOR ME?" Papyrus offered the tray to Sans, who reluctantly accepted it.
He guessed the food didn't look so bad. Sans grabbed the fork resting on the tray next to the plate and pushed some of his food around a bit, then loaded up the fork and stuck the mouthful into his teeth. "okay, that's not nearly as bad as it looked when i first got up. maybe i should just wait a little to wake all the way up first?"
"THAT SOUNDS WEIRD AND ILLOGICAL, WHICH ARE THE PERFECT WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOU SO THAT MUST BE WHAT'S GOING ON."
"yeah, but remind me to ask spookins about it next time they visit."
Papyrus hummed noncommittally and laced his fingers together to rest around his knee. He watched as Sans continued to eat, likely to make sure Sans actually ate the whole thing.
"so, the other priests are all heading back to their own temples tomorrow morning."
"YES, AND YOU MAY EVEN GET TO SEE THEM OFF IF YOU STAY AWAKE PAST SUNRISE. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO SLEEP, BUT YOU CERTAINLY ARE SLEEPING MORE REGULARLY."
"heh, guess being married's good for something."
"OH! THAT REMINDS ME, I HAVE TONIGHT OFF!"
"from what?" Sans asked in confusion.
"FROM BEING A NIGHTWATCHMAN, OF COURSE."
"oh, i thought you quit."
"I QUIT BEING A GATE GUARD, THERE ARE NEVER ENOUGH NIGHTWATCHMEN AND I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE CATRINA COMPLETELY SHORTHANDED SO SOON AFTER LOSING YOU."
"okay, so what you going to do with all that free time?"
"I WAS HOPING TO ACTUALLY OFFICIALLY MEET MY BROTHER-IN-LAW."
"sure, i think we can make that happen."
Sans sat on Fiersome's altar, feet swinging idly as he waited for the sun to finish setting. He'd actually been sitting there for a while, planting himself on the altar and pulling out his novel to finish reading even as the priests finished tidying up the room after the last sacrifice of the day had been given. They had all given Sans strange looks, but he didn't care. The altar was comfortable, and he literally had nothing better to do but wait around to see his husband again. He really needed to find a new hobby, all this sitting around doing nothing was so boring. Even reading was boring, he had put away the novel in favor of watching the sunlight slowly trail up the wall.
The room lit up, causing Sans to perk up. Grillby chose to walk in through the door this time, Sans held up his arms to beckon him over. Grillby obligingly walked into his embrace, pulling Sans in for a toe curling kiss.
"… Hello."
"heya."
"… How was your day?"
"boring, i need to find something to do, there's only so long you can spend sitting around on your tailbone reading."
"… I don't know, that sounds nice."
"maybe as a break, but not for the rest of your life. but what about you? how was your day?"
Grillby sighed. "… Busy, as always."
"feel up to hanging out with my bro? he says he wants to."
"… I'm honestly surprised he waited this long." Grillby chuckled as he helped Sans down from the altar, then the pair walked hand in hand to Sans's room, where Papyrus was waiting for them. Just as Sans opened the door Grillby's flames cooled and calmed, changing from their bright yellow and white to a softer orange and golden yellow, the long mane flowing behind him growing shorter until it was a gentle flame over his head, though his clothes didn't change.
"hey bro, brought the hubby."
"HELLO. IT'S VERY NICE TO OFFICIALLY MEET YOU!" Papyrus cheerfully held out a hand to Grillby while Sans closed the door behind them.
"… Didn't we already meet at the Golden Lamb?" Grillby smiled indulgently as he shook Papyrus's hand.
"YES, BUT ONLY A FEW TIMES, AND YOU WEREN'T EVEN SANS'S BEAU BACK THEN. NOW YOU'RE MARRIED AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW YOU YET."
"… True, so what do you want to know?"
"FIRST OF ALL, SANS HASN'T TOLD ME WHAT I SHOULD CALL YOU YET." Papyrus shot a quick glare at Sans, who had settled down on the hearth and was idly playing with the fire sprites within while watching the other two interact.
"… I think the least confusing name would be Fiersome."
"THAT DOES MAKE SENSE. WELL THEN, WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING A GOD?"
".. Normal," Grillby replied quickly, a smirk forming on his face. "… What's it like being a mortal?"
"OH… HRM… THAT IS A GOOD POINT." Papyrus looked around the room, then brightened up and pointed to a statuette of Undyne. "YOU'VE MET THE OTHER GODS, RIGHT? WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?"
"… Undyne the Undying?" Grillby asked as he stepped closer to look at the statuette. "… Though I suppose this was made before she earned that title, she still has both her eyes."
"WHAT HAPPENED TO HER EYES?"
Grillby shook his head, "… She lost one to a human god during the war."
"WHAT WAS IT LIKE? FIGHTING IN THE WAR?"
"… Please, I'd rather not. It's still too recent."
"OF COURSE, I'M SORRY." Papyrus wrung his hands, looking around the room again. "WHAT ABOUT HER?"
"… Alphys?" Grillby asked as he looked at a different statuette Papyrus was pointing to. He shook his head, "… I saw her only a few times, and only briefly. Any god high enough to have statues made of them outside their own temples are too high for me to really know."
Papyrus smiled, "THAT'S ALRIGHT, I SUPPOSE THAT MAKES SENSE. OH! WHAT ABOUT YOUR DOGS?" He'd moved over to the bookcase, where a pair of dog shaped bookends sat.
"… That I can easily do." Grillby smiled as he brought a hand up to the side of his mouth. "… Brimstone! Firestorm!"
Sans sat up a little straighter, he hadn't thought to ask about the dogs yet himself. Now that Papyrus had reminded him, he couldn't help being just as curious and excited as Papyrus appeared to be, looking around the room eagerly.
Grillby moved over to the bed and sat down. "… Come sit with me, Love."
Sans happily got up and crawled into Grillby's lap while Papyrus kept looking around the room expectantly.
In the fireplace the fire seemed to swell, a pair of shapes burst out of it, then ran rampant around the room before settling down into the shapes of two dogs, both with fluffy tails wagging wildly. One went over to Papyrus and started begging for pets, the other came over to sniff carefully at Sans, then their tail started wagging even harder, their whole back end wiggling with the force of it.
Sans started petting the dog, "hey there, aren't you a little cutie?"
"… This is Firestorm, and I think she likes you."
"who's a good girl?" Sans cooed at her. Firestorm's whole body started swaying with how hard her tail was wagging.
"THEY'RE SO FRIENDLY!" Papyrus called with delight from where he lay on the floor with Brimstone happily settled on his sternum, tongue lapping at his face.
"… Of course, you're monsters, they're supposed to protect you." Grillby reached down to rub Firestorm behind her ear. "… Such good girls." Firestorm's tongue lolled out.
"they're sweet, i like them."
Firestorm wuffed, then moved closer until her warm snoot was pressed against Sans's middle.
"oh, heh, guess she just likes the kiddos. and here i thought it was my natural charm."
That seemed to get Brimstone's attention, she abandoned Papyrus to join Firestorm. The two dogs were soon eagerly trying to climb up on the bed to be closer to Sans and Grillby. Sans thought it was the sweetest thing.
"good girls."
AN: The hell hounds were a suggestion by Perville that for some reason I kept, which means I have to figure out how to deal with a pair of fluffy, excitable dogs! Why did I keep them around? Probably because they're utter sweethearts and I love them! And they love the triplets and will guard and protect them. They also love Papyrus because he's a sweetheart and everyone loves him. Paps! You have so many friends you don't even realize! D: