Determination: A Mafiatale
Chapter 3
It's been three months. Since Paps and I took the kiddo home with us. The first week was the hardest for all of us, I think. They were so scared of every little thing, not even knowing what half of the things in the house were. Pap worked to improve his spagetti, calling his long time friend and old mentor Undyne for advice. That ended as well as I expected since I came home to find the kid and my brother covered head to toe in smashed tomatoes. The kid seemed fine with it, happily sitting on the floor and licking the juice off their little fingers.
I chuckle a bit as I recall the incident. I turn my gaze to the kiddo. Despite how long it has been we still don't know the kid's birthname. We're gonna need to start calling them something. Nicknames like Pup, kiddo, and tyke were cute, but they weren't proper names. "Hey, kiddo," I put my paper down, opening my arms. "Come sit with Sansy for a bit." I invite. They smile happily, trotting over to me, dragging their favorite stuffed bunny with them by the arm.
That was another bittersweet memory...
"Ready to take this place by storm, kiddo?" I asked, fastening the little one's coat. Once the kid got used to the house we decided to take them out for a walk around town. We needed to get them some new clothes and things for their room, which we, at that point, were still in the process of making. We had just been walking to the bun bun ladie's shop, but the poor kid clung to Pap and me like they thought we'd lose them in some unseen crowd. Neither of us complained. Honestly, we were both a little on edge as well. This was our first time leaving the house with our newest charge.
I kept my guard up and I knew Pap had my back, his head slowly turning as he mentally took note of everyone within reach or attacking range. We reached the shop without incident and only relaxed once we were inside. "Well well, if it isn't ma favorite skelebrothas." the bunny lady greets. "And who's this sweet little one?" she asks, kneeling down to greet the kiddo hiding shyly behind Papyrus' legs. "This is um...well, we don't really gotta name for 'em yet." I confessed earning me a confused look from the friendly shopkeeper.
I shook my head, letting her know it wasn't the place to talk about it and she slowly nodded. "Well, I think someone as sweet as you deserves and equally sweet treat." She said, poking the kid's nose a little drawing a cute giggle from them. She headed behind the counter and came back with one of her cinnimon bunnies. "Here ya go, sugar." She says, offering it to the shy child.
They looked up at me and Pap and we smiled encouragingly. They slowly take treat with a nod of thanks before nibbling on it happily. I smiled a bit. "Hey, kiddo. Why don'tcha go sit with Miss Bunny's kids and enjoy your treat while Pap and I do a bit of shoppin'?" I offered, pointing to the table where the bunny kids were drawing. The kid nods, trotting over to the table and shyly sitting with the kids.
I began with the clothes, looking for anything that might be in the kiddo's size. They were so tiny though and I was warned that, now they were gonna be well cared for, they'd grow like a weed. Still, there were some pretty darn cute outfits. Just as i was finishing upI felt a tap on my shoulder and looked back to see a pluch bunny shoved in my face. "Look Sans! It's adorable! You think the human will like it?" Pap asked grinning widely. I chuckled "Why not ask them, Pap?"
The two of us walked over to the kids, who looked up at us when we got close. The kid looked a bit more relaxed, frosting on their cheeks. "Hey, kiddo you got icing all over ya face." I chuckle, wiping their face with me sleeve. They giggle as I do and Pap kneels down. "Look at this, Little pup." he held the plush bunny out in front of the kiddo, who's eyes got big at the sight of it. "You can have it if you want." I say gently. They looked at Pap and I in shock, then back at the bunny toy. They slowly reached out, as it scared Pap would snatch it away from them before they could take it. We both stayed still, letting the kid slowly take the plush into their arms and hug it tightly. It was nearly as big as they were, but they didn't mind. Tears poured down their face as they hugged the toy more.
We bought that toy the second Frisk started crying and hugging us both. We bought them other toys too, but that bunny was their favorite. They carried it everywhere with them. If they lost it they'd cry until it was found. Not like loud wails like most toddlers, more like quiet sniffles. We had learned to listen for that since the kid seemed to have had it drilled into their head they weren't allowed to cry loudly.
I'm torn from my thoughts as the kid climbs into my lap and snuggles into me. I smile and pet their head a bit. "So...I been thinking...we need to give you a name." I say. They look up at me, tilting their head in confusion. "You know, my name is Sans and my bro is Papyrus. We need to give you a cool name too. Any ideas?" I ask, rubbing their back. They never spoke, but we noticed they seemed to at least recognize sign language. When Gaster came over to visit us they seemed to understand what he was saying before we could translate for them.
They think a moment, making me chuckle as they look so serious. "Well, I saw that you can be a bit fistey." I tease. "Maybe that should be your name." They make an adorable face, shaking their head. I laugh "Not Fiesty? How about Frisky?" I joke again. They pause a moment, actually considering it. "Or...maybe just Frisk?" I offer. They smile, seeming to like the name. "Alright, Frisk it is." I grin, eager to tell Pap about this new developement.
"Speakin' of which, Undyne should be over for dinner tonight." I hum. Frisk's eyes get big and they leap off my lap, running to their room. They come back in the play armor Undyne got for them and a little helmet on their bunny. I laughed more. "Good idea, kiddo." I said between laughs, ruffling their hair. They grin happily. "But, you ain't got much to worry about. It's just a little meeting. You'll be needing to go to bed for most of it." I said, scooping them up. "So, let's get you some grub. Grillby's sound good?" they nod fervantly. Frisk loved going to grillby's and the fire monster adored the little ball of joy. Said they reminded him of his own little girl back home at which point I'd remind him that she's not so little anymore.
"Okay, you know what to do." I chuckle as they close their eyes tightly and cover their bunny's eyes. It wasn't like a short cut would hurt their eyes, but I'm told I look a bit scary when I do a shortcut and the last thing I wanted was to scared the kiddo. I glow my eye and short cut us to just outside Grillby's place. I head inside, patting Frisk's back. "All clear, kid." He smile, putting them down on a stool at the bar. "Good evening, Sans and hello, little one." Grillby greets us, smiling caringly at the toddler spinning happily on their stool and giggling like it was a ride at the fair.
"Two orders of the burg with fries, Gribs." I smile, stopping the kid's spinning before they make themselves sick. I give them some G and point to the jukebox. "Why don't you go dance for a bit, Frisk?" I ask. They squeak happily, taking the coin and running to the jukebox. Grilby chuckles. "Finally given them a name?" he asks, leaning on the bar while our food is cooking. He hands me a bottle of ketchup, which I only sip. I was on kiddo duty so I couldn't get drunk yet. "Yeah, they picked it a little bit ago." I smile softly as they begin to happily dance to the music playing from the jukebox.
"I'll be honest, Sans...when you told me you and Pap took in a human child I thought you'd lost both your mind...but you've done them so much good." I smile more, turning my attention to my oldest friend. "Thanks, Pal...it hasn't been easy. They've been through a lot. They have nightmares at least twice a week, but that's better than nightly." I sigh, taking another drink. "Parenting isn't easy, papa bones." Grilby jokes, patting my back. I nod, rubbing my skull a bit. "I know, but still. I'm glad to see them doing so good now."
Grilby puts our food on the bar and I turn to call the kid. "Frisk, soups o-" I froze when I didn't see them dancing by the box. "Frisk?" I look around. "Kiddo, are we hiding?" I chuckle, looking under the tables...they weren't there either. I look to Grilby, who looks just as puzzled and worried. "Frisk?" I get off my seat, looking the whole place over and starting to panic a little when we don't find them. "FRISK?!" I yell, running outside. "Kid? This ain't funny! Frisk!" I call, looking around. I rush into the neighboring alley and tripped over something on the ground. I groaned, looking back to see what I tripped on. My soul went cold as I shakily reached out, picking up Frisk's little bunny plush. I look around in shock and terror. Grilby runs out, seeing me on my knees with the bunny in my hands. "Sans? Sans!" He shakes me. "Where's Frisk?"
I slowly look up at my friend. "I-I...I don't know..."