"-and that's about what i know." Sans finished explaining, his tone just the slightest bit strained.

Papyrus took a deep breath, preemptively getting his voice under control so it wouldn't carry outside the kitchen and to the human children in their living room. He turned to look at the adjacent wall, as if just staring hard enough would let him see the kids on the other side.

"WELL," he began in a measured tone, "I BELIEVE WE NEED A MORE LONG TERM SOLUTION."

Sans rubbed a hand down his face, bones grating against each other. "yeah paps, that's true. i just... don't know..."

He looked up as Papyrus clapped his hands and turned to the cupboards, "WELL, NO USE WORRYING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, WE CAN JUST TALK IT OUT WITH HIM AFTER DINNER. WHICH I SHOULD REALLY START MAKING." he remarked as he pulled out pots and pans to set on the stove with practiced ease. "GO GIVE THE HUMANS SOME COMPANY IN THE MEANTIME, WOULD YOU BROTHER?"

"sure paps." Sans answered with a fond smile, already walking out the open doorway, though not so fast that he didn't notice the chilled ball of dough being pulled out of the fridge. Ohhh, it seemed Sam was in for a treat.

In the living room, he found the kids smiling and talking.

"Thanks Frisk." Sam said abashedly.

Frisk shook their head. It really was no problem! They were happy to help in any way.

"you kids plotting over there?" Sans interjected with an air of amusement and just the slightest hint of curiosity.

Sam startled slightly but Frisk simply raised an eyebrow, long since used to Sans' sneakiness. Really, they were getting much too sassy lately.

"It's really nothing, Mr. Sans-"

Nothing against him at least.

"Frisk!"

If there was any plotting going on, then it would be behind his mom's back.

"Frisk!"

Frisk tittered and Sans chuckled right along before giving them a curious look. Frisk tilted their head, it wasn't anything amazing, they'd just agreed to bring Sam some clothes tomorrow that he could change into for school.

Sans frowned and took a slow look at the boy, "speaking of which, i think we still have a box lying around full of my bro's babybones clothes, if you'd like to change into something... more comfortable." he offered, pointedly not looking straight at Sam's current attire. "he was a pretty big-boned kid so they should fit alright."

Frisk snorted. Sans' sense of alright was what other people called impractically oversized.

"i take offense to that. clothes this comfy are definitely good for something. they make it harder for people to get under my skin." he grinned.

Yet another raised eyebrow. Soon enough they'd be a fully fledged teenager, he hoped Toriel was ready, even as he grinnedwider. "they're also pretty good for napping if i do say so myself."

And another snort. He really shouldn't let Papyrus hear him say that.

Sans huffed half in amusement and half in acknowledgment, looking at the clock on the wall. "welp, it's getting late kiddo. better run home before tori assumes you've been kidnapped and put in a rib cage." Despite his joking tone, both of them knew better than to dismiss such a claim. An overprotective Toriel was already intense enough, but being exhausted and stressed on top of that... yeah, they'd better get going.

They turned to hug Sam goodbye and gave him a reassuring smile. After quickly popping their head into the kitchen to wave goodbye to Papyrus, Frisk finally exited the apartment and headed home.

Finding himself alone with the skeleton, Sam fidgeted awkwardly for a moment. "Um, uh, about the clothes, that'd be, uh, nice."

Sans' smile widened good-naturedly as he led the way to their spare room, hearing Sam follow hesitantly, "It's just over here." The boxes with their old stuff and paraphernalia were usually kept in the closet of the guest room, since they had no other use for it.

After opening a few boxes to take a look at their contents, he finally found the right one and started rummaging until he fished out a simple orange-and-yellow striped shirt and a pair of loose, light shorts, handing them over to Sam before turning to the box and sticking it back in the closet. Sam had apparently seen an opportunity and taken it, since he had the shorts mostly on and was already pulling the shirt over his chest by the time Sans turned around. He was panting slightly and his hair was suddenly a wild mess mess of blond strands. The dress lay discarded on the floor.

Sans suppressed a laugh, barely, "Uh, glad that you seem to like the clothes, but maybe take your time and change in private next time. You know, without the risk of someone turning around at any moment."

Sam flushed in embarrassment, "Ah, sorry. I just- I just wanted-" he directed a pointed look at the crumpled dress and muttered "I just wanted it off."

Sans found himself ruffling the kid's hair into an even bigger mess as he passed him by, "That's alright, kiddo."

"DINNER'S READY!" they heard a call from the kitchen. The skeleton motioned towards the kitchen and Sam followed, trying very hard to make his cheeks glow even a little less. He still couldn't quite believe he'd just done that, he was sure his cheeks were going to melt right off, though maybe they'd have the decency to wait until he'd hidden himself away from the world forever. What a nice thought.

All embarrassment, however, was forgotten once he awkwardly sat down with the brothers to eat.

"welp, bone appetite."

"SANS!"

He never knew ravioli could taste so good.

AN:

eyyyyyy come talk to me on tumblr, its the same username pretty much everywhere. also credit to the great punmaster Pilocene for punreading this chapter, without her sans just wouldnt be sans