Disclaimer: I do not own Undertale

Iterations

A Place to Call Home

She stepped out of Papyrus' room, the tall skeleton right behind her. Sans looked up from where he sat on the couch.

"hey. how'd the date go?"

"UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE HUMAN, I WAS UNABLE TO RETURN HER FEELINGS!"

Sans eyes darted to hers and she suppressed a smile. "is that so? tough luck, kid."

"I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE ELECTED TO PRETEND AS IF THE ILL-FATED ENCOUNTER HAD NEVER HAPPENED TO SPARE THE HUMAN FROM HUMILIATION!"

"that's nice of you."

"I KNOW! I WILL NOW PROVIDE THEM WITH THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF SPACE TO RECOVER FROM MY REJECTION, AS THE DATING BOOK'S CHAPTER TITLED 'REJECTION AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT' INSISTS!" he replied as he jumped out the window.

They stared out the window as the 'NYEH HEH HEH's faded. Then they turned to each other.

"so, how are you playing it this time?"

She flopped down on the couch next to him, throwing an arm over her eyes. "I think I'll grab a room over at the Inn. Once I meet Undyne, there's no real downtime for a while. Besides, it would be easier to work together if you're close by. You may be able to reach me any time with your shortcuts, but it doesn't exactly work the other way."

He hummed in agreement. "sounds good. i wouldn't bother with the inn though."

She peeked out from under her arm.

"if i'm remembering right, you don't get a whole lot of cash unless you go around being a terror." She winced and he amended his statement. "i mean, when whatever takes over your body sometimes is being a terror. you might as well stay here."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to put you out."

His skull did a fair imitation of raising an eyebrow. "how much gold do you got kid? really?"

She flushed but answered in a mumble anyway. "...a hundred fifty-three."

"yeah, sounds like you don't have much choice."

"Thanks." And she meant it, really.

"no problem. tv?"

"Sure."

Papyrus broke through the front door with an impressive tuck and roll. "SANS! I HAVE RETURNED! WHY HAVE YOU STILL NOT ATTENDED TO YOUR PUZZ– THE HUMAN IS STILL HERE!"

She waved from where she sat bundled up in a blanket on their couch.

"yep."

"I AM SUPPOSED TO BE GIVING THE HUMAN PLENTY OF SPACE TO RECUPERATE FROM HEARTBREAK," he whisper-yelled to Sans, no doubt attempting to be discrete.

"yep."

"WHAT SHOULD I DO?"

"dunno."

"SANS! THIS IS SERIOUS!"

"yep."

She decided to step in before Sans worked Papyrus up into a tizzy. She chose to pretend she had not heard their loud conversation. "Papyrus?"

"YES, HUMAN?" he responded, a drop of nervous sweat on his skull.

"I'm not distraught over your rejection anymore."

He looked surprised. "REALLY?"

"Yeah. I've shifted from being in love to hero worship."

He blinked in surprise. Then, he struck a dramatic pose and stated, "OF COURSE YOU HAVE!" He immediately followed with a long-winded rant about his greatness.

Sans gave her an amused look. He whispered loud enough for only Frisk to hear. "what are you playing at, kid?"

She whispered back. "It's his house too. I'd feel better getting permission to stay from both of you."

She interrupted Papyrus as he took a breath between sentences. "Do you know what that means?"

He paused thoughtfully. "NO. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?"

"It means that I'm going to be staying here."

"IT DOES?"

"Yeah, so I can learn from your example."

"A BRILLIANT IDEA! I SHALL FIRST TEACH YOU TO MAKE DIABOLICAL PUZZLES. I SHALL RETRIEVE MY BOOKS ON PUZZLE-MAKING!" He ran up to his room excitedly.

"look what you've got yourself into."

She grinned at him good-naturedly. "What? I always enjoy his puzzles. Might as well learn to make my own."

Whatever reply Sans had was abruptly cut off as Papyrus reappeared, picking the girl up and jumping out the Papyrus-shaped hole in the front door.

A/N: Another short one. But it was important to give Frisk a place to stay. Besides, it's really hard to resist Papyrus. Heavy on the dialogue, I know. But stories with cooperation usually are.

Thanks for reading.

Until next time friendlies,

Dfsemina