Chapter Twelve

Dates, Mobs and Toriel

Sans and Shadow started walking to Grillby's. Both looked fairly nervous, if Sans didn't agree that this was a date everything would have been normal. What are they even doing? Going on a date when Shadow almost died last night. Sans wasn't going to leave her side but that didn't make any of this okay. He knew Shadow wanted a date but he was worried this was too fast. He glanced at how Shadow looked and frowned. She looked really nervous. He was pretty sure he had about the same look on his face. The two walked in silence to Grillby's. When they finally got there Sans opened the door for Shadow.

Shadow walked through and thanked him quietly and made her way to the bar. The two sat down and ordered. Both got burgers and fries.

"So…" Shadow tried to break the silence.

"Sorry Shad, I've never been on a date before", Sans admitted to her, he kind of blurted it out embarrassed.

Shadow giggled at him, the mood improving since he said that, "That's okay Sansy, I've never been on one either."

This seemed to cause a lot of the earlier tension to melt away as the two started to happily chat. It ended up to be like a regular Friday night even though it was Sunday. Soon they ordered a round of drinks. After downing a few the two were back to their giggly friendly ways. It felt like that car accident was months ago. The two were back to normal as they drank their quarrels away with each other.

"Hey Sansy?"

"Yeah Shad?" Sans turned to his drunken companion.

"Are we really okay now?" The slur in her voice made it almost sound like she wasn't serious but Sans knew better.

"I freaked out for no reason. I'm sorry Shad, I promise we're good if you forgive me."

"How could I not forgive you silly! You're a really important person to me. I want you around", Shadow giggled at him.

Sans smiled at her and took a long sip of his drink, "I'm glad your think that why Shad. You know I'd love to whiskey you away from your fears and doubts, but you make it hard for me to the gin of them. We'd ought to vodka about them. You're kind like an onion and I'd like to tequila the layers. I hope this doesn't get me fireballed as your friend."

Shadow doubled over laughing. She was in hysterics it was so funny. After a while of laughing she caught her breath and wiped away a lone tear that started to form in her left eye. "Those were good Sansy~, I didn't see it coming!"

"What can I say? I'm Comic Sans." He followed up his statement with finger guns leaving Shadow in laughter.

"Yes you are, you very much are." Shadow said merrily.

"Shad, are you free after work tomorrow?"

"I should be, why?" Shadow asked looking curiously at Sans.

"There's someone I want you to meet. She's a very nice lady, has two kids and a husband. She's very motherly. I think you'd like her." Sans said.

"Motherly huh?" Shadow's voice filled with bitterness, "Man I can hardly remember my parents. They died when I was in highschool. It was a car accident. I blocked out a lot of memories of them because of the pain." Shadow sighed looking off into the distance wistfully.

Sans' eyes widened at what Shadow said. This explained why she was so easily depressed and had a distaste for other humans. She's pretty much had no one but herself. It's a wonder that she didn't try to kill herself sooner, well she did try but it was amazing that she didn't keep trying.

"Well, she might be someone you'd like to meet then", Sans replied. The atmosphere was heavy as he placed a hand on her shoulder and offered her a smile, "You know my father Gaster died when I was young. I never really knew him. It was one of the few things the game got right. Only thing off is we remember him and he's never coming back from the core."

Shadow leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him, "I never knew."

He gently pushed her away and gave her a sad smile, it was always hard for Sans to speak about his father. "Excuse me I need a moment."

Right when Sans left for the bathroom a new guy took his seat. He wore a smirk and had crystal blue eyes and hair that reminded Shadow of a whirlwind. You readers might remember him.

"Hello beautiful. I'm Markus and it's my pleasure to meet such a beauty at a place like this." Markus said, his voice came off arrogant as he practically sang those rehearsed lines at Shadow.

Knowing better, Shadow scoffed at him, "Sorry but I'm with someone already. You can go use those pickup lines you practiced in the mirror somewhere else. Also place like this? I should be telling you to leave. You might want to do that actually. We have the right to refuse service to anyone."

Markus looked taken aback for a moment but soon grabbed the girl. Shadow started clawing to get away as the man forced himself on her. He tried to drag her away but soon the other people in the fine establishment started to notice.

"SANS!" Shadow screamed out.

A huge skull like creature stood in front of the man trying to take poor Shadow away. A very angry Sans standing behind it. "Step away from her or lose your arm."

Markus smirked at him and shaking a finger at him, "Ah ah, hurt me and things are gonna go bad for you monsters. You can't touch me."

Sans frowned and his skull thing faded away, luckily this was enough of a distraction for Shadow to bite the man. He yelped and loosened his grip on her just enough for her to get away. She practically threw herself at Sans. Sans instinctively wrapped his arms around her and glared at the man. Grillby soon came out and pointed to the door, "GET OUT!"

That was all it took to send Markus running. Shadow had tears in her eyes as she clung to Sans. Grillby looked at the two and gestured for them to come with him to the back and up some stairs. After leading Shadow back there Grillby led them both to a couch. It would seem this was also Grillby's home.

Shadow clung to Sans as he set them down. At this point she was sobbing and hysterical. Sans was rubbing her back, "Shadow, he's not going to hurt you now, you're safe."

"I feel like I've known him at a different time. I feel like he violated me… When he touched me it felt so wrong and gross." Shadow cried.

Sans was furious, he couldn't do a damn thing to stop that son of a bitch from touching Shadow. He wanted to kill that bastard, he had no idea why he felt like he needed to die though. Sure what he did was fucked up but it wasn't that terrible compared to what could have happened. Like Shadow, he just felt like this guy was a real monster. Like he's done something unspeakably bad. The more he thought about it the more confused and angry he grew.

Shadow's tears started to stop after a while and she leaned back and looked up at him, "I'm so sorry for crying like that Sans. I don't know what got into me."

Sans shook his head at her, "It's okay doll, I understand. Something about that guy rubs me the wrong way. There's something off with him."

Sans and Shadow found themselves getting lost in the other's eyes. She didn't know why but Shadow had a feeling that she could find a happy ending. She was usually feeling hopeless, but this time, she had hope. After a while the two separated awkwardly and made the journey back to her house.

The next morning Sans walked Shadow to work only to find a huge mob at the door. I bet you readers thought this wasn't gonna happened but it is. Seeing Shadow and Sans together made the mob break out into a plethora of voices.

"Monster fucker!"

"Whore!"

"Traitor!"

These were just a few of the things that were shouted at poor Shadow. She wanted to cling to Sans till they went away but seeing the malice in their eyes and the way they looked at Sans, well it made Shadow stand up to them. She stepped in front of Sans and started her speech. A speech from the soul of empathy.

"ENOUGH!" Shadow shouted at the crowd, her voice coming off as angry, her yell made a lot of the mob go silent, those who still spoke were ignored as Shadow spoke over them. "I've had it with you monsters shouting and blaming. You all think you're so great because you're humans. Gods forbid someone looks slightly different than you. You people can't even handle black, white, tan, and fucking brown. So of course you're gonna hate monsters. I seriously think you humans are a lot of idiots. All you do is hate and hate. These monster just love and love. They accept people for who they are. I'm sorry to expect any better from us humans. Am I really the only one here still with a beating heart? We all breathe, bleed, speak, love, and feel sorrow. Why does their appearance and use of magic make you fear them so? They're mostly like us, just a little special. So please, drop your weapons. Find the love in your hearts I know you all have and leave us be. You don't have to love us, or even like us, but at least tolerate us."

When Shadow finished her speech the mob didn't have anything to say. They seemed shocked, and soon one by one they left. No words were spoken, there wasn't a need for words. The truth was spoken out and it led to everyone leaving. Shadow walked into Grillby's with Sans close behind. Once they got in they were met with Grillby. He had a drink in his hand and he looked panicked.

"No one had to die right Sans?" Grillby asked.

Sans sighed at his friend and nodded, "There's no more need for killing. We're free now." Was all Sans said which caused Shadow to whip around and stare at him.

"Excuse me? You've killed people? Don't tell me it was those poor children that went missing on the mountain." Shadow said, her eyes wide.

"We had no choice. What were we supposed to do? We were getting over populated down there. Monsters were fighting and killing each other over it. It was just havoc everywhere. It was our only choice, get the souls. I had to murder three people for our freedom, and it haunts me every night to this day." Sans told Shadow.

Shadow paused but got off her high horse, she wrapped her arms around him, "I forgive you."

Those words caused Sans to tear up, those were words he's always wanted to hear when it came to those poor souls. Shadow had finally relieved the rest of the guilt he felt. For some reason though he had this need to see her soul. He had this feeling that her soul would give him the answer to why he felt this way.

"Can I see your soul?"

Shadow was taken aback by the question but soon nodded. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, and she also knew he had a reason. With her nod Sans pulled out her soul with a quick motion of his hand, He went quiet when he stared at the glowing white heart in front of him.

It was pulsing with understanding and love. This is why he felt so comforted. He soon realized that Grilly didn't know her soul color till right now. He looked to Grillby and saw his shocked look.

"I can explain", Sans started but Grillby put his hand up.

"The soul of empathy huh?"

"Yes", Shadow replied.

"You have a rare soul indeed. A soul like this can save us all but I bet you already knew that", Grillby gave her a soft smile.

"We must tell no one about this", Sans started, "We must protect her soul."

"We also must get to work", Shadow stopped the conversation about her soul.

Grillby nodded and the two went to work getting the restaurant ready. Sans sat at the bar and ordered a bottle of ketchup and watched the two work. Soon enough the two finished prepping and opened up the doors for business. It seems some of the humans from the mob wanted to see if what Shadow said was true because they dined at Grillby's. She was fairly surprised, a few of them even apologized to her when she took their order. Other than the surprising guests the rest of the day went well. As soon as she got off work Sans grabbed her and teleported them to Toriel's house.

Sans knocked on the door and the two quickly came face to face with a blonde man with a large beard, horns goat ears, and brown eyes. Shadow didn't seemed bothered in the least bit by the man's appearance.

"Would you like to come in?" The man asked the two, "I was just making some tea."

Shadow smiled brightly at him, "I would love too, thank you so much Mr…?"

"Please call me Asgore, I used to be the king of the monsters." Asgor said with a smile of his own as he stepped aside to let the two in. Inside two teenagers were sitting together on the couch. They seemed to be really close, one looked like Asgor, blonde but with red brown eyes, small horns and goat ears. Next to him was the human girl, she had short brown hair, red eyes, and naturally blushing cheeks. The two looked very cute together. Soon enough another person came out. She was middle aged like Asgore had white hair with small horns and goat ears and ruby red eyes. She had a very motherly feel to her. Shadow could only assume that this was the person that Sans was talking about.

"Why hello Sans, is this your new friend?" The woman asked.

"Yes she is, Shad this is Toriel, Toriel this is Shadow." Sans introduced the two.

"Oh Sans where are your manners?" Toriel chastised, "This man is my husband Asgore, I'm sure he already introduced himself though, then these two are my children; Chara and Asriel."

Shadow nodded and held out her hand to Toriel, "Well it's very nice to meet you Toriel."

Toriel took her hand and smiled, "Would the two of you like to stay for dinner?"

"I would love too."

"Nothing can beat your food Tori, it's so much butter than Papyrus' cooking, he has a ways to go to even get close to surpastaing you." Sans joked.

Both Shadow and Toriel giggled while Asgore, Chara, and Asriel groaned. Soon enough Toriel started cooking and Shadow went into the kitchen to help. Soon enough dinner was ready. Toriel and Shadow ended up making crispy chicken thighs with a side of rice and some vegetables. Shadow and Toriel were laughing and talking to each other cheerfully, Sans couldn't help but to smile after seeing Shadow's face. Soon enough everyone sat down for dinner. Before dinner start though Papyrus came over to join them. Sans told Papyrus there was a change of plans and they were going to eat at Toriel's. The group chattered happily during dinner, there wasn't any tension just kindness and love. Shadow felt like she was at home, it was weird having what feels like a family again. The dinner ended all too soon for Shadow. She was enjoying herself a lot, in the end her and Toriel exchanged numbers. Before she, Sans and Papyrus left Toriel told Shadow she can talk to her anytime no matter what. Shadow was guessing that she heard what happened from Sans. Shadow nodded gratefully at her and hugged the kind woman in front of her. With that the two teleported back to Shadow's apartment.

"So… when you going home Sans?" Shadow asked looking awkward.

"I supposed I could go home tonight, call me if anything happens?"

"Yeah I will, I'll just call you on your cell bone." Shadow practically sang the pun.

"That was horrible, good job Shad." Sans chuckled while Papyrus groaned at her.

Shadow bowed, "Thank you, thank you I'll be here all week."

Sans smiled at her, "I'm gonna head out Shad, sleep well."

With that Sans and Papyrus disappeared.