Grillby has gotten much better, thanks to Alphys and Sans, who cared for him intensively. One day and he can go back to work. However, the fire elemental had more worrying issues on his mind.
Sans.
He was behaving… strangely since that incident.
He put up a cheerful mask, but Grillby knew better. Something is off. Asking Sans about what's troubling him is what's couples do. They listen and help each other. Yet, Sans hasn't come around to the idea of them being together, wholly. They weren't dating even a week, he can't expect Sans to open up about everything to him, but still… he had to ask.
Opportunity showed itself when he wasn't bedridden anymore and cooked for them a dinner at his home.
Sans had been awfully quiet, eating so fast he asked for a second serving, while Grillby was eating his first. The flame elemental went to the stove to get a second serving, thinking about how to strike up the conversation.
Definitely something's troubling him.
Grillby set down the plate before his skeleton and he sat down, munching. Seeing as Sans ate, he himself pushed his plate aside, sighing.
They locked gazes and Sans put down fork. "is… something wrong?"
Grillby looked at him. "I could ask you the same, Sans. You're troubled by something. Tell me what it is and maybe we c-"
In that second, Sans's eye sockets burned with magic and he snapped fingers, vanishing before Grillby's eyes, which alerted him. Abruptly he stood up.
Sans didn't get invisible. He just up and left. When he asked him what's wrong. If this isn't a sign of trouble brewing, then he's not a bartender.
He ran up the stairs, searching his house, every nook thoroughly. His skeleton wasn't there. Frantically, he ran out inside the snowy weather of Snowdin.
Getting a really bad vibe, he did a very sensible thing – he called Papyrus, in hopes his brother will tell where Sans currently is.
The younger of skeleton brothers picked up. "WHO IS IT? I DON'T KNOW THIS NUMBER."
"It's Grillby. Where is Sans. Tell me."
An irritated voice yelled in the receiver. "MY BROTHER WAS WITH YOU. HAS HE VANISHED BEFORE YOUR EYES?"
So this wasn't the first time he did this, all of sudden. "Yes. I watched him the past days closely and I noticed he's forcing himself to smile. For me. I asked him what's the problem and he… left."
"I SEE. MY BROTHER'S SHORTCUTS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY WORK. HE COULD BE ANYWHERE IN UNDERGROUND. BUT EVEN HE'S NOT FOOLISH ENOUGH TO GO TOO FAR FROM SNOWDIN. HOLD ON. I'LL CALL UP UNDYNE. MAYBE HE WENT TO WATERFALL. I'LL CALL YOU BACK."
Click. Grillby anxiously paced in the hallway, waiting for Papyrus to call. No, the feeling of premonition was too strong; this waiting has to end.
He put on his coat and ran straight to Sans' and Papyrus' home.
Papyrus collided with someone as he sprinted out of his home. "OUCH! GET OUT OF THE WAY… GRILLBY!"
Grillby recognized the younger of brothers, who pulled him back on feet. "UNDYNE SAW HIM FOR A MOMENT. HE IS PASSING BY THE FLOWERS."
That was all he needed to know. He's close by. Grillby turned on heel and ran as fast as he could. Papyrus cursed, following after the fire elemental.
Sans. Don't go beyond waterfall…
The echo flowers have been in the Underground so long as monster race, they recorded many things over the hundreds of years.
Grillby was thankful for their existence. They helped him and Sans get together after the agonizing years of mutual pining. And now, he has to catch up with him before he sets foot in Hotlands. He knows skeletons are hated there, so why would he…?
No, he can't be thinking…?!
Dreading that may as well be Sans' course of action, he urged Papyrus to run faster.
By the end of narrow tunnel, he halted to catch his breath. The room with echo flowers is up next.
"WHY ARE WE STOPPING? I THOUGHT WE'RE IN A HURRY."
"The echo flowers room is ahead. Let's go!" Grillby said, taking the lead once more.
Blue river of the flowers surrounded them as they walked the path and the skeleton was nowhere in sight. Grillby was trying his best to suppress the panic in his SOUL.
"BROTHER? ARE YOU HEEERE? I, THE TERRIBLE PAPYRUS HAVE COME WITH GRILLBY TO GET YOU BACK TO SNOWDIN. ANSWER IF YOU HEAR ME."
But there was no reply, only the soft whispers of echo flowers, repeating the forgotten words spoken by passers – by. Papyrus got angry. "SANS! YOU GET OUT THIS INSTANT. NOW! I'M NOT IN THE MOOD FOR HIDE AND SEEK."
Grillby caught on to something, Sans's voice, coming from the… echo flowers on the right. He steered closer, listening in.
"my bro is ashamed of his older brother and i don't blame him."
Was this recent? Must be… he should listen to them if that's still the same opinion he has of his older brother. "Papyrus, come here. You should hear this."
Curious as to why the flame elemental called him to him over, he approached, skeptically glaring at the flower. Grillby shushed him, so he could hear it.
"my bro is ashamed of his older brother and i don't blame him." The echo flower repeated in Sans's voice.
Papyrus scoffed. "WHAT AN IDIOT! I TOLD HIM ALREADY WHY I DID THOSE THINGS IN THE PAST. IT WASN'T OUT OF SPITE NOR HATE. WE'D BETTER GET MOVING. I DON'T LIKE THE TONE OF THIS…"
Grillby shortly nodded, as they continued on the way. They came across more echo flowers, but the lines spoke of Grillby this time. "grillby deserves someone better than me. if that accident has taught me something, it's that i'll be making a target out of him and his bar, if we stay together. one day he might be too late to save me, or worse, i'll be too late and i will never forgive myself that i caused it."
What is he saying?
They took turn to the left, the whispering of the flowers was resonating in the underground cave. "there is only one solution…"
Sans!
Sweating, the skeleton and fire elemental reached the very end of Waterfall, where Hotlands began. There, they found him, standing there on the precipice.
"Sans!"
"SANS!"
He turned around slowly. "pap – boss… grillby…"
The smaller skeleton balled up his fists. "why… why did you come…"
"BECAUSE YOUR STUPIDITY HAD US WORRIED! EVEN I DON'T GO ALONE TO HOTLANDS. HOW MUCH MORE OF AN IDIOT CAN YOU BECOME?!"
Sans giggled, even thought it was a sad, bitter laugh. "i'm sorry for being a failure of a brother."
Papyrus gritted teeth and summoned up his magic, conjuring up bones, which blocked the entry to Hotlands off. He approached Sans and slapped him.
Grillby gasped, appalled. Should he interfere here? Maybe first Papyrus should talk things through with Sans. "HOW COULD YOU BE A FAILURE? YOU RAISED ME UP BY YOURSELF AND THAT WAS NO SMALL FEAT. I AM GRATEFUL THAT YOU DIDN'T ABANDON ME. WITHOUT YOU, I WOULDN'T BE HERE STANDING BEFORE YOU."
Sans gaped at him as if he saw him for the first time. "papyrus… do you mean that?"
The captain of the Royal Guard rolled his eyes. "I HATE THE MUSHY FEELINGS STUFF WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, BUT I HAVE TO SAY IT. SO GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL ONCE AND FOR ALL. AND I WON'T REPEAT MYSELF, SO LISTEN WELL, SANS!"
Papyrus cleared his throat, looking into Sans's eye sockets. "YOU'RE MY BROTHER AND I ADMIRE YOU. ALWAYS HAVE."
Now both Grillby and Sans gaped at him.
Then, the smaller skeleton shed tears and crumbled on his feet, crying. Grillby shared a glance with Papyrus, who was visibly uncomfortable after the sharing of "mushy feelings" as he called it. The younger of brothers stepped back, signaling the fiery bartender to step in.
Grillby looked at Sans, who was crying/smiling. It's about time he eased his mind once and for all, too. "Sans, we heard what you said as you passed by the echo flowers. I have a confession to make." He knelt down, wiping his tears.
"I cannot predict the future, but I won't watch you self – destruct like this any longer. I've never loved anyone like I love you. I couldn't withstand losing you. Finally, we're together. Whatever problems come, we face them together, like a couple." The fiery bartender told him, softness overflowing from his voice.
Sans sniffled. "But… what if you're assaulted… again… and I'm…"
Grillby swept him in his embrace. "It won't happen again. I was caught off guard. And your brother is the Head of Royal Guards. He'll keep us safe."
The younger skeleton snorted. "BAH! OF COURSE I WILL! ANYONE WHO BOTHERS YOU TWO WILL HAVE A BONE TO PICK WITH ME!"
Sans laughed at the unintended pun from his pun hating brother. But still… "But… rumors will spread through the Underground."
"WHAT OF IT, BROTHER?"
The smaller skeleton's grip on Grillby's suit tightened. "Your… family…"
"Sans, you really should stop worrying about what other people think. As far as I'm concerned, my only family is you… and Papyrus, as he's your brother. I left Hotlands, because I didn't agree with my parents' choice of partner. I wanted to choose for myself. I saw you on that day as I moved in Snowdin, you… talked to me. Remember? All other monsters simply deigned to ignore me. But you… spoke with me for a couple of minutes. They changed my life. It was then when I realized my search is over, Sans. I stayed in Snowdin for you."
Overcome with emotions, Sans buried his head in Grillby's chest. "grillbz…i am sorry for worrying you…"
"WHAT ABOUT WORRYING ME, SANS? GRILLBY CALLED ME IN THE MIDDLE OF COOKING! THE GREAT PASTA WAS RUINED."
"sorry, pap. your pasta is the best. All others are impastas." Sans sheepishly said, which earned him a chuckle from the bartender and a grunt of aggravation from his brother. "NYAAAARGH! SANS! YOU JUST HAD TO RUIN THE MOMENT! SEEING AS YOU'RE BACK TO YOUR HORRIBLE PUNS, THERE IS NO NEED TO BAR THE PASSAGE."
Papyrus dismissed the bones and turned his back on the duo. "I'M GOING BACK TO SNOWDIN. I'LL LEAVE YOU TWO ALONE TO CATCH UP."
He left, storming off.
They were alone. And finally, there were no more misunderstandings between them. Grillby stood up, extending his head. Sans took it, grinning.
As soon as he took it, the bartender smiled mischievously, leaning down, planting a kiss.
Sans's grin evolved to uncontrollable giggling. "stop it, grillbz. you are firing me up."
Grillby grabbed his hand, chuckling as they started walking back to their town. "You could say I was always bad to the bone."
"oh my god."
"I've been burning midnight oil, reading books on jokes."
"i don't know what to say…"
"You could say I'm your new and only flame."
Sans snickered, feeling Grillby's warmness in the damp cavern and even warmer gaze. "i see my sense of humor has found a worthy match in snowdin. paps will blow a fuse if he hears you, saying it's my influence."
"It is your influence, that kind which I welcome. I love you, Sans."
"love you, too, grillby."
They reached the other end of waterfall under no time, hand in hand, not caring any longer if someone saw them.
~THE END~
