Sans had never felt so nervous in his life when Frisk knocked on that door.
The three light taps on the door startled the two skelebros. Papyrus was stirring the contents of a large pot, which was giving off a wonderful smell, and Sans was doing what he always did: nothing.
As usual, the two skeletons fought to answer the knock. Papyrus sprinted to the hall, his lanky frame clattering about as his bones bumped into each other. Sans merely closed his eyes and reappeared in front of the door just as Papyrus skidded to a halt, sending pairs of shoes and boots into Sans' face.
"bro." Sans shot a look at Papyrus, like he was saying, "Really, dude?"
"SANS! IT IS MY TURN TO ANSWER THE DOOR! YOU WOULD DO WELL TO BACK AWAY AS I OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE GRACE AND BRAVADO THAT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"
"yeah, i kinda know that. but be a dear and lemme open it, would ya?"
Papyrus huffed and folded his arms dramatically. "VERY WELL. YOU'RE LUCKY THAT I AM SO KIND, BROTHER."
Sans shuffled forward and took a deep breath. This was it. He was going to tell her.
If his bony palms could sweat, they'd be dripping puddles.
He grasped the door handle and thrust it open to reveal a shivering Frisk, bundled up in a purple jacket and a thick green scarf that Papyrus had knitted for her years ago.
"Heya," Frisk beamed, her teeth chattering in the usual wintry air of Snowdin. "It's s-so cold up here, isn't it, Sans? I j-just came up from Hotland... are you just gonna stand there? Lemme in!"
Sans was frozen for a second, but hastily recovered himself. Focus, he told himself sternly. It would all work out fine if he just kept his head straight. He opened the door wide and forced a smile. "sure, frisky. come on in."
The brown-haired girl stepped inside, brushing snow off her shoulders and taking off her snow-caked boots. "Jeez, every time I come up here, the cold just seems to get worse and worse! You guys have it easy, being made of bone and all..."
Sans cracked a grin. "i guess skin can get... a little troubonesome." Ew. Not one of his best ones. Frisk didn't seem to mind. She sighed and rolled her eyes, but a smile crept onto her face.
"Haha. Good one, Sans. Let's go find Pappy, huh?"
Sans tucked his hands into his pockets and lifted a shoulder. "Whatever you say, Frisk."
As Frisk trotted into the kitchen to say hello to Papyrus, Sans took a deep breath. He'd been imagining how the moment would go for weeks. He recalled the conversation he had dreamed up of last night…
Sans: So.
Frisk: Out of puns, buddy?
Sans: You could say that again.
Frisk: Out of puns, buddy?
Sans: Is there an echo in here?
Frisk: Nah, you're just going nuts.
Sans: Actually, I am going nuts about something.
Frisk: What's that?
Sans: You.
*Frisk blushes intensely.
Frisk: I never knew you shared my feelings, Sans...
*Sans and Frisk kiss.
Of course, Sans knew that the conversation could go a lot worse…
Sans: Actually, I am going nuts about something.
Frisk: What's that?
Sans: You.
Frisk: Yuck! Freak!
*Frisk slaps Sans.
So Sans worried and worried in those few seconds from the hallway to the kitchen, where Frisk was chatting animatedly to Papyrus.
"...And so I took Alphys out to watch the Mew Mew Kissy Cutie movie, and she loved it! The last time she was this happy was when she and Undyne announced that they were officially a couple. Do you remember that, Paps?"
"OH! I REMEMBER THAT GLORIOUS DAY CLEAR AS A BELL! YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF BELLS, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO HEAR WEDDING BELLS IN THEIR FUTURE!"
Sans strolled in casually, smiling his usual mischievous smile. "What'd I miss?" he said, looking at the two of them.
"LOTS OF THINGS, BROTHER! FRISK HAS BEEN GETTING UP TO ALL SORTS OF HI-JINKS WHILE SHE VISITED HER MOTHER! I-I JUST REALIZED THAT RHYMED..." Papyrus shouted/said.
"wow. paps, you could be a rapper someday." Sans joked, and Frisk laughed.
Sans loved her laugh.
"YES, WELL..." Papyrus blushed a bright orange. "I WOULD MUCH RATHER COOK MY DAYS AWAY WITH MY BEST FRIENDS!"
"So, what's on the menu tonight, Pappy?" Frisk asked, drumming her fingers on the counter top.
"AH! I HAVE MADE A WONDERFUL BAKED MACARONI-AND-CHEESE! IT IS NOT YET BAKED... BUT IT IS BAKING! SO WE ARE HAVING BAKING MACARONI-AND-CHEESE!"
"sounds good." Sans said, watching his brother scurry about, clanging pots and pans together as he readied the meal. He glanced at Frisk. Performing such a simple action made him sweat.
"Yeah! So I'll get the plates. Sans? You want to help?" Frisk opened a drawer and picked up a fistful of cutlery.
You might get a chance to talk to her... one on one.
"y-yeah, sure frisk." Sans said, plastering his grin on again.
He opened cupboards and drawers and eventually found a sizable stack of plates that seemed suitable enough. Looking round, he saw Frisk with her bundle of cutlery, waiting for him.
Sans decided to take it as a good sign.
As the pair went to set the table, Sans observed Frisk carefully. She didn't seem any different than before, he supposed. Same faraway smile. Same bright eyes. And then, darn it, she looked up.
"Oh, hey, Sans. What's up?" Frisk asked brightly.
Okay, keep it together. Don't panic... don't panic…
"eh. not much." he croaked.
"Your pun game is lacking somewhat!"
Sans relaxed a little. It's just regular banter. Keep talking.
"yeah, well, puns are like music, y'know? they sound nice, but coming up with 'em comes with its fair share of... treble." Sans had to give himself credit for that one.
Frisk howled. "Gosh," she wheezed. "Puns are the death of me!"
Sans smiled, a real, genuine smile. "heh. i'm pretty clef-er, aren't i?"
Frisk wiped her eyes, doubling over with fresh giggles.
"puns are pretty easy once you master the bass-ics, though."
Okay, this isn't so bad. Maybe slip in a pickup line along the way…
"for a funny skeleton like me, puns are my forte."
Come on, come on, put in some romance!
"once you get the hang of 'em, when the right moment comes, you just gotta duet."
Frisk smiled. "Duets sound marvelous when they pair up the right singers."
"are we the right singers? are we marvelous together?"
Oh God.
Oh jeezums.
Did he really just say that?
Sans just broke several pun rules.
1. Use timing.
Nope, Sans said it at the worst time possible.
2. Cleverness.
No intelligence in that line. At all.
3. Laughs.
Sans thought his hearing was pretty good for something that didn't even have ears. And there was nothing but thick silence.
Oh, boy. He knew was so screwed, he couldn't even feel disappointment or anger.
Frisk blushed furiously but managed to hold it together. "D-do you sing, Sans?"
"well, of course. in the shower."
Frisk laughed nervously. "Then of course we could make a great duet."
WHOA.
WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA.
It took some time for Sans to process what Frisk just said.
He blinked several times and remembered where he was.
"y-yeah, sure, frisky."
Sans set shiny white plates and bowls onto the table, his mind numb. Holy crap. Did she like him?
Did she just make a very subtle move? Was he still sane?
Honestly, he didn't care anymore.
He was floating in stupid happiness, and he was angry at himself for it.
A/N: Sans is on Cloud Nine, but he's not sure if he's misreading the signs. Ah, poor Sansy! He'll be rewarded in the next chapter, so don't worry.
Welp, that was this chapter. I was very pleased how this one came out... a little on the short side, but good enough. Anyhoo, if you liked this chapter or the one before it, PUNCH THAT FAV BUTTON IN THE FACE! (Yes, jacksepticeye.)
Love you all,
Meikai