Author's Note: Thanks for the feedback! I'm starting to figure out the direction this will go in so I hope you're just as excited as I am. I've been having to write after my boyfriend goes to bed, he thinks it's bad how I ship this couple, if he knew I was writing this he wouldn't be able to drop it haha. All righty, get ready!

Chapter 2: Under the Hood

After that first night in the Underground, I didn't have any unexplainable anomalies occur at night for several days, weeks even. Something kept bothering me though…

I would have dreams that seemed to occur in the future. I dreamt of mostly Toriel and the house we lived in, but increasingly a certain skeleton made an appearance too. I wasn't sure if it was my overactive imagination, helping to urge my determination to reach the Barrier or perhaps I was actually…

"nah. not possible."

"Huh?" I lifted my head up from my chest. I seemed to have been nodding off on the couch, sitting at one end with Papyrus in the middle and then Sans.

"WHY NOT SANS? METTATON SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO DO EVERYTHING." Papyrus replied.

"because he's a robot. there's no way he'd be able to taste his own cooking."

I sat up, catching on to what the conversation was. Mettaton's cooking show was on the TV in front of us. The brothers and I had developed a habit of watching various Mettaton shows each night before bed. Most of them were actually pretty entertaining but the cooking shows didn't interest me as much as they did Papyrus.

Papyrus huffed and crossed his arms, ignoring the comment Sans made, not sure how to respond. Sans noticed his brother's stubbornness and decided to press a few more buttons.

"if mettaton did make delicious food… would it be pasta-ble he'd make a better spaghetti than you?"

Papyrus puffed out his chest and raised a finger toward the ceiling, ready to respond. After a moment of calculation, his finger wilted slightly.

"I BELIEVE METTATON WOULD MAKE AMAZING SPAGHETTI, BUT IF HE IS A REASONABLE ROBOT HE WOULD ADMIT DEFEAT IF WE EVER MET IN A KITCHEN, FOR I BET HE DID NOT TRAIN WITH UNDYNE THE UNDYING!" Satisfied with how he answered Sans, Papyrus leaned back into the couch with a smug look on his face.

I looked over and smiled at the skeletons. The light from the TV softly engulfing them with most of the room, their bleached bones being highlighted by various colors and patterns. I raised my knees to my chest and hugged my legs. After living in the house for a few weeks now, I got pajamas to wear to bed. They were simple red fleece bottoms and a long sleeved grey shirt. I couldn't help but look over at Sans' blue fur lined jacked, I was a little envious.

Did skeletons get cold? Papyrus didn't nearly wear the same amount of layers Sans did. Maybe Papyrus just liked to seem tougher than he really was.

Sans felt me staring and looked over at me. Like a reflex, I turned my head maybe a little too quickly back to the glow of the television. I thought I heard a short chuckle under his breath as he went back to also watching Mettaton.

"WELL, I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM NOW THE GREAT AND SLEEPY PAPYRUS." Papyrus announced as the credits rolled on the television. His bones cracked as he stood, probably felt good after our Mettaton marathon. Sans stood up too, preparing to go upstairs with Papyrus in order to read his bedtime story.

"GOODNIGHT HUMAN, I LOOK FORWARD SPENDING TIME WITH YOU TOMORROW PLATONICALLY." And with that Papyrus ruffled the top of my hair before climbing up the stairs.

Ever since I started living with the brothers, Papyrus only showed care and kindness towards me. Sometimes he would lift me onto his shoulders as we ran around new puzzles he would set, still trying to stump me. Other times he would simply squeeze my shoulder or pat the top of my head, especially as I became more comfortable around him and his spontaneous adventures around Snowdin. If it wasn't for Papyrus I wouldn't have made so many new friends in and outside of Snowdin, especially scarier monsters like Undyne. Papyrus cared for me very similarly to how he cared for Sans. I knew Sans cared about Papyrus, but the way Papyrus would go the extra mile for his brother impressed me. I couldn't help but wonder if Sans saw what I saw.

Sans was so different from Papyrus, it was often entertaining. The way Sans would poke fun at Papyrus and annoy him with his bad puns, I guess that's what the older brother was supposed to do. But when Sans and I were alone, for whatever reason it felt different. Sure I wasn't Sans sister, but Papyrus sure treated me like I was one. Why was Papyrus so fraternal with me but not Sans?

I stretched out my legs and grabbed the blankets off the floor. There felt like there was a breeze in the house all of a sudden. I looked around towards the door and window trying to locate the source. I even licked my finger and pointed it in front of me, trying to feel the direction of the draft. No luck. This cool air reminded me eerily of my first night here. I pulled the quilt close to my neck, creating a little sanctuary for everything but my head.

I heard some shuffling from up the stairs and a door click shut. To my surprise Sans started walking down the steps, only to jump over the last four steps. Was that a jump? Seemed more like he floated over those steps.

"Why did you do that?" I asked. He looked over at me in my attempt of a Frisk-sized blanket fort and grinned.

"do what kiddo?"

"Jump over all those steps?"

"i don't really trust them." His sockets darkened for a moment.

"Why?"

"i…" He looked directly at me, "think they're up to something."

I snorted at his lame joke as his winked and kept walking towards the couch.

"You're not going to bed?" I asked as he sat down on the couch, this time closer to where Papyrus was originally.

"doesn't look like you are either." He pointed out.

"It's too cold to sleep." I frowned at him. Usually when I did this to Papyrus he seemed to adore it and do anything to help me, I never abused this 'power' I had. You can only be a cute kid once.

Sans did not have the same reaction as his brother of course. He chuckled and turned towards me, lifting his leg onto the cushions, tucking his foot against his thigh in order to sit more comfortably.

"what do you want me to do about it exactly?" He asked with a mischievous look in his eyes.

I wasn't expecting to be asked what I wanted. I was used to options being given to me and then I would choose.

The skeleton began to lean in toward me, enjoying the fact I was squirming under the blanket, trying to decide my next move. Sans didn't intimidate in a fearful sort of way, but I did want to impress him and be just as clever.

"Sans you're making me pun-comfortable." I spoke, an awkward heat rose in my cheeks.

His face dropped slightly before returning to his normal grin and leaning back. Though he leaned further away, he used the distance to rest his arm on the back of the couch. He raised an eyebrow, still awaiting my answer.

I tried to think of the most clever thing a 14 year old girl could muster up against this monster to tease him like he did to me sometimes. And then I thought back to earlier…

"You could lend me your jacket?" I whispered, as the words left my lips it didn't feel as witty as I hoped it'd be. Stupid, stupid Frisk. Why didn't you just ask for another blanket?

I watched as Sans tensed a little. Sure, if I asked Papyrus if I could borrow something, he wouldn't even hesitate, nor read into any implications my words may have. Sans though… Sans face turned a light shade of blue. A rare sight for me, which made me feel even worse for asking.

I realized now I never actually saw Sans without his jacket on. What if he had some sort of scar or disfiguration under his jacket he didn't want exposed?

"sure kid…" He sat up slightly and began unzipping the top of the jacket, "as you wish."

I nervously bit at the inside of my cheek, unsure of what to say. Should I tell him to stop? Tell him that I really only need more blankets? A voice whispered in my head: "Curiosity killed the cat." What did that mean?

Welp. Too late now, Sans finished unzipping and slid each arm out of the jacket.

"there shouldn't be any gags or whoopy cushions hiding in it, well, you'll know if there is." He smiled at the thought and handed over his jacket.

It was a lot softer than I expected. My fingers rubbed and squeezed at the material, I was a little frightened to touch it too roughly or even put it on, as if I could damage it just by getting to close. But, I shrugged off the quilt and slid my arms into the sleeves. Immediately, I felt so much warmer. It was obviously much too big on me, my fingers barely able to poke out and I could tell it was long enough to be considered a dress on my stature.

What caught me the most off-guard though was the smell. I pulled the fur-lined collar closer to my mouth, breathing in the powerful aroma. I never got close enough to Sans to realized how intoxicating he smelled. Sans cleared his throat.

I became very aware of how delusional I must have looked in that moment. Slightly embarrassed I couldn't make eye contact as I said "Thank you Sans."

"no prob. you can borrow it whenever you'd like buddy." He winked and I felt my face turn a shade darker. Why did I get like this whenever Sans said something nice to me? I didn't feel this way around Papyrus or anyone else…

I took this opportunity to look at what he looked like without his jacket. He wasn't as wide as I expected, after all he was a skeleton, no such thing as thick boned. His grey shirt hung loosely over his rib cage, caving in significantly where his stomach would be. I wonder if he could even feel anything if it went beneath his ribcage?

"Hey Sans?" I was the one to lean in a little this time as I adjusted the sleeves more.

"hmm?" Sans took notice of this change in my body language.

"Why do you… Or really any skeleton… Need to wear clothes?" I swallowed.

Sans took a moment to register what I just asked. His cheeks bared an even darker shade of blue.

"uh, well… without clothes, we'd wouldn't really fit in and look normal i guess." He coughed a little. This was the first time I'd seen Sans actually visible uncomfortable. And wow, I was the one to cause it this time.

"But other monsters don't wear clothes and no one seems to mind? You don't have any organs do you?" I asked, truly curious.

"yes."

"What?"

"oh, wait no." Sans blush deepened. I could tell he was lying.

"No you do, you said yes. First answers only." I felt a little like Mettaton hosting a game show.

Sans laughed and scratched his head. "no i don't, i thought i had a brain but i'm actually just bone-headed."

I couldn't help but laugh at his joke, Sans always used jokes to diffuse the situation but he wasn't getting out of this that easily.

"Well then, you don't need clothes then right?" I asked again.

"i wear clothes for the same reason you do kid." He stretched out a finger and poked my upper chest.

"So, because you'd be… naked?" I asked innocently.

"yeah. pretty much."

"But," I inhaled. Sans eyed me carefully, also wanting to know where I was going with this.

"Does that mean you have…" I suddenly didn't need this coat any more.

Sans waited though. The ball in his court now, I don't know why he enjoyed seeing me squirm like this. I caught myself glancing at his crotch, hoping I wasn't obvious.

"Nevermind." I gulped and looked away. I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted an answer to my question now.

Sans blush stayed on his face. Something inside him though changed. He looked actually a little concerned. "hey kid, how old are you again?"

I swallowed. Oh no. What was happening. "I'm fourteen."

He leaned closer to me, a puzzled hesitant look on his face. "um, did anyone, before you fell down here, teach you…?"

My eyes widened. I stood up abruptly. I started to wave my hands around frantically "No no no no no no, I am not having the sex talk with you oh my God."

Sans eyes widened and his mouth dropped some. But when I stood there in his oversized jacket, red as a tomato, arms crossed; he began laughing and rolling back against the couch.

"oh man kid, i promise i won't. i just wasn't sure if you—"

"Stop, nope. Stop that right now. Conversation over." I huffed and started walking towards the kitchen. I glimpsed at the time, already 1 AM. I heard Sans laughing still at me and when I returned with a glass of water he was wiping a tear from his eye. That's new too, I didn't expect a skeleton to be able to cry. This night has been very educational for the both of us.

"all right, i'm sorry for asking. i didn't expect you to ask me something like that." Sans gave me a bashful grin. He stood up and walked over to the light switch, getting ready to switch it off.

I laid down on the couch, my body becoming relaxed enough to feel how tired I was. Sans watched me for a second before turning off the lights, my eyes still adjusting to see he was still standing there.

"Hey Sans?" I bit my lip.

"yes?"

"Can I ask you something?" I hugged the jacket tighter to my body. My eyes could see him walking back to me and he sat on the edge.

"whatsup?"

"Is… Is it only just us three in this house?" I whispered.

Sans expression didn't change. "of course, what do you mean?"

I held my breath. I reached out and gently placed my hand over his, I wanted to make sure he was really there.

"It's just that… Last time it was this cold in here, I think… No. I swear there was someone watching me sleep. On the first night I slept on this couch."

It made me nervous how the smile on Sans face didn't falter. I mean, sure he might have been trying to not worry me, but at the same time it was rather creepy.

"it'll be colder sometimes kid. that's where we live ya snow." I did giggle at his joke, his hand moved to my face. "i'm sure it was just part of a dream."

I exhaled. He was probably right.

Sans stood up, giving me one last look before heading up the steps. I looked up at the ceiling. This was the most Sans and I ever spent quality time together without any interruptions or distractions. Maybe that's why I dreamt about him more and more, he was becoming closer to me after all. He didn't act like a big brother, but instead a close friend. Maybe even a best friend. But something whispered in my head again: "He lied."

And even with Sans' jacket, I felt cold again.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I hope Sans is in character for the most part. I'm aiming for the idea that Sans doesn't develop any real feelings until Frisk is older. But hey, that doesn't mean a blossoming teen can't be a little curious? Comments appreciated!