You felt like an idiot. A completely rude, clumsy, anxious idiot.

The minute you felt something foreign on your shoulder, your fight response immediately kicked in. You turned around and slapped the stranger before you thought otherwise.
Your hand didn't hit flesh – no, that'd be too easy for you, it was more like giving a marble table a high five. A slap sound did occur, but it sounded almost hollow and quiet.

You stared at the stranger in front of you and couldn't muster up the courage to say anything to them.

It was then, and only then, realization dawned in.

Sans stared at you wide-eyed, surprised. He didn't seem like your slap hurt him, but he definitely looked confused. You were sure he was pissed at you this time.
Two awful mistakes in a little more than a day. You were doing real great, _.

"I," you stuttered out, your voice quiet and hoarse, "I'm so sorry..."
Sans continued staring at you for a moment before chuckling, "you really have a way with introductions, kiddo."
You couldn't even look him in the eyes anymore so you began glaring at the ground, "...I don't know what I was thinking... I don't even have an excuse; I'm so sorry, Sans..."

You felt your hand distantly throb, most likely hurt from hitting bones so hard. Your shame overwhelmed your emotions at that point, you could barely even feel the cold air anymore.

"kiddo," Sans said, "i probably surprised ya. i'm sure it might be kinda scary at this time of night."
"..." You didn't say anything, instead you took a deep, shaky breath. You tried to calm down but felt tears prickling your eyes instead. You dug your fingernails into your palms to focus on anything else.
"toriel told me i shoulda called you first," Sans chuckled, "i guess that goat lady's got some good tips once in a while."
"...Sans," you said quietly, still refusing to meet his eyes.

The skeleton took a deep breath and patted your shoulder hesitantly, "we figured that something bad could've happened to you, _. i might've decided to see if i could find ya and see if you were okay. i also was gonna head back home."
You chuckled softly, "I-I guess... I guess that might've been a bad idea, seeing me."
"nah," Sans replied immediately, "it was worth it to see you were safe. besides, being a skeleton doesn't give you much feeling."

You finally turned to meet his eyes. He looked at you with a sincere expression and smiled widely.

"You don't have the nerves?" you joked.
Sans's smile turned wider, "I don't have... Anything, really."
You tried to smile back, "You are just skin and bones."

Sans chuckled at you, "what can i say?"

"...I'm sorry I hit you," you apologized, "And spilled ketchup all over you."
"it's good. it gives a good story to tell people," Sans said.

You looked at him and smiled for real this time, "I feel like such an idiot..."

Sans shook his head at you, frowning a bit.

"Y-you didn't have to check on me or anything," you dug your fingernails further, "I've been living here for a long time. I'll be okay."
"well." Sans took a long breath, "at least let me walk you home? you said your house wasn't too far from here, right?"
You stared at him for a moment, "Well... About that."

He raised an (how do skeletons raise an eyebrow? An eyebone?) eyebone and looked at you curiously again.
You felt the throbbing in your hand get more intense, and you released your hands into a more relaxed position, "...I didn't want any of you to worry, I guess. I have to take the subways back home, but they're safe. I'll be okay."

"do you have a car?" Sans asked.
You shook your head.
"kiddo," Sans smiled shyly at you, "we all wanted to make sure you got home okay, that's all."
"Like I said, I'm sure I'll be okay," you laughed, "Thank you for checking up on me."
There was that blue hue again, "no, no. i promise i won't hold this against you forever if you let me tag along with ya. besides, i know a few shortcuts to get back home."
You frowned, "I live kind of far off from here."

Sans chucked, "i guess we better start moving then."

That night was different from the other. You felt awkward and idiotic for slapping the skeleton earlier, anxious nerves making you quiet and tense. You kept being reminded of your actions every second your hand throbbed painfully.

You assumed hitting skeletons wasn't in your best interest anymore.

Sans and you were lucky enough to not have to wait long for your subway. You felt awful he was traveling along with you, especially since you had just been awfully rude to him the past few days. He didn't seemed to mind, though, he just followed you and made a few puns to make the time go quicker.

His puns seemed to make you smile a bit too, so that was always a plus. (At least to Sans it was.)

"how long have you lived here?" Sans sat across from you, the subway just barely starting to move from the station.
You raised an eyebrow at him, "Is that a pickup line?"
Sans laughed and smiled, "maybe."
You weren't expecting his answer so your busted out into wild laughter, "Sans, my gosh. If you wanted to use pickup lines, well, you could've skipped it all and picked me up."

You felt a bit glad the subway was empty besides from you two, as you filled up the entire vehicle with loud rounds of laughter.

"I've lived here since I can remember," you replied after catching your breath, "My mom and dad grew up here, got married, and had me."
Sans listened to you attentively, "undyne told me you ran a bookstore?"
"It was my parents," you said, "They gave it to me a few years ago. It's a little old and small, but it's like a home to me."

You took a deep breath, "Can I ask you some questions?"
"shoot for it, kiddo," Sans replied.
"I'll have you know I am twenty-three," You frowned, "I would like to think of myself as a child no more."

When Sans smiled at you, you felt confident enough to ask a question, "You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but... How was the Underground? I-I don't really know a lot about it..."
"dirt-y. it wasn't bad, y'know, but nothing you'd want to call home. paps and i lived down in Snowdin. it was always winter down there," Sans seemed fond of the memories, "the only thing i really miss is grillby's. a friend of mine used to run a restaurant down there. best damn burgers you'll ever have. i think he might try to start it up here. we'll have to take you if he does."
You smiled warmly, "I'd like that."

Sans's face lit up brightly.

"How old are you?" you asked, feeling silly.
"there's a lot of years in these old bones," Sans joked, "a skele-ton."
You pouted, "No, really."
"...i'unno," Sans said, "it hasn't been a big deal to me before."

"where's your bookstore at?"
"Crest Street. It's in the middle almost. It's close to a few clothing shops."
"how days do you work for?"
"Every day except for Sundays. I close down shop around nine at night."
"do you like it?"
"It's work."

You two continued on talking like this, just silly questions about each other. You didn't get into anything really heavy, and you quite thankful for that.
You learned simple things about the skeleton; he loved Papyrus to death and they both lived together (but Sans disliked spaghetti), he worked odd and end jobs but typically worked at a hot dog stand on main street, and he enjoyed science stuff. You remembered how his name felt familiar and realized it was because Undyne and Alphys had talked about him that first day. You knew he liked astrology too.

"Is Papyrus staying at Undyne's?" you asked randomly, "I just remember you told me you were headed home, so..."
"yeah, yeah," Sans replied, "i think they were gonna go running together or something."
"Didn't want to go?"
"i prefer to think of myself as a more inside type person."
"Don't worry, me too," you laughed.

You smiled at the skeleton, "Thanks for coming with me... You didn't have to."
"i was feeling bonely," Sans smiled back.

"I-I mean it," You stuttered out, "It was nice of you."

Sans's face brightened considerably.

"kiddo," Sans tried to break the silence that was eerily growing, "where do you even live? i swear we've been on here for a good hour."
"We have?" you said quietly, "I didn't really notice... My stop is probably coming up in a few minutes."
"wow," Sans whistled, "you might've meant the complete opposite when you said you lived close."
You flushed out of embarrassment, "I... I just didn't want anyone to worry."
Sans looked at you and shrugged, "it's good."

"You know," you took a deep breath, "You don't really have to walk me home or anything. I promise my house is pretty close to the station... I can pay if you need another ticket to get home or anything... I'm sorry for bothering you this late at night."
"_," Sans smiled, "i know a few shortcuts. stop worrying."

You shook your head and began to open your mouth to say something but the intercom interrupted you. It announced you were now at your stop and the subway halted.

You got up and accidentally backhanded a metal pole with your bad hand. The pain showed up intensely and immediately.

"Shit," you cussed, louder than you had anticipated.
Sans looked at you worriedly, "you ok?"
You looked back at him and frowned, "Yeah, yeah..." The throbbing in your hand hurt with every pulse, "I just might've hurt my hand... I'll be okay."

You both walked out of the subway and Sans went to look at your hand. He held it gingerly within his own bony one. It felt nice, despite the pain. He checked it out from both sides, seeing the damage.

"it looks pretty swollen, kiddo," He frowned, "how'd you do this?"
"...Probably from slapping you earlier," you squeaked out, "Which I'm still really, really, really sorry about."
Sans shook his head, "i'm pretty hard-headed, you know."

You chuckled at his pun softly.

"does it hurt if i do this?" Sans asked, poking your hand softly.
You winced, "A-A little. I'll just have to put some ice on it tonight and it should be good as new."
Sans looked at you, shaking his head and laughing, "you're one of a kind, _."
You blushed, "Does that make you one of a bone?"

Your puns were awful, you knew that for sure. Despite that, you still were able to make the short skeleton laugh a bit. That, above all else, felt like an accomplishment.

Sans and you walked towards your run-down apartment complex, having small conversation just like before. You started to really enjoy these social outings, even though it was just with Sans. Sans didn't make you feel awkward (well, he did but never in a negative way) and it was just easier to talk with him. It was easy to talk with everyone you've met tonight.

You knew better than to hope like this, but you prayed with every ounce of your being that they wouldn't turn out like everyone else.
You hoped they wouldn't leave you.

When you finally got there (You technically weren't lying, your apartment wasn't too far away from the station. You two were just walking slow as hell), Sans seemed a bit surprised at your apartment. It wasn't really the nicest looking place but it was all you could afford.

Sans walked you to your door like a gentleman.

Gentle skeleton?

You opened up the door to your apartment and took a deep breath, "T-Thank you, Sans. I really appreciate you walking me home and all. And being really nice to me despite I haven't really made the best impressions on you..."
Sans frowned, "you just needed to ketchup with me. 'm sure we'll have many more encounters where i'm the one spilling instead of you."
You felt your face smile widely, "I-I hope so."

"i guess it's time for me to stop getting under your skin and head back home," Sans said after a moment, "it was nice seeing you again, _."

You frowned, "Do you know what time it is?"
Sans looked confused, "time for me to go?"
You laughed and shook your head, "No, no, bonehead. It's almost four in the morning. I'm sure this goes against everything I was taught as an innocent child, but... It's really late. Do you wanna stay over tonight? I-It wouldn't be a big deal, and you can say no if you're uncomfortable."

"I just would feel awful if I let you take me home this late and didn't do anything in return," You said awkwardly after Sans didn't reply, "Especially since I... Since I hit you..."

Sans looked at you for a moment, still speechless.

"I-I'm sorry..." You shook your head, "It was a dumb idea..."

"would i be intruding?" Sans finally said, quieter than his normal voice was.
You stared at him for a second before giggling, "No, no. It's just good ol' me here. You're welcome to stay the night if you want to."

Sans seemed to ponder it for a moment, "kiddo, i know a few shortcuts back home. i-i'll be good."
You found yourself dead-set on the notion, "Nuh-uh, it's late and I'll worry about you. So come on!"

uncharacteristic of you, you grabbed the skeleton's sleeve and pulled him inside your small home.
It was a bit messy and smelled like pumpkins. You were thankful that you had picked up a little before you left though. You closed the door behind you both.

Sans stared at you for a moment, that blue hue returning once again, "kiddo, i..."
"If you don't want to, you don't have to," you mumbled, "I just... I don't know. I guess I'm being the bonehead now."

Sans shook his head and laughed at you, "you're ridiculously cute and weird, _."
Your face flushed brightly, "I-I... Maybe more like awkward."

The skeleton's laughter filled up the room happily, and soon your own chuckles joined along with his.
It was a nice moment, you thought, and you found yourself wanting to fill your days with more memories like this. Memories like these could slowly replace the painful ones. Anything was worth a shot.