5. Ruintale
Knock, knock.
...
Knock knock.
Nothing.
"not feelin' it today? that's ok."
Sans sat down in the snow. "'course, the ruins are pretty huge, from what i've heard. maybe you just can't hear me."
He leaned against the door, tapping the ground. "gotta new job, by the way. it's just around the corner, across the bridge. my bro got it for me, said that i needed to stop mopin' around or something."
The woods were silent, peaceful. He had no idea what was behind the door, or why the voice refused to come out and tell him anything about herself. He told her stories every now and then, about 'the life outside'. Snowdin, his little brother, snippets of politics he picked up from Grillby's restaurant. She seemed starved for information, flippant or gossipy as it was, but never gave him any in return.
Not that he cared. She could keep to themselves if they wanted to. She told great jokes, and that's the only thing that mattered.
" well, i guess i can come back tomorrow."
"I'm here," said a quiet voice. Sans glanced at the door. The lady sounded different. Almost... happy? Weird.
"everything ok?"
"Who's that?"
That wasn't her voice. He turned around, faced the door. It sounded like a kid - high, soft, scared.
"Do not be afraid, my child. My friend is on the other side of the door."
"my child? didn't know you had a family."
"I do now. I found this small one this morning, and am taking them home. Say hello."
"H-hi."
"hey, kid. good to meet ya."
"Run along now, go back upstairs."
"Yes, Mama."
Sans grinned at the sound of bare feet hitting the stone and scampering off.
"so you just happened to find 'em, huh?"
"Yes." She sounded strangely uncomfortable. He raised his eyebrows.
"well, that was real sweet of you, takin' 'em in and all that." He chuckled. "bet you'll be a great parent."
"Perhaps you're right." Her voice sounded heavier than before. "I... I certainly hope so."
"you gonna keep 'em in there with you? in the ruins?"
"Yes. They will be safer in here, with me."
Sans glanced back, frowning. The Underground was plenty safe, for all sorts of monsters. Maybe the kid was hurt, or a lot more fragile than she was letting on.
"you worried about humans? lady, don't you worry. My bro and I've got this area under top notch surveillance. Ain't no way any of that dirt's gettin' past us."
He winked, then remembered she couldn't see him.
"G-good." Her voice sounded heavy again. "Is... could you promise me one thing?"
"within reason. whatdaya want?"
"If... the child does come out... take care of them for me, will you? at the very least, do not hurt them."
"what? course not. what do you think, i'm some sort of monster?"
She laughed at that one - finally. He was starting to get worried.
"well, i've probably been here to long anyway, and i'll bet you wanna get back to your kid. my bro will be-"
"BROTHER, WHERE'D YOU GO?"
"ah, speak of the devil. knock to ya later, lady."
"Farewell. And... thank you."
He shrugged, then vanished.
knock, knock.
...
"Who's there?"
That wasn't the old lady.
It had been months since he had last visited. Every time he thought about going back to the Ruins, he had put it off. The lady had a kid. She was busy enough already. She didn't need him hanging off her doorknob, pestering her. Now that he was finally back…
"dishes."
"Dishes? Dishes who?" It was the kid! Their voice was a little louder, a little more confident. They had sounded on the verge of tears last time.
"dishes a very bad joke."
ba dum tis!
A solid ten seconds of silence. Sans took a step backwards.
A high peal of laughter, like a little bell, rang out. "That's funny! Are you Mama's friend?"
"guess so. what's your name, kid?"
"Frisk."
"nice. i'm sans, sans the skeleton."
"You're a skeleton?" Their voice had a tinge of fear, now. Weird.
"yep. one of the last." He and his brother were the only skeletons left in the underground, unless you counted... well, never mind.
"That's really cool," they said shyly.
"oh, i know." He ran his fingers through the snow. "so, where'd you come from?"
Another pause. A muffled sound, as if they took a step away from the door.
"I... I don't wanna talk about it."
Running footsteps. And they were gone again.
Sans stared at the blank door for a second, then turned and walked the way he had come.
Knock, knock.
"Who's there?"
"doris."
"Doris who?"
"doris locked, that's why i'm knocking."
"Haha! Knock knock."
"who's there?"
"Datmay."
"datmay who?"
"Datmay have been a bad joke, but I still laughed!"
"heh. learn that one from your mom?"
"Yep! She's super good at them! I can go get her, if you want to talk to her."
"nah, it's fine. how's life in the ruins!"
"It's so cool! I've made a bunch of friends, and it's so much better than - than before. You should come in and visit!"
"heh, don't think you've mom wants people from the outside dirtyin' up her floors. maybe someday."
"Ok."
There was a long silence, and Sans wondered if they had wandered off.
Knock, knock.
"who's there?"
"Boo."
"boo who?"
"Why are you crying? It's just a joke!"
"heh, a classic. knock knock."
"Who's there?"
"cargo."
"Cargo who?"
"no, cargo beep beep."
"Car's don't beep, they honk! It's really loud."
"how d'you know? your mom read you a story about 'em or something?"
"No... I just know." Frisk shuffled quietly. Sans chuckled.
"i'll take your word for it, i guess. i'll have to tell my bro."
"You have a brother?" They suddenly sounded faint.
"heh, yeah. he loves cars - i think the only reason he wants to get up to the surface is to see one for real."
"Cool," they whispered. A pause. "I- I had a brother. Before."
"before what?"
"Before I met Mama."
"not sure if that's how that works."
"No, I – never mind. I don't wanna talk about it."
"- then Blooky shot grey bullets at Froggit! They were harmless, of course, Blooky would never hurt anyone on purpose, but Froggit was flattered anyway. Blooky told me his cousin showed him how to do it, and that his cousin is really famous outside. He said that if I ever come outside, I'll have to go to their houses and meet him."
"real cool." Sans smiled. It had been years since he had met Frisk - he had lost count. Four, five? The old lady probably knew, but he hadn't been talking to her as much. They sat in silence for a minute.
"I want to go outside. I want to meet you, and your brother, and Blooky's cousin. I want to - to go back. I want to go home." Sans frowned.
Home?
"well, shouldn't be too much of a problem, should it?"
"I don't think so, but... well, whenever I start talking to Mom about it, she gets all quiet and sad. She doesn't want me to get hurt, I think."
"well, I'll talk to her 'bout it, if you want. i think she'll be pretty chill with the idea if-"
"Talk to me about what?"
Sans' eyes flickered for a second, but he didn't have any time to say anything.
"I want to go outside, Mom."
The old woman forced a laugh.
"We have already talked about this, my child. Now please, go upstairs."
"No."
"Frisk..."
"No." Sans felt the door rattle, as if Frisk had grabbed the knob and started pulling on it.
"You naive child. If you go out there, they... ASGORE... will kill you."
Sans leaned away from the door. That didn't make any sense. Asgore only wanted to kill humans. Maybe the lady was a little cracked after all.
Unless…
"It does not have to be this way. Please... you've been here all this time..."
"I can't keep doing this. I need to go home."
"This is your home!"
"I need to go back."
There was no sound except the wind whistling through the trees.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
A small laugh.
"I suppose you're right. I cannot hide you in here any longer. You have already proven to me how strong you are. Sans? I suppose you're out there?"
"ah... yes ma'am?"
"Forgive me for being so secretive. Frisk, you too. Forgive me, please. I have been selfish."
A muffled sound, as if Frisk had leaped into her arms. "Of course, Mom. I'll come back some day, I promise."
"Ha, ha. I believe in you, my child. Now go. Stay determined. And never look back."
The door creaked open, and Sans took a step back. There was the old lady - a white goat-type -the same species as the king. A boss monster.
And there was a child, standing in front of her. Small, maybe seven or eight years old. Dark hair, pale skin. Wait, was that a -
"human?" he muttered. "huh. i shoulda known."
Frisk tilted their head to one side, staring up at him with wide, excited eyes.
"Sans?"
The kid he had been talking to for years now was a human. Their kind had banished the monsters Underground and all but eradicated his species. It was his job, it was his duty as a monster to turn them in to Asgore. They had the ability to kill everyone, to set them all free, to reset...
He stuck out his hand, and they took it. A fart sound exploded through the air, and he laughed as they jumped back.
"heh, the old whoopie-cushion in the hand trick. it's ALWAYS-"
"Sans!"
"sorry, ma'am."
Frisk laughed, brushing snow off their purple robe. "Are you - I mean, can I-"
"yeah, don't worry. i'll show you around. you wanna meet papyrus, don't you? my brother, he's a human-hunting FANATIC." Frisk paled, and he winked. "don't worry, he's not dangerous (even if he tries to be). you'll love him."
"I know I will." They stuck their chin out and smiled. "Let's go."
A/N: Guys. I did not make this one up. I swear. But I've only seen, like, one comic of it, quite a while ago. Upon an attempt to cite my work like a good colleg student, I couldn't find it. I think it was instantpuppypaper on Devianart? I'm like… 87% positive. Anyways, I don't get the credit, but thanks. I got three requests last chapter, and I'm going to be posting those next! If anyone has a request (or a second request), hit me up!