Papyrus excused himself after a while to go meet up with Undyne and Alphys.
After you forced yourself to eat the burger Sans had brought you (and damn if it wasn't the best one you've had in your entire life), you tried not to move too much as not to upset your very sensitive stomach. At first just the sight of the food almost made you want to throw up the nothingness in it. But when Sans insisted you should get some food in you, after the first bite, which was divine by the way, you managed to keep it down if you ate it unhurriedly. It wasn't all bad, you could savour it better like that.
But after you finished you had a very overwhelming feeling that if you moved a finger it would all come back up, and you didn't want that at all for two reasons. The first being that it would be a waste. And the second was that you really didn't want to be sick in front of Sans… Again…
So you sat still, eyes closed, breathing deeply and steadily. The nauseous feeling settles down after a while and you sigh in relief. You think you're actually starting to feel a little stronger. It makes sense, you need energy, and food gives you energy so it's only natural that you would if you ate something.
"Feeling better?" Sans asks, a smile on his face, as you open your eyes slowly. You nod and adjust your sitting position. By yourself. This really is working.
His hands find yours and fingers lace together. He brings them up to his face and gently places his mouth on your wrists where the bandages previously sat, rubbing his cheek against the palms of your hands. He kisses up your arm, over to the crook of your neck. It sends tingles all over you. He moves on up to your cheek and to your forehead. You can't help the silly smile pulling at the corners of your lips as he pecks down the bridge of your nose finally landing on your lips. "What's all this for?" You ask against his teeth, giggling slightly, marvelling in the fact that it doesn't hurt you so bad anymore.
"Because I love you. And I love the sounds you make when you're happy. And the way your eyes shine when you're smiling. And I love the way your breath feels against my face as well. And I could keep listing the things I love about you but we'd be here forever." He peppers your face with more light kisses and you feel like, somehow, it's also helping you go back to your normal self.
"You should've done that earlier, I think it's doing something." He pulls back all of a sudden and stares at your chest, causing a funny feeling you can't quite describe to settle where your heart is, beating stronger and faster.
Sans grins like an idiot. "It's so beautiful." He wraps his arms around your waist and pushes your back against the bed, making you squeal from the unexpected weight of his body against yours. He keeps leaving several butterfly kisses all over your face, speaking in between. "I never thought that my soul would feel so good with someone else's." The skeleton stops his assault for a moment to stare into your eyes. You feel shy under the intensity of his gaze and blood crawls to your cheeks. "You're gorgeous." His mouth finds yours. "And you're mine…" He breathes against your lips.
"Possessive…" You mumble.
"You have no idea." It's not long before he's back to kissing you, stealing the breath right out of your lungs greedily.
In your chest, that pull that has become so familiar to you is stronger than ever and you think your soul might jump out on its own. You pull back panting, in desperate need of air. Sans rolls over onto his side, lying next to you as you catch your breath.
You lift your arm up and open and close your hand, testing your strength and finding it reasonably increased. Briefly you wonder why, but you're just grateful to start being able to move around on your own. Depending on others was never really something you enjoyed. You prop yourself up on your elbows and turn your head to Sans.
"So, care to explain to me what soul melding actually entails apart from the obvious?"
"Usually it's a very intimate endeavour. Not that ours wasn't, it's just more… um, how can I put this?"
"Private?" You offer, thinking back to Alphys' embarrassment.
"Something like that… And it's draining too. You're giving a part of yourself to your soulmate, you just gave me a lot more than I gave you, in light of the circumstances." A skeletal hand rests on your chest and he smiles at you. "But I can still see my mark on you. And it's so fascinating… I could stare at it all day."
"What happens now? Are we like… married or something?" You ask genuinely curious.
He laughs for a moment. "No, it's much more meaningful than that. It's not just a verbal promise to love each other until death."
"Well what is it?"
Sans reaches over and pulls you close to him, resting his face in the crook of your neck and one of his hands on your stomach. "It's a bond that will keep us close even when we're away from each other. A reminder that we complete each other in a way that no one else can, and that we'll always be together no matter what. It's the purest manifestation of devotion."
"Can it be undone?" The question leaves your lips before you can stop it and you feel Sans tense next to you.
"Do you want to?"
"No!" You say quickly, stopping to cough from the rise in your voice which isn't still completely recovered. "I'm just trying to understand." His body relaxes and he sighs into your hair, relief washing over him and you as well.
"Sometimes when a soulmate breaks the other's heart in such a way that they can't look past it the bond can start to weaken. It's what happened with Asgore and Tori." You look at Sans' face and he seems wary all of a sudden. "It can be a very harrowing experience to break the bond… I swear on my life that I will do everything to make you happy, and keep you safe. I'll cherish what you've done for me, I'll treasure you." His grip on you tightens. "I don't ever want to lose you." It's nothing more than a whisper and it sends shivers down your spine.
Your hand strokes the exposed vertebrae of his neck and he closes his eyes. "I don't want to lose you either. Or anyone else for that matter…" Your eyes drift to the glass cylinder sitting by the bed and you feel a sadness pooling in your chest. "I lost my mother so early I barely remember her. I lost my father despite never having had one to begin with, not really. I lost a brother who hated me and everyone but I loved dearly nonetheless, more times than anyone should have to." You inhale deeply. "But I refused to lose you. And I refuse to lose the family I found through you. Especially if I have any say in the matter."
"I'll make sure you don't have to. We're all here for you. Me most of all." Sans utters quietly into your ear. "I love you."
You place your hands on top of his and sigh. "I love you too."
Both of you lay still for a while, staring at the ceiling, enjoying your closeness. You wish time would stand still so that this moment could last forever. But time doesn't stop for anyone. So you turn your head to Sans and take in every nook and cranny of his features, looking simple from a distance, but so delicate and intricate up close. You take in the way his face moves in a way that bone shouldn't but looks so natural on him. The way the light of his pupils seems to shine from nowhere but is there all the same.
And above all else, you notice how his face lights up when you smile at him.
"You're beautiful." He says.
"Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you." With a small groan you sit up and cross your legs. "You know, I'm actually feeling a lot better now. How?"
"Hmm, my kisses have healing properties?" He suggests smirking. You scratch your head while raising an eyebrow at him.
"That's definitely a theory…" You chuckle.
"As long as you're okay I don't really care. Grillby said he'd like to meet you. Walking there sounds like a good start to make sure you're doing fine, don't you think?"
You agree and Sans hops to the floor. He watches you closely as you slowly set your feet on the ground, one after another. So far so good. With the aid of your arms you lift yourself up and hold your weight with your legs. You want to jump from the happiness of your success but you don't even dare to attempt it. Instead you just grin proudly, causing the small skeleton to laugh.
"Now for the big reveal, can you walk properly?"
"Let's find out." You take one step forward and wobble slightly but manage to steady yourself. Then you take another. And then another until you're in front of Sans. "Ha, would you look at that." You don't think you've ever been this proud of something as simple as walking.
"Good job. Now keep it up without falling for me." He winks at you and you can't help the blush that crawls to your cheeks.
"I can handle myself." You mumble.
You stay true to your word as you slowly but surely make your way down hallway to the stairs to the living room. Each step you take is like a small victory and you're feeling more confident by the second.
"O-oh my!" You hear Alphys exclaim from downstairs. "Should you b-be up?!" She asks concerned.
Sans appears behind you, steadying you as you start down the staircase. "Relax I'm keeping an eye socket out for her." He keeps one arm around your waist for this particular part, just in case.
"I'm good as new!" You say excitedly when you reach the bottom step, provoking a fit of coughing from the strain to your throat. "Almost."
You notice that the small yellow monster is the only one there and wonder where Papyrus and Undyne have run off to. She explains that they took the time to get some training done while you recovered and Alphys stayed behind on the off chance that you needed assistance. You nodded and thanked her for being here.
"We're going to try walking to Grillby's. Want to come with?" Sans asks. She shakes her head.
"It's too c-cold outside. Besides I was thinking I c-could work on some c-calculations I need for a few things I'm working on."
"Sure thing, give me a ring if you need anything." Alphys nodded and averted her eyes to some papers you just now saw were strewn across the spare seat on the couch. Sans removes his jacket and holds it out to you. You look at him confused. "You heard her, it's too cold outside. It just goes right through me so it's fine."
You want to protest but just shrug it over your shoulders. It's really warm and comforting.
As you step outside you realise that they weren't kidding. "Aren't we Underground?" You ask incredulous.
"Yeah, why?"
"How is there a blizzard underground?"
"Magic." Well that's a lacklustre explanation. You don't question it further though.
You hug the jacket to yourself, trying to stop the cold air from snaking its way through your clothes. It's a pretty useless effort. Your teeth start to chatter and you shiver. Sans puts his arm around you and pulls you close to him. Warmth radiates off of him in the freezing temperature and you welcome every bit.
Coming to a brick building, Sans pushes the door open and you both go inside. You're surprised at how warm it is in the diner comparatively to the outside until your eyes land on the owner. It's a man made of pure fire, crackling red and hot, with a pair of glasses stuck to what would be his face if you could discern any sort of features. He's wearing a smart suit vest over a white shirt with a bowtie to pull the look together. You remember seeing him in Sans' memories from your souls melding together. To say you're fascinated would be an understatement.
The fire man's head tilts towards the small skeleton standing beside you. "Yeah, yeah, I know she's pretty no need to get all hot and bothered, Grillbz."
You blush scarlet and smack Sans who just laughs. He pulls you by your hand to the bar at the end of the room, which you notice is quite empty. You suppose most monsters have taken their lives up to the surface.
Grillby nods his head at you as a way of greeting and you smile timidly. Sans sits at one of the bar stools and so do you. Grillby takes your hand from the counter and brings it up to his face for what you assume would be a kiss. And rightly so you feel fire kissing the back of your hand but it doesn't burn, it just sends a light heat up your arm and through the rest of your body, warming you up all over.
"Always the gentleman." Sans grins.
"It's nice to finally meet the young lady who's stolen my small friend's heart." His voice is low and raspy. It reminds you, well, of fire.
"I never had one to begin with." Grillby doesn't seem to have eyes so to speak but you think he's glaring at Sans. "Heh, you know me, I couldn't resist."
"I suppose that's true." He turns back to you and you could swear that he's smiling. "You're quite too lovely for someone like Sans. Pray tell, what do you see in him?" You giggle.
"Thanks Grillbz." Sans mumbles letting his forehead fall down to the counter.
"Well he's been there for me when I needed him most." You intertwine your fingers with his. "And he makes me happy." You smile as he peeks at you with one eye from his position.
"That's a good enough reason for me." Grillby rasps contentedly. "Would you like anything?" You shake your head and Sans asks for a bottle of ketchup. "As usual. On your tab?" He asks with a hint of playful annoyance when he sets it in front of Sans' hands.
"You know it. Got to keep up the tradition." He raises the bottle to the ceiling before taking a swig. "How's the business transfer?"
"Slow. But progressing." He crackles. "Having a hard time finding employees." Your ears prickle at that.
"I'm looking for a job!" You nearly shout and wince putting a hand to your aching throat. "Ouch."
"Star, you should take it easy for now." Sans says rubbing your back.
"No, I'm getting better, no one else will take me because I have no experience outside of fighting in a holding cell. He needs help, I can do whatever." You stare at Grillby expectantly. "I'm eager to learn."
His fire seems to shift. "Fighting in a holding cell?" Your eyes widen as you realise what you just said and you stare down at your hands.
"Oh um… It's a long story…" Thankfully he doesn't seem to push into it.
"I guess I could give it a shot. Once you're fully recovered we can meet and I'll give you some pointers on how to do some things, see how you do." Your head snaps back up and your eyes shine.
"Really? Oh my god, I'd love that. Thank you for the opportunity!" You beam at the fire elemental.
"Anything for a friend." You're not sure if he meant you or Sans, but you're happy either way. Things are finally starting to look up. You feel so excited you might actually jump off your seat and dance around.
Instead you just turn to Sans and pull him into a tight hug. He looks surprised at first, nearly dropping the ketchup bottle, but then he closes his eyes, smiling and draping one arm over you. You want to hug Grillby too but you think you'd be overstepping some boundaries. You've only just met him.
After the ketchup's gone and the two monsters catch up on some things you head off back to the cabin the skeleton brothers used to call home here in the Underground. You finally feel like you're getting yourself together. For once in your life, it seems like there's a bright future ahead of you.
NOTE: Fluffy fluff for y'all
I'm working up to something, having some trouble with it though, plus uni's being a huge pain in my neck, but I'll try to update as often as I can
Thank you for reading :)