You heard a sniffle coming from the other room. You put aside the dish you were washing and turned off the tap. Grabbing a towel, you dried your hands as you walked into the living room. Sans was sitting on the couch, the television on but no one was paying it any attention.
"You good Sans?" He sniffled again and gave a thumbs up over the edge of the couch. You frown and go to stand in front of him. His face had a light blue tint and was a little sweaty. "Sans you look like crap. Are you okay?"
"Yeah kid I'm just tired…" He waved off your concern but you refused to let it go.
"Um sorry but that sounds fake…" You moved to feel his forehead, but before your hand made contact, the clock in the hall chimed three. Sans teleported to the door, stumbling a little as his slippered feet hit carpeting. He grabbed his jacket from the coat rack and called over his shoulder.
"That'll be the start of my next shift! I'll catch ya later kid." And he quickly closed the door behind him. You frown and go back into the kitchen to finish the dishes.
"Hey Papyrus?" The lanky skeleton was spread out on the couch, watching his favorite cooking show. He came home shortly after Sans left, and the later had yet to return home.
"What is the matter Human? You sound worried about something?" You give a little chuckle and sit in the open corner of the couch.
"Do skeletons get sick?" He gave you a puzzled look.
"Yes, not as often as other monsters." You hum and think about your other roommate.
"Can skeletons get like… a cold?" Papyrus shrugs his shoulders.
"In theory yes, but I have always been very careful about my health and have not fallen ill in many, many years." Just as you were about to say something, the door clicked open. Instead of his usual greeting, Sans just waved a hand and went straight to his room.
You gave Papyrus a look, and he got the message. Although he was innocent, he wasn't blind. Sans must have had duty in Snowdin because he somehow looked even sicker than before. You and Papyrus both went up to his door and knocked.
"Hey Sans? You feelin alright?" You hear a muffled groan and sniffle before the door creaked open an inch. He peeked from the crack and gave a weak smile. His blue flush had grown and the lights in his eyes looked dim.
"Y-yeah. Just tired. Had a long shift today…" He closed the door and you hear shuffling behind it. You sigh, knowing he would never come right out and say he's sick. Papyrus stood behind you, a worried look on his face.
"I do not think I can ever remember my Brother falling ill. He was always taking care of me when I was a baby bones…"
"Well, we'll just have to make sure he gets better." You give the tall skeleton a reassuring pat on the back before heading back downstairs.
You ran downstairs. You had forgot to set an alarm last night and ended up being late. You had planned on making Sans some soup or better yet, making Sans stay home, but by the time you got to the bottom of the staircase, it was obvious he was already gone.
Sighing, you slump down on the couch. You were really starting to get worried about your friend. Although being sick usually messes up your appetite, you figured maybe something from Grillby's would perk Sans up enough to sit down and let you fuss over him.
Bundling up, you made the short trip to your favorite eating establishment. Opening the door, you were greeted by several of the regular patrons. You moved to talk to the dog playing poker and offered to play a game with him. Over the past few months you managed to improve his card skills quite a bit. Now he was even a challenge for you.
While you were shuffling the deck, there was a squeak over at the bar. Glancing over, you saw Sans in his usual stool. You hadn't heard the door open, but you assumed he took a short cut again. If possible, he looked even worse than before. His whole body slumped onto the bar as he coughed pitifully.
Grillby came over and placed a glass of water in front of him, surprising because he was made of fire. He must really be worried about the skeleton. He leaned over said something to Sans, his crackling fire speak too quiet to hear from your table. Sans lifted his head and waved off the bartender's concern.
"Don worry 'bout me. I'll be better soon. Besides, who's gonna take care of Pap and the Kid if I'm out of commission?" Grillby crackled something else at Sans, who just chuckled and took a sip of the glass in front of him.
Papyrus' words came back to you. I do not think I can remember my Brother falling Ill. He was always taking care of me when I was a baby bones… It made sense to you now, and it made your stomach hurt a little with the guilt.
He was going to work, pushing himself even though he was sick, because he thought he had to take care of you. You were suddenly filled with determination to make sure your friend got better soon. You stayed with the dog, playing a few absent minded rounds of poker before watching Sans teleport out of the building.
You rushed home and prepared for his return.
Sans stumbled in a few hours later, his face flushed with an obvious fever and his nose running. As soon as he opened the door, you tackled him. Gently, of course.
"H-hey kid? Whacha doing?" You pulled him over to the couch, making him sit down. You could see the fatigue in his eyes, and weren't surprised when he didn't protest. You pulled over the blanket you prepared and wrapped it around his shoulders.
"What's all this about?" You shoosh him as you rest the back of your hand on his forehead. Quickly pulling your hand away, you gave him an incredulous look. He was burning up, quite literally. The back of your hand was bright red from the sudden burn.
"Stay here." You weren't playing games, especially with your friend's health. You sent a quick text to Papyrus, who was getting Toriel to make some soup, and scurried around in the kitchen. You remember your own mother caring for you when you were sick. You grabbed a bowl and filled it halfway with water, throwing a handful of ice into it. You also grabbed a clean wash cloth and headed back out to Sans.
You could hear his wheezing breath from across the room. A particularly violent sneeze caused him to almost fall off the couch. You wrapped the blanket around him more snuggly and dipped the cloth in the ice water.
Wringing out the extra water, you folded the cloth in half and placed it on his head. The effect was immediate. His eyes closed and he let out a blissful sigh. The cloth became hot within seconds, so you dipped it back into the water and repeated your actions.
By the time Papyrus came back, the water had become as warm as bath water, but thankfully Sans' fever seemed to have gone down a little. Sans tried to give a weak wave when his brother entered, but ended up coughing and almost doubling over.
"Let's get sick bones some soup, huh?" You smiled at Sans and went into the kitchen with his brother. Pouring the hot water out and replacing it with fresh ice water, you turned to see Papyrus preparing a bog bowl of some kind of broth soup. "Do you think he'll be able to eat all that?"
Papyrus looked down and realized just how big the bowl was. With a chastised look, he poured some of it into a smaller bowl and the rest back into the thermos Toriel sent it over in. You made your way back to Sans, who was pitifully staring at the wall with unfocused eyes.
The touch of the cold washcloth brought his attention back to you. He smiled at you, a little stronger than the poor excuse of a grin he gave you earlier. You and Papyrus took turns, when you went to cool off the cloth he would spoon some soup into Sans' mouth.
After the second bowl of water was thoroughly heated and the bowl of soup was gone, you let Sans lean back on the couch. Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, the clock on the wall chimed. Sans jerked upright and tried to untangle himself from the blanket, only to trip and fall back into the couch.
"I gotta get to work…"
"I don't think so bub. You're staying right here until your fever is broken, and maybe even after that." Sans looked to his brother for support, but Papyrus just shook his head.
"The human is correct, Brother. You look dreadful, and there's no doubt you feel even worse. I, the Great Papyrus, would not be able to sleep at night knowing I let my dearest brother out in such a condition."
"Guys seriously… I'm fine." His statement was accented by a coughing fit that brought tears to his eyes. You gently pushed him back into the couch and tucked him in. You felt his forehead and was relieved to feel that it was mostly cooled off.
"No way. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't take care of you?"
"B-but…"
"Besides, would you let me walk out of this house with a cold?" He looked away, his silence all the answer you needed. "Would you let Papyrus leave the house if he were sick?" You heard an indignant huff come from the kitchen, where he was putting the bowl in the sink. Sans looked away again and pouted.
"Of course not…"
"Then why shouldn't we do the same for you?" He buried himself deeper into the blanket and shivered.
"I'm the oldest. I hafta take care of you…" Papyrus came back out with a cup of tea for Sans, catching that last sentence.
"Brother, that's what you said when we were both Baby Bones. We're both grown monsters now. You don't have to keep putting us before you." Sans took the mug and held it under his nose, letting the steam clear his head a little.
"Sorry guys…" His voice was drowsy.
"Finish your tea and take a nap. You're under house arrest until you're better again." You hugged him, careful not to spill the tea. He just chuckled and took a small sip.
"Thanks guys…" You smiled at him, and Papyrus placed a pillow behind his brother's back.
"Just get soon, okay?"
"As if I would want to stay sick." He grinned again, with a little more energy this time, and took another sip of his tea.
Not as long as the others, but still fairly long. My wifi cut out so I couldn't do my math homework and decided to write this adorable suggestion by a lovely reader!
Someone reviewed saying I follow the same structure in all the chapters: The reader has an issue, Sans comforts them, everything is good. Although I did start this story as a hurt/comfort thing, I am intrigued about how I could write something different.
If you have any ideas that would stray from the usual structure, let me know!
Until next time!
~Starlight