"Yo, Pap! I don't care if you have fun with your boy toy, but keep it down!"

…

February 5th, 213X

…

Papyrus was blushing furiously, hiding his face in his pillow while Mettaton glared at the wall separating Papyrus and Sans' rooms. When he stood with a huff, Papyrus quickly followed. "No, no, Mettaton! It's okay, he-"

"I'm going to give him a piece of my mind, dammit," Mettaton growled, Papyrus following him out of the room and begging him to just come back to his room and ignore Sans. Mettaton marched right up to Sans' door and threw it open, crossing his arms and shifting his weight to one leg in a sassy pose that said he was not to be trifled with. He fixed Sans with a glare of his amethyst eyes, and those eyes narrowed seeing Sans' cheeky, lazy grin.

Sans was sprawled out on his bed in a grey tank top and baggy jeans, the vast muscle usually hidden by his sweater and hoodie now fully exposed and making Mettaton falter just a little. Sans had always been a beefcake, but Mettaton could swear he'd gotten even bigger since they'd broken their little 'friends with benefits' relationship off.

"Heh. Like what you see?" Sans asked, and Mettaton found himself blushing slightly. He hated that Sans could still flirt with him so easily. "But clearly you like something about Pap too."

"We weren't doing anything, you big dope. We were talking," Mettaton told him honestly with a huff of indignation, Papyrus behind him blushing even darker red than before.

"Sure you were."

"Sans."

"I know, I know. I just like to tease. You guys are so easy to rile up." Sans slowly rose from his bed and stretched, coming to stand before Mettaton. He was just a little too close, and Papyrus was close up behind too, and Mettaton's face turned completely red. Sans leaned in, Mettaton unable to retreat, and he whispered against Mettaton's ear, "Miss me yet, M?"

"Augh!" Mettaton shoved him away, turning to hide his face against the very confused Papyrus' chest. Only Sans knew Mettaton still absolutely had the hots for him despite being completely loyal to Papyrus. Sans laughed deeply, flopping into his desk chair.

"I can't believe you think I'm serious!" Sans teased, holding his stomach as he laughed and watched Mettaton try to hide in Papyrus' arms.

"Um… about what? Did I miss something?" Papyrus asked, and Mettaton fled the room outright.

"It's okay, Pap. Just a little fun on my part. Go make sure your boyfriend doesn't throw himself off a bridge in embarrassment," Sans told him, and Papyrus practically sprinted down the stairs.

"No, Mettaton, don't do it!" Sans heard Papyrus yell, and he snorted at Mettaton's response.

"I can't do this anymore! I'm gonna kill him!" There was a crash, slowly followed by laughter, and Sans knew everything was fine. He rolled his chair over to shut the door, then back to his desk to pick up his phone.

There was a text from Frisk, and Sans smiled out of habit at the sight of the little icon of Frisk's calm face. Tapping it with his thumb, it opened up the messaging app to reveal a little message.

Hey, babe. Busy tonight?

Sans typed back a quick answer. I'm not busy if you aren't.

Frisk's reply soon returned. I've got a little project I could use your help with. Dinner on me if you can come over.

Dinner on you, or dinner ON you?

Very cute. Maybe both if you hurry.

Sans chuckled at that, tapping back a quick 'on my way' before rising to grab his hoodie and socks and shoes. Once he was dressed, he packed his laptop and an extra change of clothes and some odds and ends into a backpack. Slinging it over his shoulder, he opened the door and headed downstairs. It was quiet, and he found out why when he stepped into the living room.

"Hey."

Mettaton and Papyrus froze, both looking up from where they were entangled on the cushions, Mettaton trapped beneath Papyrus' stronger and broader body.

"Uh… wh-where are you going, brother?" Papyrus asked nervously, quickly sitting up beside Mettaton.

"Gonna go play house with my own sweetheart. Try not to break the furniture while I'm gone."

"Sans!" Mettaton growled as the burly, older man chuckled and headed for the door. Opening it up to find the weather calm outside, Sans paused to look back.

"Oh, and, uh… Pap."

"Yes…?"

"There's a pack of condoms in my room. Mettaton knows where they are."

"SANS!" Both yelled at the same time, and Sans dodged out the door with a smirk before a flying remote could hit him.

Mettaton groaned in annoyance, flopping back on the cushions and willing the blush on his face to go away. Sans had always been able to get him flustered. Papyrus sat back on his knees looking a little lost and embarrassed himself at being caught making out by his older brother. "Sorry, Mettaton." He felt like he needed to apologize for… he didn't know what. Mettaton just reached up and snagged him by the t-shirt collar.

"Shut up and get back down here." Papyrus was tugged downward with a little squeak of surprise, right into another kiss that left him breathless as before Sans' interruption. Mettaton's annoyance at Sans came out in impatience, and Papyrus gasped feeling Mettaton tug at his belt, freeing the leather from the clasp.

"M-Mettaton…" Papyrus muttered in surprise, and found himself suddenly overturned and pinned to the couch cushions while Mettaton's fingers slipped beneath the orange t-shirt to skim over the powerful, lean muscle under Papyrus' dark skin. Another kiss silenced Papyrus and he couldn't help gripping Mettaton's waist, looking for some kind of anchor. This wasn't completely new, but they'd never gone much further than long periods spent kissing and cuddling, sometimes shirtless, either in bed or on the sofa. Papyrus wasn't a virgin, but he was by no means experienced. Mettaton, meanwhile, had been active regularly since he was seventeen, and it showed in the way he knew just how push Papyrus a little further each time things got heated, but he never pushed too far for the younger man's comfort.

"Papy darling…" Mettaton whispered and Papyrus shivered when his shirt was lifted and Mettaton began kissing down his lower chest and abs. When his slender fingers caught the waistband of Papyrus' jeans, Papyrus felt suddenly nervous, more so than ever before, and he reached out to take Mettaton's hands. The older man paused at the look of almost… fear. "Sweetheart?"

"I don't know if I'm ready yet," Papyrus admitted, somewhat shamefully. He and Mettaton had been dating regularly for nearly six months. Five months in, Mettaton had finally tried to advance things, but Papyrus had been too naïve to understand until Mettaton came right out and asked for sex. Papyrus had been floored, but had asked in return that Mettaton slowly guide him into the physical side of their relationship.

So, being a gentleman, Mettaton had accepted and every time he and Papyrus had time alone together, he pushed things just a little further. The last time, only a day before, Mettaton had gotten Papyrus to touch him and Mettaton had enjoyed each moment, guiding the younger man's hands expertly. But Papyrus hadn't been ready to receive it in return. Now faced with the possibility again, Papyrus was clamming up. As a man who valued his self-control deeply, letting someone else take over and make him lose himself was terrifying. That was why all three of Papyrus' previous relationships had failed.

Mettaton sat back on his knees to look down at Papyrus with some level of concern, considering all he knew about Papyrus' difficulty relaxing. "Do you think I'm going to hurt you, darling?" He asked softly, and Papyrus quickly shook his head.

N-no! No, I'd never think that! I just… you know… I'm… nervous. The idea of someone else having control over something… like that…"

"What if we work together?" Mettaton offered with a little smile. "And you can stop us anytime, honey."

"What do you mean 'together'?"

"I'll show you." Mettaton took Papyrus' hands, slowly guiding them toward the button and zipper of his jeans. "You lead. I'll follow… and help. All at your speed, okay?"

"Um… okay…" Papyrus felt just as nervous, but at least he was a little more comfortable unzipping his jeans in his own time, and he felt a little giddy when Mettaton grinned at the sight of the red boxer briefs that were soon revealed. Papyrus swallowed hard, but he felt a bit braver, even… excited. Mettaton would take care of him. He always had, just not in this way yet.

…

Sans was just coming up to the junction of the highways each leading to Mount Under, Echo, Snowdin, and Streamtown when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Letting the truck roll to a halt at the traffic light over the crossroads, Sans pulled out the smartphone and saw a text waiting from… his father. The light turned green, and he left the phone in a cup-holder to continue driving. Why was Gaster texting him? Gaster never talked to him. He usually talked to Papyrus and then the younger brother would relay any messages to Sans.

Sans left the text unopened until he pulled into the lot outside Frisk's apartment. Unbuckling his safety belt, Sans finally picked up the phone again and opened the text.

Are you busy today?

Sans raised an eyebrow, typing back quickly. Made some plans. Why?

As you know, some strange things have been happening around the CORE. I would like to meet up with you and Dr. Aria and get your input.

I don't work there anymore, Dad.

I know that. But you're one of the few people who can intelligently discuss this with us and you know the makeup of the CORE almost as well as we do. We need to find out what's happening.

Are things getting dangerous?

Not any more than the usual risks, but some of these readings in temperature and pressure and the freak accidents are leading us to believe something major could happen in the future.

Can we meet tomorrow, then?

Of course. Whenever you're free. We'll be at the lab all day tomorrow.

Gotcha. I'll text you in the morning.

Thank you, son.

Sure thing.

Sans nearly jumped when he heard a light knock on his window, seeing Frisk standing there waiting for him. Frisk had come out to throw a bag in the dumpster, and had found Sans sitting there texting. Sans opened the door and stepped out, greeting Frisk with a kiss. "Hey, babe."

"Hi. What're you up to?" Frisk asked with a little smile.

"Eh, just the old man texting me, nothing big."

"He never texts you."

"Well… not never."

"Is it a secret, then?" Frisk could tell Sans was trying to avoid the subject.

"Classified, probably. Just stuff about the CORE. Dad wants to get together with me and Aria tomorrow… I guess he thinks we can figure this shit out with the three of us. Eh, whatever. It'll be nice to see Aria again."

Frisk wrapped an arm about Sans' shoulders. "Come on inside. I'll show you what I'm up to."

"Anything interesting?"

"I think so."

"Interesting to me?"

"That depends on whether you like photography."

"I didn't know you were into that."

Frisk opened up the door and Sans paused to see a large blackout curtain hanging in front of them, leaving only a small space between the door and the kitchen archway.

"What's this?"

"A homemade darkroom. I decided to try developing my own photos." Frisk shut the door, opened the curtain, and let Sans in. There was another small space and a second curtain, and that let into the living room where all the furniture had been pushed aside to make room for some tables and several clotheslines with pins, half-filled with developing photos and lit dimly with red.

"Where'd you get all of this?" Sans asked, honestly impressed by how Frisk seemed to have already mastered the craft.

"Alphys suggested I try it since I like my photography so much. She lent me some things and gave me instructions on how to make a darkroom."

"Wow… You've really outdone yourself." That earned Sans a kiss and Frisk guided him over to one of the tables.

"I just need an extra pair of hands to get these all done. Feeling up to it?" Frisk gave Sans a little smile, and Sans shrugged off his hoodie and set his pack aside.

"Yeah, let's do it."

They spent nearly two hours running the black-and-white images through developer and fixer and rinsing before hanging them up to dry. Once they'd all had sufficient time, Frisk finally pulled down all the blackout curtains and turned on the lights to get a look at their work. Sans didn't really know what they were looking for, but Sans thought the photos all looked pretty good.

"Not bad for our first time," Frisk finally ruled, glancing over all the photos. "But I don't know if this is really my thing. It was nice to try it out, though."

Sans outright laughed at that. Frisk was always trying new and crazy hobbies- this one was pretty tame all things considered- and they always went in whole-hearted before deciding whether or not he wanted to keep the hobby. Frisk settled on the couch where it was now pushed up against the wall, and Sans soon followed, flopping down and leaning into Frisk's side.

"So what's new lately?" Frisk finally asked after they enjoyed the silence for a while.

"Well, I'm pretty sure Mettaton's corrupted my little brother."

"Corrupted, or just laid?"

"Aren't those the same thing?"

"Have I corrupted you, then?" Frisk grinned down at him, and Sans smirked.

"I think I got you first. I was already ruined. And that was partly Mettaton's fault too. But you weren't a virgin either when we got together, were you?"

"Nope. I wasn't very experienced, but you saw to that pretty quickly." Frisk leaned their long neck down to kiss Sans' cheek, and Sans actually felt a little heat come to his cheeks at the memory of their first few times together. Sans had been afraid he'd overwhelm or hurt Frisk, but to their credit, Sans' partner was always a willing student.

"I love you, y'know that?" Sans murmured. He didn't say it often. He never had to anyone save Papyrus, but he always believed Frisk deserved to be reminded.

"I do know that. And I know I love you too. Too much for my own good," Frisk's arms looped around him and Sans relaxed completely with his head tilted back on Frisk's shoulder. It was moments like these that Sans could just forget everything else and bask in Frisk's quiet affection. He'd never had quite the same feeling with anyone else. It had scared him at first, but Mettaton had been there to listen to him, and to slap him when he considered leaving Frisk because Sans was afraid of what he didn't realize back then was love.

"Hey, babe…?" Sans asked quietly out of the blue.

"Mhm?" Frisk remained where they were, their head resting against Sans'.

"Will you come with me tomorrow…? To the lab?"

"Nervous?"

"Not nervous… I just kinda want a security blanket, y'know? And someone who won't be afraid to intervene if Dad and I argue… Because it's bound to happen."

"Not if you stay patient. But yes, I'll go. I wouldn't mind getting a chance to talk to Gaster."

"What about?"

"Us."

Sans looked up then in confusion. "Why us?"

"He's your father, Sans. I'd like to be on good terms with him."

"He doesn't have any bearing on my love life, Frisk."

"He's still your family. I love you and Papyrus, and I'd like to at least be friends with him. It'll make keeping you two from killing each other much easier."

Sans huffed quietly. "I'm not that vicious… Even when I'm mad at him."

"When aren't you?"

"You know what he did, Frisk."

"I do know, but you have to remember he was hurt just as badly as you were." Frisk hugged Sans a little tighter. "Everyone was hurt, and things didn't turn out well. I think you both deserve to be forgiven for what happened while you were still grieving."

"… We'll see." Sans looked down at his lap, and Frisk knew he didn't want to talk about it anymore. Lucida Skjallar's death was a very difficult subject to broach with her surviving firstborn and widowed husband. It would probably never be easy to talk about.