Chapter Text
Sans was smart. Especially for his age.
He was smart enough to understand what needed to be done in critical conditions.
The world he grew up in was the definition of "critical conditions".
But he didn't care.
He never cared.
The only thing that mattered was that Papyrus was safe.
He didn't care that he had to kill to ensure that.
He wanted to throw up and cry every time.
His soul always called out for help.
But
Nobody
Ever
Came.
He always took care of Papyrus. It had been only the two of them. They never had anyone else, despite what everyone says.
He was so small when it all happened. After all, how do you remember someone whose existence was erased?
The news that the Barrier broke down traveled fast through the Underground, like any other news.
Sans was reluctant to go, he never liked changes. He and Paps were living a good enough life in Snowdin, but Papyrus...
"COME ON SANS! DON'T YOU WANT TO SEE THE SKY! AND THE SUN! AND THE STARS!" With each thing he listed, his eyelights seemed to shine brighter.
"we don't need any of that."
Papyrus deflated slightly but quickly retorted "WHAT IF THERE'S MORE FOOD ON THE SURFACE?"
"what if there's even less food on the surface? we're fine down here." Sans almost growled.
"AND WHAT IF FINE’ ISN’T ENOUGH FOR ME ANYMORE?"
Papyrus immediately regretted his words. He didn't mean to make Sans angry, or worse, sad.
"Sans, I'm Sorry, I Didn't-"
"'s fine paps. " It wasn't.
"..."
"..."
"do you really think there’s more food on the surface?"
Papyrus' eyelights shone brighter.
-----
Sans stood under the sun, feeling it's warmth for the first time. He felt as if it was chasing away a coldness that had been deep in his bones.
Sans felt as if he could even be... at peace?
Papyrus on the other hand was ecstatic. He was jumping up and down, pointing at every blurry thing he could and asking questions.
Is that a rock? A surface rock!
Grass!
Are the stars there? No? Where are they? Can't they come here to say hi?
The other monsters were either in a similar state or were just ignoring them.
Nothing new there.
All was well until a weird white thing appeared on the horizon. It appeared to be made of metal and approaching fast.
"SANS! IS THAT A CAR?" Papyrus asked with his usual enthusiasm.
A car? Yes, Sans remembered reading something about those... but that getting closer looked nothing like Papyrus' bed.
"SANS! DO YOU THINK THERE ARE HUMANS IN THERE? CAN WE MEET ONE?"
A human? At that Sans' anxiety skyrocketed. The only good human was a dead one, but Papyrus had always dreamed about meeting one.
The big car stopped and sure enough some humans came out.
Sans put himself between Papyrus and the possible danger.
The humans scattered. Some were talking with the adults, others were trying to restrain the ferals and another approached him and the other kids.
"Hello little ones, do you have anyone that takes care of you?"
Sans glared at the human and growled.
He takes care of Papyrus.
"What do you say about having a nice meal? We set up a tent with some tables and we have a big pot filled with yummy food."
"GASP! DID YOU HEAR SANS! FOOD!"
Yeah, he heard. Food was food.
Ironic.
But it would be dumb to refuse free food. He and all the other kids sat at this sort of big table and ate at least two servings of what was probably soup.
Not that Sans cared.
He and Papyrus went for their third refill.
"WOWIE! THIS IS DELICIOUS! DO YOU HAVE SPAGHETTI TOO?" Papyrus asked a human.
It chuckled, "I'm sorry little one, we only have the stew, but we work for a place that can give you a warm bed and all kinds of yummy food."
When it ended it's sentence Papyrus was already gasping gleefully and Sans shot a protective arm in front of his little brother.
Sans growled at the human "you won't take him from me."
The human brought its hands in front of itself in a surrender motion. "No one wants to separate you. All of you are invited." It smiled sweetly, but the stench of fear hung in the air.
Now Sans wasn't dumb, he was quite smart actually, but his head injury made him slower and forgetful, so it took a bit for a plan to hatch in his mind.
Stay at the place, build up his strength and then run away with Papyrus.
They needed no one.
Sans looked around and invertedly made eye contact with Undyne who had a shark like grin that probably matched his own.
Undyne was in a similar position, as she was just as protective over Alphys. The small lizard monster would've been dust by now without Undyne's help.
She had the same idea. The fish lady always had a soft spot for the yellow, shy monster. Even if she'll never admit it.
They'll go.
Humans were so stupid.
-----------
The place wasn't that bad, it was a nice temporary place to stay that gave them multiple meals per day. Scaring the humans was an added bonus.
The first days were the worst, waking up not remembering where he was.
Thank the stars for Papyrus.
Apparently the humans wanted to give them a new home.
Sans wanted to laugh again.
They survived alone in way worse conditions.
Sans became friends with a pun lover goat kid, much to Papyrus' dismay.
She was the first to go.
She left behind a very sad looking goat boy.
Was she his sister?
They'll never separate him and Papyrus.
It's the Skelebros against the world.
Another day, another couple was scared and scarred away.
Surprisingly, another human entered the room. It was probably due to the surprise that Sans didn't react in time to stop Papyrus before he ran toward the door to greet the human.
"HELLO HUMAN! I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS!" He said with his broken teeth.
Sans studied the human's expression closely, if it made his little brother cry, he would’nt hesitate to attack.