Chapter Text
Grillby hardly ever had any guests at his place. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy company or that no one wanted to come over; it was that Grillby preferred to keep his home as a relaxing space. It made a nice contrast to the vibrant noise of the bar and gave him a serene feeling every time he entered his apartment.
His home was average for apartment standards, with a large open kitchen combined with the living area. Since he lived alone, he kept things simple with a bar-like counter space for eating and only a single couch and a plush recliner chair next to his rather expansive bookshelf. And even though he was a fire elemental he too had a fireplace, though it was electric (he was slightly disappointed with that. It was not nearly as authentic as the fires that Grillby could make). He only ever really used his furniture for reading or naps, and the rare visitor. It wasn’t like he was home much anyways. The rest of the apartment contained a single bed and bathroom, though a second, smaller bedroom was being used as an office.
It was in that study that he could hear a knock on his door.
It startled him out of his reverie, from glancing at his folder of recipes to try and jolting a few sparks of flame from his head. He hadn’t invited anyone…had he? He took a quick glance at the clock. 10:43pm. No, definitely not at this hour.
As he walked down the hallway to his front door he pondered who it could be. Perhaps someone was moving in and needed a hand? Or someone had left something of theirs in the bar overnight? His concern only grew at the sound of another insistent knock.
He carefully unlocked the latch and swung open the door.
“…...Sans?”
Said skeleton stood before him, dripping wet from rain in what was definitely not a raincoat and fidgeting nervously on Grillby’s welcome mat.
“Heheh, fancy meeting you here…” Sans said as he let out a strained chuckle.
“This is……my apartment,” Grillby said.
“Uh, right. That’s the joke.”
Grillby tilted his head in question. “Why…...?”
Was Sans sweating?
He shifted his weight between his legs and averted his pupils from the elemental’s gaze. “D’ya think I could come in? Just…for a second?”
Grillby took a moment to stare at Sans before he nodded and stepped aside from the doorway, allowing the small skeleton to pass by. He stopped in middle of the room, hesitating for a moment before seating himself on the couch.
“Don’t think I’ve ever seen your place before,” Sans commented as he looked around, hardly noticing that his own leg was bouncing up and down. “S’nice.”
“I……don’t have people around……very often.” Grillby admitted, following Sans to the couch and sitting down.
“Yeah, well you could. It’s pretty roomy in here.”
Grillby sighed. If this was only an extension of the time Sans spent at the bar, then this wasn’t really worth his time.
“……Sans. Why are you here?”
“It’s…” Sans trailed off, rubbing a hand over the back of his skull. He stilled his jittery leg with his hand and stared at it intently. “I, uh, found something out today. It’s kinda…thrown me for a loop.”
Grillby nodded, assuming his patient, listening bartender role. Though, that was easier to do while he worked at cleaning some glasses or made drinks. Something to busy himself with as he listened.
“Do you want to tell me?” Grillby asked.
Sans clasped his hands together. “I…I’m not sure. I haven’t told anyone, really.”
Anxiety was gathering in Grillby’s soul. His flames picked up on it and flared a little more wildly. Sans had never sought Grillby out before. Not to just talk. He knew he wouldn’t come to him unless it was important. Nothing Sans did or said was unimportant. He had learned that quickly in the Underground.
“Do you think it would help?” Grillby continued. “……telling me?”
Sans hunched in on himself and suddenly, his voice sounded small. “Maybe.”
Grillby took a breath. “I will get you a glass of water……”
It was dead silent as he stood up and walked to the kitchen. The only sounds were of him grabbing a glass, putting on his fire proof gloves, and turning on the tap. It was enough to make the silence feel even more pronounced. Grillby was not one to feel uncomfortable in silence, but this was almost suffocating.
He placed the glass down on the coffee table in front of Sans. He picked it up carefully, mumbling a thanks before taking a long drink of the water. He placed the cup down, closed his eyes and spoke.
“I’m pregnant.”
Grillby turned his head so quick his flames left solid trails of smoke. “…what?”
Sans had balled his shorts in his hands, his eyes still closed, but maybe closed a bit tighter now. “I’m pregnant.”
Grillby stared at Sans hard. For one, he had no idea skeletons could even get pregnant. Two, why on the Surface was he telling him?
Finally, Sans opened his eyes and slowly looked up at Grillby. They stared at each other for a moment until Grillby got a handle of his words.
“Who?”
His answer was a harsh, self-deprecating laugh.
“That’s the great part,” he said. “I have no fucking idea.”
Grillby watched as Sans seemed to unravel in front of him.
“I just can’t seem to do anything right, y’know? Get drunk outta my mind and wake up in a bed that sure as hell ain’t mine and I think to myself, ‘hey maybe I won’t have to think of that ever again.’ Good to know that this world’s got it out for me!” He laughed then placed his head in his hands in exhaustion. “I don’t even know why I bother with anything anymore. It all always goes to hell.”
With those words, Grillby was struck with an overwhelming urge to do something for him, to reassure him in some way, but he was at a loss for words. What could you say to someone who just found out about an unplanned pregnancy?
“Have you told Papyrus?” He ventured.
Sans let out a single short and restrained laugh. “That’s really not something I want to have to break to my bro. ‘Hey Pap, turns out I’m pregnant with an illegitimate kid!’ Yeah, even imagining it makes me cringe. He doesn’t deserve to have to clean up my messes.”
“But Sans,” Grillby laid a hand on Sans’ knee, startling him into eye contact with Grillby. “This isn’t something……that you can just run away from…...or hide……like you are prone to do…”
Sans sighed and ran a hand down his face, choosing to look anywhere but directly at Grillby. “And don’t I know that.” And then quieter, “s’why I came to you.”
Grillby reeled back in surprise. His head spun, trying to understand the implications. Sans would rather talk to him than his brother? Well, he understood that he would do anything for Papyrus, but even choosing to entrust a secret like this with Grillby? A bartender, sure, but outside of work hours? From Sans who he has known for years now and who he feels like he barely understands? He couldn’t manage to form any coherent sentences but it turned out he didn’t need to.
“Uh, I mean, hold on! Let’s, uh, avoid fanning the flames for a sec.” Grillby barely turned his head in protest of the pun. Sans continued without pause, “I don’t want you to feel like I’m throwing all of this on ya, but I just couldn’t think of anywhere else to go. And I…kinda really needed to tell someone. You were the only one I could think of.”
Finally reaching a conclusion Grillby nodded his head. “I will help you.”
Sans pulled back. “Woah, uh, I didn’t mean that you had to help me-“
“You may have not meant it,” Grillby cut him off. “But I mean it when I say I will help you. You are my friend, Sans. It is the least I can do.”
Sans searched Grillby’s face in what looked like confusion. Like he was looking for some answer in his flames. He eventually slumped, mumbling something under his breath before sitting up straight again and giving Grillby a winning smile.
“Well, thanks Grillbz. I’m probably gonna need it.” When he didn’t move from the couch, Grillby tilted his head in question. Sans shifted in his seat and looked up at the bartender in something like nervousness. “Uh, right. Is it…I mean. Would it be okay if I could stay here the night?”
Grillby crackled with amusement and gave him a rare smile, visible on his molten features. “Of course.”