Chapter Text
"well, at least you seem pretty human, huh?" Sans took a moment to observe Steven and his appearance.
"Ahah, yeah.." Steven rubbed his chubby arms, chilly. He took note of Sans, wearing his jacket. Does he feel cold...? Do skeletons even feel cold???
Sans shrugged, and relaxed his shoulders. "well, hate to say it, but my bro's a human-hunting fanatic."
Steven jumped, stuttering a "W--what??" Human-hunting....?? Gee, Toriel was right about it being dangerous out here.
Sans noted the child's tense posture and startled voice. "ah, don't worry, 'kid," he comments, putting a hand on Steven's shoulder. "i was supposed to be watching for humans, too." That wasn't very reassuring, especially with Sans looking into the distance for a moment. Steven turned around, trying to follow the skeleton's glance. A figure had been heading toward their way...
"say, i think that's him." Steven gasped as Sans, now with both hands, patted his shoulders. "go through this gate-thingy, my bro made the bars too wide to stop anyone." The two sped through the wide gate and encountered a lamp, seemingly nonfunctional, standing in front of... well, a stand. "quick, behind that conveniently-shaped lamp."
Steven, hesitant at first, agrees and decides to hide behind it. However, this lamp...
"well, that isn't actually very conveniently-shaped." However, it was too late to change hiding spots, as now a taller skeleton had entered the fray.
"WHAT ISN'T VERY CONVENIENTLY-SHAPED??" He wore a rather innocent grin, wearing a goofy outfit barely resembling armor.
"oh, just this lamp. wanna look?" What???? Sans, what are you doing???
His brother glanced right at it...
...
"I THINK IT WOULD BE CONVENIENT FOR SOMEBODY SHAPED LIKE THAT LAMP."
"hmm, ya think?" How hasn't Sans' brother noticed Steven??? If this was an RPG, it probably would look like I'm hiding behind this lamp, but... how doesn't he see me??
"... YES, I THINK SO!" Sans' brother put his hands on his hips, confident in his judgement. "BUT, THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT... HAVE YOU SEEN ANY HUMANS YET??"
Please don't say anything, please don't say anything!!
Sans shrugged. "nah, not really." Phew! All was well! Perhaps Sans wasn't really that unreliable, he isn't going to just reveal your spot!--
"do you think the lamp can help you with that?" Sans!!!
"I'M AFRAID NOT, BROTHER," the tall skeleton went on, "BECAUSE THAT LAMP IS NOT A SENTRY!!"
"that's a shame."
"I KNOW!!" He leaned over a little to barely meet Sans' height. "GOOD THING YOU'RE A SENTRY!" He lowered even more... "SPEAKING OF, WHY HAVEN'T YOU RECALIBRATED YOUR PUZZLES YET??"
"oh, don't worry, i'm recalibrating 'em, papyrus." A sinister grin flashed onto Sans' ever-permanent smile already on his face. "it just takes a ton of work."
He winked.
"a skele-ton."
As if right on cue, a rim-shot played, seemingly from nowhere. Steven tried to hold back his snickers as Papyrus stamped his foot. "SANS!!"
"come on. you're smiling."
"I AM AND I HATE IT!!" Papyrus sighed, and continued, "WHY DOES SOMEONE AS GREAT AS ME HAVE TO DO SO MUCH JUST TO GET SOME RECOGNITION..."
"wow, sounds like you're really working yourself..." Steven knew what was coming, laughter already beginning to escape.
"down to the bone." Another rim-shot played on cue, much to Papyrus' disgust. Steven, on the other hand, let loose some giggles and laughter.
Papyrus groaned. "I WILL ATTEND TO MY PUZZLES, AND LEAVE YOU AND YOUR LAUGHING LAMP BE..." He twisted around on his right foot, making him face 180 degrees away from the situation and began to walk off. However, before he left, he stopped and turned around to face Sans.
"AS FOR YOUR WORK? PUT A LITTLE MORE,
'BACKBONE' INTO IT!!!!"
No rim-shot played, yet, a very confident Papyrus ran off ahead, laughing a "nyeh-heh-heh" that hazily reminded Steven of Peridot. As soon as the coast was clear, Steven let loose all laughter. Who knew these guys would have such great puns?
Steven's laughter proved to be contagious, as even the stocky skeleton started to chuckle as well. "heheh, he's great, isn't he?"
Clearing the snow that got onto his pants, Steven stood up and used the lamp to balance himself for a moment. "Ahuhuh, yeah, he seems really cool!" He forgot entirely about the fact that Papyrus was intent on looking for humans.
"well, you oughta get going," Sans said, with his eye sockets lazily looking upon Steven. "he might come back. and if he does... you'll have to sit through more of my hilarious jokes."
"Hah, as much as I'd like to, I probably should get going." Steven began to make his way on the path deeper into the forest, when...
"actually, hey... hate to bother ya, but can you do me a favor?" He paused and turned to the short skeleton.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"i was thinking... my brother's been kind of down lately." Aww, what would get him so down? "he's never seen a human before, and seeing you might just make his day."
Steven recalled that Papyrus was said to be a 'human-hunting fanatic,' and he'd also recall how Toriel had warned him about Asgore...
Sans must have noticed, because he added, "don't worry, he's not dangerous, even if he tries to be."
Well... he didn't seem to be mean and was actually kind of funny, so... After some considering, Steven nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll do it."
"thanks a million. i'll be up ahead." Sans walked in the opposite direction of Steven, where they had came from. Being very confused, Steven decided to shrug it off and walk ahead.