Chapter Text
You met Sans on the playground when you were nine years old. The first thing he ever did to you was shove you on the ground because you called him fat. You retaliated by knocking out the last of his baby teeth.
You were best friends from then on.
Sans liked people who were willing to fight for themselves, and who were willing to stand up and call him on his bullshit. You liked people who didn’t lay down and take insults, and who knew when to throw a punch. It was perfect.
Well that, and Sans had a disposition to liking fire elementals. His dad was friends with an elemental named Grillby, who your distant uncle Stantin knew, who your mom disliked. Grillby was a pretty cool dude to Sans, so Sans liked fire elementals, and you just so happened to be one of the few fire elementals in The Capital.
You used to think Sans was pretty cool too, you’d never met a skeleton before. He was funny, even if his jokes were a little stupid, and he was willing to get into trouble with you.
And boy did you two get into some serious trouble.
Between shoplifting from local markets and vandalizing school property you two had a wild time through middle school. You two were the biggest punks around, you wore leather jackets over your stripes, and you liked the way finger-less gloves looked around the fire of your hands.
And then puberty hit and both of you had the stupid idea that you’d fallen in love, or something. You’re still not sure what you were thinking, dating Sans, the biggest goof of them all, who literally couldn’t take anything seriously, it seemed.
You and Sans fought a lot when you dated, you’d get mad about his lack of ability to commit or take something seriously, and he’d get mad that you expected him to change because you were dating. Which would then lead you to storm around your house burning everything you could get your hands on, and lead to his ever stubborn silent treatment before you eventually made up.
That being said, it was still a really great time, you shared a lot of laughs and a lot of fond memories from those times, and when you broke up in your junior year, after dating since the start of your freshman year, things got a lot better again. You had more fun when you weren’t worried about him being committed anyways.
But… well halfway through your senior year, Sans’ dad just vanished. Your best friend was left raising his kid brother in a crowded area, trying to balance school, work, and being extremely scared he would suddenly vanish too before he was even out of his last stripe. Eventually the stress got to him, and he up and left town, moved all the way across the underground.
He said goodbye, of course, because he’s not a total asshole, but he only told you he was leaving the night of his big move. He didn’t stay long enough for you to really say goodbye, or ask where he was going.
You haven’t seen him since then, and it’s almost been ten years. You missed that big old goofy skeleton, he was your closest friend. You wish he could see you now. Everything is so much more boring without him these days, but you’ve come a long long way from petty theft and spray painting.
Your closest used to be full of leather and dark colors and spikes, and you still had all of that stored away somewhere, but it wasn’t what you outwardly advertised anymore.
And also because you were pretty sure it would unsettle the humans. You were already unsettling to them, what, being a creature made of fire and all, and humans were still adjusting to monsters as a whole. The leather get up would just make them even more uneasy.
It was still hard to believe that a little under two months ago a small human child had fallen underground and set you all free. A child. You hadn’t seen the human yourself, but you had heard about them. Frisk, filled with determination to escape and save every one, so strong and stubborn they drove half the kingdom and the mad king sane again while simultaneously breaking the barrier down in a single day.
And today was possibly the second most important day of your life, aside from the day you first saw the sunlight or the moon. You were finally moving into your house on the surface.
While all the monsters had a hard time convincing humans they were safe, with their sharp claws, gnarled teeth, and varying levels of LV, the fire monsters had the hardest time convincing humans they were harmless. Humans took one look at the dancing flames of your species and decided they had to make extra, double, triple sure none of you were going to burn their entire city down the moment you stepped inside.
It was exhausting. And yet, after that you had to help your mom move in, which took way too long, if you had any input to give.
But today? Today was your moving day. You had finally gotten the last of your stuff gathered from your old childhood home, under the cold stone ground, and moved into your home, on the bright warm surface.
All of the homes in the district were two stories, with quaint little mail slots on the door, though the houses aren't extremely large. The downstairs had only a kitchen, a living room, and a very very tiny side closet. The upstairs had a bedroom, a spare room, and a room called a ‘bath-room’. You personally didn’t know what a ‘bath-room’ would be used for, but you had once heard it involved a lot of water.
You opted to never enter that room.
But otherwise the home was everything you could ever need, as a monster new to life on the surface. And the home was so inviting. The carpets were a soft blue, and the walls eggshell white. Somewhere under the mess of boxes there was a couch and a recliner, as well as a very nice wooden coffee table.
The kitchen was small, but you could make do with it, and your bedroom was upstairs, it was a little cramped with unpacked things, but the bed was big enough for you to sleep on comfortably, and the widow gave a nice view of the park behind your house.
You placed the last box down in your living room, looking around at the things piled all over the place. You’d moved into the middle of a suburb, one of several that the humans had decided would be set aside for monster friendly districts while they worked out the last of their problems.
In a way, you thought idly to yourself, it’s not too different from home in The Capital. Just… a little more free range, you lamented to yourself. You know you had a bit of an adjustment period to go through, you’d already heard rumors of water that came from the sky. You shivered at the thought, and hoped you’d never be caught out in it. And yet… well you also really wanted to see the way the surface looked when it rained. It was just so much to worry about, and yet so much to look forward to.
Currently you had to look forward to introducing yourself to your new neighbors. You were a bit tired, and you had a lot to unpack, but you also were eager to be able to talk with other monsters again.
You loved your mother, but… well, things just weren’t the same with her these days. You wanted to get out and socialize properly, maybe by some stroke of luck find some of the few friends you made since high-school. Though you doubted it…
The underground wasn’t exactly nice. Monsters dusted, hunted and killed each other. For fun. For survival. Whatever the reason, monsters killed and took and hurt. It wasn’t hard to assume the long stretches of silence weren’t because they were busy. People vanished all the time in the underground.
And in the end you were no different. You weren’t a LOVE hunter, or an EXP grinder, or anything of the sort. But you fought to survive, you fought dirty and wild and unclean. You fought to see a better tomorrow, and you won.
In the end, you were lucky to get away with only a LV of 3.
You shook those thoughts away, though, they weren’t necessary, they weren’t wanted, and they were intrusive. Today was your big day and you're going to enjoy it even if you had to force the world to let you. You were going to go outside, in the sunlight, and meet with rehabilitated monsters. The people who didn’t kill and maim for fun, who dropped there dastardly ways the moment they found freedom.
You nodded to yourself, sealing the deal privately. You were going to change into something that didn’t smell as smokey from all your hard work and then you were going to head out and meet your new neighbors, and you aren’t going to let your past or theirs interfere with it.
After a brief lapse in time, and a lot of digging through cardboard cases, you found yourself in a cozy pale green sweater and a comfy pair of jeans as you made your way around the neighborhood.
You discovered a very shy and closed off Loox sharing a fence line with you. They didn’t seem too keen on talking, which was fine, understandable after everything. Healing would take time, and after brief introductions they found an excuse to step away, hurriedly closing the door on you. You didn’t miss the way they peeked through their blinds as you turned to leave.
On the other side of the yard a giant owl-ish monster named Knight Knight greeted you. She was very kind, despite her scars, and was a little sleepy seeming, but she had to cut your meet and greet short. She had to work in less than an hour, so she had to get herself ready. You said goodbye and went across the street to meet the neighbor you lived directly across from.
The first thing you noticed was the roof had christmas lights dangling over the edge. Except all of the lights were an almost unnerving shade of red instead of the various other colors a string of lights should normally be. The second thing you noticed was that the door had a second mail slot. Both had engravings in them, but you decided not to look too closely. You didn’t want to look like a creep standing on some strangers front lawn looking at their door. Especially if it risked triggering a monster’s fight or flight response.
Coming from where they did, flight was not often favored.
With a deep breath you smiled and raised your hand to knock on the door. Despite being made of fire your hand made a hearty thump against the wood, before you lowered it down to your sides again. You didn’t have to wait too long as you heard shuffling towards the entrance, a low rumbling voice from inside trickled out to you.
“Wuddya wan’t now! We ain’t lookin fer no new shit ‘r anythin’, I told yer before an’ I’ll tell yer aga-” the demanding voice rang out before it came to a halt as it’s owner froze in place after swinging the door open, the anger contorting his round face vanishing into surprise as he saw you. You couldn't hold back your own reaction, your fire flaring into a dangerous plume upwards from your head as you lay eyes on the one monster you never expected to see again.
Somehow, it’s not a surprise at all that Sans hasn’t changed much in the past decade. He looks almost exactly the same, and yet different. For starters he definitely added on a few pounds, but he still stood at a mighty and full six feet and two inches. His round skull was still mostly smooth and unmarked, with barely a hint of a scar, however one of his large, sharp, teeth had been replaced by glittering gold, a small crack along his nasal bridge, and his lazy brows seemed ever furrowed down in a slight scowl.
The old leather jacket he used to wear was replaced by a thick parka that framed his face in yellowish fur, but you aren’t surprised to see him wearing an even thicker looking sweater underneath it, missing the single black stripe he still wore the last time you saw him, now solid scarlet.
There was no mistaking it, not for a single second. Sans was there, alive and well, despite the harsh conditions of the underground and the years of uncertainty, he was still there.
“.... _____...?” He asked softly, his voice slurring around your name in that way you remember it always did. His red eyes wide and uncertain. Like he couldn’t be sure he was talking to the right fire monster.
Yeah, right, like fire monsters were abundant enough to confuse, especially one like you.
You nodded a bit, just as stunned as he is, trying to find the words you wanted to say.
The tense shocked silence between you was shattered by the most ungodly shrieking voice you had ever heard. Somehow, the voice was deep and rough, and yet it cracked around the words in an ear piercing way.
“SANS! WHO’S AT THE DOOR!? WHY HAVEN’T YOU TOLD THEM TO LEAVE YET!?”
Sans snapped out of it, shaking his head softly and sighing, rolling his scarlet eyes a bit as he turned around to yell back, his deep timber booming through the house, “IT’S THE NEW NEIGHBOR, NUMB-SKULL!”
“SO!? TELL THEM TO LEAVE! WE WERE BUSY!” The loud voice gripped back.
Sans sighed again rubbing at his forehead and mumbling something under his breath before he shouted back, “THEY’RE MY FRIEND!” he billowed.
You softly rubbed the place your ear would be if you had them. Really all the shouting was unnecessary. From the sounds of it they were only, what, a room away from each other??
However, it seemed like what Sans said had definitely caught the attention of the other loud force in the house.
You couldn’t see well past Sans’ broad frame, but one moment you were alone together, and the next, before you could manage to compose yourself enough to speak, a second skeleton peered over Sans’ shoulder at you.
He wasn’t much taller than his sibling, perhaps just over half a foot. His face was thin, and somehow he managed to look gaunt even for a skeleton. Or maybe he came off that way because his features were the opposite of everything Sans had.
His cheekbones were pronounced and sharp, his jaw square, his brows furrowed into a deep scowl. The left side of his face was marred by a long scar. Two cuts ran through his socket, one reaching only an inch or so above and below the socket, but the second reached higher before running all the way down towards his, for lack of a better word, lip, leaving a small crevice that pronounced his scowl.
His eye lights were their own kind of interesting, small and glowing, the undamaged eye was clear, a thin vertical slit cut through the center of the eye, like a glowing red cat eye. However the second eye seemed hazy at best, the pupil completely missing in the bright light.
You didn’t have to ask to know who this was. There was only one person he could be.
Papyrus wasn’t exactly what you expected, but the last time you heard about him from Sans’ mouth Paps would have been in three stripes. He would have just ended middle school.
Papyrus arched a questioning brow at you, his eyes tracing your flames, glancing at your sweater and your boots. You know when someone was eyeing you up to deduce your threat level. He was checking you over for signs of weapons on your person.
Lucky for you, you don’t need to carry weapons to be dangerous. That being said, the adjustment period for surface life was clearly a lot longer for some monsters. Then again, Papyrus and Sans were still young when they went off on their own. They had to learn how to survive somehow. And it seemed having caution on their side kept them alive all this time, so why drop it now?
You kept your hands out of your pockets, putting them in there would make it look like you were reaching for something. But, before much else could happen Sans moved to elbow his younger brother, a look of displeasure on his face. He didn’t even make contact as the lanky skeleton dodged out of the way, Sans sneering at him “Gimmie some space, asshole.” he grunted, having to squeeze his gut past his brother. He glanced back at you, motioning for you to come inside with them.
Papyrus huffed and turned his head up as you were invited in, glaring at his sibling as he walked past, but without the heftier skeleton in the way you got a better view of the lankier brothers outfit now.
He’s wearing a black, thin, turtle neck. His form seemed almost feminine as the cloth clung to his ribs and hips, dipping in towards his spine a little, though his neck also had a thick red and tattered scarf around it.
He was also wearing skinny jeans that clung to his thin legs… and the brightest blood orange colored six inch heels you’d ever seen. And he had the gloves to match.
They clung to his calves, ending just under his knees, all the way down the slender length of his legs, clinging to the thin width of his ankles. The way his feet had to curve in those heels didn’t look comfortable. The gloves were just as tight on the hands and wrists, but flared out where they ended at the elbow.
Despite all of that he was clearly experienced in wearing such wild heels, spinning on his feet and marching after his brother with grace.
He really wasn’t what you expected.
You followed them inside after a brief moment, curiously glancing around as you closed the door behind you. It wasn’t much different then your house design wise, but it was far more put together. Much more lived in.
The couch must have come from the underground, you think idly, admiring the furniture, it already had a groove in the shape of Sans’ ass, and had a few moth bitten holes to it. It smelt a little like old mildew and cleaner, like someone had spent hours scrubbing it down in hopes of erasing the smell of water damage and rot.
You noticed the dining room table set off to the side seemed to have a complex 3D puzzle on it, partially put together. You weren’t sure what it was supposed to be yet.
Sans pulled out a chair, grunting as he sat down, and Papyrus headed for the kitchen.
He didn’t offer to make you anything to eat or drink.
Good. You didn’t want him too.
Humans had already offered that enough, it was good to find someone who knew the cultural importance of food for monster kind.
You could hear Papyrus shuffling around in the other room, the clatter of something being taken out and set on the stove top. You didn’t know what he was doing, and you didn’t ask. You took a seat at one of the empty chairs at the table. Conveniently it seemed they had three chairs around the table at all times. Perhaps always expecting guests to arrive unexpectedly?
“S’ uh… s’ been a long time.” Sans starts, sorting the puzzle pieces on the table by general size and shape. You watch him work as you cross your arms and rest them on the table.
You nod in silent agreement, glancing at the little plastic pieces. They're mostly clear, but the light of your flames reflects off of them.
“It really has been…” you comment idly, inspecting one of the pieces curiously. It looks brand new, they probably bought it recently. It surreal to think you all have the ability to do that now.
Your eyes flicker from the piece over to Sans, “You know, you never did tell me where you were going…” you start, keeping your tone distant.
Pretending you hadn’t been worried made it easier to act casual.
Sans still paused, though, glancing at you cautiously. He knew that tone of voice well. He didn’t pause long, though, continuing to sort the pieces as they made small clicks of plastic on wood.
“An’t nothin’ personal… hones’ly surprised yer never heard abou’ us, actually…” he commented, glancing between you and his work, “We uh… became preddy well known ‘n Snowdin.” he told you. He pushed one of the piles out of the way and began to sort a new one by it, dividing the pieces even further.
“My lil bro became second in command’a th’ guard.” He informed you, shooting a smile at you, “N’ I met up with Grilb’s again. Became a local ruffian really.” he laughed a little, perhaps remembering something fond.
You do have to admit you hadn’t heard about Papyrus but…
“I didn’t really have time to catch up on anything that wasn’t close to home.” You lament to him, smiling awkwardly back, “I was caught up bad between work and school and… other stuff.” you mumble softly.
Sans doesn’t pry, and you’re grateful for that. You don’t want to talk about the ‘other stuff’.
“So your kid brother became second in command of the guard. Impressive.” You perch your head on one of your hands, the flames practically merging despite being separate entities.
“What about you Sans? You get any work? Go onto a higher education?”
“Ah… dabbled n’ sciences fer a lil bit… mos’ly dropped it, though. Took up sentry duty in’a forest.” he explained, rolling his hand as he spoke. He shrugged his massive shoulders, “Not much’t say.” He mumbled.
Which you doubted, after the passage of so much time. But fair is fair. If you won’t share, neither will Sans. He never was one to give out anything, information or goods, without being given something first.
The conversation drew to a close, though, as you glanced towards the kitchen, the clack of heels moving closer to the doorway. Papyrus appeared in the entry way with two cups of hot tea, by the smell of it you had to assume it was Golden Flower Tea.
The lanky skeleton set one cup down on the table by his brother, and Sans gently put a hand up.
“Thank’yer boss, but I ain’t thirsty.” He explained gingerly, even as the lankier skeleton shot him a glare. Two pairs of red eyes flickered towards you briefly before looking down at the puzzle as Papyrus sat down.
Papyrus may not have offered you tea, or even handed you the cup. But it was awful convenient how Sans just so happened to not be thirsty, and it was set down so very close to you.
And it sure would be quite wasteful for no one to drink it. You may as well take it.
You take the cup gently, cradling the warm tea in your hot hands. A drink never went cold for long in the grasp of a fire elemental. It’s why monsters like Grillby did great in the business. Food was always warm, no matter what.
Regardless, though, the warmth of the drink felt nice seeping into your molten core, and the magic imbued in it made it possible for you to drink it without coming to harm.
You did not thank Papyrus, because he did not offer the tea, but if you hummed softly as you took a sip then they could take it how they pleased.
Papyrus did not scoff at you for taking the tea, it was up for grabs at that point.
Thus was the nature of monsters.
The silence lasted a while as Papyrus took Sans sorted pieces and gently worked through them, figuring out what slotted into place and where. It was easy to imagine this was normal for them. Sans doing the lazy minimal work, and Papyrus working through the task relentlessly.
Shame you never got to properly meet him before now.
Before you could do anything of the sort, though, his voice snipped through the air.
“So, you two were talking of my occupation, earlier.” he commented in a rather snooty manner as he clicked a piece into places before he hunted for the next part. He continued to speak, “While I can not blame you for wanting to share The Great and Terrible Papyrus’ previous successes, I do believe this is a matter best left private.” he stated, glaring deeply at Sans.
“As generous as the humans have been, and as much as the denizens of the underground have…” he paused, before making a disgusted face, “ have ‘changed’,” he grumbled, lifting one hand to make a quote unquote symbol, “I would rather not risk out safety by spreading the information around carelessly. Especially with the humans so on edge. They’ll be looking for any chance they can find to jail us.” he told them, fully confident in his assessment.
“And, also, I rather not send someone prone to gossip around to spread the word to nearby monsters. The last thing we need is to be harassed by them.” he tacked on.
Sans let him go on, smiling lazily as he ranted on. He then motioned to you with a big hand.
“_____’s a friend.” Sans reminded his little brother, “We went’a high school toghe’ther. They ain’t gonna blab nothin’ t’ nobody.”
Papyrus eyes you up suspiciously before glaring back at his far heavier sibling, “You’ve never mentioned them before, nor have you ever visited them or written to them.”
“Like I do that wit’ anyone.”
“Sans that’s not the point! You haven’t had contact with them in years! You don’t know if they can be trusted!”
“Ho boy, ‘ere we go again…”
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT!?”
You silently glanced between them as this went on… an old argument, then, it seemed.
You stood up, “Would you look at the time, I best be headed out.” you state casually, “I have to start unpacking.” you smiled.
“Good idea, sparky.” Sans mumbled, but he was quickly being drowned out by whatever nonsense Papyrus was screeching at him.
You left the empty tea cup on the table, casually walking out of the door as Sans began to shout back. It was a little later in the day then you had expected, anyways. You really did need to get to unpacking.
As you cross the street and head towards your new home, you can’t help but smile a little bit.
Things were never boring when a skeleton was around.