Chapter Text
The first thing Frisk noted while exiting their house was the sun shinning a warm soft light on the world around them. It truly was such a beautiful day.
Birds were singing. Flowers were blooming. On days like these, Frisk was likely outside hanging out with their friends and having fun.
However, as Frisk and Toriel made their way down the silent street, the mood between them was anything but fun. Toriel’s face was set in a concerned frown as they made their way down the street, her shaking hands carrying a small tin pan of brownies.
Frisk gave her a small reassuring smile, softly placing their hand on Toriel’s shaking paws. Toriel glanced at Frisk, weakly smiling at them.
“I am sorry my child,” She sighed apologetically, “It’s just… Hard to see him like this.”
‘I know’ Frisk signed with an understanding smile, ‘But I really think these visits are good for him. He’s been shut in for so long now.’
Toriel wore an expression of helplessness as she glanced back down at her brownies, “Yes. We need to be here for him. But… it’s just been so long. And it feels like he’s never going to get better.”
Frisk frowned, ‘But I think he’s at least trying! Just the other day he finally went out to the store for the first time in years!’
Toriel offered Frisk a small smile, “You’re right my child. We need to hang in there. Show him that we care.”
The two continued down the street in silence, both caught up in their own thoughts. Finally, the two paused as they stood at the driveway of a rather large house. The house was adorned with cracked and flickering Christmas lights. The front garden was completely overgrown and filled with various weeds and bugs.
Frisk and Toriel slowly made their way through the overgrown garden and to the front door, pausing at the entrance.
Heaving a sigh, Toriel adjusted her pan of brownies to knock on the door softly.
There was the small sound of shuffling from the inside, but no indication of someone coming to open the door.
“Hello? It is Frisk and Toriel. May we come in?” Toriel called, trying to peer through the window.
The smallest groan came from inside, and there were a few more sounds of scuffling, but no attempt to answer the pair or open the door.
“We know you’re in there. Please, let us in.” Toriel called again, this time a bit more forceful.
Another groan, and more shuffling, but this time the door finally swung open. A tired looking skeleton stared wearily at the boss monster and child, his ruffled clothes indicating that he had been sleeping before the pair had arrived at his house.
“Hello Sans!” Toriel smiled brightly, “We brought you some brownies!”
Sans eyes Toriel’s pan, his sockets darkening. “’m not hungry.” He mumbled.
Toriel pursed her lips, “Well… perhaps you can eat it when you are hungry!”
Sans paused, his eyes shifting from the brownies to Toriel’s concerned face.
“k.” he relented, reaching out and taking the pan from Toriel.
‘May we come in?’ Frisk signed, their eyes staring hopefully at Sans.
Sans hesitated, nervously adjusting his grip on the brownie pan. After a few seconds, he sighed. “k.”
Without another word, Sans turned back into the house, leaving the door open for Toriel and Frisk to enter.
The first thig Frisk noted while entering the house was the smell. A god aweful rotting smell as if some weird animal had died in the house. Frisk decided it would probably be best to breath through their mouth for the rest of the visit.
Toriel and Frisk were careful to avoid the trash littering the ground, making their way through an insanely messy living room and into an even messier dining room.
Toriel cleared her throat, “Uh. So I guess you haven’t exactly done any cleaning lately…”
Sans shrugged, “guess not.”
Toriel grimaced, “Well uh. No worries! How about we tidy this place up a bit!”
“k.” Sans shrugged again.
Toriel opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but thought better of it. Frisk and Toriel quickly set to work, collecting trash and random food off the ground and putting them in the garbage. By the time the two finished, Sans had already seemed to fall asleep at the dining room table.
Frisk sighed, making their way over to the small skeleton. They softly shook him, startling him awake.
He glanced groggily at Frisk, “sorry kid. guess i wasn’t much help there.”
‘It’s ok.’ Frisk smiled softly, ‘You look like you needed a nap.’
Sans averted his eyes, opting to look at the ground instead. “sorry” he softly mumbled again.
“So… Sans…” Toriel made her way over, nervously fidgeting with her dress. “I uh… well I looked into some nearby jobs and I think that there’s a local coffee shop hiring. Very monster friendly.”
Sans hummed, leaning back on his chair.
“Come on Sans, you really need to get a job.”
Sans winced, scratching his skull. ‘’s fine tori.”
“No. No it’s not.” Toriel exclaimed desperately, “Sans. Please, we are worried about you. You have to move on. It’s been 6 years since Papyrus di-“
“he’s not.” Sans spoke sharply, his eyes sockets going completely black. “he’s not dead.”
Toriel swallowed nervously, “O-of course, I’m sorry.”
Toriel paused, before proceeding carefully, “It’s been 6 years since Papyrus… went missing. And I just think… that it’s time. You need to move on with your life. Please Sans.”
Sans clenched his jaw, glaring darkly at Toriel, “how can you say that?” He hissed.
Frisk stepped forward, their expression soft yet determined, ‘Sans. Please. Do this for Papyrus. He would have wanted you to continue living your life.’
“d o n t” Sans growled, “tell me what my brother would have wanted.”
“Well, as your friends, we are just worried about you. I mean, you don’t do anything all day. You don’t feed yourself. Your house looks like a trash tornado hit it. And you always seem tired and out of energy. You’re at the verge of falling down!”
Sans scoffed, turning away. “thanks for the brownies tori. but i’m gonna ask you to leave now.”
Frisk growled in annoyance, spinning Sans back to face them. They glared into his eyes sockets, quickly signing, ‘No. We want to help you. Please let us help you. Papyrus would have-‘
“YOU DON’T GET TO TELL ME WHAT PAPYRUS WOULD HAVE WANTED!” Sans roared, shoving Frisk away. “you don’t get to stand there and tell me i have to move on! you- you don’t understand what its like. what ive gone through these past 6 years! i just…”
Sans hiccupped, tears forming in his sockets. “its not the same without him.” He whispered.
Toriel rushed over, quickly holding Sans in a warm hug. “Shh… Shhh. I know Sans. I know what its like to lose someone you love. But moving on with your life doesn’t mean you forget them.”
Sans sobbed softly into Toriel’s fur, his hands desperately clinging around her neck.
Frisk bent down, softly patting Sans on his back in a comforting gesture.
“im sorry.” Sans sniffled, “y-you were only trying to help.”
Toriel smiled softly at Sans, gently rubbing his back, “It’s ok. You are going through a tough time. We just want to be able to support you the best we can.”
Sans nodded shakily, “i know.”
“We’ll be on our way now.” Toriel slowly stood up, adjusting her ruffled dress. “Please do think about that job offering Sans.”
Sans nodded slowly, “i will. thanks tori. thanks kid.”
Toriel offered a small smile before motioning for Frisk to follow her out the door.
‘Take care Sans. I’ll come back tomorrow.” Frisk quickly signed before turning to follow Toriel.
“Oh, and Sans?” Toriel called, standing at the doorway.
“y-yeah?”
“You really must try those brownies. They are delicious.” Toriel smiled warmly, before leaving the house.
Sans snickered softly, before turning towards the living room. He tiredly stumbled to the couch, collapsing onto the cushions. Still weeping softly, he drifted off to sleep.
--
Two figures made their way down the dark street, the flickering streetlights casting deformed shadows on the sidewalk.
The taller of the two dramatically adjusted his red scarf, marching loudly down the street. The smaller one followed a step behind, his hands in his pocket, and slouched over slightly.
“BROTHER, PLEASE TRY TO KEEP UP.” The taller spoke, annoyance evident in his nasally voice.
“sorry bro, guess i should really ketchup.”
The taller sighed in exaggeration, “OH BROTHER, THAT ONE WASN’T EVEN GOOD.”
The smaller grinned lazily, but he picked up his pace every so slightly. The two continued down the street in silence, enjoying the cool night.
Suddenly, the taller figure faltered, their hands quickly reaching through their pockets. “DRAT.” He sighed, “IT WOULD SEEM I FORGOT MY PHONE AT THE RESTURAUNT.”
“aww man, i knew something seemed phone-y”
The taller rolled his eyes, scoffing, “PLEASE, THIS IS SERIOUS. I AM GOING TO GO BACK TO THE RESTURAUNT. YOU CAN GO AHEAD TO THE HOUSE; I WILL BE THERE SHORTLY.”
“you sure bro?” The smaller tilted his head in concern at the taller.
“YES. NO PROBLEM. I’LL BE QUICK!” The taller smiled reassuringly, gesturing to his brother to continue on the path home.
“all right bro.” The smaller shrugged, turning towards the direction of their house. “and pap? i love you.”
Papyrus snickered softly, “AND I LOVE YOU SANS. I WONT BE TOO LONG.” He gave one last wave before turning back and jogging into the darkness from whence they came.
Sans paused, watching his brothers form fade into the night, before turning away and teleporting into their house. He collapsed on his bed, comforted by the thought of his brother returning soon and asking him for a bedtime story.
But there would be no bedtime story that night. Or ever again.
Because in a mere 48 hours, Papyrus Font would officially be declared missing.
---
A loud knock startled Sans from his sleep, causing him to fall from the couch.
“wa-woozit?” Sans called blearily, fumbling on the floor.
There was no answer, simply another knock.
Sans grumbled softly, staggering to his feet. He glanced towards the window, it seemed it was night time already. Who the heck would be knocking this late?
The knock sounded again, urgent and loud.
“’m comin’.” Sans mumbled, making his way slowly to the door. “Waddya-“
The question died in his throat as Sans opened the door. Sans could do little but gawk at the figure before him, eyelights a small pinprick in his sockets.
A figure stood before him, a shaky smile on their face, gloved hands fidgeting nervously.
“S-sans?” The figure spoke softly, “Hello.”
“Papyrus?” Sans breathed in disbelief.