Work Text:
Stretch could sense something was wrong with Blue. Well, he couldn't sense it, he knew, because Blue was awful at hiding it. And he was sure he knew exactly what it was about.
He watched as Blue fiddled with the cards in his hands. How many times was he gonna reshuffle reorganize them? The round had only just started, Nox hadn't even gone yet and he was left of the dealer. If Blue kept this up everyone was going to be asking questions and Stretch didn't want to have to keep brushing things off.
In the few years since Stretch and his cousins have been living on the surface, things have been going alright. Most of them have jobs, they've got their own homes, Hell even Poplar and Ash have been branching out recently with some new hobbies. It seemed pretty natural for Blue to go into public service. Stretch figured he loves helping people and he loves showing off, so "Go for it, Bro". That's what he said...Go for it...
He didn't think he'd have to see his brother come home week after week fractures that take a little too long to heal or telling stories about domestic violence between their own neighbors. Sure, things on the surface were great, the sun is warm and the air is fresh, but not everyone is happy to have monsters back. It can be hard to convince people the myths aren't true. Somehow Blue manages to push through the negativity or he just willfully ignores it as Stretch does. Maybe it's his youthful optimism.
Stretch takes a draw from his cigarette as he watches Blue fumble with his hand of cards again. "It's your turn buddy", he says, puffing his smoke at him. Blue makes an irritated look, scrunching his face up and side-eyeing him. "I know." Blue snaps back. He's been irritable the whole night. Stretch had to practically drag him out to the car, so to say he doesn't want to be here would be an understatement.
No one else says anything at his outburst. Stretch notices they've all been abnormally calm this evening. Nox or Boss hadn't even told him to put his cig out yet. And they even got Sans to play a round of cards with them, which is pretty out of the ordinary for him. After dinner, Sans usually passes out on the couch while Red plays a game. All in all, everyone seems to be on their best behavior trying to be as supportive to Blue as they could, yet he was still falling apart.
Maybe at some level, this is his fault. It was only a week or so ago that Blue got entangled in some sort of fight or "disturbance of the peace", as Blue will always correct him. His partner and he got called out and somehow it just ended in both of them getting pummeled. Blue claims to 'not even know how it happened'. However, Stretch thinks he either has forgotten from getting his skull rattled too much or has chosen to repress it. Either way, the entire debacle gave everyone a scare, especially Stretch. It was hard getting the call from Blue's boss, telling him about what had happened and the state of his brother. He doesn't think anyone slept that night. Not until they all knew Blue was home and okay. That first night was way difficult. The pain kept Blue up and he couldn't keep an appetite with the medicines he was given. It took about three days before things started to heal over. At least Blue was sleeping now. Although, by the end of the week, he had started running out of ideas on how to help.
That's why Stretch thought getting Blue out of the house would help but from how things are going, it doesn't seem to be. Stretch watches him check his phone for what has to be the 46,000 time that night. The two of them have been waiting to hear back about Blue's partner. For a human, they stood their ground, but against a bunch of monsters who are angry about...well...he's not sure, he doesn't really keep up with the news or politics- they didn't have too much of a chance. Not at close range, not unprepared like they were.
To be honest, that's really why Stretch feels as bad as he does. He's well aware of Blue's complicated relationship with y/n. Something about not being able to date ride partners, but that doesn't seem to stop Blue from staying out till all hours of the night doing who knows what with them. Of course, he doesn't mind- whatever makes his brother happy- but there are lots of people and monsters who would mind. They'd mind a lot actually...
That's why Stretch told Blue not to really mention it to the family. Y/n isn't something they need to be explained so soon after his work incident. His cousins were already calling at all ungodly hours of day and night, asking how Blue was, what they could do, if they needed anything. It was nice to know they had the support but Stretch could tell Blue had a hard time handling the constant interaction. If Blue couldn't deal with that then stress of explaining, the worry, the wondering about what they actually think- no way was he going to let that get in the way of his brother getting better. No, it's better if they just come over, have whatever burnt weird flavored pasta Papyrus makes for them, play a few rounds of a game, and go home. Just like they do every Sunday. Something normal, something calm, something not complicated...
But it's not calm when everyone is acting like someone just died (when Blue didn't [Thank the stars]) and Blue is worried about something else and neither of them can really say what's going on and Blue's trying so hard to act normal and and and...
Now even Stretch is starting to feel the anxiety creeping up his throat. That might also just be smoke mixing with the taste of pasta sauce.
The round of cards hasn't even made it halfway around the table before Blue has to excuse himself. Stretch takes another drag and lets it out slowly. He watches Blue wince as he stands and slowly make his way out the back door to the deck. It must hurt him to stand so quickly after sitting for so long.
God, he really messed up making him come tonight, didn't he.
Suddenly, he feels a hand on his shoulder and looks up to see Papyrus smiling at him. "Maybe if I pull out my Giant Jenga that will get his spirits up. He always enjoys that game."
"Oh yeah, I'm sure watching ya'll lose will really get everyone in high spirits" Stretch can hear Red snickering from the living room as Poplar chastises him.
"Thanks guys, but I think it might be time for us to head home", he can practically taste the mood of the room sour. "It kinda is what it is I think."
Stretch helps clean up his and Blue plates, trying to ignore everyone's sympathetic looks. It shouldn't be him they're looking sorry at, he thinks. As he goes to the back porch to get Blue, he can just barely overhear him talking to someone on the phone. He slides the door open and sits next to Blue on the deck, rubbing the butt of his cigarette into the dirt.
"Yeah? Well, I'm glad then....I'll see if I can...yes...I will...okay...bye-bye" Blue ends the call and sighs, his shoulders finally letting go of the anxiety they've been holding on to. "y/n called. They said the hospital is finally letting them have visitors." He doesn't look at Stretch, but plays with the dirt, kicking it with his shoe.
It's almost like he's ashamed to even be saying it. Stretch wonders for a brief moment if he makes him feel that way. If he makes Blue feel ashamed of being interested in this human. He already keeps it a secret at work, or at least on the down low, and now Stretch is asking him to not share with his family. This is all on top of the things he sees at work. The calls about disputes between monsters and humans, the fights he breaks up, the violence. He didn't mean to make his brother feel any worse, especially not now.
"Well, what time are we gonna go see them?"
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After getting that phone call, after knowing y/n is at least awake and ok, Stretch thinks Blue is so much more relaxed. He's at least a bit more himself at home, not holed up in his room sleeping all day. It makes Stretch feel a bit better to see him eating more and watching TV.
The incident really shook Blue physically and emotionally. Rather than being his usual cheerful self, he's been timid. Poplar said he thinks it's normal. He and Ash had quite a bit of baggage to work through when they came to live with Sans and Papyrus. Their opinion is that Blue will probably start to come back to his usual self when his bones stop aching and he has time to rest. Something about that just feels so hard to believe for Stretch though. Maybe it's because this is the first time something has happened that he hasn't been able to fix. Either way, the idea of seeing y/n seems to put him in a good mood. He asks to stop by the store.
"For what?' Stretch pulls into a parking spot as close to the store as he can. He's noticed Blue seems to have a hard time walking after sitting for a while.
"I want to get them some flowers. You don't have to come in. It shouldn't take me long." Blue looks surprised when Stretch turns the car off.
"No, I'll come with. I'm already here aren't I?". He can see the smile start to form on Blue's face when he says that. It makes him happy to know his brother is happy.
What doesn't make him happy is how Blue takes 20 minutes to look at all the flowers and try to think about what would be best to get. Roses are too obvious, these aren't special enough, those are ugly, they don't like that color. Stretch tells him to be like in the movies and pick one that reminds him of y/n. "That's sappy enough, isn't it? I don't really understand this whole not wanting work to know thing."
Blue huffs when they get back into the car. "It's hard to explain. It's not a rule but it doesn't look good for either of us."
Stretch starts the car and continues their drive. "Then why do it? Couldn't you get a different partner and then it wouldn't matter?" He can hear Blue sigh. It takes him a long while before he says anything. But when he does answer, Stretch can hear the way the emotions make his voice wobble.
"It's not that simple. We work well together. Y/n is smart and kind and does things I can't do, like deal with some of the humans or make a decision about which taco to get from the taco truck that parks outside the strip mall every Thursday." Blue pauses and Stretch can feel him looking straight at him. It feels accusatory like this information was supposed to be obvious and how dare he not know it from the start. That might just be because he can't look at him right now. In actuality, he thinks it's because Blue wants so badly for him to accept how he feels and somehow Blue thinks starring at him might will him to understand through some sort of cosmic brotherly force.
"It takes a lot of trust to do the work we do, especially when things like what happened the other week happen. I know y/n will do the right thing because they like me as I am, not just because we work together or because they have to get along with some monster. And quite frankly I like them. So I guess it just feels easier this way right now."
Stretch doesn't think he has anything to say. Blue was so...definite in the way he spoke. He should say something, but what the hell is he supposed to say. God, he hates dealing with emotions, this is really not his territory...
"Well.....glad you like them...they...uh....they sound great!" God, he sounds like an idiot.
"I'm glad you think so."
At least Blue seems happy with that answer.
The rest of the car ride is uneventful. They make some idle conversation or just sit and listen to the radio. Once they get to the hospital though, Stretch can feel tensions rise. He's nervous, Blue is nervous, everyone involved is nervous. Stretch takes the flowers while they try to figure out where y/n's room is. It takes a bit to get there but eventually they find it. He offers to let Blue go in first by himself, but he says it would be better for them both to just go in. Thank God....
Y/n looks alright. Their face is bruised on one side and their hair is matted, but other than that at least there aren't many other marks. Stretch watches how gentle Blue is despite having practically burst into the room. He goes right up to their side and holds their hands, pressing them to his teeth like a kiss, running his hands over the not marked side of their face, gushing over them. It's sweet actually. Stretch has always known his brother was a soft kind of monster but this is different. There's something intimate, something special, about how the world seemed to stop for y/n.
"Oh y/n, this is my brother Stretch we-" Blue gestures over towards Stretch. He's been standing by the door this whole time, unsure what to do with himself.
"Hey. We got you these. To feel better." He walks over and hands the bouquet to y/n. They thank him and offer for him to sit in the only empty chair in the room. Stretch declines though.
"I think I'll go get something from the cafeteria first. You two want anything? I'm sure they aren't feeding you anything great in here" Stretch smiles as y/n tries to laugh. It makes them cough though, so he trades them flowers for the cup of water on the bedside table. Blue and y/n decline his offer.
Stretch leaves them be for a while. His brother seems much happier knowing y/n is ok. As he heads back to the room he thinks about what they'll do going forward. Their small apartment isn't made to have another person in it, even just to visit. And how will they break the news to everyone else about what's been going on? Stretch looks through the small door window as he returns and can see the two of them leaned in close together, y/n's hands cupping the sides of Blue's face as they kiss. Is it weird for him to look? maybe...but it's also weird to make out with your date-mate while they're in the hospital!
Well...if it makes his brother happy Stretch thinks as he makes his way outside to light up a cigarette.