Chapter Text
Stretch walks with one hand in his pocket the other holding his cigarette, not really paying attention as he continues down the sidewalk. His untied shoelace clacking against the concrete as he goes, he briefly considers tying it but decides he doesn’t feel like it. A hulking figure of another Papyrus distracts him from his thoughts and he looks up curiously at him, only for him to step on his own untied shoelace. Stretch braces for a hard impact with the ground but it never comes as two strong arms grab him, and he grabs hold of the nearest one looking up. A flush covers his face as he’s looking up into the face of his counterpart looming over him with a concerned but gentle smile. “You must be more careful!” Crooks scolds him, still holding him so he wouldn’t accidently fall down. “You should tie your shoelaces, so you don’t trip!”
Stretch swallows hard his cigarette having fallen to the ground and long forgotten, Crooks was a lot bigger than him but with how he’d stooped to catch him before he fell, it brought their faces very close together. He clutched tighter at the arm he held onto, his mouth feeling dry all of a sudden. “U-uh yeah-I- '' His mind is both racing and moving too slow, supplying unhelpfully how cute the bigger Papyrus is. Before he even realizes it he’s pulled at Crooks’s arm and leaned up to kiss the bigger monster. Surprise blossoms on Crooks’s face and Stretch pulls back just as suddenly. Did he really just do that?!
“Ah-sorry!” Stretch splutters letting go of his arm and flailing slightly to try and get away. But Crooks still has a firm hold on him, his cheekbones now flushed from the sudden kiss. “Please calm down! You’re going to make yourself fall!” He scolds Stretch before standing straight and righting Stretch before letting him go but keeping an arm behind him just in case. Stretch quickly kneels to tie his shoe and so he isn’t looking directly at Crooks, stars on fire he’s so embarrassed but he can’t help himself. He kind of wants to kiss the horror Papyrus again, maybe a little more but he shakes his head to try and push those thoughts away. He doesn’t know what came over him, and the next thing he knows he’s tied the shoelace around his own finger and has to redo it.
Crooks stands beside him watching Stretch struggle with the knot, his own thoughts lingering on the kiss. He can admit that Stretch is very cute, humming quietly he can’t help but ask. “Might I ask why you kissed me? I’m merely curious, I’m not upset!” He assures seeing how Stretch fumbles with his shoelace again. Stretch bites his tongue a moment and chances a glance at Crooks, he doesn’t really have an answer himself. “I just couldn't help myself, I guess…” He admits giving up on his stupid shoelace. Crooks offers him a hand up with a smile, pulling Stretch to his feet when he accepts it. “Well, it’s a little backwards but, perhaps you will let me take you on a date?”