Chapter Text
Grillby walked along the sidewalk silently, it was 7 am and he was walking to school, like he had already for 8 years. He fiddled with the tie he had been teased so much for wearing and continued to walk silently. He was in eighth grade, and had convinced his mom he was old enough to walk to school alone. He heard A strange clicking sound from behind him, he turned around and saw a stout skeleton walking about behind him and clicking his heel against the ground, making a clicking noise. Grillby knew exactly who this monster was, his name was Sans and he was probably the most popular kid in school. He hurried along, really not wanting to conversate with the skeleton, he guessed if he would, he would end up being teased about how he dressed or something. The skeleton however, suddenly appeared infront of him, causing Grillby to bump into him. He gave him a questioning look, the skeleton smiled at him as he began to strut away.
“Hey, how come you never talk?” He asked strutting behind Grillby who was walking briskly towards the school, he shrugged.
“Can you talk?” he asked quietly, Grillby nodded. “Then why don't you?”
“I don't really have anybody to talk to who won't make fun of me.” He said quietly, Sans stopped and stared at him, then continued walking behind him.
“I won't tease you, I swear. Just talk to me.” He said with a wink. Grillby was confused, why did he want him to talk so bad?
“Why?” he noticed the skeleton’s cheeks had grown a cobalt color. He looked at the ground.
“I, uh, like your voice, it sounds... cool.” He said recovering from the blush. Grillby shrugged it off, not many people knew how he sounded besides himself.
“Thank you.” he said quietly, nearing the entrence of the school. Sans realized where they were and walked slowly to meet up with his friends. Grillby heard snickering behind him, they're probably laughing at me, he thought silently.
He went through his day, thinking little to none about walking with Sans earlier that morning. At lunch, he went to sit at his regular table, alone and seats away from the few other monsters who sat at the same table. As soon as he set his lunch had down, he felt somebody touch his shoulder. He looked up, it was Sans.
“Hey, I never asked, what’s your name?” he asked, setting his lunch tray next to his.
“It's Grillby.” He said quietly, wondering why the most popular kid in school was sitting next to him, he watched envious eyes from the other lonely students stare at him. Sans grinned.
“And I'm sure you know, I'm Sans.” He said with a gleam in his eye, it must be nice to have everybody know your name, Grillby thought to himself.
“Why exactly do you keep talking to me?” Grillby asked carefully, Sans’ face became laced with the blue color again, he shrugged.
“You seem lonely, I guess. I just thought maybe you’d like to have a friend.” he said quietly while Grillby picked up his sandwich and bit it. He noticed the skeleton's eyes gleam.
“You have a mouth?” he asked, unwrapping his own sandwich.
Grillby couldn't help but let out a laugh.
“How do you think I talk?” He asked him back, Sans just shrugged and laughed. Holy crap, he was making the most popular kid in school actually laugh!
“You're pretty chill for somebody whose made of fire.” the skeleton said before taking a bite of his sandwich. Grillby smiled and shrugged. It was quiet for a few seconds, Grillby could feel eyes of other students glued to him and Sans, he hoped they wouldn't get the wrong idea.
“So, do you walk home too?” Sans asked him quietly, Grillby nodded silently. “I normally ride the bus, would you mind if I walked home with you though?” he asked, staring at his tray, Grillby nearly chocked on the tea He was drinking. Did he really just ask to walk home with me?
“N-no, not at all.” he said after a short coughing spell. Sans smiled at him.
“Cool, well see you then.” he said getting up to go sit with his friends. Grillby watched him walk away and look back several times before making his way to the popular kid’s table and sitting. How strange, he thought as he fixed the collar on his button down shirt. The other's at the table asked him why Sans came over and sat with him, he honestly did not know the answer.
After 7th hour, the bell rang, signalling the end of the day, kids piled outside and mostly onto buses. Grillby began walking down his regular sidewalk, wondering if Sans really would show. He listened as he heard a quietly clicking noise behind him, growing louder and louder. He turned around and saw Sans running towards him. Grillby stopped to let him catch up, most fourteen year olds didn't have as slender bodies or as long legs as he had.
“H-hey.” sans said after catching his breath, wait… Do skeletons even need to breath? Grillby asked himself silently. They continued walking together, it was strangely silent, for once the quiet made Grillby unusually uncomfortable.
“So, who exactly are you? I mean I know you're name, but who are you? What do you like to do? Do you like anybody? C'mon fill me in on you!” Sans asked timidly. Grillby glanced at him, he was staring straight ahead, straining to not look over at him.
“Well, uh, as you already know, I'm Grillby Fire. I like to cook and no, I do not like anybody.” He said quietly. Sans pushed his hands in the pockets of his oversized hoodie he always wore, Grillby noticed he looked…
Disappointed?
“Cool.” Sans said simply. After that, it was quiet again as They continued to walk to their homes. They walked past a building with a ‘no smoking’ sign.
“Heh, Grillby better watch out, this is a no smoking area.” Sans said with a nervous chuckle.
“My flames do not give off smoke.” Grillby said with a shrug.
“Well I mean you are still smoking hot….” He said with a grin, Grillby wacthed as it faded as he realized he had just called him hot. He laughed a little, Sans laughing along nervously. “That sounded much better in my head.” He admitted.
“ my house is just down this street.” Sans said pointing to a street. Grillby lived only a street away. He waved as they split ways, Sans stopped.
“Do you walk to school everyday?” He asked, walking back over to Grillby. He nodded.
“I'll get up early so I Can walk with you, if I'm not here already, could you wait at that stop sign?” He asked pointing to a the octagonal sign that was a few feet away from them.
“Sure. See you then?” Grillby said, pulling his backpack over his shoulders. Sans nodded and smiled widely at him.
“Y-yeah see you!” he yelled, walking down his own street. Grillby waved one more time, and began walking away. He wondered how he had become friends with the most popular kid in school, or how Sans wanted to be his friend. It was strange, he wondered how Sans wasnt teasing him about how he always dressed in dress clothes or how he didn't like talking. Was it all a trick, or did Sans genuinely want to be his friend? Too many questions were buzzing through his flaming brain, but one stood out. Why did Sans blush or act awkward around him? Did he like Grillby? No, that would never happen. or would it?
Sans got up extra early Friday morning, so he wouldn't make Grillby late. It normally didn't take him long to get ready every morning, he would pull on a new t shirt and put his hoodie on over it. He looked in the mirror at his face, He looked tired, maybe staying up past midnight was not a good idea, just as his father had told him. His dad was W.D. Gaster, the Royal Scientist, or something like that, Sans couldn't really remember. He was home to help his brother,Papyrus, get to school and he got home as soon as they were going to bed, but besides that, Gaster was hardly ever home. Sans had more or less raised his brother, and loved him more than any thing in the world. As he stumbled downstairs, Sans grabbed his shoes and sat down at the table next to Papyrus Who was eating a bowl a cereal happily.
“Hey pap, I'm leaving a little early today. Have a good day at school.” he said with a smile as he pulled on his hightops without unlacing the already tied laces. His brother nodded and waved him good bye. After grabbing his backpack and pecking his brother on the head, he walked outside into the light of the rising Sun. He saw the stop sign in the distance, a tall figure stood next to it, staring at something in front of him.
“Hey Grillbz, how’s it going?” he asked, startling Grillby who dropped the book he had been reading. “Heh, sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.” he picked up the elemental's book and handed it to him, it was a cook book. Grillby nodded ‘thank you’ and they began walking towards school.
“You know, you're pretty hot.” Sans said before he could stop himself. He felt his face grow hot as it turned a deep cobalt. He was sure he was going to die from embarrassment, if it was possible. Grillby laughed quietly, Sans looked up from his sneakers and realized he was blushing too, well his flame had turned pink around the edges, he was still laughing to himself.
Sans had to walk quickly to keep up with Grillby’s long legs, they we're mostly silent, but occasionally Sans would ask about Grillby's life.
“So… I'm sure you've been asked to this, but how are your clothes not in flames, or how do your pencils not ignite when you hold them?” sans asked him, slinging his backpack around his right shoulder. Grillby stopped walking and picked up a leaf from the ground.
“I can control my flames, if I want something to burn-” the leaf became engulfed in flames. “Then I can make it burn.” he said, throwing the ashes of the leaf to the ground. Sans stared in awe at the elemental. Grillby looked over at him and smiled, making Sans’ eyes gleam even more. They continued walking towards school quietly.
“D-don't tell anybody this-” he started to say said, Grillby stopped and gazed into his eyes,making him even more nervous than he already was. He felt that it was too soon to tell him this. “- uh, never mind.” he decided not to tell him what he had planned to, Grillby cocked his head to the side, but shrugged and continued walking. Soon the school was in view, Sans contiued to walk with Grillby instead of joining up his other friends, they scoffed at him as He told them He was hanging out with Grillby right now.
“Would you mind if I ate lunch with you again? I'm with my friends in all of my classes, but I'm not in any classes with you so..” Grillby put his hand on his shoulder.
“You don't have to ask me if you can hang out with me, it's nice to have a friend for once,” Grillby said with a bright smile, Sans nodded happily and they split ways to their home rooms.
At lunch, Sans sat with Grillby again, Sans talked the whole time, while Grillby listened intently.
“So, what do you look like under those glasses?” Sans asked, touching his glasses with his bony hand. Grillby pulled away and shook his head.
“I'll show you on the way home, I really don't want to have to deal with being teased for that too.” He said, adjusting his bowtie. That just made Sans even more curious. He pushed it to the back of his mind and continued to talk.
“So like, do you maybe wanna hang out sometimes, like you come to my house after school or something? Today, maybe?” sans asked, looking everywhere besides Grillby's face. He nodded.
“I have nothing better to do anyways.” he said quietly, Sans nearly leaped with joy. He had never felt the way he did with Grillby with anybody else, he stared down at his hands. He had fallen for the nobody at school. He didn't know how, one day he just noticed him at lunch, and felt the need to talk to him. Not only was Grillby hot, he was smart and kind, and Sans liked that.
Oh no. Sans had a horrible realization as he sat next to Grillby, eating his lunch.
He was in love with Grillby.
After school was out, Grillby waited up for Sans so that he wouldn't have to run after him again. As they walked home together, he noticed Sans was unusually quiet.
“Are you okay, Sans?” Grillby ask, touching his arm. He felt Sans flinch, being dragged out of his own thoughts by Grillby's warm hand against his bony arm.
“Wha-, uh yeah.” Sans said with a nervous grin, Grillby didn't buy it, but if He didn't want to tell him, Grillby only thought it was fair. Sans let out a long and low whistle, Grillby stayed quiet.
“So, uh, my younger bro will come home and start running around. He's pretty… lively, but he's a good kid.” Sans said, struggling to think of something to talk about. Grillby smiled.
“You never told me you had a brother!” Grillby said quietly. Personally, he loved kids.
“I haven't told you a lot of things.” Sans said under his breath.
Grillby looked over at him with a questioning look. They we're getting closer to Sans’ house, Grillby had no idea which one it was. Sans grinned and grabbed his hand, He felt the warmth course through his cold bones.
“C'mon, lets go!” He yelled, pulling Grillby along towards his house. He giggled a little as Sans ran and pulled him after him. As they reached the front door, Sans made Grillby close his eyes (“Sans, do I really have to?” he asked, squinting his eyes shut) while he got his house key from it's hiden place under a flower pot. They stepped inside, Grillby felt a little awkward as he stood there and untied his shoes carefully while Sans just kicked his off.
“Wanna watch a movie? How about Zombies 6 the Return of the Zombies? It's really the newest movie I own.” Sans said , pulling it out of it's case. Grillby nodded and sat down on the couch next to him, his slender legs crossed while he thought about his situation. He was sitting next to the most popular kid in school, in the most popular kid in school’s house. While sans fummbled with the movie, Grillby just thought. A loud noise dragged him out of his thoughts though, Sans got up
A small skeleton ran into the room and hugged him. Grillby watched as the small skeleton hugged his older brother like he hadn't seen him in years. They finally split apart and the skeleton stared up at Grillby, wondering who this being made completely of fire was. He stuck out his hand for him to shake it.
“Hello, I'm Grillby.” He said while the skeleton shook his hand timidly.
“Hi! I'm papyrus!” He said enthusiastically, Sans smiled at him.
“Pap, Grillby and I are going to watch a movie that’s way too scary for you, can you play up in your room, and I'll get you when it's over?” Sans said, patting his brother on the shoulder. Papyrus nodded with a grin and ran up the stairs to his room. Grillby smiled at him.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” Sans asked, his cheek bones turning a light blue. Grillby shook his head.
“You seem like a very good brother.” He said shrugging, it made Sans blush even more. He laughed quietly.
“Yeah, my dad is only here in the morning and he gets home really late, so I'm really the one who raises him.” He said as the movie started playing. Grillby couldn't help but stare at the skeleton, he thought Sans would be a jerk, like the rest of the popular kids he had ever known, but he seemed pretty nice. Sans noticed that he was staring at him, Grillby looked away awkwardly. This was really the first time Grillby had been to anybody else's house, and Sans had never really had anybody over so They really didn't know what to do when the movie was over.
“How about a round of Minecraft?” sans asked him. Grillby had never really even played a video game, so they thought excited him.
“Sure, how do you play?” He asked as Sans pushed a controller into his hands.
“You've never played minecraft? Wow, you need to come over again.” He said before explaining how to play to a very confused Grillby. Sans played like an expert while Grillby struggled to simply walk in the game. While Sans went exploring on the ocean, Grillby planted carrots and wheat. They played for a long time, Grillby enjoyed it and so did Sans.at about seven, Grillby said he was going to head home.
“Oh, okay. This might sound weird, but do you want me to walk you home? I mean like… Can I walk you home?” Sans asked, his face turning an indigo color, Grillby thought it sounded fine.
“Sure, I can show you where I live.” Grillby said, picking up his backpack. Sans held the door open for him and they walked outside.
“That was pretty fun, we should hang out again.” Grillby said quietly. Sans’ heart skipped a beat, did Grillby just say he wanted to come over again? He noticed Sans was blushing profusely.
“Are you okay, you’re looking a little blue?” Grillby asked, nudging him gently. Sans coughed a little.
“Yep! I'm good!” he said, trying to act like nothing happened.
“Do you still want to see what I look like without my glasses?” Grillby asked him, Sans nodded and grinned, he had completely forgotten about seeing Grillby without his glasses. He bent over so the small skeleton could remove them from his face. He had two small white eyes, Sans stared in awe at him.
“Holy crap.” Sans whispered, a gleam in his eye socket. Grillby took his glasses back and put them on. He shook his head and kept walking. Sans followed him quickly.
“Why would anybody tease you about your eyes, they're beautiful.” He said dreamily, Grillby blushed a little.
“Thanks, uh here’s my house.” Grillby said as they walked across the street to a maroon colored house.
“What were you trying to tell me, this morning? That you didn't want me to tell-” Grillby stopped mid sentence. Sans covered his face as Grillby realized what he wanted to tell him. Oh my God, he thought.
“You have a crush on me, don't you? That's why you keep blushing and stuff, you like me.” it was meant as a question, but came out a statement. It was, after all, true.
Sans wondered if he really could die from embarrassment, there was nothing worse than your crush finding out you like them, nothing. Grillby stared at him for a long time, Sans just looked away, wanting to crawl under a rock and die.
“It's okay, um, so this is weird.” Grillby said laughing a little, he brushed his hand through his flame. Sans nodded in complete agreement.
“I guess I'll just go home, uh bye Grillbz!” Sans said starting to walk away. Grillby just stood, shook his head and walked inside.
Holy crap, why did Grillby have to find out this way? He had just met Sans like two days ago and already knew he had a crush on him? Sans stared at the ground most of the walk home, too nervous to face the rest of the world as he walked through the darkness to his house. He liked Grillby, and now he knew about it, would he still want to talk to him? Would Grillby still want to be his friend, even though it was going to be super awkward. At least it was Friday and he didn't have school tomorrow, so he didn't have to see Grillby and have to face the awkward time with him. He picked up his phone, his friends had been texting him, his friend Undyne knew something was up with him.
Undyne: You like him don't you
He texted back quickly.
Sans: No he’s just my friend
Undyne: that's what Alphys said when She said She didn't have a crush on me!!!
Sans: I do not have a crush on him!!!!
Undyne: yeah I totally believe you
Sans: shut up Undyne, I don't like him.
There was really no point in lying to his friends, but he didn't need the whole school knowing, rumors spread like wild fire there. He also didn't need everybody calling him “gay” and stuff like that. He finally got home and slumped onto the couch next to Papyrus.
“BROTHER! WHAT IS WRONG?”
“Wha-, oh nothing, Pap don't worry about it. It's your bedtime in ten minutes, by the way.” He said, struggling to watch the 2nd grader's favorite show. Pap whined a little, but didn't complain more than that. Sans what Grillby thought about him, He probably hated him or something. He wished he could talk to somebody about this, but he had nobody he could… Except for his younger brother.
“Hey pap, what did you think of Grillby? Did he seem nice?” Sans asked his brother nonchalantly. Papyrus stopped watching the television and smiled.
“YES! HE SEEMED VERYV NICE!” papyrus said enthusiastically. Sans nodded and wondered if he should keep talking or not.
“I think I love him…” Sans said with a sigh, his brother laughed.
“YOU LOVE GRILLBY!?” He yelled, Sans shushed him.
“Shhhh, I don't want the whole world to know! Yeah, I accidently told him that too, I don't think he wants to talk to me anymore.” Sans sighed and played with his hands. Papyrus gave him a questioning look.
“WHY WOULD HE NOIT WANT TO TALKK TO YOU, JUST BECAUSE HE FOUND OUT YOU LIKE HIM?” he asked, clicking off the tv. Sans shrugged and got up to put him to bed.
“Things get complicated when you get older-”
“Sans, you are only fourteen years old.” Gaster said walking into the room.
“Please tell me you didn't hear any of that.” Sans hoped.
“No, why? Did you say something bad?” his father said, putting up his lab coat.
“Nah, c'mon pap, lets put you to bed.” He picked his seven year old brother up (“God Pap, you're getting heavy”), and climbed up the stairs to put him to bed. It didn't take long, after about a page or two of Papyrus’ favorite book, he was out. Sans climbed out of his brother’s room, trying his best to be silent. He walked back downstairs and sat on the couch and clicked on the tv.
“Sans, are you alright? You normally like telling jokes and stuff. What's up?” Gaster asked, sitting down next to his oldest son.
“The celing.” sans said with a small smile. It was probably his favorite joke. Gaster looked at him with a really, did you just say that look. Sans sighed.
“So I may have a crush on this one person and they found out today and now it's super awkward.” He said , staring at the tv, but not actually watching it.
“Who is this ‘person' you speak of?” his dad asked him with a smile.
“Uh, don't be mad at me, but it's not a girl…. His name’s Grillby. I-”
“Sans! Why in the world would I be mad at you for loving somebody? Okay, tell me more about this ‘Grillby’ fellow.” Gaster asked, putting his arm around Sans. Sans laughed a little.
“Heh, He’s really hot. Actully, He’s a fire elemental, so He’s made of fire. He normally wears fancy clothes and ties, it's pretty Cute. He's really nice, but he doesn't like to talk much.” sans finished, thinking of the elemental whom he had a crush on. Gaster laughed.
“You like the little fire boy who lives on the next street over? Oh my god! I know his dad, we went to school together!” Sans blushed a little.
“Y-yeah, he’s pretty cool.” Gaster put his hand on Sans shoulder.
“Don't worry, son, I'm sure things will turn out okay.” and with that, he got up to go to bed. Sans laughed to himself quietly.
He sure hoped so.