Chapter Text
It's really late when Sans finally decides to leave Grillby's and head home. Sure, he could use a Shortcut, but then he wouldn't be able to look up at the stars as he headed home.
Sans hops down from his stool, puts his bill on his tab, and heads towards the exit, stumbling a bit before regaining his balance.
As Sans steps out the door, he pauses to stare up at the night sky and take a deep breath of the fresh Surface air. He thinks he'll never get tired of it.
Sans begins his walk home, staring up at the night sky. The streets and sidewalks are empty at this hour, but Sans doesn't pay it any mind.
As Sans casually walks, his mind begins to wander.
6 months.
6 months since the barrier broke and the kiddo hasn't RESET.
The Monsters had moved out from under Ebott and built their own city on the Surface. Sure, there were some humans who were problematic, but the kid always managed to handle it... or at least, the other one did.
Even the flower has mellowed out. That's not to say he isn't still a troublemaker, but at least he isn't trying to kill anyone anymore.
Monsters are free, everyone is alive, and most importantly, Papyrus is happy. Sans couldn't ask for more.
Everything is new and different. The kiddo has been doing an amazing job easing Monsters into the transition.
It sure is something watching them work. It makes Sans tired just watching them. Of course, that's what slacking off is for.
...
As Sans rounds a corner, a chill runs down his spine. He feels a familiar tingling where his gut would be and panics for a second as he fears the world is about to RESET... but he quickly realizes that isn't what he's feeling.
Sans can't quite identify what he's feeling... only that it's familiar and foreboding.
He glances around and notices a human-looking figure wearing a hoodie in the distance, walking on the other sidewalk in Sans' direction.
Remaining casual, Sans continues to walk, staring straight ahead as he watches the figure getting closer out of the corner of his sockets.
As he finally gets close enough to make out the human's features... Sans isn't sure what he's seeing.
The human is pale. VERY pale. Paler than any human Sans has ever met or seen before. Their eyes seem off... unblinking... but that's not the strangest or creepiest part.
The detail that really stands out to Sans is their smile. It's unnatural, too wide and fixed. Human faces aren't suppose to be able to smile like that...
A part of Sans' mind wonders if his permanent smile sometimes creeps humans out, but his focus remains on the human on the other sidewalk. They seem to be humming to themself as they walk, though Sans doesn't recognize the tune.
As they pass by each other on their opposite sides, Sans takes a peek at the human's stats.
Sans freezes, his skull unable to express just how sick he suddenly feels. The human has LV.
Sans has seen humans with LV before. They had various reasons for it and he had learned that it doesn't always effect humans like it usually effects Monsters. The person with the highest LV he had ever seen was a former soldier who was extremely anti-war...
...but even that soldier's LV was nothing compared to that human's LV. Sans can't even properly quantify the amount, but he can tell it's far higher than 20.
Sans unintentionally glances over his shoulder at the human, watching them walk away as his SOUL pulses in his ribcage.
Part of his mind is trying to figure out just how many people you'd have to kill to get that high. Due to inconsistencies with EXP, LV 20 is the highest amount that has ever been calculated and it still requires around 100 murders... but past that...
...
The human stopped.
Sans watches as the human turns and looks directly at Sans.
Sans' bones feel colder than they ever did in Snowdin.
They both stare at each other for a few seconds...
...
...and suddenly...
...
...they human waves at Sans?
Sans is so confused by the gesture, he doesn't move. The human seems unbothered though, turning and walking away, still humming to themself as they disappear into an alleyway.
...
Sans slowly turns and walks home, wondering if he drank too much ketchup or something.
Sans sits at his 'Hotdog* Stand' in the park, skull resting in his glove as he naps.
The events of the previous night still bother him, but he dismisses it as his imagination... and even if it isn't, it's not like it's his problem.
He's not the Judge anymore. It's his own fault for peeking at the stats.
Sans stirs back awake as he hears footsteps. He cracks open an eye and sees a human in a hoodie, wearing a mask and goggles for some reason, staring up at his sign.
"...What's the asterisk for?" The guy asks Sans.
Sans stretches as he sits up... only to slump again as he leans on the counter. "eh, it's a bit different from the human version. an underground special recipe."
The guy tilts his head, fixing his gaze on Sans. He twitches. "Really? So what's different?"
Sans reaches under the counter. "well, we didn't exactly have meat sausages so i made a substitution." Sans pulls out a cooked water sausage in a bun, showing it off. "ta-da. underground special hotdog. although, i suppose they could be called hotcats instead..."
The human blinks, looking at the 'hotdog.' There's an extended moment of silence where Sans assumes the human might have missed the joke... but then it seems to click with the human. He starts laughing...
...and laughing...
...and laughing...
Sans grins as the human cracks up, hiding his unease. The human is laughing really hard.
Eventually though, the human does stop laughing, though Sans is sure he's still grinning behind his mask. "D**m, you're funny boneman. How much?"
"eh, two bucks." Sans casually replies, relieved the human stopped laughing.
The guy rummages in his pockets for a moment before pulling out two crumpled dollar bills and offering them to Sans. As Sans takes the bills, he notices the dark red stains on the gloves, but he doesn't comment on it. The man swipes the 'hotdog' and pulls down his mask.
It takes all of Sans' self control not to flinch as he sees what looks like a burn on the side of the guy's mouth that causes his teeth to be exposed. He eagerly takes a bite of the 'hotdog,' nodding in approval. "This s**t ain't bad! Gimme another skeleman!" He reaches into his pockets and pulls out another two crumpled bills.
Sans takes the cash and hands the guy another 'hotdog.' "pleasure doing business with you. just don't go telling everyone. i can't slack off if these become too popular."
The guy laughs at that, but not for as long. "Heh, you got it. Later Mister Bones!" The guy walks away, eagerly eating his food.
Sans watches him until he's out of sight, then lets out a breath he hadn't been aware he had been holding.
He hadn't seen the guy's stats, but he had the same feeling as he did last night. He'd bet money that that human has LV.
Sans had been trying to ignore it.
He really had been.
It's not his problem. Not his business...
...but...
Once is chance, twice is coincidence... but three times is a pattern.
As Sans had been closing up his stand for the day, he noticed a human walking through the trees in the distance.
The human had a hoodie... because of course he does. But this one was wearing a dark blue mask with two pitch black eyeholes that covered his entire face.
...
Honestly, Sans was getting both annoyed and concerned that there were multiple humans who were using some of his natural features in a much creepier fashion... and he's worried what it says about himself.
Sans had silently stalked the human for a little while out of concern and noticed a few other worrying details. The man's skin seemed grey under his mask and on his hands which Sans is sure isn't a natural color, the front of his hoodie was stained with dark red spots, and as Sans was following him, he had been muttering something about being hungry the entire time.
Eventually, Sans lost the human as he got to the town and entered an alley way before disappearing. Acting quickly, Sans took a shortcut to his house and went to his laptop. He began doing research, trying to find some pattern or answer as to what is happening in his city.
Toby stares up at a sign for a Monster establishment called 'Grillby's.' If he remembers correctly, this should be the meeting place...
...so there's a 50/50 chance he's wrong.
Anyway, he steps in and looks around the room. He sees a Monster with a head of fire in the back, which is one of the coolest things he's seen today. In a booth, a familiar white face waves him over.
Toby walks to the booth and slides in, sitting across from Jeff. He fidgets under the table. "You see that guy? His face is fire! F**king! Fire!"
Jeff takes a swig of booze, some of it dripping from the corner of his mouth. He wipes away the drops. "So what? You tried that once too."
Toby suddenly scowls, glaring at Jeff. "Not. Funny."
Jeff is completely unfazed. "So where's blue face? He's late."
Toby rapidly shifts back to cheery. "Huh? Oh, I think he said something about getting a snack. He should try one of the skeleton's hotdogs! They're amazing! And there's no meat in them!"
Jeff chuckles. "No meat? Isn't that like, his favorite food."
"Oh yeah..." Toby nods absentmindedly. He blinks. "What were we talking about?"
"You were saying the next round is on you," Jeff says, taking another swig.
"Huh, really? Okay then..." Toby feels around in his pockets, pulling out a large bill and putting it on the counter.
"Try some. This Monster booze is some good s**t," Jeff encourages, sliding a bottle over to Toby.
Toby pulls down his mask and chugs a bunch before slamming it back on the counter. "F**k, you weren't kidding! This s**t hits different!"
"Told ya," Jeff throws back his head and drains the rest of his booze in one go. "Ah, love that buzz..." He grins at Toby. "This place is great. Monsters don't care how we look, the food's nice... and there's plenty of fun to have with the humans..."
Toby's fingers twitch, grasping for his hatchet, even though he had to leave it behind. "The boss will love this place. And it'll be nice to not have to sleep in the woods for a change."
"I'll drink to that!" Jeff agrees as he grabs another bottle he had been hiding on the seat of the booth. He pops it open and chugs. "Not that I need the excuse."
Toby checks his pockets, but realizes something is missing. "Oops... I musta left my phone somewhere..."
Jeff rolls his eyes and puts his booze down, reaching into his pocket and grabbing his phone. "I don't know why we even bothered to steal one for you..." Jeff grumbles as he scrolls through the contact list and clicks a number.
A few moments later, someone picks up on the other end. "Um... 'ello? Who's this?"
"It's me clownf**ker," Jeff says taking a swig. "Twitchy forgot his phone again so now you get to hear my lovely voice."
"'Ello? 'Ello? Which button is it again..."
Jeff groans. "And that's why we shouldn't have given needled**k a phone..."
"Oy! I 'eard that!" The voice on the other end growls.
"Good," Jeff says unapologetically. "Get your monochrome a** moving then! The city is safe enough for phase two."
"Talk to me like tha' again and I'll fold you like a pretzel," the person on the other end of the call threatens.
"You'd have to catch me first, noodle arms!" Jeff holds the phone away from his ear as the person on the other end starts yelling at him. He casually hangs up on them and puts his phone away. "Heh, it'll be fun seeing how the Monsters react to him," Jeff muses. He glances at Toby who is distracted talking to himself.
Jeff reaches into his pocket and runs his fingers over his knife. He considers just how he'll spend his evening.