Chapter Text
Sans and Papyrus didn’t have too many next-door neighbours. The reason for this was abundantly clear this morning, as a voice rang out, startling a couple of birds that had made the unfortunate decision to spend the night on the roof.
“SANS! SANS! WAKE UP SANS! TODAY’S THE DAY!”
Sans came out of his room, rubbing his eyes. “I’m up, Paps, I’m up. Whoa, what time is it? Are you sure it’s legal to be up this early?”
There wasn’t much of a day-night cycle in the underground. Yet there were stars, of a sort. Crystals, moss and certain creatures that glowed more brightly depending on the time of day. The soft blue glow that currently lit up the house reminded Sans of all the times he’d spent working late on some theory or calculation. He'd hoped that after he quit working at the lab he'd never have to see this particular time of night again.
“THERE’S NO TIME TO WASTE! HE’S COMING TO VISIT AND LOOK AT THE STATE OF THE HOUSE!” Papyrus narrowed his eyes. “OR DID YOU FORGET?”
“I uh…” Sans had in fact forgotten. He blinked as Papyrus leveled an accusing finger at him.
“I KNOW THAT LOOK! YOU DID FORGET! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH YOU?”
“Dunno bro. You could always…” Sans got a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. “Put me under a rest?”
Papyrus groaned, as Sans knew he would. “UGH, THIS IS NO TIME FOR PUNS! HELP ME CLEAN UP THE HOUSE. I DON’T WANT OUR BROTHER TO SEE IT IN THIS STATE.”
He proceeded to grab a broom and started furiously, yet efficiently, sweeping dust out of the house.
Sans watched him for a while, before going into the kitchen and grabbing a bucket and mop. He even cleaned a few of the whoopie pillows he left scattered around the house as a matter of principle.
Truth be told, he couldn’t care less about the state the house was in when Gaster arrived. Why should he care what their older brother thought of them? But Papyrus cared. And that was enough reason for Sans to care a little too. Even if only grudgingly.
***
The arrival of the royal scientist, fabled creator of the Core that powered all of the underground, caused quite a ruckus in Snowdin town. People flocked to their windows and watched in awe as the tall, gangly skeleton strode up to the house of the skeleton brothers and knocked. He was dressed in a long, dark overcoat that left a trail in the snow behind him.
Papyrus opened the door as soon as Gaster knocked, almost as if he’d been waiting on the other side; which in fact he had. He then swooped his brother up in a tight hug, lifting the frail scientist a few centimeters off the ground. Gaster looked profoundly uncomfortable, but Papyrus didn’t seem to notice.
“IT’S GOOD TO SEE YOU BROTHER! IT’S BEEN SO LONG! NO, EVEN LONGER THAN THAT.”
“Uh… Good day. Papyrus.” Gaster said in his soft, distorted voice, as he brushed the snow off his coat. I see you’re in good spirits. as usual.” An unpractised, but warm smile crept up on his face as he looked at his brother with genuine fondness. The smile quickly faded, however. “And where is. Sans?”
At the mention of his name, Sans came down the stairs, his usual grin plastered on his face. It didn’t reach his eyes.
“Heya doc, long time no see.”
“Sans.” Gaster gave a curt nod. He took the small house in at a glance. “Quite a change. from your house in New Home. How do you enjoy. living in the country?” His tone made it clear what he thought about their current place of residence. Papyrus’ face fell and Sans could feel anger flare up, even if it never affected his smile.
“Oh you know, it could be worse. Good food, better company. I don’t miss working for you at all.”
Gaster’s tone turned almost wistful. “Your talents are wasted here. We could use you back in the lab. Alphys is. a fine assistant. But she is not as good as you.”
“Yeah, well maybe you should’ve thought of that, before...” Sans bit back the rest of his words.
Papyrus looked from one brother to the other, feeling the temperature in the room drop a few degrees. He had to do something. And he had to do it fast. He quickly put an arm on Sans’ shoulder and another one around Gaster.
“WELL, BROTHER! NOW THAT YOU HAVE REJOINED US, THERE IS NOTHING WE THREE CAN’T DO. AND SO FOR OUR FIRST CHALLENGE, THE GREAT PAPYRUS - THAT’S ME, BY THE WAY - HAS PREPARED SOME BREAKFAST-SPAGHETTI-AND-EGGS. I CALL IT: BREGGHETTI! WE SHALL CONQUER IT AND IT WILL BE MARVELOUS.”
He could feel the tension in Sans shoulders lessen. “Alright Pap. I could use some eggcercise.” He softly chuckled to himself. Gaster’s face remained a blank. He never did get Sans’ puns. Sans had often wondered if the scientist had a sense of humor at all. So far all evidence pointed to the contrary.
Gaster obligingly followed them into the kitchen, even though there was some trepidation in his voice as he said: “It’s been a while since I sampled your cooking. Papyrus. It will be quite. the experience. I’m sure.”
***
Breakfast was indeed marvelous. Papyrus did most of the talking, something which suited the other two brothers fine. When he got a word in, Gaster shared some news about New Home and even tried some of the bregghhetti. He swallowed heavily and Sans could see his eyes watering, but he took another bite all the same. Papyrus beamed. Sans felt his anger subside a bit. This was almost like old times. Almost. Papyrus used to make Gaster food all the time back then. He wondered if the scientist missed it. Gaster did look thinner than usual. Whispier. As if he wasn’t all there.
After breakfast was done, Papyrus insisted he wash the dishes by himself so that Sans and Gaster could “catch up”. He looked so hopeful at them that Sans didn’t have it in him to argue.
And so Sans and Gaster ended up sitting on the couch in a mutually awkward silence.
“How are you? ” Gaster signalled eventually, in the sign-language shorthand he’d always loved to use in the lab. He claimed it was more efficient. Talking was a nuisance.
Sans would have none of it today.
“Hey, I've got an idea. How about you use your words?”
Gaster looked displeased, but to his credit made the effort to speak. “So how is. whatever it is you do here?”
Sans shrugged. “Oh, the usual. Teaching the local kids at the library, selling hotdogs, working on some stuff… Nothing that would interest you. How about you?” For a moment the light in his eyes flickered. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t keep himself from adding:
“Murder anyone lately?”
He kept his voice low. Papyrus didn’t know the reason Sans had stopped working at the lab, nor was he aware of the nature of the experiments that took place there. As far as Papyrus was concerned, Gaster might’ve just been working on a new and exciting flavor of nicecream. Sans intended to keep it that way.
Gaster seemed taken aback, but not as much as Sans would have liked. “Sans. They’re not like us. They’re not monsters. They. are. humans.”
“Oh, I dunno. That human the king sent to us? The one with the ribbon? She seemed like a child to me.”
“The king needs. souls.”
“Well, then let him do his own dirty work. I’m done.”
“We could use you. Need you.” A pause. “I need your input. your brilliance. In some ways. it outshines. even mine.”
Sans crossed his arms and leaned back. “Done.” he repeated with emphasis. He did feel some mild surprise. Gaster was usually big on ego and sparse on compliments. He must want Sans back badly to go through such depths of flattery.
Gaster sighed. A heavy sound that seemed to travel through his entire body. “If you change your mind. when you change your mind. you will be welcomed back. home.”
“Yeah? Don’t count on it doc.” Sans threw a fond glance at the small house and the snow that had begun to fall outside of the window.
“This is home now.”
***
At that precise moment, just as the first fresh snowflakes touched the roof of the skeleton brothers’ house; a door opened somewhere in the forest. It was a large door and heavy. The small figure had to push hard to get it to open. Then the crack was wide enough and the figure slipped through. Step by careful step it began to walk. Away from the ruins. Leaving very small, very human footprints that were soon wiped away by the snow.