Chapter Text
It was morning in Snowdin, during its seemingly endless winter. Small snowflakes of many shapes and sizes fell from the sky, wherever it was. The monsters living in the town were used to such weather. Afterall, they've never known anything else, besides the cold white snow under their feet and the warm puffs of air leaving their mouths when they talk.
Today was just like any other day. The shopkeeper still sold her cinnabuns, the Librarby sign still hasn't been fixed, and the bear volunteer still made sure to put up presents under the tree for the town's kids. The spaghetti on the table left by one of the skeleton brothers still laid untouched, all royal guard patrols were in order, everything seemed to be very usual about this day.
Until, well, someone woke up on the wrong side of bed. His name was Sans - the older one of the skeleton brothers. He was usually lazy, not just in behavior but by speech and choices of clothing. Although he was known for his humour, bad puns, and specific demeanor, today seemed to be a completely different day for the monster. Not only did Sans wake up early, and actually cared to immediately dress up, but he also cleaned up that one sock he left on the floor ages ago near the TV. Some might say he's finally being productive, but the people closest to him would know something was very wrong.
He didn't even bother to wake his brother up by any means, or even play a prank on him just for the hell of it. The skeleton went straight to the kitchen and made coffee - actually, around one liter of it, the pot was almost overflowing. He barely waited for it to cool down before chugging it down like a maniac. Sans soon regretted that being the first thing that he's done since getting out of him room, after tasting his morning breath mix with the thick smell of coffee. It was disgusting, to say the least. With a sigh, he went straight to the bathroom, and quickly brushed his teeth. When he was done, he immediately went outside.
Slightly blinded by the daylight being reflected so much on the snow beneath his feet, the skeleton waited for a quick moment to adjust before continuing walking. Where was he going? Even Sans didn't have the answer to that question. He walked aimlessly for a while, without his signature grin, seemingly deep in thought, before he tripped on a rock and fell face first on the ground. He quickly got up with an annoyed groan, shook the snow off his clothes and continued his walk.
On his way to... wherever he was going, his neighbours and people he'd probably describe as friends waved at his direction, but he didn't even have it in him to wave back. Pretending he didn't see, he picked up the pace.
At some point, he walked up to the ever locked door leading to the RUINS. Disregarding the fact that he almost walked into it, he quickly decided it wasn't the best idea to tell puns through the door without a good mood. And so, he started walking back to Snowdin. When he was at the big bridge right before the main part of town, he bumped into someone. Normally, considering his current mood wasn't great, he'd scoff and walk away. But it was pure luck and fate that brought the skeleton right infront of the man inhabiting his thoughts since... no good trying to remember how long.
"Oh, sorry for that, Sans." Grillby exclaimed, slightly surprised, as he looked down to see a seemingly lost in thought skeleton, who was still looking right at him. Grillby was about to comment on that, but just when that thought appeared, the man snapped out of it.
"Uh, no issue, no issue at all, it was my fault really, don't worry about it." Sans said as he looked back down. Although considering their absurd height difference, it wasn't ideal, since now he was actually looking right at the man's groin. After quickly readjusting his position - by awkwardly leaning on the edge of the bridge, looking down at the forest stretching seemingly infinitely below them, he spoke again.
"Nice.. day today... huh?"
"What's so special about today?" Grillby asked as he also leaned on the bridge's edge. "Everything is the same as always, isn't it, Sans?"
"Oh, yeah, right, of course it is." Sans slapped himself in the face mentally for that one. It was hard to come up with conversation topics, or keep his cool, around the hottest man in the underground. Literally, considering he's made out of fire magic. Sometimes, he couldn't help but wonder if all of his body is made from it. Before that train of thought took off, he immediately stopped it by reminding himself that Grillby's just a friend. Maybe not even a friend, actually. An acquaintance? Now that he actually thought about it, Sans never even asked about what they are. Usually their relation so far consisted of the skeleton never paying his tab at the other's bar, resulting in him being very annoyed at him (or, so he says), while simultanously telling stories of many kind while tipsy here and there. He couldn't put his finger on what he should actually perceive them both as.
"Sans, are you... okay?" Grillby questioned, more concerned than curious. He's seen the man so many times, it was weirdly easy for him to pinpoint any weird behavior. Like that one time when he came into the bar grumpy, resulting in telling everything that weighed on him all at once after getting ridiculously drunk, of course after Grillby was supposed to close up long ago.
.
.
.
Since no one else was around that time, he decided to indulge him. He listened, asked some things, reccomended solutions to his problems. It felt nice to have someone trust you so much with the things troubling their mind. Before he knew it, he was sat on the bar stool right next to him, letting the man rest his head on his side. Besides it being nice to comfort his one and only friend, it was also funny when Sans leaned in closer and weakly tried to hug him from the side, all while quietly muttering to himself how warm he is.
Of course, Sans didn't remember anything in the morning when he woke up. Usually in his room, after being carried back to his house by Grillby himself. Although it looked awkward, he seemed to fit really well in his hands, so he had no issue helping him out. Luckily, his brother was always happy to answer the door for him even late at night. Grillby often wondered what Papyrus thought about his brother getting home late at night, drunk out of his mind. Because of this, he often apologized, but to no avail of course. Maybe when it eventually happens again he should bring in an apology gift of some kind.
.
.
.
"Me? I'm alright, why do you ask?" Sans almost spat out, considering Grillby ripped him right out of his thoughts in an instant. It wasn't his intent to sound mean, of course, he'd never even dare to. "Maybe I was feeling a bit bone-ly, but that's about it." He chuckled. To his surprise, Grillby actually started giggling, only to then burst out in laughter. It was one of the very few times he's heard the man genuinely laugh. It was a bit deep, but sweet... in a way. The sound made him instinctively smile, and made his chest feel warm.
"Oh, of course you were." Grillby sighed playfully after regaining his breath. He looked directly at Sans, only to find out he's been staring at him all this time, while he was lost in thought.
Both men just stood there in silence, apparently enjoying the quiet moment between eachother. Soon enough they came back to reality and both coughed almost at the same time, getting back to business.
"So, you're gonna visit today, as usual?" Grillby asked with a smile.
"Of course, you can expect me." He said that with a bit too much affection than intended, but the guy didn't seem to catch on it.
"In that case, see you later." Grillby waved as he walked past Sans to the other side of the bridge, where he was initially headed. The skeleton waved back, and soon enough turned around in the opposite direction aswell.
Maybe, just maybe, this day wasn't as bad as it seemed. A flame of hope lit up in the monster's soul.