Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The remote grew heavier with each word the news anchor delivered.

"Good Morning, and thank you for joining us on Ebott City News. I'm Chris Smoke, your host this afternoon, and we have an exceptional lineup of stories today. From local developments to international affairs, we've got the coverage. Stay tuned as we— Oh, hey I don’t think you’re supposed to come on stage while I'm giving a live report." A woman walks towards him and bends over towards him and whispers in his ear. His delivery faltered as he glanced at the teleprompter. The headline below read: NEW CAFÉ GRAND OPENING THIS WEEKEND, but his expression shifted from professional confidence to concern. "Uh... Hold on, folks. It appears we're receiving a live report about unusual activity on Mount Ebott itself. Let's go to Stacy!"

The broadcast cut to a woman positioned near the mountain's base. She smoothed her pencil skirt nervously before speaking. "Good afternoon, everyone! This is Stacy Evermoore reporting live from Mount Ebott. We've received multiple reports from area residents about unusual activity in this location, and wait, Josh, pan the camera!"

The cameraman swiveled his equipment, capturing two towering figures and a smaller one emerging from the mountain's entrance. When the image sharpened, the cameraman jerked back to Stacy, whose face had drained of color. She leaned toward the lens, whispering urgently to her crew about what she should do, before the camera returned to the approaching figures.

Your chest tightened as recognition dawned.

Stacy composed herself and approached the group, now joined by additional figures trailing behind. The tallest appeared to be a woman, though "woman" seemed inadequate, standing head and shoulders above the reporter. White fur covered her entire form, and she wore a purple dress with a symbol sporting the front. Her features unmistakably resembled a goat, as did the male beside her. He sported a golden beard and crown, his broad frame dressed in an armor and cape, clearly from what you gathered the king of the underground and most likely the king that fought in the war that happened centuries ago.

Between them stood a child no older than eleven, with neat brown bangs and a blue sweater striped with purple. As more figures descended from the mountain, the camera captured a skeleton in battle armor, white with red accents, his also red scarf blowing dramatically. He appeared overjoyed, pointing excitedly at surroundings with his red gloves, while an anthropomorphic fish-woman observed with sharp yellow teeth gleaming behind her smile. Her blue scaly skin caught the sunlight as she looked down at a yellow-scaled dinosaur wearing a white lab coat and glasses.

Stacy approached the child, ignoring the other two figures entirely. The young human began signing, prompting the goat woman to step forward. "If I may?" she requested, her voice gentle. Stacy, visibly startled, extended her microphone.

"My name is Frisk," the woman translated, "and this is Toriel." She gestured to herself. "This is King Asgore." She indicated the crowned figure. "And I freed the monsters from the Underground."

Stacy's grip on the microphone tightened as she struggled to maintain professionalism. "So you're confirming that the barrier has been destroyed and monsters are now emerging?"

Toriel smiled warmly while King Asgore interjected his voice deep and warm, "Indeed. We harbor no ill intentions. I would appreciate an immediate meeting with your leadership to ensure the smoothest possible transition."

Stacy turned to the camera. "You heard it here first, the barrier is broken. Well, Chris, back to you."

The anchor cleared his throat. "We'll continue monitoring this unprecedented situation closely. This has been Chris Smoke and Stacy Evermoore with breaking news. Thank you for watching."

An advertisement began, but you remained engrossed by what you'd witnessed. Monsters on the surface, this would change everything. You clasped your hands together. Here's hoping they find prosperity and decent housing while I continue working my butt off earning minimum wage. You turn the TV off and roll out of bed. I guess it’s time to go to work anyways. You start getting ready for your shift as you recollect your thoughts on what you just witnessed. The drive to work was also very quiet, not wanting to hear the news as you pray for whatever normality you’d have left.

The library you worked at buzzed with excitement for the news from earlier this morning. Your coworker couldn't stop discussing the revelation when your phone chimed texts from your best friend.

Caleb: Did you see the news?

You: No... I haven't

Caleb: You're very annoying, I hope you realize that.

You: I'm at work. I'll call you later.

Your coworker studied you intently after you pocketed your phone. "What?"

She glanced at her device, then back at you. "You live in Ebott City, right? Close to the mountain?"

You raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, don't you? This is the community college for the area..."

She shook her head. "I commute, it’s about a 30 minute drive for me."

Curiosity got the better of you. "Why do you ask?"

She showed you her phone, displaying another broadcast earlier, from what you can assume happened during your drive to work. This time, Chris was showing clips of King Asgore alongside Mayor Lewis. The clip showed both leaders emphasizing peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit. Chris paused the interview to detail their agreements.

"They've accomplished remarkable progress in mere hours. Here's what we know: The 'Monster-Citizen Act' mandates equal treatment and respect for all monsters. The 'Ebott City Housing Ordinance' requires human residents in designated zones to provide temporary housing for monsters adjusting to surface life."

Your coworker paused, studying your reaction, which certainly wasn't positive. "Cameron..." She repeated your name hesitantly. "Can you fast-forward to the zone designations?"

She skipped until it showed a city map highlighting affected areas. Your zone glowed prominently among the few selected. You couldn't suppress your grimace. You weren't prejudiced, but the prospect of unknown beings in your home, potentially wanting vengeance and putting your head on a stake certainly did not ease your rough feelings you have.

The remainder of your shift passed in anxious news-watching. You learned that monsters were camping near designated housing zones until permanent accommodations could be constructed. Chris mentioned that non-royal guard monsters couldn't remain with the king in his temporary residence, necessitating civilian housing.

An elderly woman waited by your door when you arrived home at eleven PM, appearing far too cheerful for the late hour. She beamed as you pulled into your driveway.

"Hello there! I'm Sarah Grey, your Compliance Officer. I'm here to ensure smooth implementation of the new housing act." You introduced yourself, and she repeated your name carefully making sure she said it right before extending her hand, which you shook reluctantly.

“How long have you been standing on my porch?..”

She bruised the question aside, "Not long honestly, it has been a very busy day with how much they wanted to get done in one sitting.” She glances at you before she continues, “I understand this is a significant life change, and I apologize for the short notice. We're working diligently to make Asgore's people comfortable, perhaps to make up for events from centuries ago." She laughed nervously, noticing your strained expression.

"How can I opt out?" you asked hopefully.

She looked uncomfortable. "Did you call the number mentioned in the broadcast? You had several hours to register your preference for housing arrangements. Since you didn't call, we assumed consent. Again, we had to do this as soon as possible to get some housing for monsters, especially those close to the king."

You stared at her suspiciously. "What about people who were at work?"

She paused. "Honestly, there's little I can do now. You and a few others were the only non-respondents, and frankly, you wouldn't have qualified for exemption anyway. Your proximity to the mountain places you in the king's immediate vicinity."

"And?" you pressed.

Before she could respond, you continued, "I don't mind helping, I understand it's your job, I don’t want to make it harder for you. I simply wish I'd had more notice. Which monster will I be housing?"

Her expression grew awkward. "Monsters," she murmured.

Your stomach dropped. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Because of your location near the king's area, you'll be housing two monsters. They're actually quite important to the ambassador, who will be residing in the vacant lot behind your property." Seeing your confusion, she explained that the ambassador was the human child from the broadcast.

What horrified you was her deliberate vagueness about your actual future housemates. After two hours of conversation, making it 1 AM, Sarah shoved a stack of papers at you. "Call this number if you have issues. Good night!" She departed hastily, leaving you with the documentation.

The papers remained warm in your grip as you shut the door. Ebott City Housing Ordinance, Section 14-B: Human residents within designated zones are required to provide housing for monsters adjusting to surface life.

You read it three times, front and back, it didn't become less surreal. Setting the file on your kitchen counter, you surveyed your modest home. Small for one person, let alone two strangers. Your stomach churned at the thought, not just strangers, but monsters. You retreated to your bedroom, hoping for rest before morning arrived.

The next morning, your phone lit up with missed calls from Caleb.

You groaned, listened to the MULTIPLE voicemails he left, ranging from, watch the news immediately, to I hope you did not get a heart attack when you saw. Your thumb hovered over the call button before you obliged and decided to grace him with your voice. Unsurprisingly he picked up on the first ring. “Oh my god. Finally. Did you see it?”

“See what?” You asked dryly. “Oh wait, let me think, hmm I’m unsure if you are talking about the literal goat king on TV yesterday or the fact I had five voicemails telling me to call you right now?”

“Don’t get an attitude with me just because you’re in the zone.”

You shot out of bed forgetting about what Sarah told you last night.

“Oh my stars, how did I literally forget. I can barely afford my own groceries, but yes of course let’s add more mouths to feed! This is great, fantastic even..” You started rambling to him more before he cut you off.

“Free rent!”

“So, funny story, now that you said that… In section 14-C.. The very large packet this random lady gave me, which by the way, I did not tell you that there was the older lady just camping at my door waiting for me to get home. Can you believe that? Even if I wanted to escape my impending doom, I would not have been able too”

He yawned on the phone cueing you to get back to the original story you were telling.

“Right, sorry, it states that they don’t pay for rent because they need to get “accustomed” to their new living conditions. Once they get used to it the host might be able to see fit if they should pay rent or not. That is ridiculous if I say so myself.”

He laughed. “Well-”

There was a knock at the door. Your skin paled.

“Caleb, I have to go. Damn, I didn’t even get to reconsider and call the number.” You groaned.

“Wait what? Don’t hang up on me-” Click.

The knock came again. You froze, then straightened your shoulders and went down the hall to open the door. Sarah was back, because of course she was. You took in the scenery in front of you. Sarah stood at the door dressed in her Sunday best (despite it being Saturday): a bright yellow dress paired with black pumps. Behind her stood two skeletons, one you recall seeing in the news yesterday, and the other skeleton who was shorter and stouter, dressed in a blue jacket unzipped with a white shirt, paired with black basketball shorts and pink slippers, lovely..

You realized you were staring when Sarah cleared her throat. When you looked at her however, she did not look too pleased with you. You noticed she was scanning you up and down and tried to hide her pained expression. You followed her eyesight and flushed with embarrassment. Why would I make fun of a skeleton wearing pink slippers when I am making my first impression with my unicorn pajamas and matching slippers. You frowned. “Sorry, bit of a late notice, when you’d be arriving.” She arched her eyebrow and replied, “Yes well, we can certainly tell.”

The taller one stepped forward, grinning brightly. "HELLO, NEW ROOMMATE! I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AND I SHALL BE THE BEST HOUSEMATE YOU'VE EVER ENCOUNTERED!" His voice was extremely loud and at least friendly. He wore the red scarf from yesterday's broadcast, his posture suggesting he'd rehearsed this exact introduction.

The shorter skeleton lounged beside him, hands buried in his blue hoodie pockets. "heya. i'm sans, sans the skeleton." His voice was opposite of the skeleton beside him, lower and a bit deeper. His eye sockets appeared half-lidded, but his gaze studied every detail of your expression. "looks like we're movin' in." You noticed his black shorts and pink slippers, then glanced at their surprisingly minimal luggage.

Your throat went dry as you told them your name. "...Right. Come in, I suppose."

Sarah, looking far too pleased with herself, clapped her hands. “See? Smooth transition, in such a late notice as well! Now then I will leave you all to get acquainted.” And with suspicious speed, she bustled off down the porch, abandoning you to your fate.

Papyrus practically bounced through the doorway, enthusiastically praising your living room (which was small). Saying things like, “WHAT A GRAND PLACE!” and “A REAL HUMAN HOUSE!” Sans shuffled in more slowly, his attention never wavering from you.

"Excuse the mess," you muttered, suddenly conscious of the unwashed mug on your table and the stack of half-finished assignments in the living room.

“IT IS QUITE OKAY DEAR HUMAN! OH MY GOD SANS LOOK A COUCH WITH PILLOWS! IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT MORE IN COMMON THAN WHAT I THOUGHT HUMAN! OH AND A COFFEE TABLE! FOR COFFEE NYEH HE HE!” He was practically vibrating, touching everything like he was in a museum.

You have never thought to see the day that someone or some monster, you suppose, is genuinely excited to see a couch.

You folded your arms. “Yes, quite revolutionary. Don’t sit too hard on it, I did get it from a thrift store.”

Sans smirked. “rest assured, your sofa won’t stand you up and get hurt.”

Papyrus glances at Sans with distressed expression as he steps over to look at other things in your living room as he peers at your lamp that is by your couch.

“Please don’t break my lamp.” You said weakly.

Papyrus immediately straightened at once, with his hands going behind his back. “OF COURSE NOT! IT IS A VERY RESPONSIBLE LAMP I ASSUME!”

“Um yea of course.. Very responsible” You glance at his brother. “ I don’t mean to be rude, but is he usually this loud and over the place?”

Sans looked at you. “i think you would be too if you were stuck in an underground place for years.”

Well that got you to shut up. “Right, of course, I was just wondering because he is a little loud, that's all.”

He shifted his whole body to look at you. “yea he's always like this.”

You nodded in understanding, focusing back on the skeleton that is practically everywhere in your living room.

You realized that it was around lunch time when your stomach growled. “Oh guys I apologize, but I did not make any lunch for us because, well honestly I just woke up.”

Papyrus clapped his hands together. "FEAR NOT! I SHALL PREPARE A MAGNIFICENT LUNCH THIS AFTERNOON!" The words "that's not necessary" died in your throat as he marched toward your kitchen. Pots began clanging immediately.

You sighed with relief that they'd arrived on Friday, no school or work obligations meant you could supervise their adjustment period. Sans collapsed into a chair in your dining room, chuckling. "brace yourself. pap's got... unique culinary methods."

You turned to him, nerves sharpening your voice. "And you?"

He smirked. "heh. i burn water."

The unexpected honesty startled a laugh from you. "Unfortunately, I share that talent."

“MAYBE IF YOU BOTH PUT A BIT OF BACK-BONE IN WHAT YOU DO, YOU’D BECOME A MASTER CHIEF LIKE ME.” You could hear Papyrus’s laughter from the kitchen.

Papyrus's cheerful humming echoed from the kitchen as you found yourself seated across from Sans at your small dining table. Silence stretched between you, broken only by occasional crashes and his brother's enthusiastic commentary about your "EXCELLENT COOKWARE COLLECTION!"

"so," Sans began, his perpetual grin never faltering, "what do you do when you're not suddenly housing monsters?"

"I'm a student," you replied, gesturing toward your textbooks. "Community college. I also work part-time at the library."

"college, huh? what're you studying?"

"I’m just doing classes that are required in the health field. Still unsure if I want to do something like Nursing or Psychology" You hesitated, then asked, "What did you do... before you surfaced?"

"sentry duty. keeping watch at various posts underground." His casual tone belied the weight of his words. "not much excitement, mostly bad jokes and naps."

From the kitchen came a loud crash followed by Papyrus exclaiming, "EVERYTHING IS UNDER CONTROL!"

Sans winced slightly. “sounds like someone is having a soup-er bad time in there.” He winks at you the says, “maybe we should check on—"

"NO ASSISTANCE REQUIRED!" Papyrus called out. "I AM CRAFTING A MASTERPIECE!"

You and Sans exchanged glances. Despite your apprehension, something almost normal settled between you, two people surviving Papyrus's culinary adventure together.

"he means well," Sans said quietly. "pap's got this thing about taking care of people. just... try to look enthusiastic, okay? means the world to him."

The genuine affection in his voice surprised you. These weren't the vengeful monsters you'd feared, but rather... a family trying to adapt to an impossible situation.

As Sans was talking to you, you hear a gasp in the kitchen making you and Sans check on Papyrus. “HUMAN WHY IS THERE A TV IN YOUR KITCHEN AS WELL AS YOUR LIVING ROOM?”

“Oh right, my mom gave me her old TV, she didn’t need it anymore so I put it in my kitchen to watch shows while I eat.”

“EXTRAORDINARY!”

“Yea also the extraordinary tech, that ruined my day yesterday-” You instantly clamped your mouth shut as Sans casted you an unreadable expression and Papyrus continued cooking, either ignoring what you said or did not hear at all.

Lunch consisted of noodles boiled beyond recognition, drowning in an ocean of ketchup. Papyrus presented the dish as if he'd prepared a five-star meal, his eye sockets sparkling with pride.

You ate every bite. Not just out of politeness, but because rejecting his effort would crush that infectious enthusiasm. Sans caught your eye across the table, his expression grateful. You silently cried to yourself realizing that NONE of you can cook, which means days of take-out are fastly approaching.

"THIS IS MERELY THE BEGINNING OF MY CULINARY EXCELLENCE!" Papyrus declared, already planning dinner. "TOMORROW I SHALL ATTEMPT LASAGNA!"

The afternoon blurred into a series of small revelations. Papyrus finding your spice rack, which was quite the story in itself.

“SO MANY SEASONINGS! SUCH FLAVORS! SUCH POTENTIAL!”

Sans leaned against the counter, smirk tugging at his mouth. “careful bro you might get salt-y”

Papyrus whipped his head around, scandalized. “SANS! DO NOT MOCK OUR ROOMATE’S IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF HUMAN SPICES!”

“why do you sound so salty?”

Papyrus froze, dramatically clutching one of the spices. “SANS! THAT WAS A LAZY PUN!”

“yup, my specialty”

You snorted before you could help yourself noticing how sans grinned widened even more. Papyrus snapped his head to lock eyes with you. “DO NOT ENCOURAGE HIM HUMAN! HIS JOKES ARE THE EQUIVALENT OF A HALF DONE PASTA.”

“you butter believe it.”

“SEE??” He whined. “LAZY! ABSOLUTE LAZYBONES.” He closed the spice cabinet with force for emphasis. “TRUE HUMOR SHOULD HAVE SUBSTANCE! STRUCTURE! A CERTAIN… NOODLY CONSISTENCY!”

Sans tilted his head looking a bit confused. “are you saying it should be.. well seasoned?”

Papyrus pointed his gloved finger at him. “STOP.”

While they bicker back and forth you asked more details about where they were from, hoping to diffuse the situation. Papyrus immediately enamored you with tales of Underground puzzles and his aspirations to join something called the "Royal Guard." Sans contributed dry commentary while somehow making three separate naps appear productive.

You found yourself relaxing despite everything. Papyrus's unrelenting optimism proved infectious, and Sans's wit caught you off-guard repeatedly. They weren't the threatening unknowns you'd imagined, they were just... people. Different people, certainly, but people nonetheless.

As evening approached, you realized you'd spent hours without once checking the news or worrying about tomorrow. The strange normalcy felt almost more unsettling than fear.

"we should probably figure out sleeping arrangements," Sans mentioned as darkness gathered outside.

"OF COURSE! I SHALL TAKE THE COUCH, IT APPEARS QUITE COMFORTABLE!" Papyrus announced.

"actually, bro, maybe we should ask our host what works best."

You looked between them, these skeleton brothers who'd flipped your life in a single day. "The guest room has a bunk bed from when my cousin used to visit. Would that work for now, I have a few spare bedrooms that don’t have beds, but since I'm off tomorrow we can go shopping and look for stuff for you."

Papyrus's enthusiasm could have powered the entire house. "BUNK BEDS! SANS, WE SHALL HAVE BUNK BEDS!"

"top or bottom, pap?"

"I CLAIM THE TOP BUNK BY RIGHT OF BEING THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"

As they settled in for the night, you found yourself standing in your kitchen, staring at the cleaned dishes (Papyrus had insisted) and wondering how the day had passed so peacefully. The anxiety remained, lurking beneath the surface, but it felt less sharp now. Less immediate.

You lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The house was quiet except for Papyrus's snoring from down the hall. Everything felt different, not just your living situation, but your entire world had tilted on its axis.

Then you saw it. A shadow in the corner of your room, tall and angular, watching. Your heart hammered against your ribs as you sat up abruptly. You blinked hard, and it vanished.

Just your imagination. Stress and exhaustion playing tricks on your mind.

You pressed a hand to your chest and whispered to the darkness: "I didn't see anything."

But you had.

And deep down, you knew this was only the beginning.

Chapter Text

You bundle yourself further in your make-shift cocoon, when the morning light shines through your blinds as you hear whispers coming outside of your room.

The pounding in your head convinced you yesterday was a dream.

No one could seriously expect you to house two skeletons. No one in their right mind signed housing papers at one in the morning. No way you’d agreed, in a haze of shock, to share your space with monsters.

Dream. Had to be. The figure you saw last night must’ve been part of the hell you dreamed of. Or if anything more like a nightmare.

Then one of the voices became much louder.

“BROTHER! THIS IS THE ONLY DOOR LEFT! OUR NEW ROOMMATE MUST BE WITHIN!”

You froze.

You pinched yourself. Nope, you definitely felt that. This was no dream.

The other voice followed, a bit lower than the one before. “nah. maybe she turned into a closet overnight. check in there next.”

“DON’T BE RIDICULOUS! HUMANS DO NOT TURN INTO CLOSETS! IT IS SCIENTIFICALLY IMPOSSIBLE!”

You buried your head under the pillow, groaning. God, why hadn’t you asked Papyrus to dial down the loud-o-meter last night? If this was your new morning routine, migraines were in your future. You felt a bit bad after thinking that to yourself because, well Papyrus hasn't really done anything to you.

The knock came next, rattling your door.

“ROOMMATE! I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST KNOW IF YOU ARE ALIVE!”

You shoved yourself upright, shirt twisted the wrong way, hair sticking up. Dragging to the door, you cracked it open.

Papyrus stood there in a full nightgown—ankle-length, pale blue, with ruffles at the collar and a floppy nightcap drooping over one eye. He looked like an old man getting ready for a long peaceful slumber, except seven feet tall and bony.

“GOOD MORNING!” he boomed, nearly knocking his cap off. “WE HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR YOU! EVERY DOOR HAS BEEN KNOCKED! THIS WAS THE FINAL ONE! WE FIGURED THIS MUST BE IT BECAUSE IT HAS DECOR ON IT!”

You glance at your door as you realize that you still had your gaming poster that Caleb bought you a couple of years ago as a gag gift. It was one of those corny posters that said ‘eat, sleep, game, repeat.’ with pink confetti everywhere.

You blinked at him before you muttered, “Sorry. Didn’t… give you a tour yesterday. I was kind of tired.”

Behind him, Sans leaned on the wall, hands sunk in hoodie pockets, the same clothes as yesterday. His grin was small, his eyes half-lidded, but sharp. “guess that makes you a pretty bad host, huh? don’t worry, at least you're not a parasite.”

You grimaced. “Gee. Thanks.”

Papyrus puffed out his chest. “ALL IS FORGIVEN! I ONLY REQUEST PERMISSION TO WAKE YOU IN THE FUTURE IF I AM TO PREPARE BREAKFAST!”

Still half-asleep, you mumbled, “Sure. Go nuts.”

“EXCELLENT!” He spun, nightgown swishing, and stomped toward the kitchen.

Sans lingered. “inside-out shirt.” he said casually, “…guess fashion really turned itself around today” he added, before following his brother.

You looked down. …Damn it.

You were walking back towards your room to at least make yourself more presentable when..

The clanging started almost immediately, you felt like you jumped out of your skin. Pots banged, something fell with a metallic crash, then came the unmistakable whoomph of flour hitting the floor. You could see the flour clouds literally coming out of the kitchen door when you walked out of your room.

You stumbled into the kitchen to find chaos. A flour cloud hung in the air still, making you a coughing mess. The counters were covered in powder, eggshells, and something that might have once been butter. How could he have done this so fast? Papyrus stood in the middle, holding a bowl upside down.

“BEHOLD!” he cried, coughing on the dust. “FRIENDSHIP PANCAKES!”

You blinked. “Is the friendship baked into the part you dumped on the ceiling or on the floor..?”

Papyrus pointed at you. “YOUR SHIRT IS STILL INSIDE OUT!”

Sans, lounging at the table, smirked. “told ya.”

You rubbed your temples. “Don’t worry about the mess. I’ll make breakfast.”

“BUT YOU CLAIMED YOU COULD NOT COOK YESTERDAY!”

“I can’t,” you admitted, yanking open the freezer underneath your fridge. “But man, I can work a toaster.”

Papyrus’s sockets widened. “ASTONISHING!”

Sans snorted. “nah. not astonishing ‘til she burns ‘em.”

You side-eyed him. “Only thing I’m burning is your sense of humor.”

Minutes later, the toaster popped and you managed to do exactly that. Your pancakes were darker than charcoal and quite honestly darker than the patience you had today. You winced. The thought you had last night came back again about knowing how screwed your stomach is with none of you knowing how to cook. Papyrus clasped his hands together.

“CRISPY TEXTURE! YOU ARE A GENIUS!”

You couldn't help but smile and then it immediately fell when you saw Sans snickering to himself. You grabbed three plates from your cabinet and put them on the bar of your kitchen to set breakfast up for them. While doing so you can see Papyrus lecturing sans on how to be a good guest and not complain.

You see Sans grab something out of your fridge but you ignored him as you went to pull down the syrup from your condiment cabinet. When you walked back to the plates, you saw Sans drench his meal in ketchup.

“Oh! What an interesting choice.”

He glances up at you, then starts snickering again, “yea need to save my tastebuds somehow-”

“SANS! THAT IS VERY RUDE, YOU SHOULD APOLOGIZE."

“sorry. next time i’ll ask first. wouldn't wanna smear your culinary masterpiece without consent.”

He shrugged, grinning.

"but in my defense, it was already toast."

Papyrus however, ate every bite without complaint.

After cleaning up the worst of the mess and eating, Papyrus confessed there wasn’t room for his “ACTION FIGURES OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.”

You pinched your nose. “Alright. Let me finish getting ready, then I’ll take you guys out. We’ll get you furniture. When we get back we can figure out what rooms would be best for you two.”

Papyrus gasped. “ROOMS… FOR US?!”

You looked at Papyrus, “Well duh… of course you’d get a room… I’m not making you sleep in the guest room forever.”

“RIGHT OF COURSE! DO YOU MIND SHOWING ME THE BATHROOM SO I CAN BATHE IN EXCELLENCE.”

You made a mental note to yourself to give them a full tour, when you came back from shopping.

“Yes of course, right this way.”

As you showed them the bathroom right next to the guest room you went to your room to change for the day and get ready.

As you were doing your final touches the room opened gently and you saw papyrus back in his battle armor. You made yourself another mental note to take these guys shopping as well for clothes.

He stood in the doorway awkwardly and you motioned him to come in, “You are more than welcome to sit on my bed while I finish.”

“THANK YOU!” He sat gently on your bed watching you finish getting ready, when you became aware that heat started creeping up your neck to your checks.

“Do you.. need anything… or request to go anywhere?...”

“NO, I JUST…” He trailed off.

You turn to him, giving him your full attention.

His voice got a bit lower, “Thank You For Being So Open To Us Staying Here. And For The Hospitality. If You Are Worried About Us Not Paying For Anything We Have Gold.”

Your eyes widened at his gratitude. Your initial thought was, oh so he can have lower volume, but you cut yourself off knowing that was quite rude. You didn't want to exactly tell him this wasn't the best thing ever in having to care for them, but he was just so genuinely nice you couldn't do that.

“It’s no problem, honestly this is all new to you as well, so if you need anything let me know….” you stopped for a second. “You said something about Gold?”

He shot up from your bed as if he was excited to tell you, “YES!” you winced at the sudden change of volume. “DOWN IN THE UNDERGROUND WE HAD A CURRENCY CALLED GOLD WHERE WE PAY PEOPLE WITH THAT.”

You see Sans standing at your doorway indicating that he was ready to go.

“i saw some stores already have exchange rates when i was looking last night. if you want i’ll send you the list and you can choose a place that has it so we can at least chip in on the furniture.”

“Okay.” You both exchange numbers, with Papyrus as well. You glance over the list and one of them you see is a furniture store nearby. You tidied up your vanity and headed towards the front door with your keys.

If you had to list three things that would be your very own torture device one of them would be being stuck in a car with a guy that had no social cues at all and the other guy giving his input when not needed. Papyrus claimed the passenger seat the moment you unlocked the car, snapping his seatbelt with the kind of gusto usually reserved for rocket launches. “I SHALL BE YOUR OFFICIAL NAVIGATOR!” he declared proudly. “REST ASSURED, HUMAN, YOU MAY FOCUS SOLELY ON THE ROAD. I SHALL KEEP WATCH!”

Meanwhile, Sans went to the backseat.

You adjusted the mirror. “Ground rules. No fiddling with the radio, no—”

Papyrus cut in, pointing earnestly at the dashboard. “AND NO TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD! SAFETY FIRST!”

Sans cracked one eyelid open. “what about puns? those still legal?”

“No,” you said flatly.

“guess i’ll be sentenced to a life of word crimes.”

Papyrus groaned loudly from the other room. “THAT’S NOT EVEN A GOOD ONE!!”

Papyrus was already pointing out a speed limit sign a few seconds after pulling out of the drive-way. “LOOK, HUMAN! TWENTY-FIVE! BE SURE TO MAINTAIN THIS EXACT SPEED!”

“…Yes, thank you,” you muttered.

The silence lasted about three seconds before Papyrus gasped and pressed a hand dramatically to the window. “A TRUCK! WITH STRIPES! HOW SPLENDID!” He waved both hands at the bewildered driver next to you.

The driver gave a hesitant little wave back.

Papyrus gasped louder. “SANS! THEY WAVED BACK! OUR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE SURFACE ARE ALREADY FLOURISHING!”

Sans snorted. “careful, bro. wave too much and you’ll be tide-rd.”

Papyrus pressed his face to the window like a tourist on his first ride ever. Every car got a wave. Every tree got a shout.

“LOOK! A MAILBOX! AND ANOTHER MAILBOX! THIS STREET IS CLEARLY A MAIL HUB OF GREAT IMPORTANCE! OH MY GOSH LOOK AT THAT COOL YELLOW CAR! THAT HUMANS SUNGLASSES ARE PAPYRUS APPROVED COOL DUDE.”

“pap, nobody could be as cool as you, however,” Sans muttered trying to sleep in the back, “let her drive.”

“BUT THE WORLD IS ASTONISHING!”

You gripped the wheel tighter. “Papyrus, please. Dial it down a notch perhaps?”

“DIAL WHAT DOWN?”

You sighed.

Sans leaned in the back near the window, his permanent smile growing wider, “the volume paps.”

“OH BUT OF COURSE, I AM SLIGHTLY CONFUSED HOWEVER BECAUSE NO MUSIC SEEMS TO BE PLAYING, BUT IF I MUST!”

He reaches towards your stereo and before you could tell him that was the on button, music blared and you swerved a bit.

“OH MY GOD. PAY ATTENTION.” He grabs the handle bar located on top of the window and you hear a thunk indicating that sans hit his head on the window.

“Sorry.” You mumble as you reach towards your stereo and dial the music down.

To distract him from yelling at more people, you handed over your phone. “Here. Can you put ‘Rooms To Go’ into the GPS?”

Papyrus squinted at the screen. “ROOMS… TO GO? WHY ARE THE ROOMS TO GO? IS IT LIKE TAKE-OUT? WHERE ARE THE TO-GO BOXES?!”

Sans chuckled from the back. “drive-thru furniture, pap. you order a couch, they throw in fries.”

Papyrus gasped. “ASTONISHING. PERHAPS I SHALL ORDER A KING-SIZED BED WITH EXTRA NAPKINS.”

You slyly look at sans then papyrus, “Please Papyrus. Do not encourage him.”

“I WOULD NEVER DO SUCH A THING WITH HIS JOKE- WAIT!”

You almost slammed on the brakes.

Papyrus twists his whole body where his butt is facing the windshield and he looks at his brother. Before you tell him to turn around he exclaims, “DID YOU SAY IT WENT WITH FRIES?”

Sans shrugged. “yea. paper or plastic?”

“HOW ARE THE TO-GO BOXES PAPER?” He groaned realizing Sans was joking then got upset. “YOUR JOKES ARE TERRIBLE!” He folded his arms across his chest like he was pouting and you motioned for him to turn around.

Of course before things got too quiet he had to add an additional comment, ““WELL AT LEAST MY JOKES COME WITH A SIDE OF HUMOR—NOT JUST LEFTOVERS!” He huffed, clearly proud of himself and he peeks one eye over to you for approval. “GET IT? LEFTOVERS AND SIDE?!”

You stared at the stoplight ahead, deadpan. “I regret everything about this trip.”

Papyrus perked up instantly when a mini-van stopped beside you, waving to them as he rolled down his window. “HELLO, FELLOW TRAVELERS!”

The car sped up immediately as your face heated with embarrassment. “Oh my god that's great. Now, roll up your window.”

Before he listened to you he stuck his head out and waved to the car that was hurriedly trying to get away from you. “GOOD BYE GREAT!”

Sans busted out laughing and honestly, you couldn't help but laugh as well.

The car quieted after a while, except your own thoughts pressing. “I saw more coverage this morning. Some monsters were turned away from clinics. Nurses and doctors refused to treat them. Like they weren’t even worth treating.” Your voice sharpened. “That’s why I want to go into healthcare. Someone has to make it fair.”

Papyrus stiffened. “HOW HORRIBLE. MONSTERS DESERVE HEALING LIKE ANYONE ELSE.”

Sans’s grin didn’t falter, but his gaze cut sharp. “…funny. thought you said this all ruined your day.”

“It did, I meant that more as a joke than anything” you snapped. “But being informed isn’t optional. I want to help. Make it fair. Some humans get turned away from treatment as well, but I have noticed almost all monsters have been turned away if they aren’t in the Ebott city area near the mountain”

Papyrus nodded fiercely. “A MOST JUST GOAL. YOU SHALL BE A BEACON OF FAIRNESS! YOU MUST POSSESS THE SOUL OF A TRUE HERO!”

For once sans didn't make a joke about it either, “justice huh? it suits ya.”

Before you could ask what he meant by that, Papyrus interrupted.

“YES PERHAPS YOU SHALL BE THE BRIDGE THAT BINDS OUR TWO WORLDS!”

“...Or maybe I’ll just keep people from dying in waiting rooms,” you said dryly, staring hard at the road. Sans snorted. “same thing, really.”

You stared harder at the road.

The automatic doors whooshed open, and cool air washed over you as the three of you stepped inside. A showroom stretched out in endless rows: couches in identical shades of beige, mattresses lined like dominoes, tables gleaming under fluorescent lights.

Papyrus froze in awe. His jaw practically unhinged.

“LOOK AT THIS PLACE! SO MANY… ROOMS!” He spread his arms wide, like he was welcoming royalty into a grand hall. “OUR QUEST FOR FURNITURE SHALL BE LEGENDARY!”

“heh,” Sans said, hands shoved in his hoodie pocket. “guess you could say… it’s room for improvement.”

You pinched the bridge of your nose. “You’ve been here not even thirty seconds.”

Papyrus, however, was already marching toward the first couch. He pressed both palms to the cushions, gasping. “PLUSH! INCREDIBLY PLUSH! THIS COUCH IS A MASTERPIECE!” He sat, then immediately shot back up as if struck. “NO. TOO SQUISHY. NEXT!”

You trailed after him, praying the sales associates weren’t watching too closely. Sans meandered at his own pace, pausing only to flop lazily onto a recliner and kick the footrest up. “comfy. i could die here.”

“You’re already dead,” you said without missing a beat.

He peered over at you, “details, details.”

Papyrus waved you both over to a dining set. “HUMAN, OBSERVE! A TABLE THAT SEATS TEN! WITH MATCHING CHAIRS! IMAGINE THE DINNERS! THE GRANDNESS!” He sat with a straight posture, then leaned toward you, eyesockets earnest. “CAN WE GET THIS ONE? IT WILL MAKE OUR MEALS FEEL… OFFICIAL!”

You folded your arms. “Papyrus, it’s bigger than my entire kitchen.”

His shoulders sagged. “…OH.” Then he perked right back up. “WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE?!” He darted to a bed, bouncing once on the mattress. “SANS, THIS IS SPRINGY! TRY IT!”

Papyrus darted between displays like a child in a toy store, arms outstretched as if he could hug every piece of furniture at once.

“THIS BED! IT IS A MASTERPIECE OF HUMAN CRAFTSMANSHIP!” He flopped down on the other mattress, limbs sprawled. “BROTHER, WITNESS! IT IS SOFT YET SUPPORTIVE!”

Sans leaned against a dresser, expression as flat as the floor. “he’s a natural at mattress surfing.”

Sans looked over at you, his grin stretching, “knock knock.”

“Who’s there?”

“mattress.”

“Mattress who?...”

“mattress the floor if i don’t get a laugh soon…”

“THAT’S NOT EVEN A JOKE, THAT’S A CRY FOR HELP!”

Papyrus bounced from bed to bed, bouncing dangerously close to flying off. “AND THIS ONE! AND THIS ONE TOO! SO SUPPORTIVE”

You trailed after them, hands buried in your pockets. “This is my nightmare.”

“nah,” Sans muttered, “that’s the section over there.” He nodded at a row of waterbeds.

You glared.

Papyrus, oblivious, gasped at the next aisle. “A THRONE OF SEATING!” He collapsed into a recliner and hit the lever by accident. The chair snapped back into full recline, sending his legs flailing skyward.

“THIS CHAIR… ATTACKED ME.”

You pinched your nose. “It’s supposed to do that.”

“ASTONISHING. I DEMAND WE PURCHASE THREE.”

You made a mental note: one chair, maximum, or you’d never get him out of it. You needed extra seating anyways.

By the time Papyrus was trying to argue for a shelving unit that would “PROUDLY DISPLAY MY GLORIOUS ACTION FIGURES,” you realized your cart looked less like a furniture plan and more like a museum exhibit curated by a seven-year-old on caffeine.

At checkout, Papyrus insisted on carrying their purchases himself, a floor lamp that's shade was shaped like a racecar. You pushed out the shelves for their room in your shopping cart. The workers tomorrow will deliver the chair you bought along with a bed for the other empty room in your house whenever one of them wants to stop sharing a room. He clutched his lamp against his chest with both arms, marching through the sliding doors like a knight returning from battle.

“FEAR NOT, CITIZENS! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, HAVE ACQUIRED LIGHT ITSELF! THIS SHALL BRING WARMTH AND RADIANCE TO OUR HUMBLE HOME!”

The cashier just blinked after him. You muttered, “Please don’t drop it.”

Sans trailed behind, hands in his pockets. “don’t worry. if he does, guess you could say… light’s out.”

Papyrus gasped so loudly the automatic doors tried to close on him. “THAT JOKE IS A CRIME AGAINST THIS LAMP!”

By the time you got to the parking lot, Papyrus had wedged the lamp into the backseat beside Sans, who was already slouching against it like it was a headrest.

“told ya, comfy,” Sans mumbled, half-asleep.

“IT IS NOT A PILLOW!” Papyrus cried, yanking the lamp upright again.

The drive home was mercifully quiet for all of two minutes. Then Papyrus suddenly straightened in the passenger seat, pointing at the lamp through the windshield reflection.

“SEE? IT FITS PERFECTLY! LIKE IT WAS MADE TO GO WITH US!”

Sans cracked one eye open in the back. “exactly, bro. rooms… to go.”

You didn’t even look at him. “If you say that one more time, I’m dropping you both off at another store.” You pointed at a store that also sold furniture..

Papyrus gasped. “ANOTHER STORE?! WITH EVEN MORE FURNITURE?! HUMAN, WE MUST—”

“Not tonight.”

He slumped back against the seatbelt, still beaming at the lamp in the mirror like it was a newborn child. Sans was already snoring.

And you… you wondered how long before your life stopped feeling like one long punchline.

Dinner was no less theatrical.

Papyrus pressed his face to the drive-thru speaker. “HELLO, FELLOW HUMAN! I SHALL HAVE A… MAC-FLURR-EE!”

The cashier’s static-filled pause stretched long enough to make you want to crawl out of the car.

“And one QUARTER OF A POUNDED CHEESE!” Papyrus added.

You shoved a twenty into the cashier’s hand when you reached the window. “Ignore him. Just… give us three burgers please……”

Sans smirked as he rifled through the bag. “don’t forget the mystical fries.”

You rolled your eyes and then looked confused. “You’re not funny. And that doesn't even make sense???”

“nah. but pap thinks i am.” He remarked, ignoring your last comment.

Papyrus waved his fries in the air like a banner. “A MOST JUST MEAL!”

The car ride home was thankfully quiet, apart from the smacking of sans in the back seat…

Back home, you finally gave the full tour.

“Okay guys, follow me.”

You walk down the hallway and point to the door at the end with the poster.

“My room….”

You pointed at the door literally next door… which they could have knocked on your door this morning first because the doors were so close….

“That’s yours.”

You walked a bit out of the hallway and pointed to your right.

“That's the Guest room.”

You walked them towards the entrance of your living room then stopped at a door.

“Game room.”

Papyrus gasped at each door like you were revealing a hidden treasure. “A ROOM DEDICATED… TO GAMES?!”

You shrugged. “I love collecting consoles. If you ever want to play let me know and I’ll set it up for you.”

Papyrus looked eager at your offer and trailed along, followed by Sans.

You pointed towards the ceiling at the entrance of your hallway where there was a trap door.

“Attic.”

“Follow me.”

You lead them through your kitchen towards the exit of your house in the kitchen and point to the door beside it.

“Basement.”

Sans lingered at the basement door, grin dimming just slightly. “…mind if i take this space?”

You glanced at him. “What for?”

“machine.” His tone was light, too light. “alphys needed help finishing one. figured i could… work on it here.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Who’s Alphys?”

“royal scientist. real smart. worked with the king underground. i worked with her for a bit as well” His shrug was casual, but his eyes didn’t leave yours. “don’t worry about it.”

Something told you you should worry. But instead, you sighed. “Fine.”

He looked a bit uneasy though, “…thanks.”

“What's with that look?”

He analyzed the door for a second before asking, “does it lock?”

You looked at him confused, telling him no and he continued, “this is kind of a top secret project….”

You held a neutral expression. “I’ll get locks for it. If it makes you more comfortable.”

For the first time that day, Sans looked relieved. “thanks again.”

A chill ran down your spine. The corner of the room darkened, just slightly—like a shadow stretched taller than it should. Angular. Watching.

You blinked hard. Gone.

Sans’s gaze flicked toward the same corner, then quickly away. You glanced at him, but didn’t want him to know you saw it too, so you turned on your heel and walked along to the car to grab the things you’d both bought, before he could say anything.

Boxes sat stacked by the wall in their room. Dinner wrappers crumpled in the trash. The day had stretched you thin. You've worked on their shelves for hours and even so that was a story itself.

Sans had passed out on the bottom bunk hours ago, hoodie bunched under his head, snoring so softly it almost blended with the hum of the fridge down the hall. His slippers had been abandoned at the edge of the bed like casualties.

You knelt on the carpet, holding one side of a shelving unit steady while Papyrus fitted the pieces together. His nightgown had been swapped tonight for sweatpants and a t-shirt that had COOL DUDE plastered on it, but his energy was as tireless as ever.

“THERE! THE FINAL SCREW IS IN PLACE!” he declared, tightening it with exaggerated flair.

You leaned back on your heels, wiping your forehead. “It only took three hours, two bent screws, and one near-death experience with an Allen wrench.”

Papyrus laughed, bright and unabashed. “CONSTRUCTION IS A GLORIOUS BATTLE, AND WE HAVE EMERGED VICTORIOUS!”

Your lips twitched. He was ridiculous. But there was something about sitting here, cross-legged on the carpet with him, the room dim except for the glow of a lamp, that felt… comforting.

Papyrus’s smile softened. He rested his hands on his knees, looking at the empty shelves like they were already filled with his figures. “I USED TO DREAM OF SHELVES LIKE THIS. TO DISPLAY MY ACTION FIGURES. MY MEDALS. MY ROYAL GUARD MERCH…”

You tilted your head. “Royal Guard? You touched on it yesterday, but I didn't get much details about it.”

His voice dropped from booming to something almost reverent. “YES. IT WAS MY DREAM… TO JOIN THE ROYAL GUARD. TO PROTECT THE UNDERGROUND. TO PROVE MYSELF A TRUE HERO.”

He paused, fingers tapping idly against his leg. “I DIDN’T MAKE IT. BUT I MADE FRIENDS. UNDYNE, OUR CAPTAIN, SHE BELIEVED IN ME. FRISK BELIEVED IN ME TOO. AND WHEN THEY FREED US…” He straightened, shoulders squaring. “I DECIDED. EVEN IF I WAS NOT A ROYAL GUARD, I WOULD BE SOMETHING GREATER. A PROTECTOR OF HUMANS AND MONSTERS. AN AMBASSADOR OF FRIENDSHIP.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the weight in his tone.

Papyrus turned to you, grin back in place. “SO! IT IS NOW MY DUTY TO BE THE BEST ROOMMATE, THE BEST FRIEND, THE BEST PAPYRUS I CAN BE! AND THAT INCLUDES… MAKING SURE YOU NEVER FACE DANGER ALONE.”

Warmth tugged at your chest despite yourself. “…That’s a lot of responsibility, Papyrus.”

“YES!” he boomed, loud enough to make Sans stir in his sleep. Papyrus immediately clapped a hand over his mouth and whispered loudly instead: “BUT I SHALL SHOULDER IT WITH HONOR!”

You chuckled, shaking your head as you nudged the last shelf into place. “You’re ridiculous.”

“THANK YOU,” he whispered proudly.

And for the first time, you realized you were glad he was here. You slowly took a sip of the soda you pulled out of your fridge earlier while he was still buzzing with excitement.

You hear your name being called very loudly by Papyrus and you glance over to him, your sleepiness kicking in.

“WHERE CAN I BUY A RED CONVERTIBLE?!”

The soda you were sipping shot out your nose.

Chapter Text

“Hey,” he called, squinting at the graduated cylinder in front of him, his brows furrowed so tightly you could see the skin crinkle under his safety goggles. “Can you tell me if the meniscus is at 6.7 or 6.8 mL?” He looked over to you as his goggles were fogging up due to how hot it was in the lab.

Suppressing a sigh, you walked over, squatted to eye level, and squinted yourself. Making it a little obvious you were just so he didn't feel too bad about not being able to see it. The clear curve of water bent delicately in the glass.

“I think it’s 6.7 mL.”

Caleb sighed with relief like you had just solved rocket science. “Ugh, I am just so glad to have a best friend that’s so smart.” You side eyed him.

“Yeah, okay, just say you’re blind and move on.”

“Hey! At least I help with the conversions,” he argued, grabbing his calculator like it was going to defend him. You shrugged, making a so-so motion with your hand. “That’s, like, forty percent true. On good days, you actually get them right.”

He groaned, very loud might you add, and scribbled the number down in his lab notebook with his tongue sticking out.

But after a few more minutes of silence, Caleb leaned on his elbows, lowering his voice. “So… how’s it been? Living with them for the weekend, I mean.” His eyes flicked up with curiosity.

You stilled, pen hovering above your page. Memories filled your head instantly, the chaos of the furniture store yesterday, Papyrus’s enthusiasm, Sans’s interjections. You smiled despite yourself. “We went to Rooms To Go yesterday.”

Caleb snorted instantly, nearly choking. “You’re kidding. You? With them? Furniture shopping?”

“Yeah,” you said dryly. “Papyrus thought it was a quest. He kept jumping around on each bed to make sure it was fit for him... And then when one of the chairs snapped on him he thought it was attacking him. The brother on the other hand, Sans, made Papyrus think that they packaged the place with actual to-go boxes.”

You couldn’t help but smile at the memory.

You also filled him in on what happened when you got back when it was just you and Papyrus working and how nice he was, you both laugh when you told Caleb about how when you walked out of his room he asked Sans to read him a story.

“Wait, did you say a bed time story?”

“Yes, oh my stars, he said that Sans hasn't read to him ‘Peak-a-boo with Fluffy bunny’ in a while, and I laughed because I thought he was joking…. but then I got a lecture from both of them afterwards and I was so embarrassed.”

Caleb laughed so hard he nearly slipped off the stool he was sitting on. “Oh my god, that’s gold. Wait, did you say Papyrus? Like…the Papyrus? The one from the news the other day?” He said, lowering his voice. You froze for a second. He was sharper than he looked when he paid attention.

“The skeleton on the news the other day….” Caleb said drawing out each syllable and saying it super slower as if you were a child. “The “Monster Mascot” or like the “Guard” for Frisk, from what I read on the news. I scanned through it so I’m not sure what his role is. Frisk talked about him during that interview yesterday, saying that he was the perfect representation for the monster kind.”

You must've looked confused because he added, “Oh my god, do you live under a rock??.”

“I told you yesterday I was babysitting at the store.” You remarked, rolling your eyes.

“Oh come on, spill.”

You tried to wave him off, but he leaned closer. “You’ve been living with him and his brother?"

“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” you muttered, packing up your supplies.

But Caleb was grinning. “Oh no, I am making a big deal. You have to take me over there. When can I meet them?” You groaned. “Do I really?”

“Yes! Absolutely no excuses. This isn’t negotiable.”

You rolled your eyes, but he nagged relentlessly, poking your arm with his pen. Finally, you sighed and swatted him away. “Wednesday. After my library shift. But don’t like freak out in front of them, okay? They’re just…people.”

Caleb smirked, already satisfied. “Aw, that's so cute that you're already so close.”

Your face changed to disdain as you pulled out your phone then, checking the thread of messages from Papyrus. He had been blowing up your phone until you had to tell him you were in class. He asked permission to watch Frisk at home for the day because Toriel and Asgore were caught up in interviews. You scrolled through the back-and-forth until Caleb leaned over, peering over shoulder.

“Say yes,” he urged. You glance down not realizing Papyrus texted you.

Papyrus: HUMAN! I REQUEST THAT TORIEL AND ASGORE JOIN US FOR DINNER ALONG WITH FRISK. YOU HAVE NOT MET THEM YET AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO MEET YOU. :)

You glared at him. “You’re supposed to take my side.”

“I am taking your side,” he countered, pointing to the fact he was standing right by your side. Then he moves away from your side as he starts packing up his supplies as well. “Your side is boring. Say yes. I have no idea why you're debating on inviting.. I don't know.. ROYALTY to your house like it's some group project and you're forced to hang with them…”

“Fine,” you muttered, thumbs moving reluctantly.

You: Yes. But I’m grabbing dinner on the way home. NO COOKING in the kitchen… Please and thank you. ;)

The lab wrapped up not long after. Caleb saluted you before heading for the door. You glanced at the clock, already 4:00 PM. The day had slipped through your fingers.

The drive home was unusually quiet. No Papyrus filling the silence with dramatic exclamations. No Sans’s lazy comments from the backseat seat. Just you and the hum of the engine. It should have been peaceful. Instead, it left you unsettled, your chest oddly hollow. It was like you missed them…

You stopped at the fast-food place, picking up a monstrous family meal that included chicken, salad, fries, and other options, and enough napkins. The smell filled the car instantly, warm and heavy with grease.

___________________________________________________________

You pulled into the driveway, your grip on the steering wheel tightened.

A red convertible sat gleaming in front of the house.

You braked harder than necessary, staring at it. Glossy and bright, like it was just taken through a car wash. The kind of car that screamed “look at me!!” Though as you got out of the car and looked closer, it did look like there were a few scratches, like he bought it from a used car lot. It was exactly the kind of car you had just told Papyrus no about yesterday. Your heart sank. Heat rushed to your face.

Last night, Papyrus had asked, honestly begged, really, about getting one, and you’d told him no. He needed his drivers license first. You also mentioned that you needed to be with him for that type of purchase. Clear and firm. Non-negotiable.

You pulled in to park behind it, climbed out with the bags, and stormed inside before your brain caught up with your mouth And yet.

You slammed the door harder than you meant to, juggling the dinner bags as you stomped toward the house. Inside, the scene was just an ordinary day, Papyrus pacing with excitement as he spoke to a child who was curled on the couch with a book, Sans half-slouched in the new chair you bought yesterday.

“Papyrus,” you snapped, dropping the bags onto the counter in the kitchen. Then yelling from the kitchen, “why is there a red convertible outside my house?”

“NYEH HEH HEH, IT’S THE GREAT PAPYRUS’S OF COURSE!”

You felt like you were fuming as you went back into the living room. “Yea no shit. You bought it?” You gaped, in disbelief. “After I told you no?”

“I JUST WANTED THE WIND IN MY HAIR… AND THE BRIGHT SUN ON MY SKIN..”

You stood there flabbergasted, “YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE HAIR??? WHAT?”

Sans raised a brow getting up from the chair, his grin thin. “he’s not a kid. his money, his choice.”

Your head whipped toward him. “You. Stay out of this.”

The human child, who you concluded to be Frisk, from what you saw on the news, sat up straighter.

Papyrus put one of his hands up to defend himself, voice straining. “BUT IT WAS A GREAT DEAL—”

“It’s not about the deal!” You huffed. “You need a driver's license, Papyrus! A driver’s license! Have you ever heard of insurance?? You need that too! You can’t just—”

The words died in your throat when you saw the way his hands trembled. His usual confidence faltered.

“Do you even realize how reckless that is?”

“do you realize how reckless it is to think you can control him?” Sans shot back.

You snapped your neck towards him, “Good thing, I was not, emphasis on was. NOT. talking to YOU.”

Frisk’s book snapped closed with a loud pop, but it didn’t stop either of you. Papyrus walked closer to you.

“The Lady Just…Wanted Us Gone,” Papyrus admitted. His tone dropped lower, almost ashamed, then it went back to normal. “SHE DIDN’T CHECK ANYTHING. SHE DIDN’T CARE. SHE JUST TOOK THE MONEY AND MADE US LEAVE. NOW THINKING ABOUT IT FROM WHAT YOU'RE SAYING WE NEEDED, SHE PROBABLY WANTED US TO GET PULLED OVER OR IN TROUBLE ON OUR WAY BACK HERE”

The air thinned. You felt your stomach twist.

“and me? she watched me the whole time,” Sans muttered, low. “like i was gonna steal somethin’. don’t know how i could at a car shop, but frisk saw it. didn’t matter what i did, stood too long, she got tense. asked a question, she shut me down.” He snorted, bitter. “guess i just wasn’t her type, maybe she thought i didn’t have enough drive.”

Frisk signed something to you, but Papyrus put their hands down.

“NO. WE’RE NOT TELLING HER THAT NOW.”

“Tell me what?”

Sans' smile grew wider and said curtly, “The lady thought we kidnapped kiddo here, and called the police on us.”

The pit in your stomach only grew more and more by the minute.

“What happened then?”

“luckily, the police knew by her tone and her description of us, she was just a racist and just told her to sell the car to us and for us to leave and not come back. the woman was dumb enough to call the police station that works closely to the king, what a fool”

Your anger faltered, replaced by a deeper ache. The image played in your mind, Papyrus trying to smile through it reassuring the lady that they're good people,so excited to just get the car of his dreams, Sans’s silence, Frisk small and quiet under a stranger’s scrutiny.

Sans finally spoke, his voice low. “welcome to the surface, huh?”

It should have softened you. Instead, it sparked more fire, making your anger come back. “So your solution was to buy a car illegally?”

“like i said, his money,” Sans shot back, arms folded.

“You don’t get it!” Your voice rose. “You think being clever will protect him? It doesn’t, Sans! You guys can get in serious trouble. I don't know what they'd do to monsters in jail, some people that are human get mistreated there Sans, I wouldn't want that to happen to you two.”

The air grew tense fast, Frisk trying to sign their input, Papyrus stressing himself out trying to interpret fast and keep peace, while you and Sans went back and forth. Frisk’s gestures blurred as they tried to mediate, but neither you or Sans slowed down enough for them to keep up.

Your argument with Sans had reached the point where your throat was raw, each word coming out sharper than you intended. You were halfway through accusing him of enabling Papyrus when something flickered, just at the edge of your vision. A faint shape. A dark silhouette in the corner by the hallway, still and watching. You whipped your head toward it, but nothing was there. Just the shadows pooling against the wall.

Sans’ smile widened, mistaking your hesitation for surrender. “thought you had more to say.”

You bit your tongue, shaken but unwilling to admit it, and snapped back anyway, “Not to you.” You felt light all of a sudden, but then it quickly disappeared as you looked at Sans as he looked somewhat guilty and unsettled. For what? You couldn't put your finger on it. The fight collapsed soon after, Papyrus drained, Frisk overwhelmed, Sans somehow disappeared from your field of vision.

Frisk signed again. “FRISK SAYS… ARGUING MAKES EVERYTHING WORSE. THEY WANT US TO… TO JUST EAT DINNER.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you both in the kitchen.”

Frisk started walking towards the kitchen, Papyrus following along behind them, but you grabbed his hand.

He looked down at your conjoined hands, confusion flickering on his face.

“You said earlier that she gave you a great deal, I don't understand how she could've given you a great deal if she treated you guys so horrible.”

Papyrus’s mouth opened and closed, his hand tightening around yours like he was searching for the right answer. You realized you could feel his bones through his red gloves he wore so often, but instead of focusing on that you looked back at him. His sockets darted away from your gaze before he admitted, softer now, “WELL… SHE SAID IT WAS A SPECIAL DEAL JUST FOR ME. BECAUSE, UM, WE WERE… DIFFERENT. AND I… BELIEVED HER.”

He laughed nervously, the sound breaking halfway. “NYEH HEH HEH… IT WAS… TEN MILLION GOLD. THAT’S NOT… TOO MUCH, RIGHT? IT SOUNDED FAIR!”

You froze, chest tightening. “Papyrus. Do you know what that is in surface money?”

He tilted his skull curiously, innocent confusion radiating off him. “NO? I DIDN’T THINK OF CONVERTING IT BECAUSE SHE MADE US LEAVE AFTER I PAID.”

“…Seventy. Thousand. Dollars,” you whispered.

Papyrus’s smile faltered, the pride draining from his face. His voice cracked again. “OH.”

You looked up at him and tightened the grip you had on his hand bringing your other hand to cover his hand.

“That is unacceptable and I will go there tomorrow and handle it. Not to be rude Papyrus, but the car out there looked like it was loved a lot by its previous owner and is definitely not worth the 70 grand.”

He said your name softly and before he could say anything else, you both heard someone clear their throat and you looked over to Frisk.

The tension hung walking back to the kitchen, but you forced yourself to unpack the food.

____________________________________________________

The doorbell rang and you went to answer as Frisk was tracking behind you.

Your hand held the door knob for a minute then looked down at Frisk.

“I’m sorry for making a really bad first impression.”

They signed something towards you then realizing you didn't understand them, they made a motion with their hands trying to convey the message not to stress about it, then patting the side of your arm to reassure you.

You opened the door to greet the two monsters you saw on the very day that changed your life.

“Why hello my child!”

Frisk hugged Toriel to greet her and Asgore held out his hand to you.

“Hello there, I am King Asgore, but you may call me Asgore. I have heard much about you. Thank you for your hospitality towards Frisk's friends.”

You shook his hand and repeated your name. His handshake was quite firm. “Oh yes! No problem at all, they are good people.”

Toriel looked up at you and beamed as she stood up from Frisk's hug to also shake your hand.

“Oh yes, I'm sure Sans has told you plenty of jokes. His brother is such a joy to be around as well. It must be so nice to be living with them.”

You took her hand as well, noticing the difference and how hers was much more gentle, also trying to hold a poker face at the fact she would think that this was a dream to live.

“The dining area is this way, please follow me!”

______________________________

Dinner that night was stiff, despite Toriel and Asgore’s presence. They filled the room with warmth, asking about your job, about Frisk’s school day, and about how everyone was adjusting.

But Asgore’s deep voice cut through the chatter. “Ah, I heard from Alphys today. She mentioned that you guys stopped by earlier in her new lab. Picked something up?”

The room went quiet as you froze, biscuit halfway to your mouth. “Picked…something up?”

Sans didn’t look at you. “yeah.”

“What?”

“The machine?” Asgore offered gently. “Alphys said it was heavy. She said that you guys asked the movers that delivered your new chair and bed to help.”

The machine? What? Your heart pounded. You turned to Sans. “You—what? You brought something from her lab? Here? When?” He finally met your eyes, sockets dark. “yeah.”

“That’s all you have to add? You didn’t think you should tell me? Or at least notify me that the purchases I made got here okay?”

He shrugged, too casual. “didn’t think i had to report my every move.”

Papyrus stiffened, shrinking under the table.

You snapped, “This isn’t just a move, Sans. This is—you haven’t even lived—”

Toriel cut in, gently saying your name. But the damage lingered.

“So.. you lived here alone before these two moved in, yes?” Toriel asked softly, trying to deescalate the situation.

“Yes ma’am, I did.”

She nodded, then replied, “Forgive me if this is too forward, but do you have family on the surface? You have not mentioned anything about them.”

“Oh yes! I do, I have my mom and my brother, he lives with my mom since he is still really young, he’s 11. They don’t live far from here though, my mom actually let me keep this house since this would technically be our old house, they moved out a few months ago so she can be closer to her job. Rent here is very cheap probably because we live near the mountain and not many people live in this part of the city…” You covered your mouth.

“Sorry I did not mean to ramble.”

“Oh silly child, it's no problem at all, you mentioned having a brother, that is Frisk's age, what is his name by chance?”

“Will.”

Frisk perked up when you mentioned your brother, quickly signing that they were in the same class, as Toriel translated for them. “He’s really smart,” you added, pride slipping through despite yourself. “Especially with space. He could talk about stars and planets for hours.”

Frisk signed again, drawing the attention back to them. Papyrus’s voice was a loud contrast from Toriel as he translated for Frisk. “FRISK SAYS… THEY LIKE YOUR BROTHER. HE’S NICE TO MONSTERS AT SCHOOL. THEY ARE EVEN PARTNERS FOR A PROJECT.”

You blinked, startled, then softened. “Really? …Gosh, that’s-” You laughed under your breath.

“That’s so good to hear. He’s honestly better than I am. Smarter, kinder. I’m glad you’ve got him in your class.”

Toriel smiled warmly. “There is a museum nearby, you know. Focused on space. I was planning to take Frisk sometime soon. It is… monster-friendly.”

Papyrus puffed up proudly. “SANS REALLY LIKES SPACE TOO!”

You smiled faintly at him. “Maybe we should all go to the museum. One day.”

For the first time since the argument, Sans looked up from his untouched plate. He realized you were speaking to him, eyes catching yours for the briefest moment. “…yeah. sure.” He immediately looked guilty again, then glanced back at his plate. You noted this to ask him about it later.

Papyrus perked up once the talk settled, his shoulders still a little tense but his natural eagerness breaking through. He cleared his throat, “SO! HOW ARE THINGS MOVING ALONG IN THE CITY? WITH ALL THE MONSTERS MOVING IN, SURELY THERE HAVE BEEN… EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS?”

Asgore let out a laugh, deep enough to rattle the glasses on the table. “Exciting, indeed. Though, perhaps a better word is overwhelming. The city council thought it wise to assign the Royal Guard to stay with me in my place of stay. Undyne insists I am still ‘rusty’ with my spearwork, and I cannot walk five steps without her shouting instructions.”

Papyrus burst into delighted laughter, nearly knocking his cup over. “NYEH HEH HEH, THAT’S UNDYNE FOR YOU! SHE HAS BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE THE DAY WE MET.”

You tilted your head, caught by the unfamiliar name. “Wait… who’s Undyne?”

Papyrus’s entire face seemed to glow, if bones could glow, his would. He practically vibrated in his seat, clapping his hands together. “MY BEST FRIEND! A TRUE HERO! STRONG, BOLD, AND GLORIOUS! THE CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL GUARD! YOU MUST MEET HER!” He leaned closer as if whispering a great secret. “SHE TRAINED ME PERSONALLY IN COMBAT. SHE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HUMANS LIKE YOU. OO AND MAYBE YOU CAN TRAIN WITH BOTH OF US.”

His joy was infectious, even if you weren’t sure how to respond.

“Speaking of friends, Muffet has opened her bakery not far from the new park we have at the school.” Toriel added.

“Muffet?” you echoed, unfamiliar again.

Frisk immediately signed something. Papyrus leaned over to translate, grinning wide. “FRISK SAYS A SPIDER MONSTER, SHE IS VERY FRIENDLY!”

Your stomach dropped. The mental image hit too vividly: eight legs, too many eyes. Still, you pasted on your brightest smile, trying desperately not to look like a coward. “That’s… fantastic! Really! Love to… support small businesses.” You nodded trying to convince yourself, “Yes we should um, go there aswell.”

Sans smirked faintly, clearly catching the crack in your voice.

Toriel, gracious as ever, spared you. “Tell me, have you ever had monster food, my dear?”

You blinked. “Monster… food?”

Papyrus sat up taller, thrilled at the chance to explain. “IT IS DIFFERENT THAN HUMAN FOOD! IT HOLDS PROPERTIES THAT CAN HEAL US, AND EVEN HUMANS! OR ENHANCE ABILITIES FOR A SHORT TIME! IT IS BOTH DELICIOUS AND PRACTICAL!”

Toriel folded her hands, nodding. “Monsters eat energy, not matter. The food we prepare is made with magic, not simply with ingredients. That is why it… functions differently for your kind.”

Papyrus announced proudly. “WE CAN EAT HUMAN FOOD. BUT FOR STRENGTH, WE RELY ON OUR OWN KIND. IT IS HOW MONSTER CUISINE CAME TO BE.”

“Oh.” You looked down thinking, well now thinking about it you never bought any monster food for them and the thought of you being a bad host came again.

“Is there a place where we can get monster food?” You look over to Papyrus, “I’m sorry I didn’t really think of you having to eat different types of food than me, are you holding up well with just having human food?”

“IT’S OKAY HUMAN! DO NOT WORRY WHILE WE WERE OUT I SAW THAT A NEW GROCERY STORE OPENED BY THE LADY WHO USED TO SELL TO US BACK IN SNOWDIN, SO MAYBE ONE DAY THIS WEEK WE CAN SHOP THERE!”

You sighed with relief, “Okay, sorry again about that.”

Toriel looked at you tenderly, “Luckily it seems like you are a good enough person to not attack them, so they haven't really needed their strength or HP healed, but yes it would be wise from here on out, to shop monster food for them as well, or otherwise well..” She stifled a giggle.

“At this rate, they might end up nothing but a bag of bones! And not the charming kind, either.”

Papyrus and Sans couldn't help but laugh at her, but your face crept up red from embarrassment as you looked down at your plate, you realized she said something about HP.

“What is H-”

Sans, chimed in. “speakin’ of food spots, grillby’s still on track?”

You made a confused face towards him. Sans shifted uncomfortably as Asgore chuckled, you turned your head to acknowledge him. “Yes, he confirmed to me this afternoon that he will open at the end of the week.”

Papyrus gasped. “SANS! DID YOU HEAR? GRILLBY’S IS RETURNING!” Then he grimaced, “I AM SO GLAD THAT GREASEHUT IS BACK…” He trailed off. While doing so, you looked up from your plate to look at his, and you noticed he didn't get any of the chicken that you ordered or fries, he just got the salad. You assumed now he only ate from the fast food place yesterday because he didn't want to complain about what you bought for him. It made you feel weird inside, but you couldn't quite place the feeling.

“yep,” Sans replied, though you didn’t miss the flicker of warmth in his tired grin.

_____________________________________________

Later, long after the plates were cleared and the guests had gone and bid their farewells, the silence returned. Papyrus retreated to his shared room, Frisk left with Toriel and Asgore, and you sat in the dim light of the living room. Sans never came back up from the basement. The basement stayed locked. He didn’t let you look at the machine, he said that he needed to “tweak” some things before other people looked, but you didn't want to push his buttons tonight. After all, you were exhausted by the argument you two had.

And speaking of the arguments from earlier, they lingered in your chest, alongside the faintest sense that something else had stirred, too. And you lay awake on the couch in the stillness, realizing how unfamiliar it was to end the night in silence instead of laughter. How wrong it felt to know that the first real fight between you and them had left holes you weren’t sure how to mend.

And then you saw it again.

This time the figure was clearer, much clearer. Dark, humanoid, standing just beyond you. The face, if it could be called that, was a smooth, bone-white mask, featureless save for two deep, empty sockets where eyes should have been. One of the eyes was half lidded that has a crack starting on the top of his skull down to the top of his right eye. The left side, however, its crack instead looked like a tear streak was left behind, the crack stopping at his wide permanent black smile.

Your breath hitched. “Who are you?” you whispered.

Symbols. Jagged, wrong, crawling across your vision like they were burned into your mind.

𝑰 𝑨𝑴 𝑾.𝑫. 𝑮𝑨𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑹.