It's A Little Early

Sans finally picks up another guitar for himself after a few days after you’ve returned home from the hospital. He left for the store quite suddenly, popping in and out so fast you barely even notice that he left. It’s a beautiful instrument, just as nice as the one he got before. He plops down on the couch, plucking at the strings with a level of excitement you haven’t seen from him since before you were kidnapped.

You quickly run to your room and grab yours before joining him on the other end of the couch.

His sockets are closed as his phalanges strum out random notes. You watch him for a while, the pure peace and happiness on his skull making your heart dance. You stretch out your legs, brushing your toes against his femur. His grin grows wider and continues playing.

After awhile, you notice that his notes are beginning to take on a particular rhythm. He plays the same slow sequence a few times, the bones of his hand hitting the wood gently. It adds a pleasant beat to the gentle notes. You sit up, rearranging your guitar and watch his fingers on the neck carefully for a few moments. When he pauses, you play the same series of notes in a slightly different key.

He opens one socket, the light of his pupil soft and fuzzy as he watches you.

You grin at him and continue your song. Your fingers pluck slowly, deliberately, the sound rich and full. You end the sequence with a loud strum that sounds almost like a playful challenge. Then you play out another tune, raising your eyebrows at Sans.

After a beat, he plays the same tune, smacking the wood lightly again.

You repeat the tune, a little faster this time, adding on a new set of notes.

His other eye opens as again he repeats your actions. His sockets are glinting with glee. You match his happiness with a wide smile, playing again. He repeats and this time, when he continues you can’t stop yourself from joining in, the two guitars overlapping and dancing together, playing the same song. Somehow, you know what he’s going to play and he knows the notes that will pour from your fingers just before they do. The sequence grows faster, louder and you break away into a song that sings of your joy to be right here, playing with him. He responds with a rich melody that skips around you with an unmatched joy and love. The living room rings with music and you can feel your fragile Soul glowing, reaching out to his and finding that he is already there, he’s always been there with you. The utter love you feel for this man builds with your song, climbing higher and higher until the moment you lock eyes and strum out the end, slowing, breathing together and letting the final note linger in the air like an unspoken promise.

When the last ring fades away, you carefully set your guitar down and make sure he’s done the same before leaping into his arms. You kiss him deeply, your heart still racing from the joy of your song.

Sans is practically thrumming under you, his bones warm to the touch. His Soul is still dancing within yours. “i shoulda picked up the guitar a long time ago, huh?”

You grin against his cheekbones. “We’ve got a lot of lost time to make up for.”

He shifts slightly, angling you so that you’re squished up between him and the cushions. “i’m gonna make sure we have plenty of time to do just that,” he whispers before pulling you in for another kiss.

~~~~~~

Usually you were the one up before him but on this particular morning, Sans finds himself stirring into wakefulness while you continue to sleep. For a while, he's utterly content with just lying there, studying your face. He takes in every laugh line, every lash on your eyes and the small scars and marks that dot your skin in various places. Occasionally your facial muscles will twitch and there’s a small puddle of drool on the pillow under your face.

Stars, you’re perfect.

Moving slowly, he finally pulls himself out of bed. You deserve to sleep in for a bit after everything that’s happened. It’s only been a few days since the masked men broke into your apartment and while outwardly, you’ve kept it together, Sans had seen in your Soul just how much the ordeal had scared you.

Perhaps sharing Souls with you right after such terrifying thing wasn’t the best or smartest move. It was too fast, too soon, too rash of him to do. But he had been desperate to ease the pain in your heart. He wanted to show you just how much you mean to him and for once, let himself follow what he wanted simply because he wanted it. And maybe, if he’s honest with himself, he did it because in his own Soul he had been terrified that this was the final straw, this was going to be what finally made you see that being with him was dangerous and-

You snore softly, reaching for his pillow. Without waking up you curl around it and nuzzle your face against the fabric as a soft smile lifts your lips.

Sans feels his Soul flutter inside his ribs at the sight. He can’t keep focusing on his own internal fears. After all, peering into your Soul had been everything he hoped for and far more. The sheer staggering amount of love and compassion in your Soul had nearly broken him. It’s nothing that the hatred of a few mere people could shake.

He slides his feet into his faded slippers and quietly leaves the room. Shoving his hands into his pockets he ambles towards the front room. He can’t thank Tori enough for letting them stay here. In truth, there’s nowhere else where he would feel quite as safe. Everyone in this house cares for you deeply. If those people do come back, they’re going to be facing quite a few angry monsters standing in their way.

Of course, they won’t even get the chance if Sans has anything to do with it.

There are voices floating in from the living room. He pokes his head in and is a little surprised to see Asgore sitting there on the couch with Toriel. The lack of freezing atmosphere and the moderate space between them tells him it’s safe to wander in.

Toriel looks up at his approach. “Good morning Sans,” she says with a warm smile. “Is she still sleeping?”

He nods. “yeah, finally crashed after all the moving. thanks again for letting us stay here tori.”

“Of course. I am just…saddened that circumstances have come to this.” Her gentle smile can’t quite hide the anger in her eyes.

He takes a seat in the empty armchair, nodding to Asgore. “so, what brings you here fluffybuns?”

The King takes a sip out of the delicate teacup in his large paws. “Well, the Temmies have been wanting to discuss opening up their, ahem, Tem Shop and they tend to get a little overwhelmed in large public spaces.”

Sans can’t quite hide his snicker. Oh he can just imagine the chaos the Temmie clan would cause being out and about like that. He doesn’t usually associate with them (puns and jokes go right over their large heads) but he knows enough about them to understand that while they are for the most part harmless, it’s better to keep them in spaces where they feel more at ease.

There’s a series of fast knocks at the front door and for a brief moment, Toriel’s face twitches. However, she quickly steels herself and her gentle smile is back on her face. She stands and moves to let the Temmies in. And in they clamber, their voices overlapping excitedly as they take in the front room of the Queen of monsters.

Staying in the midst of the ensuing chaos does nothing to help with the discussions but Sans does it anyway because he finds it absolutely hilarious watching Toriel and Asgore attempt to keep the Temmies focused. It’s like watching two giant cats bat at several dozen scampering mice. Though he does save a frame that falls from the wall and nearly smashes into the head of the completely oblivious Temmie that knocked it over in the first place. So he considers his day complete. It takes time and a lot of patience and in the end, it's Toriel that manages to get the Temmies to focus long enough to talk about the location of their new shop and getting the funds needed for it (and someone to handle the funds for them, Temmies aren't exactly the best at handling their own money). Once she begins to talk about college options for all of the Temmies, their attention grows almost eerily focused on her. 

Asgore lets out a little sigh of relief at the small break. He gives Sans an almost helpless look as he moves to sit on the floor next to the armchair. Even with the added height of the chair, Asgore's head towers above him. "It's truly amazing how well she can handle herself," he says in a low voice. His tone is gentle, reflecting the sad look in his eyes. 

Sans isn't quite sure what to say to that. So he stays quiet and the two of them watch Toriel for a moment longer as the Temmies twitch and restrain themselves from speaking all at once. 

"I am sorry for what's happened to you and your human companion," Asgore finally says. "How is she doing?"

"she's ok," he says. A wave of pride sweeps over him and the grin on his face grows more genuine. "heh, she's strong. you know she's already wanting to go back to work? held at gunpoint and you can't hardly even tell. she's just..." He waves his hand, his own words getting caught in his throat.

"You sound very fond of her."

Fond? Fond doesn't even begin to cover how he feels about you. "she's....she's just so amazing, you know? she's been through hell and it's just made her kinder. don't get me wrong, i'm pissed as hell that this happened to her but she's walked away from it still as strong as she was before."

Asgore nods. "She has a very kind Soul," he murmurs. "That is obvious even to me. I just worry that...well humans sometimes have a tendency to let things build until they fall apart. I don't know her situation-"

Sans finds himself sitting up a little straighter without realizing it, fixing the king with a cool gaze. "i'm gonna stop you there. whatever you're scared of happening, i can tell you it's not gonna happen."

He puts his paws up, his expression still tender. "Relax Sans. I'm just concerned for her well being. I may not know her very well personally but she means a lot to Frisk and Tori. And to be honest, I haven't seen you this happy before. I want to make sure it stays that way." 

His words stun Sans a little, though he's very careful not to let it show. He lowers his gaze, fiddling with a string on the armchair. "she does make me happy," he admits in a low voice. "very happy." 

"That's good." Asgore's voice is warm. "Love is a wonderful thing, isn't it?" 

He just hums in response though his mouth probably gives away the swelling feeling of happiness in his Soul. 

"You will let me know if there is anything I can do, won't you? If she has problems, I want to do what I can." 

Sans finally looks up again. "thanks but i don't think you have to worry. she's completely capable of handling things and keeping a level head about stuff. you can trust her to be honest and serious when she has to be." 

Right at that moment, a growing patter sounds from down the hall. You suddenly slide into view, your back facing the living room and arms held out at an angle. Thick fuzzy purple socks on your feet give you traction over the wooden floor and you come to a smooth stop. Your over-sized shirt just barely allows your shorts to peek out as you shake your hips up and down in a beat only you can hear. 

If Sans had eyeballs, they just might have fallen out of his skull.

"Just take those old records off the shelf-!"

You twist, revealing large sunglasses perched on your face and freeze as you meet the startled gazes of the King, Queen and all six Temmies. Six Temmies who suddenly leap towards you, joy making their voices squeak as they clamber to get closer to your absolutely unfair cuteness. 

"It's HUmaN! Sooo cUte!"

You let out a loud squeak of your own and tear off back down the hall and Sans finds himself sliding to the floor with the force of his laughter. 

Stars! You are perfect!