Attachment
Sans woke up in a very quiet, blank room. As he stared at the space above him, he slowly saw squares of white on more white.
Then lights.
Then he looked to his right. A window, overlooking a garden.
“hey, buddy.”
Sans looked on the other side and his eyes were greeted by the smiling face of Papyrus.
“Pappy…” Sans muttered and held out his hand.
Papyrus took it and asked, “how do you feel, bro?”
He was sitting in a chair beside Sans’ bed.
He must be in a hospital. Nighthawk was waiting for the nurse…
She saved him…
“I… I’ll be okay…” Sans couldn’t stop thinking about her… Who is she? Where is she and what is she planning?
“do you hurt anywhere?” Papyrus’ voice was filled with worry.
“Not in particular…”
“sans….”
“Okay, I have a headache…”
Papyrus got up and walked to the door. “i’ll get a nurse and some painkillers. and i'll make sure they're not… like that other nurse…”
“Other nurse?” Sans didn't like the sound of that.
“i'll tell you when i get back. it'll be quick.”
And with that, he left. Sans was left alone with his thoughts.
Nighthawk brought him there. Made sure he was safe….
She truly is a hero.
He looked out the window again. The garden was gorgeous, and he was thankful for this room. He looked up at a bench.
What the..
Nighthawk?
She was sitting on the bench. Looking at him.
Smiling.
Then she spread her wings and flew away, graceful like a swan…
What was he thinking? Stop. He shouldn't think like that.
He doesn't know who she is.
He won't ever get to.
She'll die before he'll ever get the chance….
Dang. The phone call.
He couldn't help but wonder…
Is that what his attacker meant? Was he sent by the same person who called his phone?
Nonsense. It's all coincidence.
Right?
Papyrus soon joined him again and handed him a glass of water along with a pair of small white pills. Sans took them with gratitude.
Paps stayed standing as he explained. “there was a really rude nurse. she came in and asked, ‘what do you freaks need?’ in the most annoying bitchy voice i’ve ever heard. it was as if we don’t have a right to be here.”
Sans shook his head. “Some humans probably will never adjust.”
Papyrus sighed. “you’re right, sans.”
Sans then looked confused. “Was she the nurse who brought me in?”
Paps answered, “no. that nurse was extremely kind. it was a shame she had to leave.”
“Why did she leave?”
Paps looked concerned. “not sure. i think she went into shock after seeing you both in a horrible state.”
Paps sat back down as a nice male nurse walked in with a concerned smile.
“The doctor said you wouldn’t be awake until tomorrow.”
“Well, I am the magnificent Sans after all! I must exceed all expectations.”
Both the nurse and Papyrus chuckled.
“Well, let me do a few check-ins here, is that okay?” The nurse picked up a clipboard that was resting on Sans’ bedside.
Sans nodded.
The nurse asked all the normal questions. What’s your name, what day is it, where are you, how old are you. To the last question, he answered, “Monsters don’t really keep track of their age, but I can tell you that I am an adult.”
The nurse then checked on the large wound on his chest, which was healing nicely. The nurse listened to his soul (he explained that he took classes about monsters and how to treat them) and concluded that he was healing quickly and won’t be in the hospital for very long.
Then sudden tiredness hit him. He slouched a bit and leaned against the pillow, letting out a small groan of exhaustion.
The nurse was confused for a moment, but then his eyes lit up with understanding. “Ah, yes, the pills that were given to you cause drowsiness. Absolutely normal, not to worry.”
Slowly Sans’ eyes began to close, and the last thing he heard was Pap’s gentle and reassuring voice saying, “i’ll come visit you tomorrow morning. sleep tight, bro.”
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The stars were beautiful that night.
Aurelia stared at them, laying on the roof of an apartment building.
It was her favorite place to come and chill. Stargaze.
To think.
But this time, all she could think about was Sans.
She knew him better because the people at the hospital told her. They gave her his records, anything she needed to know about him.
She knew about his brother. His father.
His connections with the queen.
Dammit. She rubbed her eyes and sat up.
The queen will find out about her. Sans will tell her.
There’s no doubt about it.
She stared at her hands for a moment then leaped from the roof to the ground. She didn’t mind that it was over 20 feet to fall. Her wings slowed her down.
The street was dark. She pulled out her watch. Midnight.
God, she needed to check on him.
Why did he matter so much?
She took to the skies and went slowly so that she could keep an eye on the city below her. She was going to the hospital. Where else could she go? She had to make sure that he was ok.
The thought of Cree flashed through her mind.
He knew.
He knew about Sans, someone told him.
Her wing beats slowed.
She really cared about Sans now. But she can’t let herself get attached.
For his protection.
She stopped a couple dozen yards from Sans’ window at the hospital. The nurses forgot to close his window.
That’s fine; it was a warm spring night; the breeze was not chilly whatsoever. Plus, clear, fresh air will help him heal.
She flew towards it and gripped the top of the window frame and she folded her wings to tightly her sides to not clip them as she slipped silently into the room, feet first.
She kept her wings folded as she quietly walked up to his bed.
His breathing was silent, but she could see his chest rising and falling. He looked so peaceful…
She sat in a chair and listened closely. Soon, her hearing enhancements kicked in and she could hear his breathing clear as day.
It was well-ventilated. He was healing quickly.
Aurelia was glad.
She gently touched his forehead, feeling the smoothness of the bone. His eyes twitched slightly, but he looked at peace.
She continued to watch him until she had every line, every curve memorized.
His etched smile...
Then she caught herself. She was getting too close. Too… close. She can’t care more about him than everyone else in the city.
She had to protect all of the citizens in New York. He was a citizen. She can’t have favorites!
That would be putting everyone in danger.
It would make him a target.
A weak spot.
No.
No, she wasn’t going to let that happen.
She took her hand off his forehead and backed away. He gave a small shudder but didn’t wake.
She started to climb out the window, then froze as she heard a small voice.
“N-nighthawk?”
She looked back and saw his face filled with relief.
“You’re okay…”
She didn’t agree, but she didn’t say anything.
“Please… stay…”
She hesitated, but took her leg out of the window and turned to face him, noticing that he looked… happy to see her.
“Why are you here?” He sounded the opposite of displeased. The way he talked was as if he had been waiting for her the entire time.
She looked away. “Just making sure you were alright.”
She could practically hear the grin in his voice. “You came to check.… on me?”
She looked at him again. His eyes were wide and the brightest blue she had ever seen, his grin from ear to ear. She couldn’t help but smile back, her soul lifted slightly.
“Yes.”
There came a sound from the hallway, and Nighthawk knew it was a nurse.
“She took a step back towards the window. “I need to go.”
Sans looked sad. “Wait-”
But she was already gone.