What Is This?

The nightmare came unexpectedly. It was kind and cuddly at first. I was playing in the snow with the skelebros and the kid when it took a nasty turn for the worst.

The skelebro's eyes began to glow, a dark red color. They grew ten feet in size, their bodies melded into a single form. 

Tall, dark haired and dark eyes. Beard straggling his chin. Muscles bulking out of his clothing. Alcohol wafting off his breath. 

This man seemed so familiar yet I couldn't place it. Why is this man such a plague to my life?

The room chilled and darkened, shivers rolled down my spine, my eyes bugged out trying to capture even the slightest of light but caught nothing. The only thing I could see was the deep red of killer intent in this man's eyes as he smiled maliciously at me.

He took long steps towards me and no matter how much I struggled, I couldn't move. I tried screaming for help but my mouth wouldn't make a sound, it would only gape open but no sound would escape. My throat felt as if I had been eating graham crackers. My eyes couldn't look away, I kept watching as he made his way over. My heart pounded in my chest and I had the absolute urge to move. To get away, as if I knew  what would happen if he were to get to me.

I finally got to move but every step I made was as if i was in a tub of jello, or as if my legs had fallen asleep and I tried walking on them. It was too slow. I could feel his breathing on my neck. I had to move. something trickled down my back. It was either a bead of sweat or a finger. I crane my head to look behind me and he was one step closer. I forced my legs to move again but it took too long to lift them up. He's getting closer.

Fear stung in my mouth and my eyes started watering. I had to get away. This man definitely means to do me harm.

I got another step forward but it was too late. Something snapped me around and forced me into the hands of the malicious man, whose face started to melt and his flesh started decaying off his skeleton, a smile of sharp shark teeth left in its place, his eyeballs still in his eye sockets. Slowly deteriorating, the white flooding down his cheekbones along with his dark brown to black pupils leaving a red glow watching my every move.

I was violently shaken awake by the kid. They had a scared look mixed with concern. Their tiny hands were still on my shoulder, I was strewn about on the couch. The kid was on the edge of the cushions. I blink the sleep out, looking at them. The melting face of the evil man flashes in my mind and I could feel myself shivering with fear.

Are you okay? I could barely see the kiddos hands in the dim light. I nod my head, gasping for air, my chest still heaving. The kid pursed their lips and gave me an un-amused glance. Sweat dripped down my back and I could feel my hair matted to my neck and around my face.

I couldn't take it anymore, I need to know what's going on, I have to know if the kid remembers anything. I open my mouth but didn't realize someone else stirring awake.

"Kid, d-... do you remember anything from. Y'know, before the fall? Did you and I know each other?"  They avoided my gaze and looked down at the couch, I moved my legs and pressed against the back of the couch to make more room for them. They didn't move from the end of the couch and instead sat up. I shuffled to lean against the arm of the couch, watching the kid in the dim light, I couldn't make out where the light was coming from, it had to be somewhere outside the blanket. After a bit of silence I spoke again. "Do you know who I am?"

This got their attention, they lifted their head up to look at me and started moving their hands as well. 

You aren't going to like what you hear.  Truth rang in their eyes, their hands shakily moving.

The sweat on my back dried and I combed my hair out of my face. I sat up higher and looked at them. "Please, I'm tired of being confused." I plead, my eyes stinging with the unknown.

It was a long pause before they continued.

You saved me, from someone who's mean to us. They watched their own hands, trying to make them stop shaking. I hesitated in moving to hold them, I had to know.

You worked in an orphanage where you met me and ... that man.  

The man from my nightmares?  They continued.

I don't really know much about your past but, I do know about him and what he would do to you. You always talked about leaving that place once you got enough money. And talked about taking me and some other kids too. But... then Their hands shook uncontrollably from whatever memory they were thinking of. They couldn't take any more, I can ask more some other time. I reach forward and pull them into my lap, combing their hair through my fingers the way they like. They twisted around and buried their head in my chest their shoulders shaking in a silent sob. I rocked them and continued to run my fingers through their hair slowly calming them down. 

"It's okay, Thank you. No more for tonight. Think you can tell me some other time?" I whisper to them, slowing my rocking and waited for an answer, pleased when I got a nod against my chest. I patted their back and waited for sleep to take them. I already knew I wouldn't be able to sleep so I just laid them down onto the couch and tucked the blanket around them.

I sat back against the arm of the couch letting out a sigh and got up, hunching over to walk out of the fort without running into anything. I stepped over a 'nyeh'-ing Papyrus and shuffled around a large lump of blankets on the floor before finally making it out of the fort, swinging the blanket door open to stand up straight. 

I noticed that the kitchen light was on, it wasn't on when we went to bed. Curious, I went to investigate. I wander over to the kitchen archway and saw Sans sitting at the dining room table. He had a cup of something in front of him which he was staring into. To be honest, I thought that lump in the fort was him. When I shuffled in he seemed to have heard that and looked up with a tired smile on his face.

"heya." He whispered as I slid into the seat across from him.

"Hi." I answered in the same level of voice. "Why are you up?" 

He shrugged and took a sip of his drink. Then looked at me, not so subtly changing the subject which urked me but I didn't push.

"want a cup?" He gestured to his mug of whatever.

I almost refuse but hesitated and looked back at the mug, my mouth dried. "What is it?" 

"hot cocoa. i drink it when i can't sleep." He got up and moved over to the counter, reaching above it to pull out a mug from the cabinets. 

"Sure, that'd be lovely." 

He nodded, not really answering back. He filled the mug with some hot water that I didn't notice was sitting on the stove and grabbed a packet of what I could guess was hot cocoa from a blue box on the counter against the wall. When he poured the packet into the water and stirred it he brought it over and set it in front of me.

" 'nd there ya go." He gestured to it with half assed jazz hands. I chuckle and took a sip, letting out a sigh of content. 

"Thanks."

He shrugged as if to say, 'don't mention it'. 

We sat there for a bit in silence before he spoke up to break it.

"so, why are you up?" His eye sockets half lidded and his lights dimmed with curiosity. No ill will towards me. I shrugged and took another sip of my cocoa.

"Nothing unusual." I answer cryptically. He put on a face that seemed to know I wasn't telling the full truth. But he didn't push it. I took another sip and sat back in my seat. 

 He let out a breath and finished the last of his drink, setting it in the sink. He was about to walk out into the living room again before he paused. He tilted his head to look back at me.

I gave him a half smile, taking another long drink almost emptying the cup. The warm liquid trickling down my parched throat, soothing it nicely. Once I started I couldn't stop, I just kept swallowing the drink, tilting the mug up to get the last drops. 

I set down the cup with a satisfied 'ah'. Sans was still standing in the doorway, giving me strange look.

"What?" I whisper, when he saw I noticed his look, he shrugged. I grumbled under my breath but stood up and followed him to the doorway of the kitchen. As if we read each other's minds, we walked to the front door, in sync. I pulled the red sweat shirt over the baggy t-shirt I used as pajamas and pulled on my boots, the pants were too long to tuck in so i just let them hang over.

Sans was already in his jacket and wore the sweatpants and his slippers. I mentally called him crazy.

He silently opened the front door and ushered me through first. Him following behind me and closing the door softly. I walked forward to the edge of the forest, staring into the trees, the snow on the ground crunching as I stepped on it. Making new footprint marks into the freshly fallen snow. It was darker than usual, I noticed most lights were off most people were in doors. Only Sans and I were out on the streets at this time. 

I stuffed my hands in my pocket and looked to the cave ceiling, Sans walked up next to me and looked up as well. Confused at first then turned to me.

"whatcha lookin for?" he asked when he brought his head back down. I blink, confused at first then looked at him with a shrug.

"I don't know, I feel... out of place. Does that make sense? As if... I'm supposed to be looking at something else right now." I tried to explain the empty and washed away feeling I had when I looked up and saw nothing. I don't know what I was trying to see, but whatever it was. It wasn't an underground ceiling. 

Sans nods and starts walking forward, We faced the way to Grillbys so I figured that's where we were headed. I felt like I should be more resilient against Sans, I mean. He did threaten me... But then again, I can't really remember whether or not I deserve that. 

 We walk into the warm bar from the cold snow outside, Sans goes straight to the bar. Grillby saw him and was already pouring him a drink, then he got another cup out and poured another one, setting it down onto the counter in front of where we were going to sit.

Once sat, I took a drink of the familiar clear liquid. The same feeling drips through my veins, calming my shocked nerves. I let out a sigh and looked to the counter.

Sans sat in the stool to my right, letting out a pleased groan as he lowered himself to the seat. He wrapped his hand around the drink and put it up to his mouth er teeth and took a sip.

"thanks grillbz." The fire bartender crackled, as if saying something. Sans just shrugged then looked to me.

I watched them both, taking the cup in both my hands and sipping tentatively. Sans tapped the counter, waiting for something. I raised an eyebrow confused. He just kept tapping away. I looked to Grillby but he was also confused by the skeleton, Sans noticed us watching him and stopped his tapping. He slid his hand flat against the counter, pursing his skeleton lips and looking me dead in the eyes.

"l-listen..." he starts, I gulped the last of my drink coughing slightly when it stuck in my throat but settled into my seat and watching him. after settling down, he continued. "how did the doctor know the skeleton was lying?"

... what?...

"Um... how?" I look around nervously, then to Grillby who was already shaking his head. Sans' grin widened as he delivered the punch line.

"he could see see right through him."  he finishes with a wink, already chuckling. I let out an involuntary snort and chuckle before shaking my head. 

"That was bad." He put a hand to his chest in fake hurt his face in an o, his eyes wide with playfulness.

"fine, how about this. why couldn't the skeleton go to the dance?" He starts, watching me through half lidded sockets. 

I thought about it, it seemed familiar as if I've heard that from somewhere.

"okay, fine. Why couldn't the skeleton go to the dance?!"  a child's voice shouted excitedly. I could see a faded pink shirt, and a skirt. "That's obvious." my voice sounded with playfulness. 

"Because he had nobody to go with." I say out loud and in my hazy memory, synchronizing. Emphasizing the nobody. 

Sans narrowed his eyes some more, his grin slowly forming into a smile. 

A shock shot through my forehead, making its way to the back of my mind. I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut. as if hoping that my eyes would pop out of my head if they stay like this. My head pounded, i almost let out a groan but bit it back. 

"hey! you stole my joke." He let out a laugh and I chuckled weakly along with. When I opened my eyes, I saw there was another glass of the drink on the counter. I softly pick it up and took a sip, the headache numbing. I blink but the headache came back, throbbing at the back of my head and in between my eyes. I took another sip and it nulled again. I took a longer sip and then downed the entire thing. The headache disappearing, along with the memory.

"okay, okay. how about this one. what does a skeleton say before dining?"

I sit, quiet for a second, searching his face as if looking for the answer but coming up empty. I shake my head and shrug.

He chuckles and handles his breathing before smirking, holding up his hand into a finger gun and winking. "bone-appetite" I giggled and smothered my mouth trying to stop it but it wouldn't.

I shook my head again a lightbulb going off in my head. "I got one!" He seemed surprised but excited then nods waiting expectantly. "Why didn't the skeleton cross the street?"

Sans' bone brows furrow, he didn't know this one. He didn't answer for a bit, staring into the counter thinking. When he came up with nothing, he looked up at me with a smile and shrugs.

"i'unno. why?" 

I snickered, causing the buildup to the punch line bug Sans. "He didn't have the guts." I giggled again. Sans hesitates before letting out a loud chuckle, full heartedly.

"okay, okay. i got one, what's a skeletons favorite instrument?"

This is obvious. "Trombone." I answer, Sans looked taken back but didn't even miss a beat before retorting back.

"nah, we don't have lungs. bongos are where it's at." 

I gave him a look like 'really' mixed with 'oh my god that's true'. It twisted my face in a way Sans found funny, he started off with a chortle but when he looked back at my face the laughing got harder till he was bent over the bar laughing so hard. I envisioned what my face must have looked like and started laughing too. not as hard as sans but it still took me a few minutes to get a handle on my breathing.  Eventually we both calmed our laughing down to  just a couple outbursts of giggles every now and then. 

I let out a sigh and my eyes drooped tiredly. Grillby crackled something to Sans, he looked to me then nodded. I looked at the interaction confused.

"What'd he say?"

" 'e says it's closin' time." My eyes snap open with new found energy. I shrug and smile, sliding off my chair then turning to the counter.

" Alright, see ya Grillby, thank you for the drinks." He nods, his fire crackling something.

"he says to come by anytime." I nod, turning the smile to him too.

 I turn around and walked down across the diner to the door leading to the cold outdoors. I look back to see Sans discussing something with Grillby, they were using lowered whispers as they spoke, making me self conscious.  The colors of Grillbys flames flashed differently as he crackled. Sans whispered something else to him, he crackled louder. I felt as if things were just going to get worse for me if i made a point to stand around in here any longer, so I dropped my head and swung the door open. Just enough for me to get through and walked out into the snow, the cold not effecting me. 

Once again, I have that urge to look up. For something that's not there, panic welling up inside me. Something had always reassured me when I looked up, but what? And why? Why does my heart drop when I remember that I'm in a cave? Panic filling my mind, something else that I couldn't recognize.

I took a few more steps forward to the line of trees and kept looking, my eyes burning as I searched. For something, anything. But what? I felt a something suddenly touch my shoulder, I flinched. The hand retracted and I turned with a sheepish smile. Sans wasn't looking at me he was staring off into the distance towards his house, he gave a pained smile, he nudged his head indicating we should go.

I nod and follow him from behind. The walk was quiet and a little awkward, once we got to the house he silently cracked the door open. He tensed for a second but relaxed when he heard the loud snoring 'nyeh' from Papyrus. He opened the door, leaving it for me but not making sure I get through before he travels upstairs to the second door which I realize is his room. I close and lock the door behind me, silently making my way to the couch. I noticed the blankets were no longer staying up, instead Papyrus was wrapped like a butterfly in them and the kiddo was laying right next to him, snuggled up against him in the blanket burrito. I awed and the sight. I carefully stepped around them and made it to the couch. I felt tired, sleep wanted to take over but I didn't trust it. All it does is give me nightmares.

I sat into the couch, staring up at the ceiling. Thinking of whatever would come to my mind, mainly coming up with jokes to attack Sans with. And figuring out what to do next, I have an urge to move forward but. It's nice here, maybe... just for a bit.

Eventually, I see the make shift light shine through the window. It's supposed to symbolize daytime, But it just clicks on like a light switch. Just moments later the kid woke up looked around, found they were on the floor somehow. Figured out a way to wiggle out of the burrito with papyrus. Locks eyes with me, rushes over and slammed into my side, smiling at me with their tired eyes. Giggling when I wrapped my arms around them and picking them up. Papyrus mumbles something about a fish in a monkey costume and fidgets awake. Rubbing his eye sockets sleepily. He blinks a couple times, noticing that he wasn't alone in the living room and jumps up.

"HUMANS!" He stumbles around, finding his ground then smiles wider than I could ever do myself. He takes the blankets and pillows rushing upstairs to his room and is back before you could say spaghetti, he then turns to the kitchen and shouts something about breakfast spaghetti.

The kid watches Papyrus, giggling at his energy so early in the morning. Clapping then wrapping their arms around my neck, waiting for me to stand up. So I do, I smile at them. Papyrus' energy rubbing off on me. I make my way to the kitchen and watch Papyrus hustle about, picking up several different items and dumping it into a pan, he turns to the doorway when he noticed us there. He gave me another smile not unlike the one from earlier, welcoming me to the land of the awake. I just laughed and smiled at him, the kiddo wiggling out of my arms and running over to Papyrus, signing to him about something. He gasps, and starts to cook with them. I lean against the door jam still smiling.

Yeah... we'll stay for a bit.