Enter Mettaton
The next day Sans found that Frisk was pointedly avoiding him. After their little talk last night Sans realized that he had created more questions for himself then he had answers for, and the kid seemed to realize it as well. He could barely get two words out to her, before she would interrupt him by asking his brother about something trivial, or claiming that she had something she had to do and bolt out of the room. It was getting irksome to say the least, and Sans was about fed up with the kid’s antics.
It was just getting late into the afternoon when Mittsy showed up unannounced at the brothers apartment. As soon as Sans opened the door she marched into the apartment and scooped up a very surprised Frisk into her arms, before twirling her around the living room.
“Frisk! You did so good!” She said as she laughed and spun around. “I just got off the phone with Asgore, he is so impressed with you!” Frisk smiled and giggled along with Mittsy, clearly happy about receiving the praise. Sans watched from the door way brow bone cocked in confusion.
“What’s all this about?” He asked Mittsy when she finally put Frisk down. Papyrus also rounded the corner with a look of intrigue on his face.
“YES PLEASE DO TELL, I ALSO WISH TO PARTAKE IN THIS CELEBRATION.” He said cheerily as he moved to stand beside Frisk.
“What? She didn't tell you?” Mittsy asked in surprise. “This little rascal just scored us an extra 5,000 G from one of the shrewdest business men in town!” She exclaimed happily as she ruffled Frisks hair. Papyrus beamed at Frisk, a proud smile spreading across his face, and Sans continued to stare from the doorway in slight shock.
“FRISK WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US!? THAT IS FANTASTIC NEWS !”Papyrus cheered. Frisk blushed and sheepishly dug her heel into the floor, but the pleased smirk was still present on her face. She was actually starting to enjoy the extra attention a little.
“Just didn't really think of it.” She replied. Mittsy patted her on the back.
“Well we are definitely not letting this opportunity go to waste! Frisk, get out of those ratty cloths and put on your nice vest.” She ordered. “Come on boys we are going downstairs for a celebratory round on me!” She said. Once Frisk was changed into her new grey vest and trousers, Mittsy urged her forward toward the door, Papyrus following excitedly behind them. Sans shrugged as he also followed the group. He couldn't say no to a free drink.
When they got downstairs Mittsy forced the group through the crowded room right up to the bar top and demanded Grillby’s attention.
“Grillby listen up!” She exclaimed, loud enough for every monster in the bar to hear her clearly. They all turned their heads in attention to her apparent announcement. Mittsy smiled smugly as she surveyed the room, making sure that every monster was going to hear what she had to say.
“I’m buying everyone hear a celebratory drink!” She started, and immediately the bar was filled with whoops and hollers. Mittsy smirked as she waited for the crowed to settle down again before she continued. “Our newest member just pulled an excellent negotiation with one of our most important clients.” She said, and the monsters continued to cheer. Frisk felt a weight of nervousness fall heavy into her stomach as she realized what Mittsy was doing. She turned and tried to run and hide back up the stairs, but Sans had placed himself firmly behind her as if he had expected her to try and escape from the very beginning. When she tried to push past him, he just gave her a phony innocent expression and stood as stiff as a bored. Frisk huffed in irritation when she realized that she was not going anywhere.
“So my friends and comrades.” Mittsy continued as Grillby pored the thirsty monsters their free drinks as fast as physically possible. “Raise your glasses in a toast! To our new friend Frisk!” She shouted happily. As soon as Frisks name left Mittsy’s lips the rowdy crowed suddenly got very quiet. The whoops and hollers were now replaced with confused mumbling, and suspicious whispering. Frisk clutched at her shirt sleeve nervously as she stared at the floor.
“Cheers!” Someone suddenly shouted. As Frisk looked up to see which monster had spoken up in the quite group she locked eyes with Sans, who had raised his glass high above his head. He shot Frisk a sly wink as he brought the glass to his teeth and took a sip.
“YES CONGRADUALTIONS FRISK!” Papyrus said following his brothers example. Mittsy smiled down at Frisk and also followed suit. Grillby took a break from poring the other monsters their drinks to raise his own glass, shooting the shocked Frisk a commending nod as he downed the liquid, before hurriedly getting back to work. One by one the other monsters all hesitantly raised there glasses. Some only mumbled an acknowledgment, clearly not exactly pleased to be toasting a human, while others seemed to hold a more appreciative gaze, actually deliberately making eye contact with Frisk before tipping there glasses toward her. Soon the bar fell back into its normal pace, and everyone was joking and laughing once again, only this time Frisk was included right in the middle of it all. She felt a swell of happiness settle deep within the core of her being, something she had not dared to hope for sparking to life from within her soul. She couldn’t help the bright pleased smile that broke across her face as she laughed and joked with Mittsy and some of the other monsters who had actually come over to introduce themselves.
There was a married couple of dog monsters, Dogamy and Dogressa, they both exchanged words of praise to Frisk. The female, Dogressa, waged her tail and patted Frisk on the head in a gesture of affection. Dogamy, her husband, who had clearly had a little too much to drink, was holding on to his wives waist and nuzzling his snout into her neck. Among the celebration Frisk noticed that there was a table of monsters sitting away from the main group. They sat silently sipping there drinks, not interested whatsoever in joining in with the merriment that surrounded them. Frisk noticed the dog type monster that she had met from before during her unintended visit to the Pansies warehouse. He sat in slight shadow in the middle of the quiet table, smoking dog treat still clamped between his canines as he fixed Frisk with a fierce glare. Frisk turned away as soon as she saw them, not allowing the angry group to spoil her good mood. Luckily she was provided with an excellent distraction as another dog monster, a much larger one that the others called GD, came bounding over when he saw his pack forming around Frisk. He didn’t really say much as he picked Frisk up by the sides of her shoulder before giving her a big bear hug and then placing her shocked form back down on the floor. Sans chuckled beside Frisk as he saw her startled expression.
“Looks like the big guy likes you.” He said bumping her slightly with his elbow.
As the group started to settle down again Mittsy and Frisk sat joking together at the bar. Mittsy was now well beyond the point of a little tipsy as she wobbly stood up from her seat.
“Scuse me my girl.” She said patting Frisk on the shoulder. “I'ma jst go to the little mouse’s room to powder my nose.” Frisk nodded and giggled at Mittsy’s slurred speech as she bobbed her way to the washroom at the back of the bar.
Frisk sat and sipped at her soda as she waited for Mittsy to return. She had declined all of the offers of alcohol presented to her, not yet feeling brave enough to try the stuff again, especially after her talk with Sans. She had found that it had left her to vulnerable, and she didn't want to have a repeat of her last experience. While she thought about it, she made a mental note to apologize to the shorter brother, as he had really stuck his neck out for her today, and Frisk knew that she was being a little cold by avoiding him, but she really didn’t know how to approach him after she had basically just spilled all of her baggage on to him last night. Frisk grumbled as she buried that thought back into the far reaches of her brain. She would deal with Sans later; right now she was going to focus on enjoying herself.
The feeling however, was unfortunately short lived as the bar door swung open with a loud slam. The other monsters in the bar quickly snapped their heads in attention to the sudden sound as Undyne strutted into the room. She looked as intimidating as ever; though now she was a bit more formally dressed. She wore a white dress shirt vest and tie, with her long shocking red hair pulled back into a tight pony tail. Her sleeves were still rolled up however, showing off her well-toned strong arms. Frisk tensed at the sight of her, but what was even worse was the person who followed in steep behind her. Frisk would recognize his metallic face anywhere as Mettaton also entered the bar. The anthropomorphic robot looked dismissively over the room, as though it was the shabbiest place he had ever stepped foot in. He wore a spotless crisp white suit with a hot pink dress shirt and pink satin tie; he also had on a sharp perfectly white fedora, with a pink sash to match his ensemble. Two of his lackeys fell in toe behind him, both of them wearing matching red bell hop uniforms. One was an orange cynical looking tabby cat type monster. His eyes were slightly bloodshot and his whiskers where wrinkled as though he hadn't been sleeping well in the last couple of days, if at all. The other was a perky blue bunny type monster; his disposition was almost entirely opposite to that of his counterpart as he smiled happily while walking eagerly behind Mettaton. As soon as Frisk saw them she quickly leapt out of her chair and scrambled for a place to hide.
Sans rolled one of his eye sockets toward the door at the disturbance. When he saw Undyne strut in to the room he cocked a brow bone in slight surprise. Usually Undyne didn't come to the bar on weekdays as she didn't like to drink during her working hours, which meant that there was another reason as to why she was here. Sans concluded that her visit was for business purposes when he spotted the flashy tin can strolling in behind her. Sans sighed as he got off his seat to go see what the prudish robot wanted.
“Welp , so much for this evening.” He thought bitterly, and just when he was beginning to enjoy himself.
As Sans approached Undyne she fixed him with her one good eye as though he was just the monster she wanted to see.
“Sans, good I was just looking for you.” she said as she walked over to meet him, Metaton following in tow.
“How can I be of surface chief?” Sans asked as he eyed the robot, who was at the moment sneering at a table of very happy drunken monsters singing a tune completely off key. Sans chuckled, the robot was as just as much as a priss as he had remembered.
“Where’s that pet human of yours?” Undyne barked at Sans as she scanned the bar looking for Frisk. Sans eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion.
“The kid? What do you want with her?” He asked nonchalantly. Undyne let out a gruff sigh as her brief search came up empty.
“Asgore was impressed with her little stunt with Alico, so he recommended her services to Mettaton since he needs a Currier at the moment.” She replied.
“Oh, is that right?” Sans asked shifting his gaze from Undyne to Mettaton.
“Yes, unfortunately.” Mettaton replied, oblivious to Sans probing stare. “Good help is so hard to find these days. After all the last Currier I hired ended up robbing me blind.” He said with a sniff.
“Huh.” Sans replied as he looked around the room for Frisk, but to his surprise he didn't see her at the bar where she had been previously sitting with Mittsy.
“So do you know where she is?” Undyne asked impatiently.
“Nope.” Sans replied with a wide smile as he shifted his hands loosely in his slacks. Undyne rolled her eye at the skeleton.
“Well then, go and find her!” She spat angrily.
“You cod it bass.” Sans said as he shot her a wink. Undyne just glared at him as she watched him go.
As Sans wandered around the room he didn't see any sign of Frisk anywhere. He figured she had probably run and hid somewhere when she saw Undyne walk into the building. He wasn't surprised, especially after the events of her first meeting with the women. Sans felt a small pang of guilt at the memory, he probably should have stepped in sooner during there encounter, before Undyne had nearly taken Frisks head off.
“Oh kid? Where for art though kid?” Sans called lazily as he wandered around the bar. “Here kiddy kiddy.” He chuckled to himself lightly as he made his way over to the counter, resting his elbows on the bar top.
“Come on kid, where did you go?” Sans drawled cheekily. “You know there aren't really any hiding places in Grillby’s” Sans continued as he let one of his pinpricks roll over the counter.
“Well, that technically isn't true, there is ONE hiding spot.” He said as he shifted his gaze behind the bar where an irritated Frisk sat curled up and wedged under the counter.
“Knock knock.” Sans said lazily, his grin growing wider as he rapt twice on the wooden bar top emphasizing his words. Frisk just shot him an annoyed glare, before she swiftly brought a finger to her lips in a shushing motion. Sans just shrugged, playing oblivious to her gesture.
“You’re supposed to say who’s there.” He said smugly. Frisk just continued to fume from behind the bar.
“You know, you got some people looking for you over there.” Sans said motioning slightly over to Mettaton and Undyne with his pinpricks. “It’d be rude to keep them waiting don’t ya think pal?” He said flashing a cheeky grin at Frisk.
“Please don’t.” Frisk begged. Sans was taken aback a bit by the desperation present in her voice. That pang of guilt that Sans had felt from before had also returned, but now it was at least ten times stronger.
“Hey, bucko lighten up, I’m only joking.” Sans said sheepishly. “You don’t have to be afraid of Undyne. I know she can be a bit uh, intense, but she ain't gonna hurt you. You’re under Asgore’s protection remember?” Sans said trying to reassure Frisk, but the kid just shook her head.
“She’s not the one I’m worried about.” Frisk replied and Sans cocked a brow bone in confusion.
“What do you mean by that?” He asked, but before Frisk could answer a mechanically shrill voice sounded from behind Sans.
“What is taking so long?” Mettaton asked agitatedly as he briskly strode over to Sans. “I don’t have all day you know.” Sans hurriedly spun around to face the robot, trying his best to obstruct Frisk from his view.
“Uhhhhh…” He eloquently stammered as he tried to think of a way to deter the robot, but it was too late as Mettaton’s fusia robotic pupils glanced over Sans short stature, before focusing on Frisk. Frisk froze like a dear in headlights when she realized that she had been found. Mettaton’s face twisted in to an outraged scowl, before he pointed at Frisk and shrieked.
“YOU!” He screamed as Frisk managed to find her bearings, before she leapt over the bar top and proceeded to weave around the groups of drunken monsters, heading straight for the door.
“Don’t let her escape!” Mettaton ordered to his bell hop guards as they panicked and jumped into action. The melancholy orange tabby cat monster jumped in front of the door and blocked frisks exit, while the blue bunny monster tried to make a grab for her, but Frisk managed to dodge them both as she then made a U- turn heading for the stairwell. She knew that if she made it to the brother’s apartment she could probably make it to the next roof through the window in the living room. But before Frisk could even make it up one step, a metallic extended robotic arm shot out toward her and wrapped itself around her waist.
“You’re not going anywhere!” Mettaton glowered as he raised the struggling Frisk off of the ground, and held her in the air with his elongated arm.
“Let me go you bag of bolts!” Frisk spat as she continued to wiggle in his iron grip. Mettaton’s scowl deepened at her comment.
“I think its about time someone teaches you some manors you little thief!” Mettaton growled as he raised Frisk higher in the air before slamming her down face first, hard onto the bar floor. Frisk felt the pain before the gush of blood came spurting from her nose. She winced as she still tried to fight her way out of the robots hold, but Mettaton’s grip just coiled tighter around her waist. With a satisfied smirk Mettaton retracted his robotic arm bringing Frisk face to face with himself.
“Looks like I caught myself a little street rat.” He scoffed. Frisk just glared back at him, blood still dripping profusely from her nose and split lip. “Thought you could make a fool of me did you darling? Mettaton continued, placing a metallic finger under her chin and tilting Frisk’s face upwards to forcibly meet his gaze. “Well now you are going to pay the price!” He said bringing her closer “Any last words? He taunted. Frisk just sneered at him, before spitting a mouth full of blood on to his pristine clean, stark white suit jacket. Mettaton's face fell in to complete shocked horror as he stared at the red stain.
“How dare you!” He gasped in outrage, turning his malicious gaze to Frisk. “I am going to make you regret that.” He hissed, but before he could make another move Sans placed a firm arm on Mettaton’s shoulder.
“Let. The. Kid. Go. Pal.” He said, his dark eye sockets trained on Mettaton’s face. Mettaton’s rage faltered slightly at Sans obvious threat. Mettaton then tried to signal to his bell hop boys for backup, but as they tried to make there way over to him Grillby rounded the corner cutting them off. He then proceeded to pat a very dangerous looking mettle baseball bat in the palm of his hand, and fixed both the lackeys with an intimidating glare as if daring them to try and take just one more step forward.
“But… but she’s a dirty thief!” Mettaton protested, his conviction strengthening once again. “She stole from me I can’t just let her go!”
“I didn't steal anything!” Frisk argued still struggling.
“Be quite you Louse!” Mettaton sneered, turning his attention back to Frisk. Sans tightened his grip on Mettatons shoulder.
“What did I just say?” He asked tone full of warning. Mettaton hesitated before he let out a huff and released Frisk before retracting his robotic arm. Frisk flopped to the floor, barely managing to keep her balance as she leaned her weight against the stair railing. Her head was still spinning from being hit so hard and a dull ache throbbed from underneath her eyes. Sans strolled slowly around Mettaton, not allowing his dark gaze to break from the robots face, before he stopped in front of him placing himself directly between the robot and Frisk. Undyne also came rushing over after all the excitement seemed to finally calm down.
“What the hell was that all about?” She demanded, before Mettaton turned directly to face her.
“That girl is a dirty swindler! She stole from me just a few months ago!” He complained. “She was the Currier I was telling you about, the one that made off with my profits!” he said outraged. Undyne slid her yellow slitted eye over in Frisks direction. Frisk stiffened as the women then narrowed it at her threateningly.
“Now hold on their pal.” Sans interrupted, seeming to regain some of his casual stature. “The kid says she didn't steal anything.” He said. Mettaton’s face contorted into a look of shock.
“You’re taking the word of this dirty human over mine!?” He asked in disbelief. “Why are you even bothering to defend her?! It’s obvious that she is a lying cheat!” Sans shrugged.
“Heh, It’s kinda been my job to keep the kids nose clean so to speak.” Sans began casually. “But now seeing as my so far spotless record stands broken.” He said emphasizing his words by fixing Mettaton with dark glaring eye sockets. “You could say that I have a bit of a bone to pick with you pal.” Mettaton visibly shrunk back behind Undyne as Sans left eye socket flickered slightly with a small trace of deadly cyan. Undyne just sighed heavily, and rolled her eyes at the cowering robot behind her, as well as the heated skeleton.
“All right that’s enough you two.” She said suddenly. “Sans knock of the death glare, If what Mettaton says is true then we gotta take this up with the boss.” Sans stepped back a bit at Undyne’s comment.
“Ah common undyne, we don’t really need to trouble Asgore over something this trivial.” He said trying to persuade the stern women before him to just drop the whole ordeal.
“Yes we do Sans.” Undyne replied harshly with a strict glare. Sans sighed. Well it had been worth a shot. Though he didn't like the idea, he knew it was protocol. Any complaints from clients had to be taken directly to the boss, and because Frisk was a newbie as well as human, that rule went double for her.
“Alright, just give me a minute.” Sans said. He shot one more warning glare at Mettaton, before turning around to face Frisk. The kid was still bleeding heavily, as she tried to subdue it with a hand placed over her face. It also looked like she was struggling to remain standing. Sans felt his shoulders fall under the weight of another heavy spell of guilt as he strode toward her. This was the second time that he had reacted to late, and once again the kid was the one paying for it.
“Hey there Frisk, let me see.” He said softly as he placed a hand on Frisks shoulder, and convinced her to sit down on the floor. Frisk shied away from his touch at first, which Sans had expected as he hadn't exactly been very gentle with her in the past.
“It’s ok.” He said holding Frisks eyes with an earnest gaze. “no one’s gonna hurt ya pal.” Frisk remained hesitant for a moment more, before she gingerly removed her hand from her bloodied face, allowing sans to survey the damage. He winced slightly at the sight. |Though it was nothing serious, it still looked painful. She had a busted lip, and her nose, as he had suspected, was definitely broken.
"Ok kid, I'm gonna need you to trust me for a moment ya?" Sans said making sure he held Frisks full attention. Frisk nodded slowly in response.
"Your nose got a bit busted." Sans continued. "I'm gonna fix it for you, but its gonna hurt." He said. Frisk paused again, her eyes scanning over his face looking for any signs of ill intent. After a moment Frisk nodded again and let Sans delicately pinch her nose between his phalanges.
“Ok buddy, on three.” Sans began as he continued to hold Frisks gaze “One, two…” But before Sans said three, he sharply twisted his wrist and set the bridge of Frisks nose back into place. She winced and let out a small whimper, but other then that the kid didn't fuss. Sans then got a rumpled handkerchief from out of his pocket and gently wiped the blood from her face. He then passed it to frisk so she cold hold it over her nose to stop the bleeding. Sans then moved to help her up but before he could Frisk gripped his shirt sleeve tightly.
“I didn't steal anything.” She said, fixing Sans with an honest glare.
“I know kid, I believe you.” Sans replied. “But, we still gotta take you to the boss. It’s just how things work.” Frisk grip tightened on Sans’ sleeve.
“Don’t worry.” He continued. “Nothings gonna happen to you.” He said, trying his best to reassure the frazzled girl. She held his sleeve and his stare for a moment more before she let it go and rose steadily to her feet.
Sans led her out to the car, leaving the jaunty atmosphere of the still celebrating monsters in the bar behind. Undyne, Mettaton, and his bell hop lackeys were already piled into a black and white Rolls Royce, with hot pink details. Sans rolled his eyes at Mettaton’s flashy vehicle, before he helped Frisk get into the passenger side of the Buick. When she was settled, he quickly moved around to the driver’s side. Sans chanced a look at her, she was facing away from him as she stared out the passenger window handkerchief still pressed to her face. Her posture was also closed off as she had her arms crossed protectively over herself, clutching tightly at the opposite arms shirt sleeve.
“Uh, Frisk?” He called to her carefully. Frisk turned her head slightly in his direction but still refused to meet his gaze. “I’m gonna need you to put this on pal.” Sans continued as he passed her the canvas sack. Frisk just stared at it for a moment. Sans noticed her eyes narrow slightly at the bag as a slight frown formed on her face. She then took the offered sack from him and placed it over her head before retreating back into her previous position. Sans sighed to himself. This was going to be a long drive.